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1
2
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1 2 3
4 5 6
Major General John Graves Simcoe,
First Lieut. Governor of Upper Canada.
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Aajor Gekeral Isaac Brock.
Fkul in Action Oct 13^" 1612.
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ROBERTSON'S
Landmarks ofToronto
A COLLECTION OF
HISTORICAL SKETCHES
or THE OtiI>
TOWN OF YORK
From 1792 until 1833,
AND OF
Toronto Prom 1834 to 1895
AUO
Nearly Two Hundred Engravings of Old Houses, Familiar Faces and
Historic Places, with Maps and Schedules Connected
with the Local History of York and Toronto.
REPUBLISHED FROM THE TORONTO "EVENINO| TELEGRAM."
-•^ O"
TORONTO:
J. ROSS ROBERTSON,
i89e.
j Entered according to Act of the Ptirliamont of Canada in the year one thousand eightThnndrcd
and ninety-six, by J. Uoss Robertson, at the Department of Agriculture, Ottawa.
•Wr^
^
mm
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
OOITXE33SrTS-
I'AOK
CHAPTER rxrvi.
•I'lii' Fhr BriffHdo of Ol«l-Story of
the Toiouto Fire C'oiiuinnics fmiii
their boKimiiitK to tlw year 181)."» 5t>!l
CHAPTER CXCVn.
Fire* From Early Timca— A History
of Every Fin? of any Irarorfuico
Which ha« Hnppeiuxl in Toronto
Siuoc itH Foundation (SI 2
CHAPl'ER CXCVm.
Tho Resifctiy Office— A Dcnartment
of the Public Service which has
bocn Moved from Place to Place
with Rcniarkible Fre«)uem'y 072
CHAPTER CXCIX.
Jordan Port's Shop-The Old Watch-
maker ol York ; Early Rccollec-
tiouK of a Tall New Eniclaiidor ;
His Shop on Duke and Kin'^ Sts, (>7M
CHAPTER CC.
A Bay Shore Cottafcc— A House Oc-
cupied by CoL H. C/offln. Capt.
Phillpotti», Capt. Boiwiyca«tle and
Raynifitid Baby; Sketches of the
Men HIT'.
CHAPTER CCf.
The First Cab in th© City-Earlyi
Hifltory of Public ConveyanccH
and Sonic of Thorn Who Drove
Them ,(«77
CHAPTER ecu.
The Blight House- Tho Old Homo-
stead on Queen Street East :
Some Reminiscences of a York
Pioneer (>78
CHAPTER ceil I.
Tho Island LLghthou«o— Tho Build-
ing on Grindstone Point. Com-
pleted in tho voar ISOH (>S0
CH.VJP'l'EIt CCIV.
T\vo Wostoru Piors—Viows of tho
Northern Railway Pier and
Queen's Wharf from tlio East
and West <»S0
CHAPTER CCV.
The Old Pool in the Park-Au Arti-
ficial Miniature Lake which Once
Orna,meuted the I'nivertiity
Grounds 1,683
CHAPTER CCVI.
York'a Firet Ba«m.r— -A Piece of
Music Comrosed for and Sunp; on
that Occasion 683
i'AOK
CHAPTER CCVII.
A Church Street Corner— The Build-
in4; at tho North-west Corner of
Church and Adelaide Streets (685
CHAPTER CCVHl.
The First York Roniment — An Or-
Kunisation of Militia Established
here in 17n8-ItH Officers 686
CHAPTER CX^IX.
Newmarket and Sharon— The Region
of Upper Yonpc Street, With a
Full Account of David Willson
and His Sect, the Children of
Peace 686
CHAPTER OCX.
Upper YonjJTo Street — The Appear-
ance of tho Great Northern Road,
With Sketches of Its Early In-
habitants, from Bond's Lake to
to the Holland Landin); 690
CHAPTER <X^XI.
The Bay to Hosr's Hollow— Spots
of Interest on tho .lotirnoy up
Yonpc Street, as Soon in the
Early Days of York 700
CHAPTER (X'Xff.
llojrg's Hollow to Bond's Lake— Old
Bnildinps of Upper Yonge Street
and Interesting Uoniiniscences of
Its Early Inhabitants 709
CHAPTER OCXIII.
Tho Royal Canadians— Siipplement-
nry Details -Tho (jnalificntions
Required by f,'an<lidntes of Com-
missions 717
CIIAPTEK i^X'XIV.
Torontf) HiKhlaiidors— The Original
Highland Uil'lo Company — Its
Origin and Its Officers 717
CHAPTER CCXV.
The Old French Fort— One of tho
Early Trading Posts— Erected
about 1 74 0-.'»0 -Known as Foii:
itonillo— .V Very Full Descrip-
tion 718
CHAPTER CVXVI.
Toronto Junction Years Ago— A Spot
that was well known away back
in the Forties— The Western Sub-
urb at It Was and as It Is 783
Karly Scttiors— Early Toronto 736
H :>*"
Iv
CONTENTS.
TAIIK
CirAPTKK Ci'XVn.
The Kaiig«>rH uiid Nav.v Hall -SVhii'
It Coat In tlif Da.VH <.f 17»2 to
Hut the FumoiiH (iut'i'iiH Uiiiikitm
and to Fit U|» the (lovi'i-mtrV
Houflo '•''"
CHAPTKU CCXVlll.
What Slmcoo Wrote «»f Yoik-ltH
ntnciw a« an ArHoual — 'I'ln' Pi-o-
porsalH to Fortify tlir I'laic I'M
CIIAPTKIt CCXIX.
Old Niagara— Tho IU'coimIh in tlif
Archives— A Descrijition nf Fort
Niagara in 1790 "41
CHAPTi:ii crxx.
A Provfwt MarHhal in 1777— Miirs
Prentice and the .liul,<f— An 0|«l
Uetnrn '^'^
t'HAPTKU CtXXI.
Karly Printing— The (Vntenninl <f
the Firnt NtMVH|m|)er in rjipci-
Canada— The FirHt t»rder for
Paper and Type 74.'<
CHAPTER n;xxii.
The Province'8 Great Seal— An In-
toreuting Memo UeMiK-eling the
Same. Dated 17!t2 '. 744
The Queen's Uan^rerN 744
CHAPTEU -OCXXIII.
A Nortli-We«t Corner — DnudaM
Street Forty YearH Ago — A
Hambic From Queen Street to
the Old Peac'(jck Tavern— Curl-
ing—Fort Mackinac 745
CHAPTEU OCXXIV.
Toronto RaceconiWK— Where Horni-H
Ran in Day8 of Yore— Pal rtui>i
of the Koyal SfHirt 752
CIIAPTEIt CCXXV.
Mechanics' InstitntCH — The Growtli
ami Fluctuation of Sentiment in
Favour of Free Heading llooms
for the People from ISHl to 1883 75(»
CHAPTER CCXXVI.
An Early Volunteer Corps aud Ita
I'mniediate Kut'ceBHors-ZToudltions
of Service and Other Data— The;
Nig'ht Guard and iU* Duties 7fi()
The Officers of the Old Qiueen'*
Rangers Who Settled in Toronto
and Tiheir Descendant^ 7G1
CHAPTEU CCXXVir.
Tiie laland in the FortiCM— "TilwS
Horse Boat"— Its Owner and Hiw
History- Sports and Pastimes of
Long Ago 702
CHAPTER CCXXVIII.
Lambtou and Etobicoke— Fifty Years
Since— The Old MiIIh— Uespectinig
the Gamble, Fi«hier aud Howhuul
Families 7(!7
CHAPTER CCXXIX.
Aq Early Industry— For Making Car-
riages, Reaping Machines and
Cabs 773
PAOB
CHAPTER CCXXX. /
Thi> Old 100th Regimeut-A Remiii-
iKcence of the Formatiou of a
Iteginient that Iwd at one time
iu it many Canadian)* 774
CHAPTER CCXXXI.
The Third York Militia-Tlieir llin-
tory an<l CoLoura- Prominent ^'' :.
Wli't Have Served as ('oninii«H!on-
ed Offiiers Therein 778
A FoiKotten Factory 782
CHAPTER CCXXXII.
The (iueen's Own Rifles-Tlu' Rat-
tiilion'M Story From the Date of
itH Formation Thirty Odd Years
Ai?o— ItM Good SiMvice on Many
FirldH 783
<'HAPTER CCXXXIII.
The Koyal (freiMidieri*— Tlw Regi-
ment's HiHtory— The Formation
of the Rattalion— The Prewenta-
li«m of the Colours iu 18U3 801
CHAPTER CCXXXIV.
Ciipitulation of York— The Forces
Engaged— Prisoners Who Were
Takeu— Terms of Surrender— Wh«>
Was R(>H|M)Usible ? — General
Shcaffe's Services 807
CHAPTER CCXXXV.
St. .Tames' Rectory— The Mau Who
Ruilt It— Its Earlier Pufpose —
Its Occupants for more than
Forty-five Years— The late
Dean 800
CHAPTER CCXXXVI.
I'rout Street of Old— The Gooder-
ham Wharf and Mill-The Fair
Ground— Other Notable Buildings
-The Old Fort ;.. 812
CHAPTER CCXXXVir.
Canadian Lake Navigation— Au Ac-
count of the First Vessels tluit
Sailed oiir Inland Waters and
of Those Who Manned Them,
1078-1776 815
CHAPTER CGXXXVIII.
The War of Indeneudeuce— A Gov-
ernmental Hai ir Survey— The
U. E. Loyaliet8-1770 to 1809... 821
CHAPTER CCXXXIS.
Six Eventful Years— The first Steam
Vessels— The War of 1812 and
the Battles on the Lakes-18()9-
1815 834
CHAjPTER CCXL.
A New Era— Peace Reiigns in the
Land— Me rea utile Enterprise Re-
vives-1815 to 1819 841
CHAP'IAER CCXLI.
A Progreasive Enterprise— The March
of Improvement— More Steamers
and Moie Trade-1819 to 1837... 849
CONTKNTH.
PA«)B
s. /
Ut'iuin-
II of a
110 tim«'
77+
I'ir lliH-
.'lit ^'' ..
iiiIhmiou-
77ft
7S2
lU.
Iw I'.al-
Dati- of
(I Yt'ar8
u .Miii;.y
*> U«Ki-
»rmatioii
lowenta-
;U3
ilV.
Forces
lo Were
f r— Wh«»
Gl'lUTul
XV.
au Wlu>
ufpos*? —
e than
lat«
:vi.
GoodiT-
Faii-
uildiujco
83
801
807
800
812
vn.
All
!l8
Ac-
that
aud
riwni.
III.
Qov-
ey— The
1809...
Steam
12 and
j-1809-
815
821
S34
841
March
teauiero
1837... 849
•
in
the
Ue
Re-
CHAPTKU CCXLir.
The ltob4-lliou of l^<37•3N-Rv«>lltH uu
the Lakes— <?aptaim Drew aii(l
Aniold— Tln> <^»pturt> of llu- Caro-
line 807
C'lIAPTEK CCXMII.
4'omplaiiiliiK Travellern— The 8t<'am-
ere Great Britalu and Viftoriii —
Captain ThoiiiaH DU-k and Mr.
GUklHon 870
CHAFrEK CCXLIV.
Tbe Trade of tlic Lake Slill <'on-
tiuueM to Expand— The Mall
Steamers and Other Mattel^ 882
CHAPTER rCXLV.
The ttoynl Mall Line-184() to 1857-
How the (*oin|H)ny Wiw Formed
and Where— Notable Steamers
and Their raptala-M— Well Ue-
menibered OfficlalH 901
CHAPTER CCXLVL
StoruiM ami Shipwrecks- (Jreat I)c-
vtructLou of Life and Property —
The CommerciJil Di>itreHs in 1857 907
CHAPTER CCXLVII.
Gloomy Anticipatioiifi for the Spring
Trndi'— The Fii-st Arrival of the
Season 918
CHAPTER CCXTVIII.
The Niapira Steamei . 1"i74— 78—
An Old Institution ThientiMied—
Formidable Oppositiou — The
Newcomer Whim 92.'»
CHAPTER CCXLIX.
Niagara Falls Line. 1883 to 1893-
A Popular Vessel— OpiKtMitiou is
the Soul of Trade-A Truce Ef-
fected 930
CHAPTER CCL.
Hamilton Steamboat Co., 1887 to
1898— A Modeet Reninninfi— An
Enterprising and ProgreaHive
Policy 9.".2
CHAPTER CCLL
The General History of tlio Lake
ShippLuM: Continued— Tli« Gun-
boats—Steamlioat Raciuit 932
CHAPTER CCLII.
New Steamers— Captains on the Lnke
and Others Who Wore Piominent
in the Shipping World— Conclud-
ing Remarks 9r.2
CHAPTER CCLIII.
Lome and Victoria Parka— 'llho
Various Steamers on the
Routes— Their Respective Com-
manders. 1887-1893 9.-.8
CHAPTER CCLIV.
Toronto Ferry Co.. 1890-93- It« Rise
aud Progref's— Its VaiU>iiH Ves-
eelB- Qulft leefulneas 9.j8
CHAPTER CCLV.
Hoyal Canadian Yacht Club— 1 Is Rist>
and Progress and History from
1860-1893 9(U)
I' AUK
CHAPTER CCLVl.
Canadian Pacific Hteuuu'rH— The Col-
lingwood and Lake Supt>rior Line
— its Immediate Siuccessor 971
CHAPTER CCLV II.
The Kochester Route-1889-1893-
The Steamship Carmona — Iler
Previous History— Appropriately
Named 972
CHAPTER CCLVIII.
Ihe Ottawa Steamers, 1804-1893-
Thelr History -The Earlier Ves-
sels—Well Known and Respected
Officials 972
CHAPTKR CCLIX.
The R. and O. Company— The Fam-
ous Lake Company— Some Not-
able Steamers-- A Favourite
Route- 1857-76, 1876-93 974
CHAPTER CCLX.
Tabula te»l Statements of Various
VescelH, from 1078 to the Pres-
ent Time 981
CHAPTER CCLM.
York's Assessment Rolls— The Early
Itolls-The Parofhiiil i)flicials-
Who They Were an ' Where They
Came From— Cnri ies in the
Accounts 990
CHAPTER CCLXIl
The Town of York— Its Ris'atx^ Tro-
grcsH— ItM Population ileturns
from 1793 to 1834, with other
Interesting Data 996
CHAPTER CCL XIII.
The Early Seasions— The First Days
of the Century— The Grand In-
quest- Frivolous and Vexutious
Charges— The Home District
School »95)
CHAPTER CCLXIV.
The Wood Correspondence— Mr,
Wood aud the Early York Resi-
dents—Dr. Strachan's Sayings
aud Opinions— An "Officer and
a Gentleman"— An Acrostic 10<)7
CHAPTER CCLXV.
A Scrap of History— The Fight at
Beaver Dam— The Part Taken
in it by Colonel Fitzgibbon— Mrs.
S«'cord'8 D.ninK Exploit 1021
CHAPTER (X:LXVI.
An Old .Tarvis Street House— The
Rt'sideuce of the late Colonel
Samuel Peters Jarvis 1023
CHAi>TER CCLX VII.
St. .lames' Church— The Second
linildinij;— How it was Built and
by Whom— The Original Contract
—Its Final Dt^struction 1025
CHAPTER CCLXVIIL
A Cunadiai! Pioneer- Reminiecenees
of One of Toronto's Oldest Set-
tlers—His Early Days, Educa-
tion and Varied Experience-
Men He Has Known 1035
VI
CONTENTS.
CHAPTKU CCLXIX.
An Old Lottery Schomc-Thc Pro-
posal to Raise FmidH for the Cou-
struction of the Torouto, Simcoe
and Huron Railwny •
CHAPTER CCLXX.
A RemimbMeiice of the Old Market
S«iuare
CHAPTEU CCr.XXl.
Old Newejiapere— Tlie Files in the
Library at Ottawa— A Liug Lo»t
Watch"A I^ng Drive
CHAPTER CCLXXII.
The Military Tnnilpiu riiil) - The
Meimbcrs' X;inio«-S<nnf Famoiw
Soldiers— Woudoi-fiil Atti'inpts at
Poetry -Amusing Allii-ion» and
Rciniulscencew
CHAPTER crLXXIII.
An lucLdcut of the l{i>l)cllioii-^niP-
thiug About the Man Wbo
Warned the People oi" 'roronto
of the Advance of Mn^'keuzie...
CHAPTER CCLXXIV.
Old Days Brought r.a<'k— Extraot-*
from the Various \Vritiiipr> "f To-
ronto's Veteran Tdejjraphei —
When Canada Wa.s Young— The
Rise of the Telegrapher
aiAPTER CCLXXV.
The Earliest New-spapers— When and
Where Issued— Singular Adver-
tlFenicnts— Slave II(.1(Iim-h and
Slave Dealers
CHAPTER CCI.XXVI. ,
A Long Forgotten Incident— Lienten-
. ajit-Goveniors Huntev and Gore
and the Canndtaus— An Addrc-as
to the Priu^c Regent and Who
Signed It
CHAPTER CCLXX VII.
Aa Old Aecount Book— Some Quaint
and Interesting Entii<»s— A Con-
trast Lu Prices Between the Pres-
ent Time and a Centiirv Since...
CHAPTER CCLXXVIII. '
The War of 1812— Many Intei-esting
Documents Relating to it— Pn>-
clamatiou and Gen. Brock'M Re-
ply
CHAPTER CCLXXIX.
Toronto's Earlier Fairs— A Striking
Contrast— The First Agricultural
Societies— Parliamentary Aid-
Some Amusing Recollections
Old Time Exliibitions-Tlie First
Show— Chnu'4(>M in the Province—
PAliK
1037
1088
1030
1040
1048
1053
1054
10(50
10(13
10(i4
10S7
I'AOK
An IniposLng Demonstration-
Weil Kuow^i Prize Takers— Ob-
solete Industries 1090
CHAPTER CCLXXX.
The Old Crystal Palace- Sir Ed-
mund Head— Distinguished Visit-
ors—"Chevaliers d'Industrie"— A
Roun<l of Anni.'»omMit— Exhibits
and Exhibitoi-s 1093
CHAPTER CCLXXXL
.V Curious Old Book— An Advertise-
ment With an Apology— Singular
Chronological Table- Old Civil
Servants- The Old Militia Force 109r»
CHAPTER CCLXXXIL
Old St. James— The First Building
Alterations and Enlargements-
Surviving Members of the Con-
gregation 1101
CHAPTKR CCLXXXlII.
Some Canadian Names- Interesting
Particulars Why Some Well-
known Places were so Called 1102
CHAPTER CCLXXXIV.
The Island Block House- Some Par-
ticulars of the Oid Building— Its
Destruction and Renewal 1102
CHAPTER CCLXXXV.
Home of the Triple " V "—Some-
thing of the History ol and the
Work Being Done by Toronto
Athletic Club 1104
CHAPTER CCLXXXVI.
The Kovnl Canadians— Reminisconees
of the Earlv Davs of the 100th
P. W. R. C. R.-By One Who
Served Therein 1112
CHAPTER CCLXXXVII.
Capture of Detroit— The War of 18i2
—Brock's Demand for the Surren-
der of Detroit— The Capitulation
—The Original Deed— Proclama-
tion 1113
CHAPTER, CCLXX XVIII
Toronto's Assessment— How it Has
Grown— Increased Over (>00 jcr
cent, in 28 Years— Fa ri,\ Assess-
ments-Three Different Metho«ls.. 1122
CHAPTER CCLXXXIX.
An Old Document— A Promissory
NotQ of 1834-How the City of
Toronto Raised Money in the
year of it^ Int'orporation 1124
CHAPTER CCXC.
Some Old Time Residences— The
Brough House — Two Simcoe
Buildings— Sam. Rogers and John
Shea 1125
I
I'.VffK
1090
ration-
are— Ob-
:'x."
Sir B(l-
d Visit-
rie"- A
F!xhibit8
1003
XI.
Ivcrtiec-
<i.ngulai*
i Civil
a Force 1005
XII.
Building
uienta—
ho Con-
1101
[III.
i? resting
'. Well-
illcd 1102
av.
nc Par-
ing—Its
1 1102
XV.
— Some-
(vnd the
roronto
tVI.
isooiiccH
100th
Who
1104
1112
VII.
ofl8i2
Snrrcn-
ulation
DCloma-
yiii
it Hos
00 ycr
ASSPKS-
etho^ls.,
IX.
iiissorv
Hity of
II the
1113
1122
1124
a-Tho
Siincoc
id .John
112.^
ILJl.TJSXIl-A.TI03srS.
General Siincoe. Froutiepiece.
General Brock. Frontiepiece.
View of Niagara River. Froiitispioce.
British American lueurauce Co
First Fire Hall in Toronto
Church Street Fire Hnll
First Fire Hall, Bay Street
Thomas D. Harris
St Patrick's Market, and First Fire
Hall for No. 4 Company
James Ashtield
Piano Fire Engine of IS-i.'i
Alexander Jacquos opp.
"Deluge" Engine House, Berkeley
street
Court Street Fire Hall and Mechan-
ics' Institute
Fii-e Hall No. 2, Portland street
Robert Hunter, Captain of Independ-
ent Fire Brigade
Fire Hall No. 4, Berkeley street
Bay Street Hall Bay Street
Fire Hall No. 0, Queen Street
Fire Hall No. 3, Youge street
Fire Hall No. 7. Wilton avenue
Fire Hall No. 8, College street
Fire Hall No. 9. Duudas street
Fire Hall No. 10, Yorkville avenue
Fire Hall No. 11, Rose avenue
Fire Hall No. 12, Bolton avenue
Fire Hall No. 14, Ossington avenue
Richard Ardagh
Fire Hall No. 13, Brock avenue
Central Fire Hall, Lombard street...
Fire Hall No. 15, Cowan avenue
Richard Ardagh
Thomas Graham
Plan of Cathedral Fire
The U. P. Church, Bav street
The Fire Hall, Bay street
Cougregation.al Church, Baj* and
Adelaide streets
The Fire at Gooderham's, 1869.'.....
Diagram of Esplanade Fire
Destruction of Globe Building, Yonge
street ,
Destruction of Osgoodby Building...
The Osgoodby Building, Meliiid i st.
Osgoodby Fire, Wellington strei-t...
Toronto Fire Department opp.
County Registry Offic, Kichmoud
street
Jordan Post House and Shop, Bay
and King streets
Colonel Bounycastlc's House ...opp.
View on Front street opp.
The Bright House, 1820 to 1894
I'AGK I PAGE
! The Island Lighthouse, 1808 opp. 680
Northern Railroad Pier 681
Queen's Wharf, Looking West 682
564 " The Raven's Plume," a Piece of
564 Music opp. 684
504 Pool in Queen's Park 684
565 The N. W. Corner Church and Ade-
575 laide streets 685
Monument on Site Ft. Rouille...opp. 732
5fr6 Col. Thomson's Property 734
581 Mr. Scarlett's House, Dundas Street 785
582 The Old Peacock Tavem, Dundasr
582 Street 736
Fiic Simile First Page First U. C,
533 Gazette ojip. 743
Great Seal of U. C op|». 744
584 Blue Bell Tavern 745
585 Rusiholme, 1839 746
George Cooper's House 747
586 Brockton Toll Bar 747
587 K. L. DennL-ou's Earlier Residence 748
588 Dovepcourt 748
589 I "The Three Taverns," Dundas Street 749
590 j Brockton Post-office > 760
591 Mechanics' Institute 757
593 First Ferry Horse Boat 762
595 Second Ferry Horse Boat 768
597 Third (Steam) Ferry 764
599 Fourth (Steam) Ferry 765
601 LouLs J. Privat's House 766
602 Howlond's Mills, 1840 767
604 Howlnnd's Store, 1840 768
606 F. A. Howland's House 769
607 I Kev. Dr. Phillips' House 770
608 ] William Gamble's Store 771
609 I Millwood, The FLsher Homlestead 772
611 j Ci>lour.s of 100th Regt opp. 774
620 j Preaentation of Colours, 100th Regi-
626 ! meat 777
626 : WMUfam Allan opp, 778
I The •' East York " Colours 779
626 1 Major Allan's Chestnut Tree 780
643 I Museum at Moss Park, Interior, opp. 782
655 I Colours of 10th Royals opp. 804
' Capitulation of York (two illustra-
661 I tione) opp. 808
664 ; St. Jnmea' Rectory, Front View 810
667 I St. James' Rectory, Rear View 811
66'.t Front Street View opp. 812
671 The Barque Griffin 816
English Fleet on St. Lawrence^
672 1758-60 opp. 819
French Fleet, ditto opp. 820
674 Loss of "The Ycrk" 829
676 Finkle'a Point 848
679 Steamer Walk-in-the-Water 846
679 Steamer Queen Charlotte 847
Tlii
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAOR
The Steamer Martha Ogdeu 861
The Steamer Great Britain 856
The Steamer William IV 858
The Steamer United States 863
The Steamer Caroline 869
Macuab, Aluu N., Sir opp. 870
Steamer City of Toronto HS5
Steamer Ontario 887
Steamer Chief Justice Robinson 890
Steamer City of Hamilton 893
Steamer Peerless 895
Captain Thomas Dick opp. Sfl(»
Steamer America opp. 897
Steamer Europe 898
Steamer Arabian 903
Georpre Burton Hdlluid opp. OO-t
The Ferry Boat Bouquet 921
The Steamer Kothesay Castle 922
The Tu^ Kobb 923
Steamer City of Toronto 924
Steamer Chirora 926
Steamer Ciboln— Burnt at Lewiston,
1895 928
Steamer Chippewa 929
Steamer Empress of India 931
Steamer Macassa 933
Steamer Modjeskn 934
Propeller Ocean 942
Propeller Persia 945
The Propeller Alma Munro. 954
Andrew H(>ron opp. 955
The Spanish CaravelB 95(5
The Rosamond 957
The Mayflower 959
The Primrose 961
First Club House 962
Steamer Provincial 963
The Oriole 964
R. C. Y. C. Lauuth 9?T5
The Zelma 967
The Humber 970
The Steamer Empress 973
The Steamer Sovereign 973 i
The Steamer AlJferian 975 |
The Steamer Passport 975 j
The Steamer Magnet 975 i
The Piopeller Corsicau 976 }
The Steamer Spartan 977 ;
Th« Steamer Montreal 977 •
The Steamer Quebec 978 I
The Steamer Caroline 978 j
The Stoamer Canada 979 i
The Steamer Sagueuay 979 I
The Steamer Columbian 980 ,
The Steamer Bohemian 980
The Steamer Trois Rivieres 980
Alexander Milloy opp. 981
The Reaideuce of Colonel JarHs 1024
PAGE
St. James' Cathedral, Erected 1881. 1028
Sectional View St. James' Gathe-
Qpftl ■•••••••• ••••••■••••• ■•*•••••■ ••(•••••••••••• d.t/ZO
Ground Floor of St. James' Cathe-
dral 1080
Plan of Gallery of St. James' Cathe-
dral 1088
William Helliwell «ppl086
Thomas Ridout opp. 1063
Forts Niagara and Erie opp. 1070
Brock's Monument 1084
York Almanac's First Pace npp. 1096
First Anglican Church Erected in
Toronto 1101
lu'erior View of First Anglican
Cliurch 1102
The Island Block House, 1814 1108
TORONTO \T|n,i:T'(^ CI.CB.
Toronto Athletic Club 1104
The Billiard Room 1105
With the Fencers 1106
The BowHn? Alleys 1106
The Smoking Room 1107
The Big Plunge 1107
The Gymnasium 1108
Inner Vestibule 1109
A Cosy Comer 1110
Commitlee Room 1111
DKTROIT.
Fac Simile of Letter Accompanyingl
Flag of Truce 1114
Fac Simile of the Plan df the Fort. 1116
Fac Simile of Explanatory Letter... 1116
Fac Simile of Original Articles of
Capitulation opp. 1116
Fac Simile of Duplicate of Original
Articles of Capitulation opp. 1117
Fac Simile of Additions Proposed by
General Hull 1117
Fac Simile of Supplemental Article
opp. 1118
Fac Simile of Addition to Supple-
mental Article 1118
Fac Simile of Gen. Brock's Letter
to Friends in England 1119
Fac Simile of Gen. Brock's Procla-
mation opp. 1119
Fac Similes of Endorsements to
Capitulation 1120
Fac Similes of Endorsements to
Capituation (six cuts) 1121
Growth of Toronto's Assessment 1122
A Promissory Note of 1834 1124
Brough House, Simcoe street, 1846... 112S
Two Simcce Street Residences 1126
Rogers' House, Bay Street 1127
John Shea's House, 1860 1128
GhEIsTER-A-L IITIDEX:.
A PAGE
Adamsoii & Chapiuau's Vhv, I^SS-A... 654
Addrt'se to Piim-o Regent 1062
Admiral Sti'iuncr 622
Allan. G. W 781
Allan, William 1000
Aircy. Colouol 754 1043
Anglican Church in Newmarket 688
Anglican clergy, 1821 1098
Ardagh, Arthur 581
Ardagh, Richnrd,..596, 600, 610. 612 663
Armstrong k Co 1092
Armstrong, Jamee 579
Arnold, Benedict 716
Arnold, Richard 867 870
Arsenal at York 740
Arthur, George Sir 572
Ashfield, Jamee.. .581, 587, 588. 598 612
Athletic Club Committee 1109 1111
B
Baby. Raymond 675, 676
Baldwin, Edmund 812
Baldwin, W. W 812
Baruum, OP. T 813
Bate. Lewie 1092
Baldmu. W. W A)94
Battle of Beaver Dams 1081
Battle of Chateauguay 1085
Battle of Chippewa 1075
Battle of Chrysler's Farm 1085
Battle of Lake, in 1759 819
Battle of Lake Erie 1076
Battle of Lundy'8 Lane 1086
Battle of Moravian Town 1085
Battle of Queeiwtou 1072
Battle of Stoney Creek 1079
Battle ol York 1077
Baynes, Edward 1070, 1072
Blackburn, Thornton 677
Blackst<me. Henry <)88
Blake, D. E 714
Beard's Foundry burnt in 1867 640
Beard's Hotel 573
Beard. Joseph 579
Beard, Robei-t 575. 579
Bell, John 773
Berczy. William 703
Bethune. Donald 905
Brent. Joseph 823
Birchall, T. W 594
Bishopp. Cecil. Co'.oiu'l 1085
Bishop Paul 677
Blind Toll Gate 751
British America Assurance Co. 566. 612
Bright, Jamee 679
Bright, John 678
Bright. Lewis 094
Bright. Thomas 679
PACK
Boauycajitle. Richard 675, 676, 677
Borland, Andrew i^Si^
Boretou. Halliday 814
Boultou. D'Arcy 1084
Boulton, John 773
Boulton's Mill burnt, 1870 ib^
Boulton, W. H 630, 1089
Bouitead, James B 695
Boxall, Colonel 807
Blco:-, Jo3eph 1108
Brock, Isaac 1064-86, 1113, 1120
Brook, George 594
Brough, Seeker 1125
Brunei, Colonel 80a
Bullock, Richard 571, 1010
Burlin^ou, Steamer 614|
Bu:r, Rowland 704
Butler, Thomas 1055
C
Cameixm, Duncan 672, 1000
Cameron, J. Hillyard 594i
Canadian, Drynoch 691
i Canadian Pacific Steamers 971
I Canadian Militia, 1821 1100
I Canoe Club Races 953
■ Capitulation of York 807
i Capreol, F. C 1037
i Captains of Fire Companies 688
' Captains on Lake Steami^rs 906
j Carfrae, Thoma*i 563, 664
I Carr, John 681
Castle FrauK 618
Catholic Apostolic Church Burnt,
1861 633
Caven, the Caretaker, and Osgoo'Jby
Fire 663
CaAvdell, J. H 685
CaAvthra, Joseph 1001
CaMiihra, John 687
Chaloner Children Buiut in 1869 642
Chambei*, Jamee 663
Charlton, William 587, 588, 596, 612
Clapp, John C 596
Clarke, Alured 737, 789
Clarke, John 761
Central Prison Fire, 1878 650
Cheney, G. H 1092
Chestnut Park 709
Chewett, William 1077
Cigar Boat 884
City of Toronto Fire Company 666
Children of Peace 686
Coffin, H., Colonel 675
Colborno, John, Sir 572, 676
Cole 627
Colcleugh, Captain 900
Collier, Thomas 814
y'Tsi
' f
OKXKKAL INDKX.
Cooper, George 78.".. 747, 101»1,
CJooper, H. C, lU'v
Coogregatioual CUurtli burnt
Cowau & Sons
Cosena, Benjamiu
Coieufl, Daniel
Coseus Family
Crocker, J. S
Crookshaiik. fico/pf
Oumberlaud, T. W
Church, Jo^ejih
I)
Daly, Chriili's
Diaper, William 11
De Blaquier, Poter
De Grass';, A
De Rotteuburg, CoIoDel <(•',
De SaLaborry, Colcucl
Deer Park :;';■•■
Desjardius Caual accideut <01,
Desjardiiis, Peter
Deouie, John ;•••••
Deimis, Joseph ^'f>
Deuison, G. T "■*'..», 783,
Deuisou, John
Deaisou, John E ^•
Denisou, R. L "■*'•
Dewar, E. H
Dewsoa, Majoi' ••■;;.••
Drew, Audrew ^^^h
Dick, James
Dick, Thom.'is S15, 8<0,
Dicksou, N. H
Dixon, F. E
Dixon, Joseph
DosI'h Brewery burnt ■■—•
Don bridge auJ the Rebellio.i o.' 1837
Don Foundry burnt, 18.">'.»
Doualdsou, J. A
Dou<;hty, Thomas
Drummoud, Charles
Druuimoud, General
Duffy. James
Duggiui, George
Duraiid, Charles
Durham, E irl o.
Durie, W. S :
i<:
Early Kewspaijers 1054,
Early Printing
Early Settlers o. ITUl
Eai'ly Kettlers. Cauo-s, Battoaux...
Ear.y Toronto. 1791
EasscKQ, Robert F
East York MiliLia
Edwards, Willie, Burnt to Death...
Esplanade Fires of 1874 aud 1885
G48,
Elmaley, John 804, 914,
Eg'intoa, Early Uesideuts o'
Elliott, Mrs. and Children Burnt to
Death iu 1803
Ellis Anthoiy
Engineers, Uoyal Mail Line
VM-.y.
1103
770
024
:S2
1000
715
715
594
075
803
748
592
1034
702
579
1113
1085
705
899
701
072
935
1090
1001
075
781
714
749
870
815
871
1090
790
509
017
508
031
740'
000
027
100.">
733
1001
.. 71
572
921
1000
743
730
817
736
1053
778
652
054
1059
707
637
627
907
i-At;K
Erskiue Presbyterian Church Burnt
iu 188t 653
F
Fatal Accident nt a Fire
Fairgreeu Riot, 1855
Fenian liaid
Fleming, William
Fidler, Isaac
Fire Brigade, Officers, 1833
Fire Brigade, Roll of Deaths
Fire Brigade in 1893, 1894, 1895...
Fire Companies, Captains of
Fire Company No. 4 Organized
Fire Company No. 2, Survivors in
1895
Fire Department in 1849, 1850,
1855. 1868 579, 579. 582.
Fire Department Re-organized iu
1838
Fire Inspectors
Fire Limits of City
Fire Regulations 577,
Firemen's Beuelit Society
First Cabs iu Toronto
First Members B. A. Fire Company
First Merchant Vessel
First Officers Hook and Ladder Co.
1831
First Official Record Fire Brigade.
First Steamboat in America
First Steamboat on Lake Erie
First Steamboat ou Lake Ontario....
Fisher. Thoni.is
Fitz Gibbon. .James 1022.
Frizzell. Sutton U
Foiwyth, Frank
Fort Detroit
Fort Mackinac
Fort Niagara in 1790
Fort Rouille 718,
Fixmteuac, Count
Fulton, A. T
Fumiss, Mr
Gamble, Clarke 700,
Gamble, John
Gamble, William 769,
Gardiner, John
Graham, Tliom is .593,
Gra-hani, William
Graham, Willi'im H., Death of
Grand Opera House Burnt, 1879...
Grand Trunk Elevator Burnt. 1864..
Grand Trunk Railway Fires 025,
Grasett, II. J., Colonel
Gi-asett, Rev. H. J
Goddes, W. A
German Mills
Ghgs. C-jptain
Gr>>at Eastern Stejimship
Gre/it Fires in 184S 018.
Great Fires iu 1849 020,
Great Fire on Front wtreet, 1872...
Great Fire on Richmond street, 1859
(J27
624
921
581
714
566
010
600
588
576
582
596
570
574
580
580
576
677
660
824
566
574
834
840
842
771
1081
1048
600
1069
751
741
733
816
717
591
994
994
994
717
590
1000
636
651
637
638
807
809
95.%
710
1071
912
619
621
640
631
it^HpppimipnvpH^tiii I II, I II
(4ENERAL INDEX.
xt
Great Fire on St. George's square,
1860
Great Fire on Victoria street. 1859,
030,
Great Fire ow Yonge street, 1868,
640.
Gibson. David
Gilbert's Lumber Yard Burnt, 1850
Gilderslecvo Family
Gildersleeve. O. S.,
Gillmor, Colonel
Givins. James 701, 746,
Globe Fire. 1895
Good & Company
Good & Company's Foundry Burnt
Gooderham & Worts Fire 642,
Gooderham. William
Gore, Francis Sir 675, 690,
Gordon, Johu
Gordon, William
Government Dock Yards, Kings-
ton 857, 859,
Government House Burnt, 1862, ...
Gimbo!it« on Lakes, 1867
H
Hagerman, I'. A
Halton, Willinra
Hamilton, Alexander .KiS,
PLamilton Foundry burnt. 1870
Hfimi ton eteameis
Hampton, Goiiernl
Haulau, Edward 948,
Harbottle, Thomas
Harris, T. D 575,
Harris, W. R
Harrington, John
Harrison, S. B
Harper, Lieutenant
Hartney, Patrick
Harston. C. G
Hay & Company's fire, 1882
Head, Edmund Walker, Sir
Head, Francis Bond, Sir
Heath, Charles
Helliwell Brothers
Helliwell, Willianu 1035, 10^8,
Hennepin, Father
Herchmer, Jacob
Horcuics Hcok aiui T^adder ComiHuiy
506,
Ueioiu Andrew
Uetou. .Samuel
Hess & Company's fire, 1889
Heward, Frank
Hey.«, So'oiiioii
Ui.iier, Major
Hi'ilicr, Thomas
Ilosg's Hollow
Ho.;g's Hollow church
Hogg, James
Ho.land, G. B
Holland, 8., Major
Home District Grammar Schof>l
Hook and Ladder Co., first officers...
Horse boats 702. 703
I'ACK
('t32
031
041
710
630
1094
910
790
808
000
oin
049
043
812
1001
889
905
802
034
925
105(1
1098
012
049
932
1085
S)51
899
849
,079
029
749
80O
1001
1106
052
1()89
1052
1048
617
1039
816
872
612
955
1001
650
583
1017
07«
1090
709
709
708
905
099
L00«>
.'i'05
S84
PAfJK
Horse raecs of 1888 *75H
Horse races of 1839 753
Horse rotes of 1840 754
Horse races of 1857 765
Horse races of 1876 755
Horwood, G. C 815
Howland. F. A 769
Howland, Peleg 770
Howland, W. P 770
Hull, W„ General 1005, 1113. 1120
Humbertitoue, Thomas 709
Hundredth Regiment, formation of
774, 778
Hunter. Peter 096, 1061
Hunter, Robert 580
Hunter, Wi.liam 712. 713
1
Indians' grave 701
Irving, J. AE 698
Introduction Mteam fire engines 592
Iron Block Burnt. 1872..... 046
.1
.lackeon. Cliflou 706
Jackion. John Mills 706
Jacques & Hay 615
Jacques & Hay, Fires at 623, 625
Jail on Gcrrard Street Burnt, 1862 034
James, Robert 749, 752
Jarvis, E 614
Jarvis, Family 1023
JarvLs, Samuel P 1023
JarvLs Stephen 072, 1003
Jarvis, W. B 1089
.Jesuit Father* 695
Johnson, John 74»1
Joseph, Frank 1126
Jukes, W. A 940
K
Keele, W. C 735, 755
Kent, Duke of 822
Kerr, Martin 600
Kerr, Thomas 593, 590
Ketchum, .Jesse 1034
Killed and Injured .Jacques & Hav's
Fire .".... ($27
Kingsmill, Colonel 760
Kingston Regatta, 1841 877
Knox Thurch Burnt 618
L
Lake Battles, 1759
Lake Ontario Steamers, 1809-1895,
982
Lake Shipping, 1799 '
Ijjike Shore Toll Gate Burnt, 1861."
Lnnihton Mills
La S^ille Rene, Jtobert 815]
Lathom, Henry ]
Lawrence's Tannery
Leak's Soap Works
Lee, Dr ['
Leonard, H. B ][
Iy<'gislative Assembly, 1821
lA'gielative Council," 1821
I/'giierre, Ivw
819
989
830
633
767
981
813
708
814
1099
581
1097
1097
627
•^^^f^t
Xil
(JKNKRAL IXDKX.
Lowia&Gi., Itico 018
Lindiiay, Charles (J7«
Lippiucott, Uichard 710, 1068
Lount, HamuGl 1051
IiOrii« and Victoria Park SitenmorK... '.♦58
Ijoynl and Patriotic Society of I'.C. 087
M
Macaulay. JamcH 1020, 109!)
Macaulay, James S 1020
MacdouL'lI, Angus D 749
Mackenzie Itcbelliou and Firenu'ii 508
Macnab, Allan 808
Macnab, Alexander 097
Macnab. Rev. Dr 097
Macklem, Oliver T 890
MaRrath, .Tames 1043
Mail Building Burnt 054, 055
Mansion Hoiwe Hotel Ol.S
Market Elevator Burnt 050
Markham, Earlv Settlers in 092
Marks, William 092
Marks, William ■'ih7
Mauleverer, Colonel 912
Mechanics' Institute V50, 700
Mechanics' Institute, Presidents ... 759
Mechanics' Institutes, Secrotarie.s ... 760
Mechanics' Institute, TreasurerK ... 700
Medical Board, First 1099
Meehan Terrence '>f^~, 029
Meunonists 097
Mercer, Sanuii'l lOOl
Meyerhoffer, V. P 714
Militia Officers, 1798 080
Militia at Queenstou, 1840 874
Miller. George 1091
Millov, A 955
Moodie, Robert 909
MoodLe,, Susanna 867
Morrison, Joseph 673
Mortimer, George 714
Murphy, John 1019
Murrray, Captain 827
Mussoo, Tl'onas 1091
Musson, William 563
McLenn, Donald 087,1000
McLenu, Samuel 581
McLeod, Martin 691
McGiJl. .Tohn 1009
McK'n'ey Fire 659
McDonnell, Archibald, of Newiuar-
ket 1019
McGlyn, Murder Trial, 1864 697
N
Nnsih, James 648
Xaval Events on Lake Ontario in
1776-1783 821
Navy Hall, Niagara, Building o' 7.'^7
Neifrapapers, Early 1054, 1060
Ninifara in 1790 741
NlJjgara Steamers and Their Offi-
ters 926-930
Night Guard in Rebellion Times 669
Nbrtiberu Elevator Burnt, 1870 644
PA OK
Northern Pier 681
North-west Ex|M>ditioin 799
Notable Steamei-s 860
()
Oak Ridges 69*8
O'Hara, Colonel, James 761
Ontario's First Schooners 818
Ottawa River Steamers 973
Otter, Co'onel 791, 799
O'Brien, E. G 594
OHLcera East York Militia, 1813 778
Officers East York Militia, 1837 782
Officers Fire Dppnrtment, 1846 679
Offlz-ers Hundredth Regiment 774, 1112
Offi<'inl Record I'irst Fire Brigade... 674
Osgoodby Fire of 1S95 663
P
Paterson, David 573
Plntt, Oporft-e .(594
Pell. J. E 1089
Prentice, Miles 742
Prevost, George, Sir 083, 1064, 1080
Phi'lip.0, Rev. Dr 770
Phillpotts, Captain 676
Pilgrimage riot 793
Pilkiugtoii. Robert 789
Piper, Hiram 579
Pi ice, James 573
Primitive Methodist Church burnt,
1878 647
Prince, John 1052
Printing, Early 743
Privst. L. J 7C3
Port Dalhousie Steamers 980
Potf of Entry 881
Population of Upper Canada iji 1821 1100
Postal Arrangements in 1831 85G
Post. JordMu 673
Potters' Field 702
Powell, Mary 685
Powell. W. B., Chief Justice 085, 1067
Pi-opellar Inkerman Lost 900
Proi)eller Magnet Lost 936
Provincial Great Seal 744
Provincial Insurance Company 686
Provisions. Prices of, in 1814 1005
Puiseaye, Comte de 603
Pursers, Royal Mail Line 907
O ■
(iuakere. the People Called 696,i
Queen City Steamer Burnt
Queen's Foresters and Rangers
Queen's Own Ri'les. Fi-st Officers...
Queen's Own Rifles, Fenian Raid
786,
Queen's Rnngeis. 703, 787, 789, 744,
Queen's Wharf
Quinn. John
Quiute. Bay of
R
Racquet Court Burnt, 1861
RathnaHy
" Rescue" Fl'« Engine
Red Rivtf Expedition.
708
623
672
788
788
761
680
892
1102
683
704
681
791
(IKNERAL IN'1»K.\.
Xltl
ItegimO'Utt* in QuoboiN 177U 742
Reid, George 8ii4
BichRrdsoo, Hugh 815, 853. 888. 9;'.8
Richelieu and Outario Steamers 974, 981
Ridgeway. Killed and Wouudcd 788
Ridout, J. 0 781
Ridout, Samuel 072, 678
Ridout. Thomas 672, 673, 1000, 1063
Ripley, W. H 813
Ritchey, Johu 1034
Robertson, Johu 1120
Robertson, James, & Company 659
Uobiuson, Christopher 1113
Robinson, John B 1021
Ilochester Firemen 623
Rochester Steamers 972
Rochefoucault, Duke vS24
Roe, William 687
Roger, Samuel 1126
Rossin House Burnt, 1862 636
Rouille, Fort 718, 732
.Rowan, Lieut.-Coloncl 762
Roy, Louis 743
Royal Canadian Rifles 761
Royal Grenadiers, First Officers 801
Royal Grenadiers, Firat Members... 802
Royal Grenadiers, Presentation of
Colours 803
Royal Canadian Yacht Club 963, 971
Royal Lyceum Burnt, 1874 647
Royal Opera House Burnt, 1883 663
Royal Mail Line of Steamers.. .901, 907
Rules B. A. Fire Company 666
Russell Abbey Burnt, 1856 628
BuBsell, Peter 692, 1059
Ruttan, Henry 1087
S
Saint Andrew's Market Burnt, 1860. 632
Saint James' Cathedral Burnt, 1839 614i
Saint James' Cathedral Burnt, 1849 620
Saint Stephen's Church Burnt, 1866 639
Sanson, Rev. Alexander 709, 813
Sca.dding, Rev. F 692
Scarlett, John 767, 1001
Shaw, Aeneas 746, 1059. 1073
Shaw, Alexander 746
Shaw, ieorge 746
Shaw, t ieorge A.~ 747, 807
Small, 0. C 814
Small, John 1069
Snarr, John 814
Spanish Caravels 956
dpark, Colonel 764
Stanton, Robert 1034
Strachan, James 708
Strachan, Dr. Johu 612, 1007
St. Georgo, H. Q 694, 1007
Secord, Laura 1022,1081
Selkirk, Lord 1018
Settlers In Markham 692
Settlers in Yaughan 692
Shea, John 1128
Sheaffe. Sir Boger^ 1075, 1077
Sheppard. Joseph 1001
Sherwood, Samuei 678
PAOE
Sluum Firo 'EngiiicH Firnt Introduced 692
Steamer Admiral Burnt 894
Steamer Caro'.itr Destroyed 868
Steamer Cataraqui Burnt 878
Steamer Cherokee 880
Steamer Commerce Wrecked 882
Steamer Commodore Barrie, Wreck-
ed 877
Steamer Frontenac Burnt 854
Steamer George Washington Burnt... S72
Steamer Lady Elgin Wrecked 910
Steamers on Lakes, 1809-1895... 982, 989
Steamers on Lake Simcoe...699, 872,
886, 911, 944
Steamer Morrison. J. C Burnt 900
Steamers on Ontario in 1836 868
Steamer Ocean Wave Burnt 894
Steamer Passport, Accident on 882
Steamer Peerless Disappears 911
Steamer Queen City Burnt 897
Steamer Queen of West Burnt 894
Steamer on Rice Lake 870
Steamer Zimmerman Burnt 916
Steward's Royal Mail Line 907
Ships on Lakes, 1706 820
Silverthome, Thomoj 1034
Simcoe, John Graves 826
Simpson Fire, 1895 667, 668
Sinclair, Captain 956
Smith, A. M 717
Smith, Ooldwin 1110
Smith, James 587, 688, 612
Smith, Larratt 716
Scobie, Hugh 616, 686
Scott, J. H 944
Somerset. William 618
StoUery, Colonel 807
Storms and Shipwrecks 907
Storm, Thomas 570, 612
Sullivan, R. B 677
Summer Hill 704
Sutherland, James 864
'I'
Talbot, Thomas 1097
Tandem Club Meetings... 1040, 1048,1091
Taylor, J. F 745
Traill. C. P 1095
Temple, Captain 613
Teraulay Cottage 619
Teraulay Street Fire, 1877 649
Terry, Parshall 994
Thomson, Archibald 1000
Thomson, E. W 734, 1087
Thomson, John 764
Thompson, Charles 894
Thorne, H 1009
Toronto Ferry Steamers 959, 960
Toronto Fire Brigade By-Laws,
1887 - 602, 612
Toronto Lighthouse 680
Toronto Night Guard 760
Toronto Regatta 940, 941
Town of York, 1808 and 1809...994, 996
Town of York, Population 1793 and
1884 993, 998
XIV
GENERAL INDEX.
I'AUK
TowMlcy, J. & W 704
U
Univewrity Fire of 1890 057
V
Vaughnn, Enrly Settlora iu 692
Vankoiighuct, P. N 1089
Vessels on the Lukes, 1078-1895...982, 989
Victoria Fire Fiigine 582
W
War of 1812...709, 837. S3S, 83!) 840 842
War Vessels ou Ljikes, 1817 845
Wallia, Brown 717
WatkiuB and Harris 571
Wataon, John 027
Welte, Joseph, Colonel 1098
Wetenhall, John 1087
Wreck of the Siwedy 832
Wreck of the York 829
Whitehead, John 593, 590
Whitney, F. A 760
Whitney, G. T 1090
Whitney, J. W. 0 762
Widmer, ChriBtophoi- 814, 1099
WilBon, David 686, 689
Wilson, Stillwell 706, 1001
Wright, Edward 594
Wolseley, Garnet 789
Wonderful Vessel 860
Wood, Alexander 1007
Woodsworth, Riohard 571
Worts and Gooderham 812
Worts, James 818
Worts, James 6... 813
\
Yeo, James Sir 1088
Yonge, George Sir 70O
Yonge Street, 1882 7OI
York County Officials 990, 996
Yorkville Annexed with Toronto 601
PREFACE
This, the second volume of the " La&'^markB of Toronto," containa in popular and
lable form, a continuation of the history of the capital of old Upper Canada from
le days " When wild in woods the noble savage ran," down to the present golden hour
invention, when science with electric power whirls the citizen of to-day along streets
tversed less than a century ago by the primitive ox-motor and cart.
The first volume of " The Landmarks," found the favour of nearly a thousand
Utrons, who either by ancestry or association, had an interest, if not in Little York, at
gt in the greater Toronto. Indeed a moderate sized volume would not contain the
Written words of good-will expressed by readers for a compilation that to-day would
ftve been almost impossible by reason of the passing away of pioneers.
The pages in this volume are composed of a republication of articles by writers on
lie staff of The Toronto Evening Telegram. These articles during the past few years
kave appeared in the columns of that journal.
Each article is complete in itself and the engravings in the volume are either from
photographs or pen-drawings of the place or location represented, or from original
irawings in my possession or in the custody of public institutions, or of private
ndividuals, who have kindly placed them at my disposal.
Every effort has been made to secure absolute accuracy in the letter press, and the
bntire publication has had my personal revision. As a native bom Torontonian, with
^ver half a century's residence in the city, and a familiarity with every map, plan,
picture or drawing, of or belonging to York from the days of Mrs. Simooe — who made
ihe first picture — in 1792 and Toronto from 1834, the assurance is given that the drawings
Ke faithful reproductions of the originals.
Of the first volume one thousand copies were printed, and of these less than one
bundred remain unsold, so that with the advent of the second volume and the orders
received for the two volumes the first number will shortly be out of print.
The edition of the second volume is limited to one thousand copies and it will not
be reprinted. The price is the same as that of the first volume — two dollars a copy.
The third volume w^ill be issued in September of 1896, and will contain about two
hundred engravings, with a large amount of new matter concerning early York and also
, complete history of each church in the city from 1792-1896.
The value or ^his publication is enhanced by tlie fact that it is now the acknowledged
Dk of reference in connection with the history of York and Toronto, in the courts of
siw and in arbitrations concerning property in Toronto. In a recent case of arbitration,
jin which a large sum of money was involved, the original drawing, a copy of which had
fappeared in The Evening Tdegram and is now in this volume, was an important piece of
levidence, so much so that the arbitrator admitted that its production was a moat material
[aid in arriving at a decision.
Copies of this volume may Iw obtained by remitting two dollars to the office of The
\Kvening Telegram, or by personal application.
The volume is offered to the public in the belief that from cover to cover it contains
[information which must interest not only the pioneers, who are still to the fore, with their
[descendants, but the residents of later years who have made the capital city of this
[province their home and abiding place for all time to come.
J. ROSS ROBERTSON.
^
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Isketches of Old Houses and Places of Interest From 17 92-! 395.
CHAPTER CXCVI.
THE FIRE BRIGADE OF OLD.
Story ol' tlH' Toroiilo I'lrr I'ompHiiirii rreiii
lliclr i:«'Kiiiiiluc t» lhi> T4'nc IH95.
In this adviiiK'tMl age ol' iiu't'luuiical and
iBcit'iitilic progvosfl, wlioii firi's are fought
■•with ,«te'ani liri' (MigiiicH diwhargiug from
|40<) to 1,750 iinitn-ial galloii:^ of watiT
iiiiiiuto, acM'ial laddi>rH. water towerM
laiiil other mnjHidiary appliaacfH sf)ecially
I'Kigui'd to auKiiu'iit thi' vnoiis of fire-
BK'ii, thi- piiinitivc di'vioe« of K'« than
liaK a coiilury ago an> oiUii'i' uiikuowu
|to the present gi-uoratiori or are almost
Jor^ottt'u by tlie eai'l^' settlers in To-
mUi wlio are still alive. In fire-fighting
iftchiuery, certainly " nothing i« like it
sell to be." From the luK'ket brigade,
rawing it« supply from ordinary wellw,
lo the hand fire engine wjus a great im-
j)rovemeut. that was later ou completely
overshadowed by the introduction of
team fii'e engines, pumping from tanks
illed from hydrants or water carta. The
stablisluneut of the prewnt water-workw
ysteiu iu Toronto, iu 1S72, furnished fur
time a satisfactory fire pressure, and
be steam engines were relegated to re-
tirement.
The ei;i of t:sll buildings demonstrated
iusnfiiciouey ol the fire pressure to
Bax;h above the third storey, however,
id the three disastrous conflagrations
the eaiCy part of 181>5 forced a re-
to the use of steam ougiuea as a
;>asurc of BcK-protcction from the rav-
ges of the devouring element.
When hand fire eugiuiM camo into use
lie bucket brigade pi\.ssed out of exist-
ace, water being conveyed to the en-
|[inea in large barrels, fillini at tt»e bay
ad carried ou waggona to the scene of
tic tire, a premium being paid to tbn;
U'ter first arriviug with k supply of
rater. The rivalry amongst the city cart-
|rH waa always keea, and H»ai\y aa e*-
iting race wiis witnessed as the men
rove their horses at a t'urioos puce id
win the i)rize. Oftentimes the barrel %Vk
the first cart wcmld be le>s than half
filleil, til" ji'ltin^; ovei' tiie fciiuli roaiLi
having causeil a wholesale s|iilliiin'. ThiB
UKwle of sujiply was in force m l!S34,
when Torontd waH incorijoiated.
(•lie hundi'ed anil fifty \eais before
Christ, lleio, in Alexanilria, de-ciibed a
maeliine i>'i iie'd li.\- him " ihe .SiphouB
used in C(>nilai;r:.tions," which with some
additions, sueii as liose and some iuii)rove-
ments in the details of coustrneti e.^i, is
in;iet ie'iiiy the same ns the haml fire en-
gines first introduced inti> Toronto. So
early as the middle i>f the seventeenth
eejituiy there were hand euKiae.s iu the
eit.v of Xurembert!; worked by twenty-
eight men, whieh threw a stream of
M'ater an inch in diameter ti> a height
of eighty feet. Necessarily, in a small viN
lage the c'onditinns are sueh that all
methods of oxlinKuishing fires must b«
crude and iueffieient.
In 11S20, and for some years snbsenuent-
ly, the law waa that everj- householder
should keep two leather buckets liangiug
in a conspicuous place in front of his
lionse. On an alarm, whieh wjim sounded
by shouting and ringing the bell of St.
Jaini's' Church, then the only bell in the
city, a doable row of citizens wa.s form-
ed from the burning building to tlie Bay,
or to the nearest ei«teru, and along one
line were piiased tlie buckets full of water,
and down the other the empty buckets.
In 182(j, eight years before York be-
came Toronto, the first fire departnn.'ut of
the town was organized.
The first fire engiiie company waa in-
stituted in the year 182<). and wa*; com-
peeed of some of the m'>st respectable
merchants and tradesmen of the town.
Mr. Cnrfrae, jr., by whom the company
vfcJR fiirt formed, wa^ elected first cap-
tain, and was re-elected every yeai dur-
ing the six 3'ears he remained in the
company. Ho was succeeded by William
Mnsson.
The engine house, or fireman's hall, of
this company, and the first iu Toronto,
^m
nM
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
B I-
IS
X
I
s
•/I
E-
o
y
a
s
as
B
y
o
o
B
K
X
EH
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
SAft
K
2
■/.
H
J*
if
A
s
2
S
I
s
1-1 73
M
t
>!;
<;
o
AS
U
•<
s
75
o
w
a
s
S3
B
nd «iii the went »ldo of Church itrcet,
h.> next bnilding south of tho old Scotch
lirk. aiitl botwtH-ii Court ftud AdclRUlc
tni'tM. It was a two Mtoro.v brick build-
mi nnounte I in the rear part by «
mall tower, eiucw reuiovfd. The build-
^j; wu« in ll^J** divided into thii'<!
liri ,ioii* or compartment*. The south
J,i«l«>u wni occupied by Phoenix No. 1
ugi ic. tho centre by cugiuc No. 2, uuil
\
\\» offlcern of 188:i were :— WiHiaai
MuKBon, cn|)tnin ; David Pateraoa, first
lieutennnt : John ArmntrooKf Mcoud liea*
teniiiit : 'I'honuin Pliitt, treasurer ; Alex*
auder Ilaniiltou. iwcretary.
Every (iieman duriuK bis coutinuaoM
ill nctunl duty was exempted from mili«
till duty in Ihi' time of |N>aee, from Herviitg
<ut a juryiiinn or a Cimstuble, aud Iron
all other pariith and town olficea.
FIHST FIRK HAI.L — BAY 8TREKT— BUILT 1841.
jifi iioth by thii Hook anl Lulilcr Coin-
ing. The bell tower wtus at the south-
cat coiTxer, i'l the rear of the buildiiip,
I'l i:i this was a bell, which was ru;ic:
Bm a rope in the rear of tho south
ivisjon, occupierl by the Plineiiix Coin-
iiiy. At the i-o ir of the bui'iiiiig was also
loiiK fihel, one storey lii;li. imed for
rviii};' hose. The bell -wn'-: ; fti'i-warils
Bug ia the steeple of St. James' church,
I'l wjis destroyed iu the fire of 1849.
[Ill 1833 the company, which still occn-
led the Church street fire hall, was fifty
^roiiR and had two excellent fire engines,
firo engines went in those times, and
K/iil 750 fotft of lic/ei?.
The fl 8t liO)k and Indder company was
fo: me 1 ii April, lS3i. It iKX-aesscd the
.lame p ivili'ges an I exemptious as
the fire compnuy. It M-as sixty
stronp;. Its offii'ers were :— Captain
Thomas Emery, fiint lieutenant Michael
P. Emery, second liiMitenant Archibald
McLellaii, treasurer William Ketchum,
wcretary ChaiicH Hunt. It was called
Phoenix No. 1. Money wa« raised by sub-
fCriptioM for a second engine, which wau
called No. 2.
As before stated, the two engines and
hook and ladder apparatus occupied the
Chureh street building.
In 1837 the City of 'loronto Fire Enifine
^
u
flOC
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Conip.-iiiy ;\ii(l the City of TdiTiiito Hook
and I, 'diii'i- Coniiiiny o'-Miipicil tin' Kiuue
building i»ii till- wosL ol' Cluiii'li stn'ft ad-
joiniii,; tilt' Court iiuurfi.' as siiici' tlii'ir for-
m.'itioii.
'I'lii- cii;;!!!!' civin|i:iiiy w.'is iHiiiippcd with
two cir'iii'.s iiiid iiujiiln'rcd si'vciity iiioin-
bers. Its ollici'ia v.imc : — \V'illi;iiii Mii-ison,
captain, ■Fi'liii liaki'r, lii'iitt'iiaiit of No. 1
onjuiic : William Moriison, licuti'uaut of
No. 2 I'Hijiiu'; .). F. Wcstlaiid. treasurer;
Chail.'.M iliiiit. s'Cictary of tlio company.
Till- !•<>•>•; ;lii 1 l,idd"i- I'umpany consisted
of ^ixty nu'uihi'rs, officered by Willifim
Kot'liiiia. ij-e.siilciit; .M. P. Enipey, first
lieulriiant; \Villi:iiii lUr-.'i, scfond lietiteu-
wnt; William i;riglit, troiusurer; George
L. .No'ion, sec re la ry.
Following llii'ir pioneer en^'ines cnnip
No. 3, ;i machine jriven by llie I'.ritish
Anioricn l>ife and I' r' A-snr-nr I'lin-
pany. She Avas Iviiowu as the " British
Anieii'i,' .lul wjw a Moniieal " i > >■
aal uil " tub. No. 3 was liou~oJ i:i the
hall at the .s<mlli-east corner of I'.ay and
Temperance utreets, wliieli waa built in
ls;!!M(). At the north ('oiin'r wa-. .i > h- i
fo:- the lio^o carriage, and next south
\. ;:;< a one sldri''.' iiiildimi', whi'ri' i 'U'
cnji'ine stood. This building was originally
two <'omparii.K'jit.s, th" south one bi inu;
(vcupie ! Ijy .\'./ ;> ("iiKii^e, and the iKirili
by Ilei<ules i!(K)k an I I/idder ('oinir'ny.
The ^^lled on Ih'' ^outh f^i le, which after-
ward w.iM bni:l up, waM m'cupied by the
Ho--e Company. Sn thit tli.' eiiiire huih!-
i:!;;; \vaj< p;aetically <Iivi(Ied, as it is to-
liay (18",)5) into three eompai'lnu'nUs.
The " fore auii aft engines '' weri' move
poweifn! than the jdmo or goose iie<dv
ma •hiae*', as thi'y could bo worki'd by
a I'ui^er fo-.ee. Tin" full crew of a
"fore and aft" was from twelve to
fifteen men at each brake, and tin' full
Crew of .M ])iano wa*f seven or eiclit at
each 1)r"a!:. I'rom the book of ndmiles of
No. .T. from its inception in April 2G,
IS.'lT. to the early part of lS4n, some ex-
tract-i are (inr)ted. .among (itli'rs those re-
latinu' to the part the company took in
the Mackenzie ndiellidn. Th" first entrv
date-: .Api'il L'C. l.s'JT. reads;
"A fire engine, prot'ured by the I'.ritish
American I^ife and I'ire Assurance Com-
pany, having arrived at G o'clcck in the
cvenin^j;, tlu- following person-s coirvened
at the engiiv^ house and volunteered their
sorviecN to form a company for wurking
her: David Patcrson. Alex'an(h'r Hamil-
ton, Kielianl \*"(rorlsw(U'th. Alexander
Henide, (leorge Ilarbron, ddhn Adainson,
Joseph Dixon, .rdhn Milh'r. 'IhomaH Mills,
William D"iie;in. Charles (Iraham. Itich-
nrd Nortl.^dte. .Jnhn I'.ell. D/.vid Ilender-
Hoii, I'rancis MeMahon, Kdward Knlisdn,
James Fer^iisun, Isaac Kohmson, KoherL
Barnee and John McKeuzie. David I'ater-
Bon heing called to the chair, and Alcx-
amh'r Hiimilton appointed wecretary, the
follo\\ii}g resolution wa.s adopted, viz.,
That David Paterwon. iiichard Wooilw-
worth, Jofseph Dixon, (Jeorge Ilarbrou
and Alexander Hamilton be a ccniimiltee
to afl(;pt by-laws for the company and
repoi-i next Wedncsda.y evening at 7
o'clock."
] On May 3rd the coinpa.ny met accord-
, ing to adjournment, wlien the idllnwing
, additional Viilunteers were adniilted :
Jorseph Willson, George .Nit'holls. iUram,
Pi|K>:' and Kobert Stewart. The c-imniit-
. tc-e re|)<)rted, when tiie followiiig by-la \V8
were adopted for the future gcveriiment
1 of the Company :
I " That kn- the diisciiiliue and rej^ulaiion
! of the company, a captain, a fiist and
second lieuteuaut, a trea.surtM- and sec-
retary he apiioiuted by ballot, to be in
office one ,vear.
" That the comjiaiiy meet on the fir.st
Monday of every month, at the hour of
G.:i() p'm.
'■ That a majorit.y of the members fvirni-
ing tlie c<)mpany, including the captain
or lieutenant, be a (juorum. and com-
jietent to p:o:'eed to business.
■■ That the loll be called at half-past six"
o'clo(dc. when those al)senl nhal! be lined
one shilling and three pence, r. iid. if ab-
sent lor the night, two shilling.s and six-
lience.
'•That the lines shall be paid on ilie first
day of meeting after being imposed, and
tliat no exemptions be admitted unless
lor actual sickness, sickness in the fam-
ily reiiniiiiig the attendance oi the mem-
bers, or they being absent five miles from
the city on business of necessit.v.
'■ That if the fines are not paid to the
treasurer on or belVire the second day
' of meeting after they are levied, the name
I of such person tir pereiinis offending be
' rejKirted to the c< miiany, and if not imid
i by the regular meeting night following
i they shall be exix'lle 1.
I " That ; 11 moneys by fines or otherwise
' go to a general fund, and be ap;:!i(Ml
from tiin' to time to such puipo-es as
a niajo;ity of the company shall direct.
" Tluxl it shall lie llie dut \ ot every iiiein-
ber, in ca.se of tire, to repair forthwith to
the engine Uouse to assist in conveying
the engine to the place of fire, to work
it, and to reniiin there until the fire
shall Ix' extinguished, o;' until discharged
by the offici'r in command.
" That it is necessary for the good order
of the Company that a fine of one shill-
ing be imiwtseil for disobedience of orders
at private meetings, and two shilling.s
and six|R'nee while ou duty with the en-
gine: al-() that any meinlior who shall
be guilty Ol smoking, u-iiig profane l.m-
guagi; o:- tiVi-4'iring at any meeting of the
l.ANDMAUKS OF TORONTO.
oO?
ir, !in(l Alox-
(•(•ivtary, tho
loptiMi, viz.,
Iianl \V(iO(ln-
)rtrt' IIiirbrt)ii
a I'oiiiuiiUoo
[jorniiauy aud
?iuiirf ;it 7
nii't iiccord-
tlif folldwing
■e athiiiUi'il :
•holls, i!ir;iiu
Th'' <"iniiiit-
wiiiK liy-l:i\vrt
p gdvcriuui'ut
nd rf(,tilati<)ii
, a fiiSl: and
.ircr anil si'C-
Uol, lo be in
on till' i'lvat
the linuf of
nenihiM's forni-
5 the eaptain
ini. aii'.l t(.ini-
less.
t h;i!f-i'''''<l '■'^
nhal! l)e lined
e, ;■■ in!, it ab-
liug.'i iind .six-
,iil i.u 1 Ir.' tii'st
inipixed. and
inilii'd niih's.s
'u the taui-
oi ilie iiu'ni-
uiile.s I'l'om
■isity.
paid to the
sercind day
d, the name
ofli'iiding' 1)1'
I il' not paid
iL i'ollowiiig
ve
'le
S
or otherwise
he api'Ued
purpiris aH
shall direct.
I ewry inein-
iorthwilh to
n conveying
iiv, lo work
ntil the fire
il discharged
he good order
of one uliill-
uoe of ordei's
two HhiUiiig.s
with till' on-
\v1k> fiiiail
profane lan-
K'oting of the
conipiinj' si. all be.snlijoot to a line of one ,->liil-
ling lor the lirst otrence,two shillini^'s for the
sceiiiid yllenue, and expelled for the third.
'• Til, it every nieinber of the conii)!iny
wear liis lire hat where priictiee or any duty
with the eniiine id reijuireil, on default of
whit li the tine of one .shilling and three-
I)enee shall he levieil on such person or per-
sons will) shall wilfully negleia this rule,
unless the jiei'sou can prove otherwise to the
sati'taetion of the company.
"Thai it is expedient, should a vacancy
occur, that the coinp.my do till it up as soon
as practioalile by the tirst suitable volunteer.
'•That all applications for niendiership to
this eonipany be in writing, or tlirougli the
ineinliers of this company, and tliat tliey do
lie over for one month after being proposed
before they can be granted."
After the adoption of the foregoing rules
or bylaws, the company balloteil for
ollieers for the ensuing year, the ieiiipurary
appointment of ca))lain and sei;ri'lary I'cing
conlirnied. The ollieers chosen were :
Fir.st lieutenant, Rieliard Woodsworth,
carriiu 11 to 7 ; second lieutenant, A.
Rcnnie, ciU'i'ied 12 to 2 ; treasurer, Joseph
Dixon, carried 8 to 7 ; tirst branehinan,
Robert Stewart ; second branchman, John
Adanison. 'i'he meeting adjourned until
the tirst .Monday in dune, at half-past six
o'clock. A list of the company was sent to
the Clerk of the Council.
On Monday, the 5th June, '■■>,S7, the com-
pany met at half-past six, and was informed
that satisfactory arrangement.! were entered
into with tlie officers of the other fire com-
pany respecting the supplies of water ; that
the city authorities had passed a resolution
placing this company on the same footing as
the other tire companies of this city, and
that the certificates were getting ready.
The company appointed the oliieers a com-
mittee to obtain information where coats for
those at present uusuppliedcoidd be obt lined.
On July 3, 1837, the company met .t the
usual hour. The following volunteered at
the first monthly committee to take care of
the engine, hose, etc.: — I'atersou, Hamilton
and .Mills. Mr. J. Dickson, seconded by
Mr. Mills, moved <^hat Richard Tinning be
admitted a member of the compiiny, and
rule 12 being suspended, lie was elected
fcccordingly. Messrs. Rvterson, Dickson
Mid Harbron were apptiinted a committee
to procure caps for the company. Mr.
Joseph Wilson, sccoiuled by A. Rcjinie,
moved that Hugh McNeil be admitted a
member of the company.
On August 7th, 1837,_the company met at
the usual hour, when it called npon some
absentees of former nights for fines due.
Some conversation ensued when fining or
excusing members, wlio upon the day of
meeting siiould be calhul away from the
city u])!)!! business, after which the follow-
ing clause was ordered to be added lo the
.Uh section of the by-laws, luvmely, "or
that iieing five miles distant from the city
on neiessitous business." It was moved l)y
Edward Robson, seconded by John Bell,
that the committee appointed on tiie night
in Jidy lo procure caps do so forthwith.
On Monday, 4th Sej)tember, 18;}7, the
company met at the usual ])laee at half
past six. The inacliiiie was taken out to
the door of the engine house, where water
being |)rocuied it was worked handsonvly
by the company for a few niiuiites, tiie
engine perforniing to the satisfaction of the
members, throwing water to the distance of
140 feet hori/untally. After working the
maciiine ami running the water suliiciently
through the hose they were taken in, a
number of fines collected, and the cap com-
mittee directed to forward the completion
of them with all speed. New members pro-
])osed were : — Henry Cowan, by D. Patenson
and R. Stewart ; Richard Owtn, by
Thomas Mills ; 'J'honias Saunders, by Joseph
Wilson and Edward Robson. D. I'aterson,
J. Miller and H. Piper were the monthly
committee for the care of the engine.
On Monday, October 3rd, lS;i7, the com-
pany met according to adjournment, at six
o'eiock — seventeen members present. The
machine being now quite finished, and all
the company in good spirits, they got a
puncheon of water at the door of the engine
house, and ran it through the hose ; found
all well. On a motion of George Harbron,
seconded by Alexander Rennie, that rule 12
be susjiended, the members proposed on the
evening in December were elected by a show
of hands, together with John Bngg, pro-
])osu(l ))y Robert Stewait, seconded by Mr.
Woodsworth. Thomas Smith, proposed by
John Rell seconded by A. Rennie.
On :\londay, fith November, 1S37, the
n-gular meeting of the company took
jilnce at the engine liouw at luilf-paBt six
o'clock. Some convei'sation took place re-
B|iectii\g the jii'opriety of having a per-
son apiiointed to tnke eiiarge of the engine
and keep her in go<iil order nnd in con-
Btnnt readiness for operation, and also
after working to take care lo have her
immediately eleniied. It was agreed that
it shall continui' ius formerly until the
next meeting, during which time (>nquiry
m.-iy be made whellier some (suitable per-
son can be procured for that purpose,
Messrs. Miller nnd Millu ngiee to call oa
the ciiptain and assist him in greasing
the \\iieel8 of the machiic. ProjKJBed by
U. \\<K)dBWorth, «ecoiido<' by G. Harbron.
S. E. Taylor. Proposei h; R. Woods-
ii
m
f^^
mi
fi68
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
worth, seconded by G.Harbron.Thoa. Storm.
PropoHed by R. Tinning, seconded by John
Bell, John Charters. Rule 12 being suspend-
ed at the motion of Richard Woodsworth,
seconded by A. Rennie, the above members
were elected bv a show of hands.
On December 4th, 1837, the regular
monthly mcctiug uight, the company met
a.t the utiu^I hour. It was rcaolvcd that
the name df George Nicholls be expunged
for uou-attendanco. The following new
members were proposed, and. rule 12 be-
ing suflpeuded, were immediately initi-
ated : Henry Stewart, proix>sed by John
Dixon, seconded by Jamea Ferguson; John
Campbell, proposed by Thomas Mills,
Beconded by Robert Barnes.
On December 5th, 1837, about one a.m.,
the city was alarmed by the ringing of
the fire bell; but on enquiry the alarm
■was found to proceed not from any fire,
but Irom a report that a number of
persoius, said to be associated with Mac-
kenzie (noted character for disaffection
and op|)OHition to Government), were in
the vicinity and approaching tlie city,
for the purpose of burning and pillaging
it and overturning tlie Government. Some
of the company believing and some dis-
believing the report, some immediately
repaired to the City Hall and took up
arms, and some repaired to their respec-
tive homi^. On the return of day, the
report being fully confirmed, a number
of the members volunteered into various
militia for active duty, but the day
paused without anything deci.sive being
done, the rebels threatening to attack
the city, and the citizens, who were loyal,
preparing for their receiving a warm
welcome. This day Dr. Holmes' house
was burnt by the rebels, and one of their
men shot by a reconnoitering party
under W. B. Jarvis.
The entry of Wednesday, December 6,
1837, says : " This day Dr. MorrlKon was
arrested, and the volunteers from the
Gor,' and Niaj^ara disti'iels hetr.-m to ai rive."
Thursday, December 7, 1S37. This, morn-
ing the secretary addres.sed circulars to
every member di the corap.iiy to meet
at the engine house at ten Dclock a.m.
All not on active duty repaired to the
Bpot, when it wa« moved by Alexamler
and resolved that the time is corae wlien
Hamilton, seconded by Joseph Wilson,
we feel it to be our duty to take arma
as an independent volunteer company, to
resist the attem[)t of traitors and rebels
to invade our rights and di.^^turb our
peax-e, and that a deputation do immedi-
ately wait upon his Honour the Mayor
to offer our services in any way he may
think proper, and receive his orders. It
was moved by Richard Woodsworth.
Beconded by Joseph Wilson, and re.solve(l
that the captain, secretary and treasurer
be the deputation to wait upon th«
Mayor. Accordingly the Mayor was wait,
ed on i'n.stantly, when he informed th«
deputation that he felt gratified anc
obliged by the voluntary offer of servic*
i by the British American Fire Company
■ He requested, as the safety and defence
of the city was by his Excellency th«
Governor committed to him, that tb«
British American Fire Company would
ncrt; leave the city, but repair forth-
with with their arms and en- 1
gine, cistern, etc., to the market squari
and there await his further orders. Ttie |
deputation returned to the engine house,
delivered the orders of the Mayor to th«
company which were immediately com-
plied with, and with the greatest ala-
crity by the company, with the exception
of iiobert Stewart and John Bugg, to i
f^upply whose place and fill up deficien-
cies were proposed (and rule 12 beinp; ]
suspended) elected John Phillips, proposed
by Mr. Woodsworth seconded by John
Adamson. George Simpson, proposed by ]
Mr. Hamilton, seconded by Mr. Woods-
worth. William Walker, proposed by Mr.
Hamilton, seconded by Mr. Woodsworth, j
John Rogers, proposed by Mr. Ilarbron, j
.•seconded by Mr. Adamson. Richard Hast-
ing.-!. proposed by Mr. Peterson, seconded |
by Mr. Woodsworth. Alex.ander Simpson.
prop(««ed by Mr. Woodsworth, seconded bj- 1
Mr. Hamilton. John Collins, proposed bv
.Mr. llamillon, seconded by Mr. Paterson.
James Bell, proposed by Mr. Wilson,
Kcconded by Mr. Paterson. Mr. Alex- 1
ander Simpson being rather old request-
ed leave to resign and substitute in hii |
place his son Robert Simpson. His re-
quest was acceded to most cheerfully by I
the company. The company continued
some time on the stiuare exercising when
the repoi't was brout^ht that the rebels j
to the nuuiber of 700 or 800 wore enter-
ing the city by the Don bridge, and our j
company ordered to be in readiness to j
{•ive ihem a warm reception. Immediate-
ly' after the .Mayor ordered the company i
out with the machine, as the rebels hdd j
commenced firing the city in the neigh-
bourhood of tlie Don bridge. With greiit i
spirit t'.e members of the company st;irt-
ed for the scene of action, most
of them with muskets in their
hands and the drag rope in the oilier, i
but ere their arrival at the building on i
fire the enemy had disappeared, not even|
waiting to Hee its, much less to fight, the i
' heavy rumbling of the engine and cis-
; tern having frightened them into the be-
lief that the cannon was on the track.
On our arrival at the bridge our gallant
captain ordered the engine into opcrn-
tion, but upon reconnoitering it wi\»
found the buildiugs were beyond salva-
tion, with the exception of the toll lioii.>-o,
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
669
The briilRO we saved by pulling up Bome
of the plauks and pouring water from
buckets upon the buruiug timbers. After
the fire was extinguished the company
again made it« way to the station into
thi' Market Square about 9 in the eveu-
iiijr- The committee of the news roi^m
granted to us thi> use of it for a guard
room for the night, where we took up
our station, the engine being in the vesti-
bule of the market under sentry of our
uwn. An alarm was given in the evening,
which waa attended to by the company
in their usual spirited style, but tound
to be only a chimney. At midnight the
Mayor came in and informed us that he
had j'lst received intelligenci> that about
sixty-one of the rebels were but a short
distance below the Don bridge and that
he wanted volunteers to go with him and
attack and secure them. Immediately
Thomas Storm, John Rogers, William
Duncan, Johu Phillips, John Collins and
Alexander Hamilton volunteered to fol-
low wherever he would lead. To those he
added fourteen more with himself and the
high bailiff on horseback, and with these
he proceeded down the Kingston Uoad,
to the lower toll gate, or the fourth mile
tree, when seeing or hearing nobody the
Mayor ordered us to return, thanking us
most handsomelj- for the firmness and
resolution in following him so far from
the city at iniduight. About three o'clock
we arrived at thi' guard room again and
were welcomed by our comrades. After
daylight, the rebels being ilisijersed and
routed in all directions, the company
took the machine again to the engine
house, but us a preeautionary mea-
Bure, well aware that many incendiary
traitors were still in the city, though as
yet unknown, it was unanimously resolved
that the members of this lire companj-
consider it expedient, under existing cir-
cinnstancos, to hold themselves in active
duty as volunteers or lircincii nislit or day.
On the 8th it wa.«! moved by Joseph
Dixou, seconded by Mr. Millor, and re-
solved that Robert Stewart and .loliu
Bugg be expelled from the company for
refusing to take arms as military volun-
teers in tinira of imminent danger. Dur-
ing this, tiH well ibs the following night,
the company kept up a guard of from
twelve to twenty men, a party of which
were constantly patrolling the sti'eets to
prevent fires and arrest suspicious per-
Kous. On Saturday, itth December. 1837,
the company was still on tlu' alert, and
the patrol still kept up, ;us also on Sun-
day, the 10th.
On Monday, .January 1. 1S3S, the regu-
lar monthly meeting to;)k place at the
pugiue house. It was enipiired into the
cause of H:mry Cowan's being confined
iu jail, and found to be on a charge of
high treason; but upon his producing &
certificate from R. S. Jamieson, Vice*
I Chancellor of the province, aud one of th«
j commissioners apix)inted to enquire into
the chr.rges of treaaon of hia discharge,
I he was allowed to remain a member «il
the company. The company still con-
tinued to act as night watch and patrol
I iu conjunction with a number of respect-
I able citizeius under Clark Gamble, Esq^
the company taking the duty of two
nights out of five.
At a special meeting on January 5th,
Mr. D. Patersou stated that a number of
1 those whose duty it was to be on duty
the preceding evening were delinquent. It
: was moved l)y Thomas Mills, seconded by
Thomas Storm, and resolved that any
member of the company being absent on
any night for which by the general con-
sent of the company it ia hia duty to be
on patrol exeejit in ease of personal sick-
ness, or sickueas in the family requiring
; his attendance, or pr;x'uring a substi-
I tute bi'lousing to the company, shall be
; fined five shillin;4-8. The foregoing resolu-
I tion effecting wiiat was desired, a punc-
tual attendance of the members, the com-
pany continued to discharge the duties
as citj- watch and patrol as before, until
the formation of a new company of one
hundred and twenty men under the com-
mand of the Mayor of the city guard, and
Alexandor Murray. Esq., ifbout the end
of the month.
On February 1st there was no alarm of
fire. At the regular meeting of the com-
; pauy at the <'ngine iiouse the following
Monday, it was moved by Mr. Joseph Wil-
: son, seconded by Mr. John Adamson, that
: the company con.sider that the alarm on
the Ist February was insufficient, and
j that thi> fine be dispensed with. This wag
' lost aud it was moved and seconded by
I the same persons that Mr. S. E. Taylor.
[ David Paterson. R. Woodsworth and A.
; Hamilton be a committee to revise the
rules and regulatitvns of this coin[):iny and
: report next monthly meeting.
! On Sunday, 25 di February, ab-'Ut one
■ of the clock, Avhile divine scrvic" was
being performed an alarm took place.
On repairing to the spot, fire wa.s f.und to
. be in the hall >f tlie Parlianieut build-
ings, and had it not been timely ob-
served, would have done iinau'iise injury.
' It was got out witlinut much damage,
I but remains nnotlu'r instimre of the necea-
I sity of the care i,i wtting and maiuige-
I ment of stoves. On the Snnday, at half-
; paet eleven p.m., there wa.s another alarm
] from !\ small house in the rear of Mr.
; John ISell's, on Richmond stre-.'t. Tl'.'>
water being very difficult to get, tbe
building was burned to the ground. For-
tunately there vfos no wind, and tiie in-
jury was stayed with the destruction of
'
57u
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO
till' one. It i« fiiiiirkod that only throe
jmnrl'.foiifl nrrivcil nltngcth'T.
foltowiiifj; (lay, at 3 |).in, tli'Tc
other fire ; tli" malt kiln of
I/Vnrli, in Diu'lu'w* str(M>t, took
On the
was (Ui-
Scott iV
fire and
dis."
th.
il)"r« I'K'cted
.i/,viu n, in uii; Mi'H.s sircti,, (."uiv i»i> ...."
■\vafi liofitroyed, lint by the timely aid of
th» onffine and a irood Rnpply of water
the connectine; liuildiiiyr ^'an ^aved.
Ou Monday, 5lh March, ls3s, the com-
pany met and ((tlleet-d 01«. and 3d. in
fines. Mention was made to tlie eompany
of tiie cirenmNtances of the old company'H
iohition, and tlie now orvcani/.ation of
fire department, whicli iiad their cor-
dial ;ij.proh;ition. New niemh'
in were : 'I'lioman J. Preston, inTijiosed by
S. K. Tnylor, rieconded by II. Stewart;
William llamilton, profiosed by A. Ham-
ilton, seconded bv S. K. Taylor: Joseph
Hodf^son, propiv>i-d by Mr. Paterson,
seconded by Robert Sim|)son : William
Itonaltlson, ' propivsed )iy Mr. llarbron,
Becond'd by Mr. Woodsworth. It was
moved by Snmnel K. Taylor, aeconded by
Mr. Woi-idpwoith. iind resolved, that tli'
eighth section of rnle.s of the company
be anieniled by addinp that uo fine ehall
be exacte'l from nu'mbers who (shall not
hear any alarm of fire occnrring b'twee!i
tlie honrs of 0 o'clock in the morning and
10 o'clock in the evening. It wa.s .^iiii-
gi'Pted that thore was necessity of tne
members of the company b'ing acqnaint'd
with the mannal and jilatoon military
exercise, and it \va,s enqnired who were
willing to attend two evenings in tlie
wook to be drilled, when the following
ga.vo in their names : David Pnters(.n,
Alexander Hamilton, Richard Wood.s-
worth, George Jlai'broii, (iertrge Simpson,
Joliii .\dainson, Thomas Saunders, .Joseph
Willson. .John Phillips, Thomas Smith,
S;imnel E. Taylor, Tiiomas Storm, Henry
ytewjirt, .Tolm Campbell, .loliu lingers,
llichanl Ila.slings. The meeting adicnrned
until tiie next Monday, tiie 12tli instant,
On Monday .at half-past six o'clock the
company met at the engine house. The
ca])t;iin then re.-id the communication
from the clerk of the Common Council, in-
forming tlie ci'inpany, ihri'Ugli him, of
their re-a]tpoiiitiiient under the .-unended
fire l;nv ;is one of the city fire engine
companies, and that in conse(inen('e this
iiiKht the company is called n])iMi to
elect new officers for tiii^ ensning year,
Mr. Paterson in llie chair and Mr. Wil-
eou ««fcr'tary. Wliereuiion it was moved
by ]\Ir. IMlton. >"Coiided by Mi'. Storm,
that rule the 12th be mispeuded for the
OToning and the officers lie elected by a
show o: hiinds. This was carried. It was
iuov.mJ by Alexander Haniiito:i, .seconded
by ,losej)h Dixon, that D;.vid Paterson be
captain of this company from this night
until the first Monday in .^Iay one tlidii-
eand and one hinidred and thirlj'-uine.
This was carried unanimously. It was
moved by George Bilton, seconded by
.Mexandi'r H.aniilton, that .Tosopii Wilson
be first lieutenant from tiiis night until
the first .Momlay in 1S39. This \\;is car-
ried. It wat» moved by Thom.-is Storm,
scconih'd by Joseph Di.xon, that Alex-
ander Kennie be second lieuteuant of tho
company until the fir.st Monday iu lS3!i.
Tills was carried. It was moved by
Tlioinas Storm, seconded by Thmnaa ,t.
Preston, tliat Jo.'^eiih Dixon be treasurer
of tiie company until the first Monday
in 1S30. CarriiHl. Moved by Thomas
Storm, seconded liy George P.iltoii, that
Alexander Hamilton be secretary of the
company until the first Monday iu May,
l!<:\\>. Carried. Moved by .Mr. Hiimiiton,
seconded by Mr. Dixon, that Ed. Uobsoii
and John Adamsoii be braHchmeu. Car-
I'ied. Moved by Mr. Ilaiiiilton, seconded
by Mr. Saunders, that Willi.-im Duncan,
James Bell .and William Hamilton be sec-
tion Iiof-emen. Carried. Moved by Mr.
IL'imilcoii, seconded by .fosepli Dixon, that
a committee be appointed to examine the
treastirer's account .and report at the
mcxt monthly meeting, and that Messrs.
Jiiseph Willson, Thom.is J. Preston,
Henry .Stewart, (ieorge llarbron. Thomas
Storm do comjiose said oomitiitti'e. Car-
ried. Moved by Thomas Storm, secondeil
by Ed. Kobson, that the capt.ain. lieu-
tenants, secretary ami treasurer do form
a commiltei' to examine and report on
the by-laws of the compjiny on the n(>xl
nioiithly meeting night. Carried. T'he nt-
nidst harmony prevjiiled ;it the meeting.
On Monday", Tth .May, 1S3S. tho com-
pany met, and after having ordered
two carters to bring up water from the
bay, ran through the hoso, found thoni in
good Older, took off the horse and ran
tiie machine up to the corner of Kin,!;
street up to tlu' Club House, and trying
her there found her able to throw water
over it. .\fter exercising some time theri.
and being satisfied with her operations,
they took the machine in, collected s<mic
fines i>inl adjourned until the finst Mou-
(!ay iu June.
On Monday. .Tune 4th, 18.38, the com-
]i;iny met at half past six o'clock ; called
the roll, took out the machine to Kiiiu
street, where having .some hogsheads of
water ready, the force was tried over the
Commen.'ial Bank. This building was
afterwards the (ilobo office, -and the site
is now (18!l.")) partly occupied by the Bank
of Commerce. It w.as found that tlu;
machine worked well, throwing fully 'Jt
feet ovei' the tops of the chimiiey.s of that
liigli building. After trying her satisfac-
torily, they returned to the engine iiouse,
eolli'ctfd 'JO shillings of tines, after which
the following resolution was niove<J by Alex-
I
LANDMAKKS OF TORdXH).
B71
imously. It was
u, wh-oiuIimI by ||
!it Joseph Wilson |ji
I tliiH nifilit until
10. Thin was car-
■ TiioniaH Storm,
LOii, thill Alex-
lioutpuant of the
:SIonday iu 183!i,
was moved hv
(1 by Tlioiuaa J.
ixoii hi> treasiiriT
tlie first Monday
C'd by Thomas
")rtre IJiltoii, tliat
.see rotary of the
Monday in May,
ly Mr. Hamilton,
that Ed. Uobsnn
braHehmen. Car-
imilton, .seconded
William Duncan,
Hamilton be nee-
Moved by Mr.
(tsepli Dixon, thjit
■d to examine tlie
1 report at the
and that Me.sfir.s.
las J. Preston,
llarbron, Tlioni.as
oommitti'e. Car-
Storm, necondeil
he c.'ipt.ain. lieu-
Ire asu re r do form
10 aud report on
);iiiy on the next
Carried. The iit-
jil the inoeling.
1N38. tlio com-
haviiiK ordered
Avater from the
io, found tliom in
borse and ran
corner of Kiii',;
iiiso, and tryin;r
to throw water
some time tisen.
her oiierations,
1, colleeted .some
II the fir,sl Mou-
]S;iS, tlie com-
o'clock ; called
liacliiiie to KIhl'
le hogshcad.s of
tried over thr
building wiu
le, and the .sitr
I'd by the Bank
loiuui that tht
fowing fully "ii!
liiiincya of that
lig her .satisfac-
engine hou.so,
fs, after which
movefJ by Alex-
nndor Hamilton, fiocoiiiled by .Joseph
Dixon, and unanimously !idoiited :— That
ill consequence of t!io ro((uisition uow
I li.'ing made for city guards lu be in roadi-
lu'ss, to iict in cas!! of any sudden omer-
ri'nc'y. this company felt it a duty in-
eiiinliont on them to offer their services
to ill" Adjutaut-lli'ner;il, pxjprcssing their
viUin.irness as a body to defouil the lives
inid pVopertios of their fellow-citizens to
the utmost of their power, and th;it a
(lecutiition of this company be niado to
cany the above into effect. After the
pa*<sinu,' of the above it v^Jis noticed that
it was in contemplation to have a jubilee
i,nx''ssion on the liCi'.h of the month, being
till' (,;u 'on's coronati'in day. but ns iioth-
iiiu' -spi-cial had been done about it, it
weiild be again laid before the company
on Thursday evening ;'t 7 o'clock, to
ulicli time the compa.iy adjourned. The
di'pui ilion api)( '"ited to couimunicate the
resolution of tli> Lonip;iny wa.< D. Pater-
^oll, .Iisi'i)h Wilson and Alexand(>r llamil-
ti,n. b'ing informed that the most effect-
ur.l way to obtain an inimodiiito attention
to thi ii' business was to address a letter
to the Adjutaut-Cieneral : did so by A.
Hamilton, secretary of the companj", and
ol which the following is a copy :—
Toronto, .""ith Juno, 183S.
From the call made upon our fellow-
( ilizens of the militia to volunteer, the
llriti.sh American Fire Insurance Com-
jiany have felt it to be their duty to pas.s
the i.illowing resolution :— That in conse-
.luenee of the recpiisition n< \v bring niiide
for city guards, to be in leadiin'ss to act
iu any case of sudden omei'goney, this
company feel it a duty incumbent upon
thoni to offer their services to the Ad-
iutant-ticneral, expressing their willing-
a.ss .as a body to defenil tlie lives ;uid
iMopcrty of their fellow-citizens to the ut-
iu'*t Ol' their power. I would hero inform
you that this company diil unanimously
I'W tiie I'ehelliou breaking out tak(> up
arras, .ind for a cimsiderable length of
time act as a jiatrol, but .is things began
to wear !\ more pejiceablo aspect many
It tlie order of the M.iyor re-
On
pany
a; tia'iii, )
turned their iirnis. but as from present
ri'ports and a i)pea ranees the company is
led to believe the mast impcu'tant crisis
is yet to arrive, they are ih'sirous to ob-
t.iin .irnis to oiiuip them all and be ro-
uularly diilled. so when their active ser-
vit'i' by the (iovt>rnment lutiy l)e demand-
ed they may be more effective. The com-
]i;niy i" composed of true and loyt-il men
and is forty strong. The company ad-
ioiinicd until Thursday evening next, .at
or before which time your answer lo this
is rcBiiectfullv reijuested.
ALEXANDER II AM I I/FOX. Sec.
15. A, !•". ("(inipany.
To U. Hulloc», E.sq., Adjutant-Gcuem'l.
Tl;o answer to the foregoing letter to
the Adjutant-General Wiis :
Adjutaiit-tJenerars Office,
Toronto, 0th Jinn', 1838.
Sir,— With reference to your letter ol
yesterday, I beg to actiuaint you that
his Excellencj' the l^ieutenant-Oovernor
! fully appreciates the loyalty and zeal
j which have pronijited tlie liritish-Ameri-
' Ciin ICngine Fire Company to come for-
; ward for the maintenance of our country
; !\nd its iii.stitiitions ; but at the same
' time, under the presi-nt as|K'ct of cir-
i cumstanees, his J-'xcellency d(H's not deeia
■ it neee.s.s!iry to call for their active exer-
; tions ; the.se his I'-xerllency Ims no donbt
I shall not fail, .should the cxig.Micy for
' them ari.se, in which cjise he will have
no hesitation in h.aving recotir.>*.> to their
offer. I have the honour to bo, sir.
Your most obedient .servant,
racHAKD r.rLi.ocK',
Adjutant-General Militia,
rinirsday, June 7th, 18.'{.'^, the com-
met according to adjonrmnent .at 7
o'clock, to receive the report of the cora-
I niittee apiiointed to wait upon the Adju-
tant-General, when the conimunication
jireceding w.as read and approved, after
which ii convorsjition took place uiron the
(expediency of instituting in the company
:i benevolent society. In order to do
something of the kind, it was moved by
I Mr. Dillon, seconded by James Dell, aud
I resolved, that the officers of the com-
pany be n. committee to draft some rulea
! for "the government of the comp.-my fus a
\ benevolent society, and report next nioet-
: ing night. It was moved by Mi-. Doulton,
i seconded by Mr. Miller, anil resolved, that
; the officers be a committee to prepare
! for a procession uik>ii the coronation day.
j Accordingly the officers met tho.so of the
j hook and ladder and Toronto fire engine
I companies at the hou.s*' of Mr. D.iker,
j known as the •' Dlack Swan," whore it
was agreed, it >»eing so decided that the
i Dritish-Americaii FTre Engine Compfiiiy
! should take the first place in the iiroccs-
' sion, the hook and ladder the second, aud
the Toronto company the last place, and
to meet at their res|)ectivo (luarters at
the hour of 6 o'clock ii.m., on the 28th
iiist.
On the 28th the company met .at the
engine house. After a short time the
hydrtiulic engine, owned by WatkiiH and
Harris, hardware merchants. King
street, en.8t of St. .lames' C.-.tlc'dral,
drawn by a horse and having a.
hnndsome flag on it. came up. when the
company, |>reci'ded by tlie assist.'int en-
gineer iso. 1. Kicli.ard W(M)dsworth, with
the engine, drawn by four horses, with
banner .ind flag.s of a splendid doscritition,
pr((Ceed(>d to tlio City Hall, in fi'ont of
which they were joined by t!ie fire eom-
M
r
m
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
panies mentiouod before, nnd, after being
arranged by the chief engineer, accom-
panied by the united bands of the Queen's
ForesterB and UaugerH, proceeded down
King street to Berkeley street, up Berlv-
eley street to Duke street, up Duke street
to New street, u|) New street to King
street, up King street to Government
House, through the Court yard and up
Graves street to Lot street, down Lot
street to Yonge utreet, down Youge street
to Front street, down Front street to
Church street, up Church street to King
street, down King street to City Hall,
wheie, leaving the machines in front, they
repaired to the Council room where a
collation was beins prepared for them by
the stewards, of which they partook and
then withdrew to their resj)ective (juar-
ters, the display being considered one of
the most gratifying the citizens of
this place ever witnessed.
On the 18th July, 1838, the Mayor hav-
ing written a note to tiie chief engineer
to request thi' fire companies to assJHt
to receive the Earl of Durham, the chief
addressed a copy of it to the various
Companiej^, on wliieli the captains im-
mediately g;ive notice to tlie members to
attend .at the engine house at 2 o'clock,
from whicli they took their way to the
City Hall, where, being congregated to-
getiier and being joined by the members
of St. Patrick, .St. Andrew ;ind St. George
Soi'ii'ties, and fireeeded by a bond of music
and the members of the City Council,
they proceeded to the Government wharf,
an(l, separating iind lining the wharf on
both sides, awaited his landing from the
steamer Cobourg. then in sight. .\bout
4 o'l'lock hi-^ I'x.-i'licney landed, aeenm-
pnnied by Lady Durham, a numerou.s'
suite. Sir John Colborue, and an ex-
cellent band, when Sir George Arthur
and all the heads of departments, in ad-
dition to the companies mentioned, re-
ceived him. .and Sir George, taking the
Earl, and Sir J. Colborne taking Lady
Durham, they walked up the wharf, the
companies closing behind them in pro-
cession until they eame to the carriage
in waiting, which, entering, they pro-
ceeded to the Parliament buildingK. the
stone steps being carpeted and having ,
the crimson chair of state waiting his re- !
ception. After arriving, the Mayor read i
and presented his address from the citizens I
and Earl Durham read and pn'si-nted an |
answer, which was eiitliusiiastieally re-
Ci'M-..(!, aftov ivhich he di'livenMi an ex-
i , reni'ous address assuring the citi- I
<• .-, .:,M(1 spectators of his disposition to [
• to thein- rill' iiniiiber supposed to be '
pfek' .1. was alioiil Kt.dOO persons, men,
r\-omea and '■liiidren, ihf iii(i>;t nninerous I
aud iipiemlid (li^|)lay ivei' made in the '
city, one tiiat surprised tiie Karl of Dur-
ham nnd his attendants, as was after- j
wards expressed by him. On the follow-
ing day, biisinese of importanea catling I
the Earl below, hie stay was necessariij
limited. The same arrangements beings
made by the companies, corporation and
societies as the day before, at 3 o'clock I
they proceeded to and lined Mr. Brown's I
new wharf, ea«t of the foot of ScottI
streett and there awaited the arrival I
and departure of Earl Durham and!
suite. At five they appeared in their car-
riages and approached the boat by thej
wharf, when a most violent thunder-
storm suddenly coming on, drenched suehj
as could not get shelter and prevented
the Earl from addressing the spi'ctators,
las it was supposed he wished. However,
after the shower was passed the boat|
pushed off, the Earl showed himself bow-
ing to the numerous s[)ectator8, who kept I
cheering him till at a great distance out]
in the bay.
On Mor.day, 4th April, 1842, the com-
pauy met at the usual hour, when, in I
consequence of the desire of the company |
to be in possession of a lion of their own
without the dilficulty of procuring oiw |
for processions similar to the last, by ho-
ing under obligations of borrowing frmn I
Mr. Parkiss or any other [X'rson, it was
moved by Mr. George Bilton, seconded by |
Mr. Thomas Storu), and resolved that Mr,
Paterson do purchase a carved ami gilt]
lion for the luse of the company on pro-
cession days.
On July 10, Monday evening at " i
o'clock, the conipany met to receive thej
report of the committee appointed to en-
quire into the expenses of procuring a{
lion as a badge of distinction for the
companj-. A specimen from a wood en-
graver was pres.'uted, but it w;is in so j
unfinished a state as to bo unfit to de-
cide upon ; it wa.s therefore left with the
commiitee, to whom was adtled the secre-
tary, and if, when finished, it pleased
them, they were given power to complete
the badges for the whole companj'. Tbe i
subject of hand grips for the hose and
hooks foi' fastening them on ladd-'rs and
roofs were also spoken of, and those pre-
sent agi'eed to sustain the captain in
carrying the mea.-ure out and iu defray-
ing expenses, or have the expenses de-
frayed out cjf the funds of the company
in case the coi'poration reufwd the nece.M-
sary aid from the funds of the city. It
waij resolved tliat the secretary be di-
rected to address a letter to the Chief
Engineer calling his attention to tbe
absolute necessity of increasing the uum*
ber of hydrant^ in order to .atlord an ade-
quate supply for the fire department, ::8
well as having a proper head of water
in the reservoir to render those already
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
57S
itfl, a« was arter-j
im. On the follow-,
importaneo calliug j
ly waH necesRarily
rraiigemeutfl beinH
!s, corporation and I
pforc, at 3 o'clock I
liuetl Mr. Brown's
the foot of Scott
aited the arrival
arl Durham and |
oared in their car-
1 the boat by the
violent thunder-
: on, drenched such
ter and prevented
inR the spi-ctators,
• wished. However,
passed the boat |
lowed hiinHelf bow-
K'ctntors, who kept
great distance outj
•il, lS-i2, the com-
lal hour, when, in I
ire of the companv
I lion of their owu j
■ of procuring oiio
to tlie last, by lie-
of borrowing frmii I
her ixTson, it was
Bilton, t^ocouded by |
J resolved th;it Mr.
a carved ami gill ]
; company on pro-
ly evening at '
net to reeeive the
appointed to cu-
es of procuring h
listinction for ilic
from a wood eu-
bnt it was in so
to be unfit to do-
fore left with tlu'
s added the secie-
if^hed, it pleani'ii
power to conipUii'
ole companj'. I'l.t'
for the hose uiid j
m on ladd'TB and !
of, and those pre-
the e;iptain in
lut and ill defray-
the expenses de-
of the company
reufsed lhi> neces-
Is of tin- city- It
(secretary be di-
tter to thi> Chief
ttention to tLo
reatiiiig the num*
to a fiord an ade-
e depiirtment, ::«
er head of water
ler tht)ee already
effected efficient, their inefficiency being
eo apparent tm to create general dis-
satisfaction.
Scarcity of water being a matter of
Buch frequent occurrence, the company
adopted and published tiie following re-
Bolutioii :
The Water Company— Complaiut of a
Want of Sufficient Supply by the Fii«
Brigade.
At a meeting of the British American
Fire Engine Company, held in their hall
Monday evening, the 5th inet., the sub-
ject of the frequent deficiency of water
at fires, particularly at the fire on John
street on the morning of the 5th inst.,
being brought under consideration, it was
unanimously resolved : That the company
cannot too strongly urge upon the city
corporation and the various iusurancu
companiefl the necessity for some imme-
diate and energetic steps being taken to
supply the engines with water at fires.
The so-called water-works, for which the
citizens are taxed so heavily, are, in gen-
eral, of little service in case of fire, and
might with advantage to the safety of
the inhabitants be at once shut up. That
this was particularly manifest at the fire
on John street, on the morning of yester-
day, the 6th inat., when for upwards of
half an hour after the engine of the com-
pany had been on the ground, and in
connection with one of the hydrants,
water sufficient to work even for a few
minutes could not be obtained, and for
want of which a very large amount of
property was destroyed, or rather sac-
rificed, by trusting for a supply of water
to the water-works. That if some suf-
ficient means to compel the water com-
pany to fulfil their oblit^atious to the
citizens be not adopted, or some other
means be not devised to pijpvide an ample
supply of water for the engines at fires,
the members of the fire company cannot
be expected to remain associated in a
service, which, thus rendered inefficient,
must become dishonourable. It was also
resolved that a copy of the foregoing
resolutions be forwarded to the city cor-
poration, to the offices of the different
insurance companies and the various
newspapers.
(Signed) DAVID PATERSON. Captain.
JAMES PRICE, Secretary.
April 5th, 1847.
At a special meeting, October 13th,
1&47, Mr. Morris having taken the chair,
it was resolved that the company turn
out to receive the Governor-General on
Friday. Accordingly the company aasem-
bled at 3 o'clock, to join in the proces-
sion to meet the Governor-General, and,
after escorting his Excellency to the
Mayor's residence, returned to the engine
house and held a special meeting.
At the monthly meeting. May Ist, 1848,
the company met as usual, Mr. Paterson
in the chair. After collecting a few fines
Mr. Paterson left the chair, and Mr. D.
Maitlaud vf&a appointed chairman for the
evening. The company then proceeded to
elect officers for the ensuing year. Those
declared elected were as follows : For
captain, Sproatt 10, Morris 9 ; for first
lieutenant, Morris, unanimous ; for second
lieutenant, IJobeon 10, Alderdice 8 ; for
secretary, Pell unanimous ; for treasurer,
Walker unanimous.
At the monthly meeting, Augusti 7. 1848,
the company met as unual, the captain
in the chair. The committee for auditing
the reports reported to have found them
correct and satisfactory, the company
having a balance in the treasurer's hands
of £7 78. Gd. By order of the committer
the following accounts were handed over
to the treasurer, and ordered to be paid :
Ross Mitchell's account for coat, W.
Landon's account for ale, Mr. Doel's ac-
count for ale. The captain rej)orted to
the company the intelWgence that the
ladies of Toronto intended to prpsent to
them a banner on Thursday, the 10th
inst., in the grounds of the old Govern-
ment House, at two o'clock p.m., and at
a special meeting of the officer.^ of the
brigade the several companies were re-
quested to meet in gala procession
in order to receive the banner with due
respect, and th.at the men in connec-
tion with the Hamilton Fire Brigade and
corporation pwirtake of refreshment in
the evening, to be paid for by each mem-
ber of the different companies contribut-
ing the smii of one shilling and three
pence. It wa* resolved to meet at the haJl
on Thursday at 1 o'clock in full n'galia to
take part in the proces-sion. Accordingly
on Thursday, August 1, 1S48, at the hour
of 1 o'clock p. m., the company met in
full regalia and proceeded to the govern-
ment grounds in connection with the
other companies to receive the splendid
banner presented by the ladies of Toronto
to the fire brigade, after which tlie pro-
cession proceeded down King street and
up Front street to Church street to the
Church street fire hall. At 5 o'clock p.m.
they went in procession to Mr. Beard's
new building on Church street, on the
north-east corner of Colborne and Church
streets, afterwards Beard's hotel, to par-
take of refreshments. On the whole the
procession was decidedly the best of the
kind which Toronto has ever seen, not-
withstanding the day was most oppres-
sively hot and disagreeable.
The preceding to a certain extent
anticipates history, but is given as the
complete records of No. 3 Engine Corn-
pa nj- from its minute book.
To return to the history proper
I
ijl
574
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
of the Fire D<']).irtm<>iit wo fiml tli.'it
on April 12. is,*}*, in (Vmiiu'II. Aid.
L('«.s!it' moved, Hi'C'r)udi>d by Aid. Hai'inT,
"That nntil the fire di'pfirtnuMit in phiced
undor Iho ri'y;iiliition ol' the (^(nincil, tin-
Mnvor bi> uiiliiorizod to diri'i't tlic ismic
of lifkct.s to cai'tiTs furnishing w.-itcr iit
fires (US has bi'i-n cnstoinar.vi nndi'r tho
direction of llic captain of the late York
Fire Cuinpnny." Cirricd.
The fibove rf.«olnti<)n is tho first pffirinl
record relating to the fire departnient of
Toronto in the minutes of the mnnicipal
co7|io:iai<)n of the City of Toronto.
Two days later the firi^t Fire .-ind Water
Conimitteo of the city was apiminted, and
couHi«tf'd of Aid. t'arfrae and J.esslie and
Counttilnian Doel.
The first re|h>;t of the I'oniniittep on
Fire, Water, etc., WiU* bronghl up on the
23rd Ajiril, 1S;?4, and is as follows :
•' Your committee, ia the dificharge of
the diuy eiitrusted to them, beg to offer
a few general snpget^tions, which they
deem of importance, previous to submit-
ting for your approval a bill for the
prevention of the calamities to which the
inhabitants of the city are exposed in
casex of fiiv. In the present state of the
city in regard to its wealth .and nu>ans
of imiTovement, the cause from which
, the greatest danger of fire arises cannot
be jiltogether obviated. liiiililings of
wocd must necessarily 1m> allowed to be
erected in the cit; for many years, nntil
by the improven nt of the Mech.anic Act*
buildings of o. more substantial charac-
ter may be constructed at less expense
than they can now be, or nntil by the
incr(\'i,se of the wealth and the improved
facilities of its communication, stone feu-
buildings shall be brought in iu such
abundance as to do away with the in-
ducements which now lead to the erec-
tion of wooden houses. * ♦ • '['he value
of ground on each side of King street
having of late years been greatly enhan-
ced, a« affording the best stands for
places of business, your committee are
led to believe that the proprietors of lots
could without difficulty or diminution vi
their rents lease them to iiersons who
Woiv;j ;>rect brick buildings thereon, W(>re
t'iere to be a city ordinance against the
erection of those of wood. Should it be
considered inexpedient, hoWi>ver, to at-
tempt to enforce a n^gnlatiou of this
kind, the danger arising from wooden
houses, csjK'cially when constructed iu
contiguous r.anges, may be greatly
lessened by the erection of brick party
Walls of sufficient thickness to prevent
any part of the wood of one house from
being affected bv fin' arising in those
adjoining it. (Sd.) " TIIOS. CARFRAK.
" JAMKS r.ESSLIE.
.,,.■. "JOHN DOEL."
On 17th .Tune, 1834, the following were
aiijiointed fire insiKJCtors for tho eevernl
wards of the city: Johu Dennis .Tohnson,
for St. George's, St. Andrew's and St,
P.itrick's ; Exaveras Clinkunbroouier, for
St. Lawrence and St. David's.
Less than a month later tho chairman
of fire, water, etc., iu Ida rc|)ort, said :
That, as the citizens have come forward
ami .subscribed liber. illy ff>r the purcbasi'
of a fire alarm bell, aud, as it is also
absolutely necess.ary that some plan
sho'ild be adopted for conveying the alarm
in cajje of fire to the respective firemen,
wlio are scattered over the city, and, as
the safety of the city and the preserva-
tion of i)roperty depends greatly upou
jnoniptitude of the firemen in attending
at the place of conflagration, tho com-
mittee, theiefore recommend to the Coun-
cil the pi'opiiety of seconding so laudable
an object by granting the sum of seventy-
five pounds to carry tho plan into execu-
tion.
The report was received, and adopted,
and the amount voted. William Musson,
Robert Emery, Malcolm McLennan, John
Armstrong, and David Peterson were ap-
pointed commissioners to expend the
same.
The ordinary expenses of the fire com-
pany iu the first yeai' of 'I'oronto's his-
tory as a city amounted to £17, 35s
5 l-2d, including payment of officers, men,
extra carters, etc.
The appliances at the time consisted of
two hand engine«, hose reels, and one
hook and ladder truck.
The second hook and ladder company
♦.-as organized in 1836, when a sum of £55
was voted in Council to the members for
the purpose of securing uniforms.
In 1.S37 a considerable amount of i-e-
paiiing was done to the fire engines aud
other apparatus by the orders of the cap-
tains, and the bills sent in to the Com-
mittee on Finance and AsBeasment, who
.sent them in to the Council, recommend-
ing them to bo paid, and at the same
time protesting against the exjienditure
of so much money without special per-
mhssion from the Committee on Fire,
Water, etc. Tho Council upheld the com-
mittee iu •'^heir report. The sums which
had been spent amounted to £32 18s. lOd.
In March. 1838, the various fire com-
panies were entirely reorganised by order
of the Council, aud all men who wi«hed
to become or to continue firemen had to
report themselves to tlie CSerk of the
Council before they were coufiidered eli-
gible; also to say to which fire engine or
firo company they wished to belong.
In October, 1838, there wa« .a i;ood
deal of excitement among the different
fire companies as to whether the office
of chief engineer of the department was
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
575
e foUowluB wore
for the severnl
Df'niiiH .lohiison,
drow'fl and St,
ikuiibiuoiuer, for
Lvid'a.
(*!• the cUairmnii
lis rciiort, said ;
v(> come forward
for the purcbnsi'
id, as it is also
.liat Bomo pin 11
vcyins tUo alarm
spective firemon.
thp city, and, as
nd the prone rvn-
Is greatly upou
len in atlondiiif;
ration, the com-
iMid to the Coun-
idlnK so laudiilili!
> 811H1 of seventy-
plan into execu-
ed, and adopted,
William Muhsom,
McLennan, John
'etersou were aji-
to expend the
of the fire com-
of 'i'oronto's liis-
ited to £17, 358
t of officers, men,
time consisted of
reels, and one
ladder company
hen a sum of £55
the members for
uniforms.
le amount of re-
fire engines and
orders of the cap-
in to the Com-
Aweflsment, who
ucil, recommeud-
.nd at the same
the exjienditure
out special {)cr-
mittee on Fire,
upheld the com-
The Hums wbicb
to £32 18s. lOd.
arious fire com-
'gani^ed by order
men who wished
firomeD had to
lie Clerk of the
3 coufiidcred eli-
ch fire engine or
d to belong,
re was a i;ood
ig the different
ether the office
department was
necpssary or not, and petitidns were sent
to Council, two against the appointnu'iit
aud <>'"' '" favour of it. The petitions
well' referred to the Conunilli'e ou Firo
and Water, who thonglit lli:it not only
was till' office of chief t iigim-cr ncff.snary,
but thai to make tJie coiupanles tlioruugh-
Ir elfii'ii'nt it wouhl be well to have an
.issi.sl.uit iMigitu'er, and rtxoinnu'iidinfj;
Ml. UobiMt Iti'ard, captain of the luiok
iand ladder coiniwiny, for the powilion.
This wa.s adopted by the Council, and
carried out. At the «anie tiiiu' a new
lire compauj was organized to take
M^
the City of TiHoiito, to whom good watjes
will be given lor a vi'ar and suri' l)ay-
nient. Aj)ply to .1. W.i'bh. Fii'' Insiwctor.
N. P..— .1. W. \mh one ymiug nian two
year.s I'luphiycd, who ktidws Ih'' iiihabi-
lant« and their ni.'inni-r.s.
The Fire Inspector reniu'sts
editors of the papers in this
lower provinces will give the
insertion.
In 1840 the hook and laddiM- <'(.iii|i.niy
occupied the norili side of tin' Cliui'ch
street building, the ciigiiio No. 2 the
middle, and engine No. 1 the houiU side,
A^
tliiit
,'Ulll
iibdve
the
the
an
THOMAS D. lIAIiBIS, OIIIKI' OF BfilGAUE 1837-1841.
charge of the No. 2 engine, and the old
comriany dinbinided.
Ill August, 1839, on the oeeasion of a big
fin', the fire coiii|ianies nuu'o than usually
distinguished theni.selves, and the 32nd
IN'Kiim'nt turned out and helped to ex-
tinguish the flames. Tiie Council passed
a resolution of thanks, both to tli(> com-
panies and the regiment, for their valu-
alile services ou that ocension.
The following advertisement is fdund in
the ISritish Colonist of Febru;iry G, 1N3'.> :
Wiuited— As K((0n as possible, three
sober active men to sweep the flues of
the three a|)artinents being connected by
doors. The first engine of the No. 2 com^-
I)anv w;us what is callvl a "goose iieek,"
fron'i the fact that the base was attached
to a pipe curved like the neck of agoo.se,
and rising a.bout three feet above the
deck oi the engine, or machine, as it was
more familiarly known. Each of thess
goose Tiecks had a cistern tir water tank
attached to the rear of the engine. The
suction lio-e was kept at the side of the
engine on a wo ulen rod, and when it was
wanted for duty it ws drawn from tho
rod, and one end of the hose wfus screwed
870
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
I'll
11''
to the T&Ir« of the ongiDe in rear, and
the othor nhoved into the aperture in
the cistern, where a leather apron wait
attached and a ntrop buckled round to
keep iho watw in. The cistern would
hold four or five puncheonM of water.
Thi« engine wn« named the Toronto.
In Mny, 1841. the chief engineer,
ThoniiiH D. Harris, rcMigned hie ixj«ition
in the department, and the Council pasaed
the following resolution ; " That the
thankM of this Council are justly due to j
Thomas D. Harris, Ea.).. late chief cn-
ginooi' of the Toronto Fire Departiueiit.
lor hin valuable services as a inoxt im- |
po.-taiit officer of tlii^ Council, and tliat '
him Woriship the Mayor bo rciuestoJ to |
their apparatus. During the year 1842
the first Bigna of the real organizatioa
of the fire department bi^gan to appear.
The next fire company— No. 4— were or-
ganized in 1842. Thoma« Mnra was their
firnt cni>takii. Their first engine was a
gooAi; neck, and their second a pia.no
machine, built in Temperance street
by William Marks. Sho was larger, yet
in style much the same as engine No. 2.
This com|iany nod its first hall in old
St. Patrick'e market, the entrance being
at the ca^t side of the building. It wan
located here for years, but in the fifties
the engine was housed in a building on
tlie Month side of Queen street, about
seventy-five feet from the corner of John
M
ST. Patrick's maukict— i ikst kikk uall fou no. 4 company, oboanized 1842.
comoiunicate the.xe sentiineiits of the
Council upon his rotirenien» from the
office of chief engineer."
He was succeeiled by Mr. Robert BeariL
In the same mouth the resignation of Mr.
li. Woodsworth, assistant engineer of the
fire department, was received and ac-
cepted, and Mr. .Joseph Wilson was ap-
pointed first assistant engineer, and Mr.
William Atkinson second assistant en-
gineer of the Toronto Fire Department.
In the autumn of 1841 the Bay street
fire hall was built on the site which it
now occupies. For this purpose the Coun-
cil voted a sum of £200. The accommo-
dation up to that time had been very
bad, and the members of the brigade had
petitioned the Council several times to
give them a better place for keeping
street. The present hall forms part of this
building.
In June, 1845. the Firemen's Benefit So-
ciety was organized, and the members of
the City Council were asked by [H'tition
from the chief engineer of the Fire I)e-
jKirtment. to become the patrons of the
scheme, which they agreed to, at the same
time thanking the (Icpartuient, tlirongli
the chief engineer, for their laudable sug-
gestions for the improvement of the
Fire Department. The sum of £50 was
also approj>riatcd out of the funds of the
city as a. donation towards the funds of
the newly-formed society. The main ob-
jects sought were the i)roviding for fire-
men who might be disabled at fires, or,
in the event of death, for their widows
and children.
g the ypar 1842
real orgauizatioa
lM>fifnii to appear.
—No. 4— were or-
m Mara was their
'st cnp^iue waa a
aecoiid a piaaui
ompcrauce street
I waa larger, yot
as engine No. 2.
first hall in olil
»e entrance beiuf;
building. It was
but in the fiftifs
in a building on
n Htroet, about
ic coiner ol John
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
fi77
^Im-
KIZKD 1842.
ruis |)«rt of this
u'h I'l-nofit So-
thc nu-mbiM's of
(1 b.v jH'titimi
tlio Fire Dc-
patroiiH of the
to, at the saine
iiMMit, through
l.mdable Bug-
ement of thu
ru of £50 w.'iH
e fundH of the
s the funds of
The main ob-
iding for fire-
at fires, or,
their widowa
previous to 1840 various acta had boon
ji.i-sfd relative to tht> fire regulation of
til,' city. In or about that year the
[,,!lo«iiiB fire ri'gulatiout were adopted in
1,111' act. This ia the act :—
Whereas, is ia expedient and will be
f, .11 111! couvouieut to aiuend and reduce
iatf> nn" act the different enactments for
provciiting and extinguishing fires, and
for rfguhiting the conduct of the officers
(111(1 laou belonging to the «everal fire
coinii.iiiii'H, and of other persona who may
lii> prf'scnt at any fire; be it herefore en-
acted by the Mayor, aldermen and coni-
iiidiiiilty of the city of Toronto in common
('ouncil aHsenibh'd, aa follows :—
Sec. 1.— 'I'hat from and after the passing
of this act, an act entitled "An act for
tlie prevention and extinguifthing of
fires," be, and the same is hereby re-
pealed.
Sec. II.— That the Fire Department of
the city of Toronto shall consist of one
chief engineer, etc.
Sec. 111.— That the different engine,
liook and ladder, hose and protection
I'omftanips shall choose out of their own
number tiieir own officera, etc.
Sec. IV.— That it shall and may be
lawful for the officers of the different
eonipauies on the first Monday in May
i)f each year to transmit to the clerk of
the common Council the name of three
fit and proper persons lor each of the
offices of chief and assistant engineers.
Sec. v.— The chief engineer, or, in his
al)seucc, the senior assistant engineer,
.^linll have the sole and absolute control
over all the engines, etc.
Sec. VI. -It shall be the duty of the
officers and members of the several en-
gine, hook and ladder and hose com-
panies, whether a fire shall break out in
the said city, to repair forthwith to the
respective engine houses and thence to
convey such engines and other apparatus
ill aa orderly and expeditious .a manner
as possible to or near the place where
such fire may be, etc.
Sec. VII.— The Clerk of the Common
Conneil ehall grant to each member of
each engine company, hose company and
hook and ladder company a certificate
that he is enrolled in the same, which
certificate ehall entitle such person to
the exemptions pn>Hcribed by the general
law.s of the province.
Sec. VIII.— U|)on occasions of fires it
shall be the duty of the Property Pro-
tection Committee to repair thereto, and
witli their best endeavours to save fur-
niture, merchandise and other property
from the fire, and to convej' the same to
places of safety ; the senior officer of the
said company present shall have the sole
command and control of said company ;
ajid it shall be lawful for him to require
the aid of any male inhabitant of the city
between the ages of aixteen and sixty
, years, wlio ia not assisting in extinguiah-
, ing the fire, to aa^ist in carrying hii
I onlera into effect.
] Sec. IX,— In order that the engineer*.
j officepB of companies and membera com-
posing the fire department may be more
; readily diatingniahed at firea, they shall
; be reepcctively reciuired to wear auch
I dress, cap and other insignia as the
standing Committee on Fin^ and Water
I shall direct.
I Sec. X.-Tlie Mayor and aldermen of
I the cit^', present at any fire, are hereby
authorized to command any mule inhabi-
, tant thereat to assist the fire department
' in ex'' iguiahing the fire, and to remove
and aij-auge any {lersons at or near the
fire in such manner iw may bt> necessary
I to allowing and aiding and assisting the
fire department the more effectively to
I discharge the duty, and in order that
; the said Mayor and aldermen may be
! more readily recogni/.ed and known, they
; shall bear a wand with a gilded flame
at the top, and each and every person
who shall refuse to comply Avith such
orders given as aforesaid shall be liable
to be sent to the common jail of the city,
and further dealt with a« the Mayor and
aldermen may determine.
Sec. XI.— All the licensed carters of the
city liberties are required to attend all
fires for the purpose of conveying water
to the same ; and to secure the utmost
promptitude the following premiums will
; be awarded to such licensed carters or
j others : To onj' carter or other iwrson
I who shall with his horse draw the first
j engine or fire r.pparatus to the fire the
'sum ol ten shillings, and to any carter
I or other jierson who shall with his horse
' draw any of the subsequent engines cr
other apparatus to the fire the sum of
; five shillings ; to any person for the
I first puncheon of water furnished to any
j engine the sum of one pound five shillings;
I for the second the sum of fifteen shillings,
I and for every puncheon afterwards rc-
1 quired by the chief engineer or officer
commanding the fire department the sum
of one shilling, but no carter shall be
entitled to any premium whose puncheon
is not three-fourths ftill when delivered
to the engine, nor shall any carter leave
the fire, except for the purpose of bring-
ing water to the engine, until discharged
by the officer in command of the fire de-
partment.
Sec. XII.— That no person or persons
ehall hereafter pass or cause to be passed
through any portion of wood or wood and
lime, or through any wooden floor in any
house or building within the said city
or liberties any stove pipe, or without
£78
LANDMAKKS OF TOHOXTO.
1^
■ i ;'
l<'iiviiig «ix iin'hiH cliMir Iji'Iwcm'ii tin'
pip' ;iii'I HiM'li p.'i tilioii or lltiiir.
Si'<'. .*( 1 1 1.— 'I'liji I no (iccii|( lilt or oppu-
|iaiit^4 ol' iiti.v liiiimi' or i)uil<liii!.; witliiii
llii' Hili'l cit.v or lihi'rtiiM wliall [n'rinit
iiiiy |ii|ii' Jiol''M not ill nsi' in nny cliiiiiiii'.v
in Hiicli lioiisi' or l.uijiliiin to n'liinin o|M'n
«inii not <liis('(l witli a Rt(i|)|i"r of iiii'tai
uv oti'.i'r iiicoiiiliiinlilili' nm ti'iial,
Sr.\ X I \'.— 'I'liii t no (X'cupiinl <if iiny
liou-^(! hIiiiII p.iHH a Ntovc |ii|ii' tliroiiKli
the (op or HJiii'it of any wooilcn licimi', out-
Iioiisc, fence, or iiny liiiililin)^ wli.il 'ver.
ouiiimI mill mciipiid Ijy liini, lier <.r tlnin
till' HIIllli' hIi.'iII
Nliiill pliici' ni' li • p n.^licH ri'iii('V''il U' m
Mtovt's or fii'i'plar.'H ni any woo li'i
oi' otiii'r wnoiI'Mi vi'^H"l, or iii'iir
wiioiliMi pa rtlliiiii, in his, her or
li(iii-i' or iiiius'M in till' Hiiiil city or
li''s. Ill' in finv untlioiisi' or hIumI, or
pl.ii r pi'i'iiiit lo 1)1' placi'd iiuy
!i iiy
thi'i'r
illrr-
K'li.n
iiay,
or <lllllllirV
nf
ill tlic nail »'ity, inilei^H
pn^'N tliioaKli a Htoue
ill \fk aiiil mortar.
S('<". W.-'I'lial no pi'i^oii Ol' jicrsdiis
t<1iali lii'i'i'afti'r pla<' • any ntovc in aii.v
lioii>-c or Iniililinn' in t!i" H'ii<! <'it,v <ir
liliciticH \\illioul ll'a^ill^!; niii" in<'iic-(
rlcar from aii.v wonlunrk ininicilialcly
aliovc HiK'ii Klovc. ,-1111! ncvrii iiiclii's fri la
any wooihvorii oppo'^it;' ilic Hiili'.s of the
^alllc. anil at lea--ii, i'i!!;iit incin's from 'lie
floor, anil all Kt'ive^ nliall be fiiriiishci!
vvitli a iiict.'il a.sh-paii. to lie jilai'p'l iiikIlt
the door of tlic said sto'>i'.
tScp. XVI.— 'J'li.'it no propiii'tor or pro-
prietors of any lioiiwe or liiii liling in \',lii«'li
llieie .sliall lie one or nine <'liiniiir\p
wiliiin the snid city o;' lil.iertie.-i tih; 11
noj?le<'t or fail to Irive on Iuh. her or
their houses or liuildiiij!;s. or aforesaid,
one or UKU'e ladders, or sirill nee-ject to
liave all ladders to cliimiieys well and
fafoly faHleiu'd thereto with iron ho(ii<s.
or shall nc^lK't or refine for cij;-|ii days
after beiiiK required by the fire insj^iv-
tor to furnish or repair the same, as
ll:e case may be,
'S(>c. XVII.— That no pi'i'son or iK'r»ons
fdiall set fire to any shavin^r-^, chips,
ptraw or any other comlnistilile matter
for the purjiose of cnosnminj; Uie .same
in any street, square or 1,'iiie in the said
city or liberties, or within any enclosiu'e
within fifty feet of any biiildii'i;,', or shall
carry or keep, or suffer to be carried or
l;ei)t, any liu'hted candle or l.-mip in any
livery or otlu-r stables within tlie Haid
city or liberties iinless Kueh lamp or
candle shall be enclosed in a lantern or
shade Ro aH to prevent any accidents
f?-om fire therefrom.
Spp. XVIII.-That no person Rliall Hmokc
or have in his or her posfiossion aiiv
liphted cipar in any .stable, carpenter or
^abiDet makers' shop, or other nhop or |
br;il(!iiip: where straw, shaviiifrs or other
"riniljustihle matter may bi% or shall ;
wrry fire throiiph any' of thi> Ktreets.
squnrcs, laneii or court yards in the said |
city or liberties, excejjt in koiiio covered i
vi-esel or fire [lan.
Si!c. XIX.— That no person or persons
Miraw or aii.v oilier coinliiiMlible matei'inl
iiiicnvei'ed in his or their court yard, or
aii.v lot of :'.T ••Old within one luilidn d feet
of any bnildii,;:.
Sec. XX.— That no pi'rson or persons
Khali fire oi' di-ehar;re any >;un, fowiin;:
piece or fire arms, or shall set fire to any
cracker, «i|uib, si'rpent or other firework--
iii aii.\' of the streets, lanes or sipiares of
the said city.
."^ec. XXI. It hIhiII lie the duly of th"
fii'i' in-pict.ii' Im cause to be well and
effectually swept, ironi the first day of
.\o\eiiiher to till' first day of .\prii, in
each Mi'l every .vear. each and ev'r.\ flue
or cliiinne.v in use in the cit.v once in
each sL-c Weeks, and for the remaiiid"r of
the year oiu-e in e-.-ery two month-, and
he is hereby authorized and empowered
to deinaiid and receive the followin(r rate
I and charji;es, viz., the sum of fouriience
' for each .'iml evry time he shall cause to
be .swejit an.v flin' in aii,y house or liiiild-
iiifr which does not exceed in hein'hl one
storey ; the Mum of sixpence for each and
ever.v time he shall cau.se to be swept
an.v flue in an.v lioiis.' or building which
does not exceed in liei;:ht two stoi'eys
above the viotind ; th •' sum of wevenpence
half-penny for each and every liine he
shall cause to b" sw'pl an.v flue in any
house or Itiiildiii:;' of an.v jrrealer heiejht,
which char.tfe shall b' paid b.v thi^ occu-
pier of every such house, tciienieni or
lMiildiii.<r.
.''^ec. XXII.— That no occupier or f)ccti-
piers of an.v house, tenement or luiihliutj
siiall refuse to let his, her or their chini-
ni'v or flues be swept in the manner and
a.s often as before provided.
.^ec. XXlil.— That ill all cases where
any chimney shall catch fire within the
siiid city or libertk'b, either within the
time prescribed by this net the regularly
Kweei)ing of tht snira', vir in conseijiieuce
of the same liavi i;r oeen not rc;:iil'irly
.swept, the Fir.' in.pector Khali himseif
be liable to the .s.'ime jienalt.v as is pre-
scribed for the breach of any "of th ■ other
provi.sions of this act.
Sec. XXIV. -That ii ■ ::all be the duty
of the Fire I:isi..":'.,i' to ■•iccouipaiiy in
[MM'son the cliiiniiey sweepers in iheii'
rounds tl!rou;h the city or liberties, to
fU'c they discharge their duty in iiroper
inannei- ami without unn"ee.^s'iry aniioy-
(ince or trouble to the licmseholdi'i's, and
it sli.'ill be his duty to f;ive to each house-
In Ider within the city at least one day's
notice of the time when he will atlend'lo
lli
LAN'DMAHIvS OF TOROXTO.
oT'J
I-i'iiicV'il I'l' ui
!>■ Willi li'l; 'jf'S
II' iii'ii r II iiy
111 r III' llii'ir
1 I'ily ur lilii'i'-
kIii'iI, di' k'i:.!!
U'i'il auy liay,
■'lilili' llintri'iiil
('(piirl viinl. or
:i' lilllidi'i'il I'l'i'l
(III or pi'i'-iiiis
V mill, timliiii:
ni'l fin' til :iiiy
it lie I' I'iriMM.i'U-,
i 111' si|ii,iri-i 01
H- duty III' thi'
I be well .mil
I' first iliy of
V of A[)ri;, iu
.'iiitl cv'ji'y iliu-
city oiK'i- ill
' rc'inaiiid'T of
0 lIUIIltlH, illlll
11(1 i'iii|)i)\\i'ri'(l
folliiwiiiK rati'
1 of foiirpciice
shall caiisi' to
loiisi' 111' liuild-
iii hrijjln. out'
' for each and
■ to bi' nwi'pt
jiiildiny; which
two stori'VM
of wcvi-niii'iici'
^vi'i-y tiini' hi"
ly fliii' ill any
ri'alcr lii'i;rlit,
by tin; o('(.'U-
ti'iiciucul or
pier or oci'ii-
it or buijiliuii
ir tlii'ii' i.'liiiii-
nu! liner and
Casi's wiii'rt'
n' witiiiii the
r witiiiii thi'
the M'^iiilarly
1 L'OllSlMiU.'UCI'
lot i'(\;riil-irly
shall liiiuHf'ii'
ty as i;i [)ii'-
V of th ■ Otlit.T
be till' duty
C'coin p'liiy in
I'i'H ii! ihi'ir
libi'i'iii's. to
ly ill piKpiT
.^sary aiiuov-
Uh-r.
aiii
pay tlu'
demiiiid-
or piT-
o I'acli liniisi'-
!i>t one day's
vill attend lo
dwei'pluK tho chiiimoyrt of Huch houso-
holder.
Sif. XXV.-Thnt it «h'ill be the tluty
of tlie FIro IiiHfK'Ctor to make a report
to the clerk of the eoninioii <'()ii!i('il on each
nnil every Monday of the year, by 10
oVl(X'k in the forenoon, containiiit; all the
inlrnctioiifl of thin art, by wlinni and
where poiumittcd, and nhall proHecute to
eoiivietioii when practicable Mueh of-
feiidei'H.
Sec. XXVI,— That no person or persoim
shftH refuse after any flue or chimney
shall be swept aH aforesaid, to
rate or charKe authorized to be
ed by tho Fire Iiutpcctor.
Sec. XXVI 1.— That no person
■Oil? other tliiui the Fire Inspector or In-
gpcctors appointed by tho common Coun-
cil shall Bweep or cause to be swept for
liim, or gain any chimney or flue iu tho
aaid city or liberties.
Sec. XXVII.— That any |»otson guilty of
any of the infractions of the provisions of
this act after the 10th section iheieof,
on conviction before the Mayor or any
one or more of tho aldermen, shall for-
feit and pay at the discretion of the
Mayor or alderman or aldermen convict-
iup, a sum of money not exceeding ,t.'>,
nor loHB than 2h G(1, and in default of
pfiyment of the fiue, toj?ether with the
costs of prosecution, it shall be law-
ful lor tho Mayor or alderman convicting
to issue his or their warrant to levy the
sum by distress and sale of the offenil-
er'f ^:ood8 and chattels, and in case of no
sufficient distress being found whereof to
make tho amount of fine and costs, it
shall and may bo lawful for tho Mayor
or alderman or aldermen, as aforesaid,
to commit the offender or offenders to
the common jail of the h( me district for
auy period not exceeding 30 days or less
than one day.
Another regulation at this time was
that in case of fire both boils of 8t.
James' cathedral wore to bo rung. Tho
keys of tho church were kept at W. At-
kiiis.'n's city buildings, and .-it the Polico
Station, West Market place.
Ill 184G tho Fire Department of To-
ronto consisted of tho following officers,
comtianioB and halls :— Chief engineer,
Robert Beard; assistant engineers, .Joseph
Wilson and Thom.'ts Miles.
Fire Engine Company No. 1, " York,"
Ili'ury Welsh, captain; station Fireman's
Hall, Church street.
Fire Engine Company No. 2, " Rescue,"
William lioynolds, captain ; station, Fiiv-
man's Hall, Church street.
Fire Engine No. 3, " British America,"
David Pateraon, captain; station, Fire-
man's Hall, Bay street.
Fire engine No. 4, "Victoria", A. De
OrasNJ, captain; ntation, St. Patrick's
Market.
Hook .iiid I, Milder ('oinpany No. 1, "To-
ronto'':. I(. Piper, captain; station, Fire-
man's Hall, Church street.
IIiMik and Lidiler Cmnpauy No. 2, "Her-
cull's"; .1. Armstrong, captain; station,
Fireman's Hall, I'.ay street.
In December, 1S4('., Chief Enginooi
Beard. ()f the Fire Diipartniont, sent in
his resit^natioii, which, after being refer-
red to a '(elect conimitti'o, was accepted.
At the next ineetiin; of tho Council the
first and secuiid engineers sent in their
resignations, which were also accoptod.
Mr, .lames .Ai'iiistrong was the next chiol
engineer, but it wa« not till March, 1H47,
! that Mr. A. Do (ira.s.si and Mr. Hiram
i Piper were appointed as first and second
I assistant engiin'ors of the departineiit.
I A by-law w.'is passed in Septembt^r,
[ 1S47, which provided for the issue of de-
, bentures for the sum of £1,000 for tho
use of the Fire Department. This is the
first really large appropriation for the
use of that department tliat there is any
record of, and, to juilgo from tho numlwr
: of times it had boon asked for, it was
1 very badly needed,
I The officers selected by tho Council for
I 1S4S wore :— Mr. Rtbert Beard, chief
I engineer; Mr. Thomas Mills, first assist-
j ant engineer, and Mr. Edwin Butt, second
I nsr.istant engineer.
I III M.'iy, 1S4!>, the chief engineer, and
j the assistant engineers of tho fire de-
I partmeiit, as well a^s some of tho firo
I coiiipanies, sent in their resignations to
I thi' Council, and thin led to an ontiro re-
: organization of the brigade IxMiig re-
[ solved upon .'ind cnrried into effect shortly
afterwards. A tax of throopoiico in tho
Iioiind was levied to provide funds for the
' maintenance oi a. tiionuighly efficient
1 and well equipped fire brigade. Lato in
; tho same year Mr. Tliomiu* French and
I twonty-tliri'i' other ineniberH of tho old
I firo brigade ; Mr. Jos. Board and twcnty-
1 five others ; Mr. .Tames Aslifield and
thirty-five others, applied in a body to
I tho Council for pormiwion to become part
I of the re-organized lirigado, which waa
I granted thorn. The officers chostMi for tho
I fire brigade in 1S.50 wo'-o ; Mr. Robert
Beard, chief engineer ; Mr. Edwin Butt,
I first afisistant enginoor, and Mr. William
; lioynolds, wcond assistant engineer.
I In 18.'>0 the firo companies of Toronto
I and their officers wore ;—
Chief engineer, Robert Board; first a«-
I sistnnt, Edmund Bell; second assistant,
I William Reynolds; firo warden, James
j Armstrong.
I Fire Engine Company No. 1, " York "—
I Captain, S. Garside; first lieutenant, John
I Iredale; secretary, James Davis; treas-
' urer, James Paterson.
u
580
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Fire Kusim' Coinpiiny No. 2, "Toronto"
— ("aiitiiin, A. ArdaKli: fii'st lii'uti'naiit, W.
Marliii; scciud lii titi'iiaut, — . Ciirrutlii'rs;
Bfcretary, John Koildy; treasurer, James
Evans.
Fire EiipiiiC" Company Xo. 3, "British
Ami'rica''- C'lptain, H. Sproatt: first lieu-
teuant, C. IJoweli; wvoiid lieutenant,
George Pieri'y; Kefietary, Jolm Doel;
treiwurer, Cliark'H Walker.
Fire Engine Company, No. 4, " Vic-
toria,"—Captain, Francis French; first
lieutenant, Job Bi'.ker; second lieutenant,
James Beaty; Ireiwurer. G. Simpson.
Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, "To-
ronto."—Cai>tain, Jos. Bird ; first lieu-
tenant, Robert Kirk; second lieutenant,
F. Milligan; secretary, John Wallace;
trea-surer, S. Mclean.
Hook and Ladder Comp.iny No. 2, "Her-
cules."—C<iptiiin, William Hill; first lieu-
tenant, John Johnson; second lieutenant,
Thomaa Graham; secretary, Hugh Close;
treasurer, W. Lownsborough.
Hose Company No. 1, "Niagara."— Cap-
tain, William Stephens; first lieutenant,
Jame.s Addison; second lieutenant, Robert
Ijewis; secretary, John Held; treasurer,
W. Morrison.
On the 28th January, 1850, an act wa«
(jbsned to provide for the erection of
party wall«, and to prevent the erec-
tion of buildings diuigerous in promot-
ing fires within certain limits. This act
provided that :
All buildings within the limitt of George
street on the ea«t to the centre of York
street oa the west: from the centre of
Adelaide rrtreet and Duke street on the
north to the bay on the south, are to
be divided into five cla.<«ea. All churelies,
chapels, distilleries, breweries, foundries,
furnaces, etc., of any dimeaisions, and
dwelling houses, warehouses, etc., of four
storeys high above ground, or forty feet
in height, to be deemed of the first class;
dwelling houses, etc., of three eloreys,
or thirty-five feet in lieight, to be of
the se<'oaul cliuis; dwelling houses of two
etoreys, or twenty-two feet in height, to
be of the third closa; d«x'lling liouses <if
one storey, or sixteen feet ir. heiglit, to
be of the fourth claiss; in\ielling houses or
offices and stables belonging thereto, and
at a distance of six feet fi'om any pub-
lic road, and detached from othei- build-
ings not in the same possessinn, at least
thirty-five feet, to be deemed a first-
class building, and can bo built of any
dimensions or material whatever.
The external or party wall.-* of the first
four classes of building are to be of cer-
tain degree of thickiies.", varying from
eighteen to thirty-five inches and up-
.wardfl.
Shop windows or frontw not to pro-
; ject more than aii inches from the wall
of the building.
I Craui's or hoisting jibs to be wholly
I constructed of iron or other incombustible
, material.
No Covered gallery or verandah con-
structed of wcxid or other coinbustilila
material to be erected in conneeti<in with
buildings of the first or second class, or
with any other than the ground floor
thereof, unless a« a «'ommunieation from
one to another stwk of buildings, with its
ends only abutting on said buildings.
Buildings of the first, second and third
class, being erected ou the line of any
public street or way, or within seven
feet of such, to be properly enclosed, and
a pathway of sufficient width laid for
the convenience of the public outside such
enclosure.
The Common Council to appoint a city
surveyor (Mr. J. S. Howard waa the first
apjKjinted) to oversee the erection of all
buildings within the above described
limit*, and to enforce the provisions of
the act regarding them, and to be en-
titled to demand and receive from the
owner of the building built, altered or
reconstructed the following fees : For
every ?irBt-rate building, twenty-fivf
shillings; every addition or alteratioii,
seven shillings and sixpence; every
second-rate, twenty shillings; every alter-
ation or addition, six shillings and three-
pence; every third-rate, fifteen shillings;
every addition or alteration, five shil-
lings; every fourth -rate, twelve shillinsB
and sixpence; every alterationi or addi-
tion, five shilling"; ttvery fifth-rat', ton
shillings; every alteration or addition,
five shillings.
No iron foundries, blacksmith shops or
steam engines to be set up or worked
within any of the aforesaid limits, with-
out leave of the Common Council, by re-
solution thereof.
W^ithout permission of the Council no
pers.m to establish or carry on any manu-
factory of varni.sh, fireworks, or any
manufactory dangerous or causing or pro-
moting fire.
Steamers, wb^u at any of the dock*
or wharves, in front jf the city, to have
a top or screen attached to the chim-
ney.s to prevent the escape of sparks.
No {>ersou to have or keep .i larger
quantity than twenty-eiu;ht [wunds of
fiun powder in one place longer than forty-
ei:>ht hours, except in a powder magaziut'
approved of by the Common Council, said
twenty-eight pounds to be put in stone
jars or tin canisters of sev<>u iKiund^. eacli.
The City Surveyor, when directed by
the Mayor or any al<ierman. is to exam-
ine all fire-places, hearths, ovens, boilers,
furnaces, stoves, stovepipes, or otlui
places where fii'os arc made or kept or
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
581
!8 from the wall
)8 to be wholly
ler incombustible
' verandah con-
;hcr conibustililft
1 conm'i'ti<in with
BW-'oud I'lass, 01
:he ground Uvut
iniunieation {rum
uildingH. with its
ia.id buildings,
second and third
the line of any
or within seven
»riy euclo«ed. and
t width laid for
ublic outside such
to .ippoint a city
ard waa the first
iie erection of all
above described
the provisions of
a, and to be eu-
receive from the
built, altered or
wing fees : For
liug, twenty-fivt'
on or alteratioL,
sixpence; every
lings; every alter-
lillings and three-
fifteen shillings;
ration, five ehil-
twelve shillinKS
teration or addi-
ry fifth-rut;-, ton
tion or additiou,
kemith shops or
et up Of worked
lid limits, witli-
Couucil, by re-
)f the Council no
rry on any manu-
•ew<irkfl, or any
r causing or pro-
ny of the docks
the city, to have
led to the chim-
ape of sparks,
keep a larger
iij;ht [Mounds of
onger than forty-
powder miigaziiie
mon Council, said
be put in stone
veu jKtuudh. eacli.
hen directed by
man, is to exam-
lis, ovens, boilers,
ipt^H, or otlii'i
nade or kept or
where ashes are kept, and report thereon
to the Mayor or presiding aldermen, and,
under their direction, if the same be dan-
gerous, to notify the owner, occupier or
party under the building where such dan-
ger is apprehended, to discontinue or re-
move tuch fire or ashes.
Other provisions of this act relate to
party walls, the construction of chim-
neys, window sills, eave troughs, cornices
and roofs.
While the volunteer fire laddies, with
their high regard for the responsible sense
of good citizenship in freely giving their
time aud services for the protection of
Nojih R. Ix-onard second assistant en-
gineer of the brigade at the same time.
The Council of 1852 retained Mr. Asli-
field as ehiof of the fire brigade, and
nj)|H)inted Mr. William Fleming first
ussistuut engineer, and Samuel McLean
second assistant engineer ul' the Toronto
Fire Brigade.
Mr. Arthur Ardagh was appointed
second assistant engineer of the fire bri-
gade in 1853. The chief engineer was
not changed.
About 1 858 a piano engine was obtained for
No. 'Jand named the Rescue. The " piano" wtis
to called because it somewhat resembled
.I.VMKS ASHFIF.r.n—AlM'nlVTKl) (MIIF.l' FIKE IlRtO\T)R 1851— RKSHr.FD 1885.
property and life, were drafting regula-
tions for their own governance and for
the safety of buildings, the city fathers
were moulding history in many chapters
of the early features of Toronto's fire-
lightiug army,
In 1851 Mr.' James Ashfield was ap-
pointed chief engineer of the Toronto Fire
IJrigade, in place of Mr. Robert Beard,
who had resigned. Mr. Ashfield joined
the brigade in 1839, waa apiH)inted cap-
tain of a company in 184(5, nnd Lad
proved himself to be a very able aud
efifcient officer. Mr. .John Carr was np-
poiuted first ussistuat eiigiut>er, ami Mr.
the box of a piano, with two ba „•
brLikes at the sides. The " fore and afl
machine, of Avhich, at a later period,
there were 8|>eoimeiiH in town, differed
from the " piano," in that the brake*
were at the tad instead of the sides.
Like No. 2 Company, No. 1 at first had
a " goose neck " machine, aud later a
" piano."
Not 1 company wos afterwards located
in a brick building, on Court street,
erected in 18-iG, the upper portion of
which was devoted to tto Mechanics' In-
Btitute with its library, ind a hall for
public meetings. The luwer portion was
f
SV2
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
(liviili'd into tlireo halln, ouo to the Mv-st
ff>r No. 1 coiniiaiiy, tin' I'l'iitix- liall for
No. 2. ivnd the I'fiHti'ru hull for tiic hook
and laddrr company. No. 2 conipany
occupit'd tlio Court strout hall up to about
185U-G().
Oi' conipaay No. 2, Alexander Jaccjuos
fiayd : " Smioliow this coiiipaiij' (No. 2t
wore unalik- to find a lovt'-«pot in the
chief eugiut'or'H heart, aud whilst other
compauiee had oidy to (ujk niul their
wautH were Hupplied, No. 2 uever got
even a heariiiK- lu this state of affairs
we hud a friend, Mr. Frank lie ward,
the man.'URer of the Hoyal Insurance
Coniiiiuiy, who ever Btood by the
boys of No. 2. For some years the city
paid prize inotiey, as also the admission
fee, .$5, and the profits of excursions to
Rochester and lUiffalo were husbanded.
In 185'J an order wavS given to Cowan
& Son, engine builders, of Seneca Falls,
N.Y., for a first-da^ss folding break piano
!
stood sJiouIder to shoulder with their cap-
tain, and his departure was a signal fo:-
a break-i'p. John Pearcey moved the dis-
banding ri'solution. Peter Campion ov
Thomas Mcllroy were the Becondern.
The resolution was to the effect ' That
whereas the captain waw goiug to leav.'
the city, the company s«^ll out vheir stocli
aud (juit the servic, uever to i-uu wit!-,
any machine or under another officer.'
Marry Smith was general charge
d'affaires around the hnll, aud kei)t tlir
boys iu order. There are still
alive in the Queen City a few of the old
members of No. 2 : Thomaa Farragher,
Thoniaa Mcllroy, Alexander Peareey,
George McConkey, Williau) Reynolds, John
Pearce, Joseph Worden, Harry Smith,
William Forbes and Thomas McMuUeu."
The officers for 1854 were :— Mr. James
Ashfield, chief engineer ; Mr. Arthur
Ardagh, firsL assistant engineer, and Mr,
I William Charlton, second assistant engi-
THE FOLDING-BREAK " PFANO " MAflflNK NO. 4 — IN CSE 1845,
machine to throw three streams, a reel
aud 500 feet of hose. In due time the
machine was built, and in her co.istruc-
tion the Cowans had elaborated, as it was
their firet in this market, and they were
desirous of getting more orders. A house
was secured ou the east 8id(> of Youge,
directly opjiosite Elm st. Double doors were
put in, wash-rooms, boot-rooms, bunks for
twelve men .and a neatly furnished rend-
ing-rooni were fitted up. This latter was
a popular resort for many of our friends,
who resided in that then rural part of
Toronto. Here such men as " Yorkshire "
Smith, and men of that ilk, would si)eiid
a social hour reading, smoking and enjoy-
ing a game of draughts, backgammoa
and whist. The machine was known as
Ijidef)endent No. 2. Finally, as years
rolled on and the city expanded, it wiis
found necessary to go in for powerful
Water- woi'kw, and the steamer was in-
tnxlnced. The captain, in fact the only
captain the company ever had, having
met reverses, was about to leave the city.
A meeting was called. The bo3rH had ever
necr. These same officers held their re
epective posts in 1855 and 1856.
In 1855, on the resignation oi the mem-
bers of the fire brigade, that body wan
entirely re-organized, and consisted of
six engine companies, one hook and lad-
der company, and one hose company, with
officers as follows :
No. 1 Engine, Phoenix Company— Mr.
John Irediile, captain; Mr. ThoniasHum-
phries, lieutenant ; Mr.
mers, secretary.
No. 2 Engine, Rejficue
James Smith, captain ;
Brotherston, lieutenant ;
Lee, secretary.
No. 3 Engine, British America Company
—Mr. John Segswortii, captain; Mr.
Rober. Carmichael, lieutenant; Mr. John
Fogg n, secretary.
No 4 Engine, Victoria Company— Mr.
Geoi j:e Reatty, captain; Mr. Robert
Kich.uond, lieutenant ; Mr. William Dill,
secretary.
No. 5 Engine Company (Deluge)— Mr,
Loftus Ti'ueman, captain ; Mr, George
George Sum-
Company— Mr,
Mr, William
Mr, Thoodoro
!^^
held their re
1856.
iou oi the mem-
that body wns
id cousisted of
hook and lud-
company, with
M,i;\AM ; I.\<.,)tTl.s, I IKKMAN ANli ('ATTAIN IlESCUK COMI'ANY NO. '_', lS.V_»-,"{.
0|). \<\i
n
I
'.
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
683
Patterson, lieutenant; Mr. Thomaa
Jewell, isecretnry.
Ko. 6 Engine, Provincial Company-
Mr. ^V. W. Fox, captain ; Mr. John Car-
keek, lieutenant ; Mr, James liichey,
k,;cretary,.
captain ; Mr. Wiliinm Burua, lieutenant ;
Mr. C. E. Ilolliwell, secretary.
The report of the chief engineer of the
fire brigade for 185G gives a list of the
different fire conipauiea, the uumbttr of
men attached to each, apparatus, and
Iltiok and Ladder Company, Union
f)onipany-Mr. R-chard Ardanh, captain ;
Mr. ('liarle.s P,ent.y. lieutenant ; Mr. Sani-
upl McLean, secretary.
Hose Comp.iny-Mr. W. C. Morrison,
U5
00
K
«■.
>■
p:
O
8
where fltationed ns follows :
No. 1, Phoenix Cumpany— Tweaity-nine
men, stationed at Court street.
No. 2, Heseue Company — Twenty-nine
men, stationed on Court street.
IH
I
584
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
No. 3, British America Company— Thirty
men, stationed ou Bay street.
No. 4, Victoria Compjiny — Seven teem
iii.Mi, Ntatioued at the old St. Patrick'H
market.
No. 5, Deluge Company — T.weuty-four
The hose compnny had 45 men, and
was stfitioned on Bay street.
The total number of men, without th«
chief and assistant engineers, was 227,
The loBs during the year wi\e estimated
at £12,376, which wae corered by about
8
as
O
.-5
>
33
a
men. stiUioiiod on Rorki-ley streot.
No. 6, Provincial Conipnny— Thirty-five
men, statioiu'il on Baj- stroot.
The lioolc and laddi'r compaiij' w.ts com-
j)oeed of 23 nn'ii, and waa stationed on
Court stroi't.
£17,075 insurnncf.
Till' first captain of No. 5 companj
w;i« Mr. John Kidd. John and Cliarlos
Small and Saniucl Parker wore amoiiR
till' first nioniluM's. TluMr first hall wa»
ill a lane ni'ar llie south-west comer of 1
;
I
T.AXDMAIIKS OF TORONTO.
-)'^.-.
5 company ;
and Cliarlos
wore amoiiR
MI- first hall wa'
ith-west corner of
IVrkt'Io^ "ii'l Huko stroots. Tt stands to-
, ;iy as it did foitj .voaiv apo. Thi'ir fir«t
riicin'' ^^'"^ "• Mtvon l-tiaud oiu> puiclui>ii'<l
f'oin Olio of the older coinpaiiios. Aftnr-
wiu-ils thoy prociii't'd nii Amoskcap, wliii'h,
for a hand maoliine, wa-s a most flcr^ico-
ahlc ont'. The cuKino wntt some years
Inter hoiwed In n builrtiaff on the south-
weft corner of Duke and Berkeley streets.
Somewhere about the year 1853 the
hlbition in Ixindon, and to have been
BiMit directly from it. At this time there
were two hook and ladder com)>anieH in
the department. Mr. Ashfield, wIk> was
chief of the fire department at that time,
found that there was a good deal of strife
I between them, and in coiKBoqneuce dis-
j bnndetl Hercules iKick and ladder company
I No. 2, whicli Imd moma at the corner of
I Bay and Temperance artrceti, and placed
?mE HALL NO. 2 — CORNER PORTLAND AND RICHMOND STREETS — ERECTBD 1870.
Provincial Inmitance Company, which had
its oi'ficee on Toronto street, at the
nortli-east corner of Coiitt street, bought
from Perry, of Montreal, an engine known
us the Montreal " fore and nft " tub, and
ranking in the first cla«8, and presented
it to the city for tho uso of the fire de-
I pannont. The engine wa« one exhil itod
by the manufacturers at the Great £x-
the Montreal engines in their hands,
changing the organization from a hook
and ladder compan,^ to a fire engine
company. As there Arerc five fire engine
companies in existence previously, this
made No. 6, but it wat better known as th«
" Provincial," because it wafl a pet ol
the insurance company of that name.
William Fox was captain of the company.
086
LANDMARKS OF TORONTIJ.
In the eamo buildiug with it wn.s located
the Jucktioii hose couipaiiy. ThJH com-
pajiy woa oi-gauizod by Willinm Hcuiiiiif?,
but BouH'how the iiiimt' of JackMoii Avas
given to it in houoiir of JanicK .Tack«oii,
who at a Iritor iwriod was cajitaiii. Tho
company in tho ol"d days w.'\n a very
useful and highly resiK-ctable body.
a how reel, wore temporarilj' Htatiouod I
in a hal) on tlie west eide of Elizabeth
fitroet, Houth of Apnes street. In the fo!.
lowing j'ear the company disbanded, ami
the hall, along with the bell tower, weri'
removed to the east eide of ElizabetL
(Street, but north of Agnca etreet. Tliere
veteran Bob Hill was in charge, his
rmmmm
/
ROni;RT H0KTKR, CAPTAIN INDEPENDENT FIRE BRIOADE 1857.
The salary of the chief ensineer of the
fire brit^ade was fixed at £250 per an-
num by tlie Council of \><~u.
In the latter part of 1857 au independ-
ent engine comi>any was organized on ac-
count of the i)re valence of ineendi;iry
fire«, with Robert Hunter a.s captain.
This company, with old No. 4 engine and
principal duty being to ring au alarm
on the bell in ca«e of fire. The engine
was tran.sferre(l to Bay street hall.
In May, 1858, in consequence of the
very larg(> number of fires which had oc-
curred, the Mayor called a special meet-
ing of the Council to consider the best
means of protecting the property of the
LAN DM AUKS OF TOIiOxNTO.
.587
citizoim ngainst firo. It wns resolved to
or^caui/A' a voluutcer night piitrol
throughout the city, and alKo to offer a
reward of $1,500 for the appreheusion
nud oouvictiou of au.v perNoii who Bhould
be guilty of setting fire to any premiBes.
The officers for 1858 were the same as
ill the previouH year.
A bad habit among the membore of the
fire brigade thou (1858) was the runnir^
Hhould proceed at a faster rate than a
waljj wliile n'tuniinj; from fires with
tlieir iipp.'iratim. the amotnit of the
fine to be deducted from tlieir |)ay.
In 1859 the Committee of Fire. Water
and GiiH appointed Mr. .Tames Aslifield,
chief eiii;ineer of the fire department,
William Chiirltoii, first assistant oiigiueer,
and James Smith, second assistant en-
giueer. lu this same year a firo eugiue
FIRE HALL NO. 4— COR, BERKELEY AND DUKE STS. — BOILT 1859— REMODELLED 1871.
lof engines and reels on tlie sidewalks
|Trhil8t going to and returning from fires.
This resulted early in the year, in the
death of Terence Meehan, fireman, of No.
Co., by one of the engines running over
him, and steps were thereupon immedi.a-
ely taken to put a stop to the practice.
For this purpose a penalty of £5 was to
imposed upon any company which
was constructed for the use of No. 4, Vic-
toria Company, of the Fire Brigade, the
cost of which was about $1,200. The work
WJ18 done by Mr. Win. Marks, of Toronto.
In consequence of the very great num-
ber of disastrous fires which had taken
place during this year, and which were
supposed to have been of incendiary ori-
gin, the Council issued a proclamation,
rr
.'SS
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
oarly in Soptcmbcr, offoriuc; a reward of
$1,000 for the conviction of the guilty
imrtiep.
In lS5n the fire department con«i«ted
of eight oonipanies, the «ame lut in 1856,
ninnl)erinp 203 nuMi, Htatiowcd and offi-
cered tin follows :
Jamen ABhlield, chief engineer, Temper-
ance (Street; William Charlton, first a«-
fiistant engineer, Victoria Htreet; James
Smith, second nasistaut engineer, Front
Btreet.
Early in IHOO a by-law was pRMi«;|
which provided for the organization i
two ho«e <'onipaiiirs, of 20 men each, ii
stead of having, as formerly, only cj:,. j
company, conwsllng of 40 men. This liv-
law wnfl introilu<ed, tia the committe*
reports, "for tin' better management i>\
the fire brigade, nnd to represB aa niurM
as possible the long continued praclii. j
of running the engines, etc., on the sid...
walks when going to fires." The by-laiJ
was carried into effect on October Int.
r.AY STREET HALL — S. E. CORNER HAY AND TEMPERANCE STS. —REBUILT 1871.
The captains were : .lohn Iredale, No.
1 engine, Yonire street; Alexander
.Tac(iues, So.
eiiprine. King street ;
Frederick Rattray, Xo. 3 engine, Yongc
street; Edward Street, Xo. 4 engine,
Que^n street; Samuel P;irker, Xo. 5 en-
gine, Ontario street; George Fox, Xo. 6
engine, (Juecn street; .lames Bennett,
hook and ladder company, Colborne street;
James Jackpon, Toronto nos<' Coinp;uiy,
King street.
Tu 1S.50 .a new fire hall was erected on
tho west side of Berkeley street, south of
Duke street.
1S60, and the now company was stn-
tioned at the old fire hall on Court street,
The captains of No. 1 wen^ :— Jann'<
Walsh, S. Garside, .Tames Iredale ani'.l
William Charlton, after assistant I'li-
nineer. The captains of No. 2 were W.I
XInsson, Fi'anklin Jacques, Edwin Bill.
William Reynolds, Richard Couch. Thr nin?
(liifl'ith, James Smith, Edw.-ird Lee, Ali'x-
ander Jacques. Amone: the men were \\.
Brotherstoii, John Da vies, Duncan Forhi'?,
Peter ('am[)i()!i, J;)liu Esnionde, RicliaHl
Couch, Thomas Griffith, .Tamos Fost'T.
William .TaC(}ues, Thomas Farraj^hor.
:„:,;*
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
589
Lmc« EsTionrlP. A. Opmini>l. .Io«o|ili Hock,
Iclinnl M"(lialf(\ Edward Kiiijr, John
Dr<l. Tlionii'fl McUrcy, John U. Esmonde,
lilliam Forboe, Thoraan McConkey,
hoiiiao McMiiUcn, John Pi'arcey, Alox-
hdor Pearco'-, Ilobcrt Hill, Joseph Gib-
ftn, William i^^pottiHWood, Jamos Spottis-
looil. GoorRP SiHittiHWood, John Bo.vd,
bhn Irwin. William Smith, Thomaa
nith. Harry Smith, Thomas Harris,
bomafl Wiugfield, John Sharpo, Gcorgp
onp protpotivp company. It waw provldod
that, in lion of all otlicr allowajioofl, onch
<ompany whoso sorvicoj^ were accoptod
Bhould be nllowod for the maintonancp nf
their apparatus n« followa : Engine com-
panies, .$S00 each; hook and ladder com-
panies of 80 men and over, .$800, and
hose companies in proportion.
The engine company known as No. 2.
under the command of Alexander Jacques,
resigned on the Ist September, 1860. and
nr.K TTAT.T, XO. 0— OURKN STREET — HCILT 1847— REBCir.T 1876.
I A by-law wius piifised on April 2!>th,
pCl, providing for tiie orKanizatinn of
I vohiiitcrr fire brigade, consisting of
Bno oiigino companies, one luxil; iind lad-
kr fompany, two h^wf eompt ' '
their resignation was accepted.
The system of snpiilying the engines
with water by means of puncheons con-
tinued in Toguc down to 1861. The
imncheoii was a large cask, capable of
containing from sixty to eighty gallons
I of water, or about wliat would fill three
! ordin.'iry flour barrels. One of the con-
I tlitions on which the carters of those days
anios, and obtained their liceiiBes was that each
890
LAXDMAHKS OF ToMOXTO.
mini bi> iiriiviilfd with at least I'lic
j)Uiiclii'<>ii. 'I'lic H.VHtt'iii (if ri'WurilM nffci'-
(•(1 fipKt lu tliu-tc ciirli'fM fii'Ht at firi'H
with llifir iniiu'lu'oiiH wan a Hiifficit'iit
iiiilticciiiiMil to tcuaraiiti'i' n piinctual Mcr-
vit'c. To till' carter who wiw fiiHt at
the fire with hiH |miielie<m, ii prize ol
four (IdlliirM \va« K'veii, to tlie seetMid man
three dollarM, tn the tliird man two dol-
and in nneh cnneH tlie contestinK farti.
went with tlieir claimH the next dav t
tiie ehief oiiniaeerV office, wiiere " th,
(jneHtion waM decided. 'I'jie eartePH wi-..
not paid in mmiey at the time of tlie fjp
but on tlie arriviii of each puncheon it
carrier wa« wivon a elicclc of tin or ii'iii;
which entitled liini on pn-Bentation i
the pn>iK'r officials to a Hhilliug for even
FIRE HATX SO. 3— VONnP, STREKT— BT'ILT 1870.
Ian aaid to the fourth man one dollar ;
All coming later received a York shil-
ling for every puncheon brought, and th«
flame price was paid to tlie prize winnern
for every additional puncheon. A« misht
have been expected, diBputew as to tlie
relative time of arrival were frciiueut,
check. These checks were round, the
size of a silver half dollar, and bore
on them the nnmbi'r of the compaojy
issuing it. Sometimes they were stamiK'd
with a fancy device like an eugiifc. lu
conseciueiice of the provision of the law,
every carter bad Lie puucLcou, and
s •nil' III
.■.\eral
■ ly cirtH
;',„.ir I'll,-'
,il oil the
cveill of
(lav's worl
ou" their CI
r
I
during the
pected tha
on fire by
expectatioi
the re war*
that althoi
home or
puucheouB
LAN'DMAIIKS ()!•' T' )PvON*T().
501
H ,iiii' III' tin- iiKiiit wi'iiltliy oiM'H lind
<.\i'r;il iiiuiL'lu'oii*), oiii' lor ciu'li of
■jic I'.irts. A fow I'lirti'PH minlc it
•jii.ir IniKiiH'XH t<> krcp puiicticoim I'ill-
,(I oil till- i';irt*i. (It all tiiiicM rciiily in the
..vi'iit of ''til aliir.in. OtlnTM, wlii'ii tin-
(lii.v'H wurlx wiu* (loiw, |iut tlifir iuiucIh'oiih
ou thoii' iinta. filli'tl iu roudiiicsH lor fircH
iimd lu»«ti' to Ki't tn the fin; ovcm' thi>
nniK'' ro.idH of till' town, wln'ii tfn'.v ri'iudi-
od till' I'nuiii""^ tliiT" Hcrin'cly would bt;
a luiilfull Irft, itll till' ri'Ht hiiviiiK Ix't'ii
H|il.'i>4hi'd out. The filiirni of tlri' wnw
Hoiiiidi'd by lilt' iHTHoii who diHCovi-ri'd it
by nitiiiiuK to tlio first bi'll mid rinjriug
it, aud the membera of tin; coiu|)auy buiog
FIRE HALL NO. 7— WILTON AVENUE— BUILT 1878,
during the night, and it is shrewdly sus-
pected that many a building wiia set
on fire by the carters themselves, in the
expectation or hope of obtaining one of
the rewardfl. So keen was the rivalry
that although the cartsmen started from
home or from the bay with their
puucbeouB full) yeti on account of their
all cngajrcd at their custotnnry vocations
during the day, are equally scattered
about the town at night, it happened that
the cartmeu with their puncheons were
usually in advance of the engines. Pre-
vious to the final disuse of the puncheons
a kind of system of wator^works had bi'cn
laid by Mr. Furuiss, as a private specu-
i
592
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
lation. TI' luul built a rewrvoir on the
t'iiNt ."idn of llurou sti'i't^t, juat north
of w'iiat is now St. Patri' ii street.
The water wjls i)Uiu|)ed from the bay
and distributed through a Kiuall
section of the city, but the pi|)e.s were
very email, the supply of water totally
inadequate for the extinction of fires, and
tliere were frecjiUMit complaints botli from
the fire companies and the pe()i)le, nevei'al
of which have been noticed in the min-
utes of company No. 3.
As Mr. Ashfield's connection with the
lire brij;ade of Toronto is a part of the
history of that brifC^ide for exactly half
a century, it will be of interest to give
a brief outline of it.
In May. LS3!), Mr. Aahfield waw admit-
ted a member of the Toronto Fire ]{ri-
gade, which at the time consisted of five
companies of from thirty to forty mem-
bers each, all volunteers, who received
no remuneration for their services. In
1846 he was elected captain of his com-
pany, and in May, ISTjI, while absent
from the annual meeting of the officers
of the brigade, having prtvioiisly de-
clined being a caudidiite, iie was elected
to the office of chief engineer of the
brigade, and iu accordance with that
election he was appi)in'ed to that office
by the City Council. The following is a
copy of his appointment by the City Coun-
cil ill 1^51, on the recommeiidatiou of
the fire brigade :
aerk'« Office, Toronto, May Hi, l!<r>l.
Sir,— I have (he honour to acquaint you
that the Common Council of the City of
Toronto have, in iiursuanc** of the recom-
mendation of the fire brigad", by a re-
.solution adopted on the l.">th iiwt., ap-
IMjinted yon Chief r^iigiuoer of the To-
ronto Fire Brigade.
I have the nonour to be, sir,
Your very obedient servant,
CUAULES DALY.
James .4ehfiold.
After a service of fourtetn years in the
brigade, two tm chief engineer, and all
without {vty, having his own private
businefifl to attend to, Mr. Ashfiold de-
clined being again a candidate for the
office of chief engineer. The City Coun-
cil then resolved that the chief engineer
should be paid a salar\ and induced him
to accept the office at $()0() \k'v year. In
.Tune, 1S.15, wliile a>j.^ent from the city
on a tour of iiuspection, he was re-ajv-
iiointed and his salary M'as raised to
.$S0(), and a few years later to i?l,000_.
On Mr. Ashfield's appointment in IS.'io
the Council ajipoiiited William Charltun
first assistant engineer and Avtlnir
Ardagh second assistant. In 1850 the
Council had made a small .'.llowaiice to
n>pet ilie iil'^rilute expenses of the de-
partment, but up to 1S7G, when the met
were first stationed in the fire halls, jt
j may bo said to have been a voluntopr |
I dei)artmeiit. In l.s.'iG the City Council
I took the appointment of the chief officfuj
\ into its hands, the choice of th • brigud*
: in this matter having been reepecteil up!
I to that lime.
' Ilnnd engines continued in use down tc
18G1, and were drawn to fires by tbe
firemen. In that year the brigade \va.s j
! re-organized with steam engines, but th:'
members of the department still con-
tinued to practice their ordinary avoca-
tions, g,)ing to fire halls cnily on tLt I
alarm. Although the city had stj-au
I engines it diu not at first have horses
: to pt?ll them, and whenever there vu I
' a fire the nearest horses at hand wore
\ drafted into the service. The old liauJ
engines were sold to small municipalities
iu tlie province, the la.st one to be di«
[Kvsed of being the Phoeni.x, which was I
jHirehased by the villa4i;e of Oakville.
t The Committee on Fire, Water aud Gas I
; recommended tte purclnuse of a steani
I fire engine in 1858, but no steijs were
I taken to carry out the recommejidatioii
I until 18(51, wheu two steam euginen w«re|
procured from Messrs. Silsby & Co.,
of Seneca Falls, N.Y.,' for which the sum |
I of $0,000 iva-s paid. The engines gave
very good satisfactioji on occasions li
fire, although at first they caused some I
jealousy on the part of the other fiie|
companies, which led to their being bin
dered in its work.
To the price of one of the engines dii-
fereut in«urance coiup-anies doing busi- 1
nes.s in the city sul)scril)ed $2,000.
After thase two engines became back
numbers, owing to the !ulviu*>.-o:neut in I
the science of fire fighting, they wok
sold to a junk dealer for the Bum of
$S0, by whom they were broken up, aiij|
thrown into the scrap-irou h«R.p.
The cost of maintaining the fire bri-
gade iu 1801 wiuj $7,520, distributed aj
follows :
Cliief engineer of brigade $l,OCi)|
Fii'si. assistant engineer $C00, a<H:-
oiid a.ssiatant ifJ-OO 1,0
Two fiicmcu ij^GlO, one extra diiror
^$240 880 1
Six horses an 1 three men l.SOii
Siv branchmcii at $100 each (iiiOJ
Two chief branehmen !it $120 e;.cli 24')
One lKX)k luul ladder company l,o(")
Fuel, repairs, oil, t'"llow, etc uOiM
Total $7,5211
Steam fire engiuci havi.ig Kupei-sieiirll
the hand brake machiuOH, the fire deiw.r'-'
iiient in loG2 ^^as m.>t<'ri'uly alteroil
There were but two statiyjj-s tlic B.iyl
street fire hall it the corner of Temixr-
ance street and the Court street fire huJI.I
ii!
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
593
on- I
Jamea Ashfield, the chief eugiiiecr, had
hid office in the eaat wiiig of the City
Hall buildings.
The force consisted of quo chief en-
1 'iieer. one aasistant engineer, 17 brauch-
nit'n. 11 hook and ladder men. 1 hiifsU-r,
2 engiiieerfl of stoam fire eugiubs, 2 fire-
men of the eaine, 2 driver.^ of horse for
the same, 2 driverB o' hose* carts, 1
driver of book and ladder inKk: in all
j h.-ftd, and Meissrs. Thomas Kerr and
! Tlioiuas Graham (the present chief) were
I a-ppointed firemen of eteam engines.
In February of the same year an appro-
priation of $2,000 wa« made for the cou-
stnictioii of water tanks in various popu-
louH portions of the city, for the pur-
^)oso of affording an adi-(iuate supply of
water for the extinguishing of fires.
Twenty-eight tauka were constructed dur-
KIKE llAT-L NO. 8— S. W. COR. ('OLI,E(iK ST. AND BELI.EVUK AVE. — BUILT 1S7S.
140 men, with two stefl-m fire engliu^s,
Ihose carts, hose, hook and ladder appar-
l&tus and seven lioracs.
In 18G2 the City (\)uncil i)as.s.'d a hy-
llaw providing for the organization of a
[lire dopartineiit, to consist of the two
pam fir" engineH and hone carts, with
pie necessary euKineers tuul braneii.men;
riH> lioi>k aTid iMclder C(;mpuny and thrw
Ihniirt engines, to bo stationed jit diffcr-
Biit partH ot the city. The office of second
lugiuier was awarded to Mi. J-jlin Wliite-
ing tlie yea , and more added from time
to time.
Both in 1803 and 1804 the Committee
on Fire, Water and Gas urged upon
tla' Council the necessity of pi"oturiiig a
thii"d fire steam engine, to be kept iu re-
sei-ve iu case of accident to eitlier ot
tlie i>tlu'r en|!;iues, but tlu' Council of
that yeiir did not consider it necessary.
Agjiin, on Januiiry 81st. ISOa, tlio Coni-
niittee n'couiinended that an appropriii-
tiou of $4,000 be made for an adli'^' 'i,' ;
m:
594
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
I I
•team fin* oiigiuo, but the report was uot
adopted by tlie Council, aud the matter
stood ovi'f oau ■ more.
In 1803 till' following correepoudpncc i«
n^portcd ill the records of the Fire, Water
aud (iiLs Committee :
Pi-oviucial Ineurauce Co. of Cannda,
lOlh April.
The Provincial Iiifstiraucc Coiapiuiy of
Cnnada hereby (li'iii.i!:d from llio i-ity cf
Toronto the fin' iMigine " Pioviuci.il " and
ho*<e reel belonj-^in;? to the naid conapany,
and require th' delivery to be made to
J. .S. Crocker, K-scp, their manager, and
the said company will hold the munici-
pality of the city of Tonmto rchponsiblc
for ■■my dani;ijre the said company may
suffer from non-delivery thereof.
J. IIILLYAKJ) CAMKUOX,
President.
JAS. SYDN1:Y CROCKER,
Manager.
The m.atter coming lx>fore the commit-
tee as it did, without much previous
notice, the cnnimittce were not prepared
to order the didivti-y of the engine, with-
out being fully ;iware of all the eircum-
etaiices eoiuieet.'d with the city coming
into po.st'essioii of the machine, for Avhile
tliej- wei'(> .'inxioufv timt the iimiir.nnce com-
pany should be jimtly (h'alt with, yet they
were very c.-uitious that the riglits of
the city should be c;uvfully preserved.
T'nder the cirenmstances, the matter
was post{)oiied until further inquiry could
be miidc into the matter, during which
time the annexed notice was received,
threatening to hold the city responsible
for any d;iinage the company might suffer
from the non-delivery of the engine.
The information reciuired by your com-
mittee has b<H^u n>ceived, being the com-
munication of the secretary of the Pro-
vincinl Insurance Company in 1852, offer-
ing the care of the engine to the city,
and the fifteenth report of the Fire,
Water and Gax C»>mmittee of the same
yenr, accepting the charge, which are
BubmittiMl for the informatiou aud action
of the Council.
Provincial Insurance Office,
Toronto, 27th Dec. 1852.
To Mr. James Ashfield. Chief Engineer
City of Toronto Fire Brigade ;
Sir,— You are aware that this com-
pany has purchasi'd th(^ prize fire engine
made by Mr. Perrv, of Montreal, .'ind I
believe you ore also
cliJise was made foi
ding that powerful
brigade of tlie city,
therefore, to briu,
Common Council,
aware that the pur-
the purjiose of .-ul-
eiigiue to the fire
■. May I reciuest you,
the matter before the
and take such mea-
eures as may be deemed necessary for
the formcation of a comp.any, organized
under and recognized by the proper
municipal authority ol the city, aud in
whose care, aa a part of the fire briga..
the engine, to be called the " Proviiici;-,, I
shall be placed in the same manner th;|
the engine of the British America
surance Company has been done, imtJ
di.iti'ly on your informing me that Biitl
companv is in a state to take cha^
of it.
(Signed) ED. G. O'BRIE^
Secretary.!
Report of Standing Committee, jj
12th. 1853 :
Youi committee, having had before tl
the communication of E. G. O'Brien, (
leave to recommend that said engine 1
put in charge of one of the comtwnJ
at present org.Tuized in ^''e fire brigaJ
(Signed) GE, KGE PLATT,
GEORGE BROOK,
ED. WRIGHT
.TAMES ASH: J|
The Standing Committee on Fi-
Water and Gas beg leave to presout ;
report No. -t :
The committee have had before tfj
a communication from T. W. I'.iifl
Esq., manager of the British Aiiitri
Assurance Co., stating that an oil"
$200 had been made by a distant v.
eipality for the fire engine now in r^|
session of the city, belonging to the t
pany, known as the "British Ainciit,;
and requesting that the engine may
handed over to the compiiny or purelK.-j
by the city for the sum of $200. Y j
committee recommend that the engiii"
returned to the British America AssJ
ance Company.
In 1800, according to the report nf ;;j|
chief engineer of the fire department;
that year, there were fifty-five fi:
within the city limits, and of ti,\
eighteen were extinguished without
aid of any of the fire engines. 01 ■
other thirty-seven the other two werOi
tinguished with three streams of \va;|
eleven with two streams, and tweiityfl
with one strenm. The department «1
called out on unnecessary alarms twrj
five times during the year. The tot.il
on buildings and contents was about 5i|
000 protected by an insuraTice of
$188,000. Fifteen of the fifty-five
were attributed to inceniliary nrii:!
TIk' re()ort goes on to say that tii'^ wiuj
works (>xtended but to a small portii
the city. There were no hydrants \
of Peter street, nor east of Nelson strJ
on (^ui'eu si.rert. or south of it except ■(
two of wi:ieh wire useless because of li' j
on small mains. Nor were there any
di-aiits north of Queen street except i
on Yongo street, three on Church Htr I
three on Gerrard street, four on Ai'l
sti-eet, one on Don street, one on Slmj
street, and one on Sayer street. Thet;
immber of hydrants in the city was I
II
LAN D.MARKS OV TOIUJNTO.
595
about 12 of which were uselesH bocaiiHC
of the liipos to which they were coniieet-
(hI beiug so small, .mid the hydrants so
far distant from the large mains that a
fire engineer could not get a supply of
water from auy of them.
The engineer stated that since the \r-
troduction of eteam fire engines in ^ ;c
litv there had bceu nsed from the hy-
drants in any one year three-fourths of
a million gallons of water for extin^^uish-
ing a fiiv. The quantity used during
but two fire halls, one the Hay street,
the other the Court street ; ami the total
equii)uuMit of the fire department was
three steamers, three hose carts, one
hfKik- and ladder truck, one fuel wa^gou,
seven horses ; the hook and ladder truck
wn« liauli'd by one hor.se— and twenty-
four hundred feet of rubber hose. The an-
nual appropriation for running the de-
partment, exclusive of the salary of the
chief engineer, was .'P8,00().
Coniiinntinu; on tiie crude method of
I
1 Nls' l"T'
FIRE HALL NO. 9— DUNUAS STRKET, NEAR QT'KKN STUKKT— BUILT 1878.
Jhc vear 1866 at the price paid, nt .$11
er 1,000 gallons nsed from the hydrants,
»hile the ordinary charge for niivate
ouBuraption was about thirty cents. He
nrther adils that from the time hand
Ingines were wholly disconlinued, in
|862, up to 1.' 66, the whole engine power
ed for CTtinguishing fires in the city
^ae two steam engines. In .Inly, 18(16,
owover, a third Silsby steamer was
oupflit for a reserve uginf, in ca.se
accident or cmcrgciicy. There were
sending in .•ui alarm then iu vogue the
reiH>rt say.s :
" Tlie belhs in I'.se for the purjiose of
giving alarm on occanlnns of fin' in this
city are not as effective as formerly,
V'hen tU'' city could not boast of a*< many
exte'isii-e blocks of jiigli buildings as at
present. There is no lookout or watch
kept at any of the engine or fire alarm
Btation.s, and it often liappuas that fires
do oceiii- for .vliich some of the pricicipal
bells are not rung at all. Along with
1
li .' iil'
III
590
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
this it may be noticed that thorp are
many parts of the city in which, shonld
a (ire break out, a mi'ssongcr, to convey
the intelligence to the nearest engine or
alarm station, may have to travel nearly
two miles, and before reaching it, saying
nothing of the shortest time possible to
get the engines and other apparatus to
the place of fire, the bnildiug where the
fire originated, with all its contents, to-
gether with other property adjacent
thereto, may have been wholly de-
Btroyed."
While on dnty at a fire at Drunimond's'
lumber yard on the east side of Tonge
street, on .Inly 4th. lf>G6, Mr. William
Charlton, .liSBistant engineer of the fire
<lepartment, received injuries which
proved fatal six d*,\'s later. The Council
granted hi.s widoAv the sum of $7.'>0 a«
a gratuitv for the loss of her husbajid.
On May 2.^th, 18(57, the Council passed a
by-law to provide for rewarding those
who distinguish themselves at fires, as
follows :
I. That any person who shall in the dis-
charge of Ilia duty as a fireman distin-
guish himself in the performance of a gal-
lant act by which life or property shall,
or may be saved, shall be entitled to re-
ceive rew.ard tliereof, either by presenta-
tion of a medal or such pecuniary assist-
ance as the cor|X)ration of the City of
Toronto by the Council thereof may by
resolution order or direct.
II. Provides such pecuniary aid or as-
sistance for the widows or orrih.ins of any
firem.an who may receive his death, or
such injuries as may lead to death, while
in the discharge oi his duty.
In April. 186G, T. W. Birchall, Esq.,
manager Tfritish America Assurance
Companj', presented the city with one of
Oyston's steam fire engine nozzles, for
the use of the fire der):>rtment. On motion
it was decided to accept said steam
sprending nozzle, and tliat the thanks of
the Cf)uncil are due, and are hereby ten-
dered to the said company and others
who have contributed towards furnishing
same.
At tlie end of ISOS the department con-
sistt'd of one ciiief engineer and one assiKt-
ant engineer, two engineers and two
firemen of steam engines, on" caretaker
of fifiparatus, and one fire company of
tliirty-lour men niid nine supermimernry
nuMiiliers. In all i'oi'ty-one men, exehisivo
of the suiieriiumernry members nl' the fire
compnny. The salaries per annum wi-re
as follows :
Assistant Kngineer $.'{00
Tlireo foremen of sections, eaeh 80
Thirtj'-one members of Fire Com-
pnny, each 70
First engineer steam engine (iOO
Second engineer of steam engine .'>0(t
Two firemen steam engine, each 360
Caretaker, bellringer, etc .%(i
The officers of the fire brigade were
■Tames Ashfield, chief engineer : lUchan!
Ardagh, assistant engineer ; John C.
Clapp, first engineer fire engine ; Job;
Whitehead, second engineer fire engiiii'
Thomafl Kerr, firenmn ; Thomas Graham,
fireman ; Adam Keny, caretaker.
In 1869 the netessity for a fire alarni
telegraph was rejientedly urged upon tin
Council, and a tender was received frur
the Gamewell Company, of New York
offering to do the work for $5,400, bn;
no steps were taken in the matter.
The chief engineer in his annual i,-
ix)rt again brought the matter up, urgii,;
that it is impossible for the fire depart-
ment to render efficient service on occa-
sions of fire, when the alarm is not runi!
until long after the fire is started. How
ever, nothiig was done in that directi
at the time.
In 1870 the fire alarm telegraph qw«
tion was still urged upon the Council
with the result that towards the end o
the year tenders were invited for a sye t }
torn of fire alarm telegraph, and th
contract was .awarded to Messrs. Gam
well & Co., of New York, the origin i
tenderers. The price was $12,000, .an
the contract was to have been complete '
on April 1st, 1871, but owing to som
delay in getting material the system ^^a•
not ready for use until June 14th, wh i
it was tested by the Mayor and the Com \
mittee on Fire, Water and Gas, nii |
found to work perfectly satisfactory.
The contract with the American 1 1
Alarm and Police Telegraph CompaiiTl
called for the erection of a tire alarug
apparatus in the city of Toionto on ih
following system of automatic telegrapli
fire alarm :
For the Central or Battery Station- j,^
One automatic electro-magnetic repoate' '
arranged for at least three independou
circuits. Three galvanometers for iiid
eating the exact strength of the eloctr
current. Thrte lightning arresters k
the iirotection of the apparatius. Oiitl
mahogany table, upon which the fore^uicsl
apparatus is to be proiHM'ly nrrangedj
Sixtj' cui)s of the improved sulpnate c|
copper battery.
For the Signal St.ations— Tvi^nty cot-l
tage-shaped cast-iron boxes, with liing';]
(kK)r8 and combination locks. Five kevi|
to each. Each station to contain tb
necessary mechanism and electrical a--
rnngeincnts for indicating its exa:;|
IcK-ality to the central station.
For tlie Engine House Gongs— Tiir-
electro-magnetic meelianical gong stiilwl
gongs to be at leiust thirtei'ii inches
diameter. Three small call bells fo;- ord:-!
nary use, one each to be placed in t' f
LAXDMAUKS OF TORONTO.
597
36ft
36(1
[C were
lUcban!
John C,
ic ; John
Graham,
?r.
ire alarm
upoutho
ew York,
;,400, bm
,tter.
.unual rr
up, urging
re depart-
e on occa-
a not n\\\i
ted. How-
t direct! .
■raph que?
le Council
the end o
i for a BVii
, and tl
ssrs. Gam
;he origin 1
12,000, ill
n complot
ug to »«'I
pyfitem \mi
i4th, w\i
[nd the Cci
Gas, 111
.actory.
loricau 1 1
Compnu
tire alara
■onto on th'
ic telegrapU^
ry Station- f
tic repeate-
indepcndot ;]
■re ior md fp\
the clocti
r rosters u t$
,aratiw. Ol»'
the Jor''„oic{
n rr auged i
fluir'iate til
Tv-onty cct|
■with hinS'';l
Five keyiF
eontain tlj
^ectrical a:|
its oxii
itiou.
GoiiRs— 'nirj
front; Stl'it'j
^M'U inehi>? •■
bollH hr.- ord'rj
pliiccd in t':
chief engineer's office, the enpine house
on Court etreet and Fireman's Hall.
For the Signal and Alarm Circuits— A
gufficient quantity of the beet quality
annealed galvanized iron wire to connect
the various signal boxes, etc., with the
central station in three completely metal-
lic circuits (said quantity not to exceed
10 miles). All the poles used to be of
The Fire Conimitti'o further urged the
necessity of providing additional fire
engines, with a view to the want ex-
perienced in the east end of the city
being also supplied, by the location of
an engine in some convenient locality in
St. David's Ward. The committee were
of opinion, witli ret!,;!rd to sucli further
supply of engines, that the insurance
HBE HALL NO. 10— YORKVII.LR AVENUE — BUILT 1876 — ANNEXED TO CITY 1883.
nd timber, not leas than thirty feet
g, nor less than four inches in diame-
at the top, firmly set in the ground
least four feet. The average time to
Immunicate a general alarm is within
reuty seconds. For the work the city
Toronto to pay the aforesaid sum of
f,400 Canada money, in cash, on the
mpli'tion of tlie work to the satisfaction
tliL' uaid fire di-partment couuuittee.
companies should bear a portion ox the
expence of the same, and intend bringing
the matter before those institutions.
Two sites were also purchased by the
city this year (1870j for the erection o!
fire halls and the old fire hall on Berkeley
etreet was altered and enlarged so as
to make it suitable for a station in the
east end. The Bay street hall was also
remodelled and enlarged. New halls were
ill
f
I
,1'i
i:!i
i'}
598
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
built on Portland ctr<'et, onat side, corner
of Little lliciiniond stvoot (now Farley
avenup), an<l on the west wide of Yonge
street, between (rrenville and Grosveuor
streets.
After tlie four new engine lionses had
been finished in 1871, the Committee on
Fire, Water and Gas recommended the
Council to purchase a fourth new engine,
in order to make the engine honsefl com-
jtlete for the purpose for which they were
intended. The Council adopted the re-
port and tenders were invited for a iir«t-
claM Ptenm fire engine, and the tender
of Mesjsrs. ^ilsby & Co., of Seneca Falls,
N. Y., for .$3,r)00 was accepted. The
engine was named the "Jnme.s B. Bon,-
ptead," nfter the then chairman of the
Fire, Water and Gas Committee, and wa«
stationed at the Yonge street fire hall.
A snm of $3,600 wa« expended for hose
during that year, and the committee re-
ported that the Fire Department wna
then in a very high state of efficiency,
both as regarded men and apparatus.
Now that the extra fire halls had been
erected and the new fire engine procured,
it wa« found necessary to increase the
number of firemen and to re-orgnuize the
department. This was accordingly done,
and at the end of 1871 the department
consisted of one chief engineer, one as-
sistant engineer, four engineers of steam
engines, four firemen of steam engines,
one bugler and forty men, divided into
five sections of eight men each, being one
section tor each of the four engines, and
one hook and ladder section, making al-
tf .r 'iher iil men.
The engineers and firemen were on
duty continually at their respective en-
gine houses, but the other men only at-
tended on occasions of fire. During the
next two or three years nothing of any
importance was done in connection with
the fire brigade ; it was very well equip-
ped both as to men and engines and the
fire alarm Hystem gave it opportunities
which it had never had before. In 1874
twelve additional fire alarm signal boxes
'."♦re put uj) iit a cost of $3,200.
The question of organizing a cor|)6 of
paid firemen was brought up before the
Council in 1874 by the Chief Engineer,
who represented that it was iiufiossible
to render prompt service at fires when
the men weir» all pursuing their ordinary
avocations, and bnd to eome from their
work, probably miles distant from the
business iwrtiofi of the city, to attend
fires.
The Council was urged by the Committee
on Fire, Water and Gas to have a company
of paid firemen organized who should de-
vote all their time to the department,
and to furuibh them with chemical en-
gines and other appliances so as to make
theju thoroughly efficient. The brigade
was to consist of thirty-six men.
On the completion of some repairs to
the Court street fire hall in 1873 a sal-
vage w.iggou was i)roeured and a salvage
corps organized for the protection of pro-
perty from damage by water on occasions
of fire. The various sections of the fire
department were also increased by th''
addition of one man each. Court street
hall was abandoned in 1887, the applj.
ances and men being transferred to tbo
new central hall on Lombard street.
The permanent fire brigade was organ-
ized this year on the basis which had been
recommended by the Chief Engineer nud
the Committee on Fii-e^ Water and Gas.
The brigade consisted of fifty officers and
men at first at an annual cost of $39,-
916. which included the payment of 24
outside men, but coon the departmem
was again re-organized, the 24 outsidi
men were disi)ensed with, and the depart
ment was composed of the following :-
One chief engineer, two deputy chiefs,
one electrician, one assistant electrician,
four engineers, four firemen, seven fori'-
men and twenty-six men. The horsoe.
with drivers, etc.. Avere furnished by con-
tract. This second arrangement saved tli'
city about $6,.500 per j'ear.
In 1875 Mr. Je mes Ashfield, Chief En- j
gineer. who had been a member of the bri
gade since 1839 was relieved from attend-
ance on fires owing to his long service,
but continued to have a general over-
sight over the brigade, to make all pur-
chases, etc., etc., at a salary of $1,000
per annum.
In 1876 the number of fire alarm boxes
was ninety-seven. The department thi<
year consisted of James Ashfield, Chieil
Engineer; Richard Ardagh, Assistani
Engineer; five sections or companies oi|
eight men each, one bugler, four engi-
neers of steam fire engines, eight drivers |
of hose carts, one driver of hook and hol-
der truck— in all sixtj'-one men— with I
four steam fire engines, all in commissioii, [
hose carts, hose, hook and ladder aii-|
paratus and thirteen horses. There wer
four engine stations, the Day street fir^
hall at the corner of Temperance stri'ei I
the Yonge street fire hall, at the conierj
of Grenville street ; the Portland stnetl
fire hall, corner Richmond street and tli
Berkeley street fire hall, corner of Diin I
street. The hook and ladder and hose (ir f
hall was at Court street, and a hose [ir
hall w;is on Queen street, west of Jnli::!
In 1S76 the lire brigade was called ni!:j
one hundred times ; there were seviMitv-[
two fires and twenty-eight nnnecewsurv
alarms. The lasses, as nearly as rouM 1" |
ascertained, aggregated $1()5,75S.
l,,4"
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
599
•pairs to
J'i a 8nl-
I salvngi'
)n of pro-
occaBiom
the iw
1 by th.^
irt street
;hc appli-
pd to thf
street,
as organ-
J had been
iueer aud
and Gail,
[ficero and
t of $39,-
ent of 24
epartmcnt
24 outside
he depart-
illowiug ;-
ty chief?,
electrician,
jeveu fon
10 horet'P
led by cor
t eaved tl:
, Chief En
r of the bii
•om attemi
mg aervic
leral over
ke all pur |
of $1.00)'
ilarm box -
rtmout tb ■
iicld, Chi
Assifstii!
impanics
four t'lic.
jght driv.r-
ok and \m'. i
men— wiV:
commiwuinii [
.adder ap]
There wr
Rtrcet fir)
ance Btroet
the cnrnei
Jaud fltvH't
■oet and t!i
ner of W"»'
nd hose lir
a hose lir
est of .Tuli;
calleil n«:|
re fteveiit^-r
nnnecessiinj
,.758. T::'
amount of iuflurance on property destroy-
ed or damaged during the year waa
$244,900.
The Committee of Fire, Water and Gas
in 1877 recommended that Mr. James Ash-
field receive the sum of $1,250 per annum
instead of $1,000, that being $250 less
than he had previously received.
During 1877 there were one hundred
(796) respecting the organization and
management of the fire department, to
amend bv-Uiw 473, passed May 28th,
1877.
Section V.— The whole apparatus and
management of the fire department, with
the exception of the men composing the
brigade, shall be under the direction of
the Chief Engineer ; and the men eompoa-
FIRE KAIJ, NO. 11 — S. W. COR. ROSE .WKNDE AND JIOWARI) STHKET— lUIII.T 188-t
li thirty-seven Calls, thirty-nine of
liieh were unnecessary alarms. The
vernl losses by fire amounted to $100,-
|)34, on which there was insurance for
I236,92r>. The fire engine which had been
ioned at the Portland street fire hall
'ns sold to the municipality of Lanark
ir $1,200.
The Kuijjolued is a portion of a by-law
Ing the fire brigade shall be under the
direction of the ehief of the brigade sub-
ject to instructions from the said oom-
I mittee ; but at every fire the chief of the
fire brigade, or other the senior officer of
the brigade who may be present, shall
have sole control over all members of the
brigade aud all persona engiiged at any
fire, aud over all the engines and ;ippai-
600
LAlSiDMAllKS OF TORONTO.
i,:'l
I h'
atus beloiiKing thoreto duriug any fire ;
and any piMSon who shall refuse or ne-
ploct to oboy any legal order of tlie said
chief of the fire brigade at or during any
fire, or other the senior officer present at
any fire shall be subject to the penalties
of this by-law.
Section VII.— In the absence of the chief
of the brigade the senior officer of the
brigade who may be present, and in case
no officer is present, the senior foreman
Rhall have the jiowers and perform the
duties of the chief.
On the re-organization of the fire de-
partment in 1878 Richard Ardagh was
made cliief of the brigade, the real post
of i-e8i)onsibility in the department.
Though not so long in the service, Mr.
Ardagh was one of the oldest firemen in
the city. Forty years ago when but fif-
teen years old, he joined the Toronto hook
and ladder company. Afterwards for
seven years he was captain of the Union
hook and ladder company once known as
the " Wreckers." He was first foreman
of the brigade when assistant engineer
William Charlton was killed at a Yonge
street fire, and on his death he succeeded
to his position, which he held for fifteen
years.
In 1878 three additional hose stations
had been added, No. 7 on Beech street
(.now Wilton c^venue), oaat of Parliament,
No. 8 on College street, corner of Belle-
vue avenue, and No. 1> on Dundas street,
near the corner of Queen Btreet.
In 1879 James Ashfield continued chief
engineer, Richard Ardagh having been
raised from first assistant engine.^r to
chief of brigade. The number oi fire
aiarm telegraph signal boxes had been
increased to one hundred and forty-t vo.
The salaries of the officers of the fire
brigade were fixed by by-law in the
early part of 1879, as follows :
.Tames AHhfield, chief engineer $ 800
Richard Ardagh, chief of brigade... 1,000
Thomas Graham, aesistant chief of
brigade 650
Donald Giheoii, fciuperintendent fire
alarm telegraph 800
Albert Gilbeit, assistant suporin-
dent fire alarm telegraph 600
Foremen of sections, each 550
Ordinary firemen, each 480
During the year 1879 the brigade was
called out one hundred and fifty-six
times ; there were one hundred and ten
fires and tlilrty-jsix unnecessary alarnis.
The total amount of losses on buildings,
merchandise and furniture is estimated at
$194,328,. and the aggregate amount of
insurance thereon $451,525.
In 1880 tliere were one hundred and
seventy-aix alarms of fii'e, sixty-seven nf
which were iiiineee.ss;iry. 'I'he total
amount of los^i's on Iiuililiiigs, inerciKuulise
and furniture is estimated at $61,022,
and the aggregate amount of insurance
thereon $143,560.
Three firemen, Thomaa Doughty, Frank
Forsyth and Martin Kerr earned a testi-
monial from the Council for their heroigis
displayed at a fire in the Revere block
on 3rd December, when they rescued sev.
eral of the inmates of the premises in a
more or less burned and suffocated con-
dition, and wno would have inevitably
perished but for the noble efforts of those 1
brave men.
Early in that year the salvage eervicf I
was discontinued, the members of tiie
salvage corps being transferred to tV
new hook and ladder section established |
at the Portland street station.
In order to give the fire brigade mow I
control over the streets during the pro
gress of a fire, this by-law was passed
November Ist, 1880, to amend by-law
entitled " A by-law for the organization j
and management of the fire department"
" It shall and may be lawful for the chiel|
engineer or the chief of the fire brigade,
or other officer in charge at any fire, in|
his discretion to declare and to cause ann
highway, street, lane, public place or'
square, or part thereof, to be closed v.
all wheeled or other vehicles, includiifj
street cars, between any two cro;'|
streets or points, in such manner and fo
such time during the progress of any tire I
as he may see fit, so as to prevent ii,-|
jury to the hose and other apparatu£ b^-
longing to the department, and no perl
son shall enter upon any portion of anv
street, lane, public place or square duriug I
the time the same shall be so declareiil
closed, and closed as aforesaid, with m\
such vehicle or street car, without ii
curring the penalty of this by-law."
In 1881 the brigade was called out on- f
hundred and sixty-five times. There wer
one hundred and thirteen fires and fifty i
two unnecessary alarms. The losses bjl
a large number of the fires were verj|
trifling. The total amount was only $
563, which speaks highly for the worliinjl
of the brigade, which must have been eiT
tremelj- j>rompt in its action on occasioBil
of fire. The insurance on property dam-
aged or destroyed amounted to $168,84i|
In 1883 Mr. Ashfield was still engineer.
Mr. Ardagh chief of the brigade and Mr I
Thomas Graham assistant chief. Thor'l
were one hundred and forty-eight firJ
alarm boxes and now stations located a;!
in 1878. Of engine house No. 1, AieiT
Auohinc!o9s was foreman ; of No. 2 1
Charlton and Joseph Davis, foremen : X: I
3 Samuel Townley, foreman ; No. 4 Jnh:|
Noble V No. 3 Charles Smedley and Will
iiam Villiers : No. 6, Frank Forsyth I
No. 7, Janii's Thompson; No. 8, Frauil
Smith ; No. 9, Henry Leach ; No. li'T
W-
LAN'DMAHKS OF TORONTO.
COl
imisefl in a
Dcated con-
inevitably
rts ol thoi'e
John Robinson and J. Mc(iownn foremen.
The villnKC of Yorkville was (innoxed to
the city in 1883, and the fitation on York-
villc avenue was equipped with a hook
aud ladder and hoae section. The
chief officera of the deportment re-
mained the same with the addition of
Joseph Davie, assistant chief for the west
Bide of the city, and John Thompson as-
sistant chief for the east side.
Early in 1884 a now chemical engine
the IJrock avenue hall were transferred to
the new liuilding.
In 1885 the strength of the department,
according to the chief engineer's annual
report, wa«— Officers and members, 75,
including the superintendent of the firo
alarm telegraph and his assistant. The
nnnibt>r of fire alarm boxoH was 154, all
of which were in good working order.
The chemical engine was spoken very
highly of. With it 17 of the fires of the
FIRK HALL NO. 12 — BOLTON AVKNUK— TiCILT 1884.
was procured from the Fire Extinguisher
Manufacturing Company of Canada for
|2,500. This had been needed for a long
time by the department and was extreme-
ly useful in preventing some very bad
fires. The next year No. 13 was added,
at the corner of Brock avenue and Dundna
street, Samuel Townley being foreman. In
1895 a new double hall wag erected on
Dundae street, near St. Clarens avenue,
and the men and appliances stationed at
year were extinguished without the aid
of any other apparatus and with very
little loss. The brigade wtia called out
to fire duty 208 times. The losses by
fire, as ascertained, were $281,563, and
the several insurances on property de-
stroyed or damaged amounted to $429,-
950. A large proportion of the losses was
moi'e than covered by insurance, and only
three of the fires wore of the claiss in-
volving heavy loss.
ill I
602
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
In 1885 tho miiiibt'r of H'.gnal boxe^ Imd
hQcreoHcd to 174. In ISSO two niort' linsi!
■tatJoiiH hiid litM'u lultlcd— No. 11, at tin-
Corner of Roue avpiuic and Ilowiird stn'ot,
CliarK's Ard.i^li forcinnii; No. 12, on I'ol-
toii Hvcnuo, William Biowuc. foriMuan.
The tn<«t iiiipoitant (lucstioii befon- the
Cominittoi' on Fiie and Gan in lWH(i wna
the purchasi' of a now and improved sya-
tein of fire al.ann telegraph apparatus
complete, to replace the one then in iiHe.
which had been found uni'eiialili' on sev-
eral occasions. After cousiderinR Ihc mat-
in 1S87 tlie followinp by-law was pas«.
ed to i»rovid(' for tho government of tho
Toronto Fire I'rigade (Passed Januar?
31st. 1S87).
Duties of Chief of Department.
To have control and direction of his
bureau of Kupplii's and light, and of all
clerks nHHigned to duty therein. Be re-
Bponsible to the Committee on Fire awl
OaM for tlie conduct and management of
hi» bureau. To receive the daily and order
reportu and rcturiiB from tho Chief of
lirigade and keep an accurate record is
!;i:i
.'!■'!
if
KIRE HALL NO. 14— -OSSTNnTON AVKNUE, NKAR RLOOR STKKl'.T— BCILT 188S.
ter fully, and getting all necessary in-
formation on the subject, tho whole of
Uie apparatus was purchased from the
Gamewell Fire Alarm Company, of Boston,
who origiuallj' constructed tho first fire
alarm system in Toronto. The whole of
the new system wa* in working order
by June, 1887. The brigade Wius called
ont 274 times in 1886. The amount of
loss by fire wa.s $280,902, on which the
insurance was $1,164,163.
The I.oinbiinl utreet fire hall, which
waH built in 1S80, is styled the Central
fii-c liall.
convenient form for reference of all busi-
ness tfnnsaetod in his bureau. To pur-
chase all supplies required and forwanl
Sfime on being properly vouched for to tho
committee for payment. To issue all t^iip-
plie.s on reciuisition from the other depart-
ments.
Duties of Chief of Brigade.
To keep an accurate record of all fin'<
occurring in thi.s city and opera ti'ms
thereat, or elsewhere, when called ont nf
tho city. To attend all fii"o,s and liav»
sr.ine extinjrnished with tho least possitili'
damage to life and proporty and prevt'iit
LANDMARKS OF ToKoXTO.
OlJ.S
,.,,ii(-C('s«iir.v diinmfrc l).v water at firi-a.
'I'll ciiiiKi' nil HOftioiiH luit iiOfdoil at I'iri'H
to pKiiiiplly return to (niarter«. To 111:1 ke
offifiiil reports of IiIh .'iclioim ami that of
the tiffieers and uieniberH under his coni-
11)11 nd when necenflary. To have power,
aud it nhall be hi« duty, to dwuolUh
buildinpf and parts of buildings which,
in his jiidixnieiit, niifrht cauwe further
(laiiiM>re to life or pro|K'rty, or which, in
his judfjaieut, it may be necessary to de-
iiuilish to prevent the spread of fire. To
prcHuptly report to the Coniiiiittee 011 Fire
uiiil tins any officer or member who can-
not perforin full duty in the dop<irtinent.
'I'o liave power, and it shall bti his duty,
to tiuniiiiarily suspend from pay and duty
fliiv person under his coiiiuand for a
fiii^rant violation of law, rule, regula-
tion or direction, in all cases where the
interest of the citizens or reputation of
the di'partinent would suffer if Bueh
iiioinpl action should not bo taken, re-
portiii,; cases at once to the Chairman
and Committee on Fire and Gas.
Duties of Assistant Chiefs.
The Assistant Chiefs shall perform all
I such dutiee as the Committee and Chief
ol Itrifjade may rer^ire ; and in the ab-
[dence of Chief of Brigade, the First
AsBistnnt Chief shall perform all his
duties.
Duties of Foremen.
It shall be the duty of foremen of sec-
tions to see that tfec apparatus entrusted
to their care and the several buildings in
which the same may be stationed, and all
(irticles in or belonging thereto, are kept
clean and neat, and in order for imme-
diate use ; they shall also preserve order
iiijd discipline at all times in their re-
f]K'ctive Boctioiis ; they shall promptly
roport to the chief of brigade all delin-
(liicncicH on the part of officers or mem-
h'Tf of their respective stations, the
immes of members absent from duty, with
ft the excuse rend.'red, if any, for such ab-
gsence, and such other matter as they may
Udeem advisable and iieeessary.
The hosemeii shall be on duty at their
liecpi'ctive stations at all times, oxcoiit
Iduring fires, and shiill discharge all
||dutie,s appertaining to their positions dur-
piiig the time the apparatus is in service.
*|lt ((Imli be their duty to keep the sta-
Etioii, liose carrin.ge and hose in a proper
land clean condition, and tiiey shall be
|«ibj('ct ill all tliing-i to the directions
of the foreman, and shall al.s<) keeji their
|proper share of the watcii.
General Uegulatioiis.
It shall be the duty of all foremen,
llicseraen, laddermen and drivers of sec-
tioiiH to reniaii. at their restwctive sta-
tidiw at nil hours, and on f.'iilure to <'()m-
ply with those ii gulieiji, ■jitu;. llioy shal)
be sidijcct to fine or dismissal from the
service, provided, however, that one ineni-
ber at a time from ea<'h m'Ctioii iiia.y
have leave of absence one-half day and
one night in each wci'k. from one p.m.
to eight a, 111. the following morning; leave
of alisenec may be granted on applica-
tion to the chief of the brigade tliinugh
the forem.'iii. • • • Absence from a fire
without giKsl and suffi<'ieiit causi- shall
subject ihe party absenting hinisU' to
suHiKMision :uid dismissal. Racing to and
from fires not allnwed under any cinuni-
stances, and if the apparatus of the sev-
eral sectioi < proceed on the same street
they shall do s^/ in single file. • • • Any
member of the brigade negl(>ctiag to wear
his uniform while or. duty shall be
liable to fine, sus|)ensioa or diauiissal. The
chief of brigade and assistant chiefs, fore-
men and all members of the brigade shall
give their whole and undivided time to
the brigade duties
Every man of the force will be liable
to suspension for the following offences :—
Disobedience to orders.
Being in a state of intoxication.
Insolence in word or manner.
Violent or eoaise language or be-
haviour.
Neglecting duty.
Frequenting taverns.
Interference in elections, municipal or
parliamentary, except for the purpose of
exercising their own franchise.
tjualificatiou for Membership.
That hereafter all ikm-sous appointed to
membership in the uniform force shall pi>e-
eess the following qualifications :—
No person shali be appointed to the fire
brigade or continue to hold membership
therein who is not a subject of i.ireat.
Britain, or who has ever been convicted
of a crime, or who cannot read or write
undei'standiugiy in the English language.
They shall not be less thaai ."> feet 7 inches
in height. 13r» pounds weight and .''S
inches in circumference of chest (quies-
cent.)
They shall not be more than tiiirty
years of age. Deception or attempt at
decepticm shall be cause for rejection.
Before being appointed they shall pass
the medical officer and be tested by the
eliief of bii-iiuie 111 cliiiiiiing l.iddei-, h.niii-
ling appnratus and performing all ui'ces-
tiary (luties incident to the duties to be
performed, and receive a certificate of
qualification from both officers.
In 1887 the fire brigJidi' was increaiied
to eighty-one men, iiiclnding officera,
divided into seventeen sections : thirteen
sections of branch and hose men, three
sections of book and ladder men, and one
section of the chemical engine. There
Were three steam engines in use, betiidee
1
m
4
Pi
i'!l
604
LANDMARKS OF TOllONTU.
tho cliomirnl «MiKiii« iiud all otiior nppar-
ittUH ii(>t'('»iMar.v for tho (■xtiiiguiHhiitK of
t'iri'K. Then- won* JJOS flri'H uu«l iiliirinH
tluriiig 1H.S7, on whic-h tlu^ airgrogato
lo«HP8 Wert" $78,085, covorpd by $0a8.U9.
At the 011(1 of 1888 two of th« stPiun
firp oiiRiHea were put out of comniisnion.
Ill tliiit .vi'ar the bri>?inlo nuBwered to
tliroi! hundred an<l eleven alarms of firo,
with loenoH amounting to $216,192, ou
which there wa« insurance for ^fOGT.OTO.
DurinK 1S8.S a new «<>nii»oi:^ite police and
fire fltatiou was erected ou Osaington
avenue, ituinediatel.v north of Hlonr Hlreet,
to affoiil |)iotectiou to the icfideuts of
ing officer, and Mr. John McGowan H<'cr».|
tary of tiie department. During thin y,<
the force of m» a wuh again iucreti*,,,] I
there Ix'ing nim-ty-five olfieera and nu'i I
bcHides the driveiH. The apparatus \vni|
alout tho same, with the excejrtioii i/
the Btoam engines, all of which wore out!
of commi*wion at tlie end of tho yoar |
Tlie number of calls was three hundr..;
II Mil seventeen : tlie Ioshos by firo wir
^'134,700, and the insuranco aniounti'i] t
alout .$l,0in,13S. Tiie town of Parkilal.
having become annexed to tho city in
188J), the lioBO reel station ou Cowm i
avenue wa«j continued iw part of ttl
RICHAnD AHDAail, CHIKK TORONTO FIRE BRIOAnK, 18S{)-95.
^i\i
that nei,rhtourhood, which, us the village
of Dovercourt, had been annoxod to the
city during that year. A hose section was
first established, and in 189.j a hook and
ladder eectiou was added.
lu the early part of 1SS9 Mr. Richard
Ardagh was iiromoted to Ix^ chief of the
fire department, an office wiiieh he had
really held for eome years, as Mr. James
Aahfield had been relieved from active
duty some time before. The offices of
chief of tiie fire brigade and chief eu-
guieer of the department were abolished,
and Mr. James Ashficld became purchas-
city's fire fighting eysteni.
Ou June 15th, 1S90. Mr. James Ashfif
who had been chief engineer of the i
department for many years and p;
chaMiug officer after retiring from ncti
duty, died at his residence, 24 Shut:«,
street, aftr-r a painful illness. He fir':j
joined the volunteer brigade in 1839, waij
elected captain in 1846 and chief eugiuei'r!
in 1851.
During the yv .r the brigade rea|)onii-]
ed to three hundred and eiglity-five cal
an increase of sixty-eight over the yi'a:5
1889, or an excess of twenty-one per coutf
,-v
ni
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
0O.T
Gowan wcr^.
iug tliw yoiiv
in iucrea48(..|]
Tfl and nin
parntns wai
oxcei>tion r,
ich wort! ouij
of tho ypar (
iroc huudn.
)y fire wer |
aniouiitod t
of Piirkilal.
tho city i;
<>u Cowiii j
I)art o£ tt
lies Ashfip]''
r of the f,
'8 aud pi
from ncti
, 24 Shut: I
es. Ho first [
in 1839, wi-i!
hief cugiik'rj^'
ITho nioat dostructivo firo wiih tliat at
Ithi' Uuiverflity, whicli did daiiiaj?!' to the
lexU'iit of $3(>3.700. Tho total amount of
|lo«H hy fin- duriiiK the year was .'9487,180,
liiiiliidiiin the Univeraity firo. Tim iiwur-
Biiie oil jiro|H>rty destroyed or diiinnKod
iw,i« $1,1^'4,473. Except for tlie Univor-
liitv fin", llie loHH was far loss duiinp thiH {
jytiir thnu it had boeu for aoiae your
I previous.
to 15 yen I'M. From 15 to 2<> yenrs at thft
rale of l.i dayw' pay for caeh year's Hcr-
viee.
From 20 years and npwardw at the rate
of one nioiilli'H pay for eacli year'n t«»rviCB
conipleteil. Any nu'iul)er worn out in the
serviee after 10 years and np to 15
yonrH, Hhall reeeive a Rratuity of 20
days' pny for each year's eervico com-
pleted.
FIRE n.MA. NO. 13— nnocK avknue, nkar Drs:n.\s strekt— r.uiLT 1S85.
Ill 1890 a by- w was passed to create
and establish i >■ Toronto Fire Super-
anuuat 11 and Benefit Fund, which pro-
vided .a folio vvB :—
kn} member resigning in good health
I after one year's service and up to 10
i years shall be entitled tr "eceire the
amount he has contributed to the fund,
, Any member resigning in good health
j after 10 years service shall receive a
: gratuity, to be calculated ii ;, the rate of
[10 days' pay for each year's eervico up
After 15 and up to 20 yeais a gratuity
calculated at the rate of one month's
pay for each year's service.
After 20 years and upwards a pension
for life at three-eighths of his pay.
In case of injury iu execution of duty,
five years service and under, one-fifth pay
for life ; five to ten years, one-fourth pay
for life ; ten to fifteen years' service,
liiroe-eighths pay for life ; fifteen to
twenty years' service, one-half pay for
life.
11
60C
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Towartl.s tlip f'.nid i\n' Citv rouncil coii-
ti'ihutod $10,000 nii'l U<" niciulKTM of tlu-
bii'riido wiTi' tlKr'\vl't('i' .isscski-J month-
ly \wo pf>r rent, nf the t;ros« amoiiiit of
llii'ir wiigcs. All '!oii;iti:)iis :iii(l prutuities
from limo to time frivi'ii by citizens or
corj)or(i lions to or for tlic boiiofit of the
fi.'o brifrt'dc ."iiiil ih' [ii-occimIs of all fiiu'8
wliich from time to tiiiu' iiiiiy be imposed
ui»on <Miipl'\ve.s of the lire depai'tmeiit are
also added lo the fund.
In 1801 the eity piwvhased the horses
wliich were iiaed by the fire brigade
under eontrnet : they were twenty-eight
in number and they ecet tiie city ^4,G'<0,
with liarneR-i, etc There were four hun-
dred and forty-two alarms of fire during
tl:e year, the largest number in the his-
tory of the department. In the month
of Tilay there were seventy-fdur calls upon
tlie force.
A Combined c!M'mical engine and hose
w.'iggoii wius adiiod to the department
in 1802. and statioued at Portland street
fire hall. During the year there were 503
alarnu of fire, the greatest number oo-
t'urririr iu .\pril and the smallest in
August, while the most destructive fires
took j; ace in May, when lliere were :iS
alf . :'„'.. The losses on these fires aggre-
gated $220,509.
h) 1893 the department consisted of
122 officers and men, including the driveiti
The apparatus was practically un-
changed, .'ithough the urgent need of a
steam engine had been |)ul before the
(\)uncil eoveral times by the chief of the
fire department The total number of fires
was 555, an increase of 52 over 1802
The department was called out 04 times
iu Xovembcr alone. There wei'e 51 cases
of incendiarism during this year. The
looses by fire aggregated ,'pl 05,403. and
the insurance thereon was .$1,021,081.
The total loss for 1S02 was .$220,500,
wbi« h shows a decrease of $25,105 for
1803, although there were 52 more alarms
than in the previous.
The ycpr 1804 was uneventful, there
being pyuctically nothing new iu the his-
tory of the department to chronicle.
Hiirdly had the yeai' ISOo ticeu usher-
ed in before the i ity was visited by .a
series of disastrous conflagrations wliich
destroyed a nundier of large warehouses
.•ind other business establishments.
The first of these fires broke out
in the " Globe " office on the south-west
corner of Yonge and Melinila streets, at
nn early hour on the morning of Sunday.
January (ith. While assisting to lower
the hi;;- aerial ladder on Melinil.'i street,
Fireman James Bowrey. attached to the
liOnihai'd street hook and laddei' section,
was bui'ied under a mass i>f liricks by
the falling outv.nrd of the " (ilobe "
wall, and sustained injuries which prov-
ed fatal a few hiHirs afterwards.
Chief Ardagh also sustained iujurii'«
at the same fire which terminated fatal-
ly. .Mong with two foremen he was iii.
specting premisee on Jordan street, ami
becomiUg hemmed in by a solid wall of
fhune, the three men jumped for their
lives into the lane running behind tlii'
" Globe ' office and extending from M-
liiula to Wellington streets. Chief Ar-
dagh Avas very seriously injured. Fium
the outset liis physicians eutertaiiR'd
t.iight bi;p'9 o' his recovery and he suc-
cumbed to the effect of his terrible injur-
ies on Sunday, January 27th.
In cousiqueuce of the death of Chief Ar-
dagh a number of changes were render-
ed jH'remptory in the command of the bri-
gad", end the following promotions were
made. To be chief— Thomas (Iraham, fi.;
merly deputy-chief ; to be deputy chi»I,
Ji>liu Thompson, formerly assistant chiel
for the east end ; to be assistant chief,
William Villiers. formerly loremau of the
Court street hose section.
Two new i>owerful steam fire engines
were purchased, one from J. D. Ronald of
Brusw'ls, Out., for $5,000. and the other
from the Merryweather Steam Fire Eii-
gint> Company, of Greenwich, England, tor
i$7,000. The old J. B. Boustead, whio'u
had been placed out of commission, was
repaired at an expense of $1,800 and
again brought into rcfjuisition. The Coun-
cil also purchased from the Fire Extin-
guisher Company of Chicago, one iraprm-
ed " Champion " water tower at a cost
of $6,800. The brigade was also strength-
ened bv the addition of two hook and
ladder waggons, stationed at the Ossing-
ton avenue and liolton avenue station*',
and a chemical engine which was put
into commission at the Portland street
hall. The numerical strength of the bri-
gade was also increased.
The fire brigade in 1S05 was compt«Oil
of 132 officei-s and nu'u and driveiiii.
There were thirty-six horses, eleven
single horse hose carts and waggons anil
four two hci-se hose wa logons, one B;ili-
cock aerial turntable luK'k aurl huMtr
truck, five hook and ladder trucks, (mo
double cylinder chemical engine, one
combination double cylinder chemical fire
engine and three steam fire engines and
one "Champion" water tower. These uieu,
horjscs and eiinipnu'iits were divided
amon,'j;st fifteen hose sections, five hunk
and ladder sections, and one chemical
engine section, stationed at the several
fire balls, of which there were fifteen, nf
follows :
At l!ay Street Fire Ilall-Foreman ei
hose section, Joseph lyamb ; three nieiii-
bt'rs of hose section, one driver of lue^'
cart, one one horse hose carl, one foreniai
LANDMARKS OF 'I'OKOXTO.
L-nl
driver nt
01 ciKMiiicni on'',iiio soft ion, one driver
clu'iiiK'al tMiK'"" '>iiU two men, one double
fvliiider choiiiicnl oiigine, one uteiiii' fire
oii"iiie, oupineei, fireiunn iiud driver.
At rnrtland Street Fire Hall, West End
.\ssist;int Chief, Joseph D.ivih ; foremnn
of ho.-e nection, William Ashfield ; throe
607
der trnek, coinp'.'te with ladde.'s, etc., ono
steam fin oiiniiio.
At Yonrre Strcot Fire Hall, North End
Asf^istant Chief, William Villiers ; foreman
of hose eection, W. W. Fox ; three mem-
bers of hose Boctiou, one driver of hose
waggon, one two horse haee waggon.
TKNTRAL KIRK H.W.h, I.dMHAUO STRKKT — KRKCTKn 18S6.
membere of hose section, one driver of
hMP cnrt, one combination double cylinder
iliomical engine and driver ; foreman of
No. 2 hook and ladder eection, II. Irwin )
pifrht members of No. 2 hook and ladder
(HHliou, one driver of No. 2 hook and lad-
der ti'UCk, one two hor«o hook and lad-
At Berkeley Street Fire Hall— Foreman
ol hose Hoction, John C. Noble ; three mem-
bers of hose Beetion, one driver of hose
cart, one one horse hose cart.
At Lombard Street Fire Hall— Deputy
chief, John Thomiwou ; foreman rf how^
section, W. J. Swift ; three members of
ii 1
inf
a
%\d
608
LANDMARKS OF TOROXTO.
hofle flection, ouo driver of lioso cart, one
oiie-horse hoso cart. Forpinau of hciok and
ladder section No. 1, W. .(. Smith ; ten
members of hook and ladder section No.
1, one driver of hook and ladder truck,
one two-horse ladder truck, complete; one
Babcock aerial turn-table hook and ladder
truck and extension ladder, complete,
of ha-ic section, W. A. Auchiucloes ; thiO'
members of liose section, one driver of bosi-
cart, one one-horse hose cart.
At Wilton Avenue Fire Hall— Foreiua.i
oi hose flection, Frank Smith ; three
members of hose section, one driver of host
cart, one one-iiorso hose cart.
At Dundas Street Fire ITall— Foreman
FIRK HAUj no. 15 — rOVVAN AVKNUK— imiLT 18S0 — ANNKXKD TO CITV 18S9.
with ladders, hooks, axes, door (hhmu'I'S,
crow-bars, lamps, etc.; one driver of
aerial tnirk and one tiller man : one
" Champion '' -watiM- tower, and on" sti'am
fire engine, enjjineer, fi'enmn Jinl driver.
At Queen Street Fire Hall— F<)rein.in of
liose (Section, Frank I'orsyth ; tliree mem-
bers oi hose section, one driver of liose
Bectior., one two-hor.><i' iinse waf^jron.
At College .'^tr':'! Fire Ilall-Forenian
of ll
be rs
cart
At
hose
bers
ca rt
At
of !i(
bers
os> section, A. Charlton ; three nk'm-
of hose section, one driver of liiisc
one one-horse hose cart,
liose Avenue Fire Ifall— Foromaii i
section, C. 0. Arda.gh ; three nieiii-
of hose section, one driver of lie-
one ono-horse hose cai't.
I'olton Avenue Fire H.all— Forenia:.
ise section, .lames Aslitield ; foinniei!-
of hos(! section, one drivei' ef !.'
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
609
waggon- one two-borsp hose •waggon, one
hook and ladder waggon equipi)ed and
munnod, witli W. A. Jirown foreman.
At Yorkville Avenue Fire Hall— Fore-
man of hook and ladder section No. 3,
Cb'arl''* Sniedley ; seven members of hook
aud ladder sectiou No. 3, one driver of
Lose eectiou, Robert Thotapeon; three
members of hoee section, one driver of
ho«e waggon, one one-horse hoae waggon.
At Oflaiugton avenue fire hall— Forem.ao
of hose section, \\. Selioalea, three mem-
bers of hose section, one driver of hose
waggon, one one-horse haie waggon; fore-
M
R^ bock and ladder Irnck, one two-horse hook man of hook and ladder sectiou, No. 4,
i'vaiid ladder tria-U, I'oiiiplete : fdreman of
itfh(«.«'' fcX'Ction, Jdliu Smith ; three nu'iiiiu'rs
[01 hose eeetion, one driver of hose cart,
poiio two-honse hotio e;irl.
At Brock avenue fire liall— Fovimiwui of
.T<xseph Donnelly, four members of No. 4
licK)k and ladder section, one driver, one
h(xik and Indth'r waggon.
At Govvan avenue fire hall— Foreman of
hose secti(ni, George II. Ford; three mem-
i;
1
111
i.^
I< ' . ii
y
\ if
jtf
610
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
bers of hoee Bcction, ouo drivor of hose
cart, ono ouc-horse !ios(? cart.
Pnvpral iiiciiibcrH of the fire brigade
were killed while in the faithful disdmrge
of tiieir hazardous duties. Tlie death roll
oi the brigade coiituius the following
names :
William Thornton, a member of one of
the volunteiM- ccinipanicK. wji8 fatally in-
jured on November 22iid. 1S4S, while
•\(p:kin^ at a firv in a block of brick
buildings on tliv south side of King
Hlii'ft, known ;i.-< the City Ibiildings,
opiHitiit'^ St. .lames' cithedral. lli.s skull
wa.x fractuTod by a heavy stono falling
o:: him.
Frederick Lepiier. a member of No. 6
II ud Engine Comiwny, was killed in 1858
.ifi. a »'ire> on the north-east corner of Ade-
l:iidi' rtrc't !Uid Stoteshnry's lane, a short
distance east of the iireweut post-office
building.
William Cheilton. assistant chief of the
volunteer brigade, died on .Inly 10th,
ISC.O. from the effect of injuries received
on July 4th of the same year at a fire ou
the east side of Yonge street nearly op-
pot-ite Trinity square.
James Kidd, killed September 17th,
18U9, at a fire on the north-east cornc
of Queen .and Esther streets.
James Phillips, foreman of N'o. 4 section,
died September mth, 1S7!), from illness
cieatnicted while working at a fire in
Da vies' packing house, caused by inhal-
ing the fumes of burning saltjietre.
■\\iliiam Ashfield, brother of James Ash-
firld, died October 5, 18S0, from injuries
received at a fire in Benrd's elevator.
Thomas Charters died Ai>ril 14th, 1881,
liom injuries sustained while working at
a fii-e in Hamilton's foundry.
Jifhn Davis died July 10th, 1884, from
injuries received by the overturning of a
h-s*' reel while answering an alarm of
fire.
Albert Gilbert was killed July 16th,
1S84, by the collapse of ihe roof of a
burning stable at the corner of Parlia-
ment and Sydenham streets.
Thomas Evorist, killed April 24. lsi)0,
by falling through an elevator shaft in
Pejir.s' spice mill on the corner of Yonge
and Alexander street durinr ihe progress
of a fire iu the building.
Robert Ilowrey, killed January 0. ISO,"),
under a falling wall at the (llobe fire.
Richard .\nlagh. Chief of the Fire Rri-
g:i(k, died January 27 from injuries sus-
tained at the <tlolv file in jumping,
along with Fosemen Fim-^yth and Smed-
ley, from the third storey of one of the
burning buildings.
Chief Ardagb's bo<ly lay in the par-
lour of his homo on Sheiijourne street.
and many citizeus and moat of the
Fire Brigade called at the house ty
view the face of the man who sacri-
ficed his life to his duty as a public ser-
vant. Mrs. Ardagh reiiuested that flor.ij
tributes should not be sent, but, although
no flowers were displayed, eeveral beau-
tiful offerings were received.
The casket w;is of cedar, covered with
fine, blacli broadcloth, and upholstcrtil
iu white satin. On the to|) and enda
Avere emblems of the Masonic Order, o;
which deceased was a member. The
handles were oxidized bais of the ex-
tension pattern, and the plate bore the
iuscr^)tion '.
laCHAUD AKDAGH,
Died
27th Jan.. 18'J5,
In his 63rd year.
Mrs. Ardagh having been confined t.
her bed for two days, on her iu-
count the services at the house weii'
mado as short as iKjusiblc. Kev. Dr.
Hender^ion, of Carlton street «.'hurt;li,
Avhere the chief attended, made a .-hon
addre-is touching uj)ou the life and cliai-
acter of him iu whose last honour tlicy
were assembled. An earnest invo"atiou
and the reading of a hymn completed
the ceremony.
T' e pall-bearers were Acting Oliicl
Graham, Assistant Chief Thcwnpson, Aid.
I'lCll, ex-chairman of the Fire and Light
Committee; Aid. George McMurricii,
chairman of the Fire and Light Com-
niiltce; Anbrej' White, master of Kirx):
Solomon's Lodge, A. F. & A. M.; Bamuol
Ilollinig-^worth, and two members of Li-
ce Isior Lotlge, A.O.U.W.
Many members of the old volunteer
Fire Brigade were present, and AM.
A. Stevenson, chairman of the Fire Com-
mittee of the Montreal Council, an'l
Assistant Chief Engineer Buckingliam. oi
the Montreal Fire Brigade, were amone
the prominent outsider-^ noticed.
About twenty-five members of Kiiij:
Solomon Lodge. 22, A.F. & A.M., wen'
pres'Mit, as well as a rejjreeeutatiou fruRii
Excelsior Lodge, A.O.U.W.
Tlie i>rocession was very lengthy, th'
route taken being by Gerrard, Jarvi'.
Bloor and Yonge streets, to Mount Plea-
sant Cemetery.
The following is a complete roll t:
the Toronto Fire Brigade ou Septembe:
1st. 1S!».-):-
Officei'.s— Thomas Graham, chief ; John
Tl uipvson, a.ssistant chief ; Joweph Davii;.
W'l.t District chief; Wm. Villiers, NortL
District chief ; Donald Gibson, sujx'rin-
tendent fire alarm telegraph ; John S
Craig, assistant sui)orintendent fire alarii;
telegraph ; IL J. McGowau, secretary r>\
depfirtment.
Chemical Engine No. 1, Bay aud Tern-
LAND.MARKH OF TORONTO.
611
[jcrancc streets— Robert Hunter, foreninii;
^•. Swoetmau, Thomas Graydon, John
Ward, hosemen ; Arthur Lucas, (Iriver ;
Thomas Doughty, caretaker and mes-
senger.
HoBC Section No. 1, Bay and Tern|)oi--
ancc streets— Joseph Lamb, foroman ;
Thomas Spence, David Hcddick, Alfred
Potter, hoeemen ; I. Cluff, driver.
Hoee and Chemical Soctioii No. 2— W.
KtrL-et— W. J. Swift, foreman ; S. Price,
Robert Green, Thom;ia (Wbett, D. M<;-
Leun, hosemen ; Alfred Everist, driver.
Hose Section No. 6, John and Queen
streets— Frank Forsyth, foreman ; Janes
Forsyth, Moses Thom|won, James Gordon,
W. Crawford, hortoitien ; D. Nolan, driver.
Hose Section No. 7, 220 Wilton avenue—
F. Smith, foreman; Robert H. Sargent,
W. C. Patterson, George Worrell, hose-
TnOMAS GRAHAM, CHIEF OF I!RI(!ADE, APPOINTED 1895.
F, Ashfield, foreman ; A. TV. Smith, W.
J. Farley, H. Atkinson, Joe. Sponee, ho^e-
mn ; H. Hamilton, driver.
Hose Section No. 3, 487 1-2 Youge
Ptrf'ct— W. W. Fox, foreman ; James J.
Crrigiiton, Thomas R. Join'w, Thomas ,T.
Poiutou, hosemen ; David Gordon, driver.
llrxse Section No 4, Duke and Rerkeley
slrrots— John C. Noble, foreiujin; Wm.
I'riiwford, .John Coulter, James Harris,
hw.'iiiru : A. Gates, driver.
Uo(Su Section No. 5, IID Louibanl
men; George Sinclair, driver.
Hose Section No. S, cotner Collej^e street
anil I'olli'vue avciiue— W. A. AuchcneilosB,
fi>reni;i '; Airiuliahl Crawford, Gi'irffi
Kiuff. U. AtMn<iMi, hoceraen; D. W. Sltiight,
driver.
Ho.-o Section No. 0, lO Dundas street—
A. Cluirltoii, foreman; Thomns Tate, John
Taylor, (;o.>'f:;i' Wilkei, liosemen; H. W.
llatKon. flrivcr.
Hi se Si'<'tion Xn. 10, 2i) Yorkville .nviMni'i
ni
-ji>i
i:i >iml'i.
foieni'Mi: 1'.. Pol la id, Fred.
: i
il}
■h
: i
u
^K.
til2
LAXD.MAI^KS OF TORONTO.
Mil igaii, William I/i.wi'ence, liosenipu;
\Vi liiun Aldou-i. driver.
!:<»«! Swtioii Sii. 11, 170 ItoMO Jivciiin —
Cli irU'S O. Ardiigli. luroiii'iii; Thomas l)<'.'i-
«o!i, William N. ("ro'i-*, W. Collard, liose-
ineii: Edward Hill, driver.
Ilosc .Section No. 12. corner r.olto.i and
Allen avenues— .T. S. Aslifield. toremiaii;
.lames Coiike. ,Tohn I^yn'ii. Henry .loiies,
J. I'allo:!, Iio-omen: Jolin Hatkin, driver.
Hose Section No. 13, 31S IJrock iiveime
— H<)tiert Til iinpson, foreman: .Tosepli (.'ol-
lard, .lame-: IJrenuan, Mii'hael Teedj-, hoH'-
nion; K. (iikson, driver.
llo«e Section No. 14, Orioington avenue
.Mild J!lo,)r street— Richard SchoaleM, foic-
anan; Henry Li.'icli, Alexander Auehen-
do-is. Thomas Ewart, hoseuieu; ^Jnuics
Jone^^. driver.
Flose Se<-tion No. 15. rowan nvpiiue and
Queen .street — H. G. Ford, foreman; C. S.
V. Toplis, \V. II. Quinn. T. Jy. Ccuuolly,
lio««Mnen; W. T. Stevemon, driver.
J look and Ladder .section No. 1, and
Acri;il Tnrn-t;i.ljle Truck No. 1, Lotit-
bar-<l street, near J.'\rvi<— W, .T. Smith,
Vorem.'in : Thomas ATorn'll, tillerm.in ;
John T. lirown, AVilliam Uussell, William
Uogers. ladderiiien : <"harles Dickin, tiller-
inai) : Matthew Mcrai'tney, James Ilai't,
<"harle« A. Adanr.on, Itolit'rt Foster, Wil-
liam Slei'th. .los'ph Flrniiii^. W. Hardy, A.
Holx'rt.son. laddermen : Alexaniier (lunn,
driver aeiial ; M. Sawdon, driver II. anil
L.: Thomas Will in nr-. driver ol' engine ;
Thoniius Crouciier, enji'ineer of ongini'.
Hook and I^adder No. 2, coi'iier Port-
land street and Farley avenue— li. Irwin,
foreman; C'oi"ieliu-i T.uriis, Thomas Davis,
A. Co'hr.nie. W. H. Saunders, W. David-
^■OIl. lu Middletoii. W. .1. Farley, William
Slei'th, A"r (irahai'K S. 'IViwnley, ladder-
men; William I'liillii*-*. driver.
llook and l.iiddi r No. .*?. Yorkville ave.,
near Yonee street— 'Miai'le-i Smedley, I'ore-
nian : Thoiu'is Si'ott. S.amuel Mf(iov,'an,
•iohu .McCoi nii^'k, i;d\\;ird Koliin.son, Daniel
Ilailey, Arthur Fverist, •!. W. lieatty, lad-
tlernu'u ; F, Rus «'ll. driver.
lI<H)k and I/idder No. 4, OssinKton nve.—
Jos'ph Donnelly, t'oreinan : W. .1. K«'ai'n-:,
.1, Commefortl. W. A. ("aihouu, Georj^e I!ell,
laddei'uien ; .1. A, Mcliui'cn, driver.
Hook and Ladiler No. 5, IJolton avenue—
\V. A, Itrown, foreman ; Thomas fiar)j;ent,
A, Sargent, H, I'.atkin, W. Winter, ladder-
laeu ; W. Dobbin, driver.
CHAPTER CXCVII.
-IRES FROM EARLY TIMES.
A lil<«tory or ICvrrv Firo ot'.iii.r liiiitnrtaiicr
>t lilcli liAN liappf*ne«l In Toronto since i|.
Fonndatlo>i.
Since the days when Governor SImeoo's
tent arose beside the placid waters of
Toronto bay, there have been mauy
changes in the congeries of houses which
has followed the first uauvas dwelliin;
1 ■laces.
In the down-to\vu district there are few
sites which have not been, at some tiim;
or other, tinder the sway of the flarao
king that was consuming the buildiiiRs
that stood upon them. In the old days
the fire ai)plian('i's were primitive ami
inelfieient. In 1N3S, according to tlic
lirilish Colonist newspaper, the city pos-
Hi'sseti a volunteer fire brigade, with oini
engine, probably of the old " break 'cr
douii " type, and two hook and ladder
companies, with hose carts. The rcti;u-
l.ars stationed in the city gave nssistaiuo
at all fires of any magnitude. The liiiii-
manding officers were invariably willing
that their men should turn out and ,ii(i
the citizens in their work of subdiiiti!,'
the fl;unes. It is recorded in the I'.ritish
Colonist, of ISiW, that in October of ili!,t
year a fire broke out in a dwelling; ii,
till' western outskirts of the city. Tli-
regul.'irs " doubled " to the blaze and
li;id the flames extinguished, by m'.'aii-
of buckets filled from the <iarrison criM'k,
before the brigade arrived.
The new8i)aper8 of that remote pcntil
dill not give their readers the full and
ably written accounts of fires that are
to be found in the daily journals of tli'
pr''S''nt time. The amount of insuraiKv
is very seldom given, and the other par-
ticul.-irs are very meagre.
The fiivst fire of any importancx" tha;
took place in York (Torontoi was iu tli-'
last tlays of April, 1S13, wh-eii the Am-
erican forces took poi^ession of tlhc towi;
and thought it a portion of thoir dut.v
to burn the Parli.-iiiieut buildings, the
librai'y and the jmblic documents cnn.
tained therein. These buildings were
situated on the bay front within a vitj
few yards fiom the shore on tin; c;|Hit I
where now ends Parliament street. In the
celebrated letter (Slate paper indeed it |
m;iy be called) of the Venerable Arch-
deacon >lohn Str.'ichan, of York, to P^'si• I
dent Thomas .loffcrsou, they are spoke: |
of as being "two elegant halls witli cnn-
venient offices," and Dr. Scaddiug (fe<|
scribes them as "having consisted of twf
separate edifices or halls." They vc-
united by a covered iuu*sase or CDie:;-
landaiakks of tdkonto.
(;i3
ote !»>
rkn!
> full
and
that
are
a Is of
th"
ins 111
illKV
OtllOf
par-
;a uw
tl;u
vas iu th'' 1
I the
Am-
; tlh>
towi;
llieir
dutv
liuss,
the
ll'UtS
onn-
iifi's
WiT''
lin &
VITJ
tlK!
^IHlt
roet.
la the
• iuiii
•cd it
able
Arch-
;, to
Vm\-
aro ^:lloke:
< with COD'
iddiuff (Je-
sted
0*: tw
Tlu^y
wer-
i or
co\'.-
ii;i(lo and iiad b"(Mi built about --♦-vi'iitRMMi
vcar.f. wliiMi tlii'y wiTi' luinii'il ua that
rtiefl nicniorabilis for York and it.s in-
>,;,l)itaii1« April 2Stli. 1S1;{.
I'roiii 17f'-'<. wln'ii till- <-it,v was fdimdod.
until 111'' latti-i- '•Iwi-ntic-i" ami larl.v
■•llilrtii'.'*," ii'\v.si>a])i'r-! wi-r- K'aiit lo.'.i in
qii;nitit.V and in (|iiality, and \ii' liavi-
-CMircly any rccoi'd^ n; what fii-i-s. if
,-,tiy tlii'i-c won;, which toik plac" in York
,,i'"its iinincdiati' nciLviili'mrlKJod.
On the lost day but om- of tli" yrar
1S24: tht'* at'coud Parlianicnt biiildiiiKM
whicli liad lii'iMi I'l'i't'lrd on the saii;(' ;.iti'
as tlKW di'.stroyiMl in lsi;t, wort' ontindy
(leairoyt'd by fin', "but this limo," ways
Dr. Scaddinu:, "not by tin- lianil of nil
invailiiifl fo'. but by a fin- orii;'inatiiij,r
in Mil ov(M-li";iti'd flue." Tlii> Io^^m was
o.^tiinatcd at C2.()00 or .$S.0O0. Thf fnr-
nilun" and library, such as it Wius. wen-
■;:ivrd. but (Soiuo papers and jfiiirna'.s
iHM-ish"d.
(Ill 'lliiiifsdny. Scptcnibor 27, 1S27. tho
Man-iian House Ilotid. whi<'h was untcii-
anti'd, and nix other hou-cs. occnpied by
Mi's>rs. M(X)re, Niolioi, Hunter. Pati'i''k.
Ihitoliinson and Mi's. lici'ry. were entirely
(li'Stroyed. The Mauion llnusc w;is on the
iKii'tli 'siile o:' Kiiiu; street, ail I'liaini.'; th"
north- west <'oruer of that tlioi(iUi;ii{are
with Princess street. Of the other suf-
ji'i-i-rs it i^ not jiossible to p,"iv(' .-iny i.^tv-
;ic'iihu'S.
A small fire took pla/.'e May .",(), l.S2!>.
in til'" cabinet workslmp- of a Mi'. (Jilbi-rt.
on Newgate street. It caused coasidi'r-
alile daiiiago.
Early ia the euiutner of 182'.). the lii-'-
toric residrnce of the fir-t Licuteiiant-
Govcnio;'. (ieueral Siniooi'. was bi;r;ied t<>
tlio ground. (';i.stlo Frank, for m> the
liou-se wa.'. called, was on the western
lauk of the Don, at the northern erd of
Pavliinient .street. It WJis not in use at
th'" time of its destruction, anil w;is sup-
[losod to have becu set on fire by some
{isiioriiien.
On Saturday. August Srd, 18;?'?, the
[sti'aiuer Canada was p.-irlially burned
iwliile lying at Feehau'.s wharf. The
.flames were di-covered by her nia.ster.
ICaptiuu Richardson, and after about half
]au hoiir'H work they were subdued by the
ii re menu
On the morniijg of January 31. 18:14,
tin store of A. Maodonald, auetioneer
mil com miss ion merchant, on Kinu' street,
ivas totally destroyed. The loss was largo,
acdouald only being insured for a small
.mouat
The luoriiinff of February 22n(l. 1834,
'ork witiu'.Hscd a fire, which, to ipiote the
'atiiot, was a "conflagration more ex-
leiLsive ;ind calamitous than it had hitli-
i-to fiulfcntd." It broke out .-iboiit one
•'clock, on tUe east side of Yonge street,
nearly opposite Mi'. Ket<'huin's honsp. on
the north-west coiner of ^ oiige and Ade-
laid' streets. It destroyed the dwellinus
of Kay iV McTiirk, cabinet niakei'.s ; I'ell,
tallow ciiaiidlei- ; Lacki ■, liaker ; I'owman.
intx-er, and Messi's. Kesson A: Co.. paper-
li;iti;A'ers ;ind upho!-t''rers. One lifi\ we.s
lost, that o" a b<iy named Struthers, v.lu)
was bniii'd to ilcatli. Mr. IWiwiiian w.is
insured for .*.'?.()(»(), Mr. I.ackie for .<1,()t)0.
'I'lie Patiiol, in rcferriiiiV to the work of
the lirenii'ii. said :
" To .speak in .-idi-ipi.'ite terms of prniso
of oar fire and hook and ladder compaiiiiv-i
voild ii'ipii"!' anoth'-r pen thiui ours. It
woald be di.'ficult in any city to orgaiiiz •
a In il\- o'l men who. by their general scorn
of danger, could be better fitted to en-
<'otintei' and repress a temiiest of devour-
in,!; fl.'inies.'"
'• Anoile'i pen than onrw " and " tem-
ol Ue\o.iiin
f la lie- " are very fine
ii aires of speech, but how utterly absurd
they I'ead now.
At 2 o"<'lo'k on the morning of Septem-
ber 18tli. 1834, a fill' broke out in the
rear of the premises of ilessrs. Monr,>,
Krskin • and I'urnham, on King stre-t.
siipiio 111 to havi' iomnicneed in the bake
lioiis ' o.' Mr. I'^rskiue. which was a de-
tacle'd buildiin' in the lear of his house
.'I ad shop, ill a t hort time it spread to
hi: li(,ii e. anil also to the extensive preni-
is 's of ."-'ilas r.u'.iiham. wholesale and re-
tail nu'ichaiit, and fro;ii them to the
premis'-; o!' Webb, the ^I'.oeinaker. Tl;e
property destroyed wa.s of great value.
the hoiis'< and shops of Krskine, lluriiham
and W -bb were coiii|>letely destroyed, as
was a small w.-irihouse, the pioperty of
deorgi.' Miinio. The.se shops were on the
south side o!' King street, immediately
west of George street.
On the night of February .">t!i, 183{).
two seriou-s firi's occurred in Toronto. In
the first ca.se a house situai"il on tin-
east corner of Lot (tineeii) and Teranlay
fUreets, occupied by Mr. Uobert lauery.
wa« entirely destroyed, ".-uid notliin;^,"
says the Toronto Courier, "but the extra-
ordinary exertions of our over acliv.'
.'iiid skillful fire compaiiicH prevented the
adjoining hoiuscs from being swept away
by the conflagration."
The second fire broke out on the corner
of Kiiifi' and (leorge ►streets*, when a large
niu'ccupieil two .storey dwelling house
and four or five outhouse's, the jiroiK-rty
of Ml'. Oenrge I>ii:.!,'gan ; an outhouse con-
taining .several luiiuired buvslu'l.s of grain,
the property of William Faster ; a stahi ■
belonging to George Monro, and an-
other belonging to Me«ni-s. Armstrong
iJc I'ealty were totally consumed.
A comjiany of the l."»th l^.'giIneut, un-
der Captain Temple, rendered valuable
I
I
I
If-'Sil
^:ll
r ^ I i
614
LAN n.M AUKS OF TORONTO.
eervico in protocting the property which
was taken out of the houses and in keep-
ing oi)ou a passage for the water cartN
through the crowds of people who had
oolleeted. None of the property wa« in-
cured.
A destructive fire aprain broke out in
the city on the iii^ht of Monday, >fnrch
7th. 1830. wliich destroyed the greater
part of the block of buildings on the
south side of King street, east of the
Market square, extending from llobert
Hawke's clothing warehouse to the
Crown Inn and Courier office on New Nel-
son (now Jarvie) street. The fire broke
out in a thret" storey brick building, the
property of Christopher Elliott, occu-
pied by John Sproulc as a grocer's store
and dwelling hou«e. The flames spreaxl
rapidly both eaist and west, and in about
three hours the house and store of Robert
Hawke to the eiist of John Sproule's and
the three «torcy brick building on the
weet, occupied by William Stennett as a
•ilversinith's shop and dwelling house,
as well as that of Robert Sproule, were
sacrificed, as well aa all the sheds, barns
aud other outbuildings in the rear of the
block from Robert Hawke's to the walls
of the Courier office aud Crown Inn,
neither of which was injured. William
Stennett and Robert Sproule were both
partly protected from loss by insurance,
but Hawke's aud Elliott were not. Two
of the members of the fire companies were
severely injured at this fire, notably
Rol>ert Emery, captain of the hook and
ladder company, who was seriously in-
jured by a fall from the roof of one of
th? houses during the fire.
Captain Temple aud twenty men of the
l.">th Regiment were on the ground and
did poo(l service in protecting property.
On February 8, 1838, a fire broke out
in the premises of Mr. Mussou, 145 King
street east, now 75. which was easily sub-
dued after £100 damage had been done.
The Colonist says that " fortunately the
flames were discovered at the noon hour,
when most of the members of the (fire)
companies were at their dinner. Conse-
quently they were speedily on hand. It
is a matter for regret that some em-
ployers are reluctant about allowing
their men to leave their work for this
very necessary service." The Colonist
office in 185;? was in this building.
The next lire recorded is in May, 1838,
when a row of .><evcral houses in March
street, the owner's name not being given,
were set on fire by some persons un-
known. The buildings being of wood, they
were totally consumed. The police made
diligent efforts to fiud the incendiaries,
but were unsuccessful in their search.
Very meagre particulars are given of
the burning of Farr's brewery in Lot
street, Augurt 11, 1838. This building
was afterwards the Moss nnd Wallis, miil
Inter the Cornell brewery, on the soutii
side of Queen street, opposite the Bickfonl
property of Gorevnle. The loss was
estimated at £300, a downfall of rain
making it impossible to gain much head-
way. In assisting to extinguish the
flames Mr. E. Jarvis had his right arm
broken, and Mr. Lncoste, a visitor to the
city, was severely burned about the head
and shoulders. Two horses were burnod
to death.
A name that is still well known In
Toronto is that of Rogers. On August 30,
1838, Mr. Joseph Rogers' hat manufac-
tory, No. Ill King street east, the second
door from the south-east corner of King
and Church street, was burned. Tho
damage was £1,000 and the houso*
adjoining were scorched. In this
fire the new hook and ladder appar-
atus did such good work that the
City Council decided to purchase a
similar one if the old one could be sold
to some other corporation. Mr. Rogers, it
is recorded, was on a buying trip to
Montreal at the time. An advertisement
in an adjoining column states "that not-
withstanding the fire, Mr. Joseph Rop;erj
will resume business as soon as a con-
venient and satisfactory building can he
obtained." Thus it is to bo seen that
even at that early day Toronto mer-
chants were alert and progressive.
January 9th, 1839, witnessed the dp-
struction by fire of St. James Cathedral,
erected in 1830, on the site of a former
woodeu church. It was a stone building,
measuring in its interior about 100 x 73
feet, but had never been wholly complet-
ed. It contained an excellent organ, pre-
sented to the church by Hon. J. H. Dunn,
Receiver- General of the province, whicli
aLso perished, as did a stained glass win-
dow, bt^lovcd by Torontonians, but exe-
crated by outsiders, as l)eing " iu vi|j
tawdry taste." The loss was covered by
insurance.
The year 1839 seems, excepting tht
burning of the Cathedral, to have been
singularly free from fires. Only one
other blnze is recorded— a small fire k
March street, in a house belonging te
Mr. T. G. Ridout. No serious damage waj
done, the flames being extinguished b;
the use of a few pails of water.
In the burning of the steamer Burling-
ton on March 30, 1840, the city had a
general sensation. The Burlington, a
side-wheel steamer, costing £16,000, had
come up the lake with a mixed carga
including, amongst other articles, twc
barrels of gunpowder. "She caught (lit
while lying at the Government wharl,'
the jjresent Queen's wharf. The Colonif!
report reads, " and the Fire Brigai!:
Ktfuted to
;iiiii.'tured
buaiil and
tioii about
ul the h.'UK
(itnti'd thai
at Port D
b.id hi'en c
ilil'iiculty tl
uiiiIlt contr
(Irstroyed a
Jv (111 111 aged
fiiiip, i;2,00(]
The loss
i;ir:;e, amoii
ISil, the li
i.f (Jiiod & C
ctri'et, when
Hall, was bi
of tt lamp,
stood near I
Good gave en
who were thi
iiig was of :
much corabui
possible to bc
t'xtrcjnely fro
hose was Ifro
nmouut of in.<
On May 6
chop, on the
street, betv,-(
Btreets, forme
of Industry,
amount of £2
is unknown, b
several suspic
had been seei
time ago. Th
not being pra
fused. The
■uian the next'
'01)0 of the inci
possible to pr
he was let gi
Ift'cretary of
ip;iny, receivec
;hat he was
Six brick bi
[corner of Kiel
re totally d
li^i'2. As in tlif
lot given, whi
't £4,000. Oi J
supied by a
'«iT ill, and
;!ic street wit
iround him.
ihat the sick
hy, the weatl
muie of the o
;ivcu.
On .luim 5, 18-
It the north-t'
iti'Pt'ta, was bii
III ill th.) kitol
»lil awoke th«
1
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
eis
Hiiutfd to subdue the flames. It became
;uiii!'iii('il that the guuj)owder was ou
liuaril itiid the firemeu felt some trepida-
tion about Roing to the wharf, until one
y[ till' hiiuda employed on the Burliiit?tt)u
(Stated that the powder had been landed
at Port Da.'liiigton, to which place it
[..111 hieu consigned. It was with much
jifiiiulty that the firemen got the flames
uiiili^r control. 'J'b<! fine deck- works were
(li'Stroyed and the engines were serious-
Iv damaged. The total loss will be :—
Khip, £2,000; cargo (about), £500."
The loss on the uext fire was very
l.ir:;e, amounting to £4,000. On Dec. 2,
iS-tl, the largo iron and stove foundry
(,f (lood & Cb., ou the ea,st side of Yougo
] stici't. where now stands the Munee Music
llall, was burned through the overturning
of a lamp. Several frame houses which
I stood near by were also consumed. Mr.
I Good gave employment to nearly 50 hands,
who were thrown out of work. The build-
ing was of frame, and, as it contained
uuich combustible material, it was im-
jjossible to save it. The firemen suffered
hxtiemely from the bitter cold, and their
jliose waa frozen several times. The
! amount of insurance is not given.
Oil May G, 1842, Metcalf's machine
[ebop, outhe south side of Lot (Queen)
Uti'cct, between Yonge and Victoria
iBtrcets, formerly occupied as the House
[of Industry, was damaged to the
lamouut of £250. The origin of the fire
[is imkuown, but the Colonist stated that
[several suspicious-looking coloured meu
|baJ been seen about the vicinity some
(time ago. They had asked for work, but.
jnot being practical men. they were re-
Ifused. The police arr 'ed a coloured
|in:iQ the next day ou a eharge of being
loni' of the incendiaries, but, it being im-
Ipossible to prove anything against him,
llii' was let go. Mr. T. Armstrong, the
iBccretary of the hook and ladder com-
ipjuiy. received such injuries at this fire
that he was laid up for twelve months.
Six brick buildings at the south-west
Iconier of Richmond and Church streets
I'le totally de«t!oyed by fire in .July 5,
[li'42. As in the |jreceding fire, the cause is
but given, while the loss is approximated
at £4,000. One of the dwellings was oc-
fcupied by a Capt. Masterson, who was
Tcry ill, and who had to be carried to
(the street with only a blanket thrown
liround him. The British Colonist says
khat the sick gentleman suffered no in-
luiy, the weather being very warm. The
piiUK' of the owner of the houses is not
givcu.
Oii.luii*! 5, 1843, the Blue Bonnet tavern,
ht the north-ea,st corner of Ivot and Saver
Itieetfl, was burned. The fire was start-
ed ill thi! kitchen, and when the house-
old awoke they found the premises in
a blaze. The fire brigade could do little
on account of the high wind, and the
tavern was totallj' destroyed. The loss
is not mentioned, nor is the name of tlie
pro|irietor. A month later, on the 7th
of August, WiK)dH' tavern kitchen, " iu
Colborne street, late Market lane." was
buMied. The loss was about £25. Two
stables iu the rear were also burned.
The largest conflagration which the
city had yet seen occurred on August
22, 184.S. The fire started in the rear
of the King Alfred tavern on King street
west, and extended back to Broad lane.
A tract about one hundred j-ards sijuare,
containing twenty houses, was burned.
The damage was £4,000. The great ma-
jority of the houses destroyed were occu-
l)ied by working people, who loet every-
thing. The firemen did goo«l service in
preventing the spreading of the flames,
but it waa impossible to extinguish the
original blaze. The King Alfred tavern
had only lately been re-furuished at a
cost of £450. A subscription was started
bj' the citizens, and £210 was raised to
help the people who had been burned out.
None of the names of these people are
mentioned.
On October 25, 184.3, five houses belong-
in'^ to a Mrs. Morrison, ou the south-west
side of lyot (Q Keu) and New (now Nelson),
streets, were burned. A servant maid
carelessly left a shovelful of live coals
on the fl(X)r, and one of the houses caught
fire, the flames extending to the others.
The lo«8 was £2,(»00.
On Saturday, February 10th, 1844,
.Tacques & Hay's large upholstery build-
ing, at the south-east corner of King and
Bay streets, was burned. The building wa«
stored with uuich varnish, turpentine and
similar goods used iu a furniture factor}'.
The loss was over £8,000, and there was
£1,100 insurance. The origin of the fire
was unknown. In this case tlie regular.*"
did excellent work in saving goods ami
iu assisting the small {)olice force in
keeping the spectators back. Mr. .lohii
Jacques was injured by falling timbers,
but recovered. The fire engine lately
purchased proved to be of great value.
Ou December 10, 1844. the Post Office
tavern and stables on Yonge street were
partially destroyed. The origin of the
fire was incendiary. William Uoss, the
firebug, was arrested, and was sent to
penitentiary for five years.
(Ju Wednesday, 14th' August, 1844, a
fire broke out on the
and what was then
street east, which
to the extent
fin-
in the
ertv
!?30.000. Tin
have started
Roy House, in
the high wind
corner of Yonge
Ix)t, now Queeu
destroyed prop-
of $25,000 or
wn.s !-upposed to
rear of the Rob
some
and
stables,
scarcity
Owing to
of water,
' tl
til
(iia
LAXDMAIIKS OF TOJIOXTO.
«
I!' I:
ll
tho flainofl Rjinvid quickly aiuonB the
woodt'ii l)uililiiiK*< ill tin' vicinity, and
in l«'H.s tliiin Iialf an lioiir tlic Kol) iloy
HouMO and the four houses adjoining
south on Yongc street were totnlly
destroy ed. It wan feared that the
names would Npread to the other
«id« of YouKc street, but they were
saved from destruction by the coolness
and ener)j;y of the firemen, headed by
tho Mayor. The violence of the fire
may be' iud^ed from the fact that
though the houses consumed were all
substantial buildings, they were com-
pletely burnt down in less than an hour
from the time the fire starti'd.
The Hob Jtoy House was situated on
the south-east corner of Yonge and Queen
etreetH, on the siiot where now stands
the branch of the Imperial Bank.
The sufferers by this lire were : Mr.
Metcalfe, foumler', partly insureil ; .Mr.
Alexander MeOregor. house and stock, in-
sured for .$2,"iOO : Mr. Kerry, tavernkeep-
er ; Mr,. .Joseph Hodg.-on, tinsmith; Mr.
Stephenson saddler, and Mr. Usher, gro-
cer. The amount of insurance on these
last is not stated.
On January 4th. 1845. a slight blnzc
dama.jjed ilie iums.' a ml furnitui'e of Mr.
James Watkins. !()."► Kiohmond street
west, now No. 100, who was tax collector
for the district. He was fully insured.
On Monday, January G, 1845, a fire
broke out at Messrs. Metcalfe & Cheney's
pail manufactory, Church .street, on tho
eaat side, near (iueen street east, do-
ing considerable damage. For a time
it was feared that the flames would
spread to a great extent, but the activ-
ity of the firemen prevented much dam-
age to the neighboring property. The
loss was fully covered by iusuraucew
No fire of any importance occurred un-
til i'^'iday, May 0, 1845, when a dis-
astrous blaze destroyed much valuable
property between Church and Yonge
etreets. At about a (juarter past two
p.m. flames were seen ia«uing from the
out-premi«efl of William Mussou, who
previously was burnt February 8, 1838,
a tinsmith on King street, from whence
they vspread rapidly to Messrs. Smith &
McDonell's storeroom, which was filled
with oils, groceries and spirits, including
about 100 barrels of whiskey. The ex-
ploding of these casks caused the flames
to spiead over the adjoining vacant lots,
which burned for some time. There was
at that time a very wide space between
King street and the next parallel street
towards the bay— Market street. The
intervening spate wa« occupied, from
Church to Y'oiige streets, with wooden
buildings, some of them very old. In
the centre of these building.s the fire
originated. The flamea had spread to
an alarming extent before the fire i>n.
gines arrived on the scene, and wln'ii
they did arrive tlio supply of water wm
very limited. ISefore long Mr. UrevvepH
l)ook bindery was euvelojied in fl.iincs,
and from thence tho fire ran south to-
wards the post office, burning Mr. licr
C7,y's stables, and placing tho post on'ii(>
building in great danger. It was hopeil
that the i)rogre8s of the flames woiiM
be stayed at this point; but, in spite oi
all efforts, the rear premises of Messrs,
Norris, chinawnre merchants; Mr. Wake-
field, auctioneer ; Messrs. Wightman \
Co., drapers; Messrs. Wragge & Co.,
hardwares merchants ; Mr. U. II. P.rett,
general merchant ; Messrs. Thomas liji;.
ney & Co., general merchants ; a vacrint
store, and the jewellery store of Mewhry,
Hos.sin Bros, were soon all a prey to
the devouring element.
By great exertions the store of Uigin'v
& Co. was saved from destruction, but
the fire caught the main building o;
Messrs. Wragge, and extended to Mr,
Brett's two stores, and to that of McRsn,
Utwsin Bros., and tho four handaoiii'
brick buildings were completely dr-
etroyed. Three other large stores wer"
all on fire, but were ultimately savoil.
Most of tho loss caused by this fire vtmI
covered by insurance, the greatest loner- 1
being Mr. i?rett and Messrs. liigney,
Mr. Brett's stock amounted to !})3."),0nn
insurance about ,$20,000. Messrs. liii;
ney were insured for about $30,000
which covered their loss.
The papers expressed great dissati'
faction at the inadequate supply of wat<;|
on this occasion, and at tho fact that
re)i:iment of foot soldiers were in tl:*|
garrison and not one of them was pf
sent at the fire. Much thankfulness wa,
felt that the night was so still ; had tlil
wind been high it is impossible to sav|
where the fire would have stopped.
Muflson, the tinsmith, mentioned abov,> I
resided and carried on business at 5!|
King street east, same i)lace where
I). King & Co.'s stere is now. 'I'o tli(|
west of his place of business, at No. olf
was the famous grocery establishment f;!
J. F. Smith .'ind Duncan McDonell, wliic:|
afterwards became the office of the (V
onist newspaper, under the propriotor-l
ship of Samuel Thompson, subsequent t;[
the death of Hugh Scobie. On the soutli-
east corner of leader lane and Kinj[
street was Brewer's stationery and Iwotl
binding establishmont, No. 48 ; on tbil
south-west corner was Kissock's, ttaf
came Norrifl' (44) china shop. Wiglitma:|
& Co., the drapers, were at 42 ; Willia:
Wakefield, the auctioneer, at 40 ; W,
J. Crons, Rigney & Co., and then H,
Brett at 34, and liossin Bros., the jenv.|
lers, at 32. Higney & Co. were al80o:|
the occupai
tinicfi knowi
well wius
King street
On .May
was visited
originated
.Mr. Bell,
It then to(
«(irds Yoiig
the biicks
ociiipicd by
fOil(ii-e;i.st
moml .stree
dories of tl
Voii^'e St reel
►on. Carbe
iinieh injure
fully known,
\\
.■iv,(l'
LANDM.MIKS OV TOHOXTO.
01 7
owiinr of tho
• font of Slmc(i(>
propiM'ty of till'
);,• rTHitli h'hIi' nf Kin^ ^tn'ot, nfti'rwnnlH
iviiii>viii>; opi'osiu' ti) till' Hoiitli-wfsl I'o;'-
iKM' of Kins '111(1 Toroiitd utrccts.
Oil Tui'Htliiy, +tli Ndvi'iiiIxt (tf thf Ranic
V .11, a ln.rK<' tlirfi'-Mtorcy wiirolioimp on
'[;.■,■■ uliiirf w;is oiitii'dy dostroyi-d. Its
coiiti'iits CoiiNistod of i\ (■oll:^i(i(•|■lll)ll>
qu.iiitity of Hiilt nnd whiskey .ind other
iii.'ichMiidiMe and were a total loss. Tho
|,.<sie of the wli.irf, Mr. MeMillaii, was
fully iiiMured and the
jlddds partially so.
Kees' wharf was at tip
stri'ct. and had been the
ni'Il-kiiowu Dr. Ucon.
A great amount of daimige was caused
hv a fire on IvinR stre.t, on Saturday
fveiiiiij.', Ist March. lS-t(>. The fir'o
dta It'll ill Mr. Webb's nh(«> store, and
npi'i'Mil rapidly to the dry (^oodm store
of Messrs. CroiKliton & Hall. Most of
the goods wore removed and the flames
■wiM-e got under control, though not be-
fore they had occasioned some damage
to the chambers of Messrs. Smith, Crook
& Smith, barristers. The whole loss
WHS fully covered by insurance. No
cause could be nssignetl as to the origin
of the fire.
Webb's store was at 2.S King street
oiifiti almost on the site ol the Golden
Lion, nnd Creightou iS: Hall's was n little
to the west. No. 24, where Mr. Creighton
rosidc<l.
This same month of March, 1846. saw
another bad blaze, which occurred in
some new brick brildiugs on King street
near the Temple Chambers. It was sup-
posed to be the work of incendiaries. In
two hours it destroyed three fine brick
buildings, the property of Hon. H. .1.
Boulton, and another the property of Mr.
Helliwell. All the propert.v burned was
covered b.v insurance. One fireman,
whose name could not be ascertained,
earned great praise by his courageous
conduct at this fire.
The II. J. l'>oiiltoii mentioned above was
tho occupant of Holland IIons<>, .some-
times known .is tl\r> Castle. Thomas Helli-
well Wii« a brewer and resided at 197
King street east.
On May oth, 1846, Richmond street
was visited by incendiaries. The fire
originated in the cabinetmakers' shop of
Mr. Hell, which w.as entirely consumed.
It then took a westerly direction to-
wards Yonge street, where it destroyed
the backs of some large brick buildings,
OJiiipied by Messrs. I.ettridge, at the
foiith-e.-ist corner of Yonge and Rich-
liionil .'Streets, jind olhei-s. The iipiKM-
ptoiies of the house on the east side of
Yoiige street, occupied by ^lessrs. Thomp-
son. Garbert. Ivaweon A F.ell, were also
miioli injnre<l. The amount of losa is uot
fullv known.
The fire just mentioned was on tho
^olllh side oppusite to the site now oc-
cupied by the Ciinleilrration Life liuild-
ings.
At Yorkville (ui Friday, Di'eeiiiber llth.
the louse and furniture of Mr. Walker,
llie toll-ki'i'per, a few yards north of
the ])resent St. P;iul's llall, were de-
stioyeil, completing the li.sl of fires for
the year 1S4(».
Sunday evening, .Innunry lOth, saw
the first fin; of 1^47, when the grist
mill, brewery and distillery of .Messrs.
Thonuw Helliwell ,V: I'.ros., on tlu> Don
Uiver, were completely destroyed; also
the dwelling house of .Mr. .It)s. Helliwell.
The fire was first discovered about 11
o'clock, when the roof of the cooler was
seen to be in flames, wliieli sjiread with
amazing rapidity to the brewery and
distillery, consuming them both. The
flour mill caught ne.tt, and was, with
the stone dwelling house of Mr. Joseph
Helliwell, completely destroyed. Mr.
Kastwood's paper mill was scorched, and
was only saved from destruction with
great difficulty. The loss was estimat-
ed at about .$80,000, of which .$.".,000
only was covered by insurance. Many
of the workmen employed by Mr. Helli-
well had all their clotlies burnt, and all
bad a narrow escape from being burnt
to death, as the stairs in the house where
they slejit, were consumed before they
woke.
llelliweirs brewery was on the eastera
bank of the Don, not far from where now
stands Taylor's pajier mills. A full ac-
count of tliis well known establishment in
given in Volume I. of Landmarks of To-
ronto.
.\ slight fire ©ii .Fnhn street, north of
Queen street west, on Sunday, Ajjril 4tb,
1S47. destroyed the house of Mr. G. A,
liarher, proprietor of the Herald news-
paper. .Mrs. iiarlkT and her children ea-
cai>ed with great difficulty from the
house, and all the furniture, etc., wa«
toiall.v destro\ed. The house, owned by
lion. .Mr. Ca.vley, was fully insured, but
the furniture w.is ;i dead lass.
On April llth, 1S47, a fire bioke out
In the brewery owned by .lohu Doel, on
the north-west coi'iier of Ray and .\dc-
laide streets. I'he fire engines were soini
on the spill and about 200 liarrols of beer
which were stored in the cellar were
saved. Mr. Doel's house escaped uuiu-
juied ouing lo tlie fact that they had n.
hand fire engine on the premises. The
lirowery was insured in the Home Dis-
trict Mutual foi' $2.(500 and iu the Johofl-
town District for $2,000.
Sunday seems to have been a fatal day
for fires in Toronto in those days, as on
Sunday morning, Aiiiil I'.t. 1847, another
fire broke out in Mr. Hiram Piper'»
1.
611
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
I ':;
I
■" I
workxhop on tlie east side of Ycuiffi'
utrei't, oiii' iliHir uoi'tli of Kiiiw.
AvJiich nMulted in a coiwidcrnlil'' li hs
of i»ro|orty. AfttT tvjiwiiiuiiijr Mi".
Pi|»er'H hIi(>|i, tin' lire piisseil to n Htiilil*!
owiioil by Mr. (irct'ii, K»»'*i>><tl'' ImriiiiiK
it, along with u vaiiiiibic horsf niitl
luiRj^.v. Till" fill' tlioii I'xti'ndi'd to the
lircniiHcs or Mr. Hohcrt Love, drujicii'i"t,
niid to the liack prcrniNos of thi' houni'H
«»ii KinR Htrt'i't, tiien occupii'il by Mi'hhi'h.
BnrH'''*K. l-iiWHon, (JIuhhco iind Noi'd-
hcinii'i', wliich \V(MH' coiiMUint'd, with part
«»f thoir ('(MitcntH. Tin* lossfs im thin
Iir<' amomiti'd to about .$('», 000, oF which
about $4,500 w.i« covcicd by insuiain'i'.
Pi|i*'i''s tinsmith t<hop was on tlu' east
»'idc of Yon^?!' ntiret, No. 50, Hoini' thico
dooiw to tho north of Kiug Btri'«'t. Green's
nto!e wa-t (X T.-^ll-knovvn rendezvoiw for
H|ioi'tiug men, oflit'ors from the gnrrifioai
and the younger clikss of fariuere. After
retiring from bu'^iness in a nunsmitli .Mr.
Grt'en entered the Government service as
wail itgent on tho Allan line, .serving
for many yearn. He died in (Quebec enrly
in the pre.seut year (18l>5.)
A $3,500 bluzo took place on Saturdaj'
evening, 8th May, 1847, at tlip brick
tannery owned and occupied by Mr.
John Sterling, situated at the foot of
York street, 200 feet south of the pre-
eent Walker Hou-ie. The fin> brok't out in
the bark mill, and soon extended over the
whole building. The prompt arrival of
the fire engine and the plentiful supply
of water prevented the flames from
spreading to the adjoining premises. Mr.
Sterling's loss was partially covered by
in<Hurance in the Etna company.
.\t this fire a fireman was injured bj'
a cart knocking him down and passing
over him.
A most destructive fire occurred on
Sunday evening, May 31, 1847, by which
more than twenty families were ren-
«lered homeless. The flames were first
discovered shortly before twelve o'clock
j»wuin^ from a frame building on the
north sid*' of Richmond street west, near
the corner of Y'onge street, occupied by
James Wiley. As the wind waa blow-
ing strongly at the time, the fire soon
spread in all directions. The east end
of Knox Free Church was soon in flames,
and in one hour the edifice wa« burnt
to the ground. Meanwhile the rear of
the houses on Yoiige street had caught
fire, and in two hours the whole lauge
of brick and frame buildings from Rich-
mond to Queen streets, with the excep-
tion of one brick and one wooden store,
were completely dMtroyed. The loss by
this fire was estimated at about 110,500,
of which not raoro than $5,000 wm cov-
ered by insurance. This fire led to a
meeting being called by the Mayor to
i consider the subject of getting a bettor
I water Hupplj', which, it m ems, was bad-
I ly needed.
I The area covi'red by tlie rava;reH of
thi^ fire wuh boiind«'d on tlu' north b.v
(Jiieen, on tho east by Yonge, on the
foilh by lUobmond and on the we^l by
1 the ^'rollnd(» surroundiiiR Knox Church.
i Of the sufferers by this fire .MenspH,
[ WiN-y, Carter, I>'onard and .Mather were
insured in the Mutual. Mr. Mulholland.
! auothnr sufferer, was intjured in tli.-
I .Montreal Insurance Cumpany. Kmmx
I Church was iiwnred for )pl.(i(M> in lln'
I Mutual, and Dr. Buruside, who lia.l jum
: coiae to reside in tho block, was unin-
! «ureil.
' In endiarism wns said to be the cnuso
I of the fire by which Knox's church and
I nine dwelling houses were destroyed.
I The tannery owned by Watson & Co.,
j Y'onge street, and situated on the KinRo-
I ton road, three miles from town, wii«
: entirely destroyed by fire on Thursday,
j July 22, 1H17. Loss unknown, but there
I was no insurance.
j A tragical occurrence in ronuection
with an attempt to set fire to sonic
! premises is reported in the (llobe of Sat-
I nrday, September 4. 1S47. On tlw; pre.
vious Wednesday fire was seen issuiiin'
from the workshop of Mr. Harper,
builder, on 107, north side of lUchmDiid
Hti-eet west, but the flam.'s were quickly
got under. A watch was set oil
the premises, and on Friday morn-
I iiig, about 3 o'clock, a luau was
seen to climb tlie fence, and proceed to-
wartls the shop. One of the watch,
James Mullin, followed him with a gun
in his hand. Mullin met the man return-
ing, and called on him to surrender; but
receiving no answer, and perceiving ;i
flame in tho direction of the shop, he
raised his gun and fired. The fire was
speedily extinguished, but on examin-
ation the man was found to be (juite
dead. The body was identified iw tlwit
of William Somerset, of York township.
A small fire occurred on Friday, Nov,
19, 1847, in Messrs. Rice Lewis it Co.'s
building. The fire was extinguished after
about two hours' labor, its ravages being
confined to the cellar, where it origin-
ated. The loss was about $3,500, mcjstl.v
covered by insurance.
liice Lewis' was at 41 King street east,
on thL> north-cast corner of Tor into stre't.
No. i Wellington buildings, the iiistuiic
" Paddock " was known to every one.
The first fire of any importance in
1848 happened on Tuesday, February 1,
when a block of buildings, from RenaieV
tavern on the north side of Front street ,
just west of Church street, to Colbonu'
St., were completely destroj'ed. The fir"
originated in one of the outbuildings; o!
LANDMAIIKS OF TORONTO.
nig
I;, tiiiic'H tavern, and, an tlic wind wnH
|p'|u\viii(j; 11 liurriciiuc fi'»iiii the wi'hI at
till' time, it quiclily oxtcndoil t»> tin* hui-
KHimliuj? iiouHi'H, until tlie fulirc wont-
,111 part of tla' block on Front, Church
and Colbornt' stret'ts \va« levelled to
ti,e ground. Tweuty-five housea were
di'htroyod, besides outbuildiiifjiH, und
tliiTO wan but very little iiiHurauco on
citlicr houHeH or furniture.
The UHual HCarcity of water wuh coni-
iiiniiied of, and the firemen displayed
tbiir usual energy and activity. The
suftererH by this fire were an follows ;—
Mr. Atkiii/'on, two tliroe-storey brick
iiouces, Blishtly damaged : fully in-
Hurcd. Two threo-storuy brick houses,
owiiod liy Mr. Aid. John ArnistronK, par-
tiiilly destroyed, no insurance. A three-
storey brick house, the "Tarn o" 81ian-
ti'r" Tavern, owned by Mr. T. Aitiien,
totiilly destroyed ; uo insurance. ISriek
liouws owned by Mr. Oxley, eompietoly
dfstroyed ; iuaurauce $1,500. Two
Htorey frame house, owned by Mrs.
Tlionms ; uo insurance ; the furniture of
this house was saved. These houses
were all on the north side of Colborne
gtreet. On the south aide of Colborne
gtri'ot there were destroyed :— The stable
1111(1 outhouses of Mr. Taylor's shop ; loss
$2rjO to $300 ; uo insurance. A frame
houHO owned by Mr. .]. Piatt, totally
destroyed ; insured for $0.'")0 ; furniture
saved. The next three houses were
owu"d by Mr. iToehua tt. Beard. Mayor
o the city in IS")!. HiiS loss was
JH'tween $1,.^>00 und $2,000 ; no in-
Mirance. Two frame houses, occupied
liy Messrs. Howard, Wood & Sons, abt)ut
$750; uo insurance. Two small frame
houses, owned by Mrs. Birmingham and
Mr. Geo. Henderson, which were not in-
sured ; loss about $800. A building on
tlio corner t)f Church and Colborne sts.,
the 'Edinburgh Castle" Tavern ; insured
for $750, which covered the loss.
The next two buildings ou Church
Ktretit were owned by A. T. McCord, the
I'liamberlain of the city. They were in-
siiri'd for $300, which covered the loss.
I'iu' next building was owned by Mr.
Miirchison, value about $200— uo insur-
ance. * frame building on the corner of
Trc-c and Church, owned by Mr. Alex.
Mc jcod ; also the next house ou Front
dt 'el ; neither was insured— value about
^:,250.
The next was a three storey brick
building, owned by Mr. Young, of Uoches-
ter— loss unknown. The last place was
the large brick tavern occupied by Wm.
Heiinie, which was not insured— loss,
about $1,800.
The land on which this proi)erty stood
bflouged to the (X)rpi)ration ; the leases
Lad just expiroi*' and arbitrators bad
been appointed to value the improve-
ments on tlie lots, aecDrdiiig to the terniH
of the lease. The fire thus relieved the
corporation of all liability.
On I'ebruary lltth the workshop ot Mr.
Medea If, maehinist, iMi 5 tiueeu street
east, was destroyed. Origin of tlie firi>
unknown, The machinery destroyed was
valiu'd at .1*5,000, insured for about $2.-
500. The Kob Koy Taveru narrowly
escaped destrtiction on this occasion,
for the second time. Yet another
fire happened in this unlucky mouth of
February, on Sunday 2(jth, when four
houses owned by Mr. W. U. .\bbott, 4)n
Sayer street, and two bi'longing to Mr.
'J'ilt, were levelled to the ground. Mr.
Abbott was fully insured for $2,000, but
Mr. Tilt suffered a total loss.
Mr. Abbott resided at 23 Teraulay
street, and Mr. Tilt was a general store-
keepiT on the corner of fckiyer, now Chest-
nut street.
On Sunday morning, Octolx'r 15th, 1848,
the old houiw known as Teraulay Cot-
tage, once tlie home of the MacaiUuy fam-
ily, situated on Ix)uisa street, facing the
southern transept of Holy Trinity church,
was totally destroyed by fire. There was
uo insurance, and the buildinf; was of
small value, except for the historic asso-
ciations connected with it.
On Sunday morning, Oct. 20th, 18 tS,
a firei which started in the hat shop of
Mr. E. H. McSherry, oa King street vtiei,
the touth side, did considerable dam-
age to it and the adjoining premise'*
of Messrs. IJetley & Kay. The fire was
kept from spreading very far, but Mr.
Ellis, a watchmaker, had his stock dam-
aged a good deal in removing it. Mr.
McSherry's stock was fully insured for
$2,000 ; Messrs. Betley & Kay were in-
sured for $20,000, which scarcely covered
their loss. Mr. Ellis was uninsured.
McSherry's house was insured in the
Quebec and British America Insurance
Companies for $3,800. Betley & Kay's
building, where now iTtands the C. P. K.
office, for $6,000, also in the Britiah
America.
About one o'clock ou the moruing of
Wednesday, November 22, 1848. a de-
structive fire broke out in a building
No. 76 King street eiiat, the south side,
near Church, occupied by Mr. Webb oe
a shoe stoi-e and Messrs. Campbell &
Hunter, saddlers. The fire siyjii en-
veloped the biiilding, and then spread
to the upper part of the corner
building, occupied by Messrs. Bell &
Crowther, John Maulson, Charles Lount
and Thomas Bell as offices. Four large
brick buildings were almost destroyed,
the walls only being left standing. The
shop of Mr. Uogers, hatter, was at on«
time in great danger. The loss was
A I
j 'i
liJO
LAXDMAUKS OF TOIJOXTO.
M i
•"?").0()(), hut this \V!1H
li less tiKiii the ;u"tu;il
\v(M'i> Holii'itoi'K, liav-
south-t'.i.Kt corti'M' of
striM'ts. .lohii .M,nii:!oii
I-<uiiit n
a land
( s; iiiint'd at nlinii
^-U|lp(>,-l>.i to ll'" lU'-l'
losH.
r.cll A Crowllic
iiii: offices (jii till
Kiurf ;iii(l Chuirli
Wius ;iii accountant, CJiaricM
bairistt'r, and Tlioaias i;;'!
aJTcnt.
Tiicro wore various nni:iil fires in tlic
early part of the year IS-l'.t, the most
iiaiortant hein^ dii" which, in the mid-
dle of March, (J,'«lroyed tin' Areenhoiises
of Mr. tteor^i' Le.slii-, of the Toronto
XiiTsery, on the Krijr.stcm Koad, iiow
ki own .as (jaeen Htreet easi. It is unknown
how tl'.e fire originated, iw by the time
the flames were seen the largest green-
house was a I moat couNunied. Mr. Les-
■■h
and the office of the Savings l>ank. I-
ei'ossed Nelson strd't to the west si'i
to Kolf's tavern, desti'oying the whui
block, including the Mirror office air;
Mr. N.asnuth'M b'lkery. I'roceeding frov,;
Uolf's taveiii, the fire consiimi-d the coi-
ner building, and then ran along tli.-
whole tilock to W. O'Neill's, levelling t!i
valuable stores of Messrs. Hayes, Jlai;-
Cheney, O'Neill and others in its cours..
About three o'clock the spire of St.
.Tames' Cathedral took fire, aud \\\.
building was entirely destroyed. Ahow
the same time the flames br»)ko out ii.
the old City ILall, consuming the grcMtcr
part of the front buildings, iucludiug ■,\
small store wliich was occupied by Mr.
McFarlaue. Some slight diimage wa<
done to the south side of King etroet,
I
U
o:
D
I
'O
A I ) I'L L. A
If]
5''<Jame:s
Church
K
E.
S
(/a
bj
o
c
o
u
U7
PLAN OF CATHKI BAT. FIRE, IS49.
Explanation of plan- -I, Old City Hall, *J, Mirror oflii'c, 3, Nipissing House (escaped).
Farts marked x \ indicace lociilities partly destroyed. Black portions indicate totally
destroyed.
lie lo«t by this calamity over 4,000 valu-
able plants, amiHigst them being some
very rare exotics. The lews was esti-
mated at about ?2,500.
On the morning of Saturday, April 7, 1849,
occurred a fire by which more damage was
done than bj' any bla/.c before or since. The
fire was discovered at l..'N) in the mornin.L;
in \he rear of Graham's tav?ru, King
street, and Post's tavern, Nelso!\ street.
The flames speedily consumed Post's
tavern, the Patriot offic*^, and, crassing
over King wtreel to the east, burnt down
all the buildings south oi Duke street,
and again the store of Mr. Rogers nar-
j rowly escaped destruction. The Iom
I wa'i variously estimated from !i>500,0iW
to i^ToO.OOO. Tiic loeaea, as nearly ;\»
can be learned, were as follows :
Church of Hnglaud Cathedral, $58,000,
insured for .fl2,500. O'Neill I$ros. builil-
iiig, insured for $7,250 ; stock $24,(»()(i.
Campbell iSi Hunter, saddlers, goods n-
moved, !io insurtinee. T. D. Harris, hard-
ware, total loss; insurance on buildinc
*T.250 ; stock. )F35.000. Cheney & Co.,
j hardware, insurance, $10,500. ThonM*
j Hayes, hardware, insurance $4,000. M.
I P. Ua,ye*« groceries, goods mostly do-
LANDMARIvS O.-' T()(!()NT<).
(52!
striivrd — iiisuriiiico ^jifi, ()()(). 'riiumafi
'rii(i!ii(»f!Oii. M;uiniit)t!i lliinsc, larKc Httu'k
of ilry gi'iiiln (Icstro.viMl— iiisiir.'i iici' on
huiliiiiigs .'j'u.DOO, on stock irS.OOO— Ium vy
loss.
!'. (HaHst'o, iimnrod $2,250 ; loss cov-
ered. S,il>iiu' & lliiKKiiis, iii.surcd .$2,250,
wiiiih iiivorod their toss. Patriot ofiicc,
i:is;'r.iiic'> .^5,500. Foy \ Austin, insmi'd
ou stock, $7,250. Tosfrt Hotel in Nel-
eoi> street, insurance $3,000. ('liarli-s
Iloiiievy, Mirror office, all lost, insnr-
iuice $1,250. .John Njisn-.ith, baker, fur-
niture saved, insurance $2,000. On I'ran-
cis .-treet sevtM-al iilaces were burned, in-
cIcdinK Messrs. McL(?an & .fones' cl nin-
liciN, K. .Xorthcott'.s shop, Swain \- t'o.'s
iiieilii ini> siiop, anci others. The loss on
the City Halt v.-as ostiniated at $15,000.
Walter Mcl'arlane's stock in City Hall
was insured for $5,000, which covere(l
the !<'S'-. The total iiniount of insuranco
was .•i;2;!0,724.
One life w.-is lost nt this fire. Mr.
Watson, who had been publisher of the
Caiiadian and of tlie I'pper Cinada Ga-
ictte, w.is u|ifltairs in tlie top storey of
the I'jitriot, tryinj;; to cave .some type.
when the floor };ave way under him, nnd
he was burned beyond reco^inition.
This wiia till' largest fire thai had
taken place in Toronto eince its first
i'xi>-tenco.
Tho plan on the preceding page pLo^vh
the extent of damage done by the cathe-
dral fire.
The insur;uiei< companies wlio suffered
w"re :-('olnu\bus, <.:5,307 : Hartford, £8,-
;i()0 ; Etna, C;t.(>00 ; Protection. i;i.;U)0 :
.Monlroal, £4,124; Quebec, £2,'.t.-)() ; Cam-
(!i'n. £400: Home District, £5,000; Alli-
ance. £S,15() : I'.riti.sh America, £17,000;
PlK*'nis, £5..S50 ; (Holie, £2,050; total.
tS'.i.tlSl. This waa currcncv e(]na.l to
$2311.724.
August 18th, 1841). there was a small
fire on (Jueen street, near -larvis, which
destroyed abf)ut $1,500 worth of pro-
perty, consisting of Mes,<rs. Nisbet iv
Foster's carpenter shop and two frai.i
houwfl, owned by Mrs. Morrison. The
first w.'iH a. lot.'tl loss, but .Mrs. .Morrison
•A I- iuMur.'d foe $500, which b.arely cov-
ered her loss.
1 liie broke out on Sumlay, March 17,
ISoO, in a two stori'y frame hous:' on
Qu I'U street, .at the head of Uay.
Owiuf^ to the f^now which was f.illinK ''t
the time, the flames were prevented from
spreaiiinf.^ to the HurrouuiliiiK bui)<linK8.
Tlio house was totally destroyed. A firo
on ■'i\"ednesd.iy, May 15, 1S50, which was
siipi-osed to lie the work of incendiaries,
did a great amount of dam.ige in the
vicinity of Adelaid(> and Yon.ee atreets.
Til" firo was first discovered in thi> back
kil<h»a of a small frame house in the rear
t>f the Odd I'ellows' Inn. on the
north side (>f .\delai'i(> street, near
Yonge. Till- fh'imes extended lapidly to
.Mr. Thompson's machine sliop ;ind Mr.
Smith's shoe shop on the east, and to
Mr. Alexander's grain store and the
Windsor Castle Tavern on the west ; .all
of which weie entirely consumed. From
this point tlu> fire sprejid no Yonge
street as far *as the Bay Jlorsc Inn,
kept by Thou'a.s Itost. destix>ying
eight small franu' Mwelling-i in its
Course. The greatest mifferers by
this fire were : .Mr. Itobinson, c.abiaet
makei', everything destn)yed ; Mr. Laf-
fertv, provision dealer, $5,000, insur-
ance $1,250.
Mr. Tyner, shoemaker, insuied on build-
ing and stock $3,000; Mr. l»r<uill lird,
cigar maker ; Mr. George Hardy, w.atch-
maker, and .Mr. Simpson, iv.Mcer. There
were a number of sm.aller Iosni-k, which
are not stated. The fire brig.ade is not
mentioned in connection with this fire,
or the water su ppl.v, though neither
Could hfive been very good or the firo
could not h;ive spread as it did.
A Company of *th(> li. C. Rifles came on
the ground about '3 o'clcK'k. and rendei-
cil valuable a«.-istauce *in gmirding prop-
erty.
.No other fire occurred worthy of no-
tice until No%'end)op '24, 1N50, when a
fire broke out in ;i housi- owned by .\lr.
William Andrews, on the ^f)u',h nide of
Uichmond fltre 't. near the corner of
Chinch. Again, owing to the scircit.v of
water, four houses wero fiurucd to th
ground before the Tire was st.ayed. The
loss u|H)ntke property is unknown.
With the exception of two sm.'ill fires
in .January, the year 1851 did not suffer
much lUitil May 7th, when ;i firo
Plaited in the 'livery stabies »)n Welling-
ton street, near "York, owned by Mr.
Gr.ii:* liai.i, and destroyed them utterly,
Li^geth V with eleven horses oocupying
lli.-m. A tavern occupied by Mr. A. Archer,
oi; tae siime stnM't, w.-us also destroyed,
ignin the short .-u|>pl.v of w.tter rendered
it imixM^ible to m.ake much he.'uiway
cigaiiKst the flamts, and it was i nly l)y
everyoiic helping to carry w.ater in pails
that the fire w.'is stopped at (HI. Thn
damage was considerable, but the exact
aTiiount is not stated. T'he fire brigade
had an (>a.«(y time for nearly a yea; after
this, ;ind not until Maxell 21, 1S52, were
they called upt)n for any serious blaze.
On thiit Sunday morning .Mr. Vale's axe
factory on Adelaide, west
was veiy much injur"d,
amounting to $4,000.
t!ie lire unknown. On
Tuesday. .March 23, ii,
in the cabinet sho|) of
soiilh of King, we>t of
of York street,
the d.-imagw
The origin of
the folkiwing
fire l)roke o\it
.\lr. Coiiiier,
Day .«lirct,
-■1
i:!:
G-J2
L.\N1)MAI{KS OK Tt)!r)NTO.
I) r
\f i'
;:
and soon cxtoiidcil to the a(iioi!iinf^ huilil-
iiif<s, ()(•(' II iii''tl tiv Mr. Mosii.uM, tiiuinith ;
Mr. Cook, coiilcc-tioiu'r, and \Ir. French,
chair niiinnfactnnT. This tiiin' tlio wntor
Biijjply was itiiifil'.' Miul the hiiiiiliiiSH .v(>i'^'
not entirely dcslroyiMJ, riltlioui.^!i the
daniap,i> dt)nt' r( iKlcrril them iis'-l'ss. All
thi' HuffcrcrH wiTo fully insui'iMi, but tlii'
;nnoiint of Ioh>i or insiiriuipc i.s not stated.
A ndnilicr of small fires occdrred during
the hitter jiart of ./tine, ll-i52, and grave
suspiciouR were rntertaiiiei! as to their
e.'iiisc. One on June Jl), on Princess
Btreet, just north of lang, destroyed
tlir"e or four frame bnildinf;s. Attempts
v/ere ?iuide whih' tliis firo nas in pro-
gres! to start otiiers in the neiglibor-
hood, luit fortunately witliout success.
Ill July, isr>2, an "indignant remons-
trance " was sent into J.Iayor .T. G. Bowes
and (\iineil by the leading insurance com-
piaiicK'oi the city, asking for more strin-
ge.it. by-l;iWM for the prevention of fire,
in the matter oi forbidding the erectio'i
of w<-o(len buildings within the city
limits, tillowing steiiiiiers to conii> to the
vharves w'.thuut jiritper piecautions
being taken, a greater number of
hydrants, etc., etc. 'J'lie petition was
pigned by a immbcr of leading insurance
men and others, but did n(jt liave much
cffe'.'t. for, on the occasion of a Bni.'ili
fire in JUchmond street sliortly nfter-
V7ardB, we find the pajierh calling atten-
tion to the fact that had it not been
for tlie extreme 8tillneh:H of the night,
the fire must have consumed a consider-
able portio-.i of thc> adjoining blocks, as
the means of oxtinguishiug the flames
were altogether inadecjuate in the case ot
a large fire.
On the momiiiff of .January 1, 185.*?, two
fires oeeiirred. destroying the iireinises of
Messrs. .1. & V. Parks, turners. Adelaide
street, and tbose of Mr. t)gden, marble
cutter, i'onge street. The second fire
spread to the buildingM cf Mr. P.ell,
watchmaker, and Mr. lirowuHComb, shoe-
maker, and were with difficulty prevnt-
ed from progressing further. Much loss
was caufsed by these two fires, aa none
of the losers carried any iasiirauce. The
bnildingf< destroyed were on the west
tnd^. of Yoiige street.
On the morning of .Tune 10th, 185.3, the
Bteamer Admiral, while lying at 15ror\virs
ivbarf. foot of Yonge fitreet, was burnt
almost to the water's edge. Happily no
livefl were loirt. but a great deal of lug-
gage b*Monging to some of the pas^en-
i<ere was destruyed. She was insured fur
$20,000.
Ou Saturday, January 21, 1854, a fire
broke out in the «ail loft of Mr.
AdtiWB, ou Timiiug's wharf. A cinder
Irom a neighbouring chimney lodged
OQ the ivjof, jiud wiUi fanned into
were fully in-
no less than
a fl.'ime by the filuirp wind which wnn
blowing. The fiic euf-vines ai'rived too
late to save the building, but nuiu.u'> il
to prevent the Bi)read of the fire. Mr.
Tinning, owner of the building, managed
to leinove his live stock, but his loss
amounted to i?l,25() ; no innuranee. Mr.
Adams, the Bailinaker, lost .$1,000, .uul
Mr. liobert Moodie. aft'rwards an alder-
i man. who had eome sails stored :u the
. building, about .$1,000 ; neither of them
! wuB insured. One of the engines was put
! out on the ice at this fire, but tin- ice
gave way, and ooeasioned a considerable
amount of trouble in getting the engine
out afterwai'ds.
Another six months elapsed before we
hear of any more destruction by fire,
anil then on the evening of June 11, 1854,
the premises of Mr. Salt, on King street,
were very much damaged, and his stock
o' dry goods nearly ruined. The fire
fagines did very good work on this oc-
casion, and, o'l the whole, the brigade
Rceineil to be improving considerably.
Mr. Salt's store and stock
Kurod.
During the next week
three attempts to set fire to various
buildings were made, with greater or less
BD ce.s.s. Ou the night of \\'<'(hiesday, June
14. 1854, a building in the rear of Stanley
etreet, between Church and Victoria,
was totally destroyed, iiud on the Fri-
day following the piemise-s of Mr. Arthur
on Front street were fired, but fortu-
nately the fliunew were discovered and
HU'pprei-'tMed. A aimilar thing occurred
on King street the same day. Ou the
Wednesday previous an attempt had
been made on Melinda street, but the
flarnesj were seen by a young lady, and
she gave the alarm in time to stop tha
progiess of the fire.
June. 1S54, had not yet received its
full baptism of fire, for on Wedueadav.
28th, the bells tolled the alarm for the
firemen to tui'u out to save the premises
of Mrs. lioatty, taver»ikeejK'r, ou the south
wide of Kin^ near PrineesB. Before the
fi;vinen were able to reach the gi •nd
t'..^' fire had m.'ide conMiih'rable head^-a^-,
and owing to a strong ojisterly wind
which was blowing the flaries rapidly
extended along the south side of King
until it reached the ruins of James
Brien's hou.se, which had been pulled
down to check the progress of the fire.
A number of people Buffered by this tire,
among them being : John McGloan, build-
ing burnt down, no insurance ; Edw.'ird
Dnnlan, shoemaker, total loss ; Mrs.
l!«'atty, tnvernkeeper, nothing saved ;
Maxim Sylvester, harness maker, loss
••ibout $500 ; Lawrence Coffey, dealer in
flour, loss not knt>wn ; William Jerroux,
hmn about $200, and otheiB.
LANDMARKS fJF TORONTO.
6-2.1
m I
Thi' lloL'licster (U. H.) firomru -vvoro on
a vi^•it to this city whoii tlu' fiic of June
l-llh toolc place on tlio north «i(lu of 8ta,u-
loy street, destroying eiKiit('(>n or nino-
ic'.m wooden house<i, moat of them the
,„i>iierty of Mr. Crawford, baker, who had
p 110 insui-aace upon them, or ou sixty bar-
il reis of flour, -whicii were also couflume^l.
Another fire not mentioned above took,
pliue on Thursday evening, .June 15th,
ill a row of brick ho'u^ea on the east
^ide of Church street, between Queen and
Shuter street'', llis. McClure, Mr. David
BvKhau, Mr. Rice Lewis and tlireo other
rcsitlents were ' jrned out. The insur-
ance carried was very small.
On Saturday, July 8th, at six p.m., a
fire broke out in a frame building, nnn-
pri^'ing two dwelling houses, in Palace
street, opposite the jail. They were the
pio|)crty of Thoma,s Green, nn<l were used
a-s tenement dwellings. The cause was
believed to be accidental.
The deepest alarm was now felt at
the great number of I'ire.s wliich were
ii'i'urriap, and the citizenK anxiously de-
iiiauiii d that the authorities .should cu-
([uire into the state of affairs. They
wiTO likewise anxious that the water
(|iii'Btion should be thoroughly looked into,
anil a requifitiou was sent in to the
Mayor and Coirc',! to awaken them to
a sense of their dut: 8 in the matter.
There is uo recoi'i. l;. wever, of anything
particular being done about it at that
time.
On Sunday evening, Nov. 12tli. lS."t4,
a fire in Duffy's frame tavern, on the
north side of Stanley street, uea- Nelson,
caused conflider..ble alarm to the jieople
ill that locality. Although there was a
strong gale blowing at the time the
firemen worked with s'lch vigor and effi-
tieney that they succe<.ded in cotifining
the fire to the house w'lere it started.
The lo's on this property is not stated.
On Saturday, Dcceniber 23rd, a fraimJ
hnildiug u-ed lus a baker's shop by \Vm.
Ueeves, 157 Queen street west, south-
oast corner of Peter street, vras totally
(Iev«t!oyed by fire.
Tlie largest fire Toronto had seen lor
years broke out in .Iac(iues I'i Hay's great
t'aliiijet factory ou the bay front, nearly
oi)!)o»ite the cud of York street, which
uiu* the l.-irgeet establishment of its kind
ill Caimda. A man named Tillev dis-
covered the fire about 10.30 in the
oveninj,' of Thuitiday, December 2sth,
isr>4. The flajues wen' theii lonfined to
the ])ainting and varnivshinu; lo.im in the
south entl of the third storey of the old
factory. Fie tried to put it out with two
l»;iils of water, and, thinking, he had
nearly cxtinjiniwtHMl it, went down stairs
or more ; when he returni'd he found the
fliinie.s were beyond control, and that it
wa,s necessary to give the alarm, which
1 ": imnuMliately did. The entrines arrived
pro'nptly and took up a position near
the water, and began to play upon the
south end of the building. It was hoped
that the progres-s of the flames would
be stayed in the old factory, but thL 'ire
had got too eon»pleto a hold upon the
combustibles within, and it was all in
vain that the firemen gallantly exposed
themselves. The flames defied all their
efforts, and soon had spread all through
the old place into the immense new build-
ing. After that further efforts were
useless, and the firemen turned their at-
tention to saving the piles of lumber.
The wi'..d was very high, however,
blowing from the north-wi'st, directly on
the great piles lying between the build-
ings and the wharf. The terrific heat
soon drove the firemen aw;ty from the
engines, which lay at the watei's edge.
The whole stock of finely-seasoned lum-
ber—the collection of years of labor and
care— was entirely consumed. The dwel-
ling house of Mr. Jacijues was saved, the
wind not blowing in that direction. A
quantity of made-up furniture was also
got out of the factory by the active ex-
ertions of the workmen, but the greater
part of the stock ;ind the fine and valu-
able machinery shared the fate of the
building.
The loss on this fire was various! v
maiiii from $100,000 to .^l.'iO.OOO,
the iivsurance was only -$20,000.
firm was one of the oldest in the pro-
vince, and great sympathy waa felt for
them in their tronble. Mr. Jacques was
slightlv burned during the progress of
the fire.
About 1.30 a.m.. on Sunday, January 14,
IS.'jo, a fire broke out in the building ou
King street east, to the rear of Messrs.
Rowsell Jt Hutchison's. It was entirely
destroyed, as were two printing presses
and a variety of jirintens' materials. The
fire was said to be of incendiary nature.
Ou Sunday, January 2l8t, 1855, a fire
broke out in the roof of the house on tho
east .'•ide of Pc)wer street, o<'enpied ti\ P.
McCurry, eaeristan at St. Paul's U. C.
church, in the same neighbourhood. The
damage done was not very great,
Ou Thursday, January 2.")th, at 0.30
p.m., the i'teamer (Jueen <'iiv, foi'inerly
Lady of the Lake, while lying .at the
Queen's wl'.irf, in this city, was Inirnt to
the water's edge. The sle.-ii'ier hiul -m
lK>ard a quantity of dry goods and gn-
cerie.s for iHirt-; bi'tween Toronto and
Ilamillitn. ani! only a small j)orlion of
them were Havecl, The la"-s was fully cov-
ered by insuriuice.
On .Monday morning, February 20, l'-55.
esti-
a nd
The
■>l$
I >n
f-'r
i
(524
LAXDMAllKS OF TORONTO.
I
■ ! j
111' till'
II' ilwrlliii;;'
■rtv of -Mr.
a lire wan disi-ovcrcd in the First Coii-
(.',i^'K'''ti()iial ("liiii'fli, cdriicr of I'ay and
Aiifliiidc stri'(>ls, uiiii-li destroyed that
Ijuildinp; and its conU'iils, witli seven or
eiglit dwellinKs to the east and i.ortli of
it. Shortly after tiie first alarm was
uiveii, Dr. iCjcliai-dsou ran to tlie jilaee
and burst ojien one of tiie sid" doors, l)ilt
tiie fire liad made too much leadway to
admit of an attempt to extinKiiisli it,
and in a very sliort time tlie stnietiire
was in ruins. The ImildinK, wiiiel. he-
h)np;ed to the liev. Mr. Ivoafs eoiisre-
Salion, was erected in ISl!) at a eost
of .'iil2. .")()(». An exeeUeiit or);'an, whieh
liad I'eeii reeentlv pun lia-;ei|, was also
destroyed-v.'ilue .1*1. ^aO. The bnilding
Avas injured in the sum of .f'.t.OOO. The
f>11ier pi-:Mierty losers wei'e ; lOdward
Oarvev. William Doolev, Thomas Martin,
Pobert Hamilton, Mr." Hardy, — . Wil
oui;i;liy ami .iaim's I'eiin 'r.l, Noii
ilwellin,;s were insur'il. T
house wiiieii was the pro)
Harding, and which had lieiMi hurut, was
only iusnr'd for .$500. The severe frost
made the water very hard to Ki't. jnul
the fir<?meii were practically useless. The
fire Wiis Hiiiiposed to be the work of an
ineeudiai'y.
On Sunday, M.iroh 4th. a fire 1)i'ok.'
out. in the Middler-' kIkim ociupifd by Mr.
Sturtz ik'M', on the W(>st side oi York street,
about 30 yards nortli of Kinj;'. Tiie iilaee
wa,s eiilirely con-uined. and there Wiis no
insurance.
On the foliowiiip; Sunday, March 1 Ith,
a stable on Ailelaide street, in rear oi the
premises (Kaaipied by I'arkins. the pluiuii-
ei'. wa.s (le-.t roved by !irr
and cow »*tabled therein,
siiop was oil the north side
just east of the Music Hall.
l,i)>rary,
\ most destructive fire
S.aturday nioriiiiig. May .'5,
Carpenter sliop of .Mr. Westinaii, near the
corner of Itichnioud .'iiid Itay sire -ts,
which destroyed property to the exti'iit
of .i<10,000. 'The fire spreail with such
rapidity that all attempts to extiunuish
it proved fruitless, ami in tin' cuurs ■ of
a few hours several worksho|)s and four
dwellinp; houses were destroyed. Two
fiiiishinir sliops, whicii ciintained a larsj:e
<liiantity of tool.) iind a planiiif? nnichine,
thi! latter vnlutMl at .$()i")0, were burned.
Two of the d\vellivK« beliiiii!;ed to Mr.
Wrif!;'it ■lud a third to .Mr. Westiuaii.
Mr. Westm.'iu was not insuri'd ;iim1 the
amount )f insurance carried by Mr.
WriR'ht is not istat"d. The fire was sup-
posed to i.ave 111"-.; the wiu'k of an in-
cendiary.
.\nother fire, on Tuesday, .May 2i>, was
also sup[i(is:'(l to havi- bei'ii tin' W(jrk of
an incendiary. It originated in some
stabler beloiifring to Mr. I'aul Kane, oq
the novtli side of Wellesley street. whicIi
were completely destroyed, ;i.s well a.s ;;
f-lovehoiise owned by .Mr. .lame.s Leslie,
c.irtagi' agent, with sto'k to the amouut
of .$1,,")00. The other losw in not stated.
No iii.sur;ince.
About l.'?0 ill the morning of Frid.iy,
.Tiiiie 2!», 1S55. a fire, wliich originaied
in the shed of Mr. ,T. (J. .losoph's liouso
on the west side of Ciiurch strei't. oppo-
site St. Michaern church, destroying the
houses of .Messrs. .Meudell, lloldsworth,
Childs and Kice I,ewit. H seems that tin'
siip|)ly o;" water was so very limited thai
111' ore ;i full mea'^efo could lie had (hv.t
brick buildiiig.s l.a(. be4>n liurned. 'i'hi'
ho-e had to In- tak" ; to a Yonge str.'i't
hydrant befori' .'liiythiiig like a full
stream of Avater c.ulil be obtained, tiio
iieai'cst hydrant, on tlie co'-ner of llith-
mond and Cliurcli. lieiiig found to be iisp-
less. This fire was tlie scene of soiup
disgraceful Cfinduct on the p:'rt of tlis
firemen. When the houses \\ere opein'i]
fo ■ the removal of the furniture, th" rei-
la 's were ransacked, and liijuors fn'-ly
(iistribiitod, rendering the men readv li,i'
an\ thing d.esperate. Two fireia"! be-
gan righting, and their comrades gatue;'.
ed loiiiid. some trying to separ.aie t.'eiii
and others assisting in the contest. Tin'
consjibles, who came to do their duty
the combatants, \vero
firemi'ii, and drove tln'in
injuring them so badly
confined to their bouses
by i'arrying off
assaulted by the
off the ground,
thai tliev were
as was a noi'si'
Mr. Parkins'
of the street,
now the Free
brok" out on
isr),"), in the
fo!' some time afterward. Another imi-
stable. lioolli. shortly after came oi: tin'
ground, and \va.s iiiiniediately .•issauiteil.
struck on the head wi'"' an axe, and
kicked severely.
, The matter was investigated b., tin'
I Police .M.agistrate.s and several jfersur,)
I were fined for fighting !ind assault, hut
1 no great harm was done in the fightiini'
i to any one.
i On Friday. .Tuly l.*?, IS."..", when a t:av-
i elliiig circud was performing on the ohl
J'aii- (irc'ii, on Front street o.-ist, a mob
' of i<^wdii'.s atta<'ked the tent in whicii
i the show was procei-diiig. The.v first
I threw one of the waggon.-! lu'longiiig to
I the otniipan.v info the bay, and liien t\\..
i or three more alter them. Next they si't
' fire to one of the remaining w.aggons, ami
I .attempted to pull down the tent and Imn:
it also. Fortunately the fire was put out,
I though great damage was done to i!,;'
i property of the circus company.
I Ab(>ut (') o'clock on Friday morning. T) •
'. oember 14th, a fire broke out in the in'.-
I chine rfKiin of the Oh.be office, on tin'
.south tide o'' King street west, wlieri\ new
stand, the Itank of ('oiiinierce. jusi as t!i
forms were going to pri'ss. The d.iai _,
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
62.'
a
,l^,,i,. w(i8, liowever, iucousiderable, iiml
i,,v>'iril by insurinuin.
DiiriiK^ tilt' cvi'iiiiig of Thursuay, De-
<^,;uliL'r -'i^tli. lf^")i>. a firt' broke out in
of tl"' uM'i'i" i'<H>i"a ill till' liou«t' ou
where lived .Imnes
1 11''
j:.,st Mailvet .--luare,
Nliittliesvf^- Theiv was a gcoil deal of
liaiiiaKe doin', but, the loss wa.s covered b\
iii.-urain.-''.
On Saturday eveniiiy;, January I'.t, \><^)C,.
loss than tline alarms of fire \verv>
The first was in Messrs. Miller
rii
,\; .Mili'ji' coiich laetory on the south
^j,!,. of Kiiifi,' street west, and but
fli'lit damage was done. Two houis
;il'U'rwards, :it 10. .'!<», a su>ve|iii;e
ill the old Ilos|iital, then oeeupied by
(idverimient ofli'-es, eaught fire, and fears
uore entertained fur the ;-<afety of the
luiililinss. i;y fi'reat efforts, however,
llu' flames were subdued without nuii.'h
aaiiiaKi' !)eing done.
At 12 o'l'lufk, midnight, the third lire
)jroke out :it Browne's wh;irf. The watch-
iiiaii noticed the flames issuing from
\liir|iliy's cuoiH'rage, and immediately
gave the alarm, but befoii as-iislan'>-e
;iiiived the fire had ^pivad to the ad-
inliiiiig sheds. liy some mistake, when
till' i'iigiae.5 arrived, the hose was brought
1. 1 play on the ruins ri the old i'oo|rerage,
where the firi,' haii first broken out. The
ri'siill was that a few staves were saved
at tlie expense of a long range of. sheds
lU till) wharf, besides |il:'.;iug a large
;ind valuable Vi'a.rehouse in eiinsidi>ral)le
ihuiger. An a.moiint ol iiiachi ry whieh
was stored in the sheds wa • stroyed.
.'ill the pro|ierLy was insureil, di.' amount
ii.il stated.
A very destriietive fire occurred on
Satiiid ly, Jan. 2(Jtli, 1S."»(), The firo was
;irst discovered by ii .watchman who had
•har^ie of sonu' stores near the Phoeni.\
fiuiulr.v, ou tlie east ^ide of Yonge
-;i'ei't. No. KS. in a birgc brick houu;
i daliiig on Voir.ie street. Tliiiikiug the
family might be u|i, he took no uotiee.
Ill weal
on
hiH
rouu'.ii
anl
when
'j;aiii passing he saw flames issuing from
'.hi' liuilding; he at once gave the alarm.
TIk' (Migiues ai'rived in a short time and
w.'re (juickly placed in an advantageous
jm^itioii. and bega.u to play ou the fire,
whi.ii. in spile of all effoi'ts, consumecl
the Pluieni.v foundry and the large brick
ii'iisc in fi'out. It was with vei'y great
I'.ifficiilty that the firo was kept from
-I'li'iHliiig any further. 'J'he loss to .Mr.
Mfliee, owner of the foundry, was ,f;{(».-
ii'iH, totally unin-iured. The firemen had
viili'iitly pi'dfiti'd by the comments of
•Ja' lU'wspaperH on their conduct at pre-
vious
III this
fires, for they earned great praise
ision for the psompt manner
This wa'^ the tliird time this foundry*
had been deslioyed or greatly damaged
by file.
.\ fire on February ."tth, 1850 did dam-
age t I the extent 'of about $2."), 000 or
$:50,0U0. It broke out in Thompson iV:
Co.'s staticmery store, .No. 52 King sti-eet
east, oa thi' south sid', where was pub-
Ijsheil the ("olimi.st newspaper. Tli" cause
w;is fu'lieved to be accidental, an<l the
dannge done amounted to some .*24, (••)(),
niu -li <)f which wa.s covered by insurance.
The Kast India Ihus.'. Yates' groi'eiy
store, next i\nvv west of the Coloiiist, was
slightly daiuage<l. Ea~'.svard llearn «.S: Pot-
ter's. ,'")4 King street east, was also badly
dainag(!d by water. They wei'C mathe-
matieal instrument niak'is. The other
flu >!s oi the same building. whi<'h were
o;'cii|iie 1 by the Provident I'luildiug
So'iety, Mi-, .\nderson, <a l;ind agent, and
others, were much dama.g.'d by water,
and the dtiHirs and windowis smashed.
Alex.mder I'deakley, ;i dagiierrean artist,
^vho occupied the top flat of .Nci. 54, last
all his projx'rty, and was wholly unin-
sured.
\ little before two o'clock ou Sunday
morning. May 25, 1.S5G, a lire broke out
in a frame building, then usod as an
engine house, at the (Irand Trunk sta-
tion, tjueen's wharf. ttwing to tlie fresh
breeze blowing, the place was burned to
the ground. .No less than eight locomo-
tives, which were in the building, were
destroyed, tlie woodwork being entirely
burned away and the machinery da:ii-
aged. The amount of damage could not
be ascei'taiiu'il, but it must have been
many thousands of d(llars. The engines
could not be got to woi'k at all at this
fire.
No fire of any co!ise(inence occurred in
Torimto until Tuesday, July 15, 18.")tj,
when Messrs. Jaciiui's iV Hay's new
labinet factory, on I't'ont, near Yofk
Ktret't, W!us bui'iK'd to the ground. It
will be remembered that the old fae-
toiy was ;iestroyed by fiie about a year
and a half previous, but a new and
larger fabi'ie had been erected < n the
old site, filled with machinery and rni-
terial, ami peojiled with workmen. \\.
three o'clock on the day in (piestiou the
establishment was in full and successlu!
operation. ;{0() people labouring iu th''
various dep.artineiit.s, aided by all the ap-
jiliiinces which iiigennily and skill couid
devise, and an liiur afterwards it wa«
a he.'ip of ruins--))ui!diiigs and machin-
ery and stock de.-tinyed, and the occu-
pants comix>lled to ilee for their lives,
leaving Hcven of their fellow.'* over-
whelmed amidst the flame:
With the
exci>ption o
few chest* of tools
md
.11 which th 'y (d)i>yi'd oiders ami ihe I bari'els of oil anil varnish, iiotliing of a.uy
i."iy;y Ihcy displayed.
'til:
r. \ I i
vaUie was «ave(
1 fi
tl
le names.
Tf'f
626
LANDMARKS OF TORONrO.
•
o
a:
a
a
.J
p
3 as
as ^
.4
•<
O
o
u
n
S
»:
^
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
627
fire, it was boiiovotl. brnko out in the
drying room, which was situated iinmo- ,
(iiati'ly above the boiler in a building
attafliod to the Bouthern end of the
inaiu structure, and next to the water. |
There was a great deal of smoke at ,
first, and the workmen made the usual '
efforts to put out the fire by buckets
of water, but without success. Complete \
arrangements had been made when tlie j
buiitiiiig was erected for the extinction ',
of fiie; but, unfortunately, the necessities
of the iuadeciuato water-work-s comjx'lled
the stopiJage of the usual supply, and
there was not a drop of water either in |
the pipes of the factory or in the hy-
drants when the firemen opened them. |
There is no doubt that if a proper ^
supply of water could have been had,
the parts affected might have been flood-
ed and the fire extinguished. The flames
noon got access to the piles of lumber,
shavings and sawdust, with which the
ground floor was encumbered, and only
a few minutes after that the fire was
visible at the roof. Its tremendous pro-
gress through four storeys astonished
every spectator. The workmen made a
few hurried efforts to nave their tools
and some of the machinery, but ihey were
600U compelled to desist, and to seek
safety iu the front part of the lower
ftory, to which the fire did not extend
so rapidly aa it did upward. Sad to
Bay, the retreat of 13 wa« cut off, it
was supposed by the burning of the
gtairs, and they were left at the top
of the building, with the firo raging
about them, and no means of retreat, save
a fearful leap of forty or fifty feet to
the ground. Five embraced this desper-
ate alternative after the fire had actu-
ally reached them, and escaped with life,
but eustaiued bad injuries.
Seven of them perished in the building.
Before the engines could reach the ground
the fire had obtained the entire mastery
of the building. The men attached their
hose to the hydranta and found there was
no water in them; they then moved the
ougines to the bay and commenced to
draw from that source, aided by a few
carters. Their efforts were utterly
powerless, however, against the flames.
The wind was blowing from the west and
north, and it poured a volume of fire
thrnuRh the windows down upon the
building which had been used as a var-
r.ish and oil store, and upon the piles of
lumber on the wharf, which nothing could
resist. It was supposed from the direc-
tion of the wind that the dwelling house
of Mr. Jacques and the brewery of Messrs.
Cayle^ & Niwh were in no danger. The
wind, however, suddenly changed to the
Bouth, and the jiMpect of affairs w;ih
altefcd. Two small frame houvses caught
fire, and the flames soon spread to tbo
brewery and to the piles of lumber. Mr.
Jacques' house soon followed. The roof
of the brewery was of shingles set in
mortar, nud it resisted the flames a long
time. A little help from the engines
would have saved it, but, unfortunately,
they could not be got to it in time. The
following is a list of the killed and in-
jured :— James Minns, a carver. Ho
was supposed to have gone up stairs to
save something and to have perished in
the effort. John Watson, cabinetmaker,
married, one child; Anthony Ellis, cabi-
netmaker, had been married only a few
days; Ch.Trles Drummond, carver, left a
wife and family ; — Cole, carver, little
known of him; Ives Leguerre, a French-
man, stranger in the city; Thomas Go-
bert, a German, was also a stranger.
Injured :— John Cook, left arm badly frac-
tured; John Conly, burned while getting
down stairs; John Gilbranson, badly burn-
ed and left leg contused, jumped from
third storey window; J. Ilurtso, jumped
from fourth storey, face, neck and arms
severely burned. John Weiber, Henry
Sommerflat, Fred. Lutry, John Coleman,
a man named Jeffrey .and a firenio.n nam-
ed Wm. Tarletou were also injured.
Messrs. Jaciiucs & Hay's loss was very
large on this second fire. Their insur-
ance amounted to about .$54,000, but this
did not nearly cover their loss. The
buildings and machinery were worth
.$100,000, the lumber .$30,000, and the
stock about $25,000. Messrs, Cayley &
Nash's loss was about $15,000, covered by
insurance. As a result of this fire, a
eubscriptiou loan was set on foot for the
purpose of enabling Messrs. Jacques &
llay to resume their operations. The
sum was fixed at .$50,000, which was
realized in a short time. The loan was
granted for four years.
Eight days after this calamitous tire
another one broke out on the south Hide
of King street, between York, B.-iy and
Wellington streets, in a work*shop occu-
pied by one Fuller, which consumed a
considerable tinionut of projjerty. There
Wivs a rookery of old buildin^rs pur-
rounding it on all sides, and tjjey all
.siR^edily took fire. From the stables tin
fire spread to a large frame building
occupied as shops by the Northern rail-
way, and aLso by Mr. Larjare aa a
dwelling.
So suddenly was this destroyed that ho
and his family were only able to save
a few vahiribles. The fancy goods store
to the front of this, ;H'cupied by Mr. Lar-
jare, and the dry goods store of Mr.
.Foluist'-in were both destroyed. From
there the fire sprend to the shops occu-
pied by Mr. II, Ross, grocer, and by Mr.
ileilly as a saloon. A light south-west-
iL
C2S
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
' ' '{
I : ■*
erly wiuil was blowing at the timo, nnd
the fluinoH incliiii'd to the north and tlie
raat. The liyccuin Theatre was at one
time iu considerable danger. A large
open lot to the south was covered with
lumber intoniled for the HoHsiii Hoiis»s
then in ronrae of erection. It took fire
immediately, and the flames spread over
the lot as far ixs Kay Htieet. A stablci
filled with hay, was burned there, and
the whole block of buildingn were in
great danger. The loss wns from $40,-
000 to !?■)(). 000, secured as follows : Mr.
lioniaine ,$10,000, fully insured. Mr. Lar-
jare was insured for .$0,250, which did
not quite cover his loss. Mr. Johnston
was fully insured; amount not stated. Mr.
Koss insured, no iimount given. Mrs.
Savage owned the house occupied by
Keilly. It was insured for $3,500. Fuller's
carpenter shop was insured for $750.
Other losses are not stated.
A destructive fire took place on Oct.
14, 1850, which consumed almost entirely
a block of buildings betweeu King and
Palace streets and Princess and Caro-
line,, now Slierbourne, .streets. With the
excjcption of one brick hoiu*!' the whole
of the buildings were wooden structures,
and the flames, favoured by a strong
breezt^ raged s-o furiously that all the
laJbours of the fire brigade were un-
availing, except to pi-event the fire
from croaeing Pal.-ice street to the
limiber yard of Mr. Sn.irr, which woa
iu gre.at danger at one time. The
lire had lu.ade rapid progress before the
engines arrived on the scene, and, as
nsual, the hydrants were unsupplied with
water for some time after it was want-
ed. By the time water was to be had
tbe flames were raging so furiously that
no headway could be made against them.
The entire block was burned down, ex-
cept a small house owned and occupied
by Mr. Joseph Shea. A building asso-
ciated with the early history of Toronto
was destroyed by this fire. It w.is
known a4 Russell Abbey, having been built
for Governor Peter Russell, and occupied
by him a^ the Government House. It was
owned at that time by Hon. Robert Bald-
win. The total loss by this fire exceeded
$20,000.
On Sunday, November 10, 185G, a fire
on King street, opposite the Rossin House
—then nearing completion— caused great
anxiety for its safety. It broke
out in Mr. John Clarke's temperance
ealoon, and before the alarm was given
had made euch headway as to threaten
the destruction of the whole range. Two
or three other stores caught fire, but the
chief anxiety wa.s for the safety of the
Rossin House, the fire at one time hav-
ing actually caught one of the windows
on the first floor ; but owing to the vigi-
lance of the firemen all danger w.in
averted. The loss was comparatively
slight, as most of the buildings were verv
old.
No fire worthy of record occurred in
1857 until September, when on Friday,
25th, the stables of Mr. Jones, on the
corner of Duchess and George streets,
were burned to the ground. It is not
so much the damiige that waa done by
this fire as the barefaced way in which
the buildings were set on fire by un
organized band of incendiaries, which
makes it noticeable.
The fire was first discovered by Con-
stable Patterson, who waa on duty on
Jarvis street. He noticed flames issu-
ing from the building, and on going to-
%vards it, he saw two men running frutn
the stables. He made an attempt to
secure them both, and succeeded in cnp-
turing one, named Thomas Caldwell. In
the meantime the aharm had been given,
but the engines arrived too late to do
any good. The place was completelr
destroyed. The night watchman em-
ployed by Jones wiuj arrested for com-
plicity iu th<; crime. .Another man nannd
William Kelly wne also apprehended. The
reason for atteuii»tiug to burn tin.
stables was that Mr. iones had estal)-
lished a line of omnibuses, which had
the effect of injuring the cabmen's busi-
ness to a great extent. Another at-
tempt to burn a new omnibus was made
on November 19, which fortunately proveil
unsuccessful.
The Rossin House narrowly escaped ilo-
struction on December 17, 1857. A little
before 7 o'clock that evening a fire
broke out in the shop of Mr. A. Larj.ire,
in the Rossin House, and before the ar-
rival of the engines the greater part of
the stock, which consisted of light fancy
goods of French manufacture, was con-
sumed. By dint of great exertions, the
progress of the flames was stopped. The
damage amounted to about $8,000 on
Mr. Larjare's stock ; . fully insured.
The idea of connecting the fire .sta-
tion with some of the outlying police sta-
tions by telegraph was first thought of
in February, 1858. The matter w.is
discussed by the papers, and met with
their fullest approval, and as the co«t
was estimated at only about $1,200, tis
ache me was adopted.
On Monday, January 4th, 1858, a fin
broke out ia the shop of Thomas Lang-
ton, on the west side of Yonge street,
about four doors from Louisa street. 1:
wa« toon extinguished, though con^^ider-
able damage was done, but it was be-
lieved to be caiLsed by incendiarism.
On the night of January 27th a fir.'
broke out in a vacant building adjoin-
ing Rei'k's tavern, "The Fireman's Uoliij,''
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
629
CD on tho north siilo of Kin^ street wcBt.
It wtu* believed to Iwive been wilfully
fired, and uii iuve.stiu'ivtioii took place,
but no one wm.s indicted. The liuu,se waa
owned by Henry Sproatt.
(ju March li<t a. fire broke out in a
(fUiblo b<,'loa,^iug to Mre. JanieH Callajihau
uu the Bouth-east corner of Jarvis and
yueeu Htreets. where now Htandu the
Fred Victor Mission. It and the adjoin-
iug buildings were entirely destroyed and
Mw. CallaKhau'H house much injured.
Fully inspired. Thewi were the first build-
intfs ever erected on the B]wt.
On March 7th, 18.58, a house on the
north-west corner of Nelson and Ade-
laide atreets, ttceupied by Mr. Goodwin,
the taiuoufl Waterloo veteran, as a
dwelling house and gymnasium, was com-
pletely destroyed. The alarm was given
about 2 o'clock in the morning, and the
fire engines were soon in attendance ; but
before their arrival the flames had ob-
tained such a hold on the building th.it
it was impossible to save any part of it.
Ou the same morning, about 5 o'clock,
a stable belonging to Mr. McMtwter,
(situated ou the ea-st side of bay
street, No. 26, was olwerved to
be in flames, and although the most de-
termined efforts were used to prevent
the fire spreading, they were unavail-
ing, as the buildings, both in front and
rear, cousistiug of dwelling houses and
stables, were soon ignited, and a large
amount of propertj' destroyed. The prin-
cipal sufferers by this fire were Miss
Uay, Messrs. Gooddale. Hamilton, Smith
anil Mrs. Grievisou. The actual loss is
not given. Both fires were supposed to
have been the result of incendiarism.
A disastrous fire, which occurred on
April 8, 1858, broke out opposite the
Court House on Adelaide street. It was
Buppcsed that the fire originated in a
amall brick building, occupied aa a bake-
house by Mr. John Hayes, and that it
was caused by the oven 'icing left in a
heated state on the prcious evening.
For fiouie reason the alarm was not
; given until several other buildings in
j the block were enveloped in flames, and
it wiw with great difficulty that the fire-
• meu managed to keep the fire from
spreading to the next block. The build-
fiiigs which were consumed were ten-
I anted by John Hayes, tavernkeeper ; Wm.
IBrowu, tavernkeeper; T. H. O'Neill, tav-
[ernkeeper, and G. George, tailor. The
[flames spread so rapidly that the fam-
lilies of Uayea and Brown had b.-irely
EtimB to eacapo with their lives, and had
Itimfl to save nothing. When the fire
IwfUi nearly extinguished three of the fire-
iwn, immed Fred. Leppar, Joseph Beatty
land William Thompson, while directing
Ithe Lose pipea upou tho flames, were seri-
ously injured by the falling of a chim-
ney. Tho first named, Fred. Leppar,
had his skull fractured, and although he
had the best medical attention, he ex-
pired three hours later. The lo«8 by this
fire was estimated at about $5,000 on
the buildings, and about $2,000 on fur-
niture, etc. There was very little in-
surance.
On April 9th. another fireman naiue<l
Terence Meehan, as he was assisting to
draw an engine to the «oeue of a supjK)sed
fire. wa« thrown down, and the engine
pa«-i«'d over him. Ho died from the effects
of his injuries.
Ou Friday, April 10, at 3.30 a.m., a
fire broke out in the printing office of
Kow.sell iSc Ellis, on thi' south side of Court
street. The damage done vfixa very con-
siderable. It was 8uppo-(«d to have been
caused by an iuceudiai-y.
Another case of suspected incendiarism
occurred on April 22 in this year. The
tii'« broke out in a <<tabl« on tin- south-
■west corner of Church and Crookshaoik
(now Wilton avenue) strwts. adjoining
the housi.' of Mr. John Harrington,
one of a bloi'k of three. The flameg
toon spi-oad from the oiit-buildings to
tho main stnicture, and although th<
fire engint^s were soon ou the spot,
they were (juite powerless in conseciueneo
of the scarcity of water. The nearest
hydrant was on Queen street, and the
only way in which water could be got
was by placing one engine half-way be-
tween it and the fire and pumping the
water into the engines at the fire. In
spite of all efforts the three buildings
were entirely destroyed, with their con-
tenta. A few minutes before the alarm
was given two men were seen, running
from the direction of the fire, by the
constable on his beat, and that, coupled
with the fact that no light had been
u.sed in Mr. Harrington's stable, gave
force to the belief that the property had
been fired. The buildings and furniture
were pai-tly insured, the total amount
of loss above insurance not being more
than $750. The other occupants of tha
houses were Mr. Allan McLean and Mrs.
Lewis.
On April 23rd a stable in the re.ar of
Ritchey's terrace, on the north side of
Adelaide street, took fire, was entirely
consumed, and five horses which were in
it at the time with a carriage. The lass
was about $1,2(K), no insurance.
Another very destructive fire occurred
on April 27th in the block bounded by
Teraulay, Agucf, Eilward and El' ^beth
streets. Ou T'eraulay street the dwell-
ing houses of Mr. Parsons and Mr. Os-
borne, tho architect, were destroyed; ad«
joining Mr. Osborne's residence was a
tenement building occupied by three
11
ir
i
!■ I ii
mi
cno
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
fuinilicH nnmi'd ISroolm, Dickson niid
Walker. This w.t.s burnt. lu P^thvaril
Htroot Du>r«;iu'M Iiouhc niul car|MMitcr'H.
t<boj> wore l)uru<Ml down. C'ims's Htiiblcs ad-
joining lli(W<! of DuKKan wore also con-
Humnd. A nowspajXT of the timo eayn :—
'"I'liere wore no huildiii^cs on tho front
of A(?ncs and Elizabeth Btrccti^ burnt, l)ut
tone back i>nMnis<.'e went with the jien-
eral fonflagration. Tho entire cexitre of
the blcK'k is in fact fine heap of burnt
and HMiculdorinrf ruiuH."
There v,i\h very little insurance carried
on any of thofio buildinRs. and the total
loss was Hoveral thouRand dollars.
The city was now thoroughly alarmed.
i\B it -wiv^ felt that without doubt a band
of inoondiariea was at work, and steps
wore taken to patrol tho city at night to
protect property from the work of the
incendiary. In addition to thin, a reward
of $1,0()U waa offered by the Mayor, Mr.
W. H. Boultou. for any information that
would lead to the apprehension and con-
viction of the miecreants.
On April 30th, a large barn, the prop-
erty of Terence O'Noill, standing on tho
north side of the Kingston road, about 100
yards east of the Don bridge, was also
(lestwyed. In this cfise there was no
doubt that the building had been wilfully
fired.
On Monday, May 24th, during the fire-
nieu'e parade, H. Ro-s's grocer's shop on
the cast t^ide of Youge, honr Richmond
street, was greatly damaged by fire. The
origin of the fire wajj generally attribut-
ed to carelessness on the i)art of some of
Mr. R<»9s' servants.
Mrs. McManus, wiio kejrt a second-hand
store on Queen street, just west of York
and on the pouth side of the street, vas
burnt out on July 29th, nothing being
mivod.
About two o'clock on the afternoon of
So|*tomber 12th a fire broke out in the
stables owned by Mr. Urigge, builder, on
the oast side of Yongo. near tho comer
of Gould street. Mr. Briggs himself was
verj' seriously burned in an unsuccessful
attempt to save a horse. Some sheds and
etables in the vicinity, owned by Mr.
Daw*<on, with several wood sheds and a
large pile of new lumber, were all burned.
On January 18. 1S59, a fire broke out
in the south-west comer of King and
Goorg'o etroots, in the coffee and epicc
grinding niauufaictory occuj)ied by Craw-
ford & Kobarts. There wa.s a great deal
of damage done, which was covered by
insurance.
On Thursday, May 12th, the lumber
yard of Mr. E. B. Gilbert w.ls do-
btix>yei The yard AVfus situated be-
tween Bay and York streets and Ade-
laide and Boultou streets, with the en-
trance on Adelaide street. Tho firo wni
first seen arising from the eastern cornor
at the back of a long wooden shoil,
which was U8(;d for storing laths and
dressed lumber in, and with which jt
was well stocked. Scarcely any people
wore Jibout at tho time, and unusual de-
lay arf)se in convoying tho engines to
the spot. On their arrival the heat wa*
so overpowering that they wore obliged
to take up a position a long distance
off, and from some cause or other con-
siderable time elapsed before they coiiW
bo got into working order. By tho tiro*
any well-directed effort could be mad«
to quell the flames they were far beynnd
control. All efforts were then turned to
confining tho flames to the piles of tim-
ber in front of tho sheds, and fortunate-
ly those wore successful. Tho firo wm
arrested, and, though many of the large
stacks of lumber near the shod had been
destrnyod, the fire was kept from spread-
ing further than tho centre of the yard,
Tho damage amounted to about $7,000,
of which only $2,000 was covered by in-
surance.
The most disastrous fire with which To-
ronto had been visited for some time oc-
curred on Tuesday, August 30, 1859. At
about 12.45 a.m. the alarm was rung for
a fire on the corner of Gould and Vic-
toria streets, opposite the Normal
school. The flames had first broken out
in the shed near the workshop of Mr.
Annitago, 8 Gould S'treet, ajid spread so
.speedily to the brick house attached to
the workshop that it wiie with difficulty
Mr. Armitage and his; family escaped un-
injured from the house. To the oaBt oi
Mr. Armitage'e «hop were the back pre-
m'lBea of three two-etorcy brick hou/ieti,
which faced on Victoria street and be-
longed to him. Farther northward, on
the west side of Victoria, etreet, were a
row of six houses, owned by Mr. Sheriff
Jarvis, and still farther north a two-
storey rough-cast, owned and occupied
by Rev. Dr. Taylor and Mr. Robertson,
head master of the Normal school ; and
still farther north a brick cottage, o\n-
ed by Mr. Cameron. The fire, aided by a
frouth-west wind, speedily consumed the
outbuildings of the whole row, and from
thence spread to tho houses themselves,
Every exertion of the firemen to con-
fine the flames to the outbuildings pror-
od abortive, and it was only by pulling
down the sheds at tho back of the
houses facing Yongo street that ther
were saved from destruction. The fire
having seized ujKin the centre houses, be-
longing to Mr. Jarvis, trjivolled with a
speed rarely witnessed. Tho roar was
terrible, and the water poured iSt seemed
to have little Qr no effect. Tho loois
speedily fell and left nothing but thi
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
031
linrc (ind blnckonod walls. By f^rent cx-
ortimi llu! firfiia'ii suceoedod in Hiiviiij^
ihn'O liouscs l)cl()iit;ing to Mr. AriiiitMKi.,
mill also Ml'- Cainorou'rt cottunc. Tor
,i|HV!U'(ln (if tliri't'-quurtiTH of an hour
t|,i.ri' wan a great want of water, thnuigli
iliC (Icfifu'ucy of liydrantH in tliat iiart
,.( tiio city. Thori! in no doubt that niucii
luori' i/roperty might liavo been Havod
l,i\d water boi-n iirocurable. Tiu' aggro-
Mrtto loHB NViis i'Mtiinati'd at bctwi-on
:;;ir,,000 and $40,000.
Thi.s fire doHlroyfd no 1<>sh than h\x
lioiis^'fl on VictoriiL Htn'ot, (ji'i'iiiticd a^
■olIowB :-20.s, Mrs. Clubbfl ; -llo, Mrs.
S. Jarvis : 212, IU'\\ W. S. Dai ling ; 214,
Monfi. Eugi'no d(! St. Ri'niy ; 210, Dr.
.<iiiith : 2 IS, Mr. Nation.
Sheriff .larvi^ was fully insured, so also
wiifl Mr. Uohert'^on, and Dr. Taylor wiw
loi' $2,000, svhieli about covered hiw loss.
The eaiwe of the Victoria street fire
\va«i hy fionie attributed to incendiarieH,
but theiv were many who thought it
w.'LS tlie result oi carelesHness.
Toronto was again visited by a de-
structive fire on Oct. 20tii, 1S.')0. which
iioiirly swept away the whole block of
liuikliugs fronting on Uichniond, Adelaide,
Uay and Sheppard streets. Most of the
hoiisOH were of wood, and the centi-e of
thi" block was closely packed with "shan-
tios," Btables, outhouses and worksliops,
1,11 of wliich furnished abundant food for
the flames. The fire wa>i first disco ver-
p(l in the roar of Bond's livery utable.H
near the Lyiug-in Hospital on Kichniond
stroet, about 11.30 o'clock in the ovcn-
iiic;. There was a strong wind blowing
from the north at the time, and in a very
ir\v minutes the hospital and adjoining
ImildiuKs were wrapped in flames. The
fii'L' Hoou spread to the houses surround-
iiiL' Mr. I'ond's stables, and it wius
with great difficulty that six horses
were taken out. Seven others, valuable
iiiiimals, perished in tiie flames. A row
li houHi's in a lane opposite the west
tad of Tcmiierance street, belonging to
Mr. Kop:ers, cai-penter, next fell a prey
to the fire. The occupants lost nearly
I'vpry iiiice of fu'-niture, save a few
tritlinp; tirticles. A row of frame houses,
llii' property of Mr. Hill, were also de-
rtrojed, and only a very small portion
([ tlii'ir Contents saved. Three houses
(11 UJPliinond street, of Mr. .los. Dixon's
and Mr. Carrick's, baker, were burned,
iiiiil it was almo.'ft by a mii'acle that the
liiiise and bakery of tin? latter esea|)ed
I dc'struetion. A new building, intended
[for the Lying-in Hospital, was sevral
■tiraos on fire, but a number of firemen
I iiiiuiitcd the roof, and. by ciittinn' nfi and
jtliiowing down jiortions of the biii'iiiiig
[matorial, the building nas saved. A
|t(U|;h-cast house in rear of Adelaide st.,
spread
barely
escape
out of
many
a small cottage, occupied by one Carter,
four frame iiouses, the property of Nfr.
Carrick; a two-storey house, wliiclj Imd
been occupied l)y .Mr. Morrison, jeweller,
were soon destroyed. The wind carried
the flames towards Shei'pard street and
consume(l the houses of .\rthur .Milligan,
U. Milligan, S. Aldordico and H<'veral
others. Three or four other dwellings on
.\delaido street were completely burnt
down. Other houses were damaged more
or b'^is, but were saved from destruction
li.v the almost sutierhuman efforts of tlie
firemen. The night was very cold and
the ground soon became slippery from the
frozen water u|ion it. The scene was a
most jiitiable one; the fire had
with such rapidity that it liad
allowed many of the people to
with their lives. The.v rushed
their houses into the bleak wind,
of them barely covered. Their furniture
was strewn upon the ground in all direc-
tiiins and in many jiieces. I'pwards of
fift.y families were rendered homeless by
this fire. The firemen earned great
jjraise at this fire by their courage, but
the intensity of the heat made it impos-
sible in many cases to do much good.
The damage don(^ bv this fire was in the
neighbourhood of ,$80,000 or ,$35,000, but
particulars of the losses and of insurance
are not given. The (U'lirin of this fire was
attributed to incendiarism, but the truth
was never ascertained.
About 25 dwelling houses were de-
stroyed in this lire, and about two acres
of land laid bare. Mr. Dixon's jti'opei't.v
was insured, and he was almost the only
suffeivr who was thus protecte<l.
A fire at the " Don Foundry." on King
sti'cet. on the s-outhern si(l(>, close to the
Don bridge, did considerable dam-
age on November 2'.ith of this un-
luck.v year, ISoO. About eleven in the
evening the fire was first seen, and soon
the whole foundry- owned by Mr. l"rancis
If. Medea Ife, wa', a mass of flames. A
neighbour first alarmed Mr. Medcalfe,
who ran to the spot, but judging the fire
had already spread so far that it was
impossible to enter the office, he broke the
window and man.aged to save some of his
bo(jks. A steam engine of six liorse-
jiower, lathes, planing machines and
other expensive macliinery of a like
n.atnre, were irreparably injured. Al-
though till! Don supplied plenty of water
the fire engines were practically useless,
as the fire had too much tin? start of
them. Mr. Medealf,''s loss was about
.$10,000 ; totally uninsured. The fire was
sup[»f>;e(l to have been caused by some
sjijiiks from a nei'rhi'oni'ing chimney lodg-
ing in the r*H)f <'f th;' i-ioutlieni part of the
Jmildiiig. It was the fi^tii time Mr. Med-
c.ilfe had .';uffcre(l from fire.
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LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Ihiriug the early part of ISGO there
wert' a great many cases of flu|)|»ose(l|
iueeiidiarism, inowt of them uiiHuceeHHfuI,
but Htill enough of them succeeded to
cause the residents to feel very uncoln-
fortable. A rigid enquiry was held in
every case, but no clue to the ruffians
could be found. Another daring net of
incendiarism was i»erpetruted on Sunday,
May 6. 18(50, M'hich was unfortunately
Kucccssful. The outbuildings of Rev. Mr.
Ellerby's house, on the west side of Jar-
vis street, No. 306, north of Gerrard
street, were set on fire about one
o'clock in the morning. Mrs. Kllerby was
aroused by hearing the step of a person
on the wooden shed in the rear of the
house. She hastily arose, and, on going
to the window, observed a flame of fire
spreading over the whole roof of the shed,
just as if it had been saturated with
some inflammable liquid. She in-
stantly alarmed the rest of the family,
and an attempt was made to save some
of the furniture, but they only succeeded
in saving a few articles, owing to the
intensity of the heat. Considerable de-
lay took place before the brigade could
be called out. When the alarm was
given no time was lost in reaching the
scene of the fire. In the meantime the
flames had n-ached Mr. Maclear's house
on Mutual street, but by prompt action
this was saved. All efforts failed to
rescue the residence of Mr. EUerby and
it was completely gutted. His loss was
about $5,000, of which only $800 w»i»
covered by insurance. No clue was
found as to the iucendiaries.
Again, on June 9th. a destructive fire
occurred, which destroyed seven hand-
some three-storey houses on the west
side of St. George's square, furniture,
books and articles of vertu. The alarm
was given at about 12 o'clock on the
Saturday night, and the fire engines
were very soon on the ground, and the
hose company in a very short space of
time had coui)led their hose to the near-
est hydrants, which were, however, at
a great distance from the fire. The
nearest hydrant was at the corner of
Beverley and Quf^en, and the next at the
corner of John and (Jueen, and, as may
be imagined, the supply of water was
meagre and totally inefficient to check
the progress of the flames. When first
discovered the fire was in the outhouses
in rear of a dwelling situated at the
south end of a row of houses which form-
ed the west side of St. George's square.
An attempt was at once made to tear
down the frame building on fire, but it
was only partially successful, 'hie fire
spread rapidly, caught the woodwork of
the other buildings and was sonn raging
fiercely inside. 'Ihe roots of the adjoin-
ing houses were soon a mass of flames,
and, as the firemen were unable to work
effectually with their meagre supply of
water, it was soon apparent that the
whole row would be sacrificed. In about
an hour and a half after the fire was
first discovered the whole of the row ol
handsome houses were completely gutted
and the walls rent in numberless places.
The chief sufferers by this fire were Dr.
James Bovell, Hon. Mr. Justice Burns and
Mr. S. B. Harmau. The loss was roughly
estimated at $30 000. Dr. Bovell lost a
rare collection of curiosities and Mr.
Justice Burns his valuable law library.
As the house where the fire originated
was unoccupied, there was every reason
to believe that this, too, was a case of
arson.
The next destructive fire on record
occurred on Thursday, October 18, and
had its origin in an unoccupied housQ
on the east side of Simcoe street,
near King street. It spread with
great rapidity, and soon wrecked the
building where it commenced and had the
adjoining house on the south in a blaze.
Fortunately the occupant, a Mr. Taylor,
had time to remove the greater part of
his effects. The north wind then drovs
the fire to the rh rd, which, in spite of
all the efforts of the firemen, was con-
sumed ; it was unoccupied. Two other
houses on King street were allso much
damaged. The loss in all amounted to
about $2,500, most of which was covered
by insurance. The origin of the fire un-
known.
The last fire for 1860 was that whick
destroyed St. Andrew's market, which was
on the north side of Richmond street west,
between Brant and West Market streots.
The market was a wooden structure, and
served both as market and police station.
A few minutes before 12 on the night of
December 26 Acting Sergt. Dunlop ob-
served flames bursting through the roof
near the centre of the building, and ran
to the spot, accompanied by several con-
stables. An attempt was made to get
at the fire bell, but the intense heat ren-
dered this impossible. The attention of
the constables and people was then turn-
ed to saving anything they could, and
they succeeded in getting out Sergt-
Major Cummins' furniture and books and
papers belonging to the police station.
Meanwhile the engines arrived, but all
their efforts to subdue the flames proved
futile and the building was completoly
destroyed. The building cost $6,000 in
1850, and was the property of the co^
ix>ratioa. Origin of the fire not known.
There were a very great many small
fires during the months of Janitary, Feb-
ruary and March, 1861, but none worthr
of lengthened notice until Wednesday.
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
G3.-{
M.irch 20th, wIvpii a firp brnki' out in
the roar oS Na 67, on the west side of
Victoria Btrect. Bouth of Sliutt'r, tlu'ii
(Kiupied by Mr. (.ioldborg, biitcluM-.
W'jpn first discovered the fire was in an
out-building, and, as a high wind was
prevailing at the time from the east, liis
house and the adjoiniug one were boom
iguited. The bells gave the alarm, and
in a short time the fire brigade was on
the scene. The flames meanwhile had
spread rapidly, and the roofs of four
more houses were Boon in a blaze. The
teu.iuts Bucceeded in saving a jiortion of
their household goods, thoug!i a great
deal was broken and damaged in the re-
moval. Several powerful streams of
water were early brought to bear upon
the dwellings, but such was the fury of
the flames that the utmost efforts of the
firemen to stop the progress of the fire
were unavailing, and it seemed as if the
whole block between Shuter and Queen
was doomed. By a quarter to six ten
of the houses were a mass of flames and
the serviccB of the hook and ladder com-
pany were called into requisition to de-
molish a house owned by Mr. G. Craig,
to the north of the buildings on fire. Sev-
eral engines were also planted at the
northern and southern extremities of
the fire, aud wit', great difficulty the
fire was at last subdued. The damage
occasioned by this disastrous blaze
amounted to about $8,000, which was
distributed among a number of i)eople.
Over twenty families were rendered home-
less and a great portion of their furni-
ture destroyed. In all fourteen buildings
were burned to the ground or rendered
entirely useless. Not more than one-half
the loss was covered by iuKurance,
On March 24, 1861, a fire destroyed
two houses on the west side of William
street (now known as Simeoe Btreet), the
property of Mr. Larratt Smith. The two
houses were clase to Queeu street, and
were entirely destroyed, but most of their
conteuta were saved.
A blaze on Saturday night, April 20,
1861, destroyed property to the amount of
about $3,000. It originated in a stable sit-
uated on Front street, near the Market
Square, belonging to Mr. Gilmour, of Mont-
njnl, and tenanted by the American Ex-
press Company and Messrs. Walker & Pat-
terson, of the American Hotel. The flames
spread with great rapidity, and it was
at great personal risk that Mr. Walker
and some of the police succeeded in sav-
ing the live Btock in the stable. As it
was, one valuable horse perished. The
loss to Mesars. Walker & Patterson was
about $600, and the Express Company
were sufferers to about the same amount.
A shed in rear of the stable was also
burnt down. The fire was accidental.
The whole of the buildings destroyed were
the property of Mrs. Thoman Ewart.
(Jn April 2l8t, a fire b'oke out in the
grocer's store on the north-wcBt corner
of Queen and Ternulay streets, occupied
by luues Moran. The damage done to the
house exceeded $400, and much of the
stock wni" destroyed by watfr. Ther« waa
no insurance, and the cause was again at-
tributed to iucendiaritrm.
At 3 o'clock on the morning of April 28
two frame houses on the oast side of Maria
street were set on fire by some unknown
l>erson, and were utterly destroyed. They
were the proiwrty of Captain Territt, of
Oak Ridges. " No doubt exista that they
wore wilfully act on fire." Such was the
comment of the papers rejiorting the event.
A fire occurred on Stanley street on
its northern side, east of Victoria Btrect,
on the night of June 10. Two houses in
Stanley and oni' in Victoria were com-
pletely destroyed. The occupants were
Mrs. Kelly. IJryan and IJrowu. The last
was insured.
Tuesday. June 11), 18G1, witnessed the
destruction by fire of Toll Gate No. 1,
Lake Shore rrad, which was completely
destroyed, the toll-keeper b(>ing severely
bui-ned while saving his child from perish-
ing in the flames. This old gate wa« on
what is now known as Queen street west,
and stood on the northern side of the road,
a few yards west of the G.T.R. William
Manswi wn.s the name of the keeper.
On Monday, July 22ud, two fires occur-
red. The first destroyed the residence o(
Mrs. Pollock, on the south-west corner of
Church and Alexander streets ; the second
a row of recently erected frame houses on
the wcKt Ki'Je of Brunswick avenue, just
north of College street, the property of
Councilman Heed. There was no insurance
in either case.
Two houses on the, north side of McGill
street (Xo«. 34 and 36), near Church
street, were entirely destroyed on the
night, July 26th. One wjui oicupied by
Mr. Charles Murray, an Brfficial of the
Bank of Upi»cr Canada. They were both
fully insured.
A larjxe fire broke nut on Friday even-
ing. August 16, in a frame building
north of King street, which wan used
as a racket court. Before the engines
could reach the «])ot the fire had
spread most rapidly, and it waa
feared that a row of brick bouses on
King Btreet would be completely de-
Btroyed. A powerful stream of water
was brought to bear on them, however,
and they were saved. As the flames
gained the roof of the racket court, large
flakes fell on the roof of the Apostolic
church (Uev. Mr. Ryerson's), and in a
very short space of time the roof wa«
one mass of flames. From thence the
n
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'ill
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634
LANDMARKS OF TOKOXTO.
fire spread to Mr. Ryerson'R ntljoiuing
reaideuce, and iu Hpite of nil efforts i)iit
forth by the firemen, both buildings were
completely destroyed. It Avas only by
dint of continually pouring water upon
other ho ises iu the neighborhood that the
Whole block was not burned down. The
racket court was owned by Mr. Fletcher,
and was insured. The church and Mr.
Ryersou's house were also insured. Both
were rough-cast, and were valued at
$2,000. The fire was undoubtedly tie
work of an incendiary.
The Ai)0-)tolic church and Rev. Georjre
I^'erson's residence were res|K'ctively
Nos. 112 and 114, thirty yards in the
rear, on the west side of Bay, just north
of King street. A range of stables, the
property of Mr. John Mitchell, of the
Burlinj?ton Hoiumo. were also destroyed.
The racquet court had been a faniouH
place in its day, the Prince of Wales
spending a couple of hour.s there enjoy-
ing the game during his visit to Toronto
in 1860.
In October, 1861, the city procured a
second capable eteain fire engine. The
weight of this machine was between 5,-
000 and 6,000 pounds; and it was tiuar-
ajiteed to get tip sufficient steam in six
minutes to propi'l two streams of water
through jiozzle.s 1 1-4 inches in diameter.
It was provided with a suction pipe 4
inches in diameter, two steam cylinders^
each 8 inches bore and had a 9-inch
stroke. It also had two brass pimips,
of 4 1-2 inch bore and 9-iuch stroke.
On January 11, 1802, a number of offi-
cers of the 30th Hegimont took up their
quarters in the Govermiient House. King
street west, which had been fitted up
for their reception ; but the warne
evening they had to evacuate in
rather a hasty manner, in coii.se(iuence
of the building taking fire. A few min-
utes before eleven o'clock a dense volume
of smoke was observed issuing from the
cellar on the western side of the main en-
trance on King street. The alarm was
at once given, and the Chief Engineer at
once proceeded to the place, descended
into the cellar, and with the help of two
men of the 30th Regiment endeavoured to
extinguish the flames with pails of water
and cutting away the burning embers,
the ceiling of the cellar being on fire.
This they considered they had succeeded
in doing, when to their astonishment they
found the flames w'ere breaking through
the roof of the building directly over
their heads. The building had been
erected some 40 years before this,
and was composed of Avood, rough-cast
outside. Inside it was lathed and pl.is-
tered, there being no brick wall Avithin,
and the fire having got a start be-
tween the laths and the frame of the
building, the flames were carried ri^ht
up to the roof iu a very short time.
Meantime the two steam engines lately
purchased by the corporation, the sev-
eral hand engines, and the hook and lad-
der company had reached the spot. The
origiiml intention had been to place the
" steamers " on the margin of the bay;
but one of the officials of the Grand
Trunk informed the firemen that their
hose Avould be cut by passing freight
trains if they laid it there. The suc-
tion hose Avas attached to the hydrant,
corner of King and Simcoe streets, Avhile
the Rotary engine received a supply of
Avater from the corner of King and John
streets. The fire spread rapidly over
the niof of the building, and before an
h<jur the roof was one mtiss of flames.
A number of soldiers of the 30th reached
the Ktene of the fire, and rendered great
assistance iu removing the officers' ef-
fects, furniture and other movable pro-
IHM'ty. While this waa going on the
firemen Avere using their best endeavours
to extinguish the flames, but no sooner
were they got unJer iu one place than
they appeared in another. Yet the fin;
seemed to burn sloAvly ; but this Avas
oAving to the heavy timbers of Avhich the
building Avas composed. It Avas not,
however, until four o'clock on the Sunday
mo. ning that the fire was got under, and
to make everything secure the engines
continued playing on it till about seven
o'clock. The entire roof and upper por-
tion of the main building A\'as com-
pletely destroyed, and the building itself
rendered practicallv useless. The loss
AA-as betAveen $2,000 and $3,000.
The Government House hardly^ had time
to cool off after its scorching when
another public building, the new jail,
north of Gerrard street, east of the Don,
then iu course of erection, Ava.s all but de-
stroyed by fire. About 2 o'clock on tho
morning of Friday, January 17th, 1862.
the caretaker of tlie jail A\'as aAvakeued
from his slumbers by the reflection of a
brilliant light on the Avindows of his
bedroom. Hastily quitting his bed and
running outside, he saw that the upper
portion of the centre buildiug of the jail
Avas on fire. He immediately ran round to
the main entrance, and to his astonish-
ment found that the padlock and hasp
had been Avreuched off the door and
carried aAvay. He endeavored to ascend
the stairs, but AA-as prevented by the
dense volume of smoke, and he at once
ran off to the city to give the alarm,
shouting '• Fire at the new jail" as he
Avent along. The bell at Berkeley street
gave tho alarm, and he returned. How-
ever, after the engines turned out the
bell ceased, and, as no indication of tiie
fire could be seen from the city, the en-
li:
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LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
635
piiiiH ri'turnnd to the atationfi. The alarm
was giveu again from St. Lawrence iliill,
tut uot until much Taluable time had
been lost. The eagines again turned
out, but there was great difficulty in
bauliug them, owing to the depth of enow.
auil it vras not until five o'clock in
the morning that they rcaehed the tspot.
By this time the roof of the centre
building had fallen in, and the chapel'
■\viui a ma«s of flames. The firemen,
under Chief Ashfield, went to work to
lay the hose, but after they had
laid down several lengths it was found
that they had uot sufficient to reach
from the Don to the building. Some of
the hose carts had not arrived, and
another long delay took place, as mes-
sengers had to be sent to the city to
bring forward the hose, and it was not
until 7 o'clock that a stream could be
brought to bear on the burning building,
and by that time the centre building was
completely gutted, so the efforts of the
lirenien were directed to prevent the fire
spreading to the wings. The steam f're
engine poured a steady stream of water
on the burning embers, but after it had
been at work two hours, it was found
that one of the plates or tubes of the
boiler had got burned by allowing the
water to get too low, and the engine
ceased work. lu the meantime the other
engines commenced work, and, after
working hard and steady until I o'clock,
the centre building was completely gutted
and the walls scorched and cracked. The
damage done was estimated at $30,000:
insured for $20,000. It was supposed
that a gang of bushmeu had gone inside
the building to get shelter Irom the pierc-
ing cold, and either wilfully or acciden-
tally fired the premises.
Tuesday evening, March 25th, 1SG2, a
destructive fire took place in the pre-
mii-ei of Messrs. Booth & Sons, copjter-
smitlis, on the ea>t side of Yonge, five
doora north of Queen street. About
11.15 the fire was first seen by some
lads, who were passing, and they at once
gave the alarm. The engines arrived
on the scene in a very short time, and
the water was turned on. The flames,
however, burst through the windows,
but after a powerful stream of water
had been poured on for some time it was
thought the fire was extinguished, whea
three explosions took place, one after the
other, and the flames burst out anew
and couunuuicated with the store above
bv the stairway and casing taking fire.
Tlie hose was taken round to the rear
of the store and set to work there, and
in a short time the fire was completely
extinguished. The damage done was
estimated at about $3,000. insured for
?2,500. The origin of the fire is un-
known. Not much more than a mouth
after this, on April 28th, the premises of
Messrs. Booth, along with the store i„"
Mr. Joseph Hodgson, stove dealer, were
totnllv destroyed, the damages amounting
to $10,000, of which only $8,000 was
covered by insurance. The details of
the fire are scanty, but it was supposed
that it was the work of an incendiary.
There was also another building owned
by Mrs. McArthur, burnt, which was
valued at about $.'5,000 or $6,000. It
could not be ascertained whether this
was insured.
Between 4 and 5 a. m. on May €> the
druggist shop of H. Emery and Moran's
grocery, 72 on the north side of Queen
street, west of Teraulay street, were de-
stroyed. The damage was about $2,000,
insured for $1,000.
A destructive fire took place on Thurs-
day, November 6, 18G2, in Mr. Henry
Agnew's foundry on the west side of
Sumach street, foiitb of Queen. The fire
commenced in the machine shop, a frame
building, and spread with such rapidity
that in ten minutes the whole building
Avas a mads ol flames. The pattern mak-
ers had to run out to save themselves,
leaving all their tools behind tliem.
Meantime the fire engines arrived, and
one of the steamers was stationed at the
edge of the Don, and, by pouring on a
powerful stream of water the fire
was confined to the building in which
it originated. A great deal of valuable
machinery was lost ,in this fire, and the
building was completely destroyed. The
lo«3 was between $8,000 and $10,000,
and the place waa uninsured. The fire
WiKs iturely accidental.
On Friday, November 14, 1862, occurred
a fire which will long be memorable in
Toronto. About half past two that morn-
ing the inmates of the Rossin House were
roused by the cry of '* Fire." It was
thought at first to be a false alarm, but
soon it was discovered to be onlj' too
true. Those who opened the doors of their
chambers and smelt the smoke gave a
shout and bounded down the stairs in
their uightclothes. Fortunately it was
easy to get to the street at this time,
as the gas was burning, and the way
out could be seen. The rushing to and
fro of the first movers brought the re-
mainder to a sense of their position, and
a scene of wild confusion ensued. Down
the stairs went a crowd of half-clad
people, of both sexes, with bundles in
their hands and trunks clattering after
them ; band-boxes, looking-glasses, toilet
services, chairs and tables were upset in
the general hurry. The fire, it was sup-
posed, had its origin in a small room
near the kitchen, in which kindling wood
was stored. The yard south and west of
!,:i
¥i
cm
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
I'i
t- 1
thn kitchen was filled with a Inrgo qiinn-
tit.v of cordwood, and there was heflideii
mi nnioitut of coul in nheda. It wnn Hnid
tlint the flames first iHSued from thene,
juid it wn« thought they luuivt have
lieen wilfully fired. Soon after the alarm
was givGn. the cordwood and a wooden
Btorchouse and stable, also near the
kitchen, took fire. About an hour after
the discovery the conflagration had ns-
Bumed gigantic proportions. The angry
flames leapt from storey to storey and
eourcd high above the roof into the dark-
ness. The floors fell in with successive
crashes, and, as onch one fell, the fire
glowed with a redder i.ue and rolled up
immense volumes of smoke, which settled
over the hotel. The greatest anxiety was
felt at one time for the female servants
of the house, as the fire raged most
fiercely underneath that portion of the
hotel where their bedrooms were located,
in the top storey. Boarders who came
from the second and third storeys re-
ported that, when they first awoke, their
rooms were so filled with smoke that
they could scarcely breathe, so that it
was not unnatural to suppose that the
girls, who were on the top storey, might
suffer severely. Many of them had con-
siderable difficulty in getting down. One
girl, who stayed longer than the others,
had to escape out of n back window by
means of a ladder pmcured by Mr.
Brown, the steward of the hotel. She
was unhurt. Some ten minutes at Icost
elapsed after the fire was discovered be-
fore any one gave notice at the engine
houses, but as soon as the bell rang on
Bay street the engine came rushing out.
The hydrant at the corner of Simcoe and
King ertreets was ojiened, the hose laid to
York rrtreet to the burning kitchen. All
efforts to check the flames were in vain.
The second engine speedily arrived, and
was stationed at the corner of York and
King. The hose from it was laid through
the central hall, also to the kitchen,
with no better result, e:v;opt that the
office and the ground floor fronting
York street, were saved. Still the wing
continued to burn. Though an enormous
(|uantity of water was poured upon it,
ihe conflagration apiH»nred to increase in
an inverse ratio to the efforts made to
"ubdn" it. Al)out four o'clock a third
steam fire engine was got out of the
Outral house and stationed neai the
ffirner of York and King streets, where
it did good service.
The vacant grounds on York and King
streets were literally piled with rescued
property. All the stores in the hotel
were speedily emptied of their contents
when it became evident that the fire
would extend to the front. From an I
early hour a fatigue party of Captain '
Ilobhs' Company, 80th Regiment, ren-
dered good service in carrying out gomlH.
Others of the regiment were tent to as-
sist the |K)licc in keeping order. 15.v
their aid the large crowd wan kept upnn
the sidewalk, ond loft the movements of
the firemen unimpeded. About 5 o'clock
the flames reached the front. They had
penetrated to the third flat, while ,i
party of men were at work in the rooms
on the floor above the King street ston-H.
Suddenly, while some of them were direct-
ly over Mr. Charles Potter's store, the
floor on which they stood gave way with
a fearfal crash, and they fell through
into the store. One man dropped just
behind the window, and wae seen strug-
gling amid the debris. A deep groan
escaped from all present, and a ru»h wn<
made for the window. The glass was
soon smashed, and a soldier named Kellv
was dragged out of the flames. Won-
derful to say, he was not much hurt.
He said that before they fell there were
five men working w^h him in the rooms-
Sergt. Counell of the 30th, two other
soldiers, a civilian, and a coloured bny
about ]6 years of age— but he thouj;ht
they got out before the floor fell. Sad
to say, one of them never left the burn-
ing building alive. This was William
H. Graham, son of Mr. Graham, carpet
dealer, King street. His body wan
found, much burned and disfigured, but
still recognizable. The many fine stores
on the ground floor of the Uossin House
block shared the fate of the rest of the
building, but in most cases their con-
tents were saved. The stores on Iving
street we- ? occupied by Mr. Walton,
merchant tailor ; Charles Potter, optician;
W. Wharin, dealer in watches, jewellery,
etc.; Mrs. Forbes, milliner ; Mrs. Pollard,
embroideress ; W. Gillctt, tobacconint,
and W. Smith, newsmau. The store on
the corner was occupied by R. Jordan
He Co., grocers. The York street stores
were : P. Rooney & Co., dry goods :
Joshua Lowe, manufacturer of steam
gauges, and M. Miraulne, barber to the
Rossiu House. The aggregate loss of
these was about $3,000. As most of the
goods were removed without damage, the
loss was small. Many of the guests of
the house lost their effects ; in fact, hut
very few of them saved anything. The
insurance on the building amounted to
$60,000 : on the furniture, $19,500. Th«
total loss wjvs estimated at $200,000.
No fires happened in 1S63 until April
20, when Mr. Lamb's glue and blacking
factory, situated on Amelia street, north
side, and also to the north of the
Necropolis, was totally destroyed. The
fire was first seen about eleven o'clock
and it spread with great speed, being fed
with the inflammable materials inside
LANDMARKS OF TOROXTO.
837
the factory. It Boon aprond throuRh th«
principal bui^Uing, four BtorioH hiRh, mid
floor after floor Rave way till at last the
roof fell, leaving only the bare walls
dttinding. Tho Hinallor buildings in the
vicinity were ignited and burned to the
pround. The steamers were on the ground
oiirly, but wer« not abk to cope with
the flames, which had got a great start
before they came. Mr. Lamb's loss was
$f<.000. insured for $4,000. The fire was
considered to be purely accidental
A most atrocious act of incendiarism
occurred in Toronto in September, 1863,
whereby three lives were lost. The place
was Col borne street, in the premises of
Messrs. Barry & Son, wool and leather
dealers. The circumstances were these :
Messrs. Rarry had employed a man
named McGlyn for a number of years,
till he became of dissipated habits when
he was discharged and another man,
Elliott, was engaged in his place.
Elliott's family, consisting of his wife and
two children, took up their residence in
the third floor of the building and the
second floor was occupied by Mr. Barry,
Jr. McGlyn had often come back to com-
pliiin of Elliott having superseded him in
his position, and on the day in question
he came when Elliott was out and asked
for 8ome small articles which he said he
had left there. Mrs. Elliott refused to
give him anything during her husband's
absence and ho went away. Shortly after
Elliott returned and McGlyn also came
back, got his articles and once more left,
only to return in a short time and un-
chain a dog belonging to Elliott and
lead him away. Elliott followed him and
a quarrel ensued ; from words they got
to blows and McGlyn received a severe
thrashing. Out of revenge for this he
went around the store some time after-
wards and entered a side door. A lew
minutes later flumes were seen issuing
from the cellar, and very soon flames
bnrst forth from every flat. The smoke
To»o quickly and filled the building the
stairway acting as a funnel to draw the
fire upward. In the house at the time
were Mrs. Elliott and two children, one
four years old and the other twenty
months, and her aunt, Mrs. Milligaii. The
eight of the smoke seemed to throw the
women into the greatest confusion. Mrs.
Elliott ran to the at-.iirway, but that
means of exit was cut off. Finding escape
impossible she and her aunt went to the
back window which was forty feet from
the ground. She threw herself out at the
window holding on to the sill, afraid to
drop, until her hands and arms were
scorched so much that she had to let go.
She fell on her feet, but sustained serious
internal injuries of which she died some
Lours later. Her aunt was more fortu-
nate, she jumped, alighting on her feet,
but smashed 4ier left ankle fearfully ; she -
recovered. The utmost efforts were made
to roach the floor where tho children
were, but they were of no avail ; the
fierceness of tho flames frustrated all
efforts and the unfortunate children both
perished. The fire engines had arrived in
the meantime and did all they could, but
the building was cmnpletely gutted. The
damage amounted to about $1,200 and
the place was fully insured.
The man McGlyu was arrested on tho
spot, and the coroner's jury at the en-
quiry held next day found him guilty of
murder and arson, and he waa committed
for trial. On his trial in March, 1864,
the jury disagreed and were discbargeiL
He was tried again in December, 1864,
and the jury returned a verdict of not
guilty, and the prisoner was discharged.
There was no porious fire in 1864 until
August, when the Grand Trunk elevator
and wharf were destroyed. Since
the destruction of the Rossin House
no fire of any groat extent had
(Occurred, for which the city waa
indebted in a large measure to the
efficiency of its fire brigade, which had
improved wonderfully during the previ-
ous two or three years. About 6 o'clock
on Sunday morning, August 28th, 1864,
a watchman, named McLeod, on passing
through the sheda thought he detected a
smell of smoke. On going into the ele-
vator he found the first apartment full
of smoke. At this time no flames were
visible, though the smoke was very
dense. The opening of the door, how-
ever, created a draught, thus giving life
nud power to the smouldering and con-
fined fire. The watchman at once gave
the alarm, the fire bells were rung, and
the engines arrived on the scene with
great promptness. By that time the
fire had made great headway, for the
structure was composed of wood, and
before the engines could be brought into
play the flames had burned through the
roof and were roaring high above the
towering building. The moment the en-
gines arrived they were run out upon
the wharf as close to the elevator as pos-
sible, the suction pipes were thrown into
the Bay, and four streams of water were
turned upon the burniug building. Every
possible exertion was used to stay the
progress of the flames, but the nature
of the building and the start the fire had
got rendered it impossible. The firemen
worked diligently and manfully, though
it was evident from the first that their
efforts were all in vain. The intense
heat burned the great iron bars with
which the building was held together,
and then the thousands of bushels of
grain pressing with an irresistible force
* iji
I
Hn:
038
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
I
Iti
agnitist the walls, Huddouly burst thciu
awn.v oil all hUIi'a, and the valu ibli'
fitorcH ru»<he(l into the JJay, fillliiK it up
level with the wharf. Tho flour hIumIh
wore nl«o totally oou^^unicd, with their
coiitent«, 400 barrels of flour.
Tho Grand Trunk wharf extended out
from tho Esplanade between Peter and
Brock street*. It was then the finest
aud most substantial wharf in Toronto
harbour, and had been erected two years
previouHly, at a cost pf $25,000. The
capacious flour shed, capable of contain-
ing several thousaud barrels of flour,
was oulv a few months built, and had
cost $5,000 or $0,000. The elevator wan
the main loss. The building was one of
the best of its kind in the province, and
was constructed at the same time as tiie
wharf, the whole having beeu built by
Mr. Shedden, of the firm of Hendrie &
Shedden, afterwards J. Sheddeu & Co.,
cartage agents. 42 Frout street
cdfit, who di-i|o8ed of the wharf
to the Grand Trunk. The elevator,
though known as the " Grand Trunk Ele-
vator," was the projwrty of Mr. Shed-
den. Its actual cost WJis .$50,000. but
improvements had added several thou-
sands to that figure. Fortunately, it
"waa insured for $35,000, so it was not
a total loss.
Messrs. Gooderham & Worts lost 127
barrels of flour, Mr. W. P. Howland 200
barrels, aud Mr. P. Ilyland 10 barrels.
Most of the flour was insured. The total
estimated looS was : The elevator, $50,-
000 ; wharf aud flour sheds, $30,000 ;
oats, $11,500; corn, $10,500; wheat,
$5,000 ; flour, $2,400 ; total, .$109,450.
The total iusuriiiice was only about $40,-
000, so that the .actual loss iu round
numbers was $70,000. Mi'ssrs. Erwin &
Sloan, Oswego ; Cheney & Ames. Oswego ;
W. D. Matthews aud S. A. Oliver, To-
ronto, were the greatest sufferers from
the grain burning. The origin of the
fire was supposed to have beeu some
eparks from the cugine house near.
On tho morning of Februarj' 23, 1805,
two houses on the south side of Sj'den-
ham street, the property of John Lang-
ton, were entirely destroyed. A snmll
bouse on Adelaide street west, occupied
by Mr. Coylo, was destroyed on the 25th.
The dwelling house and warehouse of
Thomofi Moran, on the south-east corner
of Trinity aud Palace streets, were com-
pletely burned on the night of March 13.
The loss exceeded $1,000, the amount it
was insured for.
On April 26, two hoiiBcs on the east
side of Seaton street, owned by fc^ergt.-
Major Haatings, were also destroved.
Damage $2,000; insured for $1,300.
On the 7th Augiust, 18G5, the Grand
Trunk was again u sufferer. About 11.30
on the evening in (|ueHti(jn a fire w.n.s
di»4C()vered iu one of the wooden sheds in
reur of a row of brick houses fronting on
Jtay street. Although the alarm va>^
given immediately it was not until 20
minutes later that one of the Pteatners
was got iu working order aud directed
water on the flames. Uy this time tho
fire had made great headway aud then
caught the Grand Trunk offices uii
the south-west corner of liay and
WHlington streets, aud the adjoin-
ing residence of Dr. Adams, which
were soon enveloped iu flames. The fire-
men first, very foolishly, directed the
water on the offices and the burning aud
already well-burnt stables and left tho
adjacent houses to the mercy of tho
flames. Uanlon's Hotel, on Bay street,
ignited, aud soon became a total wreck,
and the flames were soon rapidly feelinn
their way along the roofs of Mr. W. 1',
McMaster's and a vacant house next to it,
when tho men received orders to plaf
their streams upon McMaster's hous<!,
and it was thus saved from total destruo-
tion, although badly gutted. A rletach-
ment of the 47th llegiment arrived witli
their engine aud set to work, rendering
valuable assistance. The Grand Trunk
lost about $1,500. A large number of
papers and some office furniture was
saved, but Mr. James Stevenson, assist-
ant superintendent, lost property to the
amount of $350. The Grand Trunk was
uninsured. Dr. Jos. Adams was insured
for $1,(J00, which did not nearly cover
his loss. Mr. Ed. Hanlon, Uochester
House, was insured for $1,800, loss more;
Mr. McMaster, insured for $1,."jOO, about
covered his loss. A house occupied by
Dr. John Hali, with stables, was badly
damaged: insured. There were several
other houses aud stables burnt on this
occasion, and altogether the damage done
amounted to $25,000. Tho fire was no
doubt incendiary, as the neighbourhood
was the resort of all the worst charac-
ters iu the city.
A boy named George McLaughlin, ser-
vant to Dr. Adams, was, it is sad to
say, burnt to death on this occasion. lie
Wits unable to escape from the attic,
where he slept.
Not mauj' weeks after the above fire
another one on the south-west corutr of
Temperance and Yonge streets dki
considerable damage. At 1.45 on
Friday morning, September 8th, 1805,
the alarm sounded for a fire at
Dodgson, Shields & Co.'s confectionery
establinhment, a few hundred j'ards east
of the Bay street fire hall. The fire was
discovwed a few minutes earlier by the
inmates of the confectionery place ou
Yonge street, which was connected with
the Temperance street establishmsut by
j
1 1 ;i:|
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
639
n oiK'-Btoroy brick huililini;. TIip innmtes
ni the Yoiigo Htroot pliico wore t-ut off
fidtu couiinuiiicution with tlio Hhnp \w-
\n\v, so rail to the windowH. niid, witli
Ihi' a«fli8tauco of a few byBtnmlors, they
iitteropted to innku tlicir exit from tho
third storey of tho biiildiiiR. Three clerka
who slept in tho upper ntorey lundo a
<lpscent by a rope, whilo from nnother
1 1 mm one of the young men hung down
.iiiil allowed himself to drop, being caught
ill the arms of the crowd below. As
snnu aw tho Fire Depiirtment wero on
the spot, which wa« with great alacrity,
Inddors were placed at tho windows of
Dodgson, Siiields & Co.'s, fronting on
Temperance street, and two women, who
were in one of the upper rooms, wore got
snfcly down. Every effrrt was made to
check the advance of th« flames, but tho
cast wind caused the fire to spread to
tho brick hoiwcs of Mr. Seatii and Mr.
Andrew Henderson, auctioneer, and at
nbout 2.30 tho roar of the Wcsloyan
Methodist church caught fire, but wa«
extinguished. About tho same time tho
roof of the New Connection Methodist
church caught fire, and in an instant the
odificc was in a blaze and burning so
fiercely that all hope of saving the build-
ing was out of the (luestion. The fire
then spread to Dodgsou, Shields' place on
Temperance street and to Mr. J. Ed-
wards', stationer, and they were both
completely wrecked. Messrs. Dodgson &
Shields' loss was over $40,000, insured
to almost their full amount. Mr. Seath,
uninsured, loss $1,000. Mr. Henderson,
insured for $800, loss covered. New
Connection church, loss about $10,000,
Insured. This fire was laid at the door
of incendiaries.
On Oct. 26, 186r), St. Stephen's church
(Episcopalian), under the charge of Rev.
A. J. Broughall, and commonly known aa
"Denison's church," was totally destroy-
ed by fire. It was supposed that tho
church was entered by burglars to rob
the safe, which was there. Their efforts
being unsuccessful, they sot fire to the
church out of revenge. Two engines
arrived on tho scene of the fire, but too
late to be of much use, and both the
church and the adjoining parsonage were
destroyed. The church was insured for
$2,000 and tho parsonage for $1,000.
The church was built of brick, and the
parsonage was a rough-cast frame build-
ing, and they had been built at the ex-
pense of Brigade-Major Robert B. Dcnison.
'The ruffians who did the damage were
not caught.
The year 1866 does not give us any
tiro worth mentioning until July 26th,
when a blare which broke out in the
wholesale hardware store of Mr. W. R.
Harris, situated on the west side of
Yonge street, between Front and
NVellinfl;ton streets, did considerable
damage. Tho fire broke out about 5.30
in the evening, and had gained a good
hold when first observed. The two firo
engines were on the ground almodt im-
meiliately, but the water supply was very
limited, and beyond a few jets of mud
and watM-. nothing could be got. Of
course, tho fire, left to itself, soon gained
tho third storey, and forced its way out
of the front windows, threatening tho
storeys on tho opposite side of the street.
Fears wero also ontertainetl for tho
safety of tho adjoining stores, and as
Harris' store was tho centre of a large
and valuable pile of buildings, tho de-
struction of them would have involved
a great <leal of damage to trade for some
time. The scarcity of water caused
matters to look still more serious, and
tho engines ran wildly about from
hydrant to hydrant in search of a
stream sufficient for the occasion. After
considerable delay, one of them managed
to get a decent supply ; but hardly had
it started when the lujse gavo out, sev-
eral breaches having occurred in it.
Meanwhile the flames were burning wild-
ly in Harris' store, which seemed to go
like tinder, and showed themselves in an
adjoining hoop skirt factory, from which,
however, they wero driven after some
difficulty, and much damage to the stock.
It was only by the crowd passing up pails
of water that the latter store was saved
from destruction. Tho fire seems to
have burned itself out without spreadinj^
any farther, having entirely destroyed
Mr. Harris' store and all his stock, the
damage amounting to about $16,000 or
$18,000, most of which fell on Mr. Harris,
who fortunately was insured for the full
amount. The cause of the fire was un-
known. The building was owned by Mr.
John Crawford, and was insured for
$2,400. At the omiuiry, which was held
to find out the origin of this fire, great
complaints were made at the inefficiency
of the water-works, evidence being put
in to show that it was almost impossible
to throw two streams of water at one
time, owing to the limited supply, and
that sometimes the water was entirely
turned off at the tVne of a fire. After
a long investigation the jury returned
the following : The jury, having com-
pleted their investigation of the late
circumstances connected with the fire
which took place on the premises occupied
by Mr. \V. R. Harris, on the afternoon
of July 26th last, feel it to be their
duty to call tho attention of the cor-
poration to the evidence given to the fact
that the insufficient supply of water
placed in jeopardy a valuable block of
buildings, on which the insurance amount-
k
h
i
040
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
il'i '
I
'i:
M
ed to ovor one millioii ilollarB. Tho Jury
iiro iiIho BurpiiHiMl Id loarii that boiuo
poi-tioiiH of the city arc I'utin'ly without
a watrr Mupply at iiigiit. Thi* jury are,
thori'foip, of opinion tiiat tho full power
of the water-workH Hhould at all times
In^ at the immediate and entir(> eommand
of the fire department, and they would
urge U|>()n th(> c-orporatioti to iiiMist upon
ti full diNchurge on the part of tho water
componieH of their oblig:ition.
Not long after thin, on August ^th, a
dPBtructivo fire broke out in St. John's
Ward. Spreading with unusual quick-
ncHB, the fire had made great headway
before the billH Hounded tlie alarm, and
before the engineM reached the Hpot the
flameH had reached the large brewery of
MemrH. ThonipNon & IturnH, on the Houth
Hide of AgucH Ntreet, east of Sayer Htreet,
from the renidenee adjoining, where ii
bad broken out. The building, being of
wood, burned (piickly, altliough two
Btcam engincH were on the Hpot, well
supplied with water and aided by a
drenching rain, and the flamen obtained
complete poRHeHsion of tlie entire place
before any chanc)> of extinguishing them
presented itself. I'ltinrntely, after great
exertions, the fire was confined to the
brewery, which it completely dentroyed,
as well as the bouse attached. The
buildings were owned by Messrs. Rowell
and Payne, of Sayer street, ami were tm-
iuflured. Their value was about $2,000.
Messrs. Thompson & Burns' stock was a
valuable one, and was only insured f<)r
.$1,000. The entire lo«s wjui about .$12,-
000. The fire originated in some out-
houses iu rear of the brewery, and was
accidental.
February 24 saw the first blaze of the
year 18G7, but it was not as disastrous
as it might have been, as the engines
were well supplied with water, owing
probably to the hints the water com-
panies got duriug tho previous year.
The fire brokf' out about half past eleven
in the evening iu the car works of
Messrs. .T. & A. C. Scovcll, fronting tho
Esplanade, between York and Bay streets,
and adjoining the factory of Messrs.
Jacques & Hay. The alarming he.odway
made by the flames rendered the total
destruction of the latter buildiug immi-
nent; but by good fortune this was avert-
ed and the fire confined to the premises
where it first broke out. The engines
arrived on the spot soon after the alarm
was given, and, after a little delay, did
good service in preventing the farther
spread of the flames. The car shops were
gutted, but no damage was done to the
adjoining premises. The building and a
portiou of their internal fittings were
owned by Mr. John Cayley, and were
worth about $3,000 and were not in-
sured. Messrs. Hcowlls' loss is not
statoil. The fire originated near the fur-
nace, and was purely accidental.
Tho only otiier fire worthy of notice in
this year occurred on l>ec. .'(1, an<l con-
sumed the foundry of J. (S. Beard & Sons,
on the K.iplaniule, opposite the Northern
railw/iy station. on Front street.
The alarm wnt* given shortly after seven
iu the evening and the engines were
promptly on the spot ; but the building
being entirely of wtio»l and a fresh breeze
blowing ut the time, the fireuuMi were
almost powerless to stay the progress of
the flames. The fire enveloped the foun-
dry in a few minutes, and was borne
across the railway tracks in front of thi^
building, until the Northern railway sta-
tion opposite was scorched and smoking
in twenty places. It almost seemed as
if nothing coidd be done to save the other
places in the locality, but fortunately the
effort*) put forth were successful. Tho
foundry was a total wreck with its con-
tents. The foundry had only just been
completed at a cost of some $8,000 ; it
was insured for some $0,000. The North'
em railway station was damaged to thi
extent of about $800; covered by iiuur-
ance. The origin of this fire was purely
accidental.
Un July 16, 1868, came a blaze eneh
as ha<l not Ihh'u seen for some years. Tim
origin of the fire, so far as can bti
learned, woh some children who worn
playing with matches in the lear
Mumforil's shop on tha
Yongo street, north of
it was su[»|K)sed that
they accidentally set fire to the sht^d.
The flames soon spread through the dry
wood of the outbuildings, and the thick
smoke soou gave evidence of the locality
of the fire, and soon a crowd of specta-
tors were on the spot. The three steam
engines arrived promptly and were, dur-
ing the progress of the fire, placed so as
to prevent the spreading of the flames as
some new spot was threatened. One, how-
ever, gave out about three o'clock, leav-
ing only two to battle with the element.
One wooden building, occupied by Mr. N.
L. Steiner as a marble cutting estab-
lishment, and seven owned by ex-Alder-
man Bugg, and occupied by five different
tenants, were enveloped in fire almost be-
fore the engines could be brought to play.
The fire, however, confined itself more
to the others than to Mr. Steiner's pre-
mises at first, and allowed the removal
of some of the smaller pieces of marble
from the workshop. The outbuildings of a
row of brick houses, also owned by Mr.
Bugg, were frequently enveloped by the
flames and an extensive lumber yard
owned by Mr. Drummond was within
reach. In this yard stretching from
of Mr, Jam(>s
east side of
Shutor, and
fl
LAXDMARKS OP TORONTO.
641
Yougo to Victoria stroetR wnn rnntainod
betwepu five nnd six biiiulrod thnuRnnd
fpvt of lumber, bcnidoH filiiiiKlt'M, Inttm, Pte.
Th<' Hjmce which whh covered by tliJH
htiiff ^viiH eBt^iiiited in aren nt about lialt
uu acre ; it was Hituated in the very
ticart of tlie blo<'k and the material con-
tained in it wan excellent food for an
iiitenite and lantinK conflnRration. The
viiriuUM piles of lumb(>r and RhingleH
inpidly caught tire, until the whole yard
WMM one burniuK inasn. Ity thiH time
Yuiitrc Btreet wan tlie scene of the wildcBt
I'xiitement, busincHH was nlmoHt entire-
ly HUHpeuded nnd everyone turned in to
lielp >t''t the furniture, etc., out of the
biirniiiK houscB. About three o'clock a lit-
tle rain fell and it was hoped that this
wuuld continue, but it rood passed off
njrain ; and the fire now doing deadly
work with a larKt' row of wooden houses
i)U Victoria street, also swept along to-
wards Mr. Stciner's house on Cruick-
(•liaiik street, now Wilton avenue. This
often'd no impudinient and woon huc-
cuiulH-'d to the fhiines ; and a brick
house owned by Mr. L. Sisson was
nearly being its next victim, but
by erecting a thick projection of
bricks Mr. Sisson kept the fire from the
fence nnd prevented the house from
catching. The flames were thus jirevent-
cd from spreading any farther in this
direction, and the attention of th(> fire-
iiieu was turned to Yoiige street again.
The fire had spread northward and de-
Btroyed several small houses in a lane
between Yongo and Victoria, but the
liberal streams of water poured ui)on
them prevented the flames from doing
any more damage in that direction. Down
past the Youge street entrance to the
lumber yard the fire caught the pre-
mises owned by Mr. McPhail, stationer,
formerly of the firm of Brewer & McPhiiil,
and occupied by Mr. Warren and the
owner. Desperate efforts were made to
extinguish it here, but the premises were
doomed. However after this the firemen
were enabled to keep the flames from
spreading further, and, except some
slight damage to some more outbuildings,
they had run their course. The lumber
yard had completely disappeared, so far
as its content^ were concerned, and for
some distance around it presented a
large extent of black and grimy ruins.
The engines worked to a late hour
drowning the smouldering embers. The
aggregate loss by this fire was from
130,000 to $40,000. The losers were as
follows : Mr. Wm. Wallace, a stable
burnt ; loss about $100 ; no insurance.
Mr. Howarth, druggist, who owned three
uf the houses barnt, lost about $1,200 ;
insurance $800. Dr. Brunt occupied one
of Uti Drummoud'a bouses and bad a
good deal of furniture burnt ; loss about
$H(IO ; insured. Mr. Uiigg had seveu
wooden houses totally destroyed. They
produced a rental of .^720 and were but
slightly insured. Mr. I>ruiiiiiiond was the
heaviest loser, bis loss being estimated
at $1(>,(>0() and insurance about $4,000.
He also lost u few small houses on the
lane, which were iimured. Mr. N. L.
Steiner had insurance to the amount of
$3,0UU, but his loss was above that,
some valuable Italian marbles he had
being badly damaged. Mr. Mercer was
insured for $1,000, which covered his loss.
.Mr. (lourlny was insured for $1,.S()0, and
it wns estimated that his loss would bo
trifling. Mr. I<ouis £i|ui lost a wooden
building which was insured for $U0<),
and that about covered his loss. Mr.
James Miiniford was a largo loser. His
stock and improvements he had effected
were worth about $2,000, of which only
$1,000 was insurei*. There were various
other small losses, but they are not
given. The firemen earned great praise
for their energy and pluck at this fire
nnd the supply of water wob excellent.
For over a year Toronto enjoyed the
absence of any serious fires, the worst
coming on August 4. 1HG!>, nnd by it four
buildings were destroyed on the corner
of King and Princess streets. The pre-
mises were all owned by Mr. C. J. White-
house, and were occupied by William
Parks, grocer : John Little, boarding
house ; John Collins, green-grocer, and
Robert Adams, candy store. The fire
started in Collins' building and spread
on either Bide. The fire engines were
again deterred by a lack of water, bat
the Hook and Ladder Co. did good ser-
vice. After the water was procured all
efforts were made to prevent the lire
spreading any further and these were
eventually successful. The occupants of
the houses lost nearly everything, and
were barely able to escapo with their
lives. The buildings were insured for $1,-
700, but were valued at over $3,000. All
the effects, furniture, stock, etc., of the
occupnutH were uninsured, but the
amount of loss is not known.
A sad tragedy iu connection with a
fire occurred on September 17, 1869. The
fire broke out in a block of houses on
the north side of Queeu street, near
Denison avenue. The buildiugc, which
were of wood, were occupied by
Henry Chaloncr a^ a email dry
goods fitore, Mr. Browu as a saloon,
and a Mrs. Alexander kept a small
grocery iu the east part of the block. It
wa« quite impossible to say bow the fire
originated. All that is known is that
immediately after it was discovered it
made its way wnth amazing rapidity
through the block, and iu less than two
<i^
' > 'J
^T"
642
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Ii
i"
E I
I ' I (
hour* the wlioli> wnn in ruiim. The und
part of tho nl.iry In UmI two little cliil-
<lren witp Itunird tn ili-dtli, «nil ii fin'-
iiinn rocpivt>il injuiifit which aflci-w.-irilH
pruvod fntiij. I In- two chiltlri'ii, mm niul
•Inugiitcr of Mr. ('Iialoni-r, wen' iikimI (I
iiiitl 4. The fiiliir iiutl only jiiNt time
to •nvc hiN own lifi', and the niothiT
throw till" lial),v out of a wimlow t<> liiiii;
(lilt thr t«inokt' blindi'il and confu^i'd jicr,
iiiid t-lic ffll out h<M«r|f, IcaviiiR the fliil-
dri>n, who were both hurnrd tu death.
W hPii the fire l)riRade arrived two of
the firemen, .fa men Kidd and Thoman
IIiirRt went to the rear of the liiiildiiiK
\< ith tlse hone, and were direetinK it "'•
I ■ tlie flanieH wlien a heavy biick ehim-
iii'v fell over with a crash. The debrin
biiiicd Kidd, while IIiirNt had hin arm
bi'i'ken and received other injurien. Kidd
wiiB with »lifficully rexcued from the Inirn-
inR mnns and taken hnmi'. Although h*>
leceivcd the bent medical attention and
care, he micciimbed to his injuricH the
next day. The iininunt of injury do<ie
to proiierty liy this firo is not Htated.
MiK'h sympathy wan felt for Mr. and Mrn.
Chalouer, who not Img before had lost
four others of their family.
At d'lx o'clock on the evening of TuoH-
ilay, October 2«J, IStlK, a xniall cask of
l)cniiue, in the fermeutinK rooms of the
l;irpe works belonf.;inK to Messrs. Oooder-
liiiii A: Worts luiTt. and set fire to tin'
ba-xement of the bnildinK. In a few min-
utes tlie flames spn'ml aloni? the floor,
and, almost before the alarm coidd be
Riven, had ^prunR np all alonp: the flonr-
ii'.p;. Almost inst.intly workim'n c rowtled
to the placp. Intellij^ence was sent to
the fire fltationn, the alarm ranp out over
the city and the eiiRines arrived on the
t>ccuc already sufficiently well indicated
'>y the immense m.'i«-ies of flaino which
wore now risiuR, and which lighted up
the eky with a lurid glare. In a very
"hort time the fire had obtained such
uflcendaucy that the engines appi^ared
almost hopeless, but, upon the arrival of
two of the engines, the firemen set to
work with a heartiness, good will and
judgment which spoke well for their
skill and pluck.
The works consisted of old buihlings,
erected some twelve years previons,
which included tho mill and fermenting
rooms ; on the south was the wharf, on
which was stored a large quantity f
spirits and other property. Running north
from the east end was the new refinery
or malthousc and storehouse, with spirits
in the yaulta underneath. Close by was
the Ksideuce of Mr. Gooderham.
A« Boon aa the firemen arrived on the
spot tlie attempta to extinguish the fire
and Bave the valuable property became
aystematized; and, considering the crowd-
ing, hurry and confusion, a good amount
of work was done. The reels playeil from
the »ilip on tlie lake, each engine driving;
two Ntreams of water— one stream direct-
ed towards flooding the insido of tli<>
nialthouse and the others to subduing the
fire in the main buililing, wetting ronfi*
and throwing a heavy stream U|M)n the
most exposed point, at tho south-west
corner of the new buildings. What gave
perhaps peculiar |M)wer to the '''i- in-
side the building, were tho two large
elevators situated on the east and west
ends of the roof. These were almost 12
fi'et stjinire and servetl as draught holei*,
by which the intensity of the fire wan
greatly augmented. The volumes of flame
which issued from these was prodigious.
The heat at times was so intense that
people who had congregated about t)'<t
buildings were forced at times to retire
out of the reach of the heat. I'or a time
the fire seemed to he confined principally
to the upfter storey, but it graiiually
crept down, until the whole interior wha
a nmss of flames. Tho roof by this time
was completely destroyed.
The fire had been confined to the north-
ern side of tho building, but the wind
from the north caused it to take posses-
sion of the southern side. The flami'n
burst through the windows right acro'ts
the railway track, destroying tho tele-
graph poles and wires. About 7 o'clock
an occurrence took pliice that gave a still
nsiiie fearful aspect to the fire. Into a
drain leading from the burning buibling
the burning spirits got access, and all
at once the centre of the still heaved and
burst, and logs and stones and earth flew
all round. I'ortunately nobody was hurt,
but it caused the people to withdraw to
a safer distance.
About eight o'clock it was feared that
the storehouse which stood to the north
of the distillery would catch firo, as a
fence and a (|unntity of wasto lumber
near it tooK fire, and burned most furi-
ously. Added to this, a barrel of spirits
which was lying near exploded, and tho
flames seemed to lick the bottom of tho
wall, as if ansi(>us to be burning the
storehouse. Howe ' the attention of
the firemen was direcied towards it, and
they set to work, and after an hour's
labour this portion of the premises w.is
saved. By 8.30 the fire had reached
a range of storehouses situated to the
west of the main building. The bourns
and rafters began to fall, and immonsi!
volumes of flames would burst forth.
Then, now and again, an explosion oc-
curred within the building, and blaziuR
rafters would shoot into tho lake, and
be seen no more.
By nine o'clock it was evident that th'^
fiie had done its worst, and would
LAXIiMAHKS OF TOIKJN'TO.
048
rod thnl
10 north
c, i\B a
iuinbor
iHt furi-
)t spiritA
and tho
of tho
ng the
tioii ol
it, nnil
hour'i
8CB wa«
reachi?d
to the
bcuniH
nunc list!
forth.
si on of-
blaziuR
kc, nnd
:hat tho
would
■i ■•H
<l I
644
L WIIMARKR OF TORONTO.
I:!'^!
spread no further. But the interior of
tlie buildinp wa« still ou fire. The very
hciiTy timlxM'S of which it wa« composed
caused it to burn slowly. Then a cjuan-
tity of grain in the mill, which, as the
floors gave way, fell to the ground. a?id
remained a mass of red heat for lioi;;3.
It wa« not until one o'clock in the morn-
ing that the fire wjm» extinguished, and
the firemen stayed after that, playing
water on the ruins. The main build-
ings, which were <iestroyed, cost $150,-
0(10. The boilers, engine room and stone-
hurst were valued at between .$60,000
and $70,000. At the time of tlie fire
between S.OlM) and 0.000 bushels of corn
were stored in the building, besides 80,-
000 gallons of liquor iii the process of
manufacture, and about 2.000 head of
cattle, which had been li-ft to feed on
the refuse of the distillery. Altogether
tlie loes in buildings, stock and other
exi)en.<e.s Wius l)el.\veen#100.H(H> anil.*!12lt.0IR».
The firm were their own in-surer.^.
About 12.4'! a.m. on the uiorniiig of
JIarcliI 1, 1870. the Queen street b;Ml
sounded nti alarm which was quickly
taken up by the other bells in the city.
The steam enpriiies jiroinptly turned out
nnd a bright reflection in the west end
of the city guided the brijrade to the
scene of the fire, which was tlie Northern
K;ul\v;»y Elevator, at the foot of llriK'k
street. When t\w en^iiiie« arrived the
fire apiTcared to be confined to thi>
southern ^Kirtion of the buildinp: Mnd
nn endeavour was inatie to lay the hose
throuLTli a long shed leadie.^j to the back
of thr elevator. At tiie same time an at-
tempt was njnde to run :\ train of fiat
cai-s into the building in order that they
migiit bo loaded with a portion of the
flour which was stored in the building ;
but before the hose could be laid, and
before the traiii was ready to move in,
the fire ran ."vlong the roof of the shed
like a burning liquid, and it wa,s with
difficulty that several i^ersons, who were
within the slied, managed to escape. Up
to tliis time some hopt* had been enter-
t.ained that the fire would have been con-
fined to a portion of the building, and
that the bulk of the flour stored in the
sheds might be saved, but any such hopes
were quickly dispelled by the iKM-fect
volumes of fire which now envelojjed the
buildings. The exertions of the firemen
were now turned to preventing the fire
from spreading to adjniiiing property, and
the crowd busied themselves miming a
number of flat cars ont of danger. The
fire progressed rapidly nnd two hours
ntvl a half after tiK* alarm was wounded
t>i7 Northern elevator w.as a ni*^08 of
raiiw. The origin of the fire is a mystery ;
it wa« discovered by a lot^omotivc driver,
uno ivbeu the alarm was given it was
well under way. Tl»e loss on tlie contents
of the bnilding was about $150,000 ; on
tlH* buildings tlietnwMves aliout .S(>i>,(>ni),
nie loss was wholly coverwl by insurance.
Oil May 14, 1870, a destructive fin-
destroyed a large amount of property
on the south-east corner of Ilayter and
Teraul.ay fitre«t«, the premises oi'cnpied
by MesBrs. McBenn & Broi. nnd Messrs.
Parish & Gorrio. The fire st.artod in Mo-
Bean's engine house and spread to the
builders yar«l of Parish & Gorrie, on the
north side of Hayter street, before any
water could be brought to l>t>ar on it.
During a. dolay, cauNtnl by tlje want of
sufficient ho^^<', the fire iittained a mas-
tery over everything conibn«<tible alvjut
the place, and ^■onn some immense jiiles
of luml)er were ignite<l. From Ternulay
street the fire travelled p.iat the rear
of Constable Ilornibrook's house to
two new workshops l>eU)nging to
Parish & Gorrie, .and they w»'re soon
burnt to the ground. The brisk north-
westerly wind which was blowing
fanned the flames and blew tli'>
sparks in every direction, and much
alarm was f(>lt for the safety of the sur-
rounding buildings. P.y 0 o'clock it wjis
evident th.nt nothing further could be
done to arrest the progress of the con-
flagration, so ."ill efforts were put forth
to .oave the adjacent buildings. This \v,is
effected after consider.able labour, and tlie
fire at last burned itself out. t)ver 100,-
000 feet of flooring was destroyed in
Messes. McKe.ans' i>renu8«^8, and a largi'
number of window and door frames nii't
the same fate. Messrs. Parish & (}orfi'>
also lost a quantity of valuable lunilu-r,
but were fortunate in saving their wurk-
men's tools. Messrs. Mcl'eans' workneMi
lost tools to the amount of .$1,500. The
total loss could not be ascertained cor-
riH'tly, but it w.as estimated at abmil
$18,000, of which only $3,000 was 8ecur«d
by insurance by Messrs. McHeau. Tli >
Call:--' of the fire wa.s necidentel.
On Friday, Novemlier 18, about a quar-
ter past seven in the evening, the fire
alarm sounded for a fire at " Ronlton's
Mill." on the north-east corner of Bay and
Esplanade r<treets. The fire engines were
promptly on the scene, and, a plenti-
ful .supply of water being obtainable from
the Lake, no time was lost in bringini;;
the branches to play on the burning mass.
The fire had broken out in the third
storey of the southern jvirt of the bnild-
iug, and when the engines arrived tin'
flames were bursting out of two of the
windows to such an extent that it was
feared no good coidd be done. The only
way to reach the place where the fire
apjM'ared to be was through these two
windows, and a continuous stream was
kept pouring into them. The office was
if'!
LANDMARKS OF TOROXTO.
645
broken into ami the books, |iai)oiB and
Hufe were roscned. An hour aftor tho
flamcH broke out it was obvious that no
efforts could stop their proKi'OHH ; the
fiauiCM soon upread to the elevator, which
fortwittt'ly coutained bnt little grain;
and tlio beams of the gable, once on fire,
bnrnt with an inteiwifty which soon
brought them to the ground. The fire
ran through witli ligbtnius like rapidity,
and by mi^iiiight all that remained of the
fine mill wei-e four blackened walls : the
interior, with the exception of the base-
aunt, being conipletely gutted. The
origin of the fire is a mystery. The
uiill shut down at t» o'clock as nstial,
and everything apiK>ared to be all right;
at 7.15 p.m. the fire broke out, nobody
knew how. Mr. IJoultou estimated his
loss !*t about $30,0t)0, of which .$11,000
wan covered by insurance. Tlie firemeu
received great credit for tlic manner iu
wliich they iKirrormcd their duty. Tlie
e»gine.s were promptly on the spot and
tlie br.mchcs well directed, and evcry-
tlii'ig done to stay the fire that was
possible.
Ahout 11 o'clock p.m., ou Saturday, De-
cemU'r 10th, 1870, a fire bix^ie out in the
tioap and candle factory bcloniriiig to the
estate of ,J. Carty, on tiie conth-weet cor-
ner of tiueeu street esu-t and (ieorge street.
which ivautted iu tlie complete destruc-
tiiHi of the bnildi!»g and itM content-^. The
alarm wfis given by T. (.1. Tolluirst. and
till' fire bri)A'ade wen- (juickly <m tlie
pirouud, and did good work in preventing
tht' fire exlendin.n' to the ad join! up; inoii-
erty. About three o'clock the buildin^jc
wiis one mtu-H of blackened bricks and
charred timber. The lK)oks and ■•iccounts
were !»ll rescued intact. Mr. Dodp,vou,
fonnerly of the firm of Dodgson. .Shields i^
Morton, was tke lessee of IIk' fa-ctory. He
wii.s iii'Ured. iMit 1m» loss was very con-
siderable. This was one of the liest fac-
t*>rie.s of the kiud in Canada, and one of I
the very first manufactoriw establislifd i
iu that p«rt of Toronto. It wa*i <)|Kiied i
very early in tlie " fifties.'" when Queen I
Btrcet ea-st wtis not even macadamized |
hevond Church street, and when au open
stream ran on the fouth side of the street
fi<Mn George to (^»roline, now Sherl>ourne ;
street. The two brick lK)U»*es on the north- ]
east corner of Jarvis-i and QiK'en street I
had }u«t been completed, and all aro«iml ;
them was open ti<'ld. 'IMie reniaiue of the j
orchard beloivging to the .Jarvis liome-
stead extended to the p<)iut where George i
now cro«-es Queen street, and when the i
factory Wivs Iniilt it wa/t coii«ido;-ed a mis- ]
take to |iut it in such an o«it-of-th»'-way !
place. The fire swept it away an a caudle
factory, and the busiueftS was never re- j
suiaed. I
Not yet had 1870 had its full quota of
fires, for on Dec. 18th. about 7.20 in the
evening, fire broke out in a yard of Mr.
Clement's aimh fuetory, on the aoutii side of
Front street, o|>iKmite the Queen's Hotel.
Tlie alarm was given at the Qm^en's
Hotel, and Mr. McGaw. with a few others,
went to the spot and extinguished the
flames with a few pails of water. At
11 o'clock the I- Us again rang the alarm,
and this time the factory was really on
fire, r.efore the engines c<mld be got to
play U|ion the building it was one mass of
flames, which spread rapidly anion;.; the
combustible materials within. Almost
from the outset a,ll hope of saving the
factory was abandoned, and Mr. Cleiiieuta
directed the firemen to devote their en-
ergies to prevent the fire catching Messrs.
.Jacques & Hay's establishment, wliich
adjoined. Fortunately their efforts were
successful, and a still more serious blaze
was averted. Sliortly after the fire
broke out a conTincing iircnit of its being
the work of an incendiary was affordeil
by the diseovery tliat a staijle, which
was situateil som(> distance from tlie fac-
tory, w.as on fire inside. This wits ex-
tinguished before it gained much bead-
w;iy. Had it not been, nothing coah!
have saved a large stock of lumber cIoko
by. About 11.3{> the roof fell in, and by
midnight nothing remained but tl>e mere
shell of the building, with its burning
contents in one flaming heap in the base-
ment. The total loss by this fire w.ns
$12,000. Mr. Clements kwt on his stock
and machinery $8,000, and was not in-
sured. The owner of the building, Mr.
John Cayley, lost $•4,000, and was also
uninsured.
On October 11th, 1871, at two in the
afterucKHi, a fire broke out at Milloy's
wharf aud stoielioiise at the foot of
Yont!,* street. It originated iv the south-
eivsL corner of the building, and spread
rapidly to the eastern part. The buildiiiig
destroyed contained a large (plant ity of
griin, crockery and stovi-s, the greater
liortiou of whicli were »k»stroyed. The
jirincipal lo^icrs were : Thomaa Duncan,
14,000 bu-sheW of grain; .lames Youii^u,',
4,000 bushels of grain; James Walsh,
4,(K)0 basliols of grain; C. W. Farrell,'
3,800 bushels of malt; U. J. lioulton, 200
barrels of flour.
'I'lio total lo-^N amounted to over $20,-
000, most, of which wiu-» covered by iu-
wtrauce.
Two good frame hoibses on the west
side of George street, just north of Queen,
the i>roiK'rty of Mr. Lally, a t^ieriff's
officer, valued at .fl.OOO, were destroyed
by fire at four o'clock a.m. on Dece«ii)er
27th. They were fully insured.
One of the worwt fires Toronto Ijod
been visited with for some years bT(>Ke
out at 10 p. m, ou February 14, 1872,
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646
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
in the store of John Charlesworth & Co.,
No. 35 Front Btroot, on the nouth side. It
•vns (Kficov<»n?<l by a cowitablo on duty,
and lie immediately gave tho alarm, and
tins Bay street enfrino promptly arrived on
th« sceuc, but tlie pro;!;ri'«a and appear-
ance of thfi fire wore such that the other
enRinea wore fli};ii.-illcd for. In the mean-
time the fire had burst through the roof
and wvLB spreading over the entire leugth
and breadth of the block. The cornice
beneath the windows in the highest
storey, after burning for a short time,
fell to the si<lewalk, threatening to de-
stroy the hose, which was at once re-
moved by th« firemen with their hooks.
All the engines were in operation about
11 o'clock, two of them being placed on
Higgiubotham's wharf, the others at the
tanks at the loot of Bay street. The
hose of the former being carried across
the track, all traffic was stopped. Up
to about 11 o'clock there waa no pro-
gress made in the direction of taking the
goods from the stores on either side of
that portion of the premises which was
burning ; but as it seeme<l that no pro-
gress was being made against the flames,
the order was given to commence the re-
moval of the goods, and the work at
once was taken ap by a score of men.
By midnight a41 hope of saving the build-
ing seemed to be lost. Monitory jets of
smoke were observed issuing from the
roof at intervals, westward of where the
fire was raging in the central part of
the block. The several storeys of each
store, which was separated from the ad-
joining by a brick partition, were suc-
cessively burned out, and still the fire
advanced beneath the roof to the ad-
jacent portions. The iron front, from
which the block took Hs name, now gave
way, part falling inside and part on the
pavement. At one o'clock there seemed
to be no chance that any portion of the
building would be saved. Hundreds of
men and boys were engaged in removing
the goods from the scene of the fire to
whore it was thought they would Ih>
safe. As the conflagration progressed, it
became more and more evident that no
part of the block could be saved, the
engines not being of sufficient power to
send a stream of water higher than the j
third storey. The mansard roof, being
composed of boards covered with the
combimtible felt roofing, was always the
first |K>rtion of the building to ignite ;
the iiou front bepran to lean outwards,
and no stream of water could be got to
reach it. At 1.45 a.m. the block of one
or two wareluMisos in the rear broke
into flames and burned with great fierce-
ness for some time. A few minutes be-
fore two o'clock a large jiortion of the
building fell with a crasli that was heard '
over a great p^rt of the city. The flames also
reached the old Custom House and did con-
siderable damage there, but the Looks,
papers, otc. , were secured before the fire or
water got to them.
The firemen did not cease playing on
the fire until 10 o'clock the next morn-
ing, and the scene was a sad one. With
the exception of three stores, the wliole
row was completely destroye<l. The total
loss amounted to about $400,000, the
losers being : Mr. Staunton, who owned
two of the buildings, which were worth
about $3.5,000. The greater portion of his
stock was saved. He had insurance for
about $20,000. Messrs. John Robertson,
Son & Co. saved most of tbeir stock and
were insured in various companies for
$40,000. Messrs. Thomson & Burns were
believed to be insured for about $9,000.
Messrs. BrummcU & Russell lost all their
stock, but it was insiire^ ; amount not
stated. Mr. S. S. Campbell lost the whole
of his stock of leather belting, valued at
$8,000; insurance $5,000. Messrs. Bar-
clay & Evans' stock was entirely con-
sumed. It was valued at $70,000 and the
insurance was $25,000. Livingston &
Johnston, who saved a large portion of
their stock, were insured for $13,000. Mr.
Myles was insured on bis stores for $36,-
000. Messrs. Thomas Walls & Co. saved a
considerable amount of their goods. Their
loss above insurance was about $50,000 ;
their insurance was about $107,500.
Messrs. Dobbie & Ciirrie had about $120,-
000 worth of stock, of which they saved
$50,000 Avorth. They were insured for
$70,000. The origin of this most disas-
trous fire is not mentioned, but it is sup-
posed that it was accidental. The work
of re-building the block was proceeded
with as soon as the weather permittad.
The excitement caused by this fire b»d
hardly time to subside when the rest of
the block was burned to the ground. The
fire broke out on Sunday, May 12, 1872,
in the wall paper factory of Messm.
Staunton & Co., and it was soon 8c<u
that the bailding« of the Iron Block awl
Mr. J. B. Smith's lumber yard were iw
danger of being destroyed. Bay street
engine was the first to arrive and was
speedily got to work, but not before the
flames had obtained snch headway as tii
render all chance of saving the factory,
with its valuable niachiner;-, blocks,
stock, etc., hopeless. Soon after the fir*,
broke out the boiler in the engine room
burst and the walls of that portion of the
factory facing stmth were blown on t«
the Esplanade. The flames spread rapidly
through the whole Jensth of tiie buildinj,
and soon the lumber in Mr. Smith's ynrd
was made the prey of tlie fire. Mr.
Smith's office ulso caught, and that oscd
,(f :
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
647
on fire, anotbor Iron Block catantroplio
eeemed inevitaMe, as t)i« wiad bad risen
considerably and wh8 driving the f tames
iu all directions. The roof of Meosra.
Milloy's storebooBC was on fire three
times, and it was only by dint of tlie
preatest exertions that Hcrious damage
did not ensue. The Hiirbnr Commissioner's
office was the next to go ; Mr. Smith's
office and tlte last named building bnrned
up like tinder, and all the efforts of tbe
firemen to check the progress of the fire
were fntile. The sparks were carried
about by tbe wind and soon the mansard
roof of Mr. Staunton's store was obserTed
to be in a blase, and the ilames worked
their way roand to Messrs. M. Fisher &
Son's premises next door. Both stores
were soon wrapped in flainns, and the
only stream of water broupUt to play
npon the buildings facing Front street
was a miserable affair. AH the premises
betw^een Staunton's store and the
Esplanade resembled one vast furnace.
By seven o'clock ail the upper stories of
Fisher & Son's and Staunton's stores
were Irretrievably gone, and presently
the roof fell in with a tremendous crash.
At half-past seren the fronts of both
stores were observed to totter and a few
■ccontlfl after they fell ; when the smoke
and dust cleared off nothing was to be
seen of the building btit one or two frag-
.uents of parting walls and a mass of
debris in the street. However, after this
the firemen prevented the flames from
Bpreading any further and by ten o'clock
all \iaus safe and the firemen ceased pour-
ing v^'ater on the ruins. The origin of tbe
fire is a mystery ; it wa* supposed to
have started in the engine room of
Staunton's factory. The property de-
stroyed was valued at about $150,000,
of which Mr. Staunton lost about $110,-
000 ; $66,750 being covered by insurance.
Messrs. Fisher &. Son's loss could not be
correctly ascertained. Mr. Smith lost
from $30,000 to $25,000 and had insur-
ance for $13,000.
On June 30, 1872, a fire broke out
about 6.16 a.m. in the engine room of
Messrs. Joab Scales & Co.'s tobacco
works, on the ^outh side of Palace, now
Prout, street, just east of Frederick
street, which damaged tbe engine
and machinery to some extent, and
did damage to the raw tobacco, which
aawunted to $4^00 or $5,000. The total
estimated losa was between $9,000 and
^0,000. Firtly insured. The promptness
and efficiency of the fire brigade pre-
vented a very disastrous conflagration
ou this oceasiou.
On Saturday morning
abont 4.30 o'clock, hre
on the premises of Mr
April 5. 1873.
was discovered
William Burke,
lumber mez^huut, etc., ou the Eouth-
west comer of Richmond and Bhep*
pard street^. The flames had al-
ready gained great headway when
the fire engiitcs arrived, and then no
water could be got and the fire raged un-
checked. Water was at length obtained
from the corner of York and Ricbmoud
by one of the enigines, and subsequently
three others got it a]t different points.
Iu spite of all tbe efforts put forth by
tlie firenoen, the whole of Mr. Burke's
buildings and lumber piles, together with
half a dozen dwelling houses, were swept
away. Mr. Burke*s low was about $20,-
000 ; insurance, about $9,500. The other
houses destroyed were oecvpied by Mr.
John Siiigletou, Mr. Fimnk Orris, Mr.
Richard Clarke, Mr. Nathaniel Baker and
Mr. Ed. J. Burton. The coutents of these
buildings were completely destroyed. The
next building to the west wat owned and
occupied by Mr. Daniel Brooke. Here tbe
flames were arrested, after doing dam-
age to the extent of $2,000 to the house
and furniture. Mr. Brooke wa« insured
for $3,000. The total loss by this fire
was estimated at about $30,000. Its
origin is not known.
On July 1, 1873, the water-works were
taken over by the corporation from the
water company which had been operat-
ing them. The matter had been under
consideration for some time, and it was
without doubt a decided improvement on
the old way.
A fire on Dec. 1st. 1873, almost com-
pletely destroyed the Primitive Metho-
dist church on \he 8outh side of Alice
street, about seventy yards from Yooge
street. The flames were first seen
by a policeman about 3 a.m., and
he at once gave the alarm, but
by the time tbe engiuee arrived and
got into working order the fire bad
made ccusider&ble headway. The flames,
which started in the woodwork near a
register coming up from the furnace, ran
up into the cupola and thence spread
along the roof. From the roof tbey crept
down into the interior of the cbnrch, and
when the fire brigade succeeded io ex-
tiuRuishing them the whole inside at the
buildin(i' was almost completely gutted.
The floor was uot burned, but was very
much damaged. A few of the i)ew8
escaped and the framework of the gal-
lerj" and one or two pillars were intact.
AH the rest was a total wreck. The
organ was entirely destroyed. Tlie whole
loM was about $13,000, $10,000 ou the
building and $3,000 on the furniture aod
organ. The insurance was $8,000 on
the building and fixtures and $2,000 on
the organ.
About 11 o'clock on the night of Jasu-
ary 20th, 1874, the old Royal Lyceum,
siluuted near the Rossiu House, ou tUe
m
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648
LANDiMARKS OF TORONTO.
south side of Kiug street, was discovered
to be iu flainue. Tlieee spread with such
rapidity that iu less thau an liour no-
tliiug wofl left of the building but the
bare walls. It w;i« owued by Mr. French,
aud was occupied by Mr. Taunehill, the
piece jMirformed on the night of the fire
beiug " Ute Murder on the Hudaoii." The
damage wa« about .$18,000, aud Mr.
French wjus insured for $15,000.
Ou Jai'unry Utli, 1874, tlie premieea of
James Miller and W. .1. iSniith, cabinet
makers, ou tlie Kouth side of Shuter, cIoho-
ly adjoining Youge utreet, were entirely
destroyed. The damage was about
$3,000.
The check toll-gate ou the Kingston
road, now Queen street cast, just west
of Mill lane (Broadview avenue), was
fired by iuceniliarie« ou the night of
March 2G, 1874, aud burned to the
ground.
A fearful fire broke out ou tlic night
of May 10, iu a wooden building on the
nortli 'side of tlie Efl|)lunade, No. GO, occu-
pied by John Taylor & Co., as safe manu-
facturers. This was entirely destroyed.
From there the flamea spread to the
premises of Neil Currie, No. 52, Loiler
maker. Lyman Bros. & Co. had a ware-
boiwe in this ueiglibourhood, which was
also damaged very greatly, and some
" pattern " ehoiw, tenanted by a Mr.
Little, were also destroyed. The fire
worked nortii wards, anfl soon the pre-
mises of Messrs. .Smith & Keighley, whole-
sale grocers, and the stock of Thome,
Par.ions & Co., leatiier merchants, were
destroyed. These buildings were on the
Boutli side of Front street, to the east of
Church street.
Tlie lasses were a« follows : Lyman
Bros. & Co., $3,000 ; Taylor, John & Co.,
$20.000 : Little. $500 ; N. Currie. $10.-
000 ; Smith & Keighley, $100,000 ;
Tiiorne, Parsons & Co., $20,000.
With the exception of Neil Currie, who
only had a $1,500 iwlicy, all of the above
were protected by in-suraneee. Tiie build-
ings were the pro|K'rty of Mr. A. M. Smith
aud were also covered. Wiien the Kspla-
iinde fire had been burning for about an
hour, an alarm came fiom tieorge street
that the ice houses, Nos. 15 and 17. ou
the ofiat side of the street, were in flames.
They were occupied by Samuel Hill &
Co. A report of tlie time says :
" In a few minutes an engine arrived
ou the spot and was speedily set to work
but too late to save much of the projier-
ty in the block. The entire shell of the
ice house soon afterwards fell exposing a
scene which in gorgeous beauty could not
be surpassed in the imaginary regions of
fairy land, blocks of ice being piled to
what .appeared to be a great height, cacli
of which sparkled iu the lurid light from
were William
Richard Har-
McCarthy aud
damage was
houses beiug
the other fire, looking like a pile of rubiea
such as the boldest writer of fairy tales
never imagined."
Other losers by this fire were Mr. Tay-
lor, rouKh-cast dwelling, W. Campbell,
grocer, .J. Franks, grocer, and some
Kmaller ones. Campbell was not insured
but all the others were believed to be.
While a ladder was beiug raised
against one of the buildings on Front
street in the midst of the fiist fire, a por-
tion of the machine fell, seriously injur-
ing a fireman named Carruthers in the
spine.
About 4 p. m. ou Monday, May 2.")th,
six houses on the east side of Seaton
street, from No. 65 to 75 were entirely
destroyed. The occupants
(lorrie, Robert Btevciusou,
bert. .Toiin Edwards, Mrs.
O. J. Fitzsinmions. The
reckoned at $3,000, the
frame jind valued at $500 each.
The premises of Davies & Co., situated
between Front and Mill streets on the
western bank of the Don, were discover-
ed to be on fire on the afternoon of June
23id. Very great damage was done, the
main buiidini^s and several adjacent sheds
including three ice bouses, being destroy-
ed. The loss was covered by insurance.
A largo fire occurred ou the morning
of July 28th at the oilcloth factory occu-
pied by Davies v't McCuilough on the cor-
ner of Wellesley and Ontario streets. A
large brick building was entirely des-
troyed and the loss, only partly covered
hy insurance, amounted to several thou-
sand dollars.
About 4 o'clock on the morning of March
30th a fire broke out iu a block of six
rough-cast buildings on the south-east
corner of Gerrard and Ontario streets.
Four of them were completely destroyed
the remaining two almost so. The cor-
ner house was a hotel, proprietor Edwin
Hough, and mnnag d by Cliarles Lamb.
Next to it wae Mrs. Dixon's millinery
.•^tore. thou Charles Johnson's the sta-
tioner's. Chowu & Braine, butchers, IL II.
Hammond's grocery, and E. Anderson, a
bi.'ker. The total foss was about $5,0()(),
not more than half of wliich was insured.
A fire not only destructive to property
but where human life was sacrificed,
broke out on the morning of May 31 in
the millinery store of John Miller, 329
Yonge street, on the eastern side, seven
ddors south of Gould street. Despite the
efforts of the firemen the flames burst
through the uppi>r storey and the roof of
the store, ami extended next door to J,
II. Hammond's, the hatter. The npjxT
storey over the two stores was Miller':^
dwellint, he Rublcttimr a por'ijon of- it
to James Nash, a painter, and) his :«ifc,
,X»neii :iut) Hiy, utyi^<i put evci^uue. yfim.
J' 'i
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
G49
25th,
noloep, but Mil lor and his wife succeeded
in making their escape while Mr. and
Mrfl. Nash perinhi>d. The cause of this fire
was supposed to be incendiarism. The loss
wjifi about $G,.")l)0, only partly covered, eo
far as Miller was coucerued, by iusur-
unce.
On June 9 one of the largest fires that
Toronto had seen for many years broke
out in Good's foundry on the north-cast
nide of Qui>ou street, just east of Yonge
street, which was totally destroyed. The
[ire spread to Yonpe, destroying tlie pre-
niises of J. Ilowland, on the corner, No.
73. Mr. Rowland wafl a drj- goods mer-
chant. It next took 7"), G. Goulding's mil-
linery establishment, 77, J. V. l)avies'
music dealer ; 79, George Ellis ; 81, J,
A. Cherry, dry goods; 1S3, .Tohn Lanibo,
boots and shoes; 1S7 and ISO, Sanio &
JoliiLston, cabinet makers; 191, Neil Mc-
Eachren, the Albert Hall came next and
was greatly damaged, then 191 1-2, P. IZ.
Noverre's, tobacconist, and the livery
stabUjs of J. G. Snider, in rear of l'.t3,
were greatly damagi'd.
On Queen street, adjoining Good's foun-
dry to the east, on the corner of Victoria
titreet, W£ie a saloon kept by E. Dawson.
Tills wna entirely destroyed, while on
Victoria street Nos. 5S to 72 were gut-
ted. The insurance on the Yonge street
lionses and their contents exceeded $40,-
(tOO, of this $6,000 was on the Albert
Hall block. There was no insurance on
Good's foundry and only $1,600 on 5S nnd
60 Victoria street. The reflection of the
flames from this fire was seen plainly at
Niagara and also at Whitby.
Tiie Toronto Nut and Bolt Works, on
the south side of Little Kiohmond street,
just east of BiUliurst street, owned by
MesTS. Kobb & Co., were entirely de-
stroyed on the night of Juno 20. The
building and contents were full}' insured,
hut there were many tons of coal stacked
on the premises, which were uninsured,
and proved a total loss.
Onl}' a very J)rief ji>riod elapsed when
on July 12 Collins' brass foundry, C12
and 614 on the west side of Yonge street,
just south of Bloor, was destroyed, and
Mr. Collins' dwelling house as well as
that occupied by Thomas llobinson great-
ly ilani;iged. The lass wius estinmted at
$'.t.00l). Mr, Collins being insured for
^O.t'OO.
Ikjoth & Sons' steam copper works on
the Esplanade, on the north side, near
the corner of Buy street, were destroyed
oa the night of August 18. The loss
amountod to about $6,000, which was
covered by insurance.
KolniLson, McDonald & Co.'s planing mill
on the south side of Mill street east was
completely burned out on tlie evening of
r.ovomber 6. A large quantity of lum-
ber, together with a great deal of ma-
chinery and many tools belonging to the
workmen, was also destroyed. The total
leas was about $8,000. The insurauca
was only a little more than a third
of this, $3,000.
For some munths no firea of any great
consequence occurred in the city. Ou
August 30 great damage was done to
the premises of C. P. Held & Co., 29 Front
street east, on the south side. Damage
to the amount of $15,000 was done, which
was fortunately wholly met by insurance.
Hamilton's fouudrj-, on Front street
east, between Berkeley and Parliament
streets, was utterly destroyed by fire on
the night of November 21. The damage
done exceeded $200,000, and it was only
insured for about $60,000. Over 200 men
were thrown out of employment, and the
whole of their tools perished in the
flames.
A fire occurred at the Central Prison
on June 21, 1877, in a bri<-k buililinc;
occui)ied as a bakery, etc. The damage
done amounted to about $500.
Metcalfe's foundry, known as the "Don
Foundry," on the sonthern side of King
street east, close to the Don, w.-is entire-
ly destroyed on the night of July 12th,
1877. The building and its contents wero
valued at $7,000, and were only insured
for a little over $2,000. This was the
fifth time Mr. Metcalfe had been burnt
out.
Sunday, October 7, occurred one of the
most disastrous fires of the year. About
three o'clock a.m. the premises on the
east side of Teraulay street, between
Buchanan and Uayter streets, owned .-md
oceui)ied by the Canada Coffin Manufac-
turing Company, limited, were burned to
the ground. The coffin company occupied
the building as their work shops, and
at the time the fire took place it was
filled with a large stock of manufac-
tured goods and r;iAv material, all of
which was destroyed. The loss to the
company exceeded $20,000. Over 1,400
coffins were destroyed, besides a largo
stock of material, which all perished
either by fire or by water. The amount
of insurance carried only amounted to
about one-third of the daniiige done. "The
only \\\\y to account for the fire is by
attributing it to incendiarism." Such
was the remark made by the Globe news-
paper in reporting the blaze, and the
other dailies said the same.
On November 20 Oliver's lumber yard,
on the west side of Lome street, was par-
tially destroyed by fire, and great fear
was entertained that the Queen's Hotel
would go too, but after half an hour's
hard work on the part of the firemen
all danger to the latter building was
averted, besides a considerable jwrtion
[
lliO'
If
II
nil
ilii ''
111 . ,ri
650
LANDMARKS OF TORDNTO.
of Oliver's property being saved. The
damage doiic was to a great extent cov-
ered by the various policies of insurance
held.
On June 22, 1S78, a fire of a very de-
Btrnctive nature took place in the pre-
ini«eH occupied by Mr. J. W. Philips,
builder, o'l th> eouth-iwiet corner of Elizi-
beth and Hayter streets. DaninKO to the
extent of $7,000 wjis done, but there wnsi
ample insurance. Thomas Carroll, who oc-
cupied an adjoining sash and blind fac-
tory, was all but burnt out, his loss
reaching $5,000 and he was only insured
for $2,000. Mr. J. E. Turner and Mr. J.
D. McArthur, leather belting manufac-
turers, were also losers, each about $1,-
000.
A fire broke out on the evening of
September 30 in the planing mill and
handle ninnutactory of C. T. Brandon &
Co., in McDonell square, south side, off
Bathurst street. Owing to the inflamma-
ble nature of the building and contents
the flames spread rapidly and destroyed
most of the property, including the ma-
chinery aud stock. The firm were insured
for $3,000, but this did not quite cover
the lose. The fire was supposed to have
been accidental and to have commenced
in the boiler room.
Gearing's sash aud door factory, Nos.
118 to 124 Esplanade street, on the
north side, was entirely gutted on the
afternoon of October 9. The fire broke
out about 4.30 and it was about 6 before
it was completely subdued, the damage
amounting to more than $5,000. The fire
was caused by the high wind which pass-
ed down the chimney with such force as
to blow the flnmes out into a lot of
shavings some distance off. The shavings
in turn communicated with the wooden
work above, and so the conflagration oc-
curred. Happily for Mr. Gearing he was
insured fully.
At 12.20 on the morning of Wednesday,
November 13th, flames were discovered
issuing from the south-west corner of the
paint shop in the Central Prison yard.
The main building, the prison proper, oc-
cupies the east side of the quadrangle.
At the point most remote from this, the
south-west comer of the walls, the fire
originated. All the space between the
rear wall and the main buildiug w^as
occupied by workshoiis, piles of lumber
and staves. The yard was also full of
combustible material, and once the flnmes
started they spread with alarming rapid-
ity. The paint shop was consumed in a
few minutes, and soon the saw mill, dry-
ing kiln and engine room, on the north
side of the paint shop, wore in flames.
The wind also carried the flames to the
large store room filled with wooden ware
and o'.her inflammable material, situat-
: ed exactly west of the paint shop, and de-
j stroyed it, with the piles of lumber and
staves between the various buildings.
Two flat cars and a dozen box cars,
standing on the tracks of the Northern
railway, betweeu the shops, were con-
sumed, together with a quantity of lum-
ber in rear of the paint shops. All these
buildings, with their contents, were abso-
lutely destroyed.
The stores, buildings and niachinorv
cost, with the foundry, $40,000. This was
a total loss. The loss on the other build-
ings brought the sum up to nearly $100,-
000, which, fortunately for the city, fell
upon the insurance companies, and not
upon the ta-xpayers. Jreat as was the
damage to property, it is pleasant to
learn that there was no harm done to
life or limb. The cause of the fire wan
never accurately ascertained.
Stewart's flour mill, on the north-east
corner of Frederick and Esplanade streets,
was greatly damaged by a fire Avhich
broke out on the evening of November
18. The mill contained about 200 bar-
rels of flour, aud between 2,000 and 3,000
bushels of wheat, which were destroyed,
as was all the wooden machinery, such
as sjjouts, elevators, etc. The loss ex-
ceeded $4,000. which was more tbau met
by the iusurance carried.
On Good Friday, April 11, 1879, what
I was known as the Market Elevator, on
I the Esplanade, almost opposite the foot
i of George street, was entirely consumed
: by fire, which broke out just before seven
; p.m. The whole of the fire brigade were
; on the ground very soon after the alarm
I was sounded. " For fully two hours,"
I relates an eye-witness, " there was no
; abatement of the flamo^ although it
j might have been supposed that the very
intensity of the fire, combined with the
inflammable nature of the material it
had to feed upon, would have been suf-
ficient to burn itself out in a very short
time. On the contrary, however, it blazed
away fiercely until everything of a com-
bustible nature had been consumed. The
ecene during the progress of the fire was
profoundly impressive. Distributed around
the various docks in the vicinity were a
number of schooners, and these vessels
afforded admirable positions for hun-
dreds who desired to obtain a good view
of the scene. * • • Taken altogether,
it was a weird sight— the thousands of
spectators crowding vessels, wharves and
houses, the exceeding brilliancy of tbe
light giving the water in the bay a re-
semblance to blood, and the schooners in
the harbour the appearance of phantom
ships— combined to form a spectacle not
readilj- forgotten by those who wit-
nessed it."
There was no doubt that the fire wa»
LANDMAP.KS OF TORONTO.
631
caiisod by un iuceudiary. This could
readily be seeu from tlie fa«t that the
lire WOH started in the upper storey,
where, if unobserved for a ehort time,
it would be utterly imiKxwible to git it
under control. The building had been
unoccupied since the previous October,
wliioli was another fact pointing out de-
sign in the origin of the fire. The dam-
ago done was about $50,000, and towards
covering that amount there wee policies
of insurance amounting to $20,000.
On the night of Wednesday, July 16th,
the shoe factory fl \V. 1). Hamilton, on
the north side of Front street east, eight
doors from Youge street, caught fire, and,
with its contents*, was entirely consumed.
Tlif building, 180 feet long by 50 feet
wide, was four storeys high in front and
live in rear, and was insured for $15,000.
The mJtchinery was insured for $10,000,
and the stock for $60,000, Mr. Ilamil-
tou's loss, though, was very heavy, as
he had just purchased a heavy lot of
leather, etc., in anticipation of the fall
trade.
A disastrous fire occurred on the morn-
ing of September 8, in the premises of
Christie, Brown & Co., on the south-west
c()nier of Duke and Frederick streets.
Damage was done to the extent of $20,-
000, which was more than covered by
the insurance carried.
The house-furnishing store of Noah L.
Pipcri 169, on the east side of Yonge,
three doors from Queen, was destroyed
by fire very early on the morning of Sep-
tember 11. The loss was more than $25,-
000, only $18,000 of which was insured
for.
The Grand Opera House, on the south
side of Adelaide street west, between
Yonge and Bay streets, fell a victim to
fire very early on the morning of Novem-
ber 29. Mr. and Mrs. Bandumnn's com-
pany were fulfilling an engagement at
the time, and, with one or two exceptions,
the whole of the costumes belonging to
both ladies and gcut'jmen were destroy-
ed, as well as the scenery and stage
accessories. Bad as this was, it was no-
thing to the loss of human life which oc-
curred. Rv jert Wright, the stag!' car-
penter and caretaker, his wife and daugh-
ter, a child of about ten years of age,
were iniabli; to effect their escape from
the burning building and were burnt to
death. A man named Thomas Scott was
also seriouslj' injured, in jumping from
an npjH.'r window, but eventually he re-
covered. The damage done was estimated
at $+7,000, and the insurances reached
$+2,000.
At 11.30 p.m., Thursday, May 7, 1880,
n. fire broke out in a block of rough-ciust
buildings on the ea.stern corner of Duf-
feriu avenue anfl Queen street, occupied
by Robert Moore, hotelkeeper. and T.
Booth, grocer. The fire spread rapidly,
and soon enveloped the Union Hall, a
large wooden building to the west of
Moore's. These W'-re all rjuickly levelled
to the ground, very little of their con-
tents being saved. Moore was insured for
$5,800. but Booth w;v.s uninsured. The
total damage e.\«eeded $10,000.
Another somewhat serious lire broke
out on the night of May 29 in the pre-
mises of Baillio & Downey, millers, on
the north side of King street west, now
No. 88. The mill was not in use at the
time the fire occurred, and there was
no stock there, but the dam:ige amounted
to more than $2,000.
Priddie's cabinet factory, on the north
side of Duke street, was almost destroyed
by fire on the night of July 23. The dam-
age was about $2,000: in^uraiK-e $1,200.
The stables of the Black Horse hotel
on the north-east corner of Front anA
George streets together with a workshop
and two other stables adjoining were en-
tirely consumed by the fire which took
place there on the evening of Friday,
September 17th, 1880. The owners were
A. Oxford, hotel proprietor. Wood, tin-
smith, loss about $2,500, and O'Connor
and Davison who occupied the other
stables. Oxford's loss was about $600
and the two latter about $230 each. No
less than thirty horses were in the stables
when the fire occurred all of which were
safely rescued.
A verj' destructive fire occurred ia
Parkdale between three and four a.m.
on September 23, 1880, causing the total
destruction of a hotel, fancy goods shop,
drug store, grocery, and a coal, wood
and lumber yard office. The fire broke
out on the groun<l floor of G. A. Devlin's
drug store, on the north side of Queen
street west, now Nos. 1502 and 1504,
closely adjoining the Parkdale Hotel.
The building where the fire commenced
wa« owned and partly occupied by A.
McKnight, who lost everything. G. A.
Devlin lost all his stock of drugs. Mr.
McBeath's coal office was entirely de-
stroyed. II. Timms' loss, who kept the
Parkdale Hotel, and owned the block in
which it was situat.Ml, was a total one.
It was valued at $-l:,000, with a slight
insurance. T. P. Worth occupied the
other part of the Timms block as a fancy
gooils store. His furniture and stock were,
saved, but were greatly damaged. The
total loss was about $8,000. The insur-
ances were as follows : Devlin's loss $2,-
600, insurance $800 ; McKnight. insur-
ance $975 ; T. P. Worth, insurance $1,-
700 ; H. Timms, iasurance $2,200 ; Mc-
Beath, insurance $50.
A fire occurred in the Revere block,
on the south side of King, west of York
! ^1
it
1 i
i m
1
ill
GoJ
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
ipi!
strof't. on Fiiilay, DoocinVr 3, hy which
a joiiiif? \voiii:iii iuhiumI .NVllio Edwards
v-jLH so ti'rrihi.v biiriiod that aho oiilj' sur-
viviMl liiT rescue for n few liour.M. Two
lii'ciuon, naiiicil nvju'ctivoly William For-
H.vtli and Martin Kerr. wtTO liadly burniMl.
Tilt; ilaniigi' <'aus('d to tlic Uoverc blocli
Avas not largo, about $3,000, jiartly in-
Burod against.
Enrlv in the mmnim? of Monday, March
28tii. ISSl, a fire broke out in the «tablo«
Jind driving; nhcd t)ccupied by Terry iSc Co..
]!{(• Front wtreet vaHt on its iiortiiern
Hide, which completely destroyed tlio
Iniiidings, and six iiorscs stabled there
wore burnt u> death. The total damage
cxci'eded .$2,."00. The insurance was not
neaily sufficient to cover the loss.
A row of cottages on the south- west
corner of Itobin.son and Luinley streets,
four in number, were desti'oyod by fire
on the night of April oth ; the loss was
about $1,.jOO, and only 'i f^nuill insur-
ance.
Newspaper offices have been peculiarly
unfortunate in the matter of fires. On
Sunday niDrning. April 10th, one occur-
red in the World office on the east side
of Yonge Ntreot. Fortunately the dam-
age done waj) small though a number of
people had a narrow cscajw from being
burned.
A dinastrous firo occurred between 7
and 8 o'cKx'k on the night of January
32, 18S2. It originated in the premises
occupied by the firm of (iillespie, Mend
\- Co.. on the nortli side of Wellington,
near I5ay street. Tlio firm just mention-
ed occupied the second, tliird and top
storey of the building, while the first
I'uit and basement were renti'il by the
lirni of (iille8|)ic, Ansley & Martin, whole-
sale dealers in hats, caps and straw
g<M)ds. Next door to the east were the
premises of Houston, Foster & Co., im-
jiorters of cloths. ']"ho upper jmrtion of
the building was entirely dcstroyod, a?
Was the stcR'k it contained. Gillespie,
Annley iV: Marti'i's stock A^as greatly
damaged by water, as was also that of
Houston, Foster iN; Co., but all three firms
were fully insured. I
KKARI.KSS KIIIKMKV KIOHTINO IT.AMKS. j
The above alliterative liea<lline appears
in one of the j)apers of Februarj' 2nd,
1SS2, above an account of the great fire
by which a great jiortion of Hay c** Co.'s
furniture warehousi' and manufactory on
the Esplanade, at the foot of York street,
were entirely tlestroyod. The firo was
discovered at 10.40, and at 11 o'clock
the roof of Hay's warehouse was in a
blaze, and the firo eating slowly down-
ward soon communicated with flames
which had burst in through tlu' side of
the building. The firo gathered strength
and fury every momonti and 8o<jn
attacked and conHiinied everything in-
fliimnmblo within it« reach. "It apiwand
aH if a very hell wim raging on the
wharf antl the intense lit>at melted the
ice for fully one hundred yards out into
the bay." The (juotation is from a cor,-
tomporary account of the disaster, and
its statements are fully borne out by all
the information given by the papers of
the time. The rapidity with which the
flames Bpread over the furniture estab-
lishment of liny & Co. is to be accoiuited
for by the fact that not only was tin-
Htructure a frame one, but in it was
stored a large quantity of newly varnish-
ed furniture, besides oils and tur|H'ntine,
of which a large stock waw always k"pt
on hand. Fully 10,000 people were gather-
ed along the ]']«planade in the vicinity of
the fire on the streets leading to it and
upon such railway trucks .-lud steamboats
Jis occujiied a good position for sight see-
ing therefrom. Conger's coal yard closely
adjoiued Hay's factory, and in the stable
were four hoi-ses, all of which wore burn-
ed to deatfi.
As regards the damage done Mr. Conger,
in who«o ijremises tho firo originated, h.id
between 3,000 and 4,000 tons of hard
coal stored away which was all more
or le.s8 damaged ; the wharf was also
I)Hrtially injured. Mr. Conger's loss was
about $20,000, on which he had insur-
ance of between $i),0<)0 and $10,000 in
different companies. Hay & Co.'s loss
was the heaviest. It amounted to $!t0,000
with insurance carried for only one- third
of that aniotint. One fireman belonging to
No. 4 section was injured by a burning
brand falling on him, but happily wa.>j
not long on the sick list.
The old City Flour Mills on the north-
past Corner of Fsplanade and Frederick
streets finally disappeared, ''1011 an easy
prey to the flames." late in t!ie evonin'j;
of March 27th, 1882. It wiia in a dilapi-
dated state and was only worth about
$1,000 which was a total loss.
.lust forty-eight hours later on March
21)tli, another fire broke out on the Ek-
I>lanade on the western corner ol Iconic
street, occupied by .Tohn Oliver & Co's.
planing mill and drying kilns, the Garden
City llarter Purifier Company, the Soho
foundry and the Toronto Waggon Wheel
Comiiany. The eceue at the beginning
was disheartening owing to the extent of
the mill and the inflammatory nature of
the materials contained in it. But the
firemen under Richard Ardagh worked
bravely to prevent its spread. The fol-
lowing incident happened while the fire
was being fought on the cast and north :
A loud crash was heard on the west side
of the burning pile and the vast crowd
ruslied madly along Esplanade street to
III
LANDMARKS 01' TORONTO.
fl.13
sec what liiid happened. It was tbon dis-
coTPrcd that the flat roof of tho Soho
foundry uik>u which wcro working thi>
v,-hr>\e of the men of No. 2 section of tho
fire brijjado had falliui in carrying with
it the whole of the men. N'eveitheleK^ they
all t)Ut miraculouHly esca|K»d. only two of
tlioni receiving slight iujuries.
'I'fio losHi'8 were very heavy, Oliver &
Co'h. b.'iny; the largest, about $3.").000.
The total lo,>.» was about $.")(),000, and the
iufiurauee was less than $20,000.
On tlK' morning of Novembi'r 9th, the
bulliling, tenanted by tho IJ. \V. H. and
owned by the Northern Itailway Coni-
pany, situated on Dock \o. 5, and known
MS the flour and through freight shed, was
hurned to the ground, the contents alHO
being all but a total lass. The i»ro|)erty
(li'vMtroyed consisted of the shed, valued
;it i^fi.OOO ; nine flat cars, worth about
.$2,1)00; four box care, in value $1,200;
.•Mid all the office paj^rs. The railway
conipanicH wore fully insured. Inside the
6l>od weiv stored between 1,200 and
1,500 barrels of flour belonging to dif-
ferent owners. Coffee & Co. being the
jirincipal ouee, they having no less than
!iOO barrels stored there. The remain-
der of the contents consisted of several
hundred kegs of mills, a large quantity
of glaes and some earthenware. Donogh,
MeCbol & Oliver lost a large quantity
ol lumber, about 250,000 feet, iu value
nl)out .'?G,500, upon Avliieh there was an
insurance of only $3,500.
" As the clocks were striking the hour "
of midnight, on .January IG, 1883. the
safe works of Bain, Wont & McLean, on
the south-west corner of Front and Fred-
erick streets, we:(> found to be on fire.
In fifte(Mi minutes the whole building was
euveloi)ed iu flames, and in an hour and
a half the place was gutted. The loss
was about $25,000, and tiiis was covered
twice over by the insurances carried.
Davies & Co.'s storehouse, on the north-
east corner of River and Oueen street
east, was very badly damaged by fire
early in the morning of Sunday, February
4. 1S.S3. Tho building in (juestion was of
W(H>(1, and adjoi'ied on the north side a
substantial brick malt kiln, being of tlie
Hiime height as tho latter, which (lossess-
eil three fhwrs. On the first and third
fl(X>i-s a door connected the kiln with the
(Storehouse, tho latter being filled with
enormous wooden bins, in which were
several thousand bushels of barley in
steep. The greater part of tho interior
(vf this building was destroyed, as well
as the contents. The total loss was alwut
$.'?5,000, there being insurance towards
tills of $21,000.
At an early hour in the morning of
F( bruary 8th, the Royal Ojx'ra House,
ou the south side of King street west,
aljout half way between Bay and Yi>rk
streets, was destroyed by fire. The
flames wens first discovered about 5
o'clm-k a.m., and by seven nothing re-
mained of thp building but a few yards
of Bmoke-blackened wall. The oftera house
stood on the site of the old Royal Lyceum,
destroyed by fire in January, 1874. A
new building wiuj at once commenced, and
opened to the public only nine months
later, on September 14. 'lM>e cost of the
Royal 0|M'ra House, when completed, was
$(54,500. Additions had been made to the
value of $8,400, nad the |>roiHM'ties, etc.,
brought the total value np to about $80,-
000. The insurance was only for .$15,-
500, consequently the lessee's loss was
very licavy.
About 5.30 p.m., on November 20th, tho
woodenwaro factory of T. C. Brandon &
Co., in the north part of the Central
Prison yard, was found to bo on fire iu
the rooms adjacent to the engine housi*.
The firemen worked with a will, hut not
until hours had elapsed were the flames
under control. The loss was estimated at
$40,000, of which $15,000 was (mi tho
building, which belonged to the Goveru-
m Mit. The latter were insured for $19,-
000, Brandon & Co. for $G,000.
The complete destruction by fire of
Erskine Presbyterian Church, on the north
side of Caor-Howell street, facing the
end of Simc(K! street, occurred on the
after;j<x>n of Sunday, January 20th, 1884.
When the flames were *irst discovered the
Sunday school had not been diftniissed, and
it was only OM'iug to tho prostMice of
mind displayed by the teachers that a
panic was averted. However, everyone
got out of the building safely, and none
wore injured. The flames spri-ad rapidlj-,
an<l by G o'clock of Erskine Churcli no-
tliing but smouldering ruins remained.
The pulpit, Bible, a few ciu^hions and
the organ and piano lusod in the lecture
room were saved, but the grand organ
and the small one lused in tho Sunday
school were destroyed. The Sunday school
library contained over 1,000 volunios,
which were all destroyed.
Erskine church was opened for service
on the third Sundav in September, 1878.
It cost $29,000 and was able to seat
950 people. It was built of white brick
with cut stone facings in tho modern
Gothic styles of architecture. On the
south-east corner was a square tower
135 feet high, which was a very promi-
nent feature in tho scenery of tho neigh-
bourhood. There were five entrances in
the '4ont of tho building, so had the fire
occurred during either morning or even-
ing service the congregation could have
both quickly and easily made its way
into the street. There was insurance of
$20,000 ou the building, couf+eciuently the
J J
' 1
!
Gal
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
conKroRalioii were doiui able to build
tlu'iiiMolvt'B another church.
Tb« 'Jwtruction of Adaiunou & Chap-
maa'ti graiu olevature on the £N])laun(Iu
at the foot of Weet Market street occur-
red at 7 o'clock on the eveniuR of Janu-
ary 31. The fire broke out in Adanison'H
bnildinp, which was at the extreme end
of a loug wharf. Ou the we«t, and (juite
cloNO to it, but on another wharf, stood
Cbapnian'M elevator, while on the end of
u wburf on the ea«t of it was L. Yorke'a
steam stone works. The firemen worked
hard, hopinj? to prevent the fire extend-
ing to Cha])man'H, which it unfortunately
did owing lo the water supply being in-
sufficient and eventually reached Yorke's
stone yard.
Adanuiou's n,nd also Chapman's buiiUiugis
were entirely destroyed. At the time of
tlie fire the former contained 14b,UU0
busheH of grain, of which 100,000 buHhels
were of wheat, the rest being comiwsed
of oatti, pcitfl and barley. In Chapman'*
elevator about 25,000 busbels of grain
were stored, valued at about $27,000.
The grain in this building was princi-
pally owned by a Mr. Sproule; that in
Adamsou's by the following : A. V. Dela-
porte, 40,000 bushels ; Taylor & Gates,
86,000 buMhels ; Crane & Baird. 25,000
bushels ; J. B. McKay & Co., 2,000 bush-
els ; James GoodtUl, 4,000 bushels ; Mr.
Slater, 2,000 bushels.
The total losses in this fire reached
^62,000, and the iueurances on build-
ings, grain and plant generally only
ampunted to $31,000. Mr. Adamson was
the heaviest loser. Mr. Chapman waa
wholly covered by iuxurauce.
The sajue night a fire occurred at 98
Luraley street, dcstroyiug the bakery of
Mr. Hall and an adjacent stable. A
horse stabled therein was burnt to death,
and the bake house and its contents were
wholly destroyed. The damage amount-
ed to $3,500 ; partly covered by an in-
surance policy for $1,200.
The great eoap works at the Don of
Morrison, Taylor & Co., of 77 Front
street east, ou the north side, near West
Market street, were found to be on fire
on the evening of February 12th. The
works were situated directly on the
banks of the Don, ou the north side of
Front, east of Beachell street. They were
aibsolutely and entirely consumed. The
loss exceetled $70,000. The amount of in-
surance w»a a little over $40,000.
Queen's Birthday was duly celebrated
in Toronto in 1884, by none more dili-
gently than the proprietors of the Daily
Biaii, for they, not content with the fire-
works provided by public caterers, had
a bonfire all to themwlves. About 9.30
a.m. fire was discovered in the pajjer
room, in the basement of the building.
inim('iliat''ly under the offices tenanti'd
by the New York Axuurajice ComjKiuy,
The flames met little to feed u|K>n until
they reached the top flat, the northern
portion of which was occupied by tli«
Mail n« a corapa<<in£ room and the soiiih-
ern portion by the Bell Telephone Cum-
piiny. In the Teleirhone Company's pr<'-
misea at the time wore six young women,
who had some little difficulty »v*ntually
in effecting their eticape fawm the burn-
ing building. All were saved, though,
and happily no accident either to life
or limb was the result ol this fire. The
damage done was principally in the pre-
mises occupied by the Telephone Grmi-
]>any. It was estimated at $20,000. and
was fully covered by insurance. Mauy
of those who occupied offices in the tfail
building bad their property injured by
water or smoke, but in a week's time
those injuria were fully repaired.
At 12.25 ou the morning of Monday,
Aug. 3, 1885, one of the worst fires thut
ever occurred in the history of Toronto
broke out in the largo brick building ou
the Esplanade, at the foot of Frederick
street, known as the Grape Sugar Re-
finery. In ten minutes from the time
the alarm was gfven the whole of the
grai)e sugar building was a mass of
flames. The heat was intense, and it
was impossible for the foremen to ap-
proach the factory, and even if they
could, all the water they could havo
poured on the building would have been
useless. The fire continued to spread,
and in a few moments the schooner Annie
Mulvey, lying in a slip alongside the fac-
tory, was burned to the water's edge,
William McCiiUum, one ol her crew, be-
ing badly injured. Saulter's, Evans', S.
R. Heakes' and Gunsell's boat houses were
next destroyed. Elias Rogers' coal
wharf with its piles of lumber, Poison
& Co.'s engine and boiler works, the
Currie boiler works, Williams' and Reu-
nardson's boat house and Graham's ice
house came next, and with them were
burned the schooners Mary Ann and
Madeline. Further west were Poison &
Co.'s machine shops, Steele Bros.' stables,
Adamson's plaster shop, Chapman & Co.'s
buildiug« and Sylvester's elevators. These
all perished. Besides these buildings the
following vessels were destroyed; a list is
given with their value : Steamer Mazep-
pa, $9,000; steamer Annie Craig, $4,000;
steamer Ontario, $8,000: steamer Ther-
esa, $5,000; schooner Annie Mulvey, $4,-
000; schooner Madeline, $1,000; yacht
Minden, $500; yacht Veronica, $2,000;
yacht Flight, $1,000; yacht New Yacht,
$3,500.
The total loss was estimated at about
$050,000, and the insurance, distributed
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
ess
ninoiiff tweut}--«i'von «llfIiTont cuuipanios,
juiiouutod to $1S1,7S)<J.
Aiiiuut; tlic' losL'rw were thi> following :
Willluiu Pol«nn (V Co.t boilonnabevs, (60,-
eUO ; J. It. liiuky k Co., cofti doclu, 9M0,-
e<M) ; WilMou k ik>iiB, acalo workm $25,-
(H)U ; Crnnc & Co., c«al dorlui, $0,000 ;
Jhiih>h a. Warin. buntbouac, $6,000 ; £liaa
lU^'Ta, conl wharf, $1,600 ; Saultera'
boMtlioiMc. $1,000 ; ThoniM Ptwlc, luacbis-
ust, $1.000 ; and mauy smaller ouea.
with the machinery and stock. TIkto wna
fortunately no Iohh of life or injury to
anyone.
Ou April 1, 1880, a seeond tiro broke
out in the Mnii bnildine and ii^fain in
that pnrt of it occupied by the Ilell T»le-
phouc Company. The daimif;e done to the
Mail Priutiiiff Couipiiny'fl property was
under $15,000, but the Telephone Coui-
pauy Hufteri'd to th« extent of $20,000.
In both ca«08 the lodMea were fully cotit-
10
V) •*^r*_
>LJ
OliUo
X F f\p**g N-^ T^ sr ^^
tm
5
s.
F-gPLAN AD E. ST^
I I i t
I
u
y
1
idi
w
DIAGRAM •F THK lilSPLANADK FIRE, SHOWING FLACKS BURNKD.
The following numbers, corrcrtponding
with thoee on the plan, nhow the principal
wharrefl and elevators destroyed :
1, Glucoae factory, where the fiio start-
ed ; 2, vacant space, where the echooner
Ann Mulvey was moored ; 3, Elias Rogers
& Co.'8 wharf ; 4, Taylor's wharf and
elevator : 5. Adamvson's wharf and cle-
viitor ; 6, wharf and elevator, owned by
Sylvester Bron. & Hickman ; 7, Church
street wharf and Bailey & Co.'=) coal
yards.
Henry Wort, the watchman in the
6Ugar refinery, was unable to make his
esciii)e from the building, and was burned
to death. He was a pensioner, having
served iu the 44th Regiment, both in the
rhinese and Rnwsian wars.
Another terrible fire occurred at Morri-
son & Taylor's soap factory on the Don
ou the night of December 8, whereby
(liuuiigc was done to the extent of $42,-
000. It ^vafi, though, more than covered
by the amount of insurance carried. In
less than an hour the buildins:, which had
only been put up about two yoar-s pre-
viously, wae all but destroyed, together
cd by insurance.
On May 22, for the third time In less
than two years, fire again broke out in
the Mail building. This time it wafi in the
job printing department. The fire origi-
nated in the rooms occupied by Alex-
ander & Cable, lithographers, and from
there worked its way downward to the
composing room of the Mail job office,
and beneath that to their job office and
press room and upwards to the editorial
floor, and still higher to the composing
room of the MaiU
The Mail's loss on this occasion was
very severe, a great quantity of new
type being destroyed, and Alexander «&
Cable's loss was also severe, about $10,-
000. In both cases the lasers were fully
protected by the insurance carried.
Firstbrook Bros, box factory, 273 King
street east, on the south side, east of
Berki^ey street, was, with its contents,
entirely destroyed on the morning of
I Friday, June 11. The loss exceeded $18,-
j GOO, and the insurance on the faulory
. and its contents was about $14,.^)00.
A disastrous fire broke out about 3
. ; 1
: 1
a.'a
LANDMARKS OF TOIIO.VTO.
W.,P
7f " ''
■ ■il!'
o'clo'k (I. in., (Ill Scpti'inlirr 24tli, in tin-
jMcnii-^OH to till' rt'iir of DiivhlHon A: I[ii.v,
wIk.Ii'niiIi' KrcK'crH nml liiiuor (Ii'iiIci'h, lUi
Y<jH!;i' Htri'i't, on tin' wcMti'rn mIiIi' nurlli
of Wi'llinjitoii ntncl. Tlio front liuildiiip;
wnM not very m-rioiiHly injurnl, liut tlic
pt(K'k \v(i8 to tilt' I'xti'nt of nitin.v tlion-
piukIh of (lulliirN vai'ioiinly cHtiniiiti'iI in
(iinonnt from $7r).(M)() to ijIOO.OiM). There
WHH insuriinee to tin' extent of $71,000 in
ten different c'lMiipauieN.
The wlii.lcMili' <lru(!; /in<l cheniicnl wn re-
house of i{. W. i:ili(jtt it Co.. y Front
xtrci't enst, iilnif»ii <>n the snuthoiiKt cor-
ner of Y(;n>j;e, wiis entirely destroyed very
e/irly in the moininiJ!: of October 20tli.
The fire liroko out nt ■'< o'ehiek ii. in..
0 11(1 liy five o'eloek it wjin under control,
but tlie entire contenlw of the building;
were u burniim: heiip of ruiiiN. The total
loss was $71,s;i.'», iinil tlie insurance $70,-
000. Two of tlie firemi'ii were injured,
namely, .John Fallon of Court Htreet. who
fell from the «i cond Htorey to the {ground,
and Jaiiiew ./. Creit;liton of Yonge street,
who was struck by a piece of falling lim-
ber and had his arm dishK-ated.
'i'lie Croiiipton Corset Compan.v, on tlie
west side <>1 York street. No. ~><, waH de-
Hlroyed liy fire on the aft''iiioon of Feb-
ruary 5tli. 1NS7. Owing t<< the numlier
of fr.'ime bniidiiigH in the imniediat;'
vicinity, Rreat fearM were entertained of
an extensive conl'lagration, but this
happily was averted. The dam;ige done
exceeded $11,000. The insurance was
$57,Ot)0 on stock anil building.
For tlie second time fire visited the
factory of I^nib & Co., glue and black-
ing I^allnfaetureI•.'^, nt the heiid of Siunach
ntni't. on the morning of Sunday, .May
20th, 18S8. The centiv- building contain-
ing a large amount of macliinery for
making Haiid-pa|H'r, blacking, etc., was
entirely defitroyed, and great damage
■was done to the Ktock. The total loss
exceeded $.'jO,0((0, aii<l the amount of iii-
»<uranco was only $12,000, less than half
the amount of loss.
Hewitt iV Harvey's box factory. <ni the
north side of ISritain street, took fire
('lK)rtly after luviii oa June r»t!i, and it
Kj)read with such rapi<lity that in five
minutes the entire buililing was envel-
o|H>d in flames. In a few minutes the
fire spread to Pease & Co.'a furnace fac-
tory, 151 to 155, on tlie Poulli side of
Quoeu street east. The firemeu worked
well, but, despite their effort?, the fire
8piead to Martin Bro^.' car>inge factory,
adjoining I'ease iS: Co.'.s. Within half an
hour tlii'.t building was destroyed, a*i well
as one occupied by J. \V. Iline a»s a .lifirse
shoeing shop. Pease & Co. had $20,000
of stock on hand, half of which was de-
stroyed. The loss was covered by insur-
ance. The damage to the building owned
by Taylor nros., of M'.st Market imil
Coll)orne streetx. am< .iiited In about .'*2.-
000. Martin I'.ros.' Ionh was $(1,OOU, i,:,d
they were insuri'd for .f.'l.OUO. The buinl-
ings, worth .$4.0(10, wi-re a tot.il hxH.
Hewitt & liaivey'M Iohh amounted to
about $5.0110, while that of J. \V. Ilii,,.,
who was not insuiod, reached !>J-0((. "Tii
origin oF the fii'e is unknown." Thai was
the re|H)rt ()f all the paix'rs on the next
day.
Yet another blaze oirnrred at the dn-
tral Prison late in the night of August
20, ISSS, when the paint anil store n ';u
caught fire from "sonii' niiknown eaus^',"
The building was a fiMiiie one, 100 % ."el,
and was filled with highly iiiflammali! <
material bi'loiiging to the Urandon .Mai.i;-
factiiring Company. This burned fiercely
and in les«i than half an hour the build-
ing and its contents were a mass if
ciiarreil and blackened ruins. The liran-
don Company's loss was about .$12.oim(
and the building was worth aboni .<1,.
500. This was fully covered by the in.sur-
a nee carried.
Samuel, lienjamin I'i Co.'s wholesa'.e
lijirdware t-tore. No. 5S Yonge str"i'l. ii;i
its western side, just 'ouih of Mi'limla
I street, was greatly damaged by fire ua
j October 23. Great as was the harm iliiii-
I by the Uami's, water, though, did miu'li
I more, and when tlie danniges canii' to
be assessed they reacle'd no less than
i $75,000. The insuram*- c.irried, Ihounh,
more than covered this.
On Thursday, .lanuary IStli, ISSO, a
ver.v bad bla/.e occurred at Messrs. t.\ui-.i-
nean's store, 7 and 0 King street eti!.',
j on the south side, just e.ast of Yoii:i'.
' The damage to the building was eov. r-
I ed by a few humlred dollars, but t,"
I stock Avas almost ili'sti-oyeil by fii'',
I water, smoke and cinders. The insni-aiiii'
i carried, though, was more tlian sufficii'iit
i to fiill.y cover the loss, which reaclu'd tin'
i sum of $18,042,
j The well known chair factory of Hess
' & Co., situated on the west siiln m'
Strachan avenue, chvse to \Vellinj.tMii
avenue, was destrovi'il on the night ni
Jlarch 20. ISSO. the factory stood on
a triangular jiiece of land, the base if
which rested on Strachan .■iveiiue, while
on the south side ran the (l.T.K. t'-ack.
On the north side wen- Iiiglis i\c Hunter's
shops and the gronuils of the Central
Prison. At the iioint of the triangle a
railway track entered th" groumls so ns
to ship the stoi-k more easily. Standirig
there at the time the fire occurred weri'
several box cars. Those caught fii'e ami
were a total loss. With the exception
of the engine house, the building wa.-< of
wood. The engine .and boiler room w«6
of brick, and stood at the easteri
end of the buildinii'. A new engine cost-
Vn
: i-i •• :
LANDMARKS OF TOIIONTO.
fi.T7
lull $1,000 Iwiil only Ix'i'n pinciMl tlii'ic
till' iii'fvioux iiiituiiiii <iiitl thU \\'i\H <>ii-
tiri'ly Ui'U'royi'd iih /i iiintlt'r of rmirMi',
Tilt' tin' broki' out iil '.t.20. uiiil liy 11
(.V'loi'k tiicft' wiiH iiotliinm l''ft of the cii-
tii-c lidililiiiK <niil it** ci'iiti'iitH Imt lilack-
I'tii'tl wiiIIm and cliiirrcil tiiiilnTM. 'I'iif Ionh
rciiclii'd $r»ri,2-|0, mill the insinnnci' .*4l',-
,'(Mi. 'I'lif cMii>ti' of lliu fin- wiiM nt'vor
cli'iirly iini'iTtainctl but Home tliou^lit il
\\!{H tll<' D'HUlt of H|K>lltlini'OUrt ('ollll)ns-
ti"M.
Till' loiiil iukI Colour woiks of A. <t.
I'l'iu'lic'ii. on tin' noi'lli-\\('-<l I'oiiuT of
I'r. nt iiu'l I'i'infi'Ms hit. i'in w;.h vi'I'v Ii. id-
ly iiijuri'd ill till- liaN'iiicnt and firwt
fliii'i'y I'y " Ii'"'' wliii'li liioi;i' out tlicri-
1,11 tliV hL'lil of OctoliiT ."(111. IHSfh Miicli
iiinn- daniaffi- though im'siiU.'<1 from wati'r
iiiil lii-avy HH was tlu' Um^, nearly !iil">,-
0(10, it sv.'ii* nii't l>y llic anuHint of iiriur-
(lllCl".
Another l)i(; fire l»i'ol;e ,iut mi the nipht
(if Noveiiibei' 2'>tli ill what is known as
till' Truth buildiiit;, on the south niile of
Ailflaide, a little to the west of Bay
stii'i't. 'Plit' vaiiouH o''eui>antH were :
'[■|iilli I'ulilishinn ('oMipjiiiy, Auxiliary
Publishing Company, Ladies' Joi' nal, S.
F. iiiid C'. A. WilwHi, Orange ■ .uinol,
J. .><. Williams, .1. T. iteid, \V. W. Wells,
.losejih Mixire, Toionlo Paper I'.ox Coni-
pany, Churt'hill iSc Co.. j'ea.st in.anufac-
tuKTs; (}. T. Pendritli, iiiiK'liinist. and
S. Crawford iSc Co., Htaiiipiiii;'. The Truth
laiililiiig v.-as tlio lioiue of a numbei' of
pulilisliing firms and other iiidustrleH.
AnioiiK tlie.se the fliiof HufferepH were
Cliiiichill A: Co., .1. S. Williams, .Io,seph
Moore and the Truth Piililishiiig Com-
pany. The buihling was destroyed no
far a-s thi' interior W;i8 foiu'erned at the
liiK'k, but no great annniiit <if daniajJin
was done in tlie front. The hv.a to the
various (x'cupants of the premises ex-
ceiiled !?l-t,OUU, which, most iortunately
for them, was fully covered by the in-
suranoo earrieil.
Valentino's day, ISJiO, will ever be a
UH'iiionible one in Toronto's history, for
on tlu' evening of tli.-it day fire broke out
ill the I'niversity building, in the (Queen's
P.irk. which in a tow hours reduced
that noble building to a heap of ruins.
It was tlio day on which the annual con-
vi'r.saziono was to bo hold, and many of
the r<xmi« and corridors were gnily deco-
ratod in honour of the event. The cause
of the fii'o was the uiwi^tting of a lamj)
in one rf the cori'idors ; it broke and the
oil p.'iught fin', which sjiread with nmaz-
iiig rapidity, l']) tho etairwaj- shot the
flames, into tho reading rooms, into the
library, to convocation hall, to tho
Bonate chamber, nothing was spared. Tho
fire broke out in the oast end of tho
building, and only a portion of the eouth-
western wii4i; wan i»»ved. " It wan a
Had sight," "aid a pap-r of the time,
"to dee the (iiioe liaiid.''ome building, the
great Feat of learning for this proviur',
a inuHN «>f coM. hard, cracked walU niid
itnioking onibers, and many of the old
HtuilentH, now proli'HHJoiial men in tiie
city, turned nadly Ixiinewnrd after view-
ing tho destruction oi lh<'ir belovett alma
mater."
Tho library, with the exception of 100
volumes savi'd by the as-istant librari.in
Mr. r.nbner, cou'-isted of about U;'i.tM>i»
books and wan an absuliite loss. Four
large volumes •)f Auilulmii's birds of Amer-
ica, of which there are only known to bo
four other co| ies on this continent, wore
ainoin;' tho volumes which perished. They
were valued at .$l,.'»<>t», and the total
value of the library was about $10u,(MM).
Tho total lo-H ii'y the I'liiversity fire
reached the appalling total of $.''.'>:•.. 7<M>,
with no greater iiisuran<"e than .''il.'iO.dOO,
Kecently one of the professors of "Varsity
was asked to give some particulars of
tho great fire. He declined, and (juoted
for his reason a portion of the opening
lines of tho second iMok of the .\oneid,
''.lubes renovare delorum * * (iuao(iuo
i|ise inisei'i'iiiia vidi." "'Thou onjoinest me
to I'eiiew an unuttornble grief which I
myself hiive witnessed (experiencedi. "
.''Seldom has n wittier reply been given.
Exa<'lly one week elapsed and another
great fire o<'curred in tlu- city in the
pii'iiiises o:'Cupieil by the (iendioii Manu-
faeturiiig Coiiipiiny, on the south side of
Wellington, just west <(f Y<iiigo sireet. Tho
flames, driven by tho wind, extondeil to
the oast, and gri'atly dainagi'il the pro-
niise.s of White A: Potter, doaler.-J in lace
and faiK'y goods. The fire originatotl iu
the upper storoj' of (rendron's, and by
the strenuous exertions of the firemen it
was confiiiotl almost wholly to the storey
in which il commenced, Tho d.-image done
to the buildings roached about .$i"),tMK),
to the slock about $4,01)0. The iiLsurancii
was ample.
A month elapsed, and again on a Fii-
day, on March 21, a fire broke out in
the iiremises of the lirush Corset Com-
j)any, on Hie imrlh side of Adelaide, oast
of Bay street. The fire began at a few
minutes befoi'O 8 p.m. For a slnirt time
it was feared that it would extend both
east and west, but the firemen succeeded
in confining its ravages to the ixiint
where it bn)ke out. Tho k>8s, which was
covered three times over by the insurance
carried, amounted to $l.'l,itO!».
Home mouths passed away, and once
more on a Friday was there another
big blaze, the lumber yard and planing
mills of Scott & Cross, nn tho north side
of Hayter street, together with two small
cottages, being greatly danuigod by fire.
I I
I
r
I -Kl
I
h
658
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
I
Jl:
» I
The amount of the loss wa« $16,102, and
the iuauraaice only reuchftl $11,000.
The premieos occiipiiHl by the Dominion
Plate Glass Company, No. 7>1 Victoria
street, on the oasti-ru side, were Heriounly
daniairi'd by fire on the evening of Janu-
ary i4, 1891. The loss reached nearly
$12,000, more from water than the
flames, though, and the insurance was
$85,000. so n« far as the Glass Company
was concerned the interruption caused to
trade wsis the worst part of the busine.sn.
Al-nit 10.30 on the night of April 0,
ISUl, the piano factory of Ileintzman &
Co., on the south side of King, just east
of the liossin House, Goldstein & Co.'s
cigar store, and Quinn's shirt warehouse
were a.l greatly damaged by a fire
which was supposed to have broken out
on the iJriMuises of Goldstein & Co. The
loss anioniited *n all to about $32,000,
«ud each of the three firms whose pre-
mises and stock were injured either by
fire or water were fully protected bj' in-
fiurance. .^
A. Dorenwend occupied No. 103 i'ongo
street as a dealer Tn hair and faiicy
goods, and had his place almost ruined
by fire and wivter on the morning of May
18. The premises were on the eastern si<le
of the street, three or four doors south of
Adelaide street, and when the fire broke
out it was greatly feared the flames
would extend to tlie adioiaing premises.
They were checked in time, though the
damage amoui-ted to more than $13,000 ;
the iiusurauce was $20,000.
The last day of 1801 witnessed a very
bad fire at the carpet warehouse of J. G.
Foster & Co., on the north side of Col-
borue street, east of Leader Lane. The
warehouse was not much injured, but the
(Stock was to the extent of nearly $50,-
000. The insurance carried was ample.
The stables of the Verral Livery Com-
pany, tn Gl York street, were destroyed
on Janiiary 11th, 1802, by a fire which
broke out there in the evening of that
daj-. Not only were the stables destroy-
ed, but of five horses, which were there
at the time, three were burnt to death.
The total loss readied $13,500 ; the iu-
Burance exctH'ded $18,000. -jj»
A large three-storey brick factory, on
the north side of JUchmond, east of York
Btreet. owned by William Kidd was, on
the night of March 15, 1802, discovered
to be in flames in the upi>er storey. The
firenu'u worked with a will, but with
all their exertions the stock of A. J. Gil-
mour, cabinet maker, and Watts A: I\lc-
Slahou, picture framers, was entirely de-
stroyed. Those ttvo firms occupied the
premises where the fire originated. In
other parts of the ju'eniisi's the damage
caused w.-i - :.iore from smoke than anj'-
Lhiiig else, but there the harm was, no
1 matter what the cause. The loss was
I nearly $7,000, fully insured.
I James Mcintosh's flour and feed store,
109 Front street, east of Jarvis on the
south side, was gutted in the early morn-
ing of Sunday. April 10th. The damage
reached $13,800, and the insurance
slightly exceeded that amount.
The seven-storey warehouse, part of
which was occupied by James Skinner as
a wholesale crockery dealer at GO Wel-
lington street, on the north side, west of
Mincing lane, wiis very badly injured by
a fire that broke out on the evening of
May I9th. The loss was variously esti-
mated, but whatever it was— one paper
puts it at $20,000— it was quite covered
by insurance.
The Morse Soap Company's factory, 531
Front street, on the south side, east of
lieachell street, was very badly damag-
o«l by a fire taking place there on Aug.
11th at 10 p.m. The loss was about
$7,700, covered fortunately by insurance.
The American liattau Company's big-
factory on the south-east corner of Nia-
gara and Tecumseth streets was dis-
I covered to be in flames early in the
: morning of August 20. By the hard work
! of the fire brigade the flames did not ex-
I tend further than the three upper floors,
but a magnificent display of goods, which
the company had prepared for the To-
ronto Industrial Fair was entirely de-
stroyed. The machinery, being in the
ground floor, was uninjured. The loss
exceeded $16,000. the insurance $21,000.
A fire which broke out early in the
morning of September 8, at Tushiugham
& Sons, 102 Adelaide street, west of Shep-
pard street, did damiige to the extent
of $25,000. The owners of the building
lost $10,000, and were not insured. W-
P. Smith, wood turner; F. H. Boehler,
tinsmith; Grant, bamboo manufacturer,
lost $5,000, $3,000 and $3,000 respec-
tively. The first of these was fully in-
sured, the second only partly, and the
third not at all. There were at least
half a dozen other losers, varying in
amount from $150 to $1,500.
"The iiottest fiie in years." Such was
the de,s<. 'irtion given of the great blaxe
which occurred shortly after noon on
Wednesday, December 14, 1892. The
scene of the fire wiw a five-storey brick
warehousa-.iu Pearl, immediately in rear
of I'ay and King streets, owned by Geo.
Proetor, of the Bay Tree IIc'^l, and oc-
cupied by, in t^u> basement, Ayie.sliuiy
Dairy Company; on the fii-st floor, .lohn
M. French, oil and paint factory; Scliae-
fei's cigar shojw on the second, and the
American Watch Ciise Comjiany's pi-emises
on the third.
The building, erected in 18>i7. wa.s gut-
ted, the tenants Using their entire slocirtf
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LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
659
niul inachiacry, and as much damage wa«
(loiip in an hour aa in auy fire that had
visited Toronto for years. The loss was
a»)oiit $30,000, the heaviest lioing that
of the American Watch Company. The
amount of insurance did not cover any
(^iiiffle firm's loss. No less than thirteen
ilil'fi'ieut iusurauce companies were af-
fected.
Yet another fire occurred at the Cen-
tral Prison on Saturdaj', March 4, lSi»;$,
in a two storey brick workshop. The
huildinsr was full of manufactured
articles and contained much valuable
iiinihinery. The premises were valued at
11(1 hss than $25,000, the dani.Mjie done to
them aniountinp to nearly $7,000. The
loss on the contents of the buildiiip and
on the expensive machinery was almost
einiiil to the total value put ui)on both,
$IS.000. The fire was "accidental," that
is ii using defective pulleys that caused
.sufficient friction to make tbi premises
JKiiite could be coiusidered as exercising
necessary care and judgment in protect-
inj: the building.
About 1) o'clock on the evening of April
10, 1S94, the great blind factory of A.
R. McKinley & Co., on the south side of
iSt. Albau street, burst into flames, the
Intter proceeding from one of the paint
shojis. The building was a frame one to
a jrreat extent and its contents were of
the most inflammable nature. Great
flames of fire shot high up into the air
and the light could be seen |)tainly as far
east as the Kingston Road. The loss
amounted to almost $9,300 ; towards this
the insurance policies held by the firu)
reached $0,500, leaving fi net lose of $2,-
800, bei^ides loss of trade and emi)loye8
being thrown out of work. The cause of
the fire waa attributf^d to spontaneous
combustion.
Sunday, April 16th, less than a week
after the fire just recorded took place,
saw another fearful fire in Toronto. Tt
wns on the extensive premises of James
Kohertson & Co., 265 to 283 King street,
on its southern side, west of Dorset, and
extending almost to John street. The
firm were saw and lead mnuufaeturers,
the place being known as th > Dominion
works. The firemen, under I'lchard Ar-
dngli, worked, as they always do, with
unceasing energy, but, despite all their
efforts, the building was all but destroy-
ed, with the greater portion of its con-
tents. The '.1*18 on the building and con-
tents Was nearly $61), 000, happily for
Messrs. Robertson, fully covered by in-
surance. The cause of this fire was the
same as that at McKinley's, sjioutaneous
combustion.
The stained gloss works of James Mc-
Causland & Sou, at the back of 72 and
76 King street, ou the uorth side, about
150 yards to the west of Bay street, were
badly damaged by a fire of incendiary
origin on Monday, May 8th. The loss on
building and contents was $14,500, and
the insurance was $32,000.
Holph, Smith k Co., the lithographers,
of 51 Wellington, just west of Ray street,
on the south side, suffered greatly by a
fire which broke out in their sho{)s on
Friday, August 25th. The cause was at-
tributed, iu this case also, to spontaneous
combustion. The damage done amounted
to $10,945. Insured for $49,000.
With only two exceptions the year
1S94 wns free from any very disastrous
lires. One broke out on .January 7th on
the north sidi> of tjueen street, just west
of Manning, No. 700, owned by the Laud
Security Company and occupied as a
clothing store by Mrs. Cohen, doing dam-
age to tlie store of about $(iOO, fully in-
sured, and to the stock $3,600. This lat-
ter loss was exactly covered by the in-
surance policy. Four days later another
blaze took place at the United Service
Clothing Comi)any'8 premises, 97 King
street east, when the loss was $1,000.
This fii-e was caused by the ignition of
the Christmas decorations remaining iu
the window. There M'as ample insurance.
On Wednesday, February 7th, a small
fire occurred at 89 King street east, oe-
cuj)ied by Messrs, IL & C. I'lachford as
a shoe store and by Mrs. Caswell and
others as a dwelling. The damage done
was abt>ut $700 in all. but Mrs. Caswell
was severely burned iu escaping from
the flames.
Friday, May 11, witnessed the first big
fire of the year, when the two storey
frame factory owned by W. R-iinkin, ou
the north-east corner of Duudas street and
Sheridan avenue, occupied by the E. R.
Ruriis' Jam Company was totally de-
stroyed. The stoit's oi Mallou & Woods
and John Pearson, closely adjacent, were
also damaged, as waa McConnell's tavern.
The UvsHes were: Rankin, $6,620; Burns,
$2,000 ; the others $S2, $151 and $540
respectively. In Rankin's c.-ise the insur-
ance carried wii** only $3,310, in Burns'
$1,500, so the loss of the former's was
very heavy one. The rest were all fully
protected. The cause of the fire was in-
cendiary.
On the afternoon of Sunday, August 19,
the premises occup.i-d by W. N. Ferguson,
.1. IL Ames aud Joseph Bunker, on the
north-east corner of Bay and Melinda
streets, were completely gutted by a fire
which occurred. The building waa a,
roughcast frame one, belonging to John
Goodhall, and the loss, $1,500, was just
equalled by the insurance. Ferguson,
Ames aud Hunker lost $700, $1,451 and
$250 respectively. They were all three
fully iuHured.
f A-
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660
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
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Mi V i
The old 8inalI-poz Hospital, Broadview
avenue, on the western side, adjoining
Kivenside Park, owned by the city, was,
by order of the Huthoritie^, destroyed by
burning on Tuesday, September 25.
The Becond great fire of the year oc-
curred at 6 o'clock ou the morning of
Sunday, October 28, in the three storey
brick building owned and occupied by
Withrow & Hillock, on the south-west
corner of Queen and George streets. The
building was gutted and damage done to
the amount of nearly $7,000, though the
insurance wa« ample, more than $12,700.
The premises were occupied as planing
mills, etc., and there was a large lum-
ber yard in the rear. The fire, which was
attributed to incendiarism, broke out in
the moulding shop in rear of the main
building. One of the firemen, Alfred
Everist, driver of hose section, No. 5, was
very badly injured by a falling beam, it
being five weeks before he could return
to duty.
Two days later, at a paltry little blaze
at the back of 75 Adelaide street west,
the deputy chief of the brigade, Thomas
Graham, was also injured by falling into
a pit. He was laid by for some days.
A fire, which did damage to the ex-
tent of $4,500, occurred at 25 Front
Btreet west on December 11. The premises
were owned by Miss Staunton and occu-
pied by Mclx-an & Co., shoe dealers, the
Fringe and Tassel Company, Ciiarles Mit-
chell & Co., and Cuthbertson & Co., both
fancy goods dealers. Fire did far less
harm tijan water, but except 4ihe Fringe
Company, everyone wua fully insured.
About 2.45 a. ni. on Sunday, January
6th. 1895, Michael Mc(2uade, one of the
Holmea Electric Protection Company^si
watchmen, discovered fire in the pre-
mises of the Globe, Yonge and Melinda
streeta. He was making the round of the
building when, on opening the door of
the boiler room, he was met by a cloud
of smoke. He immediately turned in an
alarm, but before the reels arrived the
flames had gathered such headway that
in twenty niiuuten they had crawled
from the basement to the roof, and the
dome of the tower tumbled into the
Btrects.
The first buildin,? to catch fire from the
Globe conflagration was Hairy \\'tbl)'.s
reislaurant on the iiorlh corner .i iMo-
linda .-iiid Yonge, directly oppcwite. This
lar^^e tlireo storey brick strueluri' was
soon euvel(){)ed in flames. Tin- lirou^li
Printing Company, on Jordan .stret-t, and
Niehohis Itooney's wholesale dry goods
houNo on Yonge street were the "next to
suffer.
In (piick .succession followed the To-
ronto Lithographing Coinp;iny"s pn'-
mises in the west end of the Globe build-
ing. Jordan street proved so narrow as
to be no barrier to the uU-devouriug ele-
ment. Across it leaiwd, and the new ware-
house of S. F. McKinnon Co., on the west
side, was the next to go.
In a few momenti^ after the outbreaJc
of the fire the entire Globe building from
cellar to roof was a maes of hissing,
seething fire. The two elevator shafts
on either side of the wooden stairway
in the centre of the building made an
excellent draught for the flames, and
they were sucked up to every floor with
instantaneous rapidity. As they ate up
the woodwork the heavy machinery on
the various floors soon broke them down,
one after another, with a series of
terrific crashes, until the entire contents
of the building were hurled into the b.nse-
ment in one inextricable and confused
mass. The ro<}f then' fell upon the debris,
and the weak walls of the structure were
all that remained.
Then the upi)er jjortiou of the wall on
Melinda street bt>gan to cant outwards,
and, in a moment, came tumbling to the
street, throwing volumes of sparks high
over the surrounding buildings.
The Globe had two Bullock presses,
eight type setting machines, weighing
from 2,500 to 3,000 pounds each^ and a
complete outfit for the conduct of a large
newspaper. All this was lost, except
records, which were recovered from the
vault.
The Toronto Lithographing Company,
which occupied two flats of this build-
ing, lost a large stock of presscH. valu-
able atones and all the tools, Hamples
and engravings of its artists and work-
UKMl.
The building was first occupied by the
Globe in 1890, the improvements costing
$70,000 and the entire building $90,000.
The heavy wind di'ove the flnmefl acrwe
u|K>n Harry Webb's restaurant, north-west
corner of Yonge and Melinda. They soon
ate iht'ir way through the vooi and found
an easy prey in the interior, which, in a
short space of time, was entirely consum-
ed, with all its eilvenvare and valuable
furnishings.
The veering wind caught a mass of flame
and Ih'ut it down u|x)n the root of Nicholas
Room-y'H dry gootls e.stabliehment, just
south of and adjacent to the Globe builil-
iuK'. The building wn.s filled with \ aluable
and inl'lamijMible goods, and tliey ;-<if)n
were eaten up in the general conflagra-
tion. Not a vestige of the in^•ide of this
building remained.
Siniultiiueously with the ignition of
Harry Wi-bb's restaurant, the lire com-
munieitted to the IJrough Printing Com-
I)au,v'8 I'.-tabli.shment, being comnninieatitl
l>y blazing embers f.alling u|)on the rotif
from the toi) of the Globe building. Groat
• IF
>:
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
661
DESTKUCTION OK Till', <;|,!)B10 liUIKDlNd, S. W. (,0U. YONlJl'; AM) MELINDA KTS. — IS'.)").
J ."^il
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662
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
maases of brick and other building ma-
terial kept tumbling on the doomed ware-
house, and it was imixMsiblc to save it.
In the burning of this latter building
occurred aeerioufl incident, which nearly
cost the lives of Firemen Smedley and For-
«yth and from which Chief Ardagh cventu-
aJly dlini. These three were going through
to attack the lire from that side whoai
the chief decided to go l>ack for a hose
braaich, and they started dovk'n the ele-
vator, only to meet flames' on the floor bc-
Jow. I"brHyth rushed to the wuulow and
dropped twenty-five feet to the lane. In
ppite of hw severe injuries from cuts on
his face and head, he immediately frought
as-istanco for the chief and Smedley. who,
he thought, were hemmed in by flames.
The two latter men had run back to the
third storey, and found thorn-delves at bay
iu earneflt. The fire (torched their hair,
beards and eyebrows, and they saw there
was only one passible chance for life.
Cliii'f Ardagh weighed 225 pounds, and
forty feet is a big drop even for a feather-
weight. They shook handi and said "Good-
bye," then the chief dropped and Smedley
followed him. The chances were greatly
against them, but both of them wen; able
to crawl to Wellington street, where the
squad of men Foivyth had sent to relieve
them found them sitting on the (steps of a
w^a re house.
The chief attempted to get up, and with
difficulty did eo ; he was sent to his home
ill 8horboume street iu a hack, while
Smedley was removed to Ids residence on
Nassau street.
A sudden gu«t of the variable wind car-
ried the fierce flames from the Globe
building across Jordan street to the hand-
some heven-atorey warehouse just erected
by S. F. McKinnon Co. The lire struck it
like a lightning bolt, piei-ced the roof, and
in an incredibly short space of time the
licking tongues had enwrapped the whole
interior of the magnificent structure.
The roof and v^indows fell in, and floors
soon bent and went down with a cra«h,
and small iwrtionts of the walls followed.
Only three days earlier a valuable stock
from the old stoi-e, valued at i?125,000,
had been moved into this building.
The rear of Michie & Co.s grocery store
was damaged, a large plate glass window
being broken, as well a« other windows in
the establi-hment. 4bout $1,000 worth
of teas were injured by water.
All the buildings in the vicinity suffer-
€'d ia the same way, eome being blackened
and blistered. The iskylights of the Os-
goodby building were cracked by the heat.
When the aerial ladder was being put
in position on Melinda street the order
to erect it was countermanded. At five
minutes paflt three o'clock, when the gang
of mcu were removing it, the wall of the
Globe building fcH, and two men were
buried under it.
The aerial ladder required eight men to
work it, four on each side, and the four
men on the south side of the truck, imme-
diately next to the burning building, were
llobert Bowrey, Robert Foster, John
Brown and John Hart, of the Lombard
street fire hall. Bowrey stood on the lad-
der as it ro<e. He was armed with a pair
of pliers to cut through the wires that
hung iu a network along the front. Before
the ladder had reached that altitude.
Foreman Frank Smith realized that it
was located in too hot a place for work
and ordered it down again. This order
was safely and successfully carried out
and the squad were engaged in adjusting
the ladders in a ship-shape manner ou
their carriage, when the bricks began to
fall from the roof above. The men
on the north side of the truck were
further from the building than the
others, and when the firemen gave a
shout of w-a ruing they succeeded in
jmupinti: clear. The men on the other
side attempted to go around the truck
instead of diving under it. Before they
got clear a large section of the wall
tumbled upon part of the aerial ladder
and imprisoned the four meiu Brown and
Hart were thrown under tlie framework
of the truck, which broke the fall of
bricks and in all probability saved their
lives. They were cut and bruised, but
were still .ible to remain on duty.
The other four men of the squad rushed
to rescue their imprisoned comrades.
Seldom— never— has there been done a
tleed of greater daring in Toronto than
was done then. The ruined wall still tot-
tered above them and they took their
lives in their hands. Did they hesitate ?
Not they I Quickly their experienced
hands cleared away enough of the debris
to permit of getting at the men.
Foster was next to Bowery ou the lad-
der, and in addition to many bad cuts
and bruises he had one leg broken in
two places. Bowery was stream-
ing with blood from many wouudfi,
and groaned with anguish as hie
comrades laid him tenderly ou the
sidewalk. Both men were taken to the
General Hospital, and at 10 minutes to
6 o'clock Sunday morning Bowerj' died.
Bowery would have been 2.5 years old
on Jauuarj- 18th. In 1886 he was ap-
l)ointed driver in the Lombard street
hall and in 1390 he was appointed fire-
man. He was engaged to be married. He
leaves, besides a mother, three brothers
a|ud a sister.
Hi3 injuries conaisted of fractures of
the left thigh and right forearm and
severe wounds to the lace, scalp, left
hand and left ankle.
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
663
The fuueral took place from his former
resid(!uce, 25-1: Parliament street, on Janu-
ary 8th, to St. James' cemetery, at 3.30
p.m.
Just aa the fire iu the Mt'Kimion block
was getting nicely under way, when sev-
eral of the brigade were playing on the
Jordan street end of the Globe building,
a stone fell from the cornice and struck
lleiuy Saunders, of No. 2 hook nnd ladder.
Examination showed that he had sus-
tained a bad sma^jhing of the bones of
the left log and ankle. He was put under
cliloroform to reduce the fracture, and it
is pleasing to say eventually recovered.
The folIoAvLug is a list of losses an.d
insurance :
Loss Insurance
Globe Printing Co $140,000 $ 94,150
Toronto Litho. Co 120,0<.)0 (15,000
N. Roonev, dry goods.. . 60,000 55,000
S. V. McKi'nnon, millinery 2'20,(XK) 120,000
Urough Printing Co 24,(X»0 13,500
flarry Webb, estaurant 17,000 21,000
A. Manning, unilding. .. 10,000 20,000
Dr. Abbott, building 2,500 4,000
Millar *; Richard, type.. 1,000 30,000
Haworth Belting Co 25,000 25,000
Michie & Co., grocers. . . 1,000 in full
Benham Silver Co 700 iu full
Smaller firms, say 5,000 in fall
.S7 15,200 .$494,S."')0
Chief Richard Ardagh died on January
27th from the effect of his in^irie.s. Au
account of his funeral is given in the
preceding chai)ter.
At 7 o'clock on the evening of January
10th, the caretaker of the Osgtxidby
building, on MeliniLa street, was sitting
talking to Annie Thompson, wlio was
nursing his wife, a sufferer from heart
diuease. The first indication of tire that
he noticed w:ls a thin line of smoke that
came into the room through the crevices
around the door.
Out he went into the corridor, but the
smoke drove him back, half suffocated.
Again he tried it and succeeded in reach-
ing the elevator which he eudeavouted
to raise, but which did not seem to work
right. Slowly he gropt»d his way back
to his apartments, realizing that all
escafK! M'as cut off from the interior ways
of egress.
lie and the nurse took the sick woman
out of bed and all three climbed fnit on
the window sill and shouted fire.
Private Nightwatchmnn Jnmes Cham-
bers was closing au o[)en door in a lane
just across Melinda street. Tiie scri>am8
attracted liifl attention and he I'an out
into the street and saw flames flashing
fnnn the top storey of the (Jsgnodby
building. He ran immediately to box i'2
on Bay street and turned in the alarm,
and in a few minutes the reels began
arriving.
Thousands of people were on their way
liome from business when the great con-
flagration ca.st its fearful reflection into
the ekies. It waa only a matter of a
few minutes till tlie crowds blocked the
streets in every direction.
Caretaker Caven left the window sill
and went and shut the door of the room
to keep back the emoko. Then he appear-
ed again at the window.
There was uo fire esca|)e in the build-
iug, and the only way out wa.s the one
they chose.
The two women were terribly fright-
ened, and it was with much trouble tliey
were prevailed uixjn not to cast them-
selves into the street.
The life-saving net came from the 1/om-
bard street hall, and hundreds of willing
handa held it under the window.
Mrs. Caven leaped into mitl-air, and
fell uix)n the network of wires that
stretched their icy length below her.
There she hung for perhaps ten seconds
before she fell into the net, turning over
and over.
Wrapixnl in a rug she was carried into
the Ci'own Hotel and laid on the billiard
table, where Ur. Garratt wa** called, and
she was taken in the ambulance to St.
Michael's Hospital.
The great crowd held their breath as
the form of the invalid came whirling
down, and more than one of the men
who were grasping the net said he turn-
ed eick at heart and was afraid to <,)peu
his eyes when the woman stinick the net.
The sight of those three iwople away up
there with the building in flames and the
clouds of black, thick smoke swirling and
sweeping all about them was one that
8tam|»ed itself indelibly on the minds of
the thousands who watciied with their
he.'irts in their mouths.
Silence like death fell ou th<: crowd
as the woman jumpi'd, and many a silent
prayer went up from the hearts (if the
great multitude, whose strong sympathy
held them spell-bound.
In watching the perilous descent of
their companion, Caveji and Miss Thomit-
son had forgotten their own <lanu;.'!-. As
soon as their attention turned again to
themselves they fountl the furniture in
the loom behiml them blazing. Somet
electric wires ran ui> the front of the
building and over the roof to supply
l)ower in a ii'oom on the third flat. These
wires ran clo8(> to the right of the win-
dow. Miss ThomiJBon reached out, grnsi)-
ed th(!m and swung herself boldly out
into them. Again the liuge crowd held
its breath, awestruck and horrified, ns
they cxjA'Ctcd to ecu the wires torn from
^ ^1
n
064
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
V
thpir frail fa«teningB and the woman
hurled into the street, ievcrity feet be-
low her.
Her grnap was not very firm, but ehe
■lid down rapidlj to the eecond storey,
where she tried to follow th«m along the
alide down the wires, and she was suffer-
ing from a severe nervous shock. Caven
followed her immediately, and also buc-
ceeded in reaching terra firma.
Up the elevator shaft went the flames,
and in an inconceivably short space ol
DESTRUCTIOS OF OSfiOODnY BUILDINC! ItV VIKIC, 1S{).").
borizoT, :i' roping -.vbicli Mrs. Cavon just
grn;.. n Hho f""!! from the wires a few
mo * ^ui.ro. Her strength gave out,
ail ' • ;p;.(>d into the net. Ilcr h.nudfi
wei ■- a 1 bleeding from her rapid
time the structure was a furnace of fiery
red from cellar to roof. The wind veered
nnd changed about, and the direction o!
thi' fire waa uncertain. At one time Me-
Conkey'a rcKtauraut was in danger, and
J
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Otia
the firomcn played two atreams of water
OD the Melioda street face of the building.
A sudden change of the wind to the uorth-
©flirt decided the location where the light-
ing was to be done.
Clouds «rf sparks and coals of firo flew
in Mazing sheet? orcr into the crowd that
jammed Wellington street, and by eight
o'cloclc people were beginning to find that
location uncomfortable and trying to get
around to the east side of the fire.
From Molinda street a dozen utrearas
were turned into the OHgoodhy building.
Three lines were carried over the Crown
Hotel, .ind from the roof of The Telegram
trtorenoom cm Melimla street the firemen
succeeded in saviiug the houses on the west
side of the burning structure.
At 7.30 part of the western wall of the
new McKiunon warehouse fell into the
premises of Park Bros.
Every crn«h sent columns of smoke, dust
and tspark,-* high in the air. The noise of
the great fire and the shouts that rose
ever and nnon from the crowd made a
queer combination. Through it the fire-
men worked away quietly but pcrelst-
eutly.
Half an hour after the fire l)egan the
flames leaped to the roof of the ware-
house at 30 Wellingtcm west, occupied by
Thomas Dunnett iV: Co., furrieiv, and there
the fire *ipre;id so rapidly that almost be-
fore the streams were turned into it it
was doomed.
The (iceue during the fire wa;-( some-
thiuK to 1k> remembered. Blocks away the
crackle of the flames, the cra.sli of the
fallinii; flnor-s and the cheers of the excit-
t;(l crowd could be heard. The reflected
l^lare lighted up the business portion of
the city with aii intensity almost of day-
liflht.
The fire fiend seemed triumphant, and
the crowd seemed at tunes to be over-
awed and sensible of it.s own iKjwerless-
Ui>ss a.s it watched the huge piles of flame
that threatened destruction far and wide.
The great pillars of nmoke struggled up
into the air, and were beattli back by the
fifice wind. The fiery koplioles that the
windows opened into the •wildron of flame,
(ind the I'ed and white tongues of fire
that swept acros.s the streets and played
nml nickered .arount^ the tops of nearby
buiNinn'.-i were very teri-ible. The air wa«
heavy with the heat, and the careering
C()mbu.stiblefi that flashed fairy trails
through the air were like the Faust Biock-
cn wenes on an immense scale.
The pcene, a« it appeared from the
upper windows of the Merchants' I'.ank
building was appalling. The location of
The e«^utre of excitemeu* tad removed it-
self to 'Wellington .street by eight o'clock.
At nine o'clock the rush of the crowd
was awful. Athletic six-footers were lift-
ed off their feet and carried about like
children in the pushing yet good naturcd
crowd.
The flames flashed across from the burn-
ing warehouses to the roof of Runtin,
Reid & Co.'s ewtablishment, and when the
top of that got fairly started they some-
times formed an arch completely over the
street. Underneath the firemen worked
silently and steadily.
On the top of tiie Kilgour building was
a s(|uad of men, but no water could he
gotten, and their presence there was of
no avail.
Fi-oni Jordan slre(>t east there Avns a
mass of wet. steaming huniiuiity, that
gazed with upturned faces, that th" fire
lighted with a toucli of colour, at the
corridor of fire whicli the street pre-
sented to the west.
It is a wonder that no one was seri-
ously hurt in the crush. Grand & Toy
had rigs carrying away goods from their
store, and ev^ery time they drove into
the <;rowd there would be a stamiiedc'
to get ont of the way of the horses.
A |K>lice cordon was driitwu across Wel-
lingt(»n, and the officers ever and again
beat back the multitude that shoved
against them, and threatened to surround
the ambulance, wliieh stood in readinesa.
■Not more than half an hoxir after the
fire Wfus discovered great tongues of
fln.nie burst from the roof of the Osgoodby
building to that of Major Oirlaw's ware-
house, 30 Wellington street, occupied by
Thomas Dunnett & Co., dealers in furs.
In an inconceivably short space of time
this five-storey building was a seething
mass of fire, and rapidly went down into
ruins.
iieaching o\it for more food, the de-
vouring flames wrapped theni-^elves about
the next building west, oecupied by Bois-
seau & Co,, clothiers, antl owned by the
Snarr estate. This and the Dunnett i)uild-
ing were joined in a terrific mass of
fire, that sent out gre.at volumes of smoke
and s|)arks, and Jui intensity of lieat that
drove the firemen back from the placo^
Many of them had narrow escapes from
falling walls and tinil)crs and crashing
glass and signs.
The next outbreak was to a building
used 1)3" Robert Darlin,j; & Co, Jind Ray,
Rennie & Co,, .also owned by the Snarr
estate, wholesale woollen dealers. The
fL'unes at once permeated the entire
.structure and ate up everything in it.
The walls separating these buildings
came down with a terrific cra-sh, send-
in/ immense vf^aaies of sparks skywards
find again endangering the lives of the
firemen. The next building seized wafl
that of B. II. Gray & Co,, manufactUrera
t
i
^i
m
il!!'if
n
M^p.^'
t'-']
66G
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
of wliitfwure. Stculthily, llku uumu duiiiou
beut oil a terrible vonj^euuce, the I'iru
ate its wuy i^aHtward until it forcod an
entruuco uud eoiiceiitratinfj; its oui'ifry
withiu the walls gathered forw and I'ur.v
Butil suddeuly it burwt from the rtiol" in
tremeudoiw sheets that lit ui» the heiiveuH
with a fiery i^low that inaili- the H\yn(i-
tucle as awlul a^ it was ma gull ic ut.
The Ktrejiiius of water were entirely iu-
ade(iuiite to reju^h tiie ui>{K'r Ht<jrio8 and
the fire hud everythiuf? its own way. It
rapidly Hpre.-id to the CortieoUi and other
enialler buildiiif^H. The union of the fires
from all of which juado wiiat wu«
before terrifie .simply indescribable.
Grent niuiises of sparks, enitx'rs, volumes
of thick bliiek Ninoke, all jnerced by the
blood red Viri', went .shootiiivJ out in all
directioiu* nnd it wjus seen that that por-
tion of the linriiiufr prujjerty wiuj hope-
lessly d(K)ni('d. The firemen next gave
their undivided attention to the south
Bide of Wellint^lou street.
So intense (jeciune the heat as the
flames spread .south across Wellington/
Btreet that tiie galvanized iron cornice of
Hart & Uiddell's melted and fell, the
ro<jf ignited and the building was doom-
ed. Firemen who had Imm'ii manfully
fighting the flames on the north side
were immediately ordered to the south
side. Streams were kept on lUmtin. Held
& Co.'.s, as well as Hart ic Kiddi'll's
warehouse, 'flic flames leaped out of the
upper windows of the latter wareliou.sk'
and met tliost' from the iiortli side, form-
ing au arch of flame. I' was a. magni-
ficent si>eutacle. Thous luls stood awed,
beholding the scene. The eouflagrit^tiou
was now .at its height. Several sections
of hose were now carried to the roofs
of adjoining huilding.s. Tlu; eastern half
of the Buntiu, lieid building, occupied by
Buntin, Reid iV: (.b., it seemed impo.'vsil)le
to save, but betwe(Mi ihe two there was
a wall 24 inches thick, and it resisted
the onslaught to the last. Shortly before
this J. D. lionald's ste;iin fire (Migine was
brought down I>ay street amid <'lu'ers of
the crowd. It was stationed near Wyld,
Gra.sett & Darling's warehouse e.nd a
line of hose was imiiiedia tel y eai'ried to
the building's top. From tills point of
vantage the fire in Hart ife Uiddell's was
Bubdued ijv 10. HO. The large ]>late glass
windows on llii' Wellington street front
of Wyld, (Irasi'tt ifc Darling's were
craeked. All the iiartners in' the liriii were
early at the scene and ;us.sistid by em-
ployes spread Wkt blankets across the
broken windows. Wet lilaiikeis were also
iised by employes of W. K. I'.roek.
While William Cr.awford, a fireman of
the ISei'keley street hall, was carrying
hose ujwtairs in the Cra.v building Ik-
Blipped and fell 15 feet. He was picked
up greatly stunned ; tho ambulance wa«
called, and he wan taken to the General
Hoapital. When the doctors examined
him, it was found that hia back was
hurt ojid that he bad Bustained other in-
juries.
-Vrthur Robinson, connected with the
! Yorkville ho»e, had his hand and wrist
badly sprained while breaking into the
Kilgonr building. He was using the noa-
zle of the hose in his baud at the time.
The load's sustjiined by the different
parties and the amount of insurance aar-
ried arc given below, and may be con-
sidered fairly accurate : —
Loss Insurance
J. VV. Woods, owner Os-
goodby building $ .5.5,(»00 $25,000
J. y. Reid, building... 25,000 .'Jo.OOO
Hart & Riddell ;i5,000 2.5,0< K)
Ray, Rennie & Co 100,000 OO.tXIO
Buntin, Reid & Co 10,000 40,000
Hunter, Rose & Co 500 covered
R. H. Gray, building.. .30,000 I2,5UO
do stock .50,000 .'W.OOO
Thos. Dunnett 50,000 .")O,00O
Major Carlaw, building ;J0,000 20,000
Wyhl , ( ; nisett & Darling 500
K. Roisseau 00,000 .W.OOO
(). H. Wilson 5^0 covered
Rbt. Darling & Co, stock 75,000 tiO,000
do building 15,000 10,000
Cohen Bros S,000 5,100
< !. T. ( ioirie 3,000 1,000
Merchants Cotton Co.,
Montreal 18,000 S,000
Vannouth, Duck & Yarn
Co 22,000 15,000
J. E. Knox, ])ersonal . . 1,500
Brereton & Manning... 40,000
Siemens & Kvel 15,000
W. L. Haekev 10,000
W. S. Johnson 15,000
Union Card & I'aper Co,
Montreal 10,000
J.H. Scconibe, saddlery,
hardwai'c 4,000
Bastedo & Co., furs. . . . 4,000
Snarr estate .35,000
Corticelli Silk Co 1 ,000
25,000
12,000
covered
10,000
7,000
4,000
3,000
25,000
covered
.'?72.3,on(i .•<r,:;-_>.5oo
It is a. curious fact that nearly alw.aya
such occurrences <ro in threes, and Sun-
day morning was again the scene of a,
great conflagratixjii in the business jior-
tion of the tiueeii Citv.
At 12.30 a.m. Sunday. March 10, Wni.
Farley, the watchman in Robert Sinij)-
.son"s iinniensi> new sture on the south-
west corner of Yonge and Queen streeta,
ha<l just atteniled tf> his funuieos, and
ciime out througli the manliolo in the
pavement. .Mexaniler XL'Ki'e is a Holmes
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
0G7
Electric Protection Company watclimau,
and he had just turned in a Hif;niil to
his office from a box at P. JaniifsouB
store, oil the north side of tho Htrtvt, anil
crossed over to apeak to Farley. Th<'y had
just spoken whi'u they heard tlic noisi*
of crackiiiff BlaH!», to whicli they paid
no attention at first. As it contiiiiKMl.
they thought it Ava-s Homo one breaking
windows in Knox Presbyterian church,
and climbed over the fence to see if tliey
Only too well the firemen feared that ati
nlariu from No. 32 meant nomcthinfl
nerious, and they were strainiug every
nerve.
Farley entered the coal hole, nud ran
out 60 feet of the hoae from oni> of tho
attachments that were located all over
the building, lie could .secure no water
fjower, and tiie fire, eating along tlie
leiling. drove him back into the street.
The alarm reached headquarters at
f' i
THK OSOOOnBY BUimiNO, MEMTTD A STREET, DESTUOYKD BY FIRE
could find anyone. From there they
saw tho flames coming out through the
basement windows in the south-west end
of Simpson's building.
P. C. Hoberts, of No. 2 division, w;>s
pas.siug, and MoKee shouted to him to
pull an alarm. In a moniout the signal
went in from bo.x: 32. Fire bells rang
all over the city, and wpary s'hopkeei>-
trs, who had just got nicely into bed,
wei-e awakened by the clang of the reels
and the »wift gallop of the I'lyiug hoi-sea.
12.33. Tho Lombard street si'i'tion, with,
I'cputy Chief Tliomi>sou and Aaaiatant
Villier.s, was first on the neeue. Bay
street, Berkeley street, Wilton avenue,
Queen street and Yonge street were the
next in, and in lc«w than six minutes
four stream*! of water were being poui'eij
into the basement. Through the Queem
street door an entrance W!is effected, ami
the deputy chief issued onleis to flood
the first floor. The streajus of water
directed into the basement were rapidly
608
LANDMARKS OF TOHOXTO.
getting tho best of tho flamfw, whtm thoy
raaulv!'! tlu' olovator Hhaft, luul tho builtl-
ing wii« dooiiiod. Up the firo wont liko
lightning, and Hpread itself over tho third
and fourth Htoreyn, BontliiiR wirkcd-look-
ing tonguca out through tho Avost win-
dowH. At 12.41 tlie goiioral iilarni \vii«
eent in, and iu five minutes tho whole
grojit structure wan a nia«H of flninOH,
shedding a luriil glare from every win-
dow. Tho «outli-wo«t wind drove tho fire
out toward Queou and Yonge etreefc^. and
the gale that was blowing was fieix'e
enough, had it boon from tl>e nortii. to
have dofltroyod the wliole block. Ciiii'f
Grnlliam thought that the building Avas
a riaii<?o|n>us place to fight fire in,
and when tii(> lyoinbard .street men were
driven hack from tiie Queen fVri'ot side
he would not /illow amy more of his men
to cuter the building. Tiiree lines of hose
"were laid in by way of tlie Knox ciiureli
grouuds. and another was carried in
through the Christian Institute from Uieli-
jiKNid wtroet, and helped th(> wind to sav<i
the building.^ to the south.
The big seven-storey ■vvaroliouse was
filled with dry goods of all kinds, wliidi
"were like tiiulor to tho .•4ii.v;»gi^ fire tliat
raged from ••eilar to attic. Tiu' iiurri-
caoje tore away blazing shingles and
pieces of timber, and sent them flying
away over toward Victoria, lloinl anil
MHitual .«tieets upon the roofs of the
hoiv^es, where they started many an in-
cipient fire.
Many were tho families that orgauizedi
bucket brigades and dashed water upon
cornices a-nd roofs that began to blaze.
Tho gale kept growing strniicor and
stronger, and tho ;iir was filled with
UiyriaiLs of fk'ry-rcd cinders, that sailed
like littlo nK>lten boa.t.s in great Hheets
out over the city that lay silent beneath
them.
Whirling and dashing through the mid-
night air, on the wings of the .sou'-wester,
those showers of flame were meteoric
ine«-;engora of the dostvuction that tho
fire-fiend WcO* warring gleefully, and peo-
ple beg.'vn to bo ai)prehenKive that Queeu
and Yonge streets would not be the only
(scene of i"uiu.
Crowds of spectators had by this time
arrived on the scene, and for block-s iiround
the streets were jammed with excited
peopl(>. Men who resided anywhere near
were getting their Lares and Penates into
ehafie for immediate removal to t^ome place
♦f safety. Women with apron's over their
head« iuid children in their arms wore
almost in hysterics as they ran about
giving tho alarm. StorekeoiRM-s in tlie im-
mediate neighbourhood were in a state of
wild terror and did some very ludicroiiH
thinga iu theii* endeavour to save their
property. People wore running with thoir
iH'dcIothos in Iheir arms and their port-
able valuablofl jammed into their pocliets.
One man was «een running with a bar-
ber's chair on h'w back.
Tho whole interior of the big Simpson
building had by this time become Himply
one great caldron of flame. The am^e
burst up through the roof and went sail-
ing away to the eastward over the city.
Flames were leaping in demoniac glee
around the windows and out of every
opening. Through the amoke and flame
the steel columiw and girdera could be
seen outlined in bright red. Twi«ting and
s(iuirming nnd knotting themselves to-
gether like live creaturea, they pulled the
whole structure to pieces. ITio floors had
given way and crashed into the cellar.
The columns bt>gan to collapee, tho roftf
went through, and then the brick pier«
upon which the main weight of the build-
ing was carried came down in sections
of ;i storey at a time carrying away the
pillars and girders in their fall. The fear-
ful heat drove tho firemen out of Queen
street, and they had to change their
modus operandi. Uerkeley street coupled
to a hydrant iu trout of tke Imperial
Itank, and carried their line in through
th" Treniont House and up on to the roof.
Wiltou avenue brigade laid their hose
Iroiu the same hydraait to the roof of
.Milne iS: Co.'s hardware eatablishraeut, and
they prei)ared to fight any extension of
tho fire in that direction. The demon-like
flanuw had wrapjjod themselves around
the whole of the departmentJil store like
the red mantle of Mephisto, and they leap-
ed and writhed and shot out great clutch-
ing arni.s liiat tscemod to reach e.ovotou«ly
I'oi- the neighbouring buildings. Grim and
gaunt f<t(wd tho tall Hjurc of old Knox
cliureh in Calvini-stic storunefrs, as it loom-
ed up its length beside the sea of fire
tliiit raged beside it. Great (sections of
flame swept across the streets, and then
drew back like a sortie repulsed by the
lH'«iegert^. The scene at the height of the
fire was awful. The Wood red hue ol
the flames communieated itself to every-
thing that came beneath their glare.
Thick smoke rolled away up into the gale
and the «parks that sailed away chi er-
nuuls of niicliief filled the air. Every
moment great Boctionn of the Simpson
building came down with a oraeh that
eent Hhowera of embcrB flying out aerops
tho street and drove a cloud of du»t and
T)owdery del)ria up into the air. 'Die
liigh wind howled and the flames crack-
led and roared. Men shouted, and the
crowd cowered in fear almost before iho
terrible sight. It was, indeed, some-
thing one could never forget. Fire i)os-
eeisses a .fearful fascination for almost
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
CTeryonp, nnd tho ffiKht of the crowd of
upturnp*! faco«, every one brought into
bold nnd vivid rolit'f by the nlmoHt bliiwl-
Ing re<l Rliire, wna wonderful. The dc-
votiriiiR clement dwept along with a ter-
rihln celerity and an exhibition of power
that wn« grand. The flamef< Rpcmed to
plory in their triumph, and to be aware
of tho inability of their i'i;my Ioub to cope
with them micec«Bfully.
A moment they m-emed to panne and
gather toRethor for a nupa-eme effort.
Then there whoit ffliit a blaHt of fire that
flwept the Trcmont House into itn helliah
embrace and enveloped it in dentruction.
Three firemen were on the roof, but their
hose wan luelenn after the fall of the
ea«t wall of SimpHon's, and they wer«
in a porilouB pfwitinn indeed. The pitchy
emoke that poured across almoNt choked
OSOOOPBY FIRR— P,i;STIirC"TIOV OF WKTJJNfiTOX ST. WARKHOrSKS, 1895
The cast wall of Simiisoii'H coUaiwed
into Yongc etroct, and the pile of timbers,
bricks and pillars falling upon the hose
cut off the water supply. Then the east
Bido of Yonge street was exposed to the
full fury of tho flame*! that had before
eiirgt'd beliiud the barriers of this wall.
them and nearly drove them to jump to
escape suffocation. Ladders were hur-
ried in from tlio lam; by way of the
stable cntranoe, and run up against the
two-storey extension over the dining
room behind the hoteL From the toi> of
the extension another ladder was shoved
h
m
670
LANDMAKKS OF TORONTO.
up t«> till! nxjf u( tlii^ iiiaiii buildiiiKi o'l'l
the tlirL'f men iiiadi' all wpcod to ti'irii
finitii.
SiiniiltaiieouHly with tlio Trciiioiit Hoiihc
till! Iiiirdwaiu cMtiibliHlinK'nt of .loliii
Millie A Co., till' Kt'iitM* fiiriiiHliiii^ Htorc
of Duiil'icld & Co., MiKiMliniiVH barber
b1io|i, C. M. IleiidiTHoii'M aiiutidU store, and
the Iin|HM'ial liank bcK'ni to liliixe in tlie
upiH'p BtoroyB. lOver.vone eseaped from
the Trernont llonse, and tlie bank nflifialH
removed all tlieir b<K)k.s to tlie liead
office.
Spectatoi-B lii>(i;an to tliiiik that tlii> bijr
bbicli, including tlie Confederation I-il'e
BiiililiiiK, would .'ill ^,'<>, but it was not
to be. Then the fire leap<'<l to the iioitli
side of (^ueen street, wewt of Yi)nK<', and
attacked the .laiiiienon block, erossinK
Hliortly afterward to the luirlli-eaHl cor-
ner, and wtartinK into tiie r<Mif and \i|i|K'r
fitore.vM. 'riiiMi people f!;!'e\v ci-rtain that
there would be no po.'^sibility of Mtoppin.B
it until it burned ittR-lf out. A lia:'d figlil
UKaiiist the attackinjj field did the Janiie-
Moii block make. Nearly aipiai'ter of an
hour till! hot breath of the fii-e de \oii
seared and Hcarred its paint, and the hoi
glare I'eddened its walls. Tiie 8truc-
ture fiiirly miioked, and yet ii<> actual
fire bloke out. 'I'lieii there came a swift,
Hudden da.sh of I la me from a. tiiird-Htorey
window on the mouIIi side, and in a few
uiinutes the building looked as tiiouwli
it had been burniiiu,' iiisiih- for lioui's. and
only iust then the flames lia.d forced their
way inlo vi(!w. The flame curved and
caracoled about the block, ami jiwejit in
and out of the windows like devils jday-
luij ;it hide-and-.seek. The smoke liuni;
its black pall over tie) roof, and the
fire leajK'd out and drove its myriad
forked toiigucH up through the murky
cloud that Bwirli'd above. The fire had
uow obtained a [iKjld on each of the four
corners, and the thought of possible ulti-
mate cousetiuenees was appalling. The
tiremen worked nobly, handicapped i\e
they were, and a little after two o'clock
they wore brought face to face with an-
other fearful danger. A firebrand had
been carried by the wind over on to the
roof of the Pythian Hall, in the Hardy
block, at Queen and Victoria streets.
There it lay smouldering and flickering,
wondering whether to go out or not,
until it .set fire to the sliiiigle:^ jiud the
flames bui-st from the Victoria street
windows. Then the firemen were out-
flanked, but they prom|)tly detailed the
Ossiiigtoii avenue men to leave the
Henders<iii block, on the north-east cor-
ner of (^ueen and Yonge. They could
get no ladders and carried their hose
up the stairway to the top storey. All
hope of saving yiiiipscin's had been' aban-
doned, ami all the altention of the de-
partment waH directeil to the other ei»ta'i»-
liHlimeiitu that stood in niicIi inimhient
danger. The heat and debris hail
driven the firemen off t2ueen wtreet west
and oft Yonge ntreet Mouth of tiueen.
Four lines were carried through the arch-
way from Katon'H to tiueen street, over
the rear t>f fciutdiffe's, and another line
wafl brought through McPherson's nIioi.
fltore from Y'onge street. These fought
back the flames while three streams weru
played on the Katou building's roof by
Eaton'H own brigade. The great effort
uow was tt> save Eaton's big block, uim]
every force was concentrated ou tiiia
point.
The inadeipiate uppliauces put the fire-
men in a bad ):<Ksitioii, but for three hour."
they contested every inch oi ground ,•>«
the fire drovi! them nk>wly back on to thi
roof of Eaton's, the fire breaking out
through the roof where they had been
standing. To the eouith the fire wall be-
tween VVaulesfl' store and Simpson's was
ull tiiat saved the block.
The small Hcnald engine belonging
to Mr. II. \V. Petrii', wa« i>ut in position
outside Gourlaj', Winter <.V: Leeming'ji
piano «tore ou Yonge street, and did
splendid work. Two streams were thrown
into the blazing 8ho|xs by tliis machine.
The feature of the fire wa-s the use ol a
little old engine that had been stored
jiway as Uhj o!il-liushioned to be of any
iLse. This machine proved to the satis-
faction of any sane man that engines
are a necessary complement oi the
wiuipment of a fire brigade, and that
the C.'inadian engine, which the .'xpertu
condemned, w;is as good as the beat in
the world. Sever;il streams were poured
from it into the front of Sutcliffe's. ami
it undoubtedly .saved Ji;»tou'a big estan-
ILshment from the flames.
(!liief Graham said the little lioiifild
did grand service with 200 feet of ho.*:!!
fa.st to it. A steam fire engine could
have thrown water on to the Siinpison
building from a distance where liis nicn
would have been snfe when they could
not stand near ejjough with their pre-
"icnt pressure for i.ar of the walls.
Few are the p'\>p!e vlio have ever seen
a steeiile in fhiiues. Knox church s])iri'
was a wooden " 'C'.iini on i\, brick tower
well'and heavily '.milt. Like a guardiiin
sentinel it had stcMid for an hour, black
and straight, over the scene of havoc
that the tii'e was making almu-<t lie-
neath it. Sometimes ilie top of it wiis
alm<yrt hiddi;: b.. the whirling mas.ses oi
.«!moke and fl.'ime that combatted for su-
premacy about it. At 1.30 a little spot
of fire appeared about 20 feet u[) from
the ba.se of the tower. The attention of
thousands of people wa.s immedi;Ltely
drawn to it, and they watched it slowly
it >'.
Ill
' f?
p"^^-:
'■■*■,■'■. ■ ■■-■ ■•••1 . ^^j'i.■r^wS*r»«*'• :« -fr^^-^- .
(up. ii;ii
&
\'H
m
(iprpfidiu
in a el
tiilitiniin
h.ird.
ii"il fro
«.|' Iho
i'.ist ccv:
Htoioy.
strot'te.
iiiond f<ti
('oufoilor;
tlif Inini
Yonpt' fit
tlie \ippo
trton'' t'xo
EvpiyIm
ini: of 11
would «u
fairlv fltt
wind w;us
ti('!i.
i'. Eat<
\viis ;in ir
ha', -iv
(op. 0(1)
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
871
ii
I
(^l>r('i>(iju)r and graspinp; the woodwork
in .1 <'lulch that was novi-r to Ik' uii-
tijlUiMimL Evorywhoro tin* fiRht wn«
hard. Two lines of lioao wore car-
ried from Queen street into the top
of the Ilenderflon hlcvk, on tl»e north-
oast corner, uiul two hranchew from the
roar .suooeoded in Hiivini: all hnt the top
Htoioy. The whole biiildinil was dronchocl.
ri(>e was laid from Quoon and Victoria
streets, and linen were run from Rioh-
nionil utroet niulor the archway of the
Coufofleration Life buildinc, to i>lay on
the InirninfT .stores on the eawt side of
Yonpe street south of Queen street. Only
the \ipper storeys of them all, Milne's
Bton^ excepted, were burned.
Everytxxly thoiipht that th(> big bnild-
iiitr of the Confederiition Life Company
\\ould surely kuccu ib. The slate roof
fairly steamed with the heat, and the
wind w;is all that saved it from tleetruc-
tion.
i'. Eaton A: Co-'s system of protection
an imraon-ie jiid to the firemen. They
>lx niRht watchmen and a Grinnell
luallc sprinklor system, with three
ants on the i-oof. Tho^e three hy-
lir.nts were a bijv factor in thp fifiht,
and the brifjado admitted the assistance
roudored by the sixteen member.s of the
Eaton staff who won' on hand.
Sam McGow.'in, of Yorkvillo avouiio hook
and ladder, v,-a« struck by a piece of
fallinfi ladder from Kn<ix church and fjot
luH arm broken, lie v.-as removed to the
Goiii'ral Hospital.
KoIkm* Everest, ho<oma.n, from Lombard
wtroot hii'l, <li<iiK'ato(i a knoo-eap by fall-
inii in an >|M'n coal hole in front of yinip-
s<>ii'pi. Ho vas tiikoa homo.
I'iroman K.-hiii.son, of Vorkville, pot fw
hiokon wrJ.st, but rcturii'd after having
it droewd at li •• hi'spitnl.
liobt ft Pjvl.s<.n iind William Feathens
worked in the 'i'renirMi; House. They
\i a>
ha.l
■mi.
In-,
uiKl wore cut by the aky-
nn^n
had a close shavi '
into the basement
of the eastern wal
jiini|ied futi-^ni U'' c from Iho main iwif on
to the klvC'iU'V
li-ht.
Ihrec nn^n fror. l/orkeley street hall
lit u playinp a stream
of Simit<on's. A part
fe)', aud they dropped
their hoso and jumiK'd just in time.
The losses on the diifei«ut IniiUlings and
contents were :
Loss
R. Simpson, building . .$13(t,(XK)
H. Simp- .u, stock 'Jtt(,i,tHK)
Wnnloj , .V Co , building 10. (MH)
Wanb-..;, \ Vrc , sto.k. . .
r. .Jamic'vv, -ityT/ck
Apricultur;. .=- .id Art2 As-
Roeiation buiiding ....
l»o. do. contents. .
IS.tHK)
75,IMV1
Insurance
$ll(i.O(X)
'J1<»,0<K»
1'2,()()0
l.'i.itiM)
28,000
5,000
13,000
2,500
Los.q Insurance
SutclifTe & Sons, stock . . 95,000 65, WO
R. H. Gray, building . . . 8,000 6,000
Mrs. M. G. Jones, bldg. 10,000 10,(H)0
M(4'herson & Co., stock 4,000 4,000
Gourlay, Winter & Leem-
ing, stock 2,000 2,000
Mrs. A. Henderson, build-
ing 10,000 10,000
C. F. Adams & Co., stock 5,000 5,000
Mrs. M. E. Brisley, stock 5,500 4,300
lames Bonner, stock 15,0fl0 8,000
Imperial Bank, building. 6,<XM) 6,000
J. F. Brown & Co.,. stock 1,000 1,000
Confederation J -fe, build-
ing .5,000 5,0f»0
J. Milne & Co., stock 25,000 20,000
Knox Church 10,000 10,000
Jas. Mannell, building.. 4,00(» 3,500
Tremont House, furniture 2,000 3,000
J. Dunfield & Co., stock 4,500 4,000
Canada Umbrella Co. ,
stock 2,000 2,000
Knights of Pythias 500 500
T. I<;aton & Co 5,000 5,000
Other losses 10,000 10,000
Total .S744.500 §,-)74,SO(i
The approximate losses of the several
insurance companies interested are as
follows :
Lancashire Insurance ?.30,000
I^iverpool, London & (Jlobc; .'^OjMtO
Phoenix, of Brooklyn 30,000
Caledonian 25,000
Commercial Union 2;"),000
Northern Assurance 25,000
Royal, of England 25,000
Scottish Union fi National 25,00f>
London and Lancashire 20,000
North British & Mercantile 20,000
.4':tna lo.OtXl
Connecticut Fire 1 5,000
London Ass. (%irporation 15,000
Norwich Union 15,000
Sun Insurance, of London 15,000
Manchester Fire 12,000
Atlas Assurance 10,000
P'ire Insurance Exchange 10,00<*
Hand-inHand 10,00<1
Nat ional 10,000
North America 10,000
Phienix, of Hartford 10,000
Queen Fire 10,000
LTpion Assurance 10,000
Agiicultural 7,500
Guardian 7,000
Alliance, Eastern Assurance, Eco-
nomical, Gore F'ire, Hartford, Im-
perial, United Fire, each . 5,000
Western Assurance Co. , (part rein-
sured) 40,OW
Wellington Mutual 1.500
if
i
^,;i;
i /(
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
i
II
i'''a
t ■
CHAPTER CXCVIII.
THE REGISTRY OFFICE,
A Department of the Public Service which
haH been Kemoved f^oiu Plnee t« Place
with Kemarkable Frequency.
Often as the custom housesand poiit offices
were shifted about from cue place *-> the
other until they found iheir present abiding
placesi in the buildingB thty now occupy,
another department of public service was
more frequently moved. Thi., was the
repistry 1 the ', iind it is a noteworthy fact
thit although changed so frequently, occupy
in a; quarters in private liouoea, many of
them of frame, no pipers have ever breu
lest uy fire or liny otiier caus'. In 1796 a
reg stVy t-fEce was established foi the
illustrated in a previous chapter. Tu this
house, Mr. Cameron transferred the nga
trai!-hip of the Ho ne District, on his ac
ces-ioii to the office.
Mr. Cameron was succeedtd by Steplien
.larvis, who again n moved the ofbce to
II is dwelling at the south east corner of
Duke and Sherbourne streets. This house
was of framj and like tiio otheru has been
described and illustrated.
Samuel Ridout was the next legistrar.
H'- fit 8t ( stabliahed the offici.^ in the hous.^
of John Dennis at the north-east cor-
ner of King and Ynnge street. This was a
fram ' building with a large fruit garden,
about chief among the products of which
were delicious p urns. This building was
dcsttoyed at least inrty years ago. For a
long time it was the only building tliere-
abouts. It was a longish oue storey stiur
COD.NTY RKOISTRY OFFICE— RIC'II.MOND ST . IlKTWr.KN YoNUE ANU HAY STRKKTS.
Home District, theri^ was no county of York
then, nut until many yea s afterwards, and
Mr. Thomas Riduut wai appointed th^■ hist
registrar. He establish d the < Wic'. at his
house, the Ridout homestead, which has
bei'n described and illu trattd in a previous
chapter. This was a frame hui'diui; on
Duk- srct.
Mr. Riddut was succeeded in the office by
DuiH-in Ciim'rui. a very eaily and priMii-
iiii nt, resident (if York, one of the niemlier*;
of the L Tislitive Council, and one of the
founders of .St. James churcli, and a mem-
ber of it from its e>tablishnient. M .
Cameron had previi us y Imiit for a re^i
dence the hou^e ,it the corner of Front
and Vji'ortrc street?, which he afterwards
sold to (J'or^e Monro and is now known as
the Bliick H'irse Inn. 'ihn building which
was of framt^, has also been described and
ture.painte 1 white with a palinij in front and
l.u^'o willow trees. Mr. Dennis who bui t
ir, was formerly sup.'iint nd> ut of the dock
y.irds at Kiiig-,ton. He was oue of the
United Empire Loyalist refugees and receiv-
ed a grant of land on the Iluniber near the
modern vi Inge of West n. His son J. soph
l>eniii- owned and .oniinanded a vessel on
Lake Ontario in 1812. When ttie war with
the United States b.oke out he and his ship
"ere attached to the Provincial marine.
lis vessel was captured and he was made
a prisoner ot war in which condition he
ninained for fifteen months. He after-
wards comnii>.nded the I'riucess Ch;u lotte,
an early steamboat on Lake Ontario. Mr.
Ridout estab.ish the registry offi 'e in tliis
buildinp of .John D niiis, in 1827, and
in.dnaimHl it there for a w i or a little muif.
In 1S'J8 he moved the "« ffioe to Patcrson
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
«7S
?f
\ ^
biiildiug previously deicribed, wliich stood
about midway between K Ukt and C Ibonio
street on the west side of West M>rkot
Ktrept. Ttiib was also a framn buildius;.
The offic • remained here but a few months
ut ihe eud of which tim Mr. Ridout trans-
turred it tJ the builditi); o* James Beaty
uii the south side of Kitifi' street between
George and Frederick streets. Hr-re the
i.tiice was kept for a year. In 1829, Mr,
Hidout built at his personal expense for the
purp'>se of a registry office a small brick
t>uildinK on the north side of Adelaide
btnet opposite St. James Church. This
buildiiiy has been dehtroyed. In 1849
while Mr. Ridout held this ofiice a law was
pissed that the regi^tiy ( ffice should no
longer be kept in a private residence, but
must be maintained in a public building;.
At the same time the office was established
as the county registry. As yet there
was no distiict city registry, the ci y
forming part of the county. In accordance
with the act of 1849 thu county built a
small one storey stone fire proof building
where the office of the gas company
new stands, on the east side of Toronto
street just north of Court street. This
bud liiij; iias been destroyed to meke
way for the building which now occupies
the site. In 1855 Mr.
Ridout who had been deputy iCL'ister for
niciny years, succeeded his fathei Samuel,
ill the office which he has since filled. In
lS;VJthe couay and city registr.irships were
divided. At quite a recent date tlie pre-
sent brick county regisfy huildintj was
erected at the north-east corner of Rich-
inriiid and Clare streets.
When trie city Hi;d county tiffices were
separa'ed Josi ph Moirisoii btcaine the first
city r uistrar. He established the < ffice in
ttie iipp-r rooms of a buildinj; on the .-ouih
sid'' ot Wellington street l>et\Vi en L!ay and
Voiige .-^tr et near tlic Merch mta B.mk.
Ihe building is .still stamiitiL'.
Ml. Murrison held the uflico but a ishor*
lime ind was succeeded by Sunuol Shi r-
wcod. Mr. Sliet wood was a lawyer lie re-
pie.sinted (Ji(!nvilie in 18l)4. an I was one of
the C'lUnrel who <lefeiideii the prisoneis
brought ilown fr>ni Earl Selkirk'.* setile-
inenl for trial in 18M) on charjji s of mur-
der und Milibcry. During Mr. Sh.rwood'.s
tenure of ( llici' the city put up for a rej^istiy
office a small brick building on the north
>hi<: of Court street, near the site of the
police court. Mr. Siierwood considered
the iiuiidrig unsafe ami unsuitable for the
purpose f( r which it was d' signed, and re-
m»ei to tah.. the responsibility of kei ping
the r'curds in it. He transfi i red ihein to
lit!, own house, oDce kuown as Dorset II >i4se,
and later as London Hou-e, on the n-rth
tide of Wellington street, ju-t east of John
street. This building which is now des-
troyed, has been described and illustrated
previously
Mr. Charles L'ndsey was Mr. Sherwood's
successor in the office of city recistrar.
IJe first escabb,;ihed the office in the build-
ftig of the Royal Insurance Company at
the south east sorner of Yonge and Wel-
lington streets. The city then put up the
building on the south side of Richmond
street, west of Vonge, which has since been
occupied, Mr. Linds^'V having the office.
CHAPTER CXCIX.
JORDAN POST'S SHOP.
The Old m^atctaniaker ef York-Karly Be>
collections of a Tall New Englander— His
Shops on Dnke and KlnR streets.
Fancy the venf>rable watchmaker of ninety
years ago, revisiting the scene of his labours,
and finding his town lot of a few hundred
feet, bounded on the north by King
street, on the east by Yonge street,
on the west by Ray street, ami on the south
by Melinda stieet, worth in 1802 about a
couple of hundred dollars, now valued at
over a million dollars. Jordan Po<t, the sub-
ject of this sketch, was the eaily c ock-
maker of York. He was a tail New
Englander of giave address, but of benevo-
lent disposition, aud well liked in the com-
ni'iinty. He was the owner of the entire
frontage from Y<'nge to Bay on King street,
and south to Melinda street. Jordan st eet,
named after the old waic'.imaker. nivided
the lot, while Melinda street was the nama
given to the dividing line to the south,
)u honour of hia woithy wife. Two of
iii.s daughters were named re-
spectively Si phronia and Desdemona, bvt
their n. me- have not been hanieddowii tons
in any of the many itropi i ties owned by
I'ost. So early aw ISO'i Mr. Post advertised
in the Upper Cannda Gazette or Ainerirnn
Orncle, wliich \v,is puhlisheU at Toronto,
that he was about to leave York for a snort
time. The ailvertisenicni leads : " Jord .n
Post, watchmaker, requests all those who
left watches with him to be rtpaind, to
call at Mr. Ri man's and re ceive them hy
payiiij: for the repairs. Heintdids reliinrng
to York in a fiw months. Sep:, Uili. 1S02."
At the clo.-o of the eunie year he puts
forth the general notice ; — "Jordan I'ost,
clock ami watchmaker, inform, the pnolio
that he now cairiea on the alxjve business
in all its branches at the npj)cr ind of Duke
street. H<' ha.s a complete assormieiit of
watch furniture. Clock.s and watches re-
paired on the shortest notice und iii< st
\
■ » '.
OTl
LAXDMAltKS OI-' TOUOXTO.
I;
^:4' ■' ■
'■3
!■?,
Hi i
'T^'^^^^i
.^.^st .^f /i.^
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
675
fcaHouable terms, toRPthor willi cvory
jirticlp ill tliP jJCohl and wilvoi' line. N.15.
— Ill' will inireliM.so old li-as.-i. I»t>c. 11th,
1S()2.'' PkksI'h Bliop on Dnki- strcft wnn on
till' iiortli fiidk> iu>.'ir the corner of Jarvi.s.
A iioplii'W of liiM kei)t hotel hero some
years after.
r.i'.sidi's the block described above, Mr.
Post hail acquired other valuable pro-
|n rties iu Yo:k, a.s will appear by an
advertiseinent in the Weekly KeRi.stei- of
.l.iniKiry IDtli, 1826, from which also it
will be seen tliat he at one time contem-
plated a pift to the town of one hund-
red feet frontage and two hundred feet
of depih, for the purpose of a Kccond
IHililie market. " Town lots for sale. To
he fiold by auction on the premises, on
WiMlnewday, the first day of T'ebruary
ii'xt, four town lots on Kinfi street, west
I'l (ieorpe street. Al.so, to be lea.sed at the
same time to the hiphest bidder, for
tweuty-iuie years, subject to such con-
diti<>iis as will then be produced, six lots
ou the west side of YoiiKi' street, .and
twerity on Market street. The Subscriber
has reserved a lot of Kround one hund-
red feet front by two hundred feet in the
rear, on George street, for a market
place, to be given for that purjio.H'. He
will likewise lease ten lots in front of
said intended market. A plan of the lots
may Im' seeu and further )>nrticular8
known by ap|)licatioii to the sul)seril)er,
Jordan IVist. York, .Tan. 4th, 1S2()."
Ou the arrival of Sir Francis Oore in
York on the 30th of September, ISlTi, we
find amongst a tleputation of the priuci-
|ial merchants Jonlan Post, sr., nnd dor-
dan Post, jr. Among the sidiscribers to
a ■' common sclio)! " in Y'ork, iu 1S20,
we find Jordan Post down for tl7 Os. ;{d.
Philip Klinger for £2 10s., and Lardner
P.ostwiek for £2 10a. Ou one occasion
ahout Lsari some of the boys of the town
tried to steal a \voodeu clock that hung
fr< m the doorway, aud the escapade eml-
oil in the cUx'k falling on Craig, knocking
him down and killing him. fraig was
the owner of a distillery over tlie Don
•iml nephew of liishop Strachan. Iu 1S20
P<*si moved west to the south-east cor-
lii'r <if King and P.ay, to the house shown
iu the engraving. This was the first
houM' erected on that co'uer. It was torn
down i bout 1840, and the large three-
storey brick building, belonging to
Jaciiues iV Hay erected. The ground has
been for many years in the estate of the
h'Jte Hon. .lolin Ko'is, a fnriner member
of the I/'gislative Council of Canada, he
liiiviug bought the pror/urty from the
heirs of Jordan P«st.
After Jaci|ues l^c Hay moved, the ware-
house was divided into two shoiw, and the
rear jiortiou was occupied by William
Ilalley, aa a type warehouse. In 187G
the building was torn down, and the
present building erected on King street
west, and as far south as Messrs. Malouey
aud Kamsay's shops ou Bay stiret. Post
then went to Scarlioio' to live after leav-
ing Torouto.
I CHAI'TKIt CC.
j A BAY SHORE COTTAGE.
; Tlir lloiiHe Orcupird by ( ol. \. t'oinii, Cnpt.
I I'lilllpott.H, <'up(. Buiiii.Tcasllo mill Kay-
I iiioiiit llnby- Ski'lflioH of llie iiipii.
j On a promontory, suddenly jutting out
into th(> harbour, ou the south side of
Front street, and on the west of Peter
street, there once sttiod a pretty little
Cf>ttage, with a garden and a grove
surrounding it. The cottage was n storey
aud a half high, of frame, jrainted white,
with green blinds and dormer windows.
It wa* enclosed by a boiird fence. The
main entrance wa.'i at the e;ist end, and
ruuuiug around the house ou this side
from the gate was a path leading to
the bay side of the building where was
: the entrance most commonly used. Ou
the beach, just west of the bank where
the cottage stood, was a much frequent-
ed bathing-place Oi)iKwitc the cottage,
oa the north si e of Frout street, was
the (lovernuu^nt wood yard. Diagonally
, across, on the north-cast corner of Frout
I and Peter street, stood, and still stands,
the house of the Hon. George Crookshank.
The bay shiuv cottage, aud the laud on
; which it stixxl and all about, was Ord-
nance pro|H.'"ty. S<'veral men of local,
or more than local celebrity, at different
times have made the humble dwelling
their home.
: The first was Col. N. Coffin. He came
to Y'ork with Lieutenant-Governor Sir
Peregrine Maitlnnd, ou his a|>poiutment
iu 1818, aud his name is found among
the subscribers for the Don ^ ridges iu
1822. Two years later he Avas one of
the party which accompanied Sir Pere-
gr lie i>n a tour to Lower Canada. The
Cai.'idian Review for December, 1824,
after lueiitiouing the arrival of the party
I at the Mansion House in Montreal, says:
i " In the morning his Kxcelleucy break-
I fasted witli Sir Francis IJurtim (the Lieu-
j teuant-Ciovernor of Lower Canada from
j 1808 to is;{2), at the (iovernment House,
I whom he afterwards accompanied to
1 (Quebec in the Swiflsure steamboat. Sir
Peregrine is accompanied by Lord Ar-
thur I/euuox, Mr. Maitland, Colonels Fo.<<-
ter, Lightf<K>t, Coffin and Talbot, with
the Hon. F. (!. Stanley (from 1851 to 1809
Farl of Derby), grandson of Earl Derby,
M.P. for Stockbridge, John K. Deuison,
Fsq., (subsequently SiR'aker of the Hoiise
of Commons), M.P. for Newcastle-upon-
1:
1 .; i^
m
i i
m
m
t'iii
Vt/i •*,' M
mi
W".
w
m
676
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Tjue, nud JaiucB S. Wortlcy, Esq. (nfter-
ward« Ix)rd Wharncliffe), M.P. for Roa«i-
uey, iu Cornwall. The three latter gentU-
meu are uow uiioii a tour in this country
from Euglaud." In 1828 Col. Coffin, then
Adjutant-General of Militia, wh« sum-
nioued to app»^ar before a committee of
the House of A8Beml)ly, to give evidence
in relation to a treejniHs on Government
proixTty at N'ingara Falls, as was also
Col. Giviiifl. fc»ir Peregrine Maitland re-
fused jK?rmi8*iioii to attend, upon which
both officers were arrested and locked
ui> in jail. Col. Coffin wrote a letter
from the jail on the evening of their ar-
rival to Major Hiilior, the Governor's
privaU^ secretary, 'riiis is a Cf>py of it :
" York, March 22ud, 1828, Sir,-I beg
leave to request that y(tu will state to
the Lieuteuant-Governoi- that in obedience
to the communication I received through
you, that his Excellency could not give
me fiermissiou to attend a committee of
the Hovwe of Assembly for tlic reason
therein stated ; that 1 did not attend
the eaid committee, and that in conse-
quence thereof I have been committed
this evening to the common jail of the
Home District, by order of the House of
Assembly, 1 have, therefore, to pray that
hie Excellency will be pleased to direct
that I may have the advice and assist-
ance of the Crown officers to enable me
to take snch stefts as I may be instruct-
ed on the occasion. 1 have the honour,
N. Coffin, Adjt.-Gen. of Militia." No re-
dress, however, was obtained, and Col.
Coffin and Col. Givins were confined in
jail until the close of the session. They
afterwards brought an action against
the Speaker of the House for false im-
prisonment, but nothing was recovered.
In the Royal Engineers was an officer
bearing the name and rank of Captain
Philljjotts. He was the brotlier of Bishop
Phillpotts. He first comes to the notice
of the people of y(jrk when the Ixiyalist,
quoting the Niagara Gleaner, relates that
Sir John Colborne (Kiid a visit to the
Falls, going on liori«back, anil accom-
panied by Captain PhilljKitts, on Mon-
day, November 10, 182.S. This was when
Bir John was on his way to York, im
successor to Bir Peregrine Maitland in
the Lieutenaut-GoviTiiorsliip. Captain
Philli)ott8 came to York with Sir John
and l)ecame his n.vi#tary secretary. The
captain was a fine looking man, of me-
dium height, rather inclined to embon-
point. He was a familiar figur<' to the
inhabitants of York, especially on Siin-
diiy mornings, when he would WJilk down
to St. James' church with Sir .John Col-
borne, re^;Jlen^lent in Co<'ked hal, while
feathers and gold-laced unifoiin. Caiitain
PhilljiottH left Y'ork bcfon' Sir John C(,l-
borue, going either to the Lower Pro-
vinces or returning to Eugland. His «>on
remained liere, studied law, was admit-
ted to the bar, and prnctisud his prt>-
f ess ion up to the time of his death.
Auothei occupant of the bay shore cot-
tage wati ICaymoud Baby. He wits a
pupil of Dr. Strachan'fl Home District
Grammar ScluKd in 1819, aud in 1827,
attired as an Indian Chieftaiu, he was
one <A the conspicuous figures in a war
dance at the first fancy dress ball re-
corded iu the annals of York.
Perhaps the most distinguished dweller
iu the cottiige was Captain, afterw.irds
Sir Hicliard Honnycastle, the author of
"Canada as It Was, Is and May Be," und
" Caniubi and the Canadians in 184G."
In one of these books Captain Bonnycastle
wiis led into the error of recording that
Torouto or Tari'uto was probably the
name of an Italian Engineer, who con-
structed the old French fort, evacuated
and destroyed at the tyne when tin-
ICnglish obtained supremacy in Canada.
On the occasion of the completion of the
work on the outlets of the Don, in l!s;}5,
some old formalities were observed, says
Dr. .Scadding. On the twenty-second of
August in that jear the bridges which
had been built by the aid of Sir John
Colborne were handed over by the mili-
tary authorities of the town. " The civic
authorities approached the new struc-
I ture iu pr<K»'S8ion. A barricade at the
I first bridge arrested their prt>gress. A
guard stationed there also forbade fur-
ther advance. The officer in comma nil.
Captain Honnycastle, appears, aud the
M;iyor and corporation are informed that
the two bridges before them are, by the
Command of the Lieutenant-Governor,
juvsented to them as a free gift for the
benefit of the inhabitants, that they nniy
in all time to come be enalded to enjc y
the salubrious air of the |)eninsula, the
only stipulation being that the bridges
should be free of toll forever to the truops,
stores and ordnance of the sovereign.
The Mayor, who, as eye-witnesses rejort,
was arrayed in un official robe of purple
velvet, lined with scarlet, read the fol-
lowing reply: " Sir,— On the jiart of his
Majesty's faithful and l<»yal city of 'lo-
roiito, 1 receive at yonr hauila the in-
vestiture of these bridges, erected hy
command of his l^xi'idlency the Lieuten-
aitl-(ioveriior, and now delivered to the
Cor[>oration for the benefit and acconum*-
dation of the citizens. In the name of
the <'ouimon Council and the citiziMin nf
Toronto, I beg you to convey to liin l.x-
celleney the grateful feelings with whicli
this new instance of the IxMinty of unr
!!!'«'. jrnicious .'-oveieign is received; aiid
I take this <K-easion, on behalf of the cit^,
to renew our assii ranees of loyally anil
utiachnieut to his Maj«;sty'y jiersou aud
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LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
677
(}(>viTiirti*'ut, uiiil to iH'tiy tlironKl* I>>m Kx-
ii'lleiii'.v u. coiitiimiirii'i' «>( royal favour
tow.inlH tliin city. 1 liiivc. oii tlic part
(if till- (oriioratiou and citiziMiH, to riMjiit'Ht
yim t<» MHHuru liiH Kxct'llt'iicy tla; Licutcu-
, it-dovcruor thai his Kxcu'iicncy'M (IfNin?
imtl Ki'ot'i^'i') t'Xt'rtioiiH for the health and
wi'ifiiro of till! iiihahitaiittt of thirt city
aif duly aud gratefully appreciated, and
1 Ix'j; you to convey t< hi« Kxcellency the
iH'Ht wiHlu'H of uiyHi'lf aud luy fellow-
I itizeiifi for tlitt health and happiiietw of
hiH lOxcelleucy and family. Porniit me,
Sir, for niywif and brethren to thank you
(or the very liandHoine and (oiupliinentary
iiianner in which you have carried his
Kxi'i'llency'n coiiiinission into execution."
Iiiiuiediately the band, who were Bta-
tioned on the bridj^e, ntruck up the heart-
Ktirrin>r air, (}«k1 Save the Kiiy?, during
tlic iierforinance of which the gentlemen
(if the corporation, followed by a lar>;e
iiiiiuber of the inlial)itaiitM, passed un-
covered over the bridp'. Three clieern
were then K'veii res|)ectivi'Iy for the
KinK. for his Kxcellency the I.ieutenant-
(loveiiior, for the Mayor and Council of
the city of Toronto, and for Captain
r.unnyc4uitle. The ueiitlemanly and dij?-
nificil manner in which both the addresses
wire read did credit to tiie u;entleineii
nil whom these tluties devolved, and the
UiKxl order and f^ood h'.iuiour that pre-
v;iiled among the siH'Ctators prewent were
I'xceedingly gratifying."
The above account appeared in the
current issue of the Christian Ouarilian
iiiid was copied into the Toronto Patriot
if August 2H, IHSR. Mr. It. 1$. SuUiviin,
tlie Huccessor of Williain liyon Macken-
lie in the mayoralty, was the mayor at
I'.ie. time. lie was nfterwards one of the
ju(1kc« of the Court of Common Pleiis
The bridges presented to the city on
tliis occasion had a brief existence. A
few vi'jirs later they were carrieil away
liy spring floodn in the Don. What was
r.itw ihe Island, but was then a peninsula,
Win once plentifully stocki'd with goats,
tlie offspring of a cokmy eKtablisiied by
(iiivernor Hunter at (iibrallar Point for
tilt' sjikc of the nourishing properties of
;:(Mits' milk. These animals were des-
tiuyet! during the wiir of ISIU. At a
lieridi .antedating the stocking r>f the
M-'iiinsula large quantities of goats ran
tit hirge on Goat Island, .•uljoining thi>
Knlis ui Niagara. They were reared by
an Eiii^lish soldier n:nned Stofiman, who,
(111 opc'iiping a massacri! of his comrades
in the neighbourhood of what is now
Lf'v.iwton, at the hands of the Iroquois,
t^odii (ift(>r the coiKiiiest of the country,
Hci! tliither, and led a Kobinson Crusoe
"ort <f life until his death. In Captain
KfFiin.vc.iHilc'K bo.iks on Canada he dis-
ceursed freely and often satirically on
persons, customs aud places. The cot-
tage on the bay shore has long since dis-
appeared, and the bank has been cut
down to make way for tin' railroad
traekH.
CHAPTKK CCI.
THE FIRST CAB IN THE CITY.
Tbe Karly lllHlory •! Pnbllc ('oiiveyaiirrii
nnd Monir or the .Mrn M'bo Drovr Them.
East of Parliament street is a section
of the city abounding in short, narrow
streets, thickly built up with houses of
moderate size. Eastern avenue is one of
the thoroiiglifares traversing this dis-
trict. .No. fi-t of this street is a very
small one storey frame building, painted
almost black by wind and weather. Hero
for more than fifty years has lived a
well known coloured man named Thorn-
ton IMackburn. In one of the doors iu
his house he points out to the visitor a
panel shattered by a bullet during the
Mackenzie rebellion. Mr. Blackburn
came from the United States to Toronto,
acconi|)anied by his wife, who is still
living, in l.S3-i. For several years he
found employment as u table waiter at
Osgoode Hall. Previous to this cabs had
made their first appearance in Mon-
treal copied from a vehicle then popular
iu Loudon. Mr. Blackburn obtained the
pattern of a Montreal cab and taking it
to Paul Bishop, a French Canadian,
whose name of L'Eve(jue —the Bishop-
had been Anglicized iu Upper (Viiada, he
ordered one made from the design fur-
nished. Bishop, who was a nu-clianic of
great skill, anil counted as the best lock-
maker in Canada, had a shop at the
north-east corner of Sherbourne and Duke
streets. He accepted Mr. Bl.ukburns
commission, and in 1S37 he delivered to
him. the first cab built iu Upper Canada.
This cab has been on exhibition at the
York Pioneei''s log liouse in the Exhibi-
tion grounds. It was n.inied " Tiie
City." The cab was painted yellow and
red. The entrance for passengers was
from the rear. There was aceoiii'"o<la-
tion in it for four [Nissengers. Tli 'i ver
sat on his box in front. One lioi i.rew
the vehicle. For sevcr.-il years Mr. Black-
biiii; had the monop. ily of the cab busi-
ness in Toronto. It was found to be so
profitable a pursuit that others were
tempted to engage in it. One MouibKV
morning Owen, Miller & Mills. c;irriage
makers, on the south side of King street,
a little west of York street, turned out
for Guest & Griffin, the proprietors of a
livery stable on King street east, alnuit
the site of Hugh Miller's drug store, six
cabs. These were like a little .lark-
coloured sentry box mounted on wheels.
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LAN'DMAliKS OK TOliOXTO.
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They wfre drawn by ono lutrst> ami car-
ried" two iMTHiiiiM. 'J'hc <lrivi>r H«t in
front. They were calU'il after the iianu'H
oi the priiicipiil lake bteiiiiifis : Tlie
Chief .luHtiee Uobinmm, ISritaiinia, (iu.'en,
Transit, Niajrara anil PriiieesM Koyal.
Other ealm built by Owen, Miller A MIIIh,
a few years after Mr. J'.laeklturnV ini-
lialion of tlie n:<ivcini'nt, were eall'd .-if-
ler the Haiiits who had furniHhed nanu'H
to the ^vardB of the city. At lirnt ih'Ti'
Men- no fixed r;itis, hnl later, aH IIu'ki'
imhlic eonveyaneeh increased in nnnibi'v
eertaiu fares were fixed for one, two oi'
mure jiersunB, aceordinj? to the diNlane",
and also by the hour. Tor ordinary
dictani'es the fare was one shill-
inir for one person and one sliillinR
.tuil Hixjienee ft>r two. The eah Ktan<l was
on (liuix'h Htreel, at the we.n Miile of St.
.lauie^'. where it now is. At flint no lieen."*!'
Avas paid. Then a tax Wius fixed, varying
fro:n six to twelve dollarn a year. t>i late
yearj thi^ ha« been noiuinvhat inereased.
The nuinberiiiK ol the vehicles hImi eaine
iuto practice at iliis time. The fiist vaW
men made so nunh money that snon the
liU'iuesB wao ovenloae. Many nervanls left
their maalers and went into th ■ new <*■■-
cupation. Anion^.^t tlie*e weiv CharicH
Abbott, a servant of William 11. lioiiltoii.
nt The Grange; .Tanie.s Alexander 1 itz-
pjitrick, and Juil^c llagernian'H co.u'h-
iii.'in. George Davis, "who Iri.d l)een in tiie
(service of Ix^rd Tnllamoiv, Iniilt a cab
%vhich he named after hL-< old master.
Later two brother.-*. .lohn and Willia.m
Newell went into the buMnesw, and nliout
the same time liobert Paul. Mr. Jo'ieph
llazelton i-s an old Toroilo «'a,b owner.
lli-i life in one re«|vct is renutrkailile.
lie has never travelled in any vehicle but
ix call. He Wiis never on a steamboat,
a. railway train or a street car. II(«
Ciwne out to this country in a sailing?
Kliip. Some of the cabmeni, finding tlie
competition too etronj?. abandoned cabs
nltogether and went inu> the livery busi-
ness. The first two-horse c.tb w!w« driven
by Louis Walkrr. Like Bisiiop, lie wa«
H Frrn^'h-Oanadian, and like him, too,
his name was changed from thi' French
La Mari'he into Walker. He lived on the
north side of l)u •hi'»t« strcvt, a few doors
ea^'t of Sl'.<'rl)ourne street. From this time
cuiwai-d cabs, st.'iges, busses au<l public
conveyances of every kind increased with
the growth of the oitj*. Mr. Blaekbuin,
the first cab driver in the city, retire^l
from the business with a comi>eteney
a score cK years .ago, l)ut he is not for-
gotten, for grey-haired men now (1888)
frequently greet liim with the exclama-
tion, "Ha ! It is you who drove me to
my wedding.'' or "You arc the man who
drove my eldest boy to his christening."
CHAI'TKR (('11.
THE BRIGHT HOUSE.
The Old llomi'ittratl oil Miirrn Htrecl KahI—
.'oiiiiir KriiiiiilHcriirrH or a York I'iourer.
In the latter part of 1804 a fire broke
out in an old frame dwelling house on
(JiieiMi street east, next <loo! west on tlie
northern side ()t the stnvl, of the I'ast-
erii blanch of the I'.ank of Commerce, by
which this old honii'ste<ul of the KrlKht
fiimily was all but destroyed. For nearly
sixty j'cars (he old-time building, <•[
which an illustration is given, w/is the
rcHidence of John ISright, at the date uf
his death the oldest inhabitant of the
city of Toronto, a. place he had lived
to see grow from :i small village of a
few hundred inhabitants to a great city,
numbering when he died nearly 20(),0(tO
Souls.
John r.right was the Hon ( f Lewi and
Margaret IJright, the former an Fnglish-
man who had formerly behniged to the
42nd Iteginient, and who came to Canada
about the same time that Gocernor Sim
coe did, or perhajw rather eailiei, nnil
abode in Three I'vivers, (jue-
in 17!)0, the subject of this
lK>rn. In 179t», Bright, the
to York, and lived in a slab-
site now occupied
t<H>k up his
bef. 'i'here,
sketch was
elder, came
built cottage on the
by the Mail building.
He was jirincipal messenger for n great
number of years at the Provincial Par-
liament buildings, anil was assisted for
twenty-ticven years of that tinn» by his
son John. He died in his hundredth ycju",
alKMit 1S50.
When the war of 1812 broke out, Jolin
liright tfK)k up arms in resiHjuse to
Brock's proclamation calling out the
militia, and si'rved throughout the whole
of the wjir. Writing in 1S8H, just after
Mr. Bright's de.ath, Mr. 1>. B. Bead, in
one of his works, thus S|)enks :
" Old veterans like to fight their battles
over again. Not long since I had an in-
terview with old Mr. John Bright, tt't
years of age, then living Ndow the Don,
a veteran of the war of 1812, who was
wounded .at the battle of I^undy's Lane,
for which ho n'ceived .i (K-nsion. His eye
brightened when his mind wjis stirred by
recalling the scenes of the eventful night
of the 2.')th July, and he could tell how,
with the blessed moonlight shining on the
comhiitants. the moon's i)alc light wan
brightened by the blaze from the cannons'
mouths, a sheet of flame, how man met
man, iu the fearful caniage of bloody
war."
At the close of tlie war, Bright, still a
very young man, little more than a boy,
iu fact, Ix'gan business in the meat trade,
and continued iu it successfully for a
great number of years.
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LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
670
Wlii'ii filiout thirty ycaiM <>r ape lio liiul
;ic'(|iiirc<l tlii^ plot of l.'iml oil tliu north-
ui'st coiiii'T of Y<p|ip;(' Ptrct't, wlicn' •Inmi^'-
soii's stori' stood |iiior to tli<> unMit fin' of
Mnn'Ii. lS!»ri. mid all tin' Imid !idjoiniiri'
it, to Jiiiiii'M stn-ct on tlio wost, miii! to
I.oui.-ii. wti'i'i't oil tilt' iiortii. Ml' tradi'd this
(»il' ;; t'.i'rwmds witii ii man iiainiMl Wiiliaip
Kliolt, who had liuilt tin- ffaiin' liousi' oa
ijuf'i'ii ftivrt La the I'arly ' thirtitH," for
•hill lunai'sti'ad and adjaciMit IimkI, !'"-
c'l iviiiu; ill addition a cow .'is part of tlu'
d<>!il.
In IS.'iT r.ii'j,ht was nf;;niii la thi' field
agiiiust till' iiif^iugi'iits, and lio pi'i'-'itly
al)ly «[)rnt, John Rii'-ilit died ivtily in 18^S
in his (»;5r(l year. lie left lioliind him a,
j;r('at niiiiihi'i* of descendant '<, and a rc-
putntion for liom'sty and plain dcaliiii;-
that any man inifAlit envy.
Mr. John I'.riAht had a lirothor a few-
yi'ai's \oiin;j:i'r than himself iianii'd
'riioiii.'iH, who for a very jrreat ninuher
of ye;irs c.'inaed on Im.siness as a farrier
.•ml bl.'ieksmith on the opposite sid.' of
KiiiLr«tf>n K()ad to whi're th(> old 'uKiic
^tead .'5too<I. Liki> .Tolm Rriftlit. .Tames
w;is a tlioroiitrh Tory, and like liim toi
in this r('S[)e('t. tli;it he was .a Cnn-
siientioiw and painstaking; man in all
t
;iii|
TllK IlKli^lil' lloisi;, IS'JO TO IS'.lt.
laiaejiti'd that he could not oiiee luni-e uo
to the Iroiit at the l'"eni.iii raid in IM^f'.
Mr. I'.iij;lit ni.'irried ahoiit 1N1!S, Nain- .
danirliter of William Knott, fornu-rly of
til'' (.iiiern's IJaiit.',ei's. I'iiev had several
'.'liLliltia, three t»>\\^, John. Tliom;is ;ui(l
WLIIi;iiii, and four dauiihter.s. Tlioiuas
lirl'^ht wius an olfi<i;il at the ("ouil II use
lor- inan> years, d.^iiii;' reliiiia ry •>, lS'.t."».
Mrs. i;ri'j,ht dii'd in |n7n.
Ill |oiiti<!s .Foliii r.rinlit \\;is a Tory of
llie 'I'orii'K, a <'liiir<'h anil Kine; ni.'iii to
Ih'' ha< iilioii" lijiviir.',' no symiiathy with
i'''|iuhli<';iiiisiii or ra<li(Mli'-ii, in an\ way,
tlia[«> or foiiM.
After ;i lou;;- life, iis'l'ull.s and lioliour-
th.at lit! undertook. Tiie old lil;ii'k-i!"i th'.s
fol.;e w;in ;i ura! resort f<r til' ohl-
tiliie reMideul.'i (HI ilie liailks of tie" Poll
forty ye;ir« a^;o. There occasion lily
^athi'iecl totjelher John Thomson, loliil
Smith .-ind Captain Sparks, tii'or;;''' l.''Nlt'
wouhl eoiiie ill now ••■.nd then, also many
of the lllliolt.s fn.iii Sea rlior>urj;li and
from .V^iineoiiit. .i.'imes pa^sl■d a'>\;i> ill
IMl'J, h.iviiiu,' p.isscd his >.Sih lirlhday,
a 111 like his lirotlii'r ant! his father he
left ;i. pleauant memory Ix'liiiid him.
.lames Jinnht passed the whole of his
life in 'r.u'onto and liad a liirLie family.
M- !n c( hi^ (lesei'iidants are st;ll in tlio
city, or ill its iiiimeili;i t" vicinity, anil
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LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
on^ of hifl flonB occnpios the old forge nnd
etill carries on the cime husiuess that
hi« father did before him. A nephew of
his resided for many yenra on Qvieeii
street west in a pretty cottage just west
of Bathuret street.
CHArTER CCIII.
THE ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE.
The BalldinK on CirlndHtone Point Com*
pirted In the year 1808.
One of the fi st, perhaps the very first, ne-
cessity of a port IS a lighthouse. Although
such a cuide to lake navigators was prcj ct-
ed and bepuu at a very early period it was
not finished until York h.id becomo quite a
village. A lighthouse was Iv gun on what
was then Yorlt p?ninsula, but is now To-
ronto Island at the point known as Gibral-
tar Point, before the close of the last ccU'
tury and the vtssel MuhawK, of which we
had frequent mention in ilie early annals
of the towij, was employed in bringing over
Btoaes from Queenaton to build it. Mr. John
Thomson, who was still living in 1873, was
•mployed in its arection. The buildint; waa
then begun, but evidently was not complet-
ed, for m 180;s an Act was passed by the
Provincial Legislature for the eatablishmcnt
of lighthouse^s on the south-westernmost
point of a certain island cailed Isle Forest,
situated about three leagues tr .m the town
of Kingston in tho Miciland Distric", an*
other upon Mi8<i«8aga Point at the entrance
o the Nipgira River near to the town of
Niagara, and the otheruponGbraltai Poir.b.
It was not practicihle to cany the Act fully
into effec: before 1806 at the earliest. Ac«
enrding to the Act a tund for the eiectic.
!tnd maintenpnee of these lighthouses wai to
bs formed by levying tlire' pence p r ton on
• very vessel, boat, rafr, or other craft of ten
tons bu den and upwards doubling thcpoini
named, inward bound. Tnat ligh' house
duty should be levied at a port when there
was no lighthouse became a grii vane, and
in 1818 it was enac'ed that no vessel, lx)at,
raft, o other cr ifr of the burden of ten tons
aud upwards -nould he liab c to piv any
llgiithouse duty at any port where no light-
hoose WHS erected, »iiy local law or usage
to the contrary notwitiistanding. But the
lighthouse at York was not completed until
1808 at the earliest, for in the Gazeff^ of
March 16tb of tbat year the annouiiueinent
IB made that a Ivtrhtriouse is about to t>e ini'-
mediatcly estab ished on Gibraltar Point at
the entrance to York harliour. Tne GazetU
remarks : It is with pleasure we inform he
■puhlie that the daneera to resKcls navigating
Lake Ont.iiio will in a great m*asnre be
aToided by the erection of a liftntliouse on
Gihraltar Point which ia to ba imm«dia*aly
completad in complianea with an addieis of
the Houia of Auambly to tha Lieutenant-
Governor. For a considerable period all
Taasela wa a 8ign>iiUd by a flag from tha
lighthouae. The acccmp'inving illuatration
ahowa the ligbthousa on the Point.
chaptekTcciv.
two wfstern piers,
View* of iho Nartherm Rnllwiir Pier and
QnreB'ji ^linrr t'roni the Kaxi and West.
In 1852 the Bsara of Har^, ur Commis-
sioners decidett tiiat a wintfc. iiirlwur along
the western bay shore was a conrenient and
desirable thing for the accommodation ,e
shinpinp of this port. The Queen's ,arf
at the foot of Bathtirat Btreet and what in
now the easternmost of the piers of the Nor-
thern railroad were then in existence. Ac-
cordinply, Mr. J. G. Howard, the veteran
engineer of High Park, in March, 1853, sub-
mitted a plan for an outa de winter harbour
to the west of the Queen's wharf ami lor an
inside win cr harbour in the water lot lying
east of the Queen's whari and np to theNor
them pier ; these water lots stretching our
as far aa wnat ia known as t)ic windmill line.
As soon as this plan of the Harbour Com-
missioners became known, Mr. Cumberland,
then the President of the Northern road, had
crilis sunk and booms put down for rafting
timber, thus shutting off the possibility of
using aoy oonsiderabl." spice of the water
lot between tlie Queen's wiiarf and the Nor-
thern pier for a winter iiarbour. An ar-
rangement was effected by which the Har
hour Commission secured a small portion of
the wat«>r lot to the eastward of the eastern
line of tl'.e Queen's wharf but it wis ao small
iliat It has never been available for the pur
p(ve intended. The city ihen cribbe<l and
h led in at a cost of $10,000. the warer lot
west of the Queen's whari which had been
intended for the outer hariionr, hut the
Cmadian P. icific Railroad one night S't a
large gang of nun at work putting tracks
down on it and thus stole the property and
the improvements at the same time. Th"
first Northern pier was that running a an
ai.g e • astwarii :r(.ir the foot of Brock street.
On tliip pier sands the grain elevator shown
in vi'.'wNo. 2. Since that time several piers
havelwen coiiatructtd between this and the
Queen's whart. View No. I is taken from
th" oiiginal Northern piei- looking west with
the Queen's wharf in the distance shdWinK
the iiooms and the logs. View No. 2 shows
the Northern pier and elevator looking from
the west with a sniali portion of the boan-j
'iud loss.
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LANDMARKS OK TORONTO.
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LANDMARKS OF TOliONTO.
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO
833
CHAPTER CCV.
THE OLD POOL IN THE PARK-
1
the
An Artlflrlnl Mlnlnturr t.nkr Whirh Onre
Ornailli'iilftl tht' i;iiivrr<tity <;roiiii«l«.
Thour fiiiniliar wi li (JiU'cn's I'.irk and the
U:iiv( rsity (irciiiKis li:ivc luit tailed to f>b~
serve tlf dc p gully or riivlni' wliicli lies he-
twc'ii the iliiivcrsitv liuiMii gs and tiic
pHtliuay. Oi'igiiifilly a f;iii.iU stveain v.-in
tliiiiiuii this o:ov('. SiiliscfiiKMitly i;
tliin(,'iit proptT to hiiild a il;iin aernss
s-r'iuii :iiid so coiiHtiuet a miiiiritiire
This was done and tlie p iid so fnimett w-
ninined in rxistcr.uc for a consideral>le li'iis^i h
of iim'\ Finally, howe\-er, the water ijrrw
stngnant and tht; gi'tuTiil (dT nsiveness of th''
poi I was rnhanccd by the fact that it wn«
mad(> A ccmvenient piaee ot execution and
lundul for all the worlliless cats and do^^s m
tde neiylihourhood. A drain was built, the
water of the lake was let oil', aiul now t!\o
raviiK.' presents much the same iippearame
as oriuiniklly. The illustration shows tbe
Ikke AH it was.
CHAPTKR CCVI.
YORK'S FIRST BAZAAR.
A rif>rc of Miivir « onipovrtl For nnil Siiir^
On That Ocrn«:<ili.
Alonn the edge cf the "nay jiisr west of the
w'.s'ern extreinity of the present Parliament
House grounds formeily ran a shingly tvach
(fa width siiflieient to admit cf thepassngc
of vehicles. Jiiek of this bench was ilie elitr,
tx'endiiig along the bay front, fifteen or
twenty tei'i i'lijii at this point. The c m-"
inis.-fariit s'ore-houses \ve;e situate 1 iieie on |
•his l>ench — long wldte stiuenires of wood |
with Mie shutters of the windows alwaj'S i
clo-ed i mil oa a levcd with the bav, yet I
li'ivinj: an pntra!u:(! in thi- re'ir by a narrow
£r:»iii,'w,iy from the elifT above on whicli close ;
hy u,is the guard house, a small bniliiin<; ,
painted adnn c(dour with a riM)f of one slope j
inclining 'o the south aud an arotied stoop i
or veraiidali open to the nor h. A ligtit ■
bridee over a deep ■watercourse led up to the |
guard" houst'. Here a sentrT was m^w to be
seen pacitig up .'.ml down. Over otiier lie-
prt!S.sii>iiS or raviivs eicse by here were b'ng
to be seen some ]>ia' forms or flo red areas
(f stout plank. Th'S- were said to 1
the site of the naval building yard wh^re an
unfinished ship of war and the materials col-
looted for the construction of otlieis were
destroyed when the United States' forces
took possession o' York in 1813. It apjie us
that Col. .los'ph flmichotte had jus; li, en
pointing (Ut fothe Govcrnnmnt tlie exp".-ied
condition of the public property here. In
his Biitisii Nordi America he remarks thai
"thedtfeiicidess situation of York, tfie mode
of its cap'ure and tlio destruc'ioii of the
iarL'e ship then on the stocks were but too
prophetically demonstrated in my v p.)rt to
iieadcpiarters in Lower Canada on mv return
from I rcsponsinle mission to tlie caDital of
the Upper Tiovince in th' early part of
April. Indo' (I tlie communication of the
result of my rt connoitring opcrationsand the
intelligence of the successful invasion of
Yrrk and the filing of the new ship by the
enemy were receivedalmost simultaneously. "'
The GoTeii or-in-cliief. Sir (ieorL'e Pre-
Tost, was blameii for haTing pcrmitteii a
frigate to be laid down in an unprotecred
position. '• Veritas" a correppondeiu of the
-Montreal Ih'rald in ISl"), s lys that there was
;i " sfiking impr' piiety in building at York
wii houi provid; lit; t lie means of sec'irity t here
as the works i f do ence ptojected by CJen-^
eral l{ioek — when he contemplated bt^tore the
war the removal of the naval depot from
Kingston to York by reason of the prox-
imity of tlie former to the Sta'es in water.
by the tee— were discontinmd by nrd.er of
Sir George Prevosr that is — and r.cv r re-
sumed, The position intended to liave been
fnriitied by General Brock. ne.Tr Yoik, was
capable ot being mtide very strong had his
plan been exicutcd, but as i: was not nor
any o:h r plan of defence adoped, a ship-
yard without protection became an al ure-
mtnt to the en my as was felt to the coat of
th' inhabitants o' York."
On the 28. h ( f iX'cember, 1S3;?, the inte-
1 io ot t!ie commissariat st( re decorated with
fligs was the scene of the first charitable ba^
zaar held in the.-e narta. It was foi the r-^-
iief of distress occasioiit d bv a recent visi-
tation of cholera. The enterpii;-e svas t?e-
markab'.y snecessinl. Sibl aid's Ciuiailiiin
Mciija-.inc r.i itie foilowiag January say- of
It :" •• All the fastiionab.e and we l-distv.s-
ed Atteniied ; the baud of the gallant 'yth
played, at each table stood a lady an i in a
sliort time all the articles were soul
Tins • were said to he
spaces occupied by different portions of the | very
renowned r.anva.s- house of G>iveriior Simeoe. | protitiibly to gentlemen,
:» structure mannfactuied in London and I »» the apple of their eye the ttungs
made and pn .rented by suon hands. Ihe
who will keep
"nee the pro|>-rty (jf Captain Ct)ok, the eir-
onimiaTigator. Tiu^ convenience < f its plau
and th»! hospitality for whicfi it tiflorded
room were favourite topics among the c.'rii-
p.inions of the Governor. Someway to the
'■ast of the comniisBaritit 3t(>re bouses was
sum CO lected on tnia rcv.asion was three
hundred nr.d eleven piuixis. The h.'iKiar
was under the patronage of Lady Gdhorne. "
H rewith is piesei t' d a f:-ic simile of a pieei!
of music call.'d The Raven PKime, wnt'eii
i^':
I :
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LANDMARKS OK T()K()\T(>.
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LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
for that occasion by Jam a M. Cawdoll,
dedicated to Misa Mary Powell and sung by
J. E Gojdsoii. L iciy Colborne, of course,
was the wife of Lieutenant-Governor Sir
Jolin Cdlborno-Lord S- aton, Mi-s Mary Pow-
ell \va^ tho dau);i)ter of Cliicf JiiBtice Pow-
e'i, Ml. J. M. C^wdell ^\as a w. ll-knowi
local pioiicor of literatutf. He puljlished
for a i'hort time a maKazine of liglu reading
ontitUd Ihe Hose Harp, tlie bulk of wliicii
confiistcd of cractful compositions in verse
and ptOBf by himself. Mr. Cawdcll had
bciii :in officer in the army. Through the
fricnds'lnp of Mr. Justic;; Macaulay, attcr-
ward Sir James, he wu» appointed lihrarian
ami sern^tary to tlip Law Society of O-'goode
Hull. He died in 1842.
CHAPTER CCVTL
A CHURCH STREET CORNER.
The ItnllillDC At the North-\«>«t Corner or
rhiirrh aud il,«lelalile Str<M'is.
A lod brick buildini; s ands at the north-
Tiie house which is of two stories and of
good size was built about 1832 by a tailor,
named Hunter, who carried on his busiuesa
there and also occupied it as a residenca.
fn 1837 it was the residence of Hugh Scobie,
the proprietor of the lirilixh Ci)bmisl.
Alter his death the bulding wa.s
converted it into a hotel. Since t len
it has br;en used as a saloon for the
greater part of the time. When the
house was being renovated, on r< mov-
ing the paper from the wall in the front rjom
looking out on Adela'de 8trep»^, an •ich.
stretching trom tiie floor nearly to tho c il-
ing, painted on the plaster wa.s disci ve eil
OD the south wall, showing that the apart-
ment had once been used as a lodge room.
CHAPTER CCVIH.
THE FIRST YO^K REGIMENT.
An Orariinlzntion or Mllltia KHtablished
Here In 1798-lU OIHccrs.
In 1798, while the Hon. Peter Russell was
acting as the President of the Council, be-
twi en the withdrawal of Governor S incoe
and the appointment; of the Hen. Peter
TIIK N. W. COKNIR OY (II'-UCH AND AnKI.MDK ST3
W'?' corner of Ciiurch and Adelaide streets
opposite tlic public library, which few per-
•0116 it'inemlxir aa anything beside a saloon.
Hunter aa president, it was decided that
there i-lioiild bo a retriment (f militia ostab-
lisiiedat York. Accordingly an Ordcr-ia«
I \^
..i-^-fc'
r I
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686
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
:l
^1
m
council w)s passed, anil Hon. D. W. Smith,
Sarvtvor-O.Mieral. w.is appointfil colon- 1.
The CO onel then drafC'.-a the following itfi-
cer« who were pl.i3.Hl on the rrcoula and
ajpr-veil by the rresident-in-Counoil, aa
fo.l( ws :
The Ho '. n. \y. J=mlth. Cor
John m. 1, I..,.. J. !•• -•'-■'•\?f. '^o """l.'^'
Cforim.ly cap uiu m ihc ISritish mihtia,
Lieut. -I'ui.
Major- V'leant.
Dfi)Utv-l.icnteimnts-\\ n-.. .Inrvis. Ksq.. pvo-
fpssinctohavethe (Joveruors* conunis.Mon as
(ieinitv-lieuteiiani ami colonel of the > orii
militia, Ka-l lliunis,'.
IMehinl licasley, Ksq., J. l\. inennur of I'ar-
lianieiit. West f.idinf,'.
To lie eaptuir.s- Mr. ^\ m. (irahant, foriner)v
a captain i'li the Kins,''s .service anil now on
half pay.
Mr Kreil. Baran de I.aen, formerly a cantain
in tl • lerinan troops, einniojed by liisMn.iesty.
FJicnard I'.easley. I'm).. nicinl>fr <.r I'ariia-
ment, now captain in the Lincoln militia.
John Wilson. K.sii,. .1. 1'.. formerly captain of
militia in Nova Scotia.
.Mr Win. t'l.Hwitt. nf the Mirvevor-tieiicral s
Department, formerly ciipi^iin ;>( niili;ia in ilie
Sastern district.
Mr. Wm. Henv.y. said to b'" alreaiU comini--
Bioncd. . ,
Mr. George Playter. a L. K. Loyali.-l and pen-
•ioned.
Mr. Thomas I'.idoiit. lietiteiiant, from the
Lincoln militia.
Mr. .\ lex. Burns, .secretary to his Honotir the
President.
Mr. H<?,n.i;-i;iiiii Mallorv, sou-iii-la'.v to the late
Mr. I)a.vti''n,
To b(» lit lUcnaiirs :
Mr. "john henijon, formcily illlcer in the
British mili;ii.
Mr. W. Allan, liout. from the Lincoln militia.
George l'lii>hi;!m, lOsq.. .in<=iico of the peace.
Mr. Alexand'^r Wood, mrreliant.
Mr. Jacob llerann'r, merchant, brithcr-iii-
law of the Hon. It H.
Mr. Kdwaid Wri'^lit, formerly qiiarterm istcr
Qneen'ts iianKeis.
Mr Ariliibald Cameron, merchant, foiiiicrly
ei'ureant of the Queens Uanyers,
Mr. Tiiiimas Barry, metvliaiii.
Mr .-^anmel Heron, uuTchant.
Mr, Archibald Thomson, formerly & militia
oJHcer.
Mr. \Vhcelcr Douglas, merehant miller.
Al^'crmaii, said lo 1m' ciMinis-ioni iL
To bo cnsignH :
Mr. Jame^ lUi(?Kle.s. merchatit, nep>iew of |{.
G. Uugiili' .
Mr. (.amble, from Inland, merchant.
,Mr. John Tenhrorh. -.in u: Majnr Ti'iibrofh.
"Mr. Samuel I), t^i/eiw. son nf Capi. Cuzens
and a-,-,isiant in fiTretary's ollii'e.
Mr. A. 'I". UiiK^les, merchani, nephew of H.
Q. Uni:(,'les.
Stair:
Mr..\le\-. Maenah, ro be ad it. wit 1. rank of liini*.
Mr. Abler .Miles, to be (lU.ir: crnia^ter.
(ii.M" Ki; (■( i\.
NEWMARKET AND SHARON-
nr Rrslon nf I pprr > one« Strrri Mlili ji
Fall .(rroiint nr OaTiil nilUoii »n<l llu
Sect, ihe IbiMrrii ot I'rnrp.
After passing the rej;ioiiof the Oik Rulg. son
Yonco street, at the point whei-e Newmnr-
ki t came in vjew toward the east, ,v Lrgn
portion of the traffic ot Yonpe street turn, d
asiile tor a certain distance out of the
straiijlit route to the north in that dircetion
Ahoiu tlii.s ]ioiir, the anccnt dwel'iTs ,it
York, used to take c.ote of signs th.i tiicy
had passt d into a higher latitnde. Ililf •(
(tegree to tne .south ot their homes, a^ X..'.«
g.^ra for txair.pie, tney were in tlie land, if
not of the citrsn and myrtle, certain. v of
the ttiliptree ami pawpaw, whet" tb.' eiiii)!f.
chestnut trrew plentiliiily in tlie nitnra!
wo (!3 and the pe.u'li Inxutiantly tl iiii-ii ,1,
Now, halt a tl L'l''- tb e other w;iy ;n Mn'
tramontane regicn, north of the R ilg.'s,
thi y found ;h<Mnselve8 in the pri Heiic of a
Vi^i.'tation tliat spoke of an advance, hcw-
ev( r minute, towards the pole. 11 r<' ali
along rlie wayside be.uitiful .specimens o: tin
spruce, pirn', and balsam fir, strangers in
tin» lorest abont York, were eiicouiut rul.
Sweeping the sward wi'. h the . drorping
branches and senditig up thtir dark green
spires high in the air, tiiese trees w. le al-
ways regarded witn iirerest and de-i;.'d ri.s
gractful obj e's wuriiiy 'o be transiened ;o
thi' lawn cr oriiainiital sniubliery, Tlius
writrs l)r. il.'iiry Seadding to win m we ,ire
iniiiliidl fur this chapter on X>'wmai k. t
and Sii.iron.
.\ little wiy otTtlte road rn the left, jus'
bilori' the turn leading to Ni wmarke"-, w,is
tne great ynaker meetinL.' house, of 'hi.?
ri'^jion — 'he Friends' meetiiig-honse. abii M-
iiig of the ns( fn; plain cast, gen<'r.ally set n
witii its .«ol;.l shut;"rs closed up. Tins wis
the successur of the fiist Quakir niriirg
house in Upper Ca.iada, Hir> .^l . .1 's. iili
.I'.hn (JuMiiy. t:.i' < ininent Fnglisii 1^»iii1;.t.
will •tavciltnl on tins con; inetit :n l^ilT 4il.
delivered several addresse?) with a view
espceiaily to the reuniting, if jio.ssiblo, of
the ()itti()dox and the Hicksites.
(!'>iii ay 111 his " .S atistical Acccnnt nf
Upper Canada," took note that ilii.s Qn.k'r
incf t aiL' -home and a tnodirn eh pd at
lI"L".:;s Hollow. belon{:iiig to tiie Cbuoh of
Kiigl.aiiil. weri" the only two placen if woi -
hIii|i o be seen on Yonge street li-;wreii
Yi I'k and the Hoditid Luidini:, a d:s' uier,
hi' says, of neariv forty miles. Tins was in
ISIT.
Following now the wiiecj marks of clear^
Iv the ni.ij'.rity of tcIih.Ii s iraveilitig on the
street, We turn as'de to N'Wrntrket.
Nwmaiket had for its germ, or 'lucleus,
he riiills and stores of Mr. E isha liaman,
who emi^rateii hitlier from tiie state ni Ni w
York 111 ISOO Here also on the branch of
tne Holl.uMi Riv.r, mills .it an early date
Were established by Mr. Morde.'ai MilUrd
and taiinernH by .Nlr. Josepli Hill Mr
LANDMARKS OF lORONTO
Boaiii.in'a niilU became s-uhsequently the
i)oper;y of Mr. Peter Kobiusoii, wiiD was
C.'iiiiiussiouer of Crown Lauiis in 1827, iiiul
on ■ of tiie n^presentiitivea of the united
counties of Vork and yiincoi', and aftcrwarcis
liic piopcriy of Ins brotlur. Mr. W, B.
]v)b.ll^on, who for a timo resid'^^d hero, and
lor a miniber of year:* r. prfainUi^d the
couiuy "t Simcoe in tiie Provincial I'arlia-
iiK'ii:. Most gtMitit men tiavcUiug north, or
to the north- west, broUf:!lit with tiicm from
fiiiiMs in York, a note of con.mendatiou to
Mr Robinsv)n, wlioao friendly and iiospl-
labie dispod.tiou was weli-knowu. Gov-
ernors, commodores and commanders-in-
oliiti oa their tour;* of pleasure oi duty,
weiealad to find a mjmt'ntary reating-plac ;
.1. a rctined dwm.-stic fireside. H^jre, Sir
Juaii Frank in was ente.'tained lor som ;
(iiys n IS.S."), and at other periods, Sir John
Ro-saini Oiptain B ack, when ou ti.eir way
to til" Aietic r.'fious.
In 1847. Mr. W. B R .binsou was Com-
missioner of Pulil c Woika. and at a later
period, one of tlie Cliiet Commissioners of
iii.>C.inada Company. Mr. Peter Robinson
w:kS matnimeutal ut 8et:thn^; the region in
whtch our C.uiadiau Peterborough is sit-
uated, ani trom hini that townhasits name.
A'. NewmirKet wa.< lonj; engaged in pros-
Pluus business, Mr. John Cawthra, a lufui-
ix 1 (if tile millionaire f.iinily of that name.
M ■ ,]ohn Cawthra was tiie first represen.a*
tive 111 the Provincial Parliainen: of tlie
County of Simcoe, after the separation from
tie Comity oi York. In 1812, Mr. John
Ciwtiira and his brother Jonatlian, were
iiiuoiii,' tile volunteers wiio offered tiiim-
Selves for the deter. ce ot tiie country.
ThouL'ii by nature inchued to peace, they
were :iup Hid to this by a sincere sense of
du'y. At, Detroit, John assiaud in convey^
iiiC across ihe river in soows tlie lieavy guns
wtiici were expecte'i to be wan'od in tiie
iittaek on the fort. On the slopes at Qu'eii-
stun, •loiiti nan hiul a hair-breadth e.~cape.
A' th diiic'ion of his officer, he moved
iiom the rear to the front of his compiny,
giviii.^ place to a comrade, who, tiie follow-
iiic iiisiant, had a portion of hiS leg earned
away by a .ihot from Fort Gray, on the op-
posite side of the river. Also at Qieen-
fctoii. John, after personal y cautioning Colo-
nel Mj,cdoiiell against rashly exposing hini-
eelf at he se'nn-d ti) be do;ng, was calli d on
.'I few minutes afterwards to aid in c.iri>ing
iliai, ( nicer to the rear, mortally wounded.
With Newniaikei , too, i« a*a icialed IIih
rjaiBi( 1 M . William Roe, am reliant, tiien
Binee 1814, etigag'd at one tiiiK! largely in
tlH! fur ir.ide. It was Mr Roe who saved
from capture a co^asidttrabh' portion of the
public funds, when York f •!! into the hands
of G.Tiieral DearbornandCommodoreChaun-
cey in 181.3. Mr. Roe was at tlie time au
employee in the office of the Receiver Gene-
ral, Prid'aux Selby, and by the order of
Geiural Sheaflfa and the Executive Council,
he conveyed three bags of gold and a large
sum in army bills to tne farm of Chief Jus-'
tice R;>biuson, on tlie Kingston road, east
of the Don bridge and theie buried them,
The army bills were afterwards delivered
up to the enemy, but the gold remained se-
creted until aftet the d pariure of the in
Taders and was handed over to the authori-
ties in Dr. Strachan's parlour by Mr. Roe
The Rjcjiver-General's iron chest was also
removed by Mr. R le, and deposited on the
premises of Mr. Donald McLian, clerk of
the House of Assembiy. Mr. McLean was
killed while bravely opposing tlie landing
of the Ame; leans and tiis house waa plun-
dered, tiie strong chest was broken open
and about one thousand silver dollars were
taken therefrom.
Tiio name of Mr. Roe's partner at NiiW-
matket, Mr. Andrew B irlaud, is likewise
associated with the taking of York in 1813.
He was m uie prisoner in the D>;ht and in
the actual striigple againft cap: ure, he re-
ceived six or seven riflj wounds, from the ef-
fees of which he never whol y recovered.
He had also been engaged at Queenston and
Detroit.
In th;; report of the Loyal and Patriotic
Societj' of Upper Canada, we have aa entry
made of a donation of sixty dollars to Mr.
Andrew Borland on the 11th of June, 1813,
with the note appended : "The Committee
of the Loyal and Patriotic Sacie y voted
his sum to Mr. B)rlHnd for his p.itriotic
and I'minent services at Detroit, Queenston
and York, at whicii latter place he was se-
vrely wcumled. "
We also learn from the repot t that Mr.
D'Arey Boulton had presented a petition to
tli< Society in favour of Mr. Borland. The
members of coiiimitte.> present at the m et»
iiig held June 11th, 1813. were Rav. Dr.
S raehan. Chairman ; Wil.iam Chewett,
Esq.. William Allan, E^q., J.hniSmal, Esq.
and Alex. Wood, E-q., 8 cretary, and the
minutes stat ■ that " the petition of D'Arey
Boul on, K-q., .i number of the Society in
laTour ol Andrew Borland, was taken into
consideration and the sum of sixty dollars
was voted to him on account of hi.'' patriotic
and eminent services at Dciroi , Queenston
and York, at which latter place he was
most severely wounded." Mr. Borland had
been a clerk m Mr. Boullon's store. In the
order to pay the money signed by AU«an-
der Wood, Mr. Borland is styled " a volun-
teer in the York Miiiiia." He afterwards
had a pjuBiou ot twenty pounds a year.
I'J
n
lit ■
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It. '
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LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
In 1838, his patriotic ardour was not
quenciied. Durmy the troubles of tlwit pe-
riod, lie undcriouk the command of 200 In>
dians, wiio ii.nl voluntctrt'd to figli"; in de-
fence of thi- C iwii of England if thire
should be nc< i!. Tlioy «• it- stationed for
a time at the Holland Lindirg, but their
services were not rtquirtd.
From bemp endowed with great energy of
character .ind liaving iilso ii familiar know-
ledye of the natire dialects, Mr. Boiliiud
Nad gnat ii.lluence witli the Indian tribi s
ii'rquentine m- coasts of Lakes Huron and
Siineoe. Mr. Roe, likewise in his dealing-!
with the aborijjiues, Sad aeijuirtd a consid'
erahle facility in speakint' the Otchibway
dialect and had much influ nee » ith the
ua lives.
Let us not omik to record, too, that at
Newmarket not very many years sinee, was
snecesstully practising a grandson of Sir j
William Ijlackstone. the commentator on
the Inws of En^'land, Mr. Henry Ulickrttone,
whose eonspicuous talents gave promise o'
an eminence in his profession, not unworthy
or the nam ■ he bore. But his career was
cut short by de ,tli.
The varied ehirac er of colonial society,
especial y in its early crude sriite, the living
elements inixe.i up in it and ths curicnis
changes and interchanges that take p ace in
£he course of its dcveiopnieiit and conaol;-
dation receive iliustra; ions from rccKsias-
tieal, as w.ll as civil, annals.
We. ours"lvi*.s, remember the cimich edi-
fice of ihi' Aiglican comiuunion at Newmar-
ket, when u was an unpiastered, unlame 1,
clapboard shell, haring lepeatedly offic ai.-d
in r., while in ilial s age of its existence.
Since then, the congregation ivpnsented by
that eiapboaru shvil, have Had as pastor-",
men like the following : a graduati? of
Tiiniry College, Dublin, not undistinguish-
ed in hi.s University, a prot. gt; of the fa-
mous Aiehbi.-hop Magec, a co-worker for a
t m of the distingniiihed Dr. Walter Far-
quhar Hook o." L i-d?, niid minister ot on.'
of the nimltrii elinrciies then-, th'; Rev. R >-
b^rt Taylor, aft' iwa.tds ol I'et.-rborouch,
nire in C.nada. And .since h's incumli. ney
they have been miiiistt red to by a form' r
vicar of a piomineiit cliurch in London, S .
Michael's, Burleigh strc-t, a depend'tuy (if
St. Martin's ,n Tr.ifaik'ar Sijuare. the R v.
Stptimus Rainsav, wiio w,is also long ih"
ciiie! .sicretayand man igcr of a well-
Known C 'ionial Mission. ry Socuty, wiiicli
iiad its lieadquariera in Ljndon.
Wliilf on the orhe- tiaid an mterrening
pastor of the same congi-' gttinn, educated
lor tl;e ministry here mi Canada, and admit-
ted to li'ly orders here, was transfent.l
ligm Newmarket, first, to the vicarage of
Somerton, iu Somersetshire, England, inul
secondly, to the rectory of Cleuchwardeu
in the County of Not folk in England, the
R'.'V. R, Athill. And another intervenint;
incumbent was, after having been also
trained for the ministry and admitted to or-
ders liere in Can.ada, eaileil subsequently to
clerical work in the United States, b.^ing
finally appointed one of the canons of the
Cathedral Church at Chicago, by Bishop
Wuitehouse, of Illinois. Tuis was the Rev.
G. C. Street, a near relative of tile distiin
guislu d English architect of that name, dc-
siirner and builder of the new law courts in
L M'dou,
As to the name Newmarke% in its adop»
tion, there was no desire lo set up in Caiia-
da, a memorial of the famous English Caiii-
bridgeshire racing tov'n. Tlie title choseii.
for the place was an announccnicnt to thi.(
eff.ct,: Here is an additional mart for tti%,
convenience of an increased population, a
place where farmers and ochers may pur^-
chase and exchange commodities without
being at the trouble of a journey to Yorker
elsewhere. Tlie name of the Canadian N w-
niarket in facr, arose as probably that of tiie
English Newmarket itself arose when tiist
eitablisiie 1 as a iiewly-upened place of tiade
for the prnnitivi' farmers and other-i of Aii-
gliaanii Mercia in the Ana o-Saxon nerioil
It deserves to be added that th" English
Ch'Mch at Newmarket was years ago to
some extent endowed by a cene.-ous gift of
valuable laud made by Dr. H-wiek, a
bachelor medical man, whose large, whi'e
house on a knoil by the wayside, was always
noted liy the traveller from York, as lie
turned aside from Yoiige street for Newniar-
ket.
Proceeding onwards now from Newmar-
ket, we spe (My come to the villug.' cf
Sharon, or lioi;e, as it was once iiarneil,
situated also off the direct northern ruute
of Yong ■ street.
David Willsoii, the great notability ami
founder of the place, had been in his youni;-
er davs a sailor, and as .such had visited ;he
Chinese jx rts. After joining the Quakers,
he taught for a tim* amongst them as a
schoolmaster. For some proceeding of his,
or for sime peculiarity oi religious opinion,
he was cu*^ off from the Hieksite 8ul>>ii v.-
si.m of the Quaker boily. He then JK-gi'i
the formation of ,i den'.minati..n of Ins own.
Ill the bold p'lliey of giving to his perhoiia'
ideas an outwiid embodiment in the form
01 a conspicu(.us temtde, he anticipate d tn.'
shr .vd prophets or the Mormons, Josepli and
Hiram Sinitli Wil'.son's buihiing was
erected about IS'J."). Naiivoo was not cjni-
nieiu'. d until til'- i^pring of 1840.
In ;i little paniplilet, pubii-liLd at I'liila-
('.elphii
fl
LANDMARKS OP TORONTO.
689
('.elphia. ■» 1815, Willson gives the follow-
Hit; nficount ot himself. He bays : I, the
wM;<!r, was born of Prtsbyfjriau pannts in
tin; coiiulv of Dutches^, State oi New York
ill North America. In 1801, I removed witli
my family into this Pioviuce — Uppi^r Caiia-
dii— and after s ftiw years beca'i.e a member
oi ri,e Society of the Quaksra at my own
n quest as I chose a spiritual ptcple for my
Kehren and bisters in religion. But after
1 liuu bee n a member thereof aiiout aeveu
years, 1 liegan to speak sometlnng of my
kiiowledtre of God or a Divine Being in the
licnri, soul, or mind of man, uU which sit;-
ii'fiea I lie same thing to my understanding,
hut my language was offensive, my spirit
was abliorreii, iny pi rson was disda ned, my
company was forsaken by my brethren and
siiters. After which I retired from the So-
ciety and was disowned by them for so
dciuf;, but several reiiied wih me and were
disowned, also because tiiey wouldnot unite
in the disowning and condemning the fruits
of my spirit, for as J had been accounted a
iaittitul member of the Society for mam
yiars, they did not like to be hasty in oon-
dtinnation. 'Iherefore we became a separ*
itt people and assembled ourselves together
uiulei' a separate order which I immediately
formed. After I retired from my forme''
Hirelings, a3 our discipline lid to peace with
all pi'ople more th III inyoiie in my know
letlgp, we called oi.vbiives Children of i'eace
b<;causu we were but /tung therein.
Tiie following ace )iiiiL ot the Temple
(rected by Wilison at S'laton is by a visitor
to the village in 18S5, Mr. P^vtricii Siiireff,
who ill Ills "Tour ihcougii Noriii America, '
pubiislnd at Hdiiiburgh in 1835 fcays : Tiie
iii'ihliiuj is of W(»od, painted wliite external-
ly, aeveii y feet high, and consists of thrr
stonys. The first is six y tee: square with,
a door 111 the centre of each side an:l three
larije vrindows on each side of tjie door. On
t\Ti) Shies there is a representation of the
netting mil and the word "Armageddon" in-
sciibed below. The secouci storey is twen-
ty-seven feet square with three windows on
I ucli Bide and the thud stor'j' nine feet
iqiiare witli eiie window on each sule. The
c rners of each of the stories are terminated
by .-quare lanei us with trilded mountings
aiiLltiie tei niiiiation of liic building isa giiil>
cd ball of considerable size. The interior
was fi Ifii with Wooden ciiairs placed round
Bi>;teen pillars, in the centre ot which is a
square cabimt ot iihi'li 'va.iiut with a door
and windows on eacli side. Tlii're was a
table in the centre of the cabinet covered
with blaciv velvet hung witli erim.sou metino
and triune in which was deposited a Bible.
On the tour ceirral piUais were painted tin;
words Kaith, Hope, Chanty and Love, and
on the twelve others the names of the Apos-
tles. The central pillars seemed to support
the second stor< y and at the foot of each
was a table covered with green cloth. The
house was withcjut ornament, being paiuted
fawn green and white and had not a pulpit
or place for addressing an audience. It is
oc>;upied once a month for colleetingchai i y
and contains 2,952 panes < f glass and u
lighted once a year with 116 caudles.
The materia s o' the frame work of the
Temple Dr. Scadding continm s, were pre-
pared at a distance from the site and run
rapidly up as far as possible without noise
in imitation of the building of Solomon's
Temple. By the side rf the principal edi-
ficj stood a structure, 100 feet by 50 feet,
used for ordinary meetings on Sundays. Ou
the first Friday in S ptember used to be an
annua! feast when the Temple was illumi-
nated. In it was an organ built by Mr.
Coaies of York.
There was a local mi mbership of the Chil-
dren ot Peace lu York and at stated inter-
vals services were tield here iu the old court
house on Riclimond street, at Lawrence s
hotel and in the small brick schoolhou«e on
Bikeley street. Considerable crowds as-
bembled on these occasions and once a panic
arose as preaching was going on iu the pub«
lie room of Lawrence's hotel ; the jois^ts of
the fluor were heard to crack, a rush was
made to the door and several leaped out of
the windows. A favourite topic of Willson's
was "Public Affairs, their Total Depravity,"
eoupled with denunciations of the -o-calied
Family Compact. Into these points, Mr.
Willson would euter with great zest. When
waxing warm in his discourse he would
sometimes, without interrupting thetiow of
his words, suddenly throw oil his coat and
suspend it ou a nail or pin in the wall, wav-
ing about with freedom during the residue
01 his oration a pair of sturdy arms arrayed
not indeed in the dainty liwn of a bishop,
but in stout, well-bleached American lac-
tory. His adduss was divided into sections
between whicli hymns ot his own c»omposing
were sun^, by a company of feinafcs, iliess-
ed in white, sitting cai one side, acccinpa-
uied by a baud of iiiusic:.irustrumeuts on the
other.
David was an illiterate mystic as his writ-
ings show. At the elose ut the War oi ISlt,
he appears to have been under the luipreo-
sion that the Governm'Ut designed to ban-
ish him as a seditious person. He aeeoro*
iiigly published a doeuineut iieprecaiing
isucn action. Tlle,-^e are extraots from it.
Address to thy crown, O, Eiiglatici, and
thy great name. I write as liUows to all
the inhabitants thereof. After I have writ-
ten 1 will leave God to judge between you
M lii
m
P i !.
> ^
'■ t .■'
1 jlS
690
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO
■I--*
i ■'''■
aud tne uud also to make judges of yo.i,
whctner you will receive my iniuiHtry in
your laud in peace, yea or nay. Y») are
pit at ludeed. 1 oaimot h-lp that, neithfr do
1 '/an: to, but am willing yi- should n mam
pi'.iat in the sifihi of Goii, a^thougii 1 am
bur small iu the tilings, ihoieo;. Now ciiooae
w iiciiicr I siiould or migh: bi- your siTvant
in iLese inings, yea or nay. As 1 think it
wouid bj a sliame to:- a inniister to be ban^
ishid ticm your nation by preaching tiie
^'ospel ot peace therein. J am a man under
the visitation of God's powiT in yoar land
and niany scandalous repurts are in circula-
tion against me. Tne inti nt u: the spirit ot
the ti.iiig IS to put me to fligat from your
lioiiiiDio.is or that I slinul.l be imprisoned
ti.ert'iu. For wliicli cause I as a dut ful sub-
ject make myseil kii'iwn Hereby unto you of
gr^-at I'btato in the world lest your ni:nds
should ijc affected and stirred up against me
without a cans • by your int riors, m iio a-'tk
to du ivil to tiic Works of IJod wiiriu;vi.r tne
Almiglity is trying ;o do you gooii.
In some versus uf tlie sain.; date as this
address to the home au'horities in ISl"), he
refers to tiia peril he supposed himself to be
in. A ItW stanzas will .-uliij as a spei-inieii
cf his pietic.il productions. Tiius he sings :
The powers of heil are now combined
Wiih war airuinst imp ra^'e.
But :n my Goil my soul's realigned
The rock of every at;e.
iotne then (Uith sit in Kintj's estate
.*iid some oi earth mii-t !<erve
Ann some hath yrold ami silver jilate
When others almost starve.
The earth doth hunger for my blood
.\nd ^atan lor my smii,
And men my flesh tor daily food
That they may me control.
If God doth •j:ive what I receive
I he ^unii; ii) uuc to ttjee,
And iliou m spirit must believe
In Kos>>el liberty.
It's iilso mine by George our Kinjf
The ruler of my daj,
And yet if I di>hoiiour briiij.'
Cut sliort my locble stay.
For thi.s is in your hearts to do
Ye inferiors of the earth.
Ana it's in uuiie to do so too.
And stop that cursed birth.
The styie ot a volume styled " Iinpres-
eions, " a kind of Alcoran, w ii.ch used to be
sold to visitors iu the Temp.e, does not. rise
much above the foregoing ether iu its versj
or prose.
In '• Oinada aa it Was, Is, and May Bi',"
Captain Bonnycastlu thus sp.aks of D»vid
Willson ; A" a short distance irom New-
market, which is about, three iniies to the
ngnt of Youge 8trt.et uearita termiualiou at
the Holland Linding on a river of that
uame, running into Lak-i Simcoe, isasettl ■
ment of nligioiia mlhuiiasta who have
chos.n the most, ferule part of Upper Cana^
da, tho country near and for nules round
Newmarket for the seat of their earthly la-
beruacle. 11 -re numbers of deluded people
have placed tliemselves under the tempuril
and spin ual cliarge of a higli priest, wiia
calls himself David. His real name is Uavid
Wiil.so!). The Temple, as the building ap-
propriated to the celibration of tiieir rites is
callea, is served by this man who .iflicts a
primitive dress and has a train ot virgin
miuistiants cloihed iu white. 11 ■ travels
about occasionally to preach at towns aim
villages in a waggon followed l)y others,
coviTed with white ticksclotlies, but wh.it
Ins peculiar tenets are beyond that oi danc-
ing and siugini; and imitating Divid, tiiL-
Kinc, 1 really cauuo; tell, for it is alto-
gether too farcical to last long, bn Mi.
Oavid seiuis to understand clear y as f.ir an
tlie temporal concerns of his inta iiae<l fol
lowers go tliat the old fashioned .sigiiilicatioii
of moini and tnum are re igiously centered in
his own sanctum.
The following notice of the Children ol
Peace occurs in Patrick Swift's A'.nanac foi
1S34— This S iciety numbers ab.)ul '2Sl
members iu Hope, east of Newmarkit. They
have also stated places of pre.uhing at the
Oil! Court House, York, on Yong strc' t anTi
at Markham.Theiiprincip.il sp akir is David
Wiilsoii, assisted hy Murdoch MeL'od, Sam-
uel Hughes and others. Their music, voca.
;ind instrumental, is excellent, and iheir
preachers seek no pay from tne Gjveruoi
out cf the taxes.
On v.eek days, WiUson was often to b>;
seen like any other industrious yeoman,
driving into town Ins own waggon, loade.i
with tlie produce of hiS owiif.um, diess^d m
home-spun as the '• burel fo k" ot Yong'
street gineially were. In tin' axis ot on.-
eye th re was a slignt divergeiicv.
Wilisoii neither won inartyrdom nor sii-
fercd exile, but lired on in great worldly
prospj ity in Sharon, reverenc-d by Ins ad-
herents as a sort ot oracle and fl»tlereil hy
attentions from successive political h aders
on ace -unt of the iiifliunce which he migiiL
be supp ised locally to possess, down to th''
year 1860, when he died, aged 89.
CHAPTER CCX
UPPER YONGE STREET.
Tbr 4ppraranr« ol the Creat Nerlhcra Road
WUb Mtetcbm of Im Knrly liiliHbliaul*
Froni Bona'it Lake lo tbr nallaHd taiidlug.
For the following chapit r d. scriptive • f
Yougu street and its early residents from
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
691
Boud'B L^ke to the Holland Landiujr, wo
art- indebted to the Ruv. Dr. Scadding who
has made (xliauative inquiries luioihe early
liisioiv of Yonge street trom the Buy to ita
iippHT cxtiumity.
Afttr leaving Bond's Lake, we now speed-
ily pab^ed Dryuocli, ly.ng off to the left on
elevilcd liind, the abode df Capt. Martin
McL od, formerly ot the Isle of Skye. Tlie
laiiiily and domi alio group, syatemitized on
a laiRt scale at Diynoch hoie, was a Ciua-
dian I (-production ot a oliit f ain's hou8plH)ld.
Capt. McLeod was a Scot of the Norse
Vikingirtype ot robust, manly frame, of
uvblc, frank and tender spirit, an 0:jsianist,
IOC, and m the Scandinavian direction, a
philologist. Sir Walter Scott would have
made a study of Capt, McL -od and may have
done so. He was one of eignr brothers,
ntio nil held commissions in the army. His
own military lite cxiended fn m 1808 to
1832. As an officer hUccKsaively of tiie 27th
79th nnd the 25tli regiment", ho
BhW much ac ive service. He accompanied
the Kirce sent over to this continent in the
warof lS12-13.It was then thathe for the fi st
time saw the land wiiich was to le iiis final
liome. He was present iik.'Wiae at the af-
fair at L'laitsburg and also at tiie attack on
New Orleans'. He afterwards took part in
tlie I'riiiinsular war and receivtd a
mertal wuh tour clasps forToulouse, Orlhes,
Nivc and Nivelle. He missed Wattrloo,
un:orlunate,y, as he used to say, but he was
present with the allied troops iu Paris dur-
ing the occupation of that city in 1815. Of
the "JT) h regiment, he was tor many years
adiiuant and then paymaster. Three of his
uncles w re general officers.
Ir Is not iuappri'priaie to add that the
Major MeL.od who received the honour of
a Loinpaniouship in the Order ofSt, M;chael
ana ^;. George for distinguished services in
ihe Rt d iLiTer expedition of 1870, was a son
cf Captain McLeod of Dryuoch. That in
and abeut tlie Canadian Diynoch, daelic
• iiiiulJ be familiarly heard was iu keeping
with liic general character ot the piac .
Tiif ancieiit Celtic tongue was in iact a ne-
cessity, as among the dependents of the
h(iisf. th.re were always some who had
nev.i iuirned the Euglish language. Dry-
lue , was the name of the old hoineiu Skye,
i'lir Skye Drynocii was on uufenced, hiliy,
p.istuif !a' 111 of about ten miles iu ext(Ut,
yitldm^' iiiuiimini to lurds of wi d cattle
and snrne 8,000 sneep. Within its limits, a
lake. Luoli Ihuckaciaie, is still the iiauiit of
tlie otter, which is hunted by the aid of tlie
famous terriers of the island, a mountain
Siitam abounds with salmon and trout
whiie the heather and bracken of the slopes
theltcr grouae and other game.
Whittaker in his " Hiatory of Wha ley"
quoted by Hallam in his "Middle Ag«8,"
Uusciibes the aspect which aa he cuppoaes
a certain portion of England presented to
the eye as seen from the op of Pendle Hill
in Yorkshire in the Saxon times. Th p;c»
lure which he draws, we in Canada can
reilizii with great perfectnesa. " Cou d a
curious observer of th^ preaeni day, "'he says,
" carry hmself nine or ten ceniuriea back
and ranging tile summit of Pendle survey,
tli» fcrked vale of Calder on one aide and
the bu.der margins of Rbble and Hodder
on tlie other, instead ot populous towns and
villages the castles, the old tower built
house, the eltgant modern mansion, the ar-
tificial plantation, the enc osed park and
pleasure greunil instead of uiiintt rrupted
enclosures which have diven sterility al-
ino.st to ihe summit of the fells, how great
then must have bi en the com rust wiien
ranging either at a distance or imm diately
beneath his eye must have caugiit vast
trac.a of forest groumi stagnating with bog
or darken d by native wooda wlu-re thewild
ox, the roe, tim atag and the wolf had
scarcely learned the supremacy of man,
whi n directing his view to the intermediate
spaces, to tne wideiiinc of the vail ys or ex-
panse of plains beneath he could only have
distin(;uislied a few iusulat< d patciies of cul-
ture each encircling a Village of wretched
caliins among which m ould siiU be rt^m-iiUiul
one mansion of wood scarcely ecjual in
'•(imfor"- to II ino'lerii r- *<■■'■■ --o^ •' ■ i<j.
ing proudly eminent above the rest where
the Saxon lord surrounded by his faithful
cotani, eiij.>ved a rude and solitary i:ide-
p nib uce liaving no superior but hia sover<
ef n.''
This writer a^ks us to carry ourselves
ir.ui' or ten centuries back to realize the pic-
ture whicn he has conceived. Frc-\i the
upland here in the vicinity of Dryiioi.li, less
iiian I alf a century ago, gazug southwards
over the exp.nise thence to be commanded,
we sluiild hav" brheid a scene closely re-
seinl'linp tliat wiiicli as he supposed was
seen freiii ihe summit of Pendhiuthe S.ixon
days, while at tlie present day w>-see every-
where throughou; the same expanse an ap-
proximation to the old tr.other lands Eng-
laiid, Sco;land aud lieland in condition and
appearance in its style of at;rioulturrandthe
character of its towns, villages, hamlets,
lann houses and country viU is !
We now Oi-.ter a region once occupied
by a number ot French military refuges.
During the revolution in France at the close
of the last century many of the devotees of
the royal cause passed over into England
w here as elsewlur'.' they were known and
sp.kn of as Emhjrcs. Amongsl them wero
-^
■■is
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m
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i'j if
li
1 1
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i
'1
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i:ir^;^i^
(i'V.
692
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
numerous officers of the regulai army all of
them, of course, of the uobltsse order or else,
as the inherited rule waa, uu comniisaion in
the King's service could have b«u thoir.J.
When now the royal cause beuaniedt spi-rate
and they liad suffered the loss of all their
worldly goods the British Gorfninunt of
the day in its sympathy for the monarchical
cause in France oflerwd them grants of land
in the newly organized Province of Upper
Canada.
Some of them availed themselves of the
Eenerosity cf the British Ciown. Having
beuu conuMdes in arms tlicy desirfd to oc
cupv a block ot eonigiifiu^ lots. Wluisr
there was yet almost all Wt sieni Uinada to
choose trom by some clianco tluse Oak
Ridges, e.-pi oially liiffieult to bring uiidur
cultivation and suiiu what sterile, wlu-n >ub-
dued were preforrud. partly puihaps throujjii
tlie 11 tluenoe of sentunent, tiny may have
diiCoVertd some rtseinblaiiee to rcgiiiiis fa-
miliar to theinsL'lviS in their native luid.
Or ill a moud luspirid and made lasluonable
by 11 lussoau, they m:iy liave longed for a
lodge in some v.ist wildcnuss wiiere tlie
mur uleoil which liaci desci iided upon theold
society tit Europe should no loii<,' r harass
them. When twit ed by the passing way-
farer who had selicttdland in a mure pro-
pitious siuation tii.y would pour to the
gigaiiiie boli a of the surrouiuiing p ncs in
prmif of tile intrinsic excill'iioe of the soil
beldw which tmist be gooil, tlay said, to
nouiish such a veg-ta' ion.
After all, liowever, this particular locality
may iiavo bei'n seiecti-d rather fir tliem than
by liu m. On the early map oi 1798. a range
of niu- lots on eacri sub- of Y'lige street,
just liere in the Ridges is br..ck< :ed and
marked ■' Frencli Koya ists by order of his
Honour'*, e. th. Prcsdciit, P-ter Russell. A
postsciip; to the O'az'ttccr of 17"J'.) givMs tiie
readt r the lutorinaiioii that " iimls iiave
Dem app I'pnatrd in the rear of York as a
refiig- for some Frtncti Royalists, and their
set'leiiient has ccininenc'-d "
On the V.tugiiaii side. N >. 56, was occu-
pieil coi jointly by Michel Faiizcn and
Fraiici- R"iieou.>:, No. T)?. by Julieiid- Bugle,
No. 58 by Pi, ni Aug C'Unte le Cli.ilus. Ain-
bois de Fney aini (,!uetlf)n St. (! o.ge eon-
jointly, N '. 59 i>y Qiulton St. Ueorgf, No.
60 bj J< mi Louis Viccine des Clia u-. In
King, No. 61 by Rill Aug Coin:e u. Chalua
and Augu line B';it'.'ii conj^.m, !y. On the
Maruiiam side. No, 52 is Ovciipied Ijy x\v
Cointo de Pui.-aye, No. 53 by R.iii Aug
Comte d Cii ilns, No. 54 by J. an Loui- V'l-
c .nite lie Ciialus and R in Aug <'ouitr li,-
Chains, o njinntly. No. 55 by Je.ui L'UJ-'
Viconu d" Ciialu«-. No, Oti by la Cieva'ier
de Marseuil uau Michael F.inchard ounjuiui-
ly, No. 57 by the Chevalier de Marseuil, No.
58 by Reni Leiourueaux, Augustine Boiiou
and J, L. Vicomte de Chalus tunjointly.
No. 59 by Quetton St. George and Jean
Furon conjointly, No. 60 by Ambtpiae do
Farcy. In Whitchurch, No. 61 by Michel
Saigeon.
After felling the trees in a few acres of
tiieir respective allot uients some of these
Emiijrea withdrew from tfie country. ll«iico
111 liie Ridges was to be seen here ami there
the rather unu.-^ual sight of abandi ned clear-
ings returning fi a state of nature.
Janw a Sirachaii, the brother of Hatjop
Strachau, wiio visited York in 1819, de-
cr;bes the process of obtaining grants of
land. He sayu that the enugrant coming to
York reports at the Lieutonant-Uoviiuor'a
office and shows that he has come fr<jni some
?'>art 01 the United Kingdom and cwn by the
Knclish laws 1 old land. Ho then takes the
oain of allt t'sauce and make s a petition for a
crain aniouu: of the waste lands ot tho
Crown. H'' is ih' n referred totlieSurveyor
(iciieral to see if any person has eser been
granted the lamis api>lied for. It not tho
petition is read to tlie Council and the Lieu-
teiimtvClovenur is lecomnirnded to _-r;iiit
ttie prayer of tlie p tuiomr for 100, 200
and lU S'lne ca.si s 400 and 600 and eveii I'JOO
acres. Tue lands are grained on condition
that they cannot be disposed of fo; three
years, and tha' dve acres on eich one luiu"
drcd acri 8 gr.inte<l must be cleareU and also
lia.f the roadway in iront of ttie same imisC
b ■ cleared bt .'ore the deed is i.ssui'd. Mr.
Strachan tli' n gives tlie fees which niu.-<t bo
paid to tht< (i >v rnmeiit for grams ranging
from 100 to I'JOO acres. These are as fo -
lows: lUO acres. £5 143 Id. ; 200 acr. ,-<,
£16 17- «d. ; .SOOacies, £24 11-. 7>i. ; 400
s. £.S2
S.l,
.500 Mcre.s, £;?9 19s. 01. ;
600 acr.'S £47 I8.s, lOd. ; 700 ac es. £5517^.
lid. ; .SOO acres, £6S 'J.s. ; 900 ac : >, £70
lbs. : 1,000 acres £7i> lOs. 'Jd, ; 1,100 ac.es,
£86 4s, III. ; 1,200 acra>, £93 18-«. 4d,
Th (.'Hi 'oiB styled Comte and Vicomte de
Chalus derive.', their titl" from liie d.imain
and caule of Ch.dus in Noiinandy asH..ciati;d
in the minds of reaiieis ot Eng isli
history %vi:h 'ho death ot Richard Ca- ir de
Liiii. JeanL)Ui3 de Chiiius whijtie nimu
ajipi-ais on numbers 54 and 55, Markhani,
i.iid on other lots, was a Major Geiieraliii the
Royal Army of RriUany. At tli balls
given by the (lovenior and otle ra a! York,
the jewels of Madame la Comtesse created a
gicat seiisa'ioii, wholly surpassing evcij-
tiling of ttie kind that had hiiiiei'u neeti
seen by th • ladies of Uppr Cmiaiia. Am-
boise tie Farey of No. 58, in Yaugli lU, and
No. 60 111 Mirkliaiii, nau also the nmii oi
Gei.eral. Auguatiu Bvjitou of No, 4S .n
' n
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
693
M.irkhain, and No. 61 in Vuuglian, was a
Licii tenant-Colonel.
The Comte de Puisayo of Nc 52 in Mark-*
nam, tigurcH conspicuously in the coutetn^
poriiy account** of the Royalist Btrug(?lf
agaiiiMt the Conrention. He, himsi If, pub-
lished ill London in 1803, tive octavo vol-
umes of mi moirs, jusiitications of his pro-
(:e''cliiit,'s :ii that contest. C.irlyle in liis
"Kieiich Revolution" speaks of Ue I'uis.iye's
work anil rererrinc to the so-cailod Calva-
dos war says tha^liose who are curious in
such ni;ittera may read therein "how our
Urondiu Nitioiial forces, i. e., ihe Moder-
ates ni.uchiiig otT with plenty of wind music
weru drawn out about the old chateau ol
i{ree<.urt in the wood country near Veinon
(ill lirutaiiy) to meet the Mountain Naiion-
;ii lorci s ( h'' Communis!) advancing from
I'aiia. How on the tilieciitli afuriiooii of
Jiiiy, 179;{, they did meet ! and aa it wen
shriek d mutually and took mutually to
lligiu without loss, llow I'uisaye there
■ifiir — for the Mountain Nationals fled first
anil we thought ourselves the victors — was
iDus'd from his warm bed in the Cattle of
Breiourt ami liad to gallop without boots,
oiii- Nationals in the iiiglit Matclies having
lail'ii iinexpecteiily into nawe ijui pent. '
Cariyle alludes again toihis inisadvcntui'f
wh' iLipproachiig liesuhj cl of the (juiberon
I xp miioii two y' ais later toward ihi^ close
of La V'endere war. Aflhctng for the
iiHiiiiini a proplieiic tone in I is p^'culiiu way
(Jarlyle proceeds thus iiitroduciiiL' at the
clusi! of his l^kl■tch de I'ui-aye once more,
who was in coininand oi ilie invading fo;ce
.ipokeii of alMiough nor undividedly so. "In
tut inoiul r July, 17!*.^, Hngii«h ships,'' lie
tay~, '• Will ride \u (^mberjii rouis. I here
will lx> di barkalioii o. ciiivaiiou> ci-dfcii.,u.i
(i. €. ex-noblesse) of volun eor pn.s> iiers of
war, eag r to desert, oi firearms proclam.i-
■ ions, ciithes chests, roya ist and spcie.
\Vliirrapi.n al o oiitiie Repiibicansule there
wil! be r.ipid stand to arms wi ii anibii<c;id.'
niaieii iigs iiy yiiiberon brach .ar midii gut,
sioriiuiig of K<jri P< iitiiieun. War tnuiulcr
mingling with tli;' war of tin: mighty main
uinl such a morning light as has s hioni
dawn li, dtbarkation hurled back into its
houih in- into ihe dev. uiuig Iriiiows wtt.
wreck and wail ; in one word a ri ili ntnt
Puiiiiye as :iita;ly inetieotual lieic as he was
r Calvados, wio n he rode from Wriinn
Castie witlmut boots,"
T'l" iiiipr'.'SHion which Carlyie gives of
M. de I'liis.iye, is not g:eat,y bettered by
Wi;at M. de Lainartine saxsot hliii in toe
" History ol tiu tiiroiidisis" win nspeaking
of hull 111 coniiee'ion wiili the aflair near th^
Chateau of Brecourt. lir 13 tilcii ranked
witli adventurers rathir than hfrois. "This
mao," de Lamartine says, " was at once ao
orator, a diplomatist and a soldier — a char-
acer eminently adapted for civil war which
produces more adventurers than heroes."
De Lamartine describes how prior to ho re-
pulse at Ciiateau Brecourt, *'M. de Puisaye
liid passed a whole year concealed in a
cavern in the midst of the forests oi Brit-
tany, where by hismanceuvres and coires-
ponilence he kindled the fire of revolt
against the Republic." He professed lo act
111 the interests of the Moderates, believing
that through his influence they W' uid at last
be induced to espouse heartily the cause or
constitutional royalty.
Thiers in his "History of the Fr. nch
Ri.'volution." spenks in respectful tfriius of
Piiisaye. He says that " with great intelli-
gence and » xiraordinary skill in uniting the
i-lemcnts of a parry he combined extreme ac-
tiviiy of mind and vast anibiiion" and even
aficr Qiiiberon, Thiers sviys "it was certain
hat Puisaye had doni all that lay in his
power.'' De Puisaye ended his days in
Eiiglatui m the negnbourhood of L iiilun in
1827. In one of the letters of Mr. Survi yor
Jones, we observe some of thf iniproveinents
of the Oa'u Ridges spoken of as " Puisayc's
Town."
It is possilily to the settlement thus only
111 contempiatioii of (7/i((/?Y=.s- here in the Oak
Ridges of Vorge stiee that Burke nlliuUs,
wli. n in hi> R' fl- ciions on the French R vo-
lution he says : "I hear that there ir ■ coii-
side:abl ■ emigiatioiis from Fiance, and tliar,
man/ quiLiing ihai volup uous cliniie and
nat sedujtive Circeaii l.bcrty have taken
refuge in tlu froz ii .'egioiis and under the
British d'spotism of Canada."
Th" frizin regi iis of Canada, tiie great
taeturiciaiis expression in lins place, has be-
C'line a ster-'otypL-d phrase witu dee aimers.
The reports f.f the first settlers at 'J'adou-ac
and Uiubtc ma ic an indelible iir.piession on
i!ie Knropean mind. To this day in trans-
At. antic conrniiniiies it is realized only to a
liiu't' d ex!< nt that Canada has a spring,
Biimiin r and autiiiiin, as w 11 as. a winter,
and that tier skies svear an asp ct not al-
w.iys gloomy and inhospit;ib:e. British lies-
poMsiii IS of course i onic.illy said andnieana
111 reality Briiisli consn utional freeiiotn.
In some instances tliese Rny liist otheer-- ap-
i> ar to liave accepted coinnrssioiis from the
British down and so to kave becjiue uonii.-.
nally eotitlo'd lo giants of land.
There are some representatives of the ori*-
ginal tmiijrea !iA\l to he met with in tiie
neigiibuurlii od lif tiie O.ik Riilges, but they
havo not in ev ry iiisiance coniiniieil to bo
seized of the lands giantid ui 1798. The
C. line de Cnalus, son of Rem Augu=lin, re-
m
f; fl
:|
I !i
m
kill
i
: 1 1,
8 ii
Hi:
If
ll E-
Ii
inf
694
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
' n
taini property here but ho Iitcb in Mou-
treal.
An estate, however, at the distance of one
lot oastwai-d from Yonge itrcet \n Whit-
church IS yet in the aclual occupation of a
direct desceiidaut of oiu- of tlif first sultlffs
in this legion, Mr. Henry Quctton St.
George hore eiigagud with ciicgy in thu
various operations of a practical farmer on
land lulierited immediately from liia father,
the Chevalier de St. lieorge at the same
time diiipeniing to his many friends a re-
fined hospitality. If at GUnloiioly the cir-
cular turrets and pointed roofs of the old
Fiencii chateau .»re not to be seen, wliat
18 of gieater importance the amenities and
sreutle Ufe of the old French chateau arc to
be found.
A Urge group of superior farm huildings
tormeriy seen on the right just after tne
^urn which leads to Givnlonely, bore ti.e
graceful name of Larchmere, an appellation
dlancmg at tlie mere or little lake wit'iin
view o: the windows of the house, a sheet of
water more generally known as Lake WiU-
eocks, so called from an early owner of the
spot. Col. WiUcocks. L-irchm-'re was for
xornetimc tlie house of his great gtaudson,
William Willcocks Baldwin. The house
has since ben destroyed by fire.
Just beu a'h thi.; surface of the soil on the
borders of the lakelets of the Ridges, was
early noticed a plenti'ul deposit of white
shtll marl, re.sembluu' tho subsiaiice broug'it
up from the oozy floor of tne Atlantic in the
soundings preparatory to laying the tele-
grapli c.ib e. It wa.s iu fact incipient chalk.
it used to be employed in the composition
of a whitewash for walls and fences. In
these quarters as elsewhere in Canada fine
specimens of the antlers of the Wapit; or
great Amer.can stag were occasionally dug
up.
Tne summit Ictc! of the Ridges was now
readied, the mo^t e evated lauG in this part
of tlie basin of tise S;. Lawrence, a height,
however, afte.' all of only about eiglit hun-
dred feet above the level of the hea. Tie
attention of the wayfarer was hereabuut
always directed to a t-mall strenm which
the road crossed flowing out ol Like Will-
socks, ;ind tiieu a siiori distance further on,
he was desired to notice a slight swale or
shallow morass on tlie left. Tne stream in
qu- stion he was told was the infant Hum-<
b^r just starting south for L;»ke Ontario,
while the swale or morass he was assured
was a feeder of tlie eastern branch of the
Ho land River, flowing north into Lake
Snicoe.
Notwithstanding the comparative near-
ness to each other of "he waters of the llol-
laud and U umber thus made visioie to the
eye, the earliest project of a canal in these,
parts was for the connection, net of the
Holland River and the Humuer, hut of tht
Holland River and the Rouge or New. 'il)«
Missi.ssaga Indians attached great impor-
tance to the Rouge and ita valh'y as a link
in on>^ of their ancient trails between Huron
and Ontario, and they seem to havti inipiirt.
cd to the first vliite men their own noiione
on the biibj ct. " l< apparently rises,"
siiys the Vazittirr of 1799, speakinu' of the
Rouge or New. " in the vicinity of one ot
the branches uf Holland's river with wnich
it will probably at some future period b«
connected by a canal." A proposed canal
is accordingly here marked on one of the
first manuscript maps of Upper Canada,
Fa her St. Lawrence and Fattier Missis-
sippi pour their streams, so travellers assnrc
us, from urns situated at no great dis auoc
apart. Lake Itaska and its vicinity just
west of Lake Sup.rior possess a charm for
this reason. In like mannei- to compare
small things with great, the particular quar-
ter of the Ridges « hen the waters of tlw
Huinber and the Holland used to be se«n in
near proximity to each other had always a
special interest. Two small lakes calhid re-
spectively Like Sproxtoii i»nd Lake Simon,
important feeders of tlie Rouge, a little to
the east of thi' (llenloneiy property, are
situated very close to the streams tliat pjas
into th" east branch of the Holland River,
so that the conj-i'ture of the author o< the
Onzettter was a good one. He say«, app.i-
reiitly the sources oi the Rouge and Holland
lie near each other.
After passing the notable locality of thi»
Ridges just spoken of, the land bi gan per-
cptibly to decline and soon emerging from
the contused glens and hillocks and wood.-,
that had long on every side been hedc;!:^
in the view we suddenly came out upon ,4
brow where a wide prospect was obtained
stretching far to the 1101 th and far to the
east and west. From such an elevation the
acres lure and there, denuded of their
woods by the solitary axemen could not be
distincuislied, accordiiigly, the panorama
presented here for many a year continued m
lie exactly that which met the eye.s of lb*
first exploring party irom York in 1793.
As we used to see it, it seemed m eJect
to be an unbroken forest in the foregrouud
bold and bil owv, and of every variety of
green, in the middle dis ance assumiuR ii-u-
tial, indistinct tints, as it dipped down intu
what looki d like a wide vale there, appa-
rently rising by successive, gentle staces,
coloured now deep violet, now a tender blue
up to the line of the sky. In a depression
in the far horizon immediately in front w.ta
to be seen the silvery Bhe«D of water.
LANUMAKK.S OP TORONTO,
695
rill", of course, was the lake known smco
17U;{ us L:ik(! 8imcoc, but previously Hpokmi
ot by the Fimich sometimfS as Lake Smion
01 Sheniong, sometimes an LikoOueutiron.k,
Ou' ntaron an! Toronto, tno very name
wli c\i IS so familiar to us now as
apj)t rtaiiiing to a locality thirty miles souih-
•raiil of thiH lake.
Tlie French also ,jn tlieir own tongue
sonu'times designated it, perhaps for some
rca.-ion I'onnecled with tinliing operations,
Lar ivux CUiim, Hurdle Lake, Thus in th«
(lazttturul 1799, we have " Simooe Like,
formei ly Lake aux Claies, Ouentironk, Sht^-
Dioiig, situated b^^iween York and (iluueesitr
upon I^ike Huron, it has a few ^mall islands
and several irood harbours." Ami again on
another page of the same (Juzetti'r we have
the article " Toronto Lake (or Toronto) lake
la Clie (('. c. Lao an X Claies), was formi rly
9P called by some others, ttie same article
proceeds 10 say called ttie chain of lakes
from the vicinity of Matcliedash towards
the tip^d (f the liay of Quinte, the Toronto
lakes and the comm.in. cation from the one
to Uie other was called the Toronto Kiver,"
whilst in another place in the Uazflte(r we
hare the information given us that the H um-
ber was also styled the Toronio Rivir, thus
•' Toronto River called by some St. John's,
now called the Uuniber. "
The regions of which we here obtained a
kind of F'sgali view on the northern brow
uf the Ridgts is a c assic one, renowned in
tlie history of the Wyandots or Hiirons and
lU th« early French missionary annals.
Francis I'arkmau iu an agreeably writien
work entil'ed " The Jesuits in North
America in iHe Sereuteenth Century' has
dwelt Somewhat at length ou the history of
this locality which is the well peopleil To-
ronto region, ^i'tii 0!i (Y y ft bcuui'oup dt iji n'<.
ill the early reports of the Jesuit fatneis
themselves this area figures lasgely. Thry
iu fact constructed a map wlsich must have
Id the central mission board of their asso^
cation at Rome to bc'lieve that this portion
of Western Canada was as thickly sirewn
with vulagesaiid towns as a district ot equal
ajea in o d France. In the " Chorograpiiia
Ri'gionis Ifuro.iam"' attached to Father du
Cr'ux's Map of New France of the date,
16fiO, given :n Bressani'.s '*At)ridgemeiit of
" Til ■ Relations, " we have the following
p.acis conspicuously marked as stations or
sub-missions m the peninsula bruiiided by
Xdtawasaga li.iy, Matcliedash, or S urL'eoii
Bay, he Rivi-r Stvern, Lake Couciiichiiig
and Lake Simcoe implying population in
and round each of them. 8i. Xavier, St.
Charlis, St, Lniiis. St, Iirnatius, St. D^nis,
kit. Joachim, St. Athanasius, St. Elizab'Mh,
St. John the Baptist, St. Josepii, St. Mary,
Si. Michael, La Conception, St. Mary Mag-
dalene ar.d others.
Li Schoolcraft's American Indians, the
8c<me of the story ot Aingodoii and Nay-
wadlri is laid at Toronto by which a spot
near Lake Simco" seems to be meant and
not frh<! trading post of Tironto on Lake
Ontario.
The farmhouses and their surroundings in
the Quaker settlement through which afitr
descenoing from the Ridg -a on the northern
side, we passed, came to be notable at au
ear y date for a charao'eristic u» atness,
completeness and visible jiidiciousni ss and
for an air of enviable general com'ort and
prosperity. The farmers here were emi»
grants chiefly from Pennsylvania. Coming
from a quarter where large tracts had rapid-
ly been transformed by human t il from a
state of nature to a CiUidition ol high cultia
vat ion they bi ought with thorn an inherited
experience in regaid to such matters and ou
planting themselves down in the midst of
sucli u wild, thev regarded the situation
with more inteiligenc(i perhaps than the or-
dinary emigrant fn ni the British Islandi
and interior of (iei many, and so unrctarded
by blunders and doubts as to tlu- issue were
eiiabli (1 very spec d;ly to turn their industrv
to prolitable aecoun..
The old Gazitti.cr of 1799 speaks in au ex-
alted sen imeiital strain ol an emigration
then going on from the United States into
Canada " Th 3 loyal peasant." it says,
•' sighing after the government lo' lost by
the iate revolution, travels from Pennsyl-
vania in search of his former laws and pro-
tection and having his expectations fu filled
by new marks of favour from the Crown iu
a grant of lands, he turns his plough at
once into these fertile plaire-tlie imme-
diate reference is to the neighhourhood of
Woodhouse on Lake Erie — and an abun-
dant crop reminds him ot his gratiiude to
his(Jodand to his King.'
1: is not quite ceiiain whether the Quaker
sttlers of the region iiorth of the Ruiges
came into Canada under the influence of
foeliiii;s exactly such as those describe i by
the <!iuiltee.r of 1799. In ISOG, however,
we tiiid them coming forward in a body lo
confrraiulate a new Lieutenant-(iovernor on
his arrival in Upper Canada. In the ila-
zettt of Ojt. 4. 1806, we read :— "On Tues-
dav, the .SOth Stpumb' r, 180G, the follow-
ing address from the Quakers residing on
Yinige street was presented to his F.xcel
lency the L.euteiiaiit-Governor. The So"
ciety of the people calleci Quakers, to Fraii"
ci.s (loi-e, (lovernnr of Upper Uanaila, send-
eth greetiiii.'. Notwithsat-ding, we are »
P' ople, WHO !iold forth to the wor!d a prin-
ciple which in many respects diflfers fioiu
mil
J;
yliei
■If I
;iii
696
LANDMARKS OF TOltONTO.
r''i
I .1 1
^lii
the gn ator part of niankiiul, yet we bi»lioTo
it our riMsoiifibli- duty ii« siiili tne Apoailc :
' Submit yourselves uu!o ori'iy oi (iiiiiiiici'
of in;m for till' Lord » Milk"', wlu'tlur it hv
the kiuc as Hupreino, or unto j,'ovtri'.ors a«
unto til. Ill that are sent by him for tlw |niii-
ishmoni (if gvil doi-g ami Uir the praise of
tliem iliat do well;' in ;hi9 we hipe to he
hi9 hunihli' and pt-aoiiil siilijeetH. Altii'jUj,'h
wi' laiuiot for cwnscifiici' saku ji.in witii
iiMiiy if our lellow-mort.ili 1:1 eoiiiplimon-
ta y custoiiH of m:iii, ni'ith>-r in taking up
!he sword to Blied human blood for ilu'
Si"(iptnr«' s.uth tliai'it .8 rij;hteuii.snr>Ha that
<'xaltetli a nation, but sin \a a rrproaeli lo
;'ny p op!.',' w.' Um'i concerm d fur ;hy wel-
fare and tlie pro-pirily of tlie I'l'ovinee,
Iio|iin^' thy adminiH ration may hi' sueli as
to be a ti'rror to fne 1 yil-minded nnd a
pleasure totiiein that tio w 11, tinn will the
proTJiice QuuriBh and prosper under thy di-
fi'ction, wl'.ien 13 the « nrneat desire and
P'.avir of ihy smeere friend- — K ad and ap-
pr iTcil in Von;„'' street monthly mer uii,'.
b id the lSt;i day 01 th- '••tli mon-h, ISOU
'I'lmotliy K i^eis ami Amo.s A mit:i<,'e are :tp
p. lilted ;.' atiend on tiie tioveiin r there-
with. Signiil l)y order ot the same meet-
ing. Nathaniel Pearson, clerk."
To this addteiis, charaeteristic alike in the
P'ouli.i;' syntax ot us si ii'eiu' h ami in tic
well niraiit platitudes u wiiicii it i;ive8 cx-
p.esMoii, iiis Kx t lieney was pleased to n -
turn tile f illowuif; .uiswer : •' I letu/n yon
my ttiankd for ymr dutiful address and for
ycur i.'o d wishes for my wulf ire and pros-
p.'iiiy o: this Province. 1 liave no duiiht of
your piovinu peac fill and yood siiSjoets ;o
his M.ij sty as Well as iiidu u.'ious .-ind rc'
spectftble members ot soci ;y. I shall at all
times be nappy to alToni to siieli persons my
couiitenanee and ^iipptjrt. Francis Ciore,
li<nr. -governor. (J-verr.ni'iit Hou-e,
York. Uppr Canada. iJUh S. pt . 1806."
The Timor iiy Jljgeis iieie natni'ii, bore a
leading part in :ii- fiisr < stHblisliiii'iit of the
Quaker seite ni'Mi;. lie and .laeob Liiiidy
Were rhu twcjoriL'inal managi'is of it-satlaiis.
0.1 the arrival of (Joveruer I'et^-r Hunter,
predecessor to Governor (iorr. Timothy 11 1-
i,"r^ and Jacoh Luiidy with a deputation
from rlie settlem iit i.nme iiro town to com-
plain to him of tiie delay which they and
ilieir e"i-rehgioiiists had ■ xperiei.c 'd in ob-
taining the patents for their lands.
(iovernor Hunter, who wa-; ;dso com-
maiider-iu ciiief and a Lu ut.deneral in tlir
army, ree ived tln-ni in tne liairisoii, ami
after heai'ing how on coming to Vork on
iormer occi.-ions th^y had be'U seir ahout
irom one I dice to another tor a I'py to
their ir(|iiiries aboiit th.' patents, le-
.^u.-Sted tleni loccjme to him a;:aiii tln' next
day at noon. Ordeia were at the aamo in-
stant despitehed to Mr D. W. Smith, til
Hurvevor-General, to M-. Hniill, clerk of
the Kx.cuiivi' Conned, lo Mr. IJiirns, elerk
of tile Crown, and to Mr. .larvis. Secretary
and R.'giHtrar of the I'rovinee, all of whom
it appealed at, one time or another had fa 1-
ed to reply sutiHfactoriiy to the Quakers, t.i
wait at the same hour on the L eiitenant-
(lovernor, biiiigiiig with theiniaeh renpe.'.
lively Hueh pap 'rs and nieinoramlfi as miyhi
be in then possespion, having r'dat ion it) p,.\.
te'its for lands III Whiteliurcli and King.
Governor Hunter hail a re|mtatu)n for
considerable severity ot ehar.'ieter and ah
luiietioiiaries from the judge on tie; ben m
to tne hunioiest employ.', held otlici- in tle.i;..
days veiy literally during pleasure.
" These geiiilt men comp am"— Mie per-
sonages above eiinm.'rat. il having duly ap-
ji.ared tog. till r witii the <lepuiatu''i iroin
I.
^'oiiga streei, *• Flies geii lininn com-
plain," the ^iovi-riior saiil " that they can-
not yet their ji ifsnts. "
Kieh of the ollici.'»l persontig. s present ot-
fered in Mieci asiou scjiii" .luiistinet observa
lions, 1 xpressive ii would seem of a degvu.
of n grit and hiniiig c xculpa'oiy rea.-^oi.s :.(
far iis lie imli vidua ly w is eoneeriied. On
<;loser interrogation, oue thing, however,
came out very clear, that the order for tie'
p;it' n's wa« more than twrlv.' nionilis old.
At length the onus of blame seiMiicd to
.settl ■ down on the iiead of the Secretary
.and R.-gistr;ir. Mr. .(arvi.s, who could only
say that really he i)ressurc o business m
his ofTic.' was so trreat that he had b-en ah-
.-olu e.y uiiahi.' up lo the present nioTiien;
to get ready the particular patents nfeire.l
to.
" Sir ! ' w:.s the Governor's immediat.'
rejoinder, " if they are, not torihcominy.
.very on-j of hem, and pi icil in rh.' haiul.-
f)f these trcntlemeii here in my preaei C'' ;ii
n 'On on Teursiiay next, it is now Tm-s.li},
by (J. org... I'll un-Jarvis you," iiiipl\iii2; i
snmmary cong.iis Secictarv .md II iris ra..
It is neidl.'sa to say thai .Mr. iiogersan.i his
colleagues of th.-" deputation earned back
with them to VVhitehurcii livel\ aeeoiiut-
of the vg nr ai.d rig' ur of the new (!(,vfr-
nor, as wdi .i.s their patents.
Gen. ral Hunter was very pf^r. miitorf i;
his ilisiiii.ss.'ils o oasioiially. In .1 da.'ii*'. ot
•Inly It), IbO.'i, is to be si en an ominous aii-
nouiiccnii 111 that the Governor is going to
be very strict with tiie uovernmen clerks n.
ree.'ird to hours : " Lieut, C'lvernor's (>!
tiee. 21st .liuy. ISOIl. No ic.' is herehv
"IV' n that r.'trii ,. ;■ ;iiici)iiari<'e 'or th.' tr'ins-
the Pro-
( fhci: oi
I Mx' cii-
Ijiism.'ss ot
action of the publi
vine ■ wil in lutnre be given at the
tie' .Secremrv of the Province, th'
LANDMA'»KS OF TORONTO
007
tiTc Cinincil Offiop and the Survoyor«(f ne-
ral's Otfioo, nvi-ry day in tin; year. Siin-
(l.iyi, (liioil Kiulay anil Chriitniua Day oiJy
I X(v pit'ii. from twn o'clock in llio nmrnin^'
until tliri'i! in tliu afit'niiii.ii nmi trum fiv
o'clock 111 til!' afternoon until Boveii in tli"
evt^iiint;. By onler of llie L c ii,inantG(Jv-
ernor. Jimics Oreoii, S'cri tury."
SiKin slt'T the ipjjearaiiL'e of this nnticP,
it liappeneil one 'o enoori, ti at ynunj; Alex-
amur Maiiiab, a elvrk iii one ni the pul>ii(;
(ifliii s, was iniiocicntiy Wiii'lui.p the (luver-
imra ill li.iikatiuii from a loat, prepnratoty
to Ilia beiiij,' convty d up to tie' Oouncil
Clianilier 111 a aetlaii eliair wliiih wa.H in
wiirin^' f(e- liini. 'J'lie yoiitii Hmldenly
caii),'iu liis Kxcoll' ncy's eye and was n.-ked
" what I'lisiue-B he had lo h • th re ' Did
he not l>ei(jiit5 to tlif Survcyii -(lemrara Of
fi(!i ? Sir 1 your servioia an; no lonyrr re-
qinrcd. "
For this samo youn^ Macnah thus sums
niarily ilisini'Hed, <«o\iiiior IliinUr pro-
cined sulis' ijueiitly a (.'Driiiiiis.sK.ii. He at-
tidneil the rank ot Captain iiiii met a .sol-
di' I's fate on tile fi Id o; W.iteriuo, the only
Ulip<'i' Ciiiadian known Ut liavi; 1) '(••.•. eiu
j{.i^'ed or to have fAlleii in tiiat fanii'un bat-
tl>'. So late as 18158, Capiaiii Mai^nab's
Wateiloo medal was |> <'S«'n;cd by i l,e Duke
ot (Iambi id<.'e personally to tiic Ke^. Dr.
Ma'n:\b, m1 iiowniauviUr, ne]iliew uf thed ■-
ci :iK' d ullii'er.
Two s louL' eliaraeteristic items relating
toO'Vernor ilunter may lure he subjoined.
Tile foliowiii;,' was his brief reply to tne
Aiidiess of ttie Inhabitants of York on his
arrival ilu'r' iu 1791) " Oentleiiieii, notiiinj,'
that IS 111 my pnwir bIkiII be wanting to enii-
trihut" to I lie liappinesn and wclf.ite of this
ciiiiMiy." At Ni;it;a:a an address from "liie
nieelianics and husbandmen" was nfiisfMl
by him on tfie irronnd that an addreRs p o-
lef-siedly from thi; inhabr.uits j^rnerally had
bi'i II p: rscnted alri ady Oiitnis tlu' Can
Mflhitittu of S -p*. 10, 17'J!I. jiiints the lo,-
lowing aneitbti', wiiieli is i liit at (iovernor
Hiiiii'i. '■ AiKtL-iiiire — \Vlieii <!i)\eriior
Siinevie .UTived at Kingston on hiK w.iy lieri-
l'i tak ■ upon him tne (Jovenmieiit of the
ivince, tile m.airistiates
cent lemeli o
that town,
)i"es( n
te.l h
and
with a Vi'iv
po-
lit ■ address. It was politely :iiid ver'nally
aUBW Tei
1. Tl
le iiihalutalits ol ttie
ni;d
town who ninv not in
'PI
iinP' r eir-
cl-s pi'osenti d tlieira. And this also his
FiXoelleiicy Very politely an.swered and the
H!is wer beicg in writing is carefully jire-
btiv.d til ihia ilay."
Aimii;.' the pati ut.i carried !i
by
:iinotii
R
'crs, aiH'Ve irmii
.wore at leas
tlu
8' veil 111 wUicli he Was lib re oi' les.s ilitt r
•'sted. His own lot was 9,5 on the wcs; or ' soience from whatev-r i:i a wordtiia
Kinp Hid'! of Yom^e Htreit. Iiiiinediatcly iq
troni of him on fbi' Whiteliuieh or eastBide
on lots 91, »'.'.!);{. !H, 95 an 1 U6. all in a
row. wcro enjoyed by hoiib or near relatives
of his be iriin{ the iiameH respi ctivly ot
Uiifus R"g(>rs, Asa U"C rs, Isaac Rogers,
Wing Roy' r.s, Jamci Koijera and Obadiah
ItojJt.TS.
Ml. Lundy'a name does not appear amoiij^
those of tlie original i)atent''eH, hut b.itd or
portKiiis of lots in the Q iiker settlement
ari' mai kc'l at an early period wi li the
names of S:iailrach Lundy, Oiver fjUiidy,
.lacob Lundy, Reuben Lundy ami ptrli;ip.s
mote.
Li the region just beyond the Riilges,
tliero Were farmers al«o of the conimiinity
kiiuwn ,as Mennoiiists or Tiiiiki'rs. Long
beard- when such append, igi's wei'" raritieH,
dangling liair an'iqiie sii.'ipi'd, buttonlesa
honii'-spun coats and wide liriniiriud, low-»
crowned hats, made these persons con-
spicuous in the street. On the sea' of a
I ;idid C'lUnlry waggon, or on the back of a
sohiary, rustic nag, wmjuUI now and then be
sei'ii a man of tinti ci'inmuni y, wlu might
pasp for Joliii lluss or .hihn a Lasco as repre-
sented in tiie iictures. It was always cu-
rious to gaz upon tiiese waifs and strays
from oltl Holland, jierpetuating, or a', least
trying to p •ipetuati'. on a new continent
cu.stoins and notions originating in the pecu>«
liar circurns ane-.s of obscure healities lu
another hcmi-pherc three hiindied years
ago. Simon Niei.no, the founder and pro-
phet of the Ml iinonists, was a native of
Fr esland iii 1496. lie advocated the ut-
most rigour ot life. A'though there are
ni<idt^riii/.i'd Mennonists now in Hulland, at
Amstirdam for > x impU', who are diatin*
guished for luxury m their tabhs, their
e()iiipages anil their country srats, y't asub-
8 otion of the commuiiii V known as Ukc-
Wai ists from one Uke Walds, adhere to iho
primitive stnctiKss enjoined by Meiino.
Tiieir apnarel, we are toid, is mean I" yond
expression, and they aviud everything that
has the most d;s ant app 'aiaiic ■ ot elegance
or ornament. They let tiicir beards grow
to ail enormous length, their hair uncombed
lies in a disorderly manner on their slioul-
lb rs, their eounteiiancea are mirked with
tne stri'iiirest lines
I'llO
III niaire are such as ari' on
leji'ction ami inela
ly. and their habitations ami household
Iv fitted to au-
■U'o
uj) m
swer tiie demands of meri' necssi
tv.
shall not enlarge,
Mosheim adds
the circumstanoes of their ritual, but only
obs' rve tlia thy prevent all attempts to
alter or modify their n ligiou-^ discipline by
pii'si rviiig their p nple ;rom everything that
1) ars the remotest aspect of learniiig and
mav
!
*:
If
if
' i
i ^
i! !
'IN'
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
ba^e a tendency to enlighten their devout
ignorance." The symvithies of our i)ii»
mitiYt' Tnnkers b youd tl»e Rnlj;es weru as
we may suppose with this aecuun of the
fatherland Monnouists.
Tiiongii only a niiiiuto frapmont of our
population an exctptiou was early inadc hy
the local parliament in 'avour of tho Men-
nonists, or Tiuikeis, ailovrmg thcni to make
aflBrma;iona in tiie courts, like the Quaki r;,
and to C(>mpound for military aers'ice. Lkt-
.Lollard. Quakci an<l some o'her similar
terms, Tui.ker, i e. Dippi r, was probahly at
fir-l u«ed in a spirit of ruiiLule.
Proceeding omvard from where Newma--
ket conio? in view ou the ri^'ht from Yonge
Btrcit, we saw almost immediately on the
left the conspicuous dweiimtr of Mr, Irvint;
the Hon. Jacob ^Emilms livng, a name his-
torical Ml Oiiiada, a Pauiiis .Emiliiiss Irving,
having been Ccrnmandfr-in iiiief of the
Forc' s in B-'itish Aiinroa in 1,0.'; and also
President for a time of the Province of Que-
b*'e.. Tliis Paulas .Einilus Irving had pr'-
rious y taken p;irt under Gtiieral Wolfe in
the capture of <^n(}h c.
The house of Ills descendant, Jacob .Kmi-
lius Irvintr, here ou Voiige .street, was
known as Bon.siw.w from siim»? ancient fami-
ly property in Dunif' iessiure. He had bei'H
»u offijer in Wie 13 h Light DragKims and
^^-i wounded at ^Vaterioo In addition to
many sirougly mark^'d Kurdish trai'a of
character and phy^-iique, hi: potsi ssed fine
literary tiutea and hi.itnoiiic skill ot a I igh
order, favoured bv the possession of a graud
baritone v( ice. H • retained a p-ofessional
Mcinjr f<ir Horses. A four-in-liand guided
by himse f, issuing from tlif j^ates at Boii-
aLaw and wiiirli: g along Yonge street into
town Wis a eomniou ai).dr. He d ed
at the Ifalls i f Niat;arA in 1856 Since 1S43,
Mr. Irving hai be. na m- mber of tlie Upper
House of United Canada.
A littl« way bai.k ere we descended the
Dorcltern aiop'' of the Rdgos; we cauuht
■iirlu of the Holland River, or at leasL id
aome p,>rtiiu of the braii.'h of it with winch
ve are immt'di.>teiy concerned, iK.suuig a
D«w boru nii ivcHu one of its fuuntainr^.
As we travfr8i-(l the Quaker settlemirt,
tr»« .'gain sei-ii a brook m aiid'M ing tbi ouj^'h
B«adows. TnuB was the rain tern branch of
the river meand ring through mea'ows a
mere b" ok. Tlie nutin 8tr»'am li<'8 ' tf to the
west, flowing pa.st the m idiru Ihadford and
Uoyutown. It m at the h'^d of ',e' main
Mr ram Uiat the most Htrikmc .Tpf>n)Xinia-
t»on of the waujrs of the Humber and Hol-
land rivers is to be sien,
\Ve arrive now at tti" Upper Landing, the
ancient canof landng. i{>n: il was iliat
the war parties and tiuuting parties embark-
ed and disembarked while yet thes^ waters
were unploughed by the heavy boats of the
whre man.
The Iroquois from the south, side ot Lake
Ontario p' iielratod the wellpwopled regicp
of the Huror.s by several routes, by iliv
great liiy of Quin'e Highway, by tiie 'rails
viiose t rniini on Like Ontario wiTe near
respectively the moiern Bowman viUe and
Port Hope, and thirdly by a track whici.
we liav« virtually been following m thia
our long ramble from V'ork ; virtually we
say, for it was to the west of Youce street
that the trad ran followini,' first the valley
of the HumbiT and tlnn that of the main
stream of the Holland river. Tne route
wliich Mr. Ho. land ti vik when he penetrat-
ed fronr. Toronto Bay to the head wavers ot
■he river, which now bears his name i.s
marki d in the gi( at M. S, map whioh he
cons' ruc'ed in IV'Jl. Hr passed up cident-
ly along the great water course of the
Humber.
" V ou can pass from Lake Frontenac,"
t. c. Ou ario, Lahontan says " intj Lake
Huron liy the River Tau-a^hon-ate (the
Huinb'r) by a portag- of about twenty- four
miies to Lake Toronto, which, by a river of
the same name tiiip ies into Lake Huron,
1. e. by the River Severn as we should now
speak.
Hunting parties or war parties taking to
the water here at the Upper Landinir in the
pre>.hist;oric period woull probab y be just
about to penetrate the almost insular lii.i-
tnct of waich we have spoken westward of
Lakr Simcoi — the Toronio region, the place
(d concourse, the welUpcopled region. But
some of till in might perhaps be makn.j for
the Lik" Huron country and Nortii-Wf-at
ge'iieraily by the t8tabli.-.iied trail liavmg its
ti rniinus at or near Onllia, to use the
modern nam\
In tlie days of t-he white man, the old In-
dian plaec of ('mt)a;kation and debarkauon
on the HoU.aiid River, aeciuircd the iiamf of
th'' Upp r>(.'.uioe-LHndiiig and hith.-r the
smal i-r craft continued to proceed.
Vesbieig of deeper draught lay at the
Lowt»r Landing to which we now ino'.'e ou,
about a mde and a-half further down the
stieam. Hero the river was about twi nty-
hve yards wub*, the banks low and border-
txl by a Woody marsh m which the tamarac,
or larkb, was a conspicuous tree.
In a clea<red space on the right at a point
wh<'re Vingf street struck the stream
th're Were »■ me lone, low budding* of bg,
with s:rong shutters on tha windows, iisuab
ly closed. Th' se were the (lovi riinient de-
positories of naval and nil litary stores and
Indian prtS!n:soii iheir way to I't ne'an-
guishene. Th" elus er of bailditig« hero
r
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
699
wag onse known as Fort Gwillimbuiy. Thus
w • liave it written iu the old (hizfftrer of
1799, '• It is thirty milea from York to Hoi-
laiui Rivor at the Pine Fort called Gwiliun-
burv. Where the road ends."
(ialt in his autobiograpliy speaks of this
spot. Hi' travelled from York to Newmar-
ket in one day. This was in 1827. Then
iii'Xt morning he says, "wo went forward to
;\ l)lac'> on the Holland Rivir called Hoi-
himl's LundiiiL', an open space; which the In-
dians r.tid fur traders w^ert; in the habit of
hcqtuMitmg. It presented to me soniethinc;
of a Scottish aspect in the style of the cat-
ta^f's, but ni8t(!;ul of mountains the environs
wore I'overed with trees. We embarked at
this p'.ac. " He was on his way co Godench
It ;ht time via I'enetanguishene.
The River Holland had its name from a
f TtiK r Surveyor-Gttiieral of the i'rovince of
Qinhee, pi lor to the setting ofl" of the Pro-
vince of Uppe, Canada -Nlajnr S. Holland.
In t'..e UpjMV Canada Unztttc of Feb. 13,
iSO'2, we iiave an obituaty notice of this of-
riciai personage'. His hist^ ry also it will be
(ibsiived was mixed up with that of Gene
ral Wolfe. " Died," the obiiuary says,
" on the 2Sth instant— that is on the 28th
<[ Dt'cembiT, 1801, the article being copied
from tlie Qndii'C ilazitte of the 31st of thi'
preceding DiC;niber — of a lingering illness,
winch he bore for many yi-ars witii Chris-
tian pati.'iuv and resignation, Maji r S. Hoi-
laiui. He liad been in his time an iniiepid,
active, and intelligent otficer, nerer mf,l:ing
iliffieuities, iiowever a.daous, the duty he
was empioyt d in. He was an excejleni
field engineer, in whieli capacity he was em-
ployed in tile year 17.*i8 at the siege 01
b&iiishourg in the <li taeiinient of the army
tinder G iieral Wolfe, who after silencing
the batteries that opposed our entrance into
the harbour and from his own setting hre 10
three ships of the line and obliging tii'< r--
maindcr 111 \ disabled state to iia^il out ot
cauiion shot th.Ht great ofljcer by a raj.id and
unrxpecled movement took TSt within four
I'lunlred yards of the towri frjm whence
.Vlftjur Hciil.ind under his dirjctio;i«, carried
■)ii the miproach(>s, destroyed the defences
'f tlie t(.wn itid making a practicabb' bri ach
obliged the enemy to capitulate. He dis-
tiii^ruiBhed himself also at the i^iiuiui'sl of
Qiiiiiec in IT")!), and was made horinuiablc
inentiou ot in Gen. Wolfe's will .la a l ga-
te*. He also distinfjuished himsi If iti t!ii'
lit'fence of Quebec iu 1760, after Geiier.il
.Murray's unsuccessful attack on the eneir.v
Alter the peace, he was app'iinicl
Survryot-f; n'-ral ot this pionnee and was
uselii ly finp oyeil m iurvcyin,' the ,'\tiieri-
can coasts troin wfiich survt y thos' d' aiiLriits
publishtd some years since by Major Dc-
barrr 8 have been principally taken."
Majoi Holland was succeeded in the Sur-
veyor G( nera ship of Lower Canada by a
nephew — the disninguished Colonel Joseph
Bouchette, In 1791, Major Ho land con-
structed a map of the British Province of
Quebec on the scale of six inches to the
.s<(uaie mile. It exists in M.S. intheCrowa
Liiul's OlHce of Onlaiio It is a miigiiifii
cent mr.p. On \\. Lake Simcoe is left unde-
fin d on one side not haying been explored
in 1701.
It was in 1832, that the project of a
steamer for the Holland River and Lake
Simcoe was mooted. We give a document
relating to tins undertaking which we find
in the Courier of Ft bruary 29th o'thatyear,
publistnul :u York. The names of those
wiio were willing to embark, however mod-
era' ely in the eiaerprise, are of interest. It
will be observeci ■.iiat the expedition con-
templated was not enormous. To modern
speculators in any direction what a baga-
telle s-ems the sum ot £2.000.
" S cainboat on Lake Simcoe," thus runs
the advertisem' nt, " Persons who feel in-
terested in thesuccess of thisundertakint; are
respectively informed that Cupt. MeKenzie;
late of the. A ciope, who has himselt of-
fered to subscribe onesfourth of the sum re-«
([Hired to bnild the proposed steamboat, is
now at B.Ufalo for the purpose of purchasing
an engiK! to be dein-ered at Hollaiul Land".
iiig dining the prcRcnt winter. Capt. Mc-
K' rizie, who visited Lak" Simeoe last sum-
mer, is of opinion that a boa' of sufficient
size and power for the business of tht lake,
can be buili for .£1,250. In order, however,
to insure success it is proposed that stock
to the amount ot £2,000 should b' subscribe
id and it is hoped thai this sum will be
raised without de ny in order that the ue-
Ci'ssary steps may be taken oi) the return of
Capt. Mcteiizie to commence building the
boat with tile view to its completion liv the
opening of navigaticn. 'Fhe shares are
twelve pounds, ten shillings each, payable
til persons ctiosea by the stockholders. The
following shares have already oeen taken
up ! The HiM'. Peter Robinson, 8 shares ;
F. Hiwson, 1 : Kdw. O Bnen, 2 : W B.
R..biiison,-t ; W. R. Runes. 4 ; J. 0. B u-
cliier, 2 , Win. Johnson, 2 ; Jiihri Cummer,
1 ; T. Mctsington, 2 ; A. M R lines. 1 ;
R>birtCaik, 1 ; Robert Johnsto 1 : M.
Mossir.ctoii, I ; B. Jefferson, I ; J, M.
J.iekson, 1 ; R, O.iver, 1 , Win. Turner, 2,
L. Cameron, 1 ; F. Osborne, 2 ; J. Gnih.am,
1 ; J. White, 1 ; S. H. Farnswor h. 1 ;
Andrew Mitchel . 5 ; Murray N^ ^''>iggi"g
& Co., 2 : Capt. Crenrhmn. 2 ; Ciptain Mt-
Keiizie, 40 : C,»ouil,i C<'mpaiiy, 8 : .1. F.
Smiih, 2 ; John Powell, 1 ; Gran: Powell,
•'ii-m
1<
U
r '
1
f
1;,
1 '•
1
700
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
■|i
fHfii i i i
2 ; A. Small y, 1 ; Simuol P. Jarvis, 1 ;
Jam .- K. Sivnll 1, , R. W. Park.r, 1 . H.
CainoroM, 1 ; Capt. Castl.', 79ili Rt,'t-. « :
J.'unrs Doyle, 2, Fr;iiu d Piu-!psi. K:ist
G'.viUnn^mry, 1 ; G. Lount, NS'.'s: Cwillnn-
buvy, 1 ; S iDiiu 1 L ir. , Wost U w '.limlniry,
1 ; Georc'o P ay.or. Wl.Jchu; cii, 1 ;,losepli
Hewftt, 1 ; Thomas A. Jibh. 2 ; Charioo
S. Monch. llaytes-b'iiy, 1 ■ G. Ridout. 2 ;
T. <T. Ridout, 1 ; T. omas Rul. nliar!"*. 1 ;
M ij r Hatwiok, 2 , Cipt. W Campbell, 2 :
C. C. Siiinll, 1 ; J Rrtcl'.iiin. 1 ; Capt.
Davie?. 2 . Liiu,. Ciut'.iow, 2 ; Capi. R ■>.".
1 ; C. MoVi-tie. 1 ; L\\v. A.laii.s. 1 ; S.
Wasiibun;, 2 ; J. C. G.Hhvin, J : F. T. Bil-
lings 2 ; TiK.riio k Patfriis. 2 • James
Pea'r-oii. 1 ; R. Mason. 2 ; Wm. I. iiurliTon,
2 ; Wtii. Wiiro. 1 ; A. H. Toiu^'x, I : Sliel-
(lon. ihrclic r & Co.. I ; Jab> z I'.aib.r, 1 ;
R. \V. Prentice, 1 ; T Keli, 1 : Lucu.a
O'Bn-n, J. Total 102share3. Perb. lis who
are desi!0u.9 ff takm;; >hai'e3 in iliis boat
are rcsp'^c'fuUy iniormed tSat the subscrip-.
tioa pap r is lymg at tho .store of Mi ssr.«.
Muri.iv, Newb gt;-.!)!,' & Co., whei- th.y
can have nn opportamfy
of
thoir
names. York, .Slst 1) ceiiibi r, ISIH."
Tiu movemrni here initiated resuked in
the steamer " Simcoe" which pli' d for sotr.e
years between the L\ndnig and the porta of
Lak- Simcnp The Stmco ■ was buiU a' the
Upper Lindiii;^ and after liemg aunched, it
was mcessary to d-ag the boat by main
fore- down to "leep water throufjh the thiik
sediment at the bottom of the stream.
Dutin!,' the proccs.s while the eaps'an and
rackle or other arrangement was b', ing
V gorcus y worked, instead of the boat ad-
vaiic iig the land in eotisivb rable missi,
ni'jv.d bodily towatila the boa', like a cake
of ice .-.et free from tlie mam fl le. Much oI
the ground and mar>h in the creat e.s-nnry
of the Holland River i.s said to be simp'.y an
accucr.ulation or ■ irthy and vigetalde mat-
ter rcstiiig on wa'cr.
The " I'etei Itobnison ' wai aiic. 'ceded by
%\u " .Slnieoe,' Captain Uell, ine • Iiea\er,"
*' Morning," and other veasels.
THAI 'IF [I (CXI.
THE BAY TO HOGG'S HOLLOW
(ip-iU i.i Inl* re^l on itie .l<iiirrie> up ti)ii;:e
Ktrf<-t a<t Keen lit the Kurlj liu><> oi lork.
S.I G'orce Y nge. ,Se r-tary of W.ir in
1701, Hid rJ. I', fnr H m; on ;n the C'unty
or I)ivon t om 17015 to 1790, i;iv. a nam
to the most reniarkabh .•^tit et which To-
ronto h in <V' r po->es.sid. It is I long
J >tir!!ev tliioujh this sj-iit. bii by n-^
means an iiriiBteresting onf. Let us h i,',n
at the bay sho'e and p.vw up YDnge .■<irect,
viewing i* afe it wa.-i, not as it in, P>etore
starting it n\iy be remarked that Yongv
street v/aa oiiginally what is kntjwn as a
bush road, that is. winding inre and tluri-
to cbc apt trreat tree.s. It fi I'ov/ed the track
of an Indian t.ail. The obj ct of layin;;
out this road of extreme length through i
(Lms" wiliierness anii traversing almost nn-
pissable raviiesj. is given by Snrveyoi.
(bneral D. W. Smi;h ;n iiis (Jir.ittvr of
1791). U • says :—
" Yong" street ig the direct coinmiinua-
tion from York to Like Simcoe, opmni
during the adm'nistration of hi.s f].\eeller.oy
Major (leiieial Lieutrnant-G' veriioi- Siiiuc;',
who. hai'ing vi-iti d L ik Huron by Lako
aux Clair.-', (formerly a so Orieiitaroi.k ir
.Simon, and now n;.med Lake Simcoe,) niiil
disc veri'd •lu; haib ur ot P.ii.'t,Ui;,'U slieiu.
(noM- Glousester.) to b tit for ."ii.]))i iiy,
iisoivedon 'inprovi;ig the eommiinictitu.i,
froui L.ike Oiil:irio to Like Huron by ili .-
short ri ute, li.er'-by avoiilint; tne ciieintii.-
passage o'' Lak' Krie. This street h.islnci.
opentnl ill a .iir-it lui" a"d the road mail"
by the tioops of his ExcelJeitcy's corp-!.
D is thirty nrbs from York to Hollani'V
River, atti.c Pim^ Fetrt eallt;d GwiUimbury,
where the road "nds ; from thence you lirs
ceiid into LaKe Simcoe, and having pa.-isiii
it there are two pa>.'-ag' s into Like Huron,
the on< by tho Rivir S vern, wliieii con-
veys the waters of Lake Simcot; into
(Jiouoester B'y, the othi r liy a .small port-
age, the continuation of Yonge street o .i
■smad lake, >v'iiich also runs into (Jloucestt;
Hay. This oonminn cation atToros tniny
advantag s. Vlei ctiaiidisc from Motitri-i
to Mh'hiiimai kiiiac may be sent thi.s wny
at tell or tittten potind.-i has exp-ns' !>• i
ton Mian by the route of the Grand or Ot.
: tawa river, and thtt merchandise froii N' u
York to be :seiit np the North and Mohawi>
rivers f.,r ' he nortli-wi .si trt'.de finding :t.<
w;iy into Like Ontario ♦: Oswego, ( F rt
0 raiio) the advanage w.ll eertnin:y be
teit oi transpor:ir.g goods from O-'W. go tn
York and from thence attross Yonge street
a'.<l down the waters of Lake Sim oe intu
L"k'' Huron in preference to sending it by
Lake Fiiie. "
.Starting from Toronto bay on our on,
pil^'ninige aoiig the route tf' m wiiK'ii ■-'
n.ueh w.is I xp eted in th(r las' yiai of l.r
his' cntiirv, We first pa.is on tli e:i>^t tli
ioiiiho ct Cdiff . Instil'. • Si'ott. ^unoui t'lj
by orchard, g.udeii and plcisure gp'ti'i.
att' rward th • resi<lenc.' of Justice- Siir.
vtoinl, and or; 'lie w st tile liouse of Gil"
.lus'ice Sir .1. lines M ;oaul.''V. simd.iriv -^ t;i
a'ed 111 vbe mnist o{ tieis, fluwer.-^ and \'\i
LAXDM.AllKS OF TORONTO.
701
taV)l(F. Then we come to what was then
an uxirciii- ly 'i<sol,ite pLice, but is now
the most throiiL'i'ii qiiiirtcr of ttu city,
till! intcreoction of Yoiij^c and Kincj Rtri'<!ts
North of thig, at a later period in 1832, woro
tla fnuiidries of W. B. Shrhlon, V. li.
Put'h.-r. W. A. Dufi'li'T, Sainiud Aiidrus,
.1. V.uinornian and B. V^annorinan, nianiifac-
turiii till' v\ arcs tinn in .U'niand. Ne.irly
opposite wevo tho Spirit \r\iilts of Miel'a(d
Kane, tlie lath'T of I'.uil Kane, an early To-
ronto aitist. At the left corner of Adi'laide
slioct, aioiii; the south side of it, was tiie
\VP:l-k..owii tannery of Jesse Ketehuir., .'ind
on thr iioitli corner, diayuiially 'icr.iss wis
iiis li'i; white frame liouse. Tiie ,s;id s otthc
toaiUvay here were covered wiili taiibarkanii
Wire till' neatest: approach to sidewallis ii.
tiic town.
The next point reaciied is a 'onrcrossway,
th.it made by the intersection of i'l.nge and
Dii"da.^. L i: or Que n, which rrc identical,
and pos.-essed (d t'S|)eoial historic iufereat,
as i)i'iii^ thn intersection of the two ^'reat j
military roads of Uppt r Ciiiada piojicted
and exp orod by Governor Simcoo in pt r-
son. C» ji'cts of interest at tins cross-roads
Were :ii ' ter yi a .- Eili.itt's Siin Tiv;rn on
the west su'e, a larg'' s<(Uai'e wliite l)uildnsj |
lud I'll ';.:; ea.''t side Ooi, fs toundry, wheic |
the " r. lonu',' the drst loc..niotiyc Ijiiiir
Hi Up}" ! Canada, was constructed in IS-'.'i
tor llic O.itario, Sii.iorx' and Huron T^d! lad.
On ilu same suie, a little above this, lived
tiie three brotherr^-, f.nnnis in tl.j liistory of
till' Lik' Ma'iu', C.iptains .lohn, R diert
mid t'iiarles Mcintosh. It wa-> opp sit'' the
foim r's house that llie i iottook j)laee whieli
sn;ii.uiz il die re'urn horie o Widiain Lyon
Mick ii/ie in 1840 after t\v. he yeais of ex-
d»'. N X', on the west side ab'Ut whe.e a
stiie!; l»ads into T: inity S(|iiai-e, •■■ white
gate IS readied tlie eniiince info the
grnui lis f.f Dr M .caiday. His oouse in wiiat
i^iniw iVinity Sijuaie, ^^a.i long cons.dereil
partuid irly riniote ami uiaccessihlu and
stents arc told of per .n- bcwildi re<l ami
;ost for ill tirs in the aiijniidoj; marshes and
woods vvhde trying; to v ac!i it. Justice
ll'.mlion travellui;.' 'Kini 1' i,-cott m his own
Vfciiicle and lioiieii tor I>.-. M le.iulay's il'iini-
cili' xvaa (lissu iileil on i< aehciiLT Mr. Smalls
hte.se at the coni'T "f Knif; and U'lk-'hy
btiects from at temp' 11,;^' to iii.s!; on to ins
(le.s:i!:,itMti. aj- le'Uj^Mi il \va- by no ni-aii'--
lilt", "U account of tlvf iiiconveni. nces and
neils to b' eiieouiitPlei!, and ha t the foU
I'JWi: _' day was Miki n 11(1 :n accomplisliini:
tile ii >i,im> of his jou! n y,
N' ■ til of thiB point a li^ '■ s'rrti li of ;oii s'
l;iiid . Atended to Yorkvdh-. A iittle b -
yndwii're (JrosveM'-r s're. t lads into
w 41 was Elmsny \'i,la, ivas a sod ary
green field with a screen of lofty tre<-« on
three of its sides, In its midst .vasa Dutch
barn or hay barracks with mov.ible top. On
thi^ northern sidi; of this was the exact spot
where a fatal duel was four;ht, 'he story
of which has been alr'ady toid. Justtothe
north of he scene of this duel was tho
portion of Yoi.fcc street Mrhert! a wooden
tramway was once laid down for a short
distance. Sub eiraiiean ^pniies and quicks
sands hereabout, rendered the p iinitive
rcadinaker'soccup.ilioii no •'a^y one and pre^
vl 'US to til • application ot macuiani, the
frainway, while it lasted, was abi'ou to the
fanners after he.-ivy rams. \ ar bj- was
the cott.ifje or Mr. Charles l)ur;uid. His
fatlur was the liist who ever imported Iwx-
hounds into Ui'pr Canada, a p ck of which
animals Ineausid tobcsentou to him from
Knglind. I'eter I) a .laidiics from whom
the Huiidas Can.al lias is ninie w.is ,i clerk
in the employ of Mr. Duruiid in 1SU5.
A few jards inriher on was what was
popularly known as the S.indhill, a modern
ate rise showinc where in by-gone ages the
lake b'g-iii to shoal. An ot'ject of intereat
in the woods h .ro at the top of the rise on
tlie went sidew.is the " Iiidi.in's <irave''
m ide nocic. ablt by a littb civi iz il railing
around it. Tne sory conu' c'ed with this
;_'rave lias not escap. d Dr. Scadding who
has paiil especial at.oi tion to me history of
Yoiig'-' street, and to #hom we are indebted
for the whole of tins aiticL'. Tin- story was
'his : When tic United Siatcs' fo ees
Were laiuhiii; 111 1813 rear tr.e Hiimiiei' B.iy
with ill uuention ol attacking ihefoitand
takii'g York, one of Major (i.vin's Indians
conc.al'd hita-elf in a u\:e and from that
position fiieu into the Ix'.-its rep .'tedjy with
fatiil etlVet. Ill' was soon liiso ivereii :md
sp' cd.ly sliot. 'I he body was afterwards
found and deposiied witb respect in a j: rave
on tl.i c.est (jf the Siiidlii 1 wiiere an an-
cient Ind.an lurying gK.und /lad existed,
thou^'ii long ab,ind.'hed. It would s em
th -'t by boine in.' nis the scalp of tins Indian
w;is pa'k. d \ip vith t lo' ' - 'Plii' s of tiie eap-
tiu'eoi \'ork, ;iiid eonveyed by '.I' ut. Dudley
to \Va-!iin:.'ton. Froii being touiid u> com-
pany witli till' Sp i'k'.'r's m ce on iha' oc-
casion, the s;o:y arcs.' of its h;iv ng h"en
ilsiovrivd ('Ver 'ill' Speak"r'a ciiair in 'h'.'
r irli.iin"ir Buiiiiiiig liiat w.-is d-stioy'd.
r I. W. F. (.(ytiiii 111 his " isr_'. The \V,ir
aod l:s Moal' asserts lh.it t wa- a i> iiike
or sci.feii w:g tliat was ioiiiid ill th.' Par-
li.imcnt H'luse and \\h,:< inist.iKi n forase i p.
i;ildd:lig U (lilireinents iiave at tlie pres-
ent l:ni" eeiasioii d t he I'onipl tc iblicra-
tioii of tiu'Sii.dhl! and t iu- boin s of 111'
Indian brave .■ind i is foi etjiihers hav.' b . ii
carrieiiaway p.rh.'ip.i to mix witlitliem ':t.u-
■ ! it
'■''.11
. I
; I
ro2
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
of many a building. To the eastward of this
sandy rise wa» one of the oa ly public nur-
sery gardens of York, Mr. Frank's. Fur-
ther to the north on the same side was an-
other, Mr. Adams. The grounds of Kcar-
sirg House, Mr. Pi'oudfoot's mansiou, occu-
py ihf site of Frank's nursery gardens. Tne
rest of the Sandhill rise bore the name of
Clover Hilli tlie home of Captain E msley,
son of the Cliief Justice. Anothtr house on
the same properiy in which tlie Capt.iin
•ubs' qiienrly liTed was named BaiiistabL',
being a por ion of the out-buildmga con-
vert'-d into a dwel ing. To the north of
the Sandhill on the east side of the road
was a wayside mn sti 1 standing known as
the Gardeners' Arms. Ou the right beyond
the Gardeners' Arms were erictcd at an
early date a considerable distance trom each
other, I wo or three flit single storey, whitt
frame cottages, the tirst of saiili structures
in the outakirt'i of York and Kpcodily copied
and repeated in various direitiuns, being
thought models of neatness and convenience.
Opposite where these little cottages were to
be se-n at a later date w:is the yiii< yard of
Mr. Bevau, who combined the nianufac'.ure
ot wo'.iden ware and wiue. Just before
reaching the first concession road, or what
is now Bloor street, was afamily rejidenoe of
an ornamental suburb:\n charac:er, put up
by Lardner Bustwiek and the first of that
class of dwellings in the neighbourhood.
Next .ifter Bostwick'"^ was the house of Mr
De Blaijuier, who livid tlier" before build-
ing notfar oCF, the residence ea led The Pines,
wheri' he died and which was afterward oc-
cupied by Mr, John Hiward. Mr. D>
Blaquier was the youngea; sun of the first
Lord De Blaquier of Ardkil) n Irelnud. H^'
emigrated in \SX1 and was subsequently ap-
pointed to a ."eat in tlie Legislative Council
ot Upper Canada. In his yiu'a h- had
8e«n astive service as a m dsh.piran. He
w%8 present at the battle of Camperdown
in the Bounty, commanded by Ci plain
Blieh. He was alsoin liie fl et at the Noie
«|uTing the mutiny.
Next we come to the First Concession
Road now named Bloor street from .Mr.
Bloor, a brewer anil large property owner
■)f tile neighbourhood who lived on the south
sideo^!;.ij street east of Yonce street.
Heri'. too, at the eastward jtood .S'. Piul's
Clinrch, made famous by the erection of ^
ap\T< eigiity-five feet nigh in oneaftei noon as
desciil/ea m another cdapter. P.assiiiL' on
the left wiiat was the old " Potter'B Field,'
or " Vork Geiii ral, or Strangers" Burying
Orouud," wi- tiiul ourselves opposite th"-
celfcbrateil Red Linn Tavern int'.nia:ely con-
nected in many ways with the •■aily historv
of York. On the east side cf Vonge street
n' ar the nortliern toll-gate, stood Dr. R. C.
Heriie's house, burned in the troubltg of
1SH7. To the right further on is the brew-
ery of Mr. Severn built in 1835. S ill fur-
ther on the same side, a block house of twu
st'iries, both of them rectangular, hut the
upper turned half round on the lowf^r hnilt
in coiiBequenoe of the troubles of 1837 and
supposed to command the great liii.'hwiy
from the north overhung a high bank. An-
other of the same kind stood at the eastern
extremity of the First Concession Road. A
considerable stretch of striking laiuUeapf.'
here skirts our I onto on the r ght. Rofic.,
dale Hous.-, the old home of Seplien J. avis,
Registrar of the Province, has always been
noticeable for the romantic character ot its
situation .a tlie crest of a precipitous bank,
over-lotkiiig the deep wiiulmg raviiies vi
Rosedale.
The perils and horrors encountertd ev>ry
spring and autumn by travellers and otli-rs
in their ascent :ind descent of the precipi-
tous sides of the Rosedale ravine at the
point where the primitive Yonge .strett
:ro8sed it were a local proverb and a by-
word of perils and horrors, ranking for enor
mity with those associated with the pass-
age of the Rouge, the Credit, the .->.x een
ami a long list of other deeply plout;iieJ
watercourses, intersected by the two great
highways of Upper Canada. The as . ut
and descent of the gorge here wi'i." cohee-
tively spok'^n of as the •' Blue Hill" from
tlie fact th .„ ntrata of a bluish alay in jlit
be observed at the summit on both sole-
All the conditions reijuired to be fuihll-d
by the first settlers were these : They must
within the term of two years clear fit for
cultivation and fence ten acres of the lot ob-
tained, build a house, IG by 20 feet of Kn;'--
or frame, with a sliiiiirle roof, also cut down
all tile timlier in front of Miid the wiiole
width of the lot, which is 20 chains I.'IS f>'tl
wide, 3;{ feet ot which must be eiesrcd
smooth and it ft for half of the publ;e read.
To issue iiijuiutions for the perfoi miie ■ u!
such work was easy. To do such work or
to get such work efTectnaUy done wi.- iiihitr
the circumstaiic s of the times dithcul:,
Hence Yotitre street continued for some
years attt r 17!t4 to be little more than »
rambling forest wheel track througl. 'Ii
woixis.
In 1794 William Berczy brought ovev
from the Pulteney .Settb inent on th' •'outli
side of Lak" Oiuario, sixty (ierm.in fimiln ■^
and conducted them to the towii.slii|> 'f
M;irkliam north-cast of York, where lamU
had been assigned them. In effeotiMk.' this
first lodgnient of a considerable bndy i^ eok)-
nis's in u region entirely ni w, Mr. He >'i:v
necessarily cut out by the aid of I is p.ntv
LANDMARKS OF TOkONTO.
703
;viid »uch other help as he could obtain,
bL'Uit kind of a track through the for at
;iloiij» t!ie line of Youge street. Ho had al-
leady ouco before successfully acornplished
,( similar w^ik. He had hewn out a waggon
loiui for emiyranta througii trackless woods
ail ihi' way from Philadelphia to where the
ruiti".' y Settlement was.
la IVX^, Deputy Provincial Surveyor Au-
austus J U' s was dirci::e(i by Lieuienaiit-
Governor Smooe to surrey and open in a
iiioie effective manner ;he route winch Mr.
B iL'zy /lud his emigrantb had travelled. A
de:achnu'ut of the Queeu's Rangers wrs at
tl.esainc time order- d 'o assis:. On the 24th
Drctnibsr, 1795, Mt. Jone.s writes to D. W.
gmitli, Acting Surveyor (General — His E*-
celltiicv was plea.-ed to d;reet me previous
to my -surveying tiie townsh.p of York to
precetd on Yoiige street to suivey aiul open
a cart road from ihe harbour at Yoik to
Lite Sinicoe, which I am now busy at. Mr.
I'earse i.s to l)e with me in a few days' time
with a tie'achment of about thirty of the
Quei u 8 K»iig'T8 who are to assist in open-
ing tiie saul load In his note-book and
jouciial for the New Year, 1796, Mr. Jones
records the cornm ucement of the survey
thn-* -Monday, 4th January, 1796, Survey
d Yi>ut;e street. Begun at a Poat near the
Lak York H&rbonr on Bank, between Nos.
20 am) 21, the course bemg Mile Ni. 1
N. 16 degrees W. eighty chains from B ack
Oak Tree to Maple Tree on tii« right side
aloiij; the said V ge street, at eighteen
cham.s tifty link.- mall creek, course the
same ai thirty-two eighty, here First Coii-
oession. At N. 36, W. to 40-50. At 39-
50 .swamp and creek ten lin-ks across, runs
to tie right, tbeii N. 2, K to 4."? chains m
the lii;e. At 60-25 small crefk i uiis to right
8wainpy to 73, N. 29 Vv'. to 77 swamp on
ngn', then N. to 80 on line, timber cuiifly
wlu'.L' aiid black oak to GO and in many
places windfalls thereon, maple, elm, bei cli
and a tew oaks, black ash, oose soil. Mil"
No. 'i, do, 80 chains rising fine Kidgc tu 9
on tup. And so on day by day until Tues-
c'a\, February 16ih, wht ii liie party reich-
ed the LaMdii>g The suiTry and opening
0! till street Irom York Hay to the Landing
thus ori'upied forty-three dayn— January
4.1i to Fi bruary 16 h-^ Throe days .sutiiced
lor the return of tlie party to the place of
beginning. 'I'lie memoranda of these three
days run thus : — Wcdmsaay, 17ih — re-
turned back to a small lake at the iwenty-
firtt mile tree, pleasant weather, light winds
from ihe w.'«t. ThurHilay, 18th —-.lame down
to livt mile tree from York, pleasant wea-
ther. Knday, 19' h — c%me to tne town of
^ ork ; busy entering tome of my field notes.
Weather as biifore. Tae next day Mr. Jones
went to the Garrison and informed the Gov-
ernor that Yonge street was opened from
Ynrk to the Pine Fort Landing, Lake Sim-
coe.
Another early SurTeyor o" note, coiuect-
ed with the primitiTe history of Yonge
street was John Stegmann, a German, who
had been an ofEccr in a Hessian regiment.
He was directed in 1801 by the Surveyor-
General, D. W. Smith, to examine and re»
port upon the condition of Yonge street.
Thus he reported — Agreeable to your in-
structions for the examination of Youge
street, I have the honour to report thereon
as follows : That from the town of ?ork to
the three-mile post on the Poplar Plains,
the road is cut and that aa yet the greater
part of the said distance is not passable tor
any carnage whatever on account of logs
^^ liich lie in the street. From thence to Lot
No, 1 — the first l.jt after crossing the third
concession road from the lake shore — the
road IS very difficult to pass at any time
agreeable to the present situation in which
tiie said part ot the street is. We have then
a detail of his notes as to the condition of
the road opposite evt ry lot aU the way to
the northern limit o: the townships o: King
and Whitchurch. Of lot No. 1 in the town-
ship o: York on the west side of Youge
street it is reported that the riquiskion of
(-0V rnment is complied with, except a few
lugs lu the stn et not burnt. Of Lot No. 1
on I he cast side also that it is coiaphed
with except a few logs not burnt. No. 2
west side complied with the street cut but
not burnt. East side complied with, tome
logs in the street not burnt and in some
p aces narrow. No. 3 west side complied
with except a few logs not burnt, east aklo
complied with, the clearing not fenced, no
house, some logs in the street not burnt.
No. 5 west Bide complied with, East side
non-compliance. No. 8, west side, com-
plied with the street cut, but not burnt.
East side complud with the street cut, but
not burnt. Here the street it is noted goes
to the eastward of the liiHi on account of
hilly ground. No- 3, west side, complied
with ill clearing, the street bail and eariow.
Mistsiiio ncn-eompliance, street bail and
narrow and to the east of the road. Nc 16
west side notlung done to the road, about
five acres cut, not fenced and no house
thereon, oast side complied with. No. 17,
west side coiiiplK-d with, tht underbiush ic
the street cu , !rut not. burnt, easi side eom-
plied with exetptsome lugs not burnt. No*
18, west side, weil-complied with, ( ast side
well eomplnd with. No -JS. west sidr,
compiled with, east side complied with—
nolliing done to the street and a jchool-
houae erected in the ceulre of the atr'.et.
13 '^
i; 1
M
m
'\
i:
704
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO
Tliia is tlie end of the township of York.
Th(Mi on No, 3.'], west side Vaugiuiii cleariiijj
coinpliL'd with, no Mouse ;inil iiolhini; done
to the street. E:ist si.le, Mark ham clearing
complied witl'i swUlh p.irt ut the street cut,
but not hurnt and noi 1 1, p.irt of the street
nothiiif; done. No. 37, V ai;,'h,in cle iring
O'i'Dpiied w\tn, but sunii' ;iig' trees and
some h'gs lett in the street. Markhani,
scrnii' trees and logs left in the street, some
acres cut hut not hun', no fence arid a
small loi,' iioust; N'v 5^ V.iUi{h:in claruig
nomplied with tht- strc. t tUl and legs not
burn. M:ii khani cuariiig cdmplied \v.U\,
the s;ri'el cut and logs not burnt, a very bad
place tor the load and may be iaid out bet-
ter, No. G3, wist side, King noncompli-
anco, e.isi sule, Wliiichurcn. uou-comp.i-
»nce and simil.irly nu -.o N), 88. on which
in K lit; fhe clearing Is coniplieil witli, not
fenc' d, the.^.ieei good, in Wlii;ohU!Ch, the
clearing is coniiilied with, but notiiing done
to tlie atroet. N >, Do, Kiig, four aci'S cut
and iiuthing ibniu to the stieet. Wh t
church. SIX acres clear land and uo.hiiig
done to the s reet. Here King and Whit-
church and the npor; end.
Ml S ( gmanii cuiic udes iiis report by say-
ing— This was tlie real situation of Voi;ge
street when i xanr.nt d by me, and 1 am sorry
to be under the necessity to add at ttie con-
clusion of this repur tliat the most ancient
inhabitants of Y(ugf street have beinthc
most 111 gieciful in clearing tl.e street and 1
have rea-ipn to belipwe thai some ir fl ■ with
tiie r>()l^^ltion of (loverniiient in ie>pect of
clearing rtio street.
Mr. K rc/y lirougiit over his sixty-four
fami.ies in 17'J4. The most ancient inhabi-
tants were thus oi srven years' stainlini;.
It mt n of the second generation regarded
Voiige street as a ditlicult route to travel,
wliat must tlie tiisl
from the
Genesie country and l'^ n nsylTania h.ive
found It to be. They brought with liicin
velr.chs, and h'^r.^es, ar.d tatiniieB and soiiii;
household stntr. The iutZ'ttff.r ol IT'J'Jday.-,
that the b idy of tl'.eir w.>t!i;oiis Was made ot
close b'l.rd.s and that the most clever had
th • ingeiuii'y to caulk the seimis and so by
shifting oti : lie bo<ly from th" cariiage it
aerv( d to transport ttie wheels ami the
family. Old settlers aroiiml NewniarKet
U«e<) to narrate how in tlieir tii>t jou.'iiey
from York to till' Landing, tiny lowered
tlieir wagijons oown the Kt<-< ps by ropes
paBS'd round th' steins of saplings and th' n
hiiuled them up the ascent on itie upn sie
aide in a similar >vay.
Just beyond th. Blue 11 11 raviue en the
west side stood tor .i >'iig while a^uneiy un-
finished franit' bui <i,iig \s ith gab.v town ,is
the street and vvii.doWc, boaiUcd h^l. Tiie
inquiring stage passenger would be told
good hurnoiMfdly by the drirer that this
was Rowland Burr's Folly. It was to have
been a carding or fulling mill worked by
peculiar manhmoiy driven by tlie streani ,i,
the valley below, but either tlie iniprac; lea.
bili;y of this from the position of the biiiM .
iiig or the as yet insigiiitic;iiit quantity ot
wu '1 pioduc il in thecouir.ry mad tiie en-
terprise aboi" ive. Mr. Burr was an emi-
grant from I'eiiiisyh auia in 1S0.1 and from
e.ir y manhood was strong y marked by
many of the trails which are held to te
I'll utictenstic of 1 iie speculative and ei'.er%
g.tic Anui ican. Hut unfortunateij' for hull-
s'' f. be was tn advaiice of his neighbour^.
A anal to eonnec" Like Ontario with tln^
ijcorgian Bay of Lake Huron via Like :*,(u.
coe and the vaby of the Uuinber w.s
pr( aseii by him years auo and ;it li s w n i\
p use he minutely i xuniie d the louii an i
pubUshed tliereou a r.'port. He was a Imrii
engineer and inechanieian. He built on his
own account or tor o'. iieis a nuir.ber oi nii! is
and faetor.es, p-oviding and getting into
working order ihe complicated meciianism
T' quired for e,icn and this at a time wh 'i
suv;h undertakings wi le not easy to aceoiii-
plish from the unimprori li condition of the
country and llie few facilities 'iiat existeil
lor unporliug ami tiansporting inland iieavy
machinery. Tlie mills and factories at I'uri-
wich in Vaugh.in originated with iiini imi
from liini tiiai plac takes its name. The
early tramway im Yontje street of wiaeli we
iiave already sp ken was suggested by Mr
Burr a'ld wh' n tlie cutting down of the IUul
Hill was dt cided on fie undertook and il-
; c«ed the work.
I- IS ikjW more than half a century siiiC'.^
the ptctiliar elay of the fiiiiK Hi 1 begin to
be lu'iud o nsi I'ul account. Mess s. J,.iiies
anil William Townaley first burnt kilns ul
whitr brick hei ' ta the left Ot Yong strut
and tlio iii.iiml'acture was afterwards carried
ou by Mr. Nig tmgile, a family coniieciioii
of th ■ Messrs. Towiisley. Mr. Worthiiig-
ton. alho, for a time engagi d in the niaiui-
laoure ot pressed buck and dain "ilea on
ttie same spot. The' R-issiii House and the
Yoikville Town Hal! were built of pressed
brick made lieie.
Chestnut Park ou tlie right was en o'ed
at a comjiaratively iiiodern perioil I'y Mr.
Ma' hers, an early merchant o Yo'k, wio
before building here, lived on Queen > I'l t,
near the Af adows, the resiiiein;" ol Mr. J
Hiliyiud Canierc'ii. CiUNsnut Park \Mes ..i-
terwards taken by i!r. Micph isoii. A: I'
bit gliinps. s are obt, lined of Oiklands. M..
John .Mai (louald's resilience, Raiinaliy. Mr.
M'-'MjJiter's tiod.' and Woodlawii, the le.a.e
o: C;iaucellur Bl.ike and built liy Imn, i i'
I
-,lve,
justly b.
»epi.-i of a
ruad. 1 1
tiie Nort
on wli.-i
utr-e-t.
that the
I lie roii!
.11 tnat I
for ht Iji
The
ill wn ,
use.- th;
I hat a.s
18 Sill I
tik> I.-: I
reaeluil
rt.c-iiiK
known
.Mr. Can
0 be.
ur luiii-
ibourj.
tb tlic
r
>■ -
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
705
afterwards occupied by Justice Morrison.
Sumnu-r Hill, seen on the liigli laud far to
tlif rif^lit and commauding a uolilc view of
tho wide plaiu below, including Toronto and
uie laki' vi<;ir far distant, was built by
Ciiarka Thomson, whosu uanic is associated
Willi tilt; former travel and postal service of
rue whole length of Yonce .street aod the
UpiwrLikea. Sumuur Hill was groatly im-
proved and enlarged by Larratt Smith, its
»u1m (Jill nt owucr.
The pnmitiTc watrgon track of Yonge
3:1." t ascended the hill at which we i ow
arrive a little to the west of the present
line of the road. It passed up tliriUj^h a
narrow excavutrd notch. Across tins dc-
prcsMon vr trench, a forest tree tell wrh'iut
miiig I'l'dken and there long rcinaiiu'd.
Teams dU iheir way to and from town had
to ji:iss iiiuicr it, like captiu' d armies of old
under the yoke. To some among ihe coun-
try io.k it sui.'geste(l the beam ot the gal-
lows-tree. Htiice sprang an ill-om' lud
uaiii-' long attached to tins spot. Near
here at th • lop of the hill were hirmerly to
be seen tiie remains of a mil wimll.iss o:'
capstan used in the hauling up of the North-
West Ci nipany'b boats at this point of the
long portinje from Lake Ontario to Lake
HiiioM. S I ear y is August 3, ll'ii^J, the
>i;igara d'on-ftellntiiju announced 'ha: it was
nforiiied on good aut'iuniy tiiat the Nurlh-
Wes; C iui])aijy had it seriously in cut!!"iii-
platiuii to establiahacomnuinieationwirh tlio
Uppir Likes bywayoi Yurk through Vong'
suiet li Lake Sinu'oe, a dis; aiee oi tliir y
.hree miles. The Const dlat ion adds that
the (ioveiiinient has aciua, \ I'egiiii tu open
Yoiitre sireit for sev. ral mile.- wh:eh ex iin*
p!e wil niiilouhu tlly be no sm.nl iiulUvi-
nil lit to persons wi:o possess piopeiiy on
thatstDet and i S vicinity to exert them"
-elves in opening and completing what niiy
justly be considend one of the primary ( b-
.'epis of attention in a new oouiii ly, a good
road. In these <arly liays tm; e.ivalcaile of
the N;irth-wi SI Company '.s boats mount d
on wh.'elrt pursutd tiieii way up N'mig ■
"iF' '•t. It used to be sujip i^ed by s.iiu
that the tret across the uotclitlirough which
Mie roiil passed had heen puip' sely fe.ied
n itiat p sitiun as a part cf tli" apparatu.i
for hrlp.uL' th.- l).Jat^ up th ■ hill.
liie .ahlel.nd now aiuuiied was long
iiiwiiasthi' [-"upiar I'iains, anil Siegmann
iiaes this name in h s r»port. A by-road
Hint a.s.i-uiis this same rise neai Jli niialiy
18 s 111 known as the Pupiar i'iain.-> ro.id. To
tlio h'.'t o: Yiiiig- str- el at the pu.nt now
roaclud and lying alii.'htly back stu! d uiiiil
ree-nilv h house of Mr. J. 8. Howard,
known ;.s Obve (irove. It was l.inli by
.Mr. (Jiiupbe.i, propiiutur of the Oi'.aiio
House in York and an eminent man in the
Masonic body. Masquotah— meadow in the
Ochipway tongue — stood to the left a short
distance in. L, was the home of W. Warx
ren IJahlwiii, tliesonoi Dr. VV. W. Bald"
win, the builder of Spidina.
D er Park, to the north of the road that
enters here, but skirting Yonge street as
well, had that name giveu it, wlien the pro-
perty of Mrs. He ith, widow of Uol. Hath,
of tde H. E. i. Company's service. On a
part of this prep rty was the house built by
Colonel Car.he«-, afterwards the abedo 01
Mr. Fisk n. Colonel Carthew, a halt-pay
ofBL'ir of Cornish origin also made large ;m-
))rovemen s on property in the viciuicy or
N wm.irket.
Ju- 1 alter D r Park to avoid a long
ravine, winch lay m the line of the direct
rou e nort hward, the road swerved to the
left ami then desc'ndetl passii g over an em
baiikmeir which was the dam of an aiija-.
cent sawmill, a fill" view of the interior of
which will the saw usually in active motiou
was olitaiiieil bv 'he ■ raveiler as lu' fared on.
Tiiis was Mi''hiii \V!i tmore's s-tiwrniT.
Of late years the rtpt-.x of the long iriancle
o: No; m Ill's land tliat for a great while lay
des(dat*) betW"eii the original and subse-
quent lines of Yoiige street, was happdy
utilized by the eri ction thereon of a church,
Corist Cnu'ch, an object well seen in the
a^C' lit and dencent uf the street. Ancient-
ly V' ry near the site of Christ Chuicii, a
--olitary loiigish, wooden building, fronting
sou'iliward was conspicuous, the abod'' of
M '. Hudson, a provincial land surveyor of
mark. L lokig back soutliwaril from near
til; front of Jii-- liouse a finedistant glinipso
of the waters o; Like Ontario used to be
obttiin (1, ehisiiig the Tista made lu the for-
est by ^'oiigo street
B ore !• aching Wliitincre's sawmill,
w..ile parsing aloi.g the brow of the hill,
over luukii'g the ravine, which was avoided
by th.' alree; iis ii ran in the firs; instanc •,
there was to be seen ;it a little dis tinee to
the lig'n on some n>ugh undufa'iug g'nuiul
a house which always attracted the eye by
its atVaciatioii of Gothic in the outline of
its windows. On the siihi towards the ptib-
lie voad It showeii several olitusexiu aded
l.uic t ligtiis. This p. culiatity gare the
building otnerwise ordinary enoutrn, a
slightly lomant c a;r. Ir had the ■ tl'ec i:i
fact at a liter p ricd of creating foi this
liabi':ation when i^taiidint,' for a considerable
while tenantless, the reputation of biing
h.un id. Tnis nonse .and the surrounding
grounds constitute d Springti Id Park, the
oigiiial Upp'T Canadian in m otJihuMdis
,1 icU-^oii, a;. !•; i,'li h geulleiiiaii, lurnu 1 ^' oi
iJuwiiion in \Vi sliire, who einigr.ited liiih-
1
lA
\i
\ !
J I,
I I I!
11 I II
ill
7oe
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO
er prior to 1806, but finding public affairs
managod in a way wliich he diemed not
Batis'acory he returned to England, where
in 1809, he published a pampliu-t addressed
to the K'ng, Lorda and Commons of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain atid Ire-
land, entitled " A Vhw of the Pohtical
Situation of the Province," a brochure that
made a stir in Upper Canada if not in Eng-
land, the Local Hou-se of Assembly voting
it a libel. In the preface to his pampliiei
which is a well-written production, Mr.
Jaclkison gives an account of his first con-
nection with Canada ;uid his early expe-
ruiK'c here. Hi' says : "Having by right
o: inheritance a cI-mui to a large and very
valuable ract of laiid in the Provinee of
Quebec, I w;(8 induced to visit L wer Cana-
ua for the p'rp.>se of inv<stig;iniig my ti.le
and bf me dt suous to view the immense
lakes and fa Is in Upper Canada, where I
had purchased some .and previous to leav-
ing' Enp and, I ex t luled my ti.ivt Is to tha'
country with which I was so much picised
tliat I resoiv. d lo settle on one of my es-
tates and cxp iidrd a consuieranle .-urn on
Its improvements" — the allusion is probably
to.Spnncfie.d Park — "buti^onsideriiig neither
my pcr.son nor pr* p.rty secure undnr tlie
sysum pursued ilier , I have been obligt d
to rduquibli t'ne h' p- of it's ii j 'Vment."
To Mr. J.iokfonV mind the colonj' was
Viemg governi d exauily iu tli'^ w ly vhatltads
finally to revolt in colonies. Tlie principles
of tlieconstitution j,'uaruir'e(il)y tiie Mother
Couuuy were violated. One of his griev-
anct s was — not tiiat a seven; h of the pubic
land h:id been set .ipart fur an estih.ished
church but tiia: — '' m seTcnieen yeais not
one acre had been turiud to any bciufic a
account, not a clercyiiir,n < x ept such as
Eng and p:>y> or the Missionary Society
sends, only tire luiiumbir, wi;hout glebe
perqusite or p.\r3oni.g • l.uuse and still 'ewer
cliuii lips than ministers o: ti •• established
religion.' Nevertheless, what th'^ old
Freiic 1 trader siiid (f Atii'a — Toiijoxirn en
ma"(li^.<unt ce I'ila'ii iiai/f!, on y n^vien-^ fou-
jourtt pioved true in lespect to Canada n tne
oas( of Mr. J.icksou as m the case of hevoral
other severe critic- of CanHdi.in public af-
f;.irs in later times. He returned ;ind dwelt
in the land af' r all, setiiing with his faiir.'.y
(11 Lake S incof where .Jackson's P.int and
Jackson's Landing retain his name ami
where dcsceiidar.18 ot his still remain. Mr.
Jcks'U had possessions likewisein ihe VV- st
Ii.d: 9 and made ir^jji nt visi's thitner, as
aN) to Kiiylaiid whtr.' at hngtli he died in
1836 Up t.j about that tunu we observe
' IS nan.e in he Commission of the Peace.
He \Ta~ a gentleman commoner of Bailiol
Colli ge in th.- UniTersity of Oxford. Pre-
vious to 1827 he published a Biblical work,
which was tor sale in the bonk stores of
Messrs. M- ighan and Lese' & Sons, York.
It was entitled The History from the Cn-
at'on o'' the World to the Death of Joslms,
authenticated from the best authoiities with
notes Critical, Philosophical, Moral and Kx
planatory.
One of Mr. .Tackson's sons, Clifton, is lo-
cally remembered as an early example \u
these parts of the exijuisite of the period,
the era of the Prince R'cent and Lord
Byron. By extra saenficuig to the Graces
at a time where articlea de cosmHiiue et df.
lure generally were scarce and co.-tly m
Canada he got himself into trouble. In
182*2, he had ccasion to make his escip,;
from durance vile in Yoik by opening ^
passage one quiet Sunday morning thron.rt.
the roof of th' old jail. He was sp edily
pursued by Mr. Parker, the warden, ;ind ai
associate, Mr. Gar.'-ides, overtaken at Al
baiiy in tne ,'^tateof New York, anprelui.,;
ed under a feigned cliarue and broa;,'h' hacK
to York. Among 'lie inhabitants <>i soin.
of the villages be; ween Albany and Youngs-
town, ,'. suspicion arose that a case ot kni -
napping w.is in progress and Messrs. I'wk i
and Garsides, were exposed to risk o; per-
sonal violence In fore they co'.ili reach tliu
wes'eiu bank of the Niagara River witn
their prey. A few years later, C'ifioi;
.Jai'ksoii obtained a situation in the Honit;
Colonial Otlice with a good salary. To di--
tingui-h Mr. Mids Jael;-;(jn from Mr. Sam-
u I Jackson, another Yonge street paipiie^
tor. the epithet Jacobin was applied to tie
fornuT in aili'tiou to his political piincip 'a,
and th'- appellation Hatter J .cksoii to ti ■
latter ir. tillusion to his trade. OniheiiiTa-
sion of Canada I'y tie United States fotces
during 'he war of 1812, he open'y avowed
his sympattiy witii the invaders and was
obliged to fl e from the t(u;ntry.
The original o\eiier of Jacobin Jacksoii'd
property wa.s Stilhvell \Vii,-on, who as e.ily
as 1799, was appointed one of the (jver.>eors
of highways and fences for the poriioti ei
Vongo street from Lot 20 to Lot 4l) iii Mark-
ham and VaUi;hMi. In 1S21 he w».s land
lord ot the Wa'erloo House in York. Iu
1828 sc-me of his pr. peity w .a seized for aa
indidjttdnesH to one Jairus Ashley. At an-
other time he Tasiii c( niinand of aslip-ketl
seliooner plying between York and Niagara.
After Mr. Jackson, Mr. Cawthra became H •
owner of this property.
As we reach the higher laud after cro'-s-
ing tne dam of Whnmore's Mill and return
ing with ti;c more liireci line of 'he s'reet
some rude p itery works meet the wy. Hern
in the midst of woods the passei-by saw on
one side of the road a oue-horse clay, griod*
LANDMARKS OF TOkONIO.
707
iiii; 111 cliitii! laliorioui'ly iu operation ami on
till- I'llit'f ili.'<p!ayi'cl in the cprn aironb'.inia
suppiiricil by woodiin pins iliiven into the
(^ruat IcL's Cdniposing the wall of the low,
w;iiiiowle^9 build ng, luinuTOu . articlis oi
C0.U8I', I lown ware, partially ^'-'^ziii, pan?,
Clocks, ji's, jug", d 111. Johns ;iiiil lo forth.
Tlifse woiks wurecarrad on l^y John Walm-
alty.
A tract of rougii country was now reach-
ed il tlicuit to clear and d (EluI' to iraV' rae
Willi a vciiicle. Here a truru;no corduroy
oaiiJ<«way was eiiconntpr' d, a long scnus of
,tiiall saw ( g^ laid side by bid ■ over which
wluH'h j;dted (K-Uberattdy. In the wet oca-
ii)ii, poriidiis if it l)f ing ;ifl lat would undu-
;aie uiider thi' weight o: a passing load and
DOC.iSion.i.ly a ln.rse'ii leg would be firrap-
piii.'iiKl pos.sibly snapp d short by tlic mid-
vlcii yielding nr reroluiioii of ons of thi!
cyuuders iielow. To thu ng'it of this triC
was one of the church pi' bts resrrved in
t'T.iy townsiup in ttie original laying out ((f
Upper Canada, one lot o: wo handled acres
in every acveii of lh« ?ania art a. A elic oi
tnis airaiigcinent, now broken up, but, ex->
P' ctcd to b • permanent wiien the Quebec
Art was pass d in 1780, reniainett di.wn to
a late date in the shape of a way.-tide inn to
tne right near here atyh d on its sign the
'■ Gl' b Iiin."a ti.le and sign reinindiiig
0:1 ot the "Church Sale.-," and ?' Cnnrcli
'i lies' uot uncununoii 33 Tillai.'e a e-houso
uesignations in some parts of Eiiglaiui.
Hitherto the g'ueral direct i^n qf Yonge
ST'Ct has heen north sixteen degrics wesr.
At the point where it passes th road niaik-
ing the northern limit of the Tnird Coiices-.
siuii from th' b:iy it swerves s ven degrees
tu 'lie eastwaid. In 'lie first survey of this
region mere occurred heie a jog or tauh 1:1
the lines, The portion of the street pro-
posed to be opened north failed by a few
nda to connect in a continuous nghl line
with th portion of it that led southward
iiuo Yuk. Tiieirregii'anty was afterwards
corrected by slicing oflf a long, narrov.', an-
gular piece roni three lots on liie east side
and adding the like quantity of laud to the
ujiposite lof, it 'lapp niiigjuat lien; that the
itj's on the east sride lie east and west, while
ihose on the west side lie north and sou'h.
A:ter the third coi.c s>ioii, the lots along
;iie stre'et lie uni uruily east and west
The fj;st pcssesBOr of the lot on the wts:
■■ide of \'()iiye streer, fligii, ly augm- iited as
described, was the Baron I)e Hd n. an 1 Ilicer
in one of the German regiments disbanded
after the Ui.ited States Revolutionary War.
He was a fiieiid of the Uildwiii family. In
lt)*H), he was th^ second 01 Att(j: ucv (jene-
la: Whi'e, who was killed iu a diel with
iJr, Small.
In our progn 89 nortiiward, we now trav-
era • tjround hica ly historic as the .-c no of a
si- irmi-h and bloodslied in the troubles of
18;{7- I'hc t vents connected witti this havu
been sufHciently describ d. The giea: con-
spicuous wayside inn, wliich here s'. ood at
: he right ot the road, usually calh d M .nt-
gumery'.'i, was at tin; time of its des rue; ion
by the Government torcca iu 1837 m tho
occupation of a landlord, named Lmgfcor,
Tlie liou.se (if Montgomery from whom ihe
inn took its name, ho having been a former
oncupant, was on a farm owned by h.mself,
b< au ifuUy situattd on rising ground to the
left, subsequent y the priperiy and place of
abode of Mr. James Ljsslie. Mr. Mon:-
C'lmery had onee a iiote in York named
" The Bird in Hand' on Yonge stl•ee^, a
litil.' to tne nortn of Eliiot;'sSun Tavern.
Kgliiiti n through which at the present day
Ymige 3' reet passes hereabout is a cuiious
Si ray memo: ial ot the Tournament in Ayr-
siure, whieh made a noise in 1839. The
passages of aims on tho farther side of the
A'Jantic, that cccasionally tuggest names
fur Canadian villages are not always of so
P'licefiil a character as that in tho east of
Kglinion's grounds m 1839, although it is a
mat'trof some in;er<stiiow to renumber
that even in that a Louia NapjKon Sgund,
WHO at a later period was eiig.iged 111 jousts
of a rather serious kind promoted ty iiiu.-
selt. About Kglinton the name Siiider is
no able as li.at of a United Empire Loyalist
finiiy Seated here of Geinian desctiit. Mr-
Martin Siudep, tatlier tf Jacob and Elias
Snider and other brothers and sisters, emi-
grated hi! her a! an ear^y period from Nova
Siotia, wlu re ho first took up his abode for
a time after the R volution. Among the
names of those who volunteered to accom-
pany General IJiock to Detroit iu 1813, is
thai ot Jacob Snider. Iu lit( r year^ a
member of .he same family was Sheriff for
the county of Grey and repeatedly a repre-
senta'ive in I'arliamenc of he same county.
Beyond Ejlinton ;n the decent toa lough,
irr gular ravine, the Ik me 01 Jonathan Uale
was p.isseU on the east side of the street,
one if the Hales who were forward to un-
dertake w rks of public utility at a tune
wiieu appliances for the execution of sueii
woiks wt re few, Mr. Hales' lot afterward
became part of the t state of Jisse Ketchum.
On the west side opposite here was a fu/m
;liat had been modi rn;/.ed and beautified by
; wo :umilies in sucossion, «ho migrated
hither from the West Indies — ilu; Murrays
and iliu Nantons. In particular a long
avenue of evergreen trees planted by them
anil leadiiigup 10 he hon^e was noticeable.
Whde these lamilie-s wire ilu- owners and
occupants of the properiy, it was named by
m
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708
I.ANDMAllKS OF TOKONTO
Hilton,
tlu'iu I'i j:!iin'8 K;iiin. SubMiiU'iillv IM-
piiiii's F.iriii pa-H 'd into uic naiuiH o' Mr.
J lines li !ity, op of tii'' icpit'sontiitiV' s of
Torciito III I he lldiix' ot Ciimiiioiis in C.in;»-
(Li, who iiKiiii' it !ui ( c MsMiiil s\iTiimi r n--
tioa: anil f.iliid ii ( Jlrii (irnvo. I: liail Ixfcii
known iit oni' pt-rioil ,'is tin- Mid'ai^'all
K.irm, John M.icD Mii^all of VovU havint*
III-. 11 Its owmr liotn I SO I lo IS'Jd Mr.
M ioDoiijjall wan ■. li" proprirtor fif h' priii-
;;ipal hot. 1 of VoiU. Mr, M.'U'D iilmU was
tile ( r 1,'iii.il L'laiiti'i' ot ihi firm m iii (ii.iti-
ly to t'ln Ri 11 ll (il Cilrll * I I V . 1j It N'li. ;{.
Oa iiij^h laml to the rii,'ht a int way oil' : he
roaii an Eii^'iish-lookint: mansion nf ImIcU
with circiiiar • nds" was ano'lior tarly mno
vat ion. A yoiinij plmtat'on O' tid's, s'>
plac "(l as to slifltcr i' from the iiortti f-ast
MiniH. acid, il to its Ivitjiish a^p c . This
was Iv'i i^-liid. tiio licim of Sir.
!:kt'uise an iinnrijrant fr.'in tho \V. ,s
It was af ti'i wa; d^ ilu'.alioac of M:-.
an Alierin.'vii ot I'oronto.
Uiio or two old Sarin houses of an fini- hib,
Now Jersey style of two storuya wilh sttep-
'sli roofs ami small wii.dows w. it tlnii
pas-'d on th.' loM. Some way fiirili"r on,
but still in the low liiid of 'In irrfi.;u ar la-
vine ano' lier p' imi'iv- nisnc mair.ifacoiy
of leatli' r waa n^iu' n'd, 'I'm.s was " Law-
renci' s Tannery." A or il<:e ov. r tno s-tream
here whieli is a feeder to ll;e l>oii, W.m
Bom. times s^pcken of as H iwhe'.s bridf,' ■
fr m the nam.' if its build v. In th.' h. I-
kw on 'he ii f , ilusc to tie •.aniiny and
ovi rlocik d f I om ' lo' road, wi-^a cream col-
our d. resp ctable frame iiou-.-, th(- domi.
cile of Mr. Lawrence lims if. In ins yir.i
or R.ird'ii, some hives of lu'o.s whvn such
things Were ramies, u>ed ruways to lie 1 lok-
cd at witli cni'iosry in pi'sine. Tlie oriL'i-
nal patentees of lots '■i,\, si V' n, ei^tit and
nine on tnc west side of th" street just iiere
were toui- brotli(;<, Jos pii, Duke. Jlir-.m
and Jolm K.ndriek r. ppect vely. They all
hail nautical proelivi'ies and w. !'■ ali eoii»
nrctnd with th.- niariii.. of the like.
We now speedilv arrive.} at the com-
meii..'ement of tile diflfi^'ult disc, nt into tliv
C'Tat valley of the yreat west iiranc i of 'he
Don. Vontje street liere made a grand de-
tour to thcoasf ;uiil tailed to iiij.iii tne di-
rec northeiiy course tor S( nie time. As
usual wfieri vcr lonp, inclined planes were
en* in tbe ateep sules of lofty clay banks,
lilt! cuuuiiioii 1)1 lliu I'.i.l.iu.iy iHTealMHU. \».l
after ruin mile.scribab.y bad. Alter reachuu
the stream and crosiiin{j it on a rou^h tini
ber bridge known ami.ntiv .sometimes as
Bie Cre. k ijruige and s. m t in s as IT zon's
bridpp, the track ascendeii tne further liank
a' first by means of a narrow hogsback,
whici conrenuntly sloped to the yalcjafti r-
wards it made a sweep to thn north
w.ird aloioj the brow of some broken bills
and then (iiial.y turned weBW ird until tin
dire(;t iiorti.erii route of the street was again
touch d.
rii lianks I f till" Don are here on i \rrv
sidi' very bo rl, civd. d u s.tiv p'ac.'s into
atiees by an intervenuij; pla can. On a »
eoiiilary tl it i lum foi m.d in the m:d< ot i
gias-.-j,'iovMi LdeariiiL'. to the left ihere vi
ereceil :it an earlv date, the shell of a pli
of worship, app r aiirm,' to the o d Sc..; •
U<\\ kirk pir up here throiicli tii / ai . :
.Mr. .1 iim.s l[ i'j, a memb. r of that comnin
iiion and liio owner for a tiim) at leas: of ii •■
lloiir mills ill the railey near tne brui;.' ■.
l''it.m mm ttis locality was popuarly known
as iiofij; 8 Hollow .'.^pit.. 'b' p'Sial iiar.
of ibe place, 'S'oi k .Mills. Mr. Hi gi.' was o;
Se.Ttisli di'scri ; , ml a man of spirit. 1;
IS.'VJ h.' sent a liiall ni;!^ to M . riurmtf, t i
editor of the ('mirkr. Wlio had sp lUeii .
oim in his paper in ofl'eisive term-, but, inii
{."iitleman deeiin.d to lij^lit a du'd. .Mi.
\\'-\i'i dn.l in IS.'W.
'I'll • ciri'iiit or tiui hills overhaiit:ii j; t!
nulls II ,(,i^- v\;is a \v ivs tedious, but si \ . :,i,
■.'o(..d hit> of scenery were c.u'j,dit s yht o:.
(' 1 I h." lip and aft r cscapilif; t lie eh;. I ditii-
culti'S on the 1 f hand a loni;, low. wooiier.
bm'dinj:; wa.s s. en with {jablr and door t.i-
Wir.is III., road. Tnis was .an ear'y plac >■
w. rsliip of the Ciiurcii o! Imi aland, an ou"-
p.)st of I he missi.'n a Y.'rk. 'I'ne Ion;; due i f
its roof was s;i;»iitly cnived dow; wards l.v
the Weight of a siiort jhimm v bin. at *•
middle point f r the ac'eommo.l;>tion of ,i .
iron stove within. Just biforc arriviiip r.
tiii'ga'e . f the buryii'^'-ground tUiachci '.i.
tins biiild:i;{^ ; iiMc w.r. n.t rest itig ^linip-- -
to the h,'tt ii..wn into d.i p wo. ily ulcii-, a 1 ■ t
tin m conveigini; sontbwjird on th'- D.ui, In
.some of till III W( ri' little patci es of p.easitr
grass land. But a.ong h-r-- for ho mo-^t
part the for. st long rrmtiined undistiiibi 'i.
The ehu'X'h or chapei n-f- rred to w..<
oiteii .-erve.i by divmi y students s. nt oit
lromt..wii and f : ei|iieiit ly no douli , its
wa.ls eciioed witbpn-ntico atl- nipisai puip •
or.itory. Goutlay says that tliis c apel and
the Fri'-nda' Mee.ing House-, near Nesvinir-
ket, Wi re theonly two places ot public w i-
ship i.n Vol g • s icit in 1817 .1 niit-^
Siiichan via 'e.! bis brotiier, tn.- liisnop of
Toronto in 1810 and wrote a book of hi^
trip, entitled ■" A Vsit to the Pioviine if
('pp. r C.i:;ada in 1819bv .lames Siraclian.
In I Ills work he says— " My bro hi r lian by
ins e.x rtions ami encourig.-meni among 'h-
p ople, caused a chapel tu be bui t ahi.U'
eigbi mileb from York, where In- i.tfi- at''-
onci' a month, one of the young siud.n'x
under Ins care reading the service and ase:*
1
:
LANUMAKK-^ OK lOI ONTO.
709
jnnii <i'i till! iiiteiniP'liatn Suntl.iy-i. O i Ins
■ liiv of ilomi: iliity I WiMit \.illi li III .iiui w;i8
Hi; iiy l.'i'''''i''''^l' 'A''' »li''l"'l W;iH bui!t in
■. tiiuk wooil. Tiie dimensions uru (iOxlJO
[flit, rli'" pcWK.ii''' vcay (Ic^ciMit aiui \vli:il was
iiuhIi I"'' iTllicy wtr<' tilli'd wiMi an attcii-
livc coni,'!'' fjaiidii. As you h «■ v< ry few in-
,i;,b;t!iu*-< oil your w;iy uit, 1 oouM nnl con
,.i<i wi I'l-o all '. Ii • prupic cariii" fioiii."
In ISHJ I lie fouii'.lati n Htoii • of a ihirabic,
lirii'k I'liurcli, was la <l near iliesitcot iiio
old traini.' <'!iapi.'i. On ttiat oi'casion, Dr
»;t!i''liiM naiiKii as ' spi'oiai pn niKicrs of the
iirij,' ii.il plac'' of wciiMiip, Si'ih-cm Kt U'liimi
.iiiii Jii!.' pli Sri'ppiiU, tlic •oriiier ilovotiiif.'
miuli tiiih' ami mioihv in tlic nirtli'.'r.iin.'u of
tlic wo- U, ami !iir lattor giving 1 ri c aciv a
i]i land as a 8ito lo;,'ftlicr wi'i a liaiulH(iiiii>
dona ion in cash A silver ri" d d wliioli liad
iiii'ii tltposi'fd uiidir tiic o d Itui.dinp, was
iiiiw uaiif"M'cd U) a ravi'y in tiic toiiii' a
•lou stone of its propoM d snc-j'sstif i
iioKi on th olivii'so, " Ff.iiiL'is li II'. ]vi|.,
Li'iitcnaiiT •(JoTcni'ir, ISIfi." and en tin; !•• -
v.-r, '■ KitiySixln of <; "vj- Third, ' To
;• VI, If ii'iw aiiiU'da coupi of otlitT in daln
of silvi r , oi'.i' lioro on tin' ohvcr-c, " Joim
>;in(i,an, P D.. H shop . r Toronto. Au xin-
,|. I Sms'iii, Minis IT, ]S43, " md on the ks
V( r-f. ■' Sixtii of Vii'ioriii. ' Tnc otluT had
i>crd) il on i' I he liaiii- ol : he arohitcc .
Mr. J. <i. Howaid. witi a list of o;hiT
.■liuirhiM CI' I'ted Ml L'pp'i' Canada under his
aiiTfiion. Ainoiit; tn-' p rsons pres. nt dnr-
111^' till- (• rcniony \VL'rcCiii''f JiHtico R' Imi-
■toii, Vio(!-l.'lianL'elior J ni".siin. I'n lion.
iiid R'-v, A Civi'inlisii. anil the JLl'V. (i,
\l'ir;iin rot TlnTniull. J'nor to the on -
-loor pioc ■eding>«, a r>»n iikihl ■ so 'nc hid
Ijcrii wMifSiscd \vi!h';i the wai'.s of the old
oiiildiiij;. Koiir uiMilleiTi'. n rcceiv' il the v\u-
nf coiitiimiti -n at the liand-s of the l>;si.op.
ill of t cm up to a reci'nt date nin-cuis
'orinistH. ihr e oi thoin nnn-con:oi'nrs'
ministers of niarU. Mi. I'owtdey, M;.
Leach — who fireached ilie fuioril s- rni-ii at
the huiial ol Janie> Hogg, ;iiio Mr Ritehie —
the toiMili, Mr. Sinson, no- iinv.oiisly a
miiii.^'er, luit now in Holy Orders of the
Church of Kngl.md, and ih' nmiister ap-
point li o 1 fliciat(! in liie iien- church.
At ii' p'tstnt day Yoiige s: rect crospos
fIuLi{ s Hollow in a dir' ct line on a raised
einhaiiknient, wir.ch the anrieiit Roman
loadia ilcers would iiare deemed re pect iliS',
:\ Work ui-eoinpli-^hed about the yrar ISIi."
beWe the aid of a'.eain powc was proeu a-
hlf 111 these parts for sncii purp'.r.es. Mr.
Lynn w,iB tto engineer in cliage i ere at
tliiit time. The picturcs(|ne (diar.ietet oi the
vail'v has been considerably interfered with.
Neverthideas a winding road loads over tin;
billsto the rifiht leaduns up to the church.
St .I'din's hasstill som'-sylran surrouiicline^.
It m.y be adiied that the destnie: ion of thi»
beaiiifiil liereaboiii li.id to sonii' ex:iiit a
ne -off in tlie line geological stud ea display-
ed to the eye m thi' siil'S of tlie dc p euta
atboihend8oflliege.it causeway. L.k'
Ontario's ancient ti mr hero ifted up iugii
.tiid il y in the air cxiiiljii.s siraniiri. Mip"i-
>t ratnin, I i:e d' posiiH ni suco'^sive pi.iei-
long ago. Tlie action of : h'- matter, hov.«
eTer, hag blurre i tl.u inteiestiiig picuesof
the pi^' foinierly d. splayed on the suifa^'e
of the artificial escarpim nt at Ilog'^'s Hoi
low.
ciiAi'Ti:!: ccxii.
HOGG'S HOLLOW TO BOiMDG LAK£
Old lliill<lliiu<* ol I |>|ti'i- Vtiiiue SIreel ;ti)<l
liileresliim ICeiliiiiiNCeiU'CH of »{■* l.ai'l)
liilialtiliiiiU.
In tiie eat ly d;iyH j .uriirying up Vons'
strict, tiie first bill (iiiig that pi'-eiited it-
self afi r passing Hogg's Hollow was Mr.
Hiiiiibe, srone'a noiise on 'he west aide of tiie
mad. n was a maiiufac urer of p'.it ly
\\i\v. A curious iiic (lent used to b'- i i.-
r.it (1 as having eecurr d in tiiis iiousi'. Tr.e
I biriil of an o'nl Indian towiiiig pn ce turu"d
} up liy th ■ plougii 111 one of tlie fluids and
j 111 ale to do duty in 111 ■ management oi un-
I wi'ldy b;i«k lugs in tlie great tire place, sud-
I deiily pr;.ved itself to have be n cliaig d all
the wliil". exploding one day in tne hands ol
Mr. Hiirnber-t'iie's daughter while being pur
til Its ciis:omaiy lu.' and killiii.' her on tiio
>p > . S mewh at similarly at V v Erie in
tne tile wiiicii lie;;' loyed the wiiaif at the
andiiig, a condemned cannon which had
long In; n plauteit :n tne pier as a post wenr
off, h ipi^ily strai!,'ht upwaids, witiiout doing
any d image. M:. Hunib rstoiie saw active
service as a lieiit nant in ; he Incorporated
Militia in ISl'J. He was pnt in cli irg.- of
some of tlie pi ison IS captured by Colonei
Fi zgibbon at the B aver Dams, and when
n %v r.i anng his di s;iiiation. Kingston wi'ii
his prisoners in a laige bacliau, he. lik' the
f.iinoiis drago n who caught the T..r:ar, was
Iliad" a pi isoner liiins. if liy the n.oii whom
lie liad in custody and was adroitly rowed
over by il.ein to th- Unin tl States shore,
where, b ing landed, he wasswitily locked
up 111 jail ;iiid tlieiic: or.iy delivrrol wneu
))c ice wafci restored.
The next memorable object also on I'et
lift was .Siiepliaid's uin, a noted resting-
place tor wayfarersand tliei; animals, fl Hik-
ed on the north bv large driving shed.i. oti
the south by si.blea and bnriis : over the
porch at an early p nod was the cSlhy of a
ir ■
ii
J
;
11
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s 1
IMAGE EVALU AVION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)
1.0
1.1
11.25
|J0 ^^"
2.5
2.2
f US, 1 2g
1.4 11.6
Hiotogr^hic
Sciences
Corporation
4^>^
23 WIST MAIN STXKT
WIBSTM.N.Y. 14580
(716) •7a-4S03
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no
LANDMARKS OF 'lOHONTO.
2 11 gaidniit attempted in wood on the pre-
.ni^es. C 'nstiuGiivene&a was one ofthepre-
vcciniinaii' f culties in the fiiat landlord ot the
tio}den Lion. He waa noted also for skilful
• xecution on st^ve.al instruments cf music
■m ihe bassoon for one. In the rear of the
iiotel, a little to the louth onafineeminunc,
me put up for himsi If after th: lapse of some
fean, a prirate resid* nee remarkable for the
.'(iginality of its design, the outline of its
aiany pr' ji'ctingicofs pr( senting a multitude
of concave cuives in the Chinese pagoda
*tyle.
In aoveral buildings in this nei(;hbourho"d
an (ffort waa at one t mc nade chi<fly
through the influence cf Mr. $h< p>iard tore-
produce what in the wtat of England are
• illt'd cob walls, but eitb< r from au error in
aompou:iding the material or from tke pecu-
liar character of the local climate th>y
iproved uosatiafacfory. The Shephards,
karly pr( prietors (.f land a little further on
vere a o iff rent family and) pelt their name
differently. It was some membera of thia
family that were momentarily concerned in
the movement of 1837.
Ill Willowdale, ii hamlet just beyond
Sliephard's. was the ref>' ]-uce of David Gib-
lon destroyed in 1837 by the Government
tbreeir. In 1825, Mr. Gibson was appointed
surveyor of land in the frcvince by the
Lieutenant-Governor and in this profession
a^ we 1 as that of a practical farmer he was
prosperous. He likewise rppresentcd North
York in the Provincial Parliament. When
the cholera came after the luniult of 1837 he
was appointed one of theSupiriiicndcuts of
Coioniza. ion Roads. He died at Quebec in
1864.
A road turning off at right angles 1,0 the
eastward out of Willowdale, led to a cele-
brated camp meeting ground on the proper-
ty of Jacob Cummer, one of the early Ger-
man settlers. It was a grand m.iple forest.
7lii« was the toene of the camp meetine de-
scribed in the autobiography ot Peter Jones,
the Indian missionary, an account of which
has been givcu elsewhere.
Where the dividing line occurs between
Tork anb Markkam at the angle on the right
was the first site of the sign of the Green
Bush mn, removed af :< rwarcit to the iinmr*
diate outskir:8 of York, and to the left
somewhere near by was a sign that waa of
interest from its peculiarity, thn Darweston
(jiate, a small white fiva-barred gate hunj by
Its ti pniost bar to a prijectiun trom a lof y
pi'St and having painted on ita lower har*,
"Durweston Gate, 'and the landlord's name.
it was probably a rt production by a Dorset-
«bire imm grant of a familiar cbjtet in his
native villagp. Soon afterward advancing
aor.hward, Fineh'a waa reached, a trreat
hostelry on the right of high repi.te about
1836, and subs quantly among txcuraioit
parties from town and among the halt-pay
settlers of the Lake Siincoe region for the
contents of its laider and the quality of i a
cooking. Another place of similar renown
was Crew's, six or eight miles further on.
When a long alop* towards the north be-
cint> soon after Finch's, a ▼illaire entitled
D^indurn waa onee projected by Allan Mac-
Nub afterwards the famous Sir Allan, acting
at th^ time as agent for H. J. Boulton, but
Dundurn never ad vai.ced beyond iiicipienc>-
Tne name was afterwards familiar as that of
Sir Allan's chateau close by Hamilton.
A wulNtravclIed road now soon turned off
to the right le:.ding to ctrtaiu a'most his-
tbiic mills ill Markham, known as the Ger<
man Mil s. In the &'aze<<eer of 1709, th'se
mills are referred to — Markham tuwn.shp m
the East Ridinir of the County of York,
:roiits Yon ge street a..d lies to the nuriti-
ward of York and Scarbon ugh. Here are
good mills and a thriving settlement of
Germans.
The German Mills are situated on Lot No.
4 ill the third concebsion on a tiorticjn of the
Rouge or New, a river which the Gazeilfi«r
informs its readers wan the back coinmuni-
cation from theG rmau setKincnt in Mark-
iiam to Luke Ontario. The expectation in
1799 was that this river and not (itlitr the
Humber or Don would one day be coiinerted
with the Holland River by a canai It was
not certainly known in 1794 where the river
which pissed the German Mills had its out-
let. Ill Iredell's plan of Mai kbam of that
date the .stream is marked '* Kiichesecpe or
Gnat River, waters supposed to empty into
Lake Ontario to the eastward of the High-
lauds of Yoik." Information doubthss
noted down by Iredell from the lips of some
stray native. Kitche-SSeepe, Big River, is of
couiae simply a descrip.ive expression takcti
as in 80 many instances by the early pec pie
to be a proper name. It does not appear
that among tl'.e aborigines tliere were any
proper local names in our sense of the ex-
pression.
The German Mills were founded by Mr.
B Tczy, either on his own account or act ng
as agent for an asscciation at New Yoik for
the promotion of German emigration to
Cmada. When after failing to induce the
Government to leconsider its decision in re-
gard to the patents demanded by him for
Ilia settlers that gentleman retired to Men-
treiil, the German Mills with various par.<
c' Is of land were adver'ised for sale in .^he
Gazette of April 27th, 1895, in the following
strain — " Mills ai,d land in Mark! am. to be
sold by the subscriber for payment of debts
due to the creditors of William Btrczv.
l^'^ll
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO
•]\
E^q-.thi! milli called th^GermanLlills, beinf;
a grit> mill and a aaw mill. Th? ^riit mill
haa a p i * of French burs and complete ma-
chinery for mnkine and billing lup^rfine
flour. There mills are iituii'cd n Lot No.
4, ID the Third Concession of Markham;
with them will be given in, lots Nos. 3 and
4 in the Third C jncession at the option of
the purchaser. Also 300 acres, b*ing the
wei' half of Lot No 31, and the whole of lot
No. 32 in the si>cond concision of M;irlcham.
halt the purchase money to be piid in hand
and half <n one y( ar wiih legal interest. W.
Allan. N. B. Francis Smith, who lives on
lot No. 14 in the third concession, will show
the promises. York, 11th March, J805. "
lo appears from theiamn Gazette thrtt Mr.
B'rczy> vacant house in York had been en
tered by burglars after his departure. For
their apprehension, W. Cneweit off.jrs a re«
ward of twenty dollars. Mr. B Tczy never
bccam'i <1isen angled from his embarrass-
ments. H" died in N w York in the early
part of 1813, aged 68. A Bos on newspip^i
noticing his di-arl: sp aks c>f him as a disx
tincuished inhabitant of Upper Canada and
iiighly resptcted for his literary acquire*
meiits.
The German Mills we p purchased and
i;ppt in operation by C»pt. Nolan of the 70th
R'B ment at the tini'? on duty in Canada,
liui the speculation was not a success. It is
ttated that this Capt. Nolan was the father
of the officer of the same name and rank,
wlio fell in the o'larce of the L'ght Biipade
at the very Sist outset of Balaclava. The
mills onc'^ bore th ■ designation of Nolanville.
The Gazette of March 19 h, 1818. contains
the following curt announcement : '"Notice.
Tiio German Mills and Distillery are now in
operation. For the proprietors, Alexander
Patterson Clark, 11th Mirth, 1818." Ten
years later they are offered for sale or to
lease in the U. C. Loyali.it of April 5 h,
1828, in the following advertisement :— "For
sale or to be leased, all or any pnrt of the
property knf>wn and d scrib d as Nolanvill •
or Gjrnrvn Mil's, in .he third C'licession of
th' township of Markham, coiisis'.ing of four
hun<l;ed acres of land, upwards of fifty
under good f iic sand iniprovem.>nts wi^h a
good dweliiuiz-liouse, b.irii, stahle, saw-mill,
jjnst m II, disti lery, brew house, malt house
and several other outbuildings. The abovf
premises will be disposed of, either the
whole or in part, by app'ication to the snb-
sc'iher. William Allan, York, January 26 h,
IS2S. The premises cin be viewed at any
tini; by applying to Mr. John Duggan re
Biding there." At this time the c uster of
buildings, constituting the German Mills wns
a rather impressive sight to one coming upon
tbem suddenly in the midst of the woods in
a deserted condition with all their windowr
boarded up
Associated with the German Mills is tbc
memory of Charles Stewart Murray, after-
wards well-known in York as connectoi
with the Bank of Upper Canada. He hW
bean thrown out of emp'oyment by Cipt
Nolan's relinquishment of the Mills, lie
was thsn patronized by Mr. Tiiorne, of
Thornhill.
A romantic interest attached to Mr. Mm
ray from his being a personal friend of Stt
Walter Scott and from his being intimately
associated with him in the excursion to the
Orkneys while the "Pirate'' and the "Lordof
the Isles" were simmering in tne novelists
brain. " N3t a bad R'-pasi" phyfuUy sairf
Sir Walter after partaking one day of home-
ly meat-pie at the little i.nn of on ■ Rae. Li!
from Mr. Murray') talk a minute grain to be
added to Sir Walter's already huge can*
of ana Mr. Murray's grandfather or otherr
near relative had b-en for a time secretary
to Prince Charl s Kdward Stuart, the Pre-
tender.
A mile or two beyond where the track n
the German Mills turned off Yooge strrd
once more encountered a branch of the Dou
flowing as mual through a wide and d/t-
cult ravine. At the p lint where the s'rourt
was crossed mills and factories marie ther
appearance at an early date. The ascrni
ot the bank towards the north wis accom-
plished ill this instance in no round alu u;
way. The road went straight up. Horte
power and the strength of leather were heif
often severely tested.
0.1 the rise abive b^gan the vi lig* dC
Tnoruliili, an attractive and noticeable pi ic.
from the first moment of its existence,
Hereabout aevera: English families had set-
tled, givinc a special tone to the ncighbonr*
hood. In the very h-art of the village w.tt
the horn !, unfa:li«j{ly genial and hospitable
of Mr, Parsons, one ot the chief founders of
the settlements, emigratine hither from
•Sherbourue in Dorsetshire in 1820. Nearertk*
brow cf the hill overlooking the Don. was ti*f
house of Mr. Tiiorn >, Irom whom the plaoe
took its name, an Eng ish gentleman, als<^
from Dorsetshire, and associated with Mc
Pars 'lis in the numeronsbusiness enterprises
which made Thornhill for a long period a
centre of great activity and prosperiiy. B'-
yond a little further northward lived the
(jappers, another family initiating here tbe
amenities and ways of go d old west cd
Eiifiland households. Dr P^iget was like*
wise an element of hnppy influence in the
little wotid of this regon, a man of high fu-
ture, formerly a medical practitionerof great
repute in Toiqu^y,
Directly opposite the house of Squire Par'
4'i
11 miift fiiw^
71.
LANDMARKS OF TOllON'lO.
•0118 was the home of Williiim Huntt r. For
the whole of the prcctHiinsj part c.f this ar-
ticle, we arc indc'bti d to Dr. .Soailding,
having qnottd liini almost word lor word
and for the latter part of tlit- article we are
aho iiidi b ed to liini. At this point we slia 1
insert a vaUnhl' communication from Mr. J.
Siiaw, or 14S lOiicld avtiiuy, giv nc i-n at>
count (f Wtilain Hunter, the eariy condi-
tion o: YoK^'u siivi't, and g lu'ral remiuis
tences as to the lire of tiiu pijiiters. Mr.
Sli:iw snys :—
I was l)oiii at Newmarket, in the Pio.
riiicc or Cniadi, in the yoar 1822. My
p^ironts leniov d to York in tlie fiame year.
At an e.irly ii-^i' 1 re uriud to the country,
rc?idii)K tli'Me uiril Irciinucd toToronto, in
the year 1S71. I'lis.sejsiii)^ tlie blessinff o:
a good m n'.oiy 1 puipiiM; to give you a few
fki-lciies on pi neer lUV, liia. may bi; inter-
1 sting, anil ui oiil r loniaUe it m ire so, 1
tl.ave (iU"''d ari()iij,'lv fiuni ilie expcuifinn c.t
William Hunter, a near Ineiid of iiiiuf, with
W'lOUi I Nva> eoiive saiit duiiiijj the latiT
pirt of his life, and whose relation of early
liiii'S liavi' bfcn uuiei b y suiinped on my
111 iiioiy. William Hauler enr.irra'ed from
E :j.;laiiil wi:ii liis wife and family, consist-
ing of oiii- sou and six daiigiiiirti, in the
ye,irl7'J2, and settled lor a iiiiie at Abany.
A year later, his son 'J'lionias reiiuned to
Loudon, his uncle, Jchii Hunter, haviiii;
3i nt lor h.m, he biMii;,' a iiurehaiit doii:jj
■ usiness at No. 14 St. Paul's Ciiuchyaru.
Hiiutrr wa.»a black-iui::., and well-- kill'd iii
til • trta 111 lit oi liorscj. Som ■ l:in,- after,
a situation opened out for h ni n th; town
of York as ineie wcie Lir.isli troops sta
tiouediheri. and a troop of li'U'se. ii was
«'nt tor by tt (Vi-rnor 8;m(;. i-, who appointed
him ill ehali^e as a veeiina: y SUlgeoil to the
hors-s 1)1 ioii.L'iiii; to tlic (I imisou, and to ilo
the GuveriiiiKiit blackMiitii woik. ]£< i,',ive
him a giant of twdlitiiuhcd aeri's of lii.d foi-
iiimseil and.hesaii:e lo eacii of Ins childr n,
but from the w.liiapp ,i aiice of ilie cruutiy.
lie p ae> d hut liitlevaue n the land, and
const queiitly sieured biu twohundiei acie.s
situated III tlie Towusiupot Vi,ui,'Ikiii, front-
ing on Yoiigi^ street, iWiive miles from
York. II ■ arriv d ,it York 1111703.
l';-ui)i : h • pri'Stiil ciiandpoiiil, n would be
veiy ditfieuU tor a stranger on entering our
beau'.i:ul c.ty, to form a just conccp ion of
the apptarance o York at that pi ruul. un-
less he were abie to take into the scip ■ oi
his imagination tlie vas^ amount of improve-
Jiients ffoing on from time ;o tiine in tilling
up and levelling, aloig with the draiiingr,
and the toil brought in to till up the ironi-
ago from the grasp of iho mariii. now ealleil
the Esplan;.d'. YorU at that lim- was a
tciuU haniK't, miminrii.g about four hundred
inhabitants, in close proximity to and west
of the Don. The dwellnig.s were principUiy
constructed of logs, tlie jjinings p!as:(red
with coars • moitar. The lire places were
usually broail, built up v^ith stone at tiie base,
10 the Jieight of six feet, the balance fre-
quently wit i sniail biieiis with a gradual
siope to the centre, ami thickly coa'eu \siui
plash r inside. Its unuual iiiureisc. in popu-
lation li. rough immigration wa."* Vi ry suial,,
I. had more uiu coiOuring of a military aia-
tion in tho eyes of its iuh..bitauts, than the
future home of thousands of int. lli^ent
beings. It was surrounded by ihousaiuU of
the wild deiiizeiKS of the forest, who Were
looking with j.alousy on the encroachinuiu
of I he white mm on 'heir huiitii g giouii.!<.
Its location hail a low, sw..mi>y npi.eir-
aiice, and tiie>vaut of dr..inage, along \vi;!i
the dead and motioulcbs water."« of the i).,n,
caused the prevalence of di.-;easc. Anion'
th ■ most prevalent wa.'i the fever aim .i,:,'iie,
a ling.ring malady, tlioi; .-n not in inuiy
case^ fa;al, yet it dt pressed energy, aiul ly
its f Kjuent attacks, it sekiotii tail.d in
breaking tne eonstiiutions of its victims.
Its .--uiriaun'ings were lonely in tlie cxtri nie
to the newly-arrived (iii'giaiit. burvounaed
as it was by dense fore.-ji. , that the wiiu
beasts c.aiiiiid as their domain. One of the
set'ler.s' iiigir. er.terta nnieiits was the
crocking of the thou.'-aiuls of trogs that in-
fisttd the locally. That was leinud tiio
'' Canailian Ji Hid," and it, togt^thir with
the scr.i clung o ;l'.e<\vland 'he lynx, a:d
the howling of wolves, and other uiscordaiit
notes, iihuie It inything bur p.casant win ii
peaceful s.i!ml>er was soui;lu. Among the
trials the s. ttlers had to contend with .iiul
ijot the least, w;is the attack of tiie mos-
quito, though small in stature, owing to the
conn: less iiUinbLrs tiiai sv.aimed in > verx" di-
rection, ai.d ihi ir tlii:st lor blood, a^.d tlnir
long bills, so we!'.-ail p'ed to enter tli pons
of th(^ skin, and ilnir consttmt. attaciis on
man, woman and child, tap ciaily at nigiit,
;t became lacessary to make bonfires m
iron' of the dwellings to create smoke to
pr Vint their entrance.
Yonge street at that time conipiised what
w IS Called a bush road going zi(.'Z.g to es-
cape the fores tri cs, and othei impi tlnnLnt.i
on the line of an Indian trail. Dot' li iitie
and there m gli' be seen tlio h cation of a
hardy pioneer, whose axe liiul mule :i .-mall
(ip'Miing in the forest, and the snuke of
whose log cabin, covered with bark, might
be seen wiiiuii g it.s w;iy tliroui.'h the
branches of the surrouniling trees. ThM
was aninter('8:in2 road — ph n, iful were deer,
bears, woive.s, lynx ar.d other gamf, but if
b nicli'ed in the forest, the travi Her would
find but, poor protection fr. m his gun.
life, and
LANDMAHKS OF TOUON'KJ.
"13
tgkinat the attacks of tlie ravenous wolvt-s
ihat inlestcil the l^icality.
S loii after the war of 181-, William ll'iu-
ter moved from Vurk to his taim ai Thoiti-
liil . I iivinir bui.t liis huusc and shop dirtct-
iv I ppo>itu to the rcisitlciH'o of ilie late
Sqii.K' i'.irsons, laf.eriy a partner in thi firm
oi Tliornoc& Pasons, wlieie hi; carried on ti.c
bliiLkf.nutli liusinf-as for a r.umi)pr of years.
Iiu.j:i' : avi! inMinoiii'd llie Idisuii s-i of the
tirin of Tiionif& I'.ii » ns, h cause ilu'y wen-
vi-ry 1 xtcii-;.vr noalera in 11 .ur ;i,.d mi"c:'aii-
lit^", running two or inne fl^ur nuliB, and
t:.i l:uj;esL tannery in Aiiic-rici, expiirtiiij:
fl ur \\ry "Xtenr^vely to Ivicl iml. Ow i.;;
19 ii many danj^ers tliria .liini; the.'^parst -
.y SLMttercd sett.ers throii|.'ii iiii.- fores;, by
tiu: Iiidiati-', it vas ncceshary to kerp on
JO ci terms with tliose wlio waclied closely
iiR' iiiDvem' nts of til.' s tthrs, am! miulit a
uny moment iir ak out with treacherous ili -
■ij;as. Hunter w;',s noi slow in realizing
;1jl- s.luanon. and < nibrac' il i ve y cppor u-
11. ly, ny j^o 1(1 I'liioes and kii.dn k-;, tosecuro
tiiea' fiiei d-.iin. In this he suec 'ed d in a
iTiii .: i;aljic dij.Mve. in carryii\!» ou liis
pp. ley ho liad losubmic to much iinpli asant-
iie-s, owii'Ej to the bold and uneuhiy.ited
stale of th" Indians wiio m:\dc ii convenient
tovi.sit lumviiy often on tlieir rainblcsi,
:an\ illeu at night, when forhis own eouve-
liii'i ce, he would leave the ki cheu door un-
bolted w.ieii reining, the Imiian.s would
(juietly enter and lie diw!! until morning,
wi'.en, on rising, he wi uhi j.'ive them some-
tuii:!,' to ea', ami they \V('Uid g.'> on Uii'ir
(vay rejjicng, and of .en sited tears ot gi at.-
tu .e as they --^aid go. d-bye to F.i'. iier lluh~
ter. On varuais urc.i'^ions they ekhibi ed
fea's 01 skill in th ir wild ya-nes and ixei-
tioiis, 111 Widen iluy were lainous. At a cer-
lani sea.son ot the year, they made tii ;r
•■luainpiMeiii near ;his place for the purpo.se
of iiiintiiii; for iuis, and game, along tlie
bunks of t lie creei; that flowec; through and
e:usse.i Vonge select at tiiis point, whici-,
wus a larg ■ body of water, a' that t me the
mam inljurary of the Don, but owing to ihe
removal of the forest and Oiher caus.-s, t|io
a'.ieaiii h:is bccii greatly reduc^'d. TiH' first
iuniheiiiig trade 111 '.lie provincj was com-
nieiKed (11 tills bireain.
Thy setllenient of ihose unbroken forests
was very slow, as none but the most, oou-
nigi'ous and persevering would stand any
ciiaiioe tf t-uocss. After all tlia' is said ot
the tiia'.s the pioneer farmer undergoes,
whicli are very great, they were ih' li.ip-
piest commumty in the couutiy. Friend-
ship Willi I hcinwas a necessity. They made
:i their platform. Th^y aid nold of it, and
practie.illy it grew up with them throiigh
life, and ;ii tnosc oases where necessity \va.i
lio only propeding power in society, by
constant exercise it soon becnni'' a virtue,
ami was transmilti d thrcjiudi Ih(ir coming
C'lieratioiis. No oiie larmcr could si and
aloof, and say to his negiibour fanner
" I will not v.aiu thy as'Siatance at any
ti.ne. " F.c illustration, I wib give you a
skrtch of the first procciis (if cleaitng land.
The sam ■ neC' ssity crops up in oihe ■ d< p irt-
ments of farming. .Stni: h gm 8 on hi- >-ild
Iju^li farm 11' comni nces iiiuh^rli usliing,
tin 11 eh- pping down till! trei s, and eu ling
thrill up into i)i(jp' r lenirtiis, trimming and
P luig ill.; busli, until he accoinj) isiKS in
this way as maiiv acres as iic d( s res. He
lets the mill) r lie for drying purpose.i until
the ptop r I iiiii' arrives lor loi.'ging;ii d Inirn-
iiii;. The thoiigtit nviroecuis i.ome ''How
will I I'et all tiiis done?'' but when ihc
prci))er time arrivi s lie go- s and invites his
i'..i;;nbours lo ids loiigmg bee on s-iicli a day.
They all arrivr on linie ;ind bting \\itlithem
iw ) or more yoke ot (X n, v/iili a strong
ciiaiii attach a to each yoktt. 'I'liey are all
pr.icical men , tlry divide the ehoppir.g,
div.de tile men into twog.ing-, choose ;i fore-
man lor each, and commence busiinf,-. It •«■
([iiiies about f ur men to oin; yoke oI oxen.
l"he end or the chain is aCiaciied t" the end
oi one or more hgs at a lime, and drawn by
the; oxen whe/e ill ■ pile is t j be term d,
and I acii log roUeii by the m n up, forming
a hiiije pile, s iiij sixoriign: leer high. So
onw.ird they go, clearing ihc gri-iund of logs,
iinlil a.l is in piles, ready tor burning, and
then they ail have a jolly tiiU! at ]iro.
Smith a at nigtit. riaio tiny C(jiitiiiu.: ;0
as-ist each o Inr, alleina ely Iniilding up a
llfedollg fi!end=hip lliat blit few clijv.y in
r.ny other slatii n in life.
ll was ntitural or the hard-wiciiiuht s t-
ilers o have eiitertirnm. ii" oceisi. na ly of
one kind or aiiotiur, as a ciuini.'' iiom tho
loii' liness of these surrouiidin;,'j, so at a
rie ■ ingir, was dcti.'rmined to have a holi-
d.iy fo. games aua oiher Miiu.seirient.'-, with
an Indian wardanceat i'.igiit,and Mr. Hun-
ter was ri qii -s ed to invite tin- c'li- t of ihe
triiie to biuiK down froiii the O.ik lliilgos, a
compiiny of his bravi s on the luLdit in ques-
tion. Hunier ac-'ordintrly .seir a messenger
to iniortn nim, and iiie invitation was ac-
ceptiii, to take place on the iol owing week.
When the day arnvi d. eve: ything went, off
satisfactorily, l)Ut the interest was concen-
trated on the nighi p^'rformance. Tiie In-
dians were ih-re on iinie, a larg; toopof
them, about one hundred warriors, heuaed
by iheir chief, ciotiied in their w.ncjstunie,
wi h painted facei--, a'liied with knives, and
toiiiahitwk-, lie savag s loiiii nc ; liemsi Ives
around a hugj b nfire. Tne scenes enacted
lU that meiu-irtibli; uigiitbeggirdesci iption.
-j^^
714
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO
It partook of the character of a sham fight,
with all the heiinusneBa of Indian warfare,
waving thtir hatuhets, and striking at each
other, bat with luch exact skill as not to
injure each other in the slightest degree,
also imitating the process of scalping with
tlieir knives. Ttieir faces being striped with
the jrice of the Indian berry, from the light
of the fire, had the appearance of streaining
blood. Tneir wild cjacvlatioua and ut:er-
ings, as they danced to and fro aronnd the
fire, the shiill echo ot the war-whoop re-
sounding through the forest trees, added
fearfully to tlie horrors of the scene. A'
the olose the Indians were supplied with
provisions, and enc imped at the fire until
the break of day, wlien they retired quietly
to their woodland retreat.
As time advanc d the number of the set-
tlers increased. Tne dread of the Indians
gradua ly subsided, as cxperier.c ; ptov d
that the Indian, thouf^h a dang srousenemy,
by kind and cenerons treatment would con-
tinue a trusty fri> nd of the white man.
To resume Dr. Saaddmg's narrative — An-
other man of mark associated with Tiiorn-
hill in Its palmy days, was the R'3V. Geo.
Mortimer, for a series of years the pastor
of the Eiig!ish c inpr>'gation there. An
earlier incumbent of the Kig isli church at
Thornhill, was the R^v, I^aac Fidler. Ths
fient cman r<'ndored famous tlie scine of uis
Canadian m'nisiry, as well as his enp'!ri-
cncos in the United States, by a book, whicii
in Its day was a good deal read. It was
entitled " Observations on Professions, Lit-
erature, Manners and Emigration in the
United StaesandCinada." Mr. FiJIerwas
a remarkable prson, of a tall, Wes more-
land mould, resembling thecominoiipicturis
of Wordsworth. He was somewliac pacu-
liar in his dress, weiring always an ex-
tremely high sliirt collar, very conspicuous
round the wliole (>f his n(ck, forming a kind
of spreading whit.' socket, in winch rested
and revolved a head, bald, egg-sh.iped and
epectacli.'d. B 'sides i)eing scholarly in the
modern sense, Mr. F.d er possessed liie more
uncommon .(ccomplishmeiit of a familiarity
with the Oriental Inncjuages.
In his book, he gives the narrative of the
overturn of a family party on their way
hom>3 from church. The charioteer was the
intended youthful bridegroom of one of the
yoniif ladies of the party. The horses be-
came less manageable every moment, bu*:
mirth and joculaiity prevail d among the
party, wholly inapprehensive of danger.
The carr.age was overturned and the ladies
and gentleman trundled out ofitlike rolling
pins. Nubody was iiurt in the least for the
mud wa^ .«osott that they were embeddedin
iu D.'. Soadding tells of his experience
when i.fiijiating one bright summer morn in
the Thornhill church. ' A farmer's horse,
that had been rooming leisurely about nn
adjoining field, suddenly took a fancy to the
ohady interior disclosed by the wide-op n
doors of the sacr d building. Before the
rhurch wardens or any one else could make-
out what the clatter meant, the creature
was well up th>- ucntral passage of the nav«.
Then hecoiiiingalfriglited, itsejjction was an
awkward affair catling for tac; and mall(eu^
vring."
Tbe English church at Thornhill has had
another incumbent, not undistinguished in
literature, the Rev. E. H. Dewar, autho •
of a work publislied at Oxfo' d, in 1844, on
th3 theology of Modern Germauy. I>, is in
the form of letters to a friend, and is enti-
tled •• 0;rmui Protestantism and the Right
of Private Judgment in the Interpretation
of Holy S'jrip u'.e." The author's former
position as ciiaplain to the British residents
at Hamburg, gave him facilities for b. com-
ing acqaiintcd with tiie state of German
theology. Mr. D war died at Thornhill,
«n 1862. Theincumb nf, who precrded .Mr.
D'war, was the Rsv. Dominic E, Bl.ike,
brother of Mr. Cnancelior Blake, a clergy.
mm, also ot superior talents. Previous to
iiis emigration to Canada in 1832. hi^ lia<l
been a curate in the county of Mayo. He
died suddenly in 1859.
It is curious 0 observe that in 1798, sal-
mon ascended tiie tyaters of the Don lo this
po;nt on Yonge street. Among the itcom-
inendations of a farm about to be cffred for
sale, the ' xistencj thereon of an excel eut
salmon fishery, large enough to support a
number of families, is aimed.
As we move on from Thornhill with
Vaughan on the left, and M irkham on th ■
right, the nam t of another rather memora-
ble, early missionary recurs, whose memory
is associa'ed with both these township?—
Vincent I'iiilip MeyerhoflFt-i*. Mr. Meyer-
I'offer WIS a Hungtrian, born a" Riab, in
1784, and had been ordained a Presbyter in
the National church of Austria. On emi-
grating to the United States, he being him-
self, a Franciscan, fell into som ; dispiiits.
with the Ji^suis, at Philadelpiiia, and with-
drew from the Litin Communion i\n<\ at-
tached himself in coinpiny with a tellow
Presbyter, named Huber, to the Lutheran
Reformed. As a recopinz 'd minister ot that
b dy, he came on to Bufialo, where he offi-
ciated tor foiiryr-ars to three congiegatiouu,
visiting at the same time, occasionally, a
congregation on the Ctnada side of the river
at Lnieridg'. He, here for the first time,
b'gan the s udy of thi English language.
Coming now into contact wiXh the clergy ol
the Anglican communion, he, finally ro-*
II! J
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
rirj
with
on thf
L'Miora-
memory
iip=-
Meyer-
,ib, in
jyter in
Uii emi-
ng liim-
gpilU'S*
d with-
nil at-
tellow
lUtlieran
of that
he otfi-
gatioua,
nuily, a
he liver
St time,
neuage.
lerfiiy of
ally re-
Kolved to oonform to the Anglican ohuch
an i was sent by Bishop Stewart, of Quebec,
to the Oerman •ettlemcnt in Markham and
Vaughan. H<ire ho officiated .'or twenty
years, building in tl.at interval St.
Sti phen's church, in VAUi{han, St. Pinlip's,
in the third concession of Markharn, and
the church in Mtrkham Tillage, and es-
tabliahint; a permanent congregation at each.
He was a Ti^oiouH, stirring prcaoher in his
acquired Enclish langunge, as well as in his
vernacular G rmin. Hf possessed also, a
colloquial knowlodge of Litin. which is sti'l
a spoken languag; in part of Uingary. He
was • man of energy to the List, ever cheer-
ful in opiiit and abounding in anecdotes,
personal or otherwise. During the Napv*)-
leonic wars, he was " Fieid Cnuplain of tiie
Imperial Infantry Regiment, N>. 60, of the
Line," and accompanied the Aistrian con-
tingent of 40,000 m^n furnished to Napo-
leon by tiie Emperor of Austria. He wus
afterward, when the Austrian Emperor
br.ike away from Niipileon, taken prisoner
with fire regiments ot the line, and sent to
Dresden and Mnyenoe. He was at t!ie lat<
ter place, when the battl'^ of Leipsic was
louglitOjt, 16. 17. 18, 19, 1813 H-; now
left Miy nee without 1 ave, the plague
breaking out then, and got to Oppenheim,
wlicn a G rman Presbyter, nimed Muller,
concealed him till the depnrture of the
French out of the town. After several ad-
ventures, ha found his way back tu the
quirtets of liis recirn''nt. now acruig in the
anti-French interes at Muinheim, where he
duly reported him?elf and was well received.
After the war, from the year 1816, \u' hart
for three years th(! p;is oral charge of Kling-
enminster, in the di cse of Strasburg. He
(lied at Whitby in 1859. A memoir o' Mr.
Meyerhofif^-r has bucn printed, and it bears
tin following tile, "Twelve Years a Roman
Catholic Priest, or ihf Au'nbiography of the
R;v. V. P. Meyerhoflfer. M. A., late Mili-
tary Chap'ain to the Austrian Army, and
Grand Chap'ain of the Orders of Free
Masons and 0 angemen of Cmada, B.N A.,
containing an account of his career as Mili-
lary Chaplain. Monk of the Order of S .
Francia,and Ciereymin of the Church of
England, in Vaughan, M.arkhim and
Whitby, C.W.'
He had a musical voice which had been
properly cultivated. This, he used to say,
was a source of revenue to him in the early
part of his public career, those clergy being
in request and receiving a higher remunera-
tion, who IK ere able to sing the service in a
superior manner. His features were strong-
ly marked and peculiar, p^rhapi Mongolian
in typ9. Tiiey were not German, English or
Italian. Were the concavity of tiie nose
and the protection of the mouth a little mo->.-
p-onounced in Elias Howe, th ' medallions
of that p'rsona^e would sive a general idea
of M . M -yerhofrerVp ofiic and head,
In his vountrer Hays, he had acquired
som> medical knowledge which >t>id him in
good s'tai for a time at Philadu phia, when
he and Hubir first renounced t.'io Latin
dogmas. His taste for the healing art was
slightly indulged, even after the removal to
Canada, as will be seen from an adver:i-e»
tnent, which appeared in theCuU'ier of F^-b.
29:h, 18.32. It is headed thus : •' The use
and direction of the new invent d and never -
failing Wonder S ilve by D. V. P. Mever-
hoffer. of Markham, U. C, H. D , 6 h con-
cession." The advertisement then goes on
to say that the salve is good to' burns, old
wounds, teller worms, and so forth. Testi-
fying to its worth are th« following; "In
Markham, Mr. Philip Eckhardt, jun. ; do.
do. sen. ; Gotlitb Eckhardt, Abraham Eck-
hardt, John Pmgel, jun. ; Mr. Ling, Mr.
Larga, Jjlin Perkins. John Schali, Ciiaries
P terson, Luke Stantenkough, P<"ter March.
In Vaughan, Jacob Fritcher, Dinitl Stang.
R command d by Dr. Baldwin of York.
Tne medic no is to be had in the E vhta
cone ssion ot Markham, called Rmr^town,
by Sinclair Ho den, in tho fifth concession
by Cliristopher Hevelm and T. Amos, jn the
town of York in J. HaMwin's ami S. Birn-
liam's stores on Yoiige strict by Parsons and
Tnorue. Price cf a box, two tni lings and
six,) nee curr.-ncy. "
Military associations bung about the land
to the right and left of Richmond ILU. Ihe
orig nal possessor ot L')t No, 22, on the west
side, was Capain D.niel Cjz ns, a g ntle>
man who took a very active part in opposi-
tion to the revolutionary movement, which
resulted in the independence of the United
States. Hj raised at his own exp use a
company of native soldiers in the R yalist
interest and suffered ^\l". confiscation of a
considerable estate in Ni'w J rsey. Three
tiicusand acr> s in Upp.T Canada were sub-
sequently granted him by th ■ British Crown.
His sons, Daniel and Shivers, also received
grans. Samuel die I ot a fie .it York, in
1808, but Slivers returned to New Jersy
and ui'.'d there, wtiere family onnexlons of
Captain C z^ns, still survive. Tiiere luna
amongst them a tradition, that Captain
Cozins built the first house in our Canadian
York. We observe in an early pan of York,
the name of Shivers Cozens, on No. 23, in
Block E, on the Kouth side of King street,
the n.im' of B.nj imin Cot mis, on No. 5, on
Market Square, and the name ot Captain
Daniel Cozens, on No. 4, King street (new
town, north side, with the date of the grant,
Ju y 20 h, 1799. It is thus quite likely
•M«(<
716
LANnMARKs OF TOHONTif)
tliat Cap ain Cozens, or a iii'inbcr of liis
t'uiiiiiy, put lip buildiiics in Y^-k at a very
Oil ly p liod. \Vr read in iiu! Ni.iff^ini IIt
«/(/, ot October 31, 1801, till' ti liownig :
" l>i'j(l on th. 0 li lilt., near 1'Iii1j<I' iiiiiii.
C.iptMiii l)ini 1 Cnz-na," ami in tnt; flu-.iiU'
\\\v\ ijfadi' : "Dopir^fcl lis life, on u,<.'
2fl li U.I., Mr. Stniut'l I). C./.'Ms. one of ilir
riis; inhabi aiis of this town (V. rk)- Us
reniiiins wcri^ iuterrtcl withMusonio iioin.iua
on ilie Jil.st."
Aii.'tli'r ( ffioer of the R voluii nary er.i,
was tile lir.-ii owner anil for several y.-ars.
;h'' ;ic:u.il Oicupant of tliu In-, mini (liati'ly
opposiit! Cip am Cuz us. Tiii.s w.is C^ iptain
Rieliafil Lipp'ncott, a nativ. of X \v Jersi;^-
Ou the 12: ii Apnl, 17S2, Cp: tin l.i;>p n-
(•(!■ ■, ae! ll.Jj' lli'der :iUl ll'MT V ol I he ■■ 11 1 .111
o." A-;-oi'! ; ' il Loyal 8t8 (I N w Vo, k. ' • .s ••
cuud by h.ii:i,Mig Giiptaiii J ^1 II I llii'iuy,
of tile R-vniuMoiiny .iriiij'. as an net of r' ■
taii.ition, C.ipiiiii Hii'Uly hiivie;,' siunni.-ui y
tri-at'd in tlic s:uii- waj-, a reh.ViVe of C.ip-
ta ii L'ppincoli'.-, I'iiii p White, whn was
Miipr s' il witliiii :iieliiR'.'3 oI ihe Kev-)luioii
ary force, whih; on a stole'' visK cihi-
mother on Chri.stnia.s D.iy. On Huiuiy's
brorist was fastened a ));p(M\ beaiiii;,' ti.t-
Hfo "Is : '"Up .i{ jes Huildy lor Pl;ilip Wnitci. "
When the Mil T nder ol Capt. Lppinoott
wasreusid by ihe 11 jyalist auuurities,
W:i.shiiii,'toii ordered ihu ■ xecirion oi au or
fiuor ofc final rank, to 1) .selected by lor, cm
ot liie pi i-oiKus 'i hi.-' haiida. Tiie lot fell
oil CiTt. Ciiarle.s Aspiil, ol liie Guani.s. a;;ed
only nineteen. 11 ■ w.is re«));iei.l, however,
uiiti the i«.-ii •• • f ,1 cut mar lal, p oniised
to tie held oil C.ipt L ppilicott. Sill u.d be
known. The c( uft acij iitKjd, and Cijitaiii
AsgiU only narrowly . s'jap il the fiite of
Audre, liiront,'! priinp iiitervciition on
tlv pu't of ihi' Fieiicli Government. Tiiu
French .Miiii-ler of Sta'e, the Count du Ver
jjeMies, to wiioni iiere liail been time for
Lidy AM.'dl. til" Capt liii's mother, to ap^
peal, received diieelioiis to ask his release
in tlie conjoint naine.s of the Kiii.tT Mid Queen,
as " a tr.i lit ■ to iiuin.ii'.ity. " Wa,--iiiiigtoii
• houfjht pr. ji r to ;u'c lie to this r, q ost,
but it w:i.-i I ot until the foUowint: year,
when the li vo utiunaiy stru,i,':;le eiuied, that
A-eill and L.pp nco^t were .set at liberty.
Tiie former li-ed to succi;ed to hia father's
biroiietey aiid to b' coniu a (ieiiiral i llicer,
Colonel O'llaia. of Toronto, rniiemiKMed
iliiiiiigai a labh", wiieii a (ieiu.tal Sir Ch.irlcs
A.sg,l; was pointed ou' lo ii.nias havmij b 'en
duiittg the American R voluttonary War,
utulor sentPiioe of death, condemned by
General Washington o be hamred in the
place ef alio 111 r person.
Ci^aiii Lippincott rcceiv<^d fio'n the
Ciorvn, three thouatmd ac es ia Upper
Canada. H«! survived until the year 1826
when aged 81, and after eiij yii g ha f-paj
for a period ot forty-tlirt'o yeais, he expind
at the iioii-e of his son-indaw, in York.
Coloii' I (■ or.^e Tay or Deiiison, who fjive v.
I ihowM eldest fioti, Richard L ppircuti I> m.
son, Ciptaiii L'ppinuott's name. A f-w
mil'S tiir'ber on. name y, in North ami lv.,t
(iw illimbiiry, (ieii jrnl Benedict Arnold
known anioi'L' United St.ites citizins us "the
tr.iitiir," received a grant of live tiiousiud
acre.s.
A s'lort distance beyond Riclimomi Mill.
j Was the abode of Colone! Mo^ die on ti;i
j rigiit, (iistinmiished by a tli;,' s'alT pi i.'ont
I .'f It, after I lie eu-i om in LoW' r Clinad;!,
when an < Hi •'.•: s iioiise vi.sed to be known in
I tl is way. Cnloinl M lodie's titecaine iioiji
'. us raiiK 111 the regular army. H" had neen
I L eitt.-C lionel of tiie 104th R j,' ment .imi
I IkuI served in the I'eiiinsul.ir war .iiid in th ■
j R 'vn'utionaiy war. He wa.s .'■iio' in IS.'JT,
I while at teinptint,' to rid past Montcoine va
hotel, legardless of tiic inauigeiit oiuiUi iig'
to stop.
At a certain p riod in the history o:
Yoiitje street, a.-, indeed, of all the |. Milium
iioroiigiifareB ot Upper Caiiida about iSliU
.■;:>, a ire<nu'iit sijni that prepriy ti.id
c.aiiced hands, and that a second wave oi
p pulati' 11 Was iolliii<r, was the sprii,f,Mig
lip .at inierv.s of hou.ses of an inipn.veii
•syh-, witii i-ui roiiiidi!it,'>:, lawns, sinMeiing
pi intatioiiH, wi. dun.; drives, wi ll-c.'t:is riici-
ed entrance ya'es, anU so on, iiidicitiiiL' an
npp eciatioii of tie c'efjant and ct.inforidile.
A little way beyoml Rici.mond Hiil on ilic
If . were two i.Msiances or tilts : criry, Kne-
lisli looking re-;d iices, no far apar , wi;h
a c:uster or appu't' nances round i;ici). iliu
lioin s of Luritt Smith and Fr.iiieia l>oyil,
betii of wiioiii liiil .'cttled with their "im;-
lies la 18.')(i ^Ir. Smith had been piuv oi;s-
ly 111 C.inad i to a military ci.picity, litinnq
the war of 1812 l.'i, and tor iiiiny years >uii-
SI Mileirly, he h.ul ben Chief Coiniu:;;>:i:y,
(f the Field Tram iJep irtinenr, and I'iiy-
master of the Ar ill, ry. H • died at S lUtii-
amptoii in IStiO. Mr. 1'. ivd. who einigiated
hull' r from the county if Kent, was oii" of
the fiist in these parts to import from Fii;:-
land, improved breeds ol cittle. In hi.s
liou>e 'vas to b- seen a collection of re.il y
fine paintincr*, .•imongst them a Holti ■ ii. a
Teiiier-', a Domnicliino, a Smirke, a Widii'-
and two Hoiac' Vernets. The lainili' s or
Mr. Boyd and Ml-. Siniih were rela'ed by
maniage. M . Boyd died in Toronto iu
1861.
it was in this house that Kinnear was
murdered in 1m4;{ Bond's Lake, neiir by,
was named from W. lond, a gardener near
Vork, ill 1800.
■/'H
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
717
CHAPTP]R CCXIII.
THE ROYAL CANADIANS-
■mpplrmi-nliiry llptnlls— Tlie4tunlllicullon»
Kri|iiire(l by 4'aatlldale* tor t'oiiiiuLt- ,
OlIlK' !
IK re are things leii likely to liuppmi |
than thid, that ai some future period the
t'aiwiiii'ii Dominion mny rnise, as Upjier and
l.owif I imada (lid in IHjlS, a regimi.iit for
ijii'imI stTVice ill the Hriiish ilominiona.
' 1' ri.iy ihtirefore p ove not uniniercstin!,' '
;j ii,,i;iv 10 tiers if tiiey leai'u what whm lo-
liiirf'i from the geiitleiiifii who in iSoS
j,iu''iit to obtain comni's.-.i(>ns higher tiiau ;
,;,,t(i{ t'Dsign in the JOUth il'.'jjiini'ut. i
.iiu following is an exltact fioni the !
r.iuvtj department at O'.lawa, ot iliepi-o-|
(.^.„;iiii^3, in one case, which is a fair sampio ■
oiail, (if 'I'o lioard of Kx;iminers : — j
I'l, CI eiUiigi of a board of (JIlicciH, as- '
se;i;;,.i,l liv <):dcr of iiis iixculKni'y Lieut. '
(,t, i: li ."'ir William ICyre, K. C. 15 , com-
na;; ^ii'g the troops in iJriiish North Amer- ,
;,a,iiir iho purpose of e.\an:il;i:l^' fur com- '_
1 issi'ins in hor Majusly's 100; h or I'rinco of j
WiU's' Royal (Ja-iadian Rei;im'i:ii. ;
Montreal, Oili May, 1H.")8.
I'resiilont — Col. Orde, cominari.iin;^ Royal I
FuL'ineers. I
MoiiibiT.s— Capl. Galhvuy, o. Royal Kn- |
jiiKCPd ; lifv. L. J. Rogers, Assi-stant i
Uaolain to I lie r'orcf.s. i
Mf. I'liuwiv Wallis appiared huforo the ;
Hoard as a oandidatu for a Ih utunaut's com ;
niiisioii in iho lOltth llo:;inient. I
Mr. llruwii Wallis is actiuL,' adjutant of '
tiic lUuhain Lit,'!it Cavalry, and also lixlil.i
a coDiiiiisdon as captain in the sodcntaiy
miiiti.i.
.lie i'.nard, having put a ftw tteneral ;
luc lions to -Mr. Brown Wallis, is of opin- ;
ion taut ill' is well (lualiKtd for lieutenancy
inlur M.ijcsty's army, and beg to reconi-
meiiii liim for such. i
i:ji2ticdj \V. R. Ordk, Colonel,
Commanding Royal Engii eers.
" J. L. CiAi.i.WKV, Captain,
c. Royal Engineers.
" E. .1. i;<"ii;Rs,
Asst. Chaplain to the Forces.
Approved.
\Vm. Eyri., Lii'ut, tJen'l,
Commanding the Forces in H N. America.
Heail(|UHrteis :
.Moil roal, 6th May, 1858.
This Mr. Urown Walli-s was for some short
timo acting adjutant of a detachment of
tije rcL'imeiit under coniinand of Major
Dunn, V'.C. He retired from the army in
18t)3 and now resides in Ottawa, He is
(iiic (if the very few survivors of the original
ciiici rs of the regiment.
CFIAPIER CCXIV.
TORONTO HIGHLANDERS.
The OrlslDiil lllKhinnd Killn rompany Its
Orlulu and lU OIHrcr*.
Nearly thirty eight year.s go, in tlio
Bpriiig or early summer of 1H5G, several of
tlie tiion re.sidents in Toronto \s ho were of
Scoliisli l.irtli or exlrai;iioii decide:! to en-
rol tliLMiiselvus (ctiuld they g<'t permis.sion
aiul prociira otlicerw), as ritle volunteers, and
form a cotiipany to be known as the
liii^hhaul Company, who wer ■ to have the
same uiiiforiii as the Scotuli rcgiinentrf of the
I'lili.ih ar-iiy.
This idea was eventually carried out,
thougli tlitir tiuiies were gieoii, instead of
roil, aa liiDse of the -ISth are to day (IS'J.'!).
There was somo little diiliciilty at lirst
in ol^t.iiuiiiL,' ollicer.-i, not from lacu of
niateiial IjuL because so many of those who
were willing to accept commi3:iionB had had
no previous militarv tiaiidnc.
l.veiitually till.' coniinand was oU'ered to
Mr. Ale.Naiider .Morliiiier .Sniiili, wlio.luippi.
ly, still survives, and whe i lie had accepted
it everyone wondered wliy ho had not
been a.sked in the lirst place.
Captain Smith was a born solditr, and to
this day takes liie keenest interest in military
matters He joined the IKSrd Ifighlandera
in l.SIll), when he was a men; youth, came to
this country in KS.'iH. and :-.ervid tiiroughout
the Canadian rebellion. In iS-iO. listening
to the advice of tjis friiMuls in Scotland, he
purchased his disehitrue and entered upon
coinmen-ial iiui'suit.s, but ids heart was al-
ways with tiio army, and he ghnlly under-
took the coiiiniaiid when it was otl'cred to
him.
When the 100th Re_L,'iment was raised, so
hi(;hly did Colonel de Roituiibari., who wai
the A ti. of Militia in L'|ipjr Ca(-«da, appre-
ciate Capt. .'^mitli that ho wished liiiii to be
; ppointeii to a captai .cy in that regiment,
1 lit circuinst noes w„ro otherwise not pro-
pitious, and Captain Smith remained in To-
ronto.
The other otlicers wore Alexander T. Ful-
ton, who was lieutenant, and John dardi-
ner, formerly of the 71st Regiment, was en-
sign.
The men of the company were remarkable
for their fine appearance, for the readiness
with which they acipiired their drill and for
their steadiness on parade.
Eventually the compmy was merged in
the t^)ueeii's Own Rilles alter an indepemient
career of about eight years. There are few
bygone things that were more creditable
to Toronto than was the Highland Com-
pany.
t
#:4|:
WW^PTffW
n.wjjAu
ri
718
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO
CUAPTUR CCXV.
THE OLD PRINOH FORT.
One or the Burly Tradlac P«iU-Br«eie<
Abcnt IT4»M-KB*wii at F*rl K«allle-A
Very Fall DeacriptUn.
The venerable Dr. Soadiling prepared Mine
years ago a a'.; etch and comi>ilation from
TariouB auurcea of tlie hiatory of the old
French trading post knowu as Fort Rouille,
which WAS located at the south- west corner
of the present Industrial F.xhiUtioniirounds,
just where DuiTerin street runs into the
lake. The account is interesting;, contain-
hii; as it dofs references to Toronto and its
site by tlie early historians. Dr. 8cadding
has made the sketch as accurate as possible
by consulting every availatile authority.
REASUN OF THE OM> KKENCil FORTS EX-
ISTENCE.
The domain of the Five Nations of the
Iroquois Indians, which cxte uled along the
whole of the south side of Lake Ontario,
was, for a tinio, rcuarded, in theory at least,
as neutral ground by the French of New
France and the Kngli.sh cf New England,
liiit both French and Knglish soon sliewed
a duHire tu obtain a good foothold there,
fit si for the purpose of trade, and secondly
with a view, it cannot be doubted, to ulii-
mate possession by treaty or otherwise.
liy perniisiiion of the nci^^hbouring abo-
rigines, La Nalle, in 1G79, erected a small
stockade at tiie mouth of the NiaL'ara Tlivcr,
to be simply a temporary receptacle for pel-
trios brought down fiom Michilimackinac
and Detroit, by way of Lake Erie, and a
store-house for goods to be offered in ex-
change for the same ; which stockade, by
17*25, had become the strong, solid fortress
which, with some enlargements, we see to-
day in good condition, commanding the com-
munication between the lakes Ontario and
Erie. Had Fort Toronto been longer-lived
than it was, it would have become, without
doubt, in a short time an armed military es-
tablishment, like the other posts.
Following the French example. Governor
Burnett, of the province of New Vork, after
obtainin|T a nominal permission from the
Iroquois, Astablishcd, in 1722, a pinall store-
house or trading post on the west side of the
entrance to the River Oswego, a stream by
which a communication could be convenient-
ly maintained between th« waters of Lake
Ontario and those of the Mohawk river, the
Hudson and the sea. Its ostensible pur-
pose was, at th^ outset, the same as that
of La Salle's enclosure at the mouth of the
Niagara ; but xa 1728, Governor Burnett
took care, again after the French example,
that the simple stockade should be trans-
formed into a regular fortress of stone, uieni
orable as being the Krst military work
on Lake Ontario whence waved the flag ol
England.
The effect of the English trading-post tt
the entrance of the Oswego river was sooc
felt by the French trathckers in furs at Furti
Niagara and Frontenac ; and it became maui
fostly important that something should U
done to neutralize, as far as possible, this un
welcome interference with the usual current
of trade.
THE OM> FRENCH FORT FOUNDED.
In an official Journal or Report on Cans
dian affairs transmitted to France in 1749
by the Governor-Ueneral of the day, the
Count de la Ualissoniere, the (iovernment
of Louis XV was informed that direct ona
had been given for the building of a stockadi
or store-house at Toronto — so the "pau
here between the lakes Ontario and Huroi.
was at this time styled. " On being in-
formed," the Report says, " that the
northern Indians ordinarily went to C'houe-
gueu with their peltries by way of Toronto,
oil the north-west side of Luke Ontario,
twenty-five leagues from Niagara and sevin
ty-five from Fort Frontenac, it vf».)
thought advisable to establish a post at tliai
place, and to send thitlior an otiicsr, 15 sol
dicrs and some workmen, to construct a small
stockade fort there." (Sec I'aris Documents,
Colonial History, Slate of New York, vol.
X., p. 201. Albany, lS.-)8, 4to). The tuime
of Ihe officer sent on this service was Port,
ncuf.
Tl:o authoritiee at Versailles were always
cautioning the governors of Canada a^jmnst
expense. Gali soniere therefore think.s i:
prudent to observe : " Tiie expense will
not be great : the timber is transpoiieJ
there, and the remaining requisites will be
conveyed by the barques belonging to Fort
Frontenac." He then shews how the new
post msy be sustained and how its maui oii
ject can be secured. " Too much care, "he
says, " c nnot be taken to prevent those
Indians (from the north) continuin;; tliui:
trade with the English ; and to furnish them
at this post with all their necessaries, even
as cheap as at Choueguen, Messrs. de la
Jonquiere and Bigot," it is added, " will
permit some canoes to go there on license,
and will apply the funds as a gratuity to
the officer in command there" Moreover,
it is said, directions must be given to legu
late the prices at the other posts. " It will
be necessary to ord«>r the commandants at
Detroit, Niagara and 1 ort Frontenac, to U
careful that the traders and storekeepers of
those posts furnish goods for two or three
years to come, at the same rate as the
English ; by this means the Indians will
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
719
Jita< custom thfinselvci from »{"■">{ ^o
CnoiK'ijiieOi nnd tho KngliMh will be uhligoil
<o aiiikiulou that plaoo." (It is acarcely lie-
ceuAry t« say tliat Chmioguen ii the inma
name as ()->wego, with an initial ayllablo
urnppcd and a final n retained. The .M. de
i* Jou<i»iere meutioaed ii (ialiiioniare'i luo-
a-uor, just arrived, and M. Bigot ia hia
co-adjutor or Intemliint, aa the expreaaion
wu It may bo mentioned that a fort at
the " pass a^ Toroutu ' had been auggested
some yeara before, namely, in 1686, by (iov-
ernorlfeneral de Denonville, I ut ita Hitua-
tioo waa to have been at the Lalte Huron
lod of the " paaa," and ot a military char-
tcttr, BO that English men, should tliey
chance to treapaas that wa>, might " have
lome one to apeak to." No action, however,
wu taken on the augseation)
As to the form and aize uf the fort at
Toronto erected in 1749, we obtain very
precipe inforri. ition in the "Memoir upon
•.h« late NVar in North America, in 17.'<9 60,"
by t'apt i'ouchot, the last French com-
mandant at Fort Niagara. " The Fort of
Toronto," Pouchot aaya (p. 119, vol. II. ),
"iiat the end of the Bay (i. e. weat end),
on the aide which ia quite elevated, and
covered (i. e. protected) by flat rock, ao
that vesaels cannot approach within can-
non shot." The rock that crops up jubt
below the site of the fort, in flat sheets, is
very conspicuous when the lake is calm.
Pouchot had aeen the fort, but he writes in
the past tenae, after ita destruction " This
fort or post," he aays, " waa asijuare about
thirty toiaes (180 feet) on a side externally,
with flanka of fifteen feet. The curtains
fornied the buildin^^s of the fort. It was
very well built, piece upon piece ; bat was
only useful for trade. A league west of tbe
fort," he adds, " is the mouth of the
Toronto river, which ia of considerable size.
This river communicates with Lake Huron
by a portage of fifteen leagues, and is fre-
quented by the Indians who come from the
.\orth." (The Humber was known then
is the Toronto river, because it led north-
ward towards Lake Toronto (t. e. lake
Simcoe), just as the Montreal river falling
JDto Lake Superior wa« so styled because
it indicated one of the canoe routes to Mon-
treal, and as Canada Creek, un affluent of
the Mohawk i iver, wa« so called, because
its chnnnel was a water-way northwards
'owards Canada. For the same reason
.Matchedash Hay, on the old maps, was
Toronto Bay, (Bale de Toronto), as pene-
trating far inland towards Lake Toronto in
a aouth-eastern direction ; and, similarly,
even the lakes forming the communication
with the River Trent and the Bay of Quinte,
were collectively the '• Torotto lakes.")
We learn from Capt. (iothor Mann's now
celebrated "Plan of the Proposed Toronto
Harbour," etc., dated " (juekieu, 6th Dec,
ITSS," that there were five buildings within
the stockade. lie delineated ttiem dis-
tinctly in his plan, as well aa the bounds of
the ([uadt angle enclosed by the paliaadea.
The remains were tlien ao prominent to the
view and tangible as to justify the applica-
tion to them of the term " Ruina. 1 he
group is labelled on his map, " Ruins of a
Trading I'ort, Toronto " I'robably in 17H8,
when (iother Mann examined the spot, aome
of the pickea wore atill in poaitiou, and the
charred reniaina of the cedar posta which
supported thebuildin.a would still be stand*
ing. I hese in later years had diaappearcd,
utilized as fuel, probably, by camping-parties
from time to time ; but the long shallow
trenches where the palisadea had been
planted in ths ground, and the pita and ir-
regularities in the surface of the soil, shew-
ing in the usual way where buildings of
perishable materiala had once been, were
very conspicuous down to the year 1878 ;
although by that time a good deal of the
space onco enclosed within the palisades had
fallen into the lake. (The writer himself
remembers when the area shewing the re-
maina of the old French fort was much
larger on the southern side than it waa in
1878, through the extension of the cliiF out
into the lake considerably beyond the line
of the present shore. He also well remem-
bers a vertical stain (aa from decayed wood)
extending some way down on the face of tiie
cliff where the land had fallen off : this waa
the place, as he believed, where the flag-
staff had been inserted in the ground : also
a number of flag-stones from tbe adjoining
beach, roughly laid down on the surface of
the soil, where, as is likely, some great
wood-stove, or the oven of the fort, had
stood).
KAMI AND NATl'RK OP THE ULD FKEMCH
FORT.
The name oflicially conferred on the newly-
established post wa^ Fort Kouille, in com-
pliment to Antoine Louis Rouille, Count
de Jouy, Colonial Minister of France, 1749-
54, in succession to the Counr Maurepas.
This Count de Jouy waa a distinguished per-
sonage, not only on account ot the many
hieh positions in the state which he had
held, but also by reason of his patronage of
literature. He was for a time at the head
of the Royal Library, and was instrumental
in having translations made of De Thou,
Guicciardini, and other important writers.
(He died i i 1761). But, notwithstanding
the eminence of the Minister iu these several
directions, his name as connected with the
new trading post on the shores of Toronto
if'
I
I:.
n
m
i^»~^^l
720
LANDMARKS OF TOHOXTO.
liny i|iiickly fell intu diHiiAc. Tin; uNpresHioii
Toroiiti) Wan (ilruad^ fuiniliar to the {Kipular
cat an I in tlio popular spuuch u.s Ueuutiiiff
iho important ciinoe-laiiilinf; near by, for
the " pas.1 at Toronto ;" imd tlie pixt became
oommniily l^novn na Fort Toronto. /. c. tlio
tr.ulin;^' post at tlio Toronto lauiliii^. Hy
tliat iip[)ullation it canio to bo ^uiiorally
diiiilsc II of very noon after it was lir.tt, ea-
tubliMlied, In a (iuHpatuh addrensed by M.
d(; Loii'.,'iioiiil, (iovurnor-( ioiieral, to Huuillu
liiinself III 17")-. wo have both expressions
U4od. Speakin;; of a min^iinfr Holdier who
liad reeuntly Ijcgii sent with duspacchoR
from till' post of Niagara to tlie post of Fori
Froiiteii.ic (KiiiL'ston), ria Toronto, he says :
" Tiie (.'ommandant at Niii^ura, M. du ia
Lovalt( rie, hail ducaulicd a no! lier to con-
vey certain deapntchos to Fort Ronille, with
orJurs to the atoro-keepor at that jiust to
tranH'hit them promptly to Montreal. It
was not known,' ho then adds, " what be-
came of that sohlior. About that lime," he
continuuM " a .Mi8.si.i.saga from Tor.')nto ar-
rived at Niagara, who informed M. de la
Levulteric that ho had not si'un that soldier
at the fort nor mot with him on the way.
It is to be feared that he has been killed
by the In<iians, mid the despatuhos oarric i
to thu Fnglish. " Then iu a passuijc of the
same communication, which will be given
liereafter, M. de Longueuil makes use of the
other expression, l''ort Toronto.
The Jntendant 1>igot also again and again
speaks of this establishment as Fort Toronto
in the elaborate " .Memoir" prepared l)y
him in reply to cert in charges of mismanage-
meat brought against him on his return to
France in 1763, and printed at I'.iris in that
year, making however the inciilental re-
mark, that it was tor some time known as
Fort Ronille. We learn from the same
Memoir that Fort Toronto was from the
outset a Royal Post, i. e. tiiat the trade
carried on there was for the benefit of the
King's Exchequer. In a despatch to Rouille
himself, copied in the Memoir, he refers to
great expenses incurred at Fort Oswegatchie
(Oadensburg) thiough the necessity of sup-
plying food to the Indians there ; but then
he hopes, he says, to recoup himself for
these expenses by the trade carried on at
Toronto, " where large quantities of goods
('effects') are required for that purpose."
TBADK AT THE OLD FRENCH FORT.
During the brief span of its existence,
there was not time for Fort Toronto to de-
velope into a first-class trading-post. From
its proximity to Niagara it was, in certain
points of view, a dependency of the fort
there. In 1754 the occupants of Fort Niagara
were twenty-four soldiers, five offlcers, two
•ergeants, one drummer, « chaplain, a sur-
geon, and a store keeper ; ami the nunih.-v
of eanots annually despatclied thithei with
mi|)plie/i was ten ; while at Fort Toronto
there were only five soldiers, oiiu otlieer, two
sergeant.'*, and a storekoejx^r ; aii<l i|,,.
number of eanoe.<i .sent up with goods wu-i
live. Mac h canoe 'cstined for the wenturti
forts was fn-ightcd with a cargo worth
iilmiit seven thousand French livros, ami i.,c
price L'i\eii for good beaver was from thrco
iivrus ten sous to five livres per pouiid.
As we iiavo already seen, a considorable
supply of " ciTects" was re(|uircd at Fort
Toronto to make it answer the purpose of
its establishment. From the outset it wan
foreseen tiiat the business done iher j woui^l
(iiiiiinish that done at Forts l''rontonac and
Niiigara Hut it was argued : " If tli'.re
be less traile at ilii'se two last-mentionei
forts, there will bo less transportation ot
morcliandisc : what will be lose on the om;
side will be gained on the other, and it will
amount to much the same thing in tiie
end. The King will even reap a great ad-
vantage, if we can accomplish tlio fall of
Chouciiuen by disgusting the Indians with
that place, and tliis can be efToeteil only by
selling cheap to them."
Season after season then, for ten yours,
we may suppose a great variety of seenos
ocijurrinu within and around the pali.sailes
of Fort Tcu'onto, characteristic of the period
and the special circumstances and condition
of the immediate locality. Along the In-
dian road or trail from the North, bands
of Mississagas (who were simply Otehip
ways from Lakes Huron and Superior),
would come down, bringing with them the
fuis collected during the hunting season,
together with other articles of merchandi.'^e,
the handiwork of themselves and their
scjuaws in the lodges during the winter
months. I^ands bearing the same tribal ap-
pellation, and laden with similar burdens,
would arrive also from the \\ est, travelling
along through the " Mississaga Tract" by
pith on the north shore of the lake ; and
some, moreover, woul. make their way
thither from the weatwaiu in canoes. The
trees which lined the broad sandy beach
from the mouth of the Humber to what in
modern days has been known as the Dug-
way, was a very favourable situation for
encampments. This space would be dotted
over with numerous temporary wigwams ;
and a double file of traffickers, male and
female, would be seen on the track leading
eastward toward the Stockade on the cliff
a little way down the bay, — aom« going,
eager to effect sales, others returning,
pleased, or the contrary, with terms secured,
or '.loating over some useful or showy pur-
chase jast made.
LANDMARKS OF TUUt)NTO.
m
At this Stockade un tha clitl wore tliui
ipr«ii>l out for the firat time in ll-.c»e parts
;h( products of iiumaii industry, for inticiil
ia«pu' Uuii and tnutu'il iiitcn liiui|i;e.
Uiaplayed on the gretMi^warcl iiisjdo tlie
palH'k'les on the une bide wore wans
;miiL'lit laboriously hitlier from the (Mil
'.Vorlil across the sea ; and on the oilier,
.Iw lir'Might laliorioiisly hitli(;r, often from
CHiisiil'-ril'lo distanc(!8, the ordinary pi'o-
MCC" <if tiie country, as it tlien wan: tlic
,iiti'(inie of tliu common pursuitu and toil
ii tlio iiativcH of the land, with H|)ecimsn!i
uf tiivir liandiwork and in;;unuity, rude it
intty be, in aspect, but evincintj insijncts,
t(n'd(»cies and capacities in g'Ttn, identical
with those of the more favoured memljors
ot the human family with whom thuy were
trc confronted. On the one side, wo have
;« Frenchman, ull activity, and liucnt of
:|,.et'h, exhibiting; tx) the best advantage
jie.p fabrics in wool, in cotton, in tlux, and
.tsiay be, to a limited extent, in silk, from
;tic loohi!) of old i-'rance, cloths, linens, rib-
0OII8, I raids, very pronounce<l in colour and
pattern, to suit the " savatre" fancy ; to-
gijtherwithcutleryof a certain class, iiatcliets,
liuives, and simple tools ; kettles, of
brus and iron ; fusils, powder and sh'<t and
i;»ll ; bonds, toys, mirrois, silvi -; iketa.
I III the other side wo see the red man of the
.Vbrlh, sedate in mann taciturn, kcon-
<i:;lite(l withal and shrewd, opening out his
peltries of various kinds, liis beaver, otter,
lox, iniirlen, deer, bear, wolf and bufTalo
skins ; his moccasins and shoe-packs of well-
cured buckskin and buti'alo-hule ; his birch-
balk mnkuks filled with pemmecan or maize
or dried berries ; his bass-wood baskt'ts,
chequered red, white and blue ; pouulic-;,
btlts and lej;c;ing3 frin;.'ed anil adorned
with the stained ({uills of the poicupine ;
snowshocs, bows and arrows, carved war
duha, stone pipes.
The fascinating, fatal fire-water was for-
bidden to be ottered in open tradic, but some
supply of it was not far nfif, to i e dispensed
in occisional treats.
Here, then, at the primitive Fort Toronto
W&9 inaugurated, on a humble scale, the
commerce which has been so happily since
developed on the shores of the adjoining
bay ; the commerce now represented by
manifold symbols and signs in every quarter
bf the widespread city of Toronto — the
well-supplied stores of King Street, Yonge
Street and Queen Street, the grtinu Ware
houses of Wellington Street "and Front
Street; the freight depots,elevators, steamers,
trains, crowde i platforms and wharves of
the Esplanade, and, though last to be
mentioned, yet by no meant the least in
significance and importance, by the multi-
tudinous ussomblajjc iif builclinKs with theii
multifarious contents, animate und inani
j mute ; as seen dnrini; the time of thf Sop-
j tcmiicr exhibition ot each sut cossive year,
in the great Iiuliistrial Kxbibition I'ark.
of whirli the nioniimcnl coninicmorative ot
I the early tiadiii;: post now forms so con
I Bpicuous an ornament.
I have more than once spoken in oUior
piiblic.itions of a certain curly .MS ii,:i|,
which I once luul the advantitL;<' of ci'uing in
Kngliiiid, in which over a sm ill groiiji ot
little tcnt-shaii(d Inits on titc nliure of To
ronto bay, was written, "Toronto, an In-
dian village, now deserted." .\b tlicre is
notliing to lead us to .^uppo.-iu th:it there was
ever at this point a village of sedentary In
dians, it is reasonable to conjecture that
the inscription in ({Uestion was nccasiuncd
by A sight of the dismantled wi^^wams on
the strand at the terminus of tlie !ndi;in
road from the north, without a km<.'' l;;o
of their origin and periodical use. iiiu
chette's two or three MisBissa;;a famiiioa
that, according to his experience, wcr-j ihe
only intial)itants of the shore of'lc 'Hlo liuy
in 17!t'2,were |)crlu [n simply casi '■ uiiliiiers
of the same frail apologies for houses, durii?
a hunting or tidliin'.' cxcursi'>n.
VRANCOIS I'igi'KT's VISIT TO TIIK dl.I) I UK v, if
FOhP.
Francois I'iijuot was a presbyter ot tin:
French Church in Canada, a mcmlur ol
the religious confraternity of Si. .Siilpice
He was a man of great zeal and enterprise ;
an<l in 174'.) accomplished, almost unaided,
the cstabliKiinicnt of a mission ut the nmutli
of the River Oswegalcliie (opposite the
modern I'rescottK in llie tenitory of ilie
Iro(]Uois Indians By ITiVi, the Oswegatchie
mi.ssion, after some disastrous experience,
Itad developed in the usual way into an im
portant trading post and centre of I- rench
influence, especially among the Onondaga,
Onnidu and Cayuga native tribes. In I7ri2
I i(|uet made an exploratory tour of Lake
Ontario, A king's boat was supplied to
him for the purpose. His journal of the
expedition has been printed. In June ho
was at Fort Frontenac. Here he found tiie
Indian trade ruined by the English post at
Choueguen (Oswego). He complains of the
fare he met with at Fort Frontenac : tha
pork and bacon were very bad ; and there
was not brandy enough in the fort to wash
a wound. He passed on to the Bay of
Quinte and visited the site of a mission
formerly established theie by two brother
presbyters of the Suljv.-ian order, Doliiere.s
de KleuB and D'Urfe. On the twenty sixth
of Ji.ne he reached the new fort of Toronto,
which offered a striking contrast to Fort
. j ^- -j,|
-m
m^: ■■
721
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
iri-
FFoot«naa " Tho wine here is of the beat,"
Piquet saya ; " uoihing i< wanting ia the
fori ; everything ia abundant, tine and
food." Uu found a number of MissiAsaga
udiaD* thara. who, he says, flocked arc^iud
iiim, and opui.e of the happiness mieir
young people, the women and children,
would feel if the Kins; of France would be
aa ^ood to them aa to the Iroquois Indians,
for whom he provided missionaries. They
complained that for them, instead of bui d-
ing a church, only a canteen had been con
structed. He would not, huwevsr, allow
them to proceed any further, and an.swered
them to the effect that they had Ljen treated
accordinsf to their fancy ; that i.iey had
never evinced the least zeal for religion ;
that their conduct was much oppoRv d to it ;
that the Iroquois Indians, on 'An-- contrary,
iiad manifested their love t'. c Christianity.
He was stronuiy impelled to persuade ihem
to join him at his mission at Oswegatchie,
but the governor in-chief had commanded
him to confine his efforts to the Iroquois
tribes ; so, lest the ardor of his zeal should
betray him to disobedience, he re-embarlced
and encamped si.K leagues from temptation,
i wo days more brought him round the
head of the lake to Niagara, where he was
warmly received by the commandant, the
chaplain, and the store keeper. The next
day lie proceeded to the trading place above
the Falls : and in connection with his obser-
vations on these two posts, he refers again
to the post at To onto, and expresses the
opinion that the storehouses there ahou d
not be kept up, because the trade of Fort
Frontenac and Niagara was thereby di-
minished. *' It was necessary, ' he says,
" to supply Niagara, and especially the
trading places above the Falls, rather than
Toronto. The difference," he says, " be-
tween the two first named of these posts,
and the last, is that three or four hundred
canoes could rume loaded with furs to the
Portage (t. e., the pose above the Falls) ;
and that no canoes at all could go to To-
ronto, except those which otherwise must
necessarily have gone to Niagara or Fort
Frontenac, such as those of the Ottawaa
of the head of the lake and the Mississagas ;
ao that Toronto could not but diminish the
trale of these two ancient posts, which
would have been sufficient to stop all the
aavages had the stores been furnished with
goods to their liking." The storekeeper at
Niagara had told him that the Indians com«
pared the silver trinkets which were pro-
cured at Choueguen with those which were
procured at the French posts, und they
found that the Choueguen articles were as
heavy aa the others, of purer silver and
better workmanship, but did not cose them
quite two beavers, whilst for those offered
for sale at the French King's posts ten
beavers were demanded. Thus we are dis
credited, and this silverware remains a pure
lo s in the King's stores. " French brandy,
indeed," Piquet, reprovingly adds, " was
pref rred to the English (rum) ; neverthe
less that did not prevent the Indians from
going to Choueuuen. To destroy the trade
there, the King's posts ought to have been
supplied with the same goods as Chouet;uen,
and at the same pi ice." The closing up of
th«i establishment at Toronto, however, aa
we shall presently see, was destined to be
brought about iii the way differing from that
suggested. (See Colonial Document8,N. V,,
X, 2()1, where the nam' is given asPicqu t ;
and Parkraan'a Montcalm and Wolfe I., US,
and II. Appendix).
A FRIEND IN NKED WANTED AT THE OLj<
FRKNCH FORT IN 1752, AND FOUND.
Ttie increa iui encroachments of the
English colonists on the territories own d
or claimed by the French Crown created
a general uneasiness throughout Xtw
France in 1751-2. The policy adopted h\
these aagressive nei Jibours, of encoura.iii
a strong anti French f' eling an>on>: the
Indians everywhere, was very troub esome
In a despatch already quoted, dated in
1752, we learn that the inmates of the weak
and solitary trading post at Toronto wero
kept in a state < f much anxiety from this
cause. M. de Longueuil, Governor-General,
informs the ^Jinister at Vei sallies that tbe
storekeeper at Toronto had been assured
by some trustworthy Indians, that the
iSalteaux, i. e,, Otchipways of the Sault,
the same in fact aa the Mississagas, had
dispersed themselves round the head of Lake
Ontario ; and seeing himself surrounded by
them, he doubts not but th> y have somu
evil design on his tort. "There is no
doubt," M. de Longuiuil then observes,
" but it is the English who are inducing
the Indiana to destroy the French, and
that thiy would uive a good deal tu get
the aavages to destroy Fort Toronto, on
account of the essential injury it does their
trade at Choueguen." And again in Octo-
ber of the same year de Longueuil writes of
various outrages that had been comnntted
on Frenchmen by Indians in the south-west,
on the Wabash and the Llinois riv rs.
" Every letter," he aaya, " brings news of
murder ; we are menaced with a <. eucral
outbreak, and even Toronto is in danger.
Before ton? the English on the Mianu will
Lain over all the surrounding tribis, Let
possession of Fort Chartres, and cut oui-
communications «it i Lruisiana " Sucli a
condition of thin s could not continue long.
In 175t) open hostilities commenctd bet^^eea
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
7«3
Ka<jland and France on the question of
boiincli^rios on this continent : and the
contliL't, afterwards knoNvn as the Seven
Veat's' War, began, which ended in the
ueasicn of almos; all the French domain in
America to Eng and. In 1737 he fort at
Toronto was the scene of a plot whicli Capt.
Poucho , ;h" conimandani at Nia:.ara, was
the means of frustratin.'. It appears from
Poiiciio: 3 narra iv.; (I , 82) iha a con-
tia enr of Mississaga Indians to the number
of ninety, proceedin<_' to Mon real lo assist
the French in the defence of that place,
conceived, as it seemed to them, the happy
thought of pillaging Fort Toronto as they
passed, notMiflksandin.' tha i: belon>{ed
10 their friends. The supply of brandy,
supposed to be stowed away somewheie
(herein, was the t mptation. The only p r-
sous within !h« fort at the time were M.
VarreB, the storekeeper, and ten men
under M. de Noyc;:le. The lat; erhad b en
secre ly apprised of th» plot: by a French
domsiic. Aono: with two m n was in-
9 »u ly d spa chtd, unobserved by the con-
spiraors, lo Fort Nia ara across ih ; lakr.
(apt. Pouchot,in command ih rt.on hi arin>;
the story, lost no time in despatching two
officers, Capt. de la Ferte and ^f. de
FiDsun,with sixty-one men, in two batteaux,
each armed with a swivel gun at the bow.
They reached Toronto at four o'clock in the
afternoon of the next day. They found the
Mississagas atill encamped near the fort ;
and passing in front of them the boats sa-
luted their vigwams with " artillery and
musket balls, ' directed, however, into the
air, as Capt. Pouchot had given orders.
The Indians were immediately summoned
to attend a council. They wer« greatly as-
tonished at the adventure, Capt. Puuchot
tells us, and confessed everything : they had
false news delivered to them, they said,
to the effect that the English had beaten the
French. But the true reason of their
action, Pouchot adds, was that they felt
themselves in force, and could get plenty of
brandy for nothing.
THE OLD FKENOH FORT DKSTROYED.
The moves on the world's chess board fol-
lowed one another in rather quick succes-
sion in the remote portion of it occupied by
New France. In 175ti de la Jonqiiicre's sug-
gestion, of which we have already heard,
that the French should become masters of
Choueguen, was carried into effect by no
less a personage than Montcalm hiiiisulf,
who afterwards fell at Quebec. H'his blow
te English interests was, however, returned
three years later by Col. liradstreet's cap-
ture of Fort Fronteiiac, and the destruction
there of nine armed French sloops. At the
tame period, Choueguen was recovered by
Col. Haldimand for its former po.ssessors.
Fort Niagara was now the only remaining
strong point on Lake Ontario not in Kuglish
hands. In 17~>8. after the capture of Fort
Frontenac, M. de V'audreuil, (Governor-
General, the seco' d of that name, wrote to
the Minister de Messiac : " If the h'nglish
should make their appearance at Toronto,
I have given orders to burn it at once, and
to tall back on Niagara." Then in the fol.
lowing year we have him informing the
san^e Mini:s[er that he had ordered down
what reinforcements he could from tha
Illinois and Detroit, for the protection of
Fort Niagara. " These forces," he says,
" would proceed to the relief of Niagara
should the enemy wish to besiege it ; and I
have in like manner," he adds, " sent or-
ders to Toronto to collect the Mississagas
and other nations and forward them to
Niagara." About this time watchers oa
the ramparts of Fort Niagara would
see ascending from a point on the
far horizon to the north-west, across
ttie lake, a dark column of smoke^
sure indication of the fact that the orders
of de Vaudreuil were being executed, and
that in a few hours all that the English or
any one els , on approaching Toronto,
would discover of the onco flourishing
trading post there would be live heaps of
charred timber end planks, with a low
chimney stack of coarse brick and a shat*
tered Hooring at its foot, made of tlaiT' stones,
from the adjoining beach, the whole sur-
rounded on the inland side by three lines of
cedar pickets more or less broken down and
scathed by fire.
On the 2.')th of June (1759), af«-er a liege
of about three weeks, first by Oen. Pride ux,
who was accidentally killed in the trenches,
and then by Sir William Johnson, who suc-
ceeded to the command, the fortress of Ni-
agara fell, with thu loss on the part
of tho besiegers of 63 killed and 185
wound d.
Tho fort or trading-post above the Falls,
known as Little Niaeara and lort Schloeser,
where stands now the village of La Salle,
had been also, like Foit Toronto, previou.-.ly
committeil to tho tlatnes, after removing its
contents ami little detachment of guanU
to tho priucipil fort, at the mouth of the
Niagara river.
NOTIt'KS OK TIIK RKMAINS OF THK OLD FRENCH
KdliT : SIR WILLIAM .JOHNSON's.
To make assurance doubly sure. Sir
William ilohnson, after getting possor-aioa
of Fort Niagara, lost little ^Ime in sending
over to Toronto to give, should it be found
necessary to do so, tho coH/^-df-ijraci: to tha
fort there. On the 28th of July (1759), he
writes in his Journal : "The evtning of ths
y;t
; iflf
II
' 1 1
t a
I
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724
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
27th I sent three wliale-boats with a party
of above thirty men to reconnoitre Fort
Toronto, and on their return propose to
Bend to destroy it." Then on the 30th he
writes : " At ni^ht Lieutenant Francis re-
turned from Toronto and reported that the
•nemy had burned and abandoned that post,
and destroyed many things which they
could not take along, viz , working utensils,
arms, etc. A Chippeway chief came to me
with Mr. Francis, in order to speak with
me."
The subsequent iutc. view with the chief >
who represented the tribes along the north
shore of the lake, was an iucidbnt of con-
Bidorable importance. On the 2nd of August
> ir William gave formal audience to this
chief, whose name was written down as
Tequakareigh. The scene is described in
the Journal at some length. Sir William
writes :— " With a string and two belts of
wampum 1 bid him welcome, and shook him
by the hand. By the second, which was a
black belt, I took the hatchet out of the
hands of his and all the surrounding nations :
recommended hunting and trade to them,
which would be more to their interest than
quarrelling with the English, who have ever
been their friends, and supplied them at the
cheapest rates with the necessaries of life,
and would do it again, both here (Nia:;ara)
and at Os'.vego, provided they quitted the
French interest. This I desired he would
acquaint all the surroundini; nations with.
A black belt, the third and last, was to in-
rite his, and all other nations living near
them, lo repair early next spring to this
place and Oswego, where there shcmld be a
large assortment of all kinds of goods fit for
their use ; also recommended it to them to
send some of their young men here to hunt
and fish for the garrison, for which they
would be paid and kindly treated. Told
them at the same time thai 1 would send
some of my interpreters, etc , with him on
the lake to the next town of the Mississagas,
with whom I desired he would use his best
endeavours to convince them that it would
be to their interest to live in friendship with
the English, and that we had no ill inten-
tions against them, if they did not oblige
us to il To vviiich he (Toquakaroigli)
answered, and said it gave him great pleasuve
to hear so good words, and was certain it
would be extremely aarreeable to all the
nations with whom he was acfiuainted, who,
with his, were wheedled and led on to strike
the English, whioh he now confessed he
was sorry for, and assured nie they never
would again ; and that should the French.
According to custom, ask Iheni to do so any
more, they would turn them out of the coun-
try. He at the same time begged earnestly
that a plenty of goods might be brought
here and to Oswego ; and there they, as
well as all the other nations around, would
come and trade ; and their young men
should hunt for their brothers, whom they
now took fast hold of by the hand, and
called upon the 8ii Nations, who were
present, to bear witness to what he had
promised. He also de/ired I would send
some person to the Mississaga town, near
where Toronto stood, to hear what he shou'ul
say to their nation, and to see that ha would
deliver my belts and message honestly. I
clothed him very well," Sir William adds,
*' and gave him a handsome present to carry
home ; then took from about his neck a
largo French medal, and gave him an English
one, and a gorget of silver, desiring, when-
ever he looked at them, h would remember
the engagement he now made."
NOTICES OF TlIK REMAINS OF THE OLD FRENCH
FORT : MAJOR ROGERS*.
In 1760 the site of Fort Toronto was vis-
ited and reported on by Major Robert Ro-
gers, an officer distinguished in the late
French war, the hero of "Rogers' Slide,'
still pointed out on Lake (Seorge, opposite
" Antony's Nose." Although he does not
happen to have made a note of the remains
of the fort, but only speaks in general
terms of " the place where formerly the
French had a fort," he gives the interest-
ing information that the woods had been
cleared away over an area of about
three hundred acres immediately around
it, partly, doubtless, for fuel during iho
ten years of the fort's occupancy, but partly
also at the outset for pickets and supports
of buildings and other purposes about the
establish iiicnt, and tor security against sud-
den surprise. Major Rogers was on his
way to take formal possession of the forts
in the west just vacated by the French. He
has left an account of his movements when
on this mission. On the 13th of September
he started for Montreal with two hundred
Rangers in fifteen whalo-boats. After des-
cribing the several stages of his journey
up to about what is now Port Hope, his ap-
proach to Toronto is thus narrated : — " The
V ind being fair, the 30th of September
(1760) we embarked at the first dawn of
day, and with the assistance ot sails and
oars, made great way on a south-west course,
and in the evening reached the River To-
ronto (t e. the Humber), having run seventy
miles. . . . There was a tract of abor.t
three hundred acres of cleared around round
the place where formerly the French had a
fort, called Fort Toronto. The soil here,
he observes, is principally clay. The deer
are extremely plenty in this country. Some
Indians were hunting at the mouth of the
1
^
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
725
river, who ran into the woods a^ our ap-
proach, very much frightened. They came
ill, however, in the morning, and t<;atiliei
llteirjoy at the news of ou.' succeas airainst
ti»e French. They told us we could easily
tecompliah our journey from thence to De-
troit in ei:ht days ; that when the French
traded at that place the Indians used to
come with their peltry from Micliiliniackinao
liowu the River Toronto ; that the portage
was but twenty miles from that to a rirer
falling into Lake Huron (Holland River,
Lake riimcoe and the Severn, considered as
one stream). I think Toronto,' the Major
adds. " a most convenient place tor a fac-
tory (>• e. a trading post) ; and that from
thence we may easily settle the north side
of Lake Erie We left Toronto the 1st of
October, steering south right across the west
end of Lake Ontario At dark we arrived
at the south shore, five miles west of Fort
Niagara, some of our boats having now be-
come exceedingly leaky and dangerous."
NOTICES OF THK BRMAINS OF TUK OLD FRENCH
KOKT : CAPTAIK QOTHER MAN.n's.
In 1788, Capt (mother Mann, an eminent
otKa*r of the Royal Engineers, acting under
orders, examined Toronto harbour and pen-
insula ; took soundings, delineated roughly
t!:e course of the then unnamed Don where
it euters the bay, and the great inlet into
the marsh in the direction of Ashbridge's
Bay : he noted likewise, witli a double row
ufdottel lines on the western portion of his
map, " Part of the road towards Luke La
Clie," »'. «. Lake Simcoe, which comes down
with a bold zig-zag towards the mouth of the
Humber. But what is more to the present
purpose, (iother Mann L'ives a miniature
proiiud-plan of the old French fort, shewing
Dy dotted lines the place of the pickets which
formed the stockade on the three inland
sides, with five small oblong parallelograms
enclosed, denoting doubtless the principal
storehouse (a little in advance of the rest),
and quarters for the keeper, soldiers, and
other men usually in charge of the place.
I'he v/hole group occupies of course th*
esact area wliieli used to be known to all
•arly inhabitants as " the oW French fort,"
and is labelled by Capt. Mann, at the top,
'' Ruins of a Trading Fort/' and underneath,
in continuation, "Toronto." In 1788, wind
and weather, and camp-tires from time to
time in the neighbourhood, had not yet
btQup;ht about the changes afterwards so
effectually wrought ; and the " ruins"
could be delineated with ease. The whole
locality >• as examined by Capt. Mann in an-
ticipation of a future town, township and
settle ' ent. to be established hereabout by
the Government in due time. The title <i
'.he map is as follows :" Plan of the pro-
posed Toronto Harbour, with the proposed
Town and Port by the Settlement ;" and
he had been directed to give an opinion aa
to the best position for a military work cal-
culated to protect the new establishment
whenever it should he called into existence.
Accordingly, on his Plan he marks \> ith the
letter A. a little to the east of the site of
the old Trading Post, the spot which he
thought to be the fittest for the purpose in-
dicated— the spot in fact occupied at the
present day by the " Stone Barracks" at
Toronto ; and to show the character of the
channel, he gives, from this point slantingly
aoross the entrance into the harbour, to the
point of the peninsula on the opposite side,
the soundings in fathoms : 2, 2[[, 3, 4, 4,
3^, 3^, I^, 1. To show that a military work
at the spot marked A would be calculated
to give protection to a settlement along the
northern shore of the bay, he draws on his
map a fancy town-plot exactly four-square,
consisting of eleven equal-sized blocks, each
way, with a broad belt of " Ground re-
served'* in front, and a lar.e patch of
" Common" in the rear. Moreover, the
surrounding country from the line of the
Humber to someway east of the Don, he
cuts up into concessions and farm- lots and
roads after the usual fashion, with the ut-
most regularity, quite irrespective of hill
and dale, river, ravine or morass.
[It should be added that Capt. Mann,
through some caprice, elected in iriis Plan to
spell " Toronto" with an e in the second
syllable ; carried away, probably, like ('apt.
Boimycastle at a later date, by a notion
that there was so^iethinsr Italian in the
name, and beiuf; quite unacquainted with
its real ofii,'it> and meaning, in his Report
to Lord Dorchester, accompanying the Plan,
Capr. Mann, it is to be observed, adopts the
ordinary and proper form of the word ]
AUGUSTUS JONES AT TUB SITE OF THE OLU
FRENCH FOKT IN 1793.
The pioneer land surveyor, Augustus
Jones, largely employed by (Jovernor Nimcoe
in laying out for the first time several por-
tions of IJpper Canada, set otFaud partially
described, in 1793, a series of lots forming
a broken tront concession on the edge of
Lake Ontario, stretching westward from
the boundary between tlie townships of ^'o^k
and Scarboroush. The interval between
this line and a line running north from the
mouth of ** St. John's River," i e. the
Humber, measured along a base line now
represented by Queen Street, was divided
into thirty-nine lots, each twenty chains in
width, with a public roadway of one chain
in width after every fifth lot. (A roadway
of the same width was also left between
York and Scarborough). At the western
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726
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
limit of each lot he passed down southward,
at ri^ht angles to the base line, to the
water's edgo, where he planted a post. As
he chains out this western limit o( each lot,
lie makes notes of the timber, soil and char-
acter of surface. Although his descriptions
have, all ot them, more or less interest for
the present occupants of this region, we are
not particulfKrly concerned with them just
now, until we come to the western limit of
lot number 29. In running this lino he
( omes out upon the clearing in tiie woods
which Major Rogers spoke of as having been
made round the old French fort Toronto.
On the 10th of .luly, 1793, he makes tiiis
entry in his Field Book ; " Lot 29. A Post
on the bank a little below the old Fort"
1 1, e. he chains down from his baseline
(Queen Street) to the water's edge, and
plants a post there, a little to the east of
ihe site of the old French fort]. His des-
cription of the surface, etc., then follows :
" At 2.50 (two chains, fifty hnks from the
base line) a wet hole ; at 6.50 a small creek
running to the left (t. e. eastward : some
little atUueut of the garrison ereek) ; at 8.70
a wet hole ; at 14 chains a wet hole ; at
19 chains wet one chain across ; at 20.50
a wet hole 75 links across ; at 35 chains a
swamp ; at 48 chains a small creek running
to the left ; at 57.50 a wet hole ; at GO. 50
wet two chains across ; at 63 chains to low
wet ground, which continues to near the
Lake, 8 chains. At 52 chains to where the
Trees have formerly been cut down, now
grown up with small saplings. Timber :
tall birch, maple, black oak, hickory ; a
few hemlocks. The soil on the top appears
black and loose ; underneath a hard clay.''
He now returns to his bdtse line and chains
down, as before, the western boundary of the
next lot. His entry is • " Tuesday, 16th
[July, 1793], Lot .30. To a Post on the bank
of the Lake. At-2.50 a low wet hole ; at
13.40 a swamp two chains across ; at 2.3.70
a swamp three chains across ; at 41 chains,
where the timber had been cut down at the
time the French built the fort (i. e. he comes
out again on the ttiree-hundred-acre clear-
ing mentioned by Major Rogers) ; at 54
chains on a ridge descending to 56 chains ;
at 61 chains to clear ground ; at 66.40 on
the bank of the Lake about two chains ;
(i. e. 132 feet or 44 yards) above the old
Fort (t. e. to the west of the site of the old
Fort). TiniDur : beech, maple, hemlock,
and oak : clay soil." The western boundary
of Lot No. 31 is next run. Starting again
from the base, it terminates, after 57 chains
have been measured, at a point where a post
was planted " about two cbaius above the
Blacksmith's old house" (the remains proba-
bly of a forge for the benetit of Indians
and others requiring repairs for implements,
guns, etc., and placed at that distance for
jsafety's sake) After Lot .30, as after everv
otlier fifth lot of the Uroken Front range,
an allowance for road (one chain) was left!
This allowance for road is now DuiTeii;!
Street, at the western limit of the Exhibi
tion Park ; and is still to-day the dividiti'
line between Lot 30 (included in the I'ark')
and Lot 31 (commonly known, until recent
sub-division into building loti, etc. , as Dr.
Gwynne's property.
We thus have it conclusively demon-
strated from the Field Hook of the original
surveyor of the " Broken Front" concej.
sion of York, that the old French Fort of
Toronto was situated near the edge of the
lake, between the east aud west boundaries
of Lot No. 30, and about two chains from
said western boundary. That is, it wad
situated in the angle farmed by the lake
shore and the said western boundary, two
chains east of that boundary ; and any one
'A ho may take the trouble to make the ex-
periment by actual admeasurement, will
find that two chains (132 feet or 44 yards)
from Dufferin Street, i. c. the boundary be-
tween lots 30 and 31, will conduct him to
the spot where tlie monument commemo
ra ive of the old French Fort Toronto has
been built.
SOME LATER NOTICES OF THE SITE OF THE
OLD FRENCH FORT.
The remains of the old French fort, slight
as they were, constituted, in the absence of
grander "ruins," one of the "sights" in the
vicinity of the infant capital of Upper Cana-
da,audas such they were usually mentiouedia
the early printed accounts of the place.
In 1799 appeared David William Smyth's
Topographical Description and Provincial
Gazeteer of Upper Canada. Its full title
reals as follows : " A Short Topographical
Description of Hit Majesty's Province of
Upper Canada, in North America, to which
is anne.\ed a Provincial Ga/'.eteer. London :
published by W. Faden, Geographer to His
Majesty aud to His Royal liigline>3
the Prince of Wales, (/baring Cross, IT'.t'.).
Printed by W. Bulmur and Co., lUis-
aell Court, Cleveland Row, St. James'.''
It is said in the preface to have been drawn
up by "David William Smyth, Esq., the
very able Surveyor-Cieneral of Upper Can-
ada, on the plan of the late Captain ilutuh-
ins, for the River Ohio, and the countries
adjacent." Speaking of York, in the Topo-
graphical Description, the compiler of this
work says : " In passing out of the harbour
of York, to the westward, you see the gar-
rison on the mainland at the entrance of tiie
harbour, which, and the blockhouses on
GibraLar Point, are its security ; aud a
ml]
It
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
727
little to the westward of the garrison are
the remains of the old trench Fort Toronto ;
adjoininf; to which is a deep bay that re-
ceives the River H umber, on which are
law-milh belonging to Government ; a little
way up the river the Government yacht is
building." I'hen again under York, in the
(ia^e teer part : " The remains of the old
French Fort Toronto stand a little to tlie
westward of the present garrison, and ttie
River Humher discharges itself into Luke
Outitrio, about two miles and half west of
that ; on this river and the Don are excel-
lent mills, and all tlie waters abound in
fish. " In 1813 appeared a second edition
of U. W. Smyth's wofk, published under
the immediate inspection of Uovernor Gore,
who was resident at the time in London.
In this re-issue these allusions to the re-
mains of the old French Fort Toronto are
unchanged.
In 1805 vas published in London a
" Slietch of His Majesty's Province of Up-
per Canada, by D'Arcy Houlton, Barrister-
at-Law," a thin quarto volume of niuety-
uine pages, vnry handsomely printed At
the end are seven pages of " Subscribers'
Names." It has an excellent map, and is
dedicated •' To the King " The author of
this work was afterwards better known in
Upper Canada a.s Mr. Justice Boulton.
lu this Sketch the remains of the old French
Fort Toronto are not overloolied. In cou-
uecciou with York they are spoken of in
terms almost identical with those employed
ly Surveyor-General Smyth.
THE SITE OK THE OLD FRENCH FORT WELL
KNOWN TO THE INVADERS IN 1813.
In 1813 York was captured by a United
States force. In the accounts of that inci-
dent the remains of the old French Fort
Toronto again curiously come into view.
Their site, it appears, was well known to
the American authoritie<i, and in the origi-
nal plan of operations against Yurk, the spot
selectt'd for the debarkation of the troops
was there, although the landing actually
took place some distance to the west of that
point.
.Mr. John Lewis Thomson, in " Historical
Sketches of the Late War," writes thus (p.
120) : — " Agreeably to a previous arrange-
ment with the Commodore, (Jcneral Dear-
bora and his suite, with a lorce of 1,700
nion, embarked [at Sackett's Harbour] on
the 22nd and 23id of April [1813], but the
prevalence of a violent storm prevented
the sailing until the 25th. On that day it
moved into Lake Ontario, and, having a
favourable wind, arrived safely [before
\ork] at seven o'clock on the morning of the
27lh, about one mile to the westward of the
cuius of Fort Toronto, and two and a half
from the town of York. The execution ol
that part of the plan which applied imme-
diately to tne r.ttack upon York was con-
fided to Col. Pike of the 15th Regiment,
who had been promoted to the rank of Briga-
dier-General, and the position which had
been fixed upou for landing the troops was
the site of the old Fort. The approach of
the fleet being discovered from tlie enemy's
garrison. General Sheaffe, the British Com-
mandant, hastily collected his whole forco,
consisting of 75l> regulars and militia ami
100 Indians, and disposed them u the best
manner to resist the lauding of ttie American
force. . . , Bodies of Indians were ob-
served in groups in ditl'erent drections in
and about the woods below the site of the
Fort, and numbers of horsemen stationed in
the clear ground surrounding it. . . .
At eight o'clock tie debarkation com-
menced ; at ten it was completed. Major
Forsyth and his riflemen, in several large
bateaux, were in the a Ivance They pulled
vigorously for the designated ground at the
site, but were forced by a strong >n ind a con-
siderable distance above," etc.
In Auchinleck's " History of the War of
1812-'13-'14," published at Toronto in li*55,
a full-page plate is given (p. 186) illustrative
of the capture of York. Letters identify
the points of interest with great precision,
as follows : A. The Humber ; B. Place
V here Americans lauded ; C. Old French
Fort ; D. Western Battery ; E. Half-moon
Battery ; F F. Garrison Garden ; G. G.
Government House, Garrison and Magazine ;
H. H. Ships and Stores burned by liritish.
The Lake road. Garrison road, and business
part of York in 1812, are also given, and the
note is appended : " The plate represents
in addition, the city of Toronto as it uo^v
is. [The present streets and wards are in-
dicated ] The woods, however, have been
left as they were [i. «. in 1812], to mark
the difficulty « hich attended military move-
ment* generally." In the plate the letter
C. is placed w ith great accuracy in the angle
between the line of the shore and the
road now known as DufFeriu Street, on the
east side of the road , and li, the spot where
the Americans landed, is seen very near
where Queen Street, if produced iu a right
line, would strihe the water, which also
indicates what was the generally known
fact. It is understood that Mr. Anchin-
leek, while writing his v ork on the w ar,
which appeared originally in successive num-
bers of Mr. Maclear's Anglo-American Ma-
gazine in 1853, et tieq.. Lad the advantage of
the best information, derived from such
sources as Chief Justice Robinson, Mr. Chew-
ett, and many other gentlemen, late sur-
vivors of tbe critical period, who, from pev-
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728
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Boaal experience, were well acquainted with
all particulars connected with tiie war.
This renders the carefully prepared plate
in Mr. Auchinleck'e Hiitory of great
value, as fixing with certainty, for
future students, the exact situation of
a number of localities possessing great
interest, especially for the inhabitant* of
Toronto.
NOTK,
Lossing'a Pictorial Field Rook of the War
of 1812, published by the Harpers in New
Yorlw in 1869, is a very valuable and most
interesting work, which will long be a popu-
lar book of reference. It is important,
therefore, and will be in place here.ko point
out and to correct several of its inaccura-
cies in regard to the old French Fort at
Toronto. When Mr. Lossing visited To-
ronto in 18C0, for the purpose ot personally
examining the scene of action, where the
capture of York was effected in 1813, by
an American armed force, and making
sketches for the forthcoming publication,
he sought out and obtained an intirview
with iMr. John Ross, a surviving veteran
of 1812, and at the time the leading local
undertaker of Toronto. Mr. Lossing ob.
taised from Mr. Ross accurate information
as to the situation of the old French Fort,
but unfortunately, being up in years and
an invalid, Mr. Ross did not accompany
Mr. Lossing to the spot. " Mr. Rosa aave
me such minute and clear directions con-
cerning the interesting places in and aroand
Toronto, that I experienced no difficul y in
finding them," Mr. Lossing writes p. 592.
" I hired a horse and light waggon, and a
young man for driver; >i t spent a great
portion of the day in the hot sun." Un-
luckily this young man had not the familiar
knowledge of the different localities that
Mr. Rosd had ; and the consequence was
that Mr. Lossim: mistook the " Butts,"
set up in quite modern times, for rifle prac-
tice, " abou 60 rods west of the New
Barracks," considerably easr of the real
site, for remains ot the old French Fore.
This is evidenc from the skeich which he
gives, and his explanatory remarks 'hereon.
Mr. Lossing writes : *' The principal re-
mains of I he For , in which may be seen
some timber- work placed 'here when the
fort was partially repaired in the winter of
1812-13 [so he fancied], are seen in ;he
foreground. They presented abrupt heaps
covered with sod. On the right, in the dis
tance is seen Gibraltar Point, with the |
trees springing from the low sandy surface, j
On he lef; are the New Barracks." The!
supposition tha'' the old French For. was re- |
paired with a view to defence in 1812 13, '
WAS purely imaginary. The timber \^ork
spoken of, and conspicuously shown ia the
skech, was par: of iha construe ion of ihc
•'Butts." There never were any remain.n
of the old French For t. of this conspicuous
sort. The establishment hsra was, aa Ihavu
again and acain had occasion to se forth,
simply an Indian trading post during the
whole period of its exisienci-, and not a
miliary work. Curiously enough, the
rough, irregular protuberances in the soil,
on one of which, in tlie imm dia '■. fore
ground, he ar.is;: repr s nts hims If as si--
tinj; wiiile skctciiing the view before him,
with the young driver standing by liim, re-
ally vjcru the genuine remains which he was
in search of. Exactly where he was aitiiii;T
wore scattered about plentiful vestinres ol
the vanished buildings of the old French
Fort, shallow pits where the supports ot the
houses had been, and where the chimney
stack had stood, and the shallow trenches
or furrows formed by the earth slightly
raised on each side, along where the pali-
sades had formerly been planted in the
ground.
The impression in the mind of the writer
that the old Fort Toronto hud been a mili-
tary work is also seen in the wood-out map
(p. .590) where the shape of •' Fort Toronto"
is made to be. on the smallest seale of course,
but very distinctly, a fortress in the Vaubau
style, with the regulation angles, bas-
tions, etc. (In S. (j. Goodrich's Pictorial
History of America, another popular work
published in New York in 1854, there is to
be seen a cut entitled *• the death of Pike,"
given in connection with the capture of
Yoik in 1813. In it York figures in tha
distance as quite an important city, with
several towers, spires, etc.) While cor-
recting Lossing, it will be as well to poiat
out some further errors at p. 587 in the
text and appended note. The Blockhouse
spoken of in line 12 from top, was situated
on the bank of the artificial channel known
as the " Little Don," not far from the lir.st
Parliament Huildings. It commanded the
road which led from the "Carrying l.'la(!e3"
or narrow part of the Island. This is quite
a diflerent position from " the hii!h east
bank of the Don, just beyond the pro cnt
briilge at the eastern termination of King
and Queen Streets." The portion of the
note below that requires correction is the
following : " It (the island) is low and
sandy — so low that from the moderate ele-
vation of the town (fifteen or twenty feet
above the water) the dark line of the lake
may be seen over it. Upon it were, and
still are, some trees which, at first ulaiioe,
seem to be standing on the water. Thij
gave the name of Tarontah, an Indian word
signifying " trees on the water," to tha
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
739
place. When the French built a fort there,
wsstward of the extreme western end of the
peninsula (which waa called Gibraltar Point),
they named it Fort Tarontah or Toronto."
In this passacro, etymology, arthography and
history are all at fault. Th ; name given
tn the fort built here by the French waa
Fort. Kouille. The word Toronto di 1 not
originate here : it had nothing to do with
the trees on the peninsula here : it travelled
down hitlier from Lake Simcoe in the north,
which, at least one hundred years before
the French built the fort, was well known
as Lake Toronto (spelt exe.ctlv so on early
maps). The predominant traditional inter-
pretation of the word used to be " Place of
.sleeting," the allusion being to the popu-
lous region between Lake Toronto and Lake
Huron, the grand rendezvpus of the Huron
or \V>andot tribes, down to the year 1649.
The " trees on the water" theory of inter-
pretation ^\as a late afrerti'.ounht, an in-
genious guesa on the part of some ona who
hul heard of an Iroquois word with some
such meiiuing, obscurely resomblin,' To-
ronto in sounil. Lewis H. Morgan, in his
" League of the Iroquois, ' wrote down the
funcied term as •' Deonda" ; so hi» ear had
caught it. Not only, as has once before
riceu stated, was Lake Simcoe Lake Toronto,
bill Alatchedash and Gloucester Bay was
liay of Toronto, the back lakes connecting
with the Trent were the Toronto Lakes and
Humber was the Toronto River : indicating
that they were, all of them, ^^ ater high-
Mays to the great interior central ren-
dezvous or " I'lace of Meetina;" of the Hu-
ron tribes. After vanishing from the map
ia the north, it obtained by a happy acci-
dent a permanent lodgment at the spot
whore it now rests. Good linguistic reasons
could be given for the now generally re-
ceived interpretation of " Toronto," but
the details would occupy too mucli space.
There was evidently a desire on the part of
the Surveyor-General's department, at the
beguuiingof Sir Peregrine Maitland's regime,
to perpetua e on the map of Upper Canada
the beautiful name which had been strangely
dissardea fcir York in 1793-4. When the
" Mississaga Tract" « as secured and laid
out one of the new townships was named
Toronto, and a narrow triangu ar piece of
territory belonging to it was called the
" Gore of Toronto." When the village in
the township of Hope, afterwards known
•a Fort Hope, was first projected, Mr. Chss,
Fothorgili gave it the name of Toronto ;
and Robert Gourlay, in the curious map
prepared for the first volume of bis Statis-
tical Account of Upper Canada, gave the
name of Toronto to what was to be the
principal city of the province, according to
anew but very fanciful method suggested
by him for laying out townships and loads,
and figured on his map.
RE.MAINS OF THE OLD FRENCH FORT EFFACED,
BCT SITE MARKED BY A CAIRN.
It thus appears that the site of the old
French Fort Toronto was a matter of com-
mon notoriety at York from the outset oi
thai place. And so it continued to be after
York had merged into Toronto. Most of
the inhabitants of the town and its vicinity
were familiar wich ^he spot. Sportsmen
in the habit of looking after water-fowl of
I various kinds along the beach westward
! from the garrison were specially cognizant
of it. Youuij lads at school were fond of
tiring on " the old Frencti Fort,'' as the
terminus of a half-holiday's stroll towards
Humber Bay along the well-beaton path on
the edge of the cliff, i t was in tliis latter
way the present writer first formed his
acquaintance with the spot, his perfect
fanuliarity with which waa kept up by a
visit every now and then during many sub-
sequent years.
In 1878, a large portion of the so-callod
Garrison Common was fecured from tlio
Government, and set apart as a park for
Industrial Exhibition purposes. A survey
of the ground was made, walks and drives
were laid out in it, and many buildings re-
quired for carrying out the objects of the
park were erected, i'.y a happy accident
the site of the old J)"rench Fort Toronte
was included within the limits of the park.
Up to 1878 a space round about the particu-
lar spot where the remains were, had been
enolos-ed by a poorly kept wooden fence,
through wliKii foot passengers, desirous of
crossing tho Common, could easily make
their way. The lines of this fence failed
to form a correct square. One of its angles
w\3 unaccountably obtuse, as may be seen
in Sandford Fleming's plan of Toronto,
which sliows the enclo.sure in question with-
out any mention, however, of the cause of
its existence. The irregularity in shape re-
ferred to had probably aome relation to
the former pali.':ades, tlie lines of which did
not run exactly at right angles either to
the line of the present Dufferin street, or
the present line of the shore, as shown Dy
tie delineations in Auchinlcck's plan, and
also by the map given by I-,ossing.
The fence spoken of was, of course, taken
down when the park was prepared for exhi-
bition purposes ; but more than that ; it
became necessary to level and sod the en-
closed area ; to grade it, in fact, somewhat
towards the south, and to straighten the
lino of the cliff o^. tbat side, which had
become verj' irregular from tho destructive
action of the waves below. These necessftry
: •■■ i
mij \ m
730
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
i
;.:
j^lP
improvements involved the obliteration of
the vestiges of the old French Fort, which
for BO long a time had imparted a charm to
the fjrouna hereabout, and the great proba-
bility of the site becoming obscure io tbe
future and possibly at length being clean
forgotten, obviously presented itself. The
risk was manifest of the inhabitants of To-
ronto losing a valuable property, so to
apeak, viz., the knowledge of a spot situated
in tlieir midst, possessed of very great
historical interest ; of more bistorical in-
terest, in point of fact, than any other spot
within the limits of their city, or anywhere
in its neighbourhood, being chronologioally
connected » ith the old French and Indian
eras in the annals of Western Canada. A
determination to mark the memorable site
by some luitablo structure was immediately
come to on the part of the i'resideut of the
Industrial Exhibition Association. Mr. J. J.
Withrow.who had been chiefly instrumental
in securing for Toronto its Exhibition
i'ark, and was now actively engaged in
making ic ready for exhibition purposes on
a very comprehensive scale. A cairn of
unhewn stone was accordingly built throuj;h
bis influence with the city authorities, and
a fine massive granite boulder, recently
brought up by the dredging machine out of
the adjoining ship channel of the entrance
into Toronto Bay, mounted upon it, bearing
the following inscription : —
This cairn marks the exact sitk ok
Fort Rol'iixk, C(immonly known as Fort
Toronto, an ^..ndian Trading Po.st ano
STOCKAUE.ESTABUSHED A. D. 1749,BV ORDER
OF THE Government of Louis XV. in ac-
cordance with the recommendations ok
IHK ConNT DE UK GaLISSONIEKE, AI>MIN-
ISTRATOR OF New France, 1717-1749
Erected by the Cori'obation of the City
OP Toronto, a. d. 1878.
1 his memorial object was visited and at
tcntively inspected by His Excellency Lord
Dutferin, Governor-General of Can ida, on
the occasion of his inaugurating the great
Industrial Exhibitiou, held for the first time
in the new grounds.
The cairn now erected answered an excel-
lent purpose for about the space of six years,
when from partial settlement and other
causes it became somewhat deteriorated in its
appearance, and it was generally felt that
something more worthy of the City of To-
ronto, and of the important site commemo>
rated ought to take its place.
cairn replaced by a memorial column,
which is finally made a memento op
THE queen's jubilee IN THE
YEAR 1887.
The year 1884 was the never-to-be-forgot-
ten iSemi-Ceutennial of the Incorporation of
Toronto as a City and the restoration o(
that beautiful and appropriate name, whiuh
for fifty years had been supplanted by that
of " York." It was thought appropriate
that one of the means of signali/iiii^ the
occasion would be the commencement, at
all evens, if not the con''pletion,of a memo,
rial object on the site of the old French
Fort Toronto, to take the place of the con-
fessedly temporary and now dilapidated
cairu. Mr. W. Birclay McMurrich, Chair-
man of the Semi-Centciinial Committee, ap-
pointed by the Corporation, and re 'ently
Mayor of the City, interested himself in the
matter, and on the last day of the Semi-
Centennial celebration, the foundati'm of a
monumental pillar after a design by the
Messrs, Langley and Burke, architects,
of Toronto, was laid by the then Lieu-
tenant-Governor of Ontario, the Honourable
John Beverley Robinson, in the presence
of the .Mayor of the City, Mr. A. K. iJos-
well, and a large concourse of citizens and
visitors from the United States.
During the progress of the two following
years two of the lower courses of the pedestal
were built with funds contributed by the
Corporation and the Industrial Exhibition
Association, 'i he process of erection seemed
likely to be an affair cf several years' dura-
tion, when happily the fiftieth anniversary
of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria
occurred in 1887, and it was determined to
make thR completion of the memorial on
the site of the old French Fort Toronto,
an incident in the City's commemoration
of that event. Great good-will was very
generally shown to this project. On various
grounds several public bodies united in
promoting the scheme. The Corporation
of the City encouraged the undertaiving
from the outset by repeated subsidies, in
order ihat the starting point of trade and
commerce in this reidon might be identified
with precision in all future time. The In-
dustrial Exhibition A.<isociation of the City
again and again liberally aided the scheme,
deeming it most pioper that a site of so
much general interest happily included
within the limits of the Exhibition Park,
shouM be boldly and lastingly distinguished.
The Associated Pioneers of the City of To-
ronto and ancient County of York, with
the help of many friends in sympathy with
their Society and its aims, made large con-
tributions towards the cost of the work,
being desirous that the scene of the firsl
dawn of civilized life on the shores of lo-
ronto Bay, in the little company of Euro
peans domiciled in the fort, and the rou<,'h
clearance in the primitive forest of an area
of about three hundred acres immediately
around its palisades (as reported by Major
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
731
Rogers) should be surely known to coming
generations. And theUoernmont of the
t'rovince ot Ontario (granted prompt and
generous ossistanco to secure the completion
of the monument in the year named, so
that, besides bein;; a due memorial of ore
of the roost notable hiatorical sites in the
Province, it might also form one of the
sbidinf; mementoes in Canada of the Jubilee
of Her Majesty the Queen.
I>y encouragement and funds thus sup-
plied, the erection of the monument wai
completed, and the ceremony of its unveil-
ing by His Excellency the Marquis of Lans-
downe, Governor-General of Canada, took
place among the proceedings of the opening
day of the combined Dominion and Local
Industrial Exhibition at Toronto, the 6th of
September, 1887.
The remarks of His Excellency on the
occasion were as follows : — (It will be ob-
served that the inauguration of the General
Exhibition had just occurred in another part
of the park).
" The ceremooy which has recently been
concluded in another part of the ground was
one which had reference to the affairs of
today, and to the material interests, present
and future, of this city arid its neghbour-
hood. 1 am glad that you have asked me
to take a part in another ceremony, which
will for a moment carry our minds back
from the present to the past. We are met
this afternoon in order to preserve from
obliteration the traces of the first beginnings
of the city of which you are so justly proud
to-day. In doing this you are, I think,
showing A very proper and laudable feel-
in?. A community is wanting in self-respect,
which does not take an interest in its
own history, and seek to preserve those
records by which that history can be traced
and authenticated. I have frequently no-
ticed with pleasure that the people of To-
ronto are fond of dwelling upon the memo-
ries which live ...ound the city, and this
portion of the Province of which it is the
capital ; and there is certainly no part of
Canada in which men of the present day
have a better right to refer with pride to
the achievements of' their forefathers, or
to the courage with which the earliest set-
tlers in the land, when they were as yet
a mere handful of men, held their own in
the face of desperate odds, iisrhting for the
country of their adoption, and preserving
to the British Empire one of its noblest
bulwarks. The monument which you h ive
asked me to unveil, carries us back, how-
ever, to a past even more remote than that
upon which you are fondest of dwelling ;
it takes us back to a period earlier than
that of the United Empire Loyalists-
earlier than theageof Simcoe and of Hruck.
It is erected on the site of the old
French Trading Post, built here nearly a
century and a half ago, by the French Gov-
ernment ; a post which was, in fact, the
earliest civilized settlement established in
this neighbourhood ; that settlement you
have very appropriately described in your
address aa the germ of the Toronto with
which we are now acquainted. I think the
greatest credit is duo to the public bodies,
the Corporation, the Exhibitiun Association
and the Provincial Guvernincnt, as well as
to the private friends and supporters of the
project, who have combined for the purpose
of securing the identitiL-ation of so interest-
ing a spot, and of commemorating it by the
erection of a suitable monument. Standing
aa that monument does in the midst of these
Exhibition Grounds, it will serve, I hope,
year after year, to remind the thousands
who frequent them of the achievements of
those who have built up the fortunes of the
City of Toronto upon a spot where com-
paratively a short time ago the rough
trading post of a foreign country was the
only sign of approaching civilization, and
to whosu eiibrts spread over successive cen-
eraiions, you owe it that the solitude, the
desolation, the dangers, the rude existence
of the first settlers at this spot, have been
replaced by the teeming population, the
plenty and prosperity which we see
around us on every side to-day. I esteem
myself fortunate in having been called
upon to undertake this task, and I have now
much pleasure in dedicating this monument
to the public of the City and Province."
To adopt the word* of one of the many
chroniclers of the day's proceedings, — His
Excellency then " seized the lines and
undid the veil, and in a moment the round
shaft was exposed to the view of the spec-
tators. The crowd greeted the disclosure
with cheers, which were again and again
heartily repeated" The monument, it is
then added, which is after a design by
Messrs. Langley and Burke, architects,
is a plain, rounded column or shaft, having
somewhat the appearance of a lighthouse.
Including the rough mason work, which
forms the base, it reaches the height ot
thirty-two feet, and will be a conspiauous
objt'ct of view from the bay. The stone is
" Credit Valley Red," supplied from the
quarries of Mr. K. Chisholm, of llramp-
ton. It was executed, it should be sub-
joined, at the works ot Mr. Lionel Yorke,
on the Esplanade, and a tribute is due to
the great practical skill of Mr. Vick, super-
intendent of those works The follow-
ing inscription appears on the north side of
the pedestal : —
t '4
■i! ;g
' i.:
I'ti* '<:
'•J.
I
i
ii I'll;'
9»
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Four Toru)NTo,
AV lUniAM TKADINU I'OST,
fdl; HOMK TIME KNOWN AS FORT KOmiJJC,
WAS KSTABLISIIEU IIKKb
A. I>. MU(X;\L1X.,
BY OUUKK OF LODIH XV.
Thus a work of no .~linht importance waa
liriiii^lit to a cloac. A site of coniiidtirahle
liisiorical ai;,'iiilirii:ico Wft3 iloriiiitely tixi'd
;uul durably inarkiid for tlio s,'r.uilication of
ti>(;ul i-c.-iiilontH und tho inforiuation ot the
L'aiiudiiiii public generally And in d-jing
this a notable niUlitioii wan niaJo to the
uirTaciioiis of the parks and drives of To-
loiuo, a moiiuiiiuui.al ol)ject l)einjj se; up
by the wayai :e in one of tlium, calciilatuil
U) atimulato a wholesome curiosity in tho
minds of all beholder!), usp«;ciiil)y in tho
minds o: tho many inleilii^Liii f)erMons.
younj; and old, who are drawn to tho
Cajiilal of tiio i'rovinco on })artiuular ooua-
siona ycur aficr year ; a nionumuntal ob-
jtrct, uciititH'd, when it i<hall itself have
btcome a tliiu^' of autiijuity — corroded, jmr-
nap.s, by the tooth of time like ono of vhe
ancient round towers of Irelanil — destined
even then to be still named amoii^' lIio
"sii^lits" of Toronto, and oiiaracterized by
its i di&bitants as one of their most valued
heirlooms.
DIMENSIONS, KTC, OF THE MONUMENT.
The monument consists, first, of a sub-
struction of rough stone about five feet
in depth and twelve and a halt feet square
at its lowest part, dimiidshing by steps to
vbout twelvM foot square at tho surface.
Then, for about four feet, follow in cut
Credit Valley stone, hree courses, to a
block formins the main body of tho pedestal,
".ive feet square and five and a half fjL't
i.i lifiight. Over this is a course projecting
eight iachcs ; and then comes a block
wrought to form a transition from the
hfiuare to the round form, upon which
rests the column p;oper ; a shaft in eight
divisions, sliuhtly tapering from live
feet at the base, to about two feet at
the .summit, which terminates in a conical
apex. 'Jhe whole height from tho surface
is a little over thirty feet. The esti-
mated cost at the outset of the cut
stone portion was about two thousand five
hundred dollars. The grants and col-
lections have somewhat exceeded this
sum, and the slight surplus is to be ex-
pended by the Industrial Exhibition Asso-
ciation in rendering tlie surroundings of
tlie monument complete. The excess over
the (juota guaranteed by the Pioneer As-
sociation to seeuro tiie conuiletion of tin'
monument in 18S7 has been ]ilacud by
tho committee cii.irged with the collie;
tion to the ortdit of the I'ionoers' g.Mi
eral fund, with tho approbation of the pri .
cii>al subscribers.
TIIK lUKNTITY OK TIIK SITK VKUIl lED.
An account of the writer's intimate ai'
qiidntance with the site of the old French
trading post known as Fort Toronto i.s given
at hu .,'(1 in the memoir. As to tho perfect
accuracy of that s.ite, as marked by the o1j«
liak wiiich has lieen erected thereon, tWj
]iaiticulars relating thereto should be men
tioned for the more complete sati.if.iciion of
every visitor to liiis historical spoi. It h.u
been already noted in tliis memoir that th«
original provincial land surveyor, Au
iju.uua Jone.i, set it down m
ids field book now jireserveil
in the Crou n l.aiuU' Depariinenl. Turoiuo,
that he ran the division lino bctwetni lots ;!i)
and .'U, " about two chains westward of liu-
remains of the old French FiTt,' which di-
vision line is now represented by the iho-
rouyhfare known as Dufi'eriu avenue. Out,
of curiosity and just to tost tho primitiva
burvuyo 's remark, tho writer a few years
since, but subs»-(|uent to the erection of tlie
obelisk, aacom{)anied by a friend, tool; thi;
crouiile actua ly to measure with a regular
surveyor's chain, the distance of two chains
casi-ward from Dufl'erin ave. and this dis-
tance, ne was pleased but not surprised to
find, brou^iii him and his friend precisely
CO the spot marked by the obelisk, thus
showing how correct was the old surveyor i
eye.
The second interesting particular is tlie
following :— in the course of certain excava-
tions in the Kxiiibition Park m.»de in con-
nection witli tho panocomic display in IS'Jl,
a discovery was made of what there can be
little doubt was a burial plot aj^pertainiui,'
to the old French Fort Toronto. A number
of skeletons were found laid in the ground.
for the most part with regularity, showing
tha' they were deposited in a place set apart
for 'sepulture, some of them encased in cotliiis,
and some noc. The situation of the burial
plot is exactly north of the monument
at a distance of al out one hundred
yards. Here wore probably to be
seen the remains of all those who had died
at the old Flench Forr Toronto, during its
brief existence from 1749 to 1759. The two
particulars just narrated, amounting we may
say to a positive demonstration, should be
eapecially noted, inasmuch as the proprie-
tors of the land immediately west of Dufferin
street liave endeavored to throw discredit
on the site in the Exhibition Park mar> ed
by the obelisk, in consequence of the di»>
a
<5@
'%:
-=>>
rS^i;*
., ,'■ ;«
i -^
)D^
lop. lOL
eofery on thi
Mill e*dar ^up
which tiM ooy
cliff or wlge o
wu* hastily cc
of tlie old Kn
on the land
I'ort lioaiUe i
origin of the
is well knowr
quite recent t
juH weil-rc
C'au.vla Collej
Mr. Duffy at
visablc to ren
Dorthward, ii
tered aiiiiati
w»ter. The 1
WM long a c(
side of DufTer
street just he
niisletnling, ii
tinuc. to give
tiie pronuuci
popular orga
igaal to the t
Iiiiuid doulile
Tiie result is
oft n obliged
oi Rouille iut
in th" memoi
Coant de Joi
timi! being at
having his no
trailing post
vailod in ap
Toronto, tl
familiar as a
ha.5 often bee
was 80 siyled
w&s establis!
derived not :
tins loealiiy,
Lb,' -a Simcoe
plaue of iiieel
comiuonly sp
dial'jct spoke
word Toron
Sugtu'd's diel
and not to
hoine was no
the south ai
possible that
may occur ol
for example,
cut meaning
In the sun
tion surroun
posts and a
ot the whole
improved.
^rni
LANl'MARKo OF TORONTO.
7»
(Ofrry on ik»t land of » wuftll disosed well
tn<l e*dar ^uppo^U of a buildiuK oioM by,
«hi(;h kM oow disappeared, not far from tbe
cliir ur edge of the bank. Tb«He remaini, it
wa/< hastily concluded, were aome remnanta
of tlie old French fort, and a street laid out
on the land has been acuoriliugly named
I'ort Kouille street, hut it bapjrans that the
origin of the well and building referred to
is well known. 'I'lioy were the work in
quite reoent titr.es of Mr. lames Duffy, a
tiill well-rcmetnt)cred master In U|>(<cr
Cau.vla College wlio ouou owned the 8p<>i.
Mr. Duffy at a lutor period found it ad-
visable to remove hi.i bouse a short distaiicu
aorthward, in < rdcr to be m a more aUel-
(ersd situation, further away from the
water. The lumso waa removed bodily, and
was long a conspicuous object on the west
tide of DufTerin ivvc The name Fort llouitit
street just here, bc.iide.4 being confuaiiij^ and
iiUAlcading, is lively, if allowed to con-
tmuc, to give perni:kueucu to a Imrbarism in
tlie pronunciation of a French word, the
pupalar organs of speech bein^ r, ittio un-
t |aal to tbe task of pro<laciug th I ronch
ij(jui(i doul)le '* 1" and tbe acoentuaiN^il "e."
Tlie result is that tbe educated ear is already
oft n obliged to onduro tbe tnvnsfortnaliou
01 Rouiile into Kouill. It bast been shown
in tb ■ memoir how Antoiue L<ouiy Kouillo,
Coant de Jouy, colonial minister for tbe
timi; being at Paris, was oomplimeuted by
having bis name otiiciatly attached to the
trading post here, but popular usuge pre-
vailed in applying to it the appellation of
Toronto, that name being already
familiar as a designation of the 1 cality. As
ha.: often been shown, the Toronto Landing
was eo styled long before the trading post
wan establislied, " Toron o," having been
derived not from anything connect d with
tins locality, but from Lake Toronto, now
IaKh Simcoe, far to the north, the grand
place of meeting of the 'Vyandot Indians,
commonly spoken of as Uurona. It 13 to the
dialect spoken by the Wyaudots that the
word Toronto belonged (cDUsult Father
Sugard's dictionary of the Huron language)
and not to that of the Mohawks, whu^e
hoine was not hereabouts, but far aw ay to
the south and east. Of course it is quite
possible that in the Moha^ k dialect a term
may occur of a somewhat similar sound (a.s,
for example, Deonda) and possessing a differ-
tut meaning.
In the summer of 1892 the City Corpora-
tion surrounded the monument with massive
posta and a metal bar. The general effect
ot the whole structure has thus been greatly
improved.
CHAPIKR CCXVI
TORONTO JUNCTION YEARS AGO.
▲ tpct Ibnt Was «Vrll Known Awav KarV
In the Forlieit— The Western Suburb a«
II was and It la.
Probably few towns in the Doir.inion pre-
S' nt a greater contrast between what th y
arc now and what they were forty yearg ago
than doej tiio subject o our sketch. VVhure
electric car.i now run with more or less regu-
larity were to be f und roads innocent of
evfry ultLinpt at ptivinL,', and romiukiiliie
only for lliuir utter deHolation in wincur
through snuw dri ts, tlieir discomfort in
spring o.ting to thn quantities of
mud witii which they abounded and
their all but iinpassability in summer
from thu clouds of dust always a i^ing
total number of inhabitants in the district
now included in the municipality of Toronto
Junction did not exceed two hundred and
fifty souli, whereas today the population is
variously eatimaiod at from live to six tliou-
sand people. There was bnt one railway
ataliou, that on tuo Northern Railway,
known as I)avcnport, and what a
station it was ! dimply a wooden
shed, opuii, except ut tlio roof, en-
tirely to tlie weather, and at wuich slopped
only two trains each way .uily. It is need-
less to add that there were no seats pro-
vided for the waiting public —of whom, for-
tunately, there were ve y few, and if one
wer desirous of purchasing a ticket it would
have been a hard matter to accomplish, as
there wero no ofliciahi of any sort or descrip-
tion within sight.
LETTERS AND TKI.KORAMS.
There was no potollico nearer tban
Brockton on the one side, VV'e.ston on the
other and at Yotkville and Lambton on tbe
east and west respectively. Having a tele-
gram . elivered cost four times as much aa
the message itself and on the very rare oc-
casions when sucli missives arrived for any
ot tbe residents, their recipient!
were regarded with feelings of ad-
miration, if not of awe, in having
such important kiusincss on hand as to neces-
sitate a telegraphic messas^e. At the period
we are spnai;ing of Mr. George Cooper was
huildiDy, as a residence tor himself, the large
red briclc house near Davenport station
which is now occupied by Mr. A. Royce. On
the north side of Davenport road, nearly
opposite to tlie spot where now runs Church-
hill avenue, were one or two paltry cottages,
which liave long since disappeared. On the
south side of the road from tbe railway sta-
tion, and for a long way both towanlo Dun-
'.,
J .-■ -t:
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734
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
das street and A'eston road, this last then
known as the Plank road, was dense bush
land throu<:;h wliich few people either cared
or attempted to pass. Where Mr. IJrimer
now resides on Davenport road was a large
rough-cast house, (since dostrojed by fire)
standing, as do.-s the present one, in a
spacious garden and occupied by Mr. Samuel
Thompson, who was well known as a poli
tician and writer of no mean literary abil
ity. He died in Toronto in 1886, just
after h« had completed and published
a delightful volume of reminiscences.
About a quarter of a mile to
the north-west of Mr. Thompson's resi-
dence, on the road leading to Weston, where
it is intersected by what is now called St.
Clair avenue, were four or five Hmall houses,
boundary of the farm known as Aikenehaw
occupied by Colonel £dward U'illi.ini
Thomson from 1S44 — when ho erected tlie
large red brick house, which is still stand
ing— until his death in 1865. Colonel
Thomson was one of the 8ur»irors of the
war of 1812, 1813, 1814, and for some time
held a seat in Parliament. He was, thoui^h,
far roorj eminent as an agricul-
turist than as a politician and
valued his position as chair inuu
of the Board of Agriculture for Upper Can-
ada much more tiian any political distinc-
tion he might gain. It is worthy of re-
mark that Colonel Thomson's house was
the first brick resiJenee of any description
erected on Dundas street between Toronto
and the|Humber. On the nitienshaw property
COL THOMSON S VKOl'EUTY.
a blacksmith's shop, and a very small gro-
cery store. These houses were on the edge
of the woods, in which abounded red and
black sijuirrels as well as great numbers of
chijiniunks. The land for the Grand Trunk
Railway 'V-is then (1854) in course of survey,
but the lino was not cut through until
1856, nor Carlton station erected until 1857.
V\ liat is now Keele street ran as u
concession fn^ni the present St. (lair avenue
to Dundas street, and forn.od the eastern
there were no houses whatever exceptim:
the Colonel'! residence and out biii!ainL;> :
indeed there was in IS5:{ one plot oi iuit^li
land of eight acres forming a portion of tlie
propel ty, which was not finally cleared
until 1850. Opposite Col. Thomson':i resi-
dence on Dundas street was a modiMMtely
sized rough (.ast dwelling, which '.vaa oi-cii-
pied by Mr. William Kccle, a son of Mr
\V. C. Kcielc, whom we shall presently refer
to. William Keele farmed the a(lj< ining
-'-- Mr
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
7W
Iftail of perhaps fifty acres, but in IS.'jo and
lSr)G he leased a larc;e portion of the pro-
perty to» joint stock company for the pur-
pose of forming a race course. This latter,
known as the Carlton race ground, was
opened for sport in the spring of 1857, and
in the following year had the honour of
Royal patronage, Htr .Majesty giving a sum
of money to be run for by horses under
a certain age bred in Canada. The
course had a very brief existence, com-
paratively, as it was finally closed in 1872.
What we now know aa Kosle street ex-
tended on the south side of Dundas street for
perhaps eight hundred yards until it reach-
ed the rough-cast house occupied by Mr.
\V. C. Keelc, where it stopped short
ill the midst of a dense undergrowth of oak
and other trees. Mr. Keele. from whom this
the locality. He was for a long time
(excepting the farmers) the only employer of
labour in the neighbourhood, he having ex-
tensive brick yards on Dunaas street, near
the Plank road, and was besides the
first owner of nearly all the laud
in the vicinity. He was a man
of strong prejudices, yet capable of deep af-
fection,and under a somewhat rough man-
ner had a very kind heart. He whs one of
the inhabitants of York who iu 181,~) signed
the address of welcome to Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor (J ore, on the return of the latter from
England to resume the reins of i^overnnient.
He died in Toronto in 1860, at the great aje
of 87 years, leaving a large number of des-
cendants.
fJetween the cottage we have just ra-
I ferred to and the I'eacock tavern — the
MK. SCARLKTTS IlOUSK—RtJNNYMF.DK- DUNDAS STRKKT.
Street takes its name, s\as a soli( itor of high
character and repute. He published more
than one legal handbook, which had a large
sale. On the southwest corner of Keele and j
Dundas street stood the Swan tavern ; we
Atf sorry to aa,j it was not regarded as being ,
ck i^reat blessing to the neighbourhood. On i
the opposite corner, towards Toronto, on the
8»me side, stood a new red brick cottage
built by Mr. .Tohn Scarlett, wiioaiao erected
in 1838 the rough-cast house known as
Runnyinede, still standing on the north side
ot Dundas street to the extreme west of the
town.
Mr. Scarlett may, indeed, be regard -
fi as the father of Toronto Junctioi, ;
he built almost, if not the Tery first house in
latter long since pulled down and replaced
by a hotel of the same name — were some few
cottagesaiidMr. Seaj' itt'sbrick yards. There
was a blacksmith's shop exactly opposite the
Peacock, and when we say there was one
small seneral store near the brick fields we
have described Torcnito Junction as it wis in
1853 with tolerable accuracy. There was no
provision whatever at this perio<l for the
education of the young ; boys and girls alike
cither waited to school in Toronto or
to Ktobicoke where there was a small
school house, now used by the Roman
Catholics as a church The nearest place of
worship belonging to the Church of England
was St. CJeorge's, on Dundas street, beyond
the Uumber. Thers was a small wooden
4
rrr
'A 1: s
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730
LANDMARKS OF TUROMO.
ffEACOCKlAVOJNi'^
^'.^B**-
THE OLD PEACOCK TAVERN, DUITDA8 STREET.
building also on Dundas street, on the
•outhem side, near Bloor street, occupied by
the Wesleyan body, but there was no per-
manent minister, and eves if ther« had been
one there was no residence for him. As
for sanit*ry arrangements, every house-
holder was a law unto himself,
and the marvel is not that there
was so much illness I ut that there was so
little. As for the administration of justice,
there was fortunately but little serious
crime. When any such occurre I it was
dealt with in Toronto, and minor cases were
heard by one or other of the various magis-
trates acting for the township. These
gentlemen always held their courts at tlieir
own houses, f-uch was tha Junction forty
years ago— a small, scattered community,
without power for good or evil. What it is
to-day our readers are able to j Ige for
themselves.
Early Settlers.
Amongst the MS. in the archives at Ottawa
b the first list sent out from HJngland of the
Loyalists who had signed to settle in Upper
Canada. Very few of the names are familiar
in this part ot the province, as these
pioneers bettled in the Midland district.
The list reads : —
Loyalists who have signed to f,'o and settl*
with their families in Upper Canada. Lon-
don,Dec. 26th, 1791 : — Isaac Morley, Samuel
Knowles, Daniel Stretch, Benj. OgJen.
Xathan Harnum, Robert \lorrell, Edward
Dougherty, Jas. Gushing, Barth. Stavers,
Jno. Smith-Halfield, \Vm. Hove, Robt
Wilkins, Joseph Hallo way, Jcrem. Pem
berton, Jos. Stephens, Jno. Baker,
Peter McDonald, John Brooks, John Bar-
ton, Jas. Huestis, Lawrence Thucsoon, Jivs.
McAtell, Edward Thorp, Chas. Thorp, Ed
ward Dougherty, jr., John (Griffiths, Jacob
Buffinton, Sebastian de Molito, Henry Mc-
Donald, Jas. Stephenson, Alex. McDonald,
(ieorge E. Spoouer, VVm. Gallop, Terence
Kerin, Frederick Hcrchtield, MoDonakl,
Thomas Giles, WolfLjaug Road, Frederick
Herner, Jno. Loughburrow,Ja3. Rankin, jr.,
Neil McMuUen, Thos. 'J'ulley, John I'iul-
lips, \Vm. Hart, Zack. Tulley, Williiitr.
Scliermer, Ann Pomeroy, (widow) Wm. Da
Mont, Mark Mansfield, (;re;jory Wells.
Early Torvnto.
GoTernor Simooe, when he arrived in Ca-
nada, did not coino direct to Niagara. lie
writes from Montreal on December 7th,
1791 :—
He proposed sttlfini'nt of Toronto — Simcot ti
Dundas, Die 7, 1791, dated Montrfal.
I hope to assemble the Legislature in
the autumn at Niagara, to winter at Cat;v-
raqui and early in the spring to occupy with
such a central po.sition ss shall previously be
chosen for ihe capital. If possible, I could
wish to beijin a settlement at Toronto.
"Tr-,
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LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
737
CHAPTER CCXVII.
THE RANGERS AND NAVY HALU
TTIint It Cost In the Days of 1793 to Hut
ihe Fuinoas Qneen's Kansers and to I'M
I'p the Vovernor's House.
In ft letter written in 1792 by Alured
Clarke we hare some interesting facts about
the hutting of the Queen's Rangers and tiie
fitting up of Navy Hall at Niagara. The
ricords are found in the Siincoe papers in
Uie Archives Department at Ottawa. Clarice
i»ys :—
Clarke to Dundas.
"SlK,— Inmy letter. No. 43, of the 5th
Stptember, I mentioned that having called
apon Colonel Simcoe, commanding in Upper
Cftoada, for the returns and estimates of
such works as might be deemed necessary in
(bat part of this district, he has stated, as it
«M imponsiblti to reduce to any certain esti-
mate the expense that would accrue from
tiw necessity of huttinc the Queen's Rangers
M Niagara, he would himself make the
neeessary communication to the Lords Com-
misaoners of his Majesty's Treasury.
" The enclosed, Nos. 1 to 6, are estimates of
the works and repairs found nece.ssary and
grdered for Colonel Simcoe, to be carried
into immediate execution, amounting to one
thousand, five hundred and sixty-four
pounds, fifteen shillings and twopence half-
penny, which I have approved and direct to
be defrayed in the usual nianuer by the
Deputy Paymaster - General of the
Forces, taking for granted that any
further couimiMiicdtion?i that may be
thought necessary on this head will be made
by Colonel Simcoe, as before stated.
" I have the honour to be, with great re-
ipect, sir, your most obedient and most
faithful humble servant,
" Alured Clabke. "
" 7Ae Right Hon Ue'iry Duudas.
•'(Abstract of estimates enclosed.)"
Navy Hall must have been quite a respect-
»ble dwelling for the days of 1792. It was
of wood, clapboard, and outside of the
original cost of the building Simcoe pro-
posed to spend upon it 'about £300, or
{2.500 of the currency of to-day.
The first memorandum is nn "Estimate of
the expence of erecting 28 log houses for the
icconimodation of Colonel Simcoe's Ran-
gers at the west landing at Niagara."
£ s d
No. 1, Workmanship.. 95 18 6
No. 2, Materials %*8 I 10
£1,U34 0 4
The second is an "Estimate fort he expenco
of fitting up Navy Hall foi the accommoda-
tion of Colonel Simcoe" :
£ 8 d
No. .3, Workmanship... IW 6 0
No. 4, Materials .357 0 2
473 5 2
And the third is an " Estimate of expence
of building an oven for use of Colonel Sim-
coe's corps."
£ 3 d
No. 5, Workmanship 5 12 6
No. 6, Material 51 17 24
57 9 8^
The huts for the Queen's RaDge>-s were to
be 28 in namlMr, and quite a iar .e quantity of
timber wars required for tbetr erection. A
letter in the archives from the captain of the
Royal Engineers at Quabec Kivos details of
the work to be done to make tiM colonial
regiment cooifortable. It reads ; —
QuKBKc, 8th Ocspober, 1792.
Estimate ot expence vi ersctiiig twenty
eight log houses for the accommodation for
the corps of Queen's Rangera, at the west
landing, ordered by His Excellency Colonel
Simcoe, 20th August, 1792, from the report
of Lieut. Pilkington, Royal Engineers.
Each house to be 24 feet by 10 in the
clear. Eight for tlie officers. Fourteen tor
the men. Three for au Hospital. Two mt'ss
and cooking houses for the otScers. One for
a bake house.
£ s d
Carpenters 70 00 00
Masons 20 it W
Glaziers 1 15 Ol'
Smiths 3 18 t)
93 IS ti
Materials necessary
Six hundred logs, 20 feet each, 9 in. diam.
One thou.'jind logs, 20 feet each, 9 in. diiim.
Four hundred logs, 14 feet each, for rafters.
Nine hundred lifty i^ in. pine plank.
Six hundred 1 j in lioards.
Eleven hundred fifiy in. boards.
Six thousand '20d nails
Seventeen thousanJ lOd nails.
Fifty-six tliousaud shingles.
Eighty'foar thousand shingle nails
One hundred eighty nine barreU lime
Five thousand four 1 uudred bricks
Four hundred twenty-six panes glass
Forty-eigiit lbs putty
Nineteec pieces flat iron, 6 feet long each.
Eight pieces do, 5 feet long each.
Eighteen pieces square iron 6 feet long each.
Twenty-eight pair hooks and straps
Four hundred and forty eight fectruuniug 3
ia. oak plank, 8 iu. broad.
.-
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11
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738
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Amounting to ninety-tive pounds, eighteen
shillings and sixpence currency.
Bknj. Fish BR,
Capt. Commanding Royal Engineers.
Approved.
(Sifned,) Alcred Clark k.
Estimate of the expense of erecting
twenty-eight log houses for the acconmioda-
tion of the corps of Queen's Rangers at the
West Landing, as per Captain Fisher's esti-
ma»e, dated Quebec, 8th October, 1792,
£ I. d.
GOO logs, 26 feet each 9 in. diam.
at 5s each 150 0 0
1,000 logsSO feet each, 9 in. diam
atSsench 250 0 0
400 logs, 14 feet each, for rafter*,
at r-ia each 100 0 0
9')0 feet 1<: inch pine plank, at la
.Sd eachi' 59 7 6
600 } inch boards, at Is !Sil each, . . 30 0 0
1,1.")0 1 inch do, at Is each 57 10 0
6,(X)0 20a nails at 14s per M .., 4 4 0
IT.vlOO lOd naiU at lU^ y>.:v M S 10 0
56,000 shin-iles at 4r)s per M 12() 0 0
84,00C shingle nails at :U Od per M 14 14 0
189 barrels of lime al ',»j eacii 8.') 1 0
5.400 bricks at 60s per M 16 4 0
426 panes of ylas^s al 6d each 10 l."{ 0
48 pounds of putty at lOd 2 0 0
19 pieces of flat iron, 6 ft. lon^
each, at 5s each 4 15 0
8 pieces of flat iron, 5 ft, long each,
at 4s each 112 0
IS pieces square iron, 6 ft. long
each, at .5s each 4 10 0
28 pairs hooks and straps at 4s pr.
pair 5 12 0
448 feet 3 in. oak plank, 8 in.
broad, at 4d per ft 7 9 4
9.38 1 10
John- Craioie, A. C.
Estimate of making such repairs and ad-
ditions at N ivy Hall as are requisite for the
accommodation of his E.xoellency Colonel
iSimeor, ordered bv kim 26tl> July, 171(2,
from the report of Lieut. I'ilkington, Royal
Engineer.
£ a. d.
Carpenters' work H • 0 0
Evicklavers' and plasters' IS 0 0
Smiih.i'". 2 5 0
(ilazicrs* 2 0 0
Painters' { 2 0 0
Labourers' 12 0 0
116 5 0
inch boards. 24,001) shingles. 7,000 laths
150 lbs. .30d nails. 50 lbs, 20d nails. 281)
lbs. lOd nails. 25 Us. 8d nails. 40U
shingle nails. 140 lbs. lathing nails,
lbs. 5 inch spikes. 180 barrels lime.
7,000 bricks.
Ib.s.
200
25
60 lbs stucco.
whiting. .3.32 panes glass. 64 lbs.
36 lbs. white paint. 6 lbs. blue
12 lbs brown paint. 4 lbs black
7 gallons linseed oil. 1 gallon
turpentine. 6 lbs. fig blue. 12 Ibn.
2 stock locks. 12 door locks. 3 pad
bushels hair.
25 lbs.
putty.
paint.
paint.
spirits
glue.
locks. 12 pair H hinges. 12 pair H hinci j.
12 window bolts. 12 door bolts. 16 do/cn
screws. 18 sashes and catches. ^ ewt.
small square iron. .^ cwt. small flat iron.
Four sheets iron.
Amounting to one hundred and si.xteen
pounds, five shillings, currency.
BKN.t. Fisher,
Capt. Comdg. R. Engra.
Approved
Signed, Alured Cl-Arke, A.C.
Estimate for above —
£357 Os 2d. currency.
John t raiiui:,
Com. 4 Q. M. General, A.C ,
QuruKC, 8th October, 17'.»'2.
Estimate of the expense in buihtiiu' an
oven for the use of the corps of Queeh's
Rangers at the West Landing, ordered Ijy
His Excellency Colonel Simcoe, 20th August,
1792, from the report of Lieut. Pilkington,
Royal Engineer. <
Masons and bricklayers. .£3 lOs. OJ.
Smiths £0 73. 6d.
Labourers £ 1 15c. Od.
Maicrlah necessary: —
600 feet round pine, 6 by 8 in
round scantling, 5 by 6.
•caBlling, 4 l)y 5.
100 1^^ in. boards.
2,000 feet
4,000 feet round
3St) H in. pine plank.
300 ioeh boards GOOj}
£5 12s G^t
Materials — 7,500 bricks, 45 brls. liin!,
15 batteaux loads sand, one peice, 2.^ in.
Hat iron, Oft. lon^, 6 sheets iron, and I'Jlhs.
rod iron. Total value — £5 12s. 6d cur-
rency. B. FisiiEit.
Estimate of the expenco of sundry
materials for the building of an oven for
the use of corps of the York Ram'ers at
the West Landing required in Caplnin
Fisher's estimate of the SthOctobei, 17ii-.
£ e. I.
7,500 brick, at 60s per thd 22 10 0
45 brls lime at 68 per brl 20 .") 0
15 batteaux loads of sand at 10s 7 10 i
1 jiiece 24 in. flat-irwn, 6 ft.
long, at 53 0 5 0
6 sheets of iron at 4a 1 4 <l
12 lbs. of rod iron at 303 per cwt. 0 3 :'t |
£51 17 .'ii
Joiiy Craiuie,
Com. and Q. M. Genl.
!i '
HI!
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
7S0
An interesting letter accompanies the esti-
mates. It gives a statement about Navy
Hall, showing that the original building was
erected during the war of 1770-75. It
reads : —
Re Xavy Hall and the. hiUn — Extract from
later, dated Quebec, S6th May, 170.1, from
Alured Clarke to lit. Hon. Henry Dundns :
I shall bo;;in with the building ei^ht hues
for covering tlie Queen's Rang rs This
regiment arrived at Quebec in the summer
without my receiving any information con-
cerning it other than an information the
year before that it was in contemplation to
riiise such a corps. Of course, no previous
measures could be taken tor tlioir accommo-
dation. Immediately on their arrival they
(liaembarked and were conveyed with their
baggage, store? etc , to the Upper Province,
leaving it to Cnloicl Simcoe's discretion to
quarter them where he thought it would
best answer the purposes for which tboy
rere raised. Upon their arrival it became
necessary to take steps for etlocting a more
aubslantial protection from the weather of
the approaching season. The circum-
stances of the case would admit
of no delay, and the plan adopted
was most advisable, not only as being most
expedilious but, considered in an economical
view, less expensive and at the same time
more durable than barracks to bo construct-
ed of n^aterial made from timber then
standing.
Tiie l.uilding of an oven for thiir accom-
modation WHS equally necessary, that being
the only means in the infant state of the
lettlemont by wliich they could have been
furnished with bread.
Anotlier part of the service to be carrie 1
into execution without waiting for a previ-
ous approbation was making the repairs
and additions to Navy Hall which Col.
Simcoe found necessary for the immediate
accommodation of himself and family, as
well as several otlicers of his (iovernment.
This building is on the west side of
Niagara river and was erected in the course
of the last war by order of the commander
inchief of the forces for the use of the
officers of the Naval Department serving
upon Lake Ontario; thatesta) lishment being
since considerably reduced and the house
not being much wanted during peace, did
not from time to time receive the repairs it
stood in need of; and in it^ best state could
be considered but a paltry residence for
the King's representative. However, such
as it was, it was the only one that offered,
or that could be produced as a shelter until
a batter or more commodious one could be
provided, bub in the then state and condi-
UoD thereof it could not have been inhabited
in the winter, and so far was the season ad-
vanced that it was not possible to transmit
any plan or proposals to England for pre-
vious consideration or directions ; under
these circumstances, and considering the
building as beine under the immediate
orders of the military commander-in-cliief,
1 was iniiuced to approve and authorize the
payment of the alterations and repairs neces-
sary for the reception of Colonel Simcoe'a
family, etc., just arrived in » new country,
and who without this assistance must have
aufTered the greatest inconvenience, which
from his public character he certainly should
not have been exposed to.
The aci'oininodation for the ollicors of the
staff of Upper Canada was equally indispen-
sable an 1 likewise received my sanction.
I have the >onour to be, your most
obadieut and most faithful humble servant,
Aluked CIu\rke.
CliAl'lKR CC'XVllI.
A^HAT SIMCOE WROTE OF YORK,
U« Fitness us nn Ar«rnnl The I'ruposals
to ForUI'y ibc I'lnce.
Lieut. -Governor Simcoe thought agreat deal
of the old town of York, now ' oroiito. Had
his original intention been carried out we
should have hail iiuito a fortification on the
Island at the west point. Simcoe, in writing
to Lord Duudas, says : —
28th April, 1792
"Toronto appears to be the national
arsenal of Lake Ontario, and to afford an
easy access over laud to Lake Huron."
The proposal to fortify the Island is given
in detail. The block house referred to was
erected at dlibraltar Point, a hundred feet
north of Hanlan's. Stone was nor. usad, but
in all other regards the description of the
block house is accurate. For many yea b it
was thought that the block house was near
the light house, but thi-i letter elFectually
disposes of this statement, for the blocK
house " wholly commands the entrance to
the harbor." The letter is written by Lieut,
Pilkington, an otHcer of the Royal Engi-
neers. It reads : —
Niagara, 6th Sept., 1793.
Sir, — Pursuing the idea of occupying
Point liihraltar with a cavalitr or stone re-
doubt, for commanding the entrance into
the harbour of York, serving also in a more
general view of a system for the defence of
the place and for the immediate purpone of
(iovernment, for depositing naval and mili-
tery stores in the greatest securi'y, with the
smallest garrison ; I beg to oifer a square
block-house, fifty-eight feet in the clear, the
lower part coi oisting of a powdsr magazine
and store roonm and the upper part lo servo
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740
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
! '
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as barrac!;a. The lower storey under part
of the upper, forming the breastwork of a
battery iii barbet, to be of masonry, the re-
maining part of the second storey of log
work, grooved into uprights, removable in
caae of any emergence. The whole of the
lower part to be made bomb-proof, by tim-
bers supported by pillars'and^the party walls,
and for the greater security of the powder,
the magafine, with the passages leading to
it, to be arched with brick.
As the proposed position of the work is
not subject to any fire on the north side but
from the harbour, it will be advisable to have
the entrance on that side, and as the lower
part of the building may serve for barracks
in case of any attack, it may be expedient
also to have the same side constiucted so as
to admit of the requigite light and air on
such an occupation. The best side wholly
commands the entrance to the harbour, and
the south a narrow beach leading; to the ex-
treme point of the land forming the
harbour ; on the east side there
is an advantageous position against the
proposed work, which though detached by
unfordable waters it may be necessary to
occupy or remove.
The probable expcuss of the blockhouse
IB for workmanship only, as a considerable
share of attention will be requisite to the
foundations. I estimate at seven hundred
and eighty-five pounds sterling, considering
the labouring part, to be perforniea chiefly by
the military ; of the expense of the materials
I cannot at present form any precise idea,
but it may be concluded from the facility
with which stone, lime and timber may be
procured, they will be obtainable at a very
reasonable rate.
I have the honour to be, sir.
Your Excellency's most obediert
and very humble servant,
Robert Pilkington.
To His Excellency Col. Simcoe.
THE TOWN A.ND ARSENAL AT YORK.
Simcoe was very anxious to hurry forward
the settlement of York. The broken front
referred to the lands facing the bay and lake
shore. Simcoe writes : —
i<nncoe to Dtmdas.
York, Sept. 11, 1793.
•' The great importance that it appears to
the Ceuncil to promote the erection of
Tnv 1 hns alfla b'.'oasioned them to deviate
fror: ' .'? general plan to assist the settlement
i" '• -I, vjto or York, It was thought ex-
-.*.; tt '.o reserve the whole of the Broken
tVr>ii, !• (Jarrison purposes as well as to
prevent t.*'.e e Altering of the inhabitants in
Buch sii^uatioBC as their fancy or interest
might induce them, which would ever pre-
vent that compactness in • town which it
seems proper to establish ; two or three of
the front concessions are therefore granted
in this township, and the reserves will be
made in the back lands, but reserves will bo
made near this Harbour, of Timber, which
must in time berome valuable, as it is pro>
posed to furnish from hence all that may be
wanted in the fortresses on the Lakes."
(iovcrnor Simcoe thought that York had
advantages over Kingston. He proposed to
winter the fleet at York and erect buildin'^s
for naval purposes. These buildingd stood
on the bay shore, south of John street, and
were afterwards the commissary buildiDgs
They were of frame and clap-boarded.
When ori^iinally erected they were ot logs
Simcoe says in his letter to Lord Dundas :—
lie Arsenal at York— Simcoe to Diinda.^.
Sept 20, 179.1.
"lalso enclose for your inspection an actua
survey of the Harbour of York ( late
Toronto) the proper naval and military
ar.senal of Lake Ontario, and, in a great
measure of Upper Canada. The port of
Kingston, which is at the mouth of the
River St. Lawrence, is, from its e.\teut
and situation absolutely indefensible,
and by being constantly frozen up
during the winter is certaiuly
liable at that season to be destroyed, as it is
at no great distance from the United States.
" I propose, therefore, that the winter
station of the Fleet, and the refitting jiost,
and such naval buildings as may be want
ing, be at York. This post is at a great
distance from the foreign shore, is cajjable
if being easily defended, and the grants of
laud having been made by the present Gov-
ernment, suflicient care has been taken that
great reservations of timber should be made
for naval purposes. The floating ice (and a
bridge which it makes from the islands uea-
Kingston to the Continent) prevents the
shipping in that harbour, as well as in that
of Niaijara, from sailing for several days in
the spring when it is practicable to be at sea
from York."
When the war with France occurred Sim-
coe felt that the Rangers would be better at
York — so he writes to Lord Du'^das : —
" Upon the first news of the rupture with
France, I determined to withdraw the
Queen's Rangers from the unhealthy vicinity
of Niagara, where they were encamped, and
to occupy York. 1 submitted to the Com-
mande. -in-Chief my intentions and desired
his sanction to authorize me to construct a
Block Honse to defend the entranoe of the
harbour, detailing to him its properties and
the security it would a^ord to the Civil
Government of the Province, at the same
time stating in the capacity of Civil Governor
that was 1 not obedient to his authority I
LANl MARKS OF TORONTO.
741
should certainly occupy and in some dei;;ree
secure that- post, for the residence of the
Civil officers of the Government, and that
the only protection of the country should
not depend on such a miserable fortress as
Niagara, situated vrithiu the Line of the
United States."
THK FIRST PARLIAMENT HOUSE.
In the same letter Gov. .'^imcoe writes con-
cerning the Rangers and their houaini: and
.^Iso gives us important information as to the
meeting place of the first Legislature. 7be
store houses referred to were part of the
Navy Hall property. Another paragraph
ia the letter refers to the harbor of York,
and also to the fact that merchants were
buying lots in the pioneer town. This was
surely the first land boom. Gov. Simcoe
writes : —
Re Qneen'3 liaTigers' Barracks, sam' letter.
Last year I hutted the Queen's Rangers
as well as possible near to Niagara, and I
fitted up the king's barracks and store
houses to contain the offices of Government
ftud to accommodate tbe Legislature of the
Province, who must for some time have their
annual assembly at that place. These tem-
poraiy buildings I thought it a great public
saving to refit, as it is most probab e they
will be required hereafter for various Govern-
menlal purposes, or sold advantageously for
the public benelit.
The occupation of the harbour of York I
totally take upon my.self in the capacity of
Civil Governor, and i sliould forthwith pro-
ceed on the storehou.sea which I propose to
erect, as is most necessary for the public
.service, but at the same time I eing con-
vinced that, as permanent storehouses may
be so built as to contribute essentially
to the strength of this important
post and the whole colony, and
the incorporating such a military purpose
into the arrangement of what is necessary
to preserve the public stores, bringing it
under the cognizance of the I]oard of Ord-
nance, I feel much embarrassed.
Lieut. Pilkington^ the Engineer, has fur-
nished his estimate of the aggregate of the
expense which the purposed storehouses and
block house will cost, and which I lieg to
submit for your consideration. Having
thus, sir, entered into the system which I
consider as absolutely necessary for the de-
fence and security of the Province intrusted
to my charge.
Mercltanta buying lots in York.
I hope to complete the military street
(through the province) in the ensuing autumn
The merchants and traders have already turn-
«d their eyes to this communication and ob-
tained lots in York upon such a speculation;
this will be greatly increased when it shall
be fully understood that it is much mors
easy of access than uniform reports and fre-
quent enquiries had given room to imagine.
CHAPTER CCXIX.
OLD NIAGARA.
The Sccords ia tta« ArektTes— ▲ Uescrip-
tlon of r«H Rlagarft ta 17*0.
The records in the Archive Department at
Ottawa are of gr eat value to all who are in-
terested in the earlier history of the coun-
try, especially the western part of Canada.
In the correspondence of 1790 there is a
letter from Ralfe Clench, a member of a well-
known Niagara family. His letter is dated
Nassau, 28th August, 1790, and is written
to John Johnson, Bart, Navy Hall. The
letter gives Sir John information regarding
the purchase of part of the Six Nations
country by some Americans. Tho lands
seem to have been near the Grand River.
The pioneers of Canada prior to 1791 very
frequently addressed and headed their cor-
respondence with the name of the district
in which they were located.
In 1788, by proclamation of Lord Dor-
chester, that part of Canada west of the
Ottawa was formed into four districts, viz.
Lunenburg, extending from the Ottawa to
to the river Gananoque ; Mccklinburg, from
the (Jananoque to the Trent ; Sassiu,
from the Trent to Long Point on Lake
Erie ; and Hessa, which included the
remainder of Canada to the ;~t. Clair.
In 1791 the Constitutional Act was
introduced into the House of Lords for the
further adjustment of Canadian matters.
By this .> ct Canada was divided into two
provinces by a line drawn from Point-au-
Baudet, on Lake St. Francis, to Point
Fortune on the Ottawa, thence along the
course of that river to its head waters and
the southern limit of the Hudson Bay Terri-
tory.
" Following this a correspondence giving a
description of -Fort Niagara, which in 1790
was in Caniida, but by the treaty was hand-
ed over to the United States. The account
is contained in a letter written by Mathews
to Nepean : —
Mathf.ios to Nepran.
" Fort Niagara is situated upon an angle
formed by the lake and river ; the side next
the land has two half bastions with a long
curtain and ravelin, all of sod work ; there
is a strong stockade in the ditch, which is
dry, and on the Benn (?) a smaller line of
pickets sloping outwards ; there arc two
block houses of mason work in the gorges of
the bastion, mounting each two pieces of
cannon, en barbette, which commands the
I !l
I
742
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
li
M
wiiole country within thair range. The
sides next the lake and river are stockaded,
and on the opposite side of the river ar« two
bastions, mounting 12 and 18 pounders, the
uholo in a good state of defence."
rpi
CHAPTER CCXX.
A PROVOST MARSHAL IN 1777.
Miles PrcHtlce and tbe Jndge.
One of the well-known names in the city
of Quebec from 1759 60 until 1787 was Miles
Prentice, the Provost Marshal of Quebec,
Prentice was a popular fellow. He kept tbe
Freemasons' Tavern and also the Sun Tavern
in the ancient city, and it was his niece that
came within an ace of marriage with Lord
Nelson when he was commander of the
Albemarle, lying at Quebec. An old reoord
has turned up in the Archives Department
at Ottawa, concerning Prentice and a man
named Giroux. It appears that Prentice, as
Provost Marshal, had lUroux and his wife
under arrest and locked up in jail. The
chief justice, it appears, thought that the
pair should be liberated. Preatice thought
ditfcrently. In order to bring matters to a
focus, the chief had an interview with Pren-
tice, in which the latter was very emphatic
and would not yield He said :
On Saturday mo jiiig, the 4th instant, .Vr.
Livins met me ncui' the PostolBce and de-
sired that I would turn back to my house ;
he wanted to speak to me and called for a
private room for that purpose. The iirst
question Mr. Livins asked was, "Have you
not a man and his wife in your prison ?" I
answered I had, upon which he said, '" I
should be glad to know the man's name and
how his name is spelled ?" I answered I
could not tell him exactly, but would look
for the commitment. When I had found it
Mr. Livins took down the mans name on
a piece of paper, with pen and ink, and I
believe the whole, or at.least a part, of the
commitment, after doinc; which he told me,
" I had no right or authority to imprison
them on thefe commitment, as it appeared to
him to be a very odd one and as a military
Provost Martial he thought I had no right
to receive any other prisoners than those
belonging to the military." I then made
answer that any prisoners sent to me from
the General or Lieutenaut-Ciovernor I would
take them in charge, or even front him,
till such time as they were examined.
H« then said, " I had no right to
reoeivt any prisoners from him, except
thro' compliment, as I was only Provost
Martial to the Army." I answered that I
knew I was not Provost Martial for the
Province of Quebec in the civil way, but
that I was Military Provost Martial for tha
City of Quebec and its dependencies, upoa
which the discourse ended for that time.
On Sunday, the 5th, about 5 o'clock in the
evening, Mr. Livins sent his servant, who
informed me his master wanted to speak to
me ; when I arrived at his lodgings, I was
conducted into bis study, and as soon as
he asked me if the man and his wife were
released I told him they were not ; hu
then said he would send me an order that
they '* should be brought before him, and
when examined, if ho found sufficient
reason for so doing, he would commit them
to the common jail and give them a trial,
and if fouml guilty, have a public example
made of them," to which I answered that. I
would not deliver them without an order
from the Lieutenant-Governor; he then saiU,
*' If I would not deliver them upon hia
order," as Chief Justice of this Province,
" he would be under the necessity of com-
mitting me to jail :" upon which I replied,
that I was fifty years of age, and had never
yet been confined an hour ; he then added,
" I do not understand that people should
be put into prison by any person and there
kept in confinement during pleasure."
(Signed) Miles I'rentice.
Quebec, 6th October, 1777.
Personally appeared before me. Miles Pren-
tice, of the City of Quebec, and made
oath on the Holy Evangelists to the
truth of the foregoing declaration.
(Signed) Thos. Scott, C. P,
Endorsed — Miles Prentice's, Provost Mar-
tial, Declaration under Oath, 6th Oct., 1777.
Am Old Military Retarn.
In the Archives Department at Ottawa
there is an old return of the c arrison at Que
bee and at Three Rivers in 1776. Tliere
were but few regulars at Quebec, but no lesst
than eleven regiments and four companies
of artillery at Three Rivers.
BETPRX OF RKQIMKNTS IN G.A.RRISON AT
QOEBKO, MAY 1, 1776.
No.
Royal Fusi^ers 67
Royal Emigrants 177
Corps of Seamen 358
Marines 30
Artificers, &o 77
British Militia 277
Canadian Militia 508
Company of Invalids 55
Total 1,566
FORCES AT THRBB RIVERS, JUNE 1, 1776.
9th, 20bh, 21st, 24tb, 2dth, Slst, 34th,
47th, 53rd, 62nd, 1st Batt. Royal Emigrants
4 companies Royal Artillery.
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Volume I.
UPPER CANADA GAZETTE.
O R
AMERICAN ORACLE.
THURSDAY, April i8, 1793.
>»s3a«6aa««»s»«d»a»ss3.s.**«*as^a.s^
JOHN GRAVES SIMCOE.
PROCLAMATION
far llufiffrffo* of Vice, Pnfnnrfi (£> Immnraiity,
■ T HII ExcttLIKCT
10JIN 'GRAVES aiMCOE, Efquirc,
liiwlnuKl Ontmr tf CMmA iUmmMdin^ Hii Mtjrfy'i
Ftrai, iilJf IVoviorf of Vjifir CunaJ.i,
WHEREAS il iit::e Indifprnrblt
duty of all Prople, md more
' erpceiillyorillC'hrifii.n N<iion>. to
trefcrvr >nd idvince the Hoiiat ind
enicC'of Alni^lity Cod) >iid to
difcoiuage ind luppred all Vir'e,
WeCancn^ri ::)d lir.i::anlilyi *hlch
Knot timety i)te»«l»ed may juflly drjwdown ihr Divine
Vengeance upon Uund our Country! And Hh MajtPy
Ibaving for tne -promotion of Virtue, and in leiid-ftitis
to the beft Intertfla of Hi« Ciibjecu, givtn cd.iinund fot
caufing all Uwimade ap.iiifi Blafplif myi Piofinr.ie j,
Aduliny, FomlcJilon. rolysimy, ln:-'l, Praf.<ni:Ion
•of theLorfiDay,S»eirin|;iiidDrunkfMClV, to be Itr.aiy
put in Eiepitlon in e«eiy pirt of the P.-ovi«e, Idd
Iherelore diteft, require and command the Rcarc Olicen
■iidConnable>oriher<Yenl To«nt and Tdwninipi, lo
make prefentmeat'uponOalh, of any of the Vieen before
mentioned, to the Jiiftices ofthe Peace in their SdEon,
or to any of the other temporal Courti: Aod for
the more effefiualproceedlna herein, all Judges, Jufticei
and Maginnlee ind all otner officert concerned for
putting the Unagiinll Crimes and Offences into eile-
rulion, are direAed ind commanded lo exert'lhcmr«IvesH
for the due profecution and punilhment of all perfons,
«ho (hall prefutne lo offend in any ol the kinds afore-
(aid: and alfo of til perfons that, contrary to their
duly, Hull be remifi or negligent in pulling thefald
laws in exeqttlon. And I do further charge and com-
mand, that ihis Proclamation be publickFy read in all
'Count of Jul>ice, on the fiif) iiy of every Seflion to
be held in the courfe of the prefent year, and more ef-
pecitlly ill fuch ol His MajeDy't Courti, as have the
Cog;niLance of Crimes and Olfcncet ; recommending the
fame, toall Chriliian Minifiersof every denomination,
to caufe the fame Proclamation to be read four times
in the faid year, immedtatrly afcr Divine Service, in
•ill placn of'^^Public Worlhip, and that they do their ut-
roofi Endeavour, to incite their refpeftive Auditors to
the prafiiceof Pi<tyandVh1ue,and the avoiding of eveiy
courfe, contnry tu the pure Morality of the.Religion
«l the Holy Golpel ol Jefus Chrill.
CiviH under my Hand and Seal at Arms at the Go-
vehimjui Houlc, N«vv Hall, '.he Eleventh
«lay of April, in the Year of our Lord One
nhoufand icven Hundred and Ninetv-thtee,'and
in the Thirty-thtM Yen cf Hit Majefly't
Kcign.
THE KING'S SPEECH
TO lOTII HOVIIt or PAIILMMINT,
Drcmiir 13, i7ja.
fy Hii Exettltn.-yi Ccmmmi,
Wti. JARVlji, Secrvt.i.'y.
J.G.S.
My LcrJi itil GrnlUmn,
HAVING judged it neceTaty to embody i pirt of
the militia of this KiiiRdor,). I hive in purfuancc
rf thepioviF6nsof lhel<*, called you together
wilhitl the time liijilled fot Ihat potpofe, il is on every
account, i £ieat fatiififtiort la me lo meet you in Par-
liament at this Conjunrlare, I ihould have Men h.ippy
If I could iiivc announ.ej lo you the Terureind un-
diilutbcd contltiuaiKt of all tne bleffingi wliirh my
fubje<<li have Derived fkom a ftaie of innquijily ; but
eN'erils haVe recently occurred which require oilf united
vigiliitce and eiertion in order lo prefetvt the idvinla-
fe%. •hich we h-'ve hitherto enjoyea.
The rediiiotis ifr juices which have been In i great
meifure rheckei* by ymir firm- and explicit declarjlion
in the lall felBon, and by thegenerl concurrence of my
people in the fame fentimenti, haveoflaie been more
openly renewed, and with inrreafed aOivity, A fpirit of
tumult and diforder (the natural cotifequence of fuch
praaices)haslheim lirdfinaAs of riot and infurreiiioii,
which required the imerpofjlien of a military force in
fupport oftheCivil Magiflrate. The induDry employed
to excite difcunteni on various pretetts aiKl In different
pris ofthe kingdom hit appeared to ptbceed from 4
deflgn loattempl the deAiuAion of ourhap^conlliluti-
on, and the fubverficrtpf all order and lovetTfment i and
thltdefign hu evideiftty been purfued in eonncAion,
and concert with perfons in foreign countries,
I haveearerulyobferied a llriA neuiralily in Ihepre-
fent war on the continent, and have uniformly abftain^l
from any interference with relpeft to tt:e internal afiairi
of Fran'-e; but it is impolTble fonme to fee, without
the mon feriout uneafinefs, the Kn>ng and increafing
indications which have appeared there ol an intention
tt) excite difturtiancet in' other countries, to difregard
the rights of neutral nations, and lopurfue views of con-
.)uefl and agrundiaeinenti as well at' to adopt towrds my
allies the States General (who have obferved the faui
neutrality with myfelf ) meafures which are neither con-
formable to the law of nations, nor to the pofitive 111.
pjlatiantafexifting Itealies. Underall thefe circumflan-
ce> I have felt it my. indifpcnfible duty to hive tecourf'-
to Ihofe meant of prevention and internal defence wiiii
which 1 am entruRed by law ; and I have ilfo thought
it right to take fteptfor making fome augmentation ot°
jny naval and military force, being perfuided that thef.:
exertions are necelfiry in the prefent flate of affairs, and
ire befl calculated both tomamtain internal tranquility,
and to render a firm and temperate conduA efiettual fur
pteferving the blefUngs of peace.
Nothing will be neglefted on my part that can contri-
butetothat important oLieA,conrilienllywj.llKbefeciirity
of my kingdoms.nnd tvith the faitfull performance of en-
pgrmcnts which we axe bound equally by ioiereft and
hunnur to iuILl,
KACSIMII,K OV KIHST PACIE OF FIIIST OPPEK CANADA tJAZETTK.
Op. 743
8
10
12
9
8
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
743
CHAPTER CCXXL
EARLY PRINTINQ.
The CcnleaaUl cf tke FInl Newapaper In
I'pper Canada— Th* Fint Order tor Paper
and Type.
The Upper Canada Gazette was tba firife
newspaper publiahea in Upper Canada, It
was issued at Niafjata. or Newark, on tha
18th April. 1793. Louis Roy was tha
printer. He was from Lower Cauada The
paper was a folio in size, each page bein^;
15 by 9 inches. It was three dollars per
unuum. The following was the tirst order
given for type, which was imported speci-
ally from England in 1792 93. The record
is from the Archives department at Ottawa.
Hequmtion Type for Priming Office, U. C.
1 fount of Brevier Roman, 250 lbs.
1 fount of Brevier Italic, 100 lbs.
1 fount of Long Primer Roman, 350 lbs.
1 fount of Long Primer Italic, 250 lbs.
1 fount of Pica Roman, 300 lbs.
1 fount of Pica Italic, 200 lbs.
1 fount of Great Primer Roman, 150 lbs.
1 fount of Great Primer Italic, 100 lbs.
1 fount of Double Pica Script, 2U0 lbs.
1 fount of Small Pica Black, 100 lbs.
Also the following alphabets of two-line
letters :
5 alphabets of 5- line Pica.
of 21ine English.
of 2-line Small Pica.
of 2-liue Long Primer.
of 2- line Brevier.
of 2-line Pica.
of 2- line Great Primer.
N. 6. — The letter founder is requested in
castingthese new founts to castfigures, braces,
rules, fractions, references, small capitah,
etc., and also signs of the zodiac, planets,
aspects, etc., and u complete assortment of
flowers, King's coat of arms, for folios and
for quartos ; beside some ornamented forts
and woods, quotations, etc.
Stationery :— 40 resims of Crown paper.
80 teams of demi.
20 reams ot foolscap.
20 reams of printing post.
6 reams of 4th gilt post.
3 reams wrapping post.
1 ledger and day book.
2 barrels iuk.
of paper was sent for 1792,
of good quality, but for the
Gazette bundles of demy were ordered, and
accordingly a requisition was sent to Ens;-
land for a supply. The old manuscript reads :
Requisition for stationery for the Govern-
ment printing office of Upper Canada, for
the year 1793.
6 bundles of printing demy.
8 reams of printing crown.
7
8
10
12
9
8
A supply
which was
10 reams of priuting pott
8 reams of folio foohcap, plain.
8 reams of folio post, plain.
9 reams of quarto post, plain.
4 reams of quarto post, gilt.
6 reams of quarto post, blackedge.
Niagara, Nov. 4th, 1892.
Signed, L()(Ji» Roy, Printer.
Prior to 1800 the Gazette was removed
from Niagara to York. Th« printers were
within sight of a libel suit tor publishing a
letter reflecting on a very worthy citizen of
York, Mr. William Allan, tha founder of
Moss Park, and the father of the Hon. G.
W. Allan. The publishers of the Gazette had
inserted a letter from "A Farmer" reflecting
on Mr. Allan, and that gentleman promptly
called the attention of the Governor to the
fact. The printers evidently made matters
rigli. for they were not dismissed, but con-
tinued the publication of the paper.
The complaints were made the subject of
a special meeting of the Executive Council.
The minutes read : —
ConNciL Chamber at Yokk.
25th March, 1800.
Pkesent :
The Hon. John Ehnsley, Chief Justice.
The Hon. Peter Russell.
The Hon. iSneus Shaw.
Mr. Allan, a merchant in York, com-
plained of an article inserted in the
Gazette of the 22nd inst, and signed " A
Farmer ' which states him to be a candidate
for the County of York at the ensuing elec-
tion. Mr. Allan stated that the assertion
is entirely without foundation, and is
apprehensive that if it reaches the persons
with wliom he is connected in the Lower
Province, and is uncontradicted, it may very
materially affect his interests.
The Board conceives that the printers are
highly culpable in having inserted an article
in their paper without authority. But on
looking at the rest of the article, it thinks it
absolutely necessary to direct the Chief
Justice immediately to transmit the paper to
his Excellency, with the request of the Board
that the printers be immediately dismissed
from their office, and that his Excellency
will avail himself of his present situation to
procure some other person to be King's
Printer.
Minutes 25th March, 1890.
Read a petition from Messrs. Waters and
Simons, King's Printers, acknowledging
their error in having inserted in the Gazette
of last Saturday, an essay, signed "A
Farmer," and throwing themselves upon
his Kxcellency's clemency for forgiveness.
Rccommendr^d, that the Chief Justice be
directed to transmit a copy of this petition
to his Excellency.
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CHAPJER CCXXII.
THE PROVINOE^^B GREAT SEAL-
An lateremiug Memo. UftpcctluK the Hmmt,
l*Ul«)ll 17!'.'.
lu 1792 a seal for tho I'lovinco of Upper
Canada wau sent out by the Engliaii Ooveru*
inenr to (jovernor Siuicoe.
Warrant to Lieut. •Governor Simcoe/or uning
Great Seal.
CiEORdE R.—
To our trusty and well boloredGuy, Lord
Dorchester, Kuight of the Most Noble Order
of the iiatli, uur Captnin-Gciieral and
Governor-in( hijf of our Frovinct of Upper
Canada in America, or to our Lieutenant-
(iovernor in Canada or Commander-in-Chief
of our said province tor the time being :
Greeting —
With this you will receive a seal prepared
by our Order for the use of our iiaid Province
of Upper (^anuda, tho same being engraven
on the one &ide with a representation of Our
Anchor and Sword upon a Ciiluniut of Peace
•ncircled with a Crown of Olive, two
Cornucopias, surmounted by an Imperial
Crown and the Union of Great Hritain with
this motto : — " Imperi Porreita Majestas
Custode Rerum Cie3are,"aud thii inscription
round the circumference, Sigill, Nos. Prov.
Can. Sup and on the reverse our Arms in a
Shield with the motto, and round the
circumference our Titles. Our will
and pleasure is, and wo do iere-
by authorize and direct, that the
said seal be used in sealing all
public instruments, which shall be iiadti
and passed in our name and for our service
in and for our said Province of Upper
Canada.
Given at our Court of St. James, the
twenty-eighth day of March, 1792, in tho
thirty-second year of our reign,
By His Majesty's Commander,
Henry Dundas.
Tbe Qnccn'fi Rnnscrs.
In 1792 Governor Simcoe wrote to Lord
Dundas announcing the arrival of the
Queew's Rangers. He said : —
Quebec, May 28, 1792.
* I have|the pleasure to inform you that the
transports John and I'etsy, with part of tho
Queen's Rangers, arrived yesterday. "
Afterwards the pioneer (Jovernor wrote
as to hutting the Rangers at the new land-
ing on the Niagara river. 'J his wus up at
Queenston. He says : —
Simcoe to Dundas, re Qu-en's Rangers.
"1 shall be very happy, sir, when your com-
munications with Lord Dorchester srhall
enable you to decide upon the points which
I have stated in my letter of the 17th of
November last, and I hcpe for these specitic
communicationi. My first object, ot course,
has been done away by the very early arrival
of the Queen's Rangers, without which cit .
cumstance I could on no emersency havo
acted in my military stations in the opinion
of Major General Clarke."
Simcoe to Dundas re York Queen'i Hangers
" Upon mature deliberations I have founii
it advisable to hut the Queen's Rangers at
the now Landing upon the Niagara river,
and early in the spring 1 hope to occupy u
po.=it near to long point upon the Lake Eric,
another at Toronto upon the Lake Ontario "
lie York and Queen's llangirs— Simcoe to
Dundas.
'* I should consider any other rei^iments
than the Queen's Rangers and com-
pany of Royal Artificers remaining in tlii.s
province, though tnost certainly very useful
from their necessary expenditure and assist-
ance in forming towns (the great defic ency
in both the Canadas), by no means necessary
in a military sense. '1 he Queen's Rangers
are hutted, by great exertions, at
the Niagara Landing, now Queenston.
Mr. Street, an inhabitant of the place,
chose to dispute the Right of the Land ; I
directed the Attorney General to defend the
suit, and judgment was given in favour of
the Crown."
In 1793 Simcoe determined to remove part
of the Queen's Hangers to York. The letter
with this fact is written by Governor Sim-
coe to Lord Dundas, at London, Eng. He
says : —
i?e Queen's Rangers — Simcoe to Dundas.
NiAOAR.\, 17 June, 1793.
I mean without delo.y to take part with
the Queen's Rangers at Toronto (or York)
and shall take an early opportunity of ex-
pressing my sentiments to you, Sir, upon
that subject.
Heading of k;/':,- from Simroe to King.
York (i.atk Toki nto), Utper Canada,
AucusT 22nd, 1793.
Simcoe to Duv/p-^s.
August 23ri), 1793
I havo determined to hut the Queen's
Hangers and probably to remain with them
this winter at this place. It pos.iesses many
eminent advanta^'-.j, which I shall do myself
the honour oi expatiating on at the lirst op-
portunity.
It will be noticed in the last letter that it
is headed " York (late 'I oror.lo)." The
term Toronto was not in use again ollicially
until 1834, when the city was incorporated.
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The
ially
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CHAPTER CCXXIII.
A NORTH-WEST CORNER.
DiintliiH .Street Forty I'enr.t As<i- A Itnniltle
from <taeeii Street to the 4M«i I'euooi li
Taveru.
It is very difficult for those who only
know Diindas street as it is now, with its
scteet cars, electric lamps, large stores,
capacious churches and elegant residences,
to realize that less than forty years ago the
game neighbourhoo \ consisted of scattered
priva'e houses standing in their own
grounds, a few cottages surrounded by gar-
ileus, a 1 rge market garden, a rope walk,
four or five taverns at lonp; distances apart,
with here and there a very small general
store. trinity University, erected in 1851
and lSo2, the fouiulalioii stone having been
laid in May of the lornior year,
Bank, stood the Queen's Head Tavern, kept
for many years by Lewis Bate, and famous
as a resort, from the more crowded city, on
summjr evenings. This locality was known
forty-five years ago aa " Blue Bell Villaije,"
after the tavern just referred to, but when
the latter was removed the name given to
the neighbourhood gradually died out. The
Queen's Head, tiiough a very popular estab-
lishment, was by no means a pretentious or
imposing looking structure. It was only a
small two-storey frame house, with a verandah
on tk-' sides facing Queen and Duudas streets
respectively. Theia was also in front on the
latter side, a capacious horse trough and a
very small driving slied. On the opposite
corner to this hostelry was the house in
the occupation of Mr. J. V. Taylor, for
?nanv years clerk to the Legislative
Council. I'assing the Queen s ficad on the
J3lul-.Be.ll
Tavlrn
■__j^:f:^-^.
"— - ^ 3' •- - , \i'.^~"
I
s
was just completed and open for
the reception of btudcnts, and
the buildings were at that time to all intents
ad purposes in the country. Leavini^
Trinity on the right and proceeding further
west along Queen street was a large open
ipace covering Beveral acres, unfenoed aad
undrained, and over which people croaseil,
as a short cut from Queen to Dundas street,
reaching the latter at the point where Halton
street now joins it. Passing this open space,
crossing Shaw and Givens streets, which then
existed — as not a few of our so called avenues
and streets do to-day — in name only, came
in 1851, (it was removed the following year)
the old Blue Bell tavern, then one or two
°mall houses, when Dundas street was readied,
where, on its eastern corner, on the spot
«[iicli is now occupied hy the Dominion
same side of the street was a blacksinith'a
shop, tM'o small dwelling houses, then a nar
row lane leading from the main road into the
open Holds, affordin ; thus a way into (^ueen
street. Past tiiis l;.nd again were one or
tw.'> insigniticani, buildings an' tuen on
the same side of the ' ■■■■^ open
fields for several hundred \ Xi ' ■■ The
lane just mentioned, then, as now, was
known us Rebecca street. The reason it
obtained this name was that the laud it
c'osses was purchased by a contractor who
supplied wood to the garrison. He disputed
the right of the road trustees to exact toll
from his teams at the gate on Queen street,
near its junction with i)unda8 street This
ilispi'.tc caused a great deal of ill-feeling
between the oontriciois men and the keep-
ers of tlie gate, and coustaut quarreli
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LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
etiFued, And sometimes blows were iitxt-
changed. Eventually the plot of ground
over which Rebecca street runs was pur-
chased and a lan« cut throus^h which afford-
ed access from Dundas to Queen street,
avoiding the hated gate Owing to these quar-
rels the lane got locally known as Rebecca
street, after the Rebeccaites, who in South
Wales in 1843 systematically destroyed toll-
gates and bars. The reason they took the
name of Reb^^ccaites was in allusion to the
reference contained in Genesis, 24, 60. On
the western side of Dundas street, as far as
where Ossington avenue now begins, were
■mall market gardens, two good-sized dwel
ling houses, built by a man named
Thornhili, which are still standing, and
one of them occupied by Mr. J. A. Donald-
Captain Alexander Shaw. It, thouj^h a lo^'
house, was a very comfortable one and was
built about 1794 by Captain, afterwards
Major-General JEneas Shaw, grandfather of
Alexander. This house was knowu as Oak
Hill and there the Duke of Kent was enter-
tained by General Shaw on the second vieit
of the Duke to Canada in 1709 Generr '
Shaw was in his day a famous stJdier. 1- j
•orved under General Simcoe, who
was the first Governor o'^ Upper
Canada, as a oaptain iu the
Queen's Rangers, a colonial corps, after-
wards incorporated into the resular army.
In the winter of 1791-92 Capt Shaw ac-
complished a remarkable feat, in marching
with his detachment of Queen's Rangers all
the way from NtiW Brunswick to Montreal
son, lately Government Emigration Agent;
there were also one or two frame cottages. On
ahe opposite or en stern side of the street,
after the fields were passed, was Colonel
Givins' residence and farms — in all about
one hundred acres. Colonel Givins was
Indian Commissioner, and had served
through the war of i81213-Ulo. He
built his house about 1797-8, and resided in
it until his death. After he died his daugh-
ters continued to live there until their
decease. The building was then
(1890) pulled down and a ntsw
one erected. To the east of Colonel
Givius' property was thut occupied at the
period of which wo are speaking (1852) by
on snow shoes. Such a performance is un-
paralleled in military annals. General
Shaw died in 1815 from fatigue and exposure
duriner the war. He was interred in the
graveyard surrounding the first church of
St. James in Toronto. He left a large
family of five sons and an equal aumber of
daughters. The whole of the former were
ofFoers in the army. His eldest son, C/«p-
ta:u Alexander Shaw, became the owner of
O .k Hill, and resided there until his death
o < January 12th, 1834. He, too, like his
i ther, was a gallant soldier, and had served
in many different parts of the globe. He
served in 1805 during the expedition to
Naples, was present iu 1806 at Calabria,
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
747
GEORSf: C00Pf,R5 H0U«5£
a^taiiTnt the battle of Maidft, and in Egypt
in 1807. He was again on active service in
HoHiwud in 1809, and was also at Waterloo.
Ht; A na interred side by side with his parents
in old S'l. James'. His 8.)n, Captain George
Shaw, .lit 11 came to Oak Hill, but shortly
iiflerMirds removed to Kingston, and the
old homei>tea<l was rented to a brother. Cap-
tain Ale-Kuuder Shaw. Captain George
Shaw's only son, George Alexander, for
some time commanded tlie 10th Royals,
Canadian militia. Oak Hill, with all
of the street stood, in 1852, a pretty rough*
cast cottage with verandah. Facing Dundas
street, in front, was a lawn, and in front of
that again down to the street was a small
orchard and kitchen garden. This was then
occupied by Lieutenant Colonel Richard
Lippincott Dunison, who died on March
10th, 1878. Where Ossington avenue now
runs was a lane leading through the woods
and fields to the house " Dover-
court," then in course of erection
for, and from 1853 occupied by.Colonel R. L.
- -^^Ro cRTo Ni • To LL -Bap*
its interesting associations, wag pulled
down several years apo. Captain Alex-
ander Shaw, grandson of the famous
loldior, Biived for soveral years in the
incorpor !• militia after the rebellion of
1S37, IT., diet! in .Tapan in 1886 while on
a visit to u\ ■ i ; arM ''aughter, who then re-
aided there. t tho f pot where Ossington
avenuo now begins, oi the north-west corner
Denison, until he died in 1878. On the left of
the path, near Dovercourt, stood a fair-sized
frame cottage built by Colonel Denison's
father i!.nd used in 1846 as a distillery, R. L.
Denison carrying on the business. The trade
was discontinued about 1848 and the house
was let to various tenants until 1854, when
it was rented with the large field, of six
acr.'S in front of Dovcrcourt by an Knglish-
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LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
man named Tiurgcaa, who was the first man
to carry on the business of a market garden-
er on an extensive scale in Toronto.
K-L-DLNISON'5
ceeding alonnj Dundas stre- 1, on its north-
western aide, wa.i ihe field belonging to R.
L. DeniscQ, afterwards let co Burgees, the
When R. L. Deuison left the cottage hofore
mentioned to take up his residence at Dover-
court bis former abode was occupied bj
English market >jardener, 'then Payne's
h'.acksmith shop, still remaining, with
closely adjoining it the City rope walk, then
DOVLRCOURT
Dr. Thomas Ravage, a medical man of con-
sideriitile attainments. He lived there until
!s.'>7. wlu'u lie removed to Clairville. Fro-
the carriage
known now
drive
as the
to Dovercourt,
road of the
same name, and extending to Davenport,
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
749
I k r»o«nt lot or two, then two cottages bnilt
III) 1844 by G. T. Deniaon, jr. , and pulled
jiown aboai tMrty years later to build upon
libtir site the house occupied by Professor
Irtoldwin Smith. Paat these cottages oa the
liame side of the road, aud we came to the
Ijaudsome rongheast house, which ia yet
|iber« though somewhat enlarged and now
Lntiiely surrounded by laree trees, built in
|l^ hy the late Colonel Greorge
jltylor Deniaon, father of our present
1 1993) Police Magistrate. He resided there
luBiil his death on May 30th, 1873, and his
I widow still occupies the house. Colonel
|D«Bisoo married a daughter of Major Dew-
I son, of the 35th Regim«at, who settled near
ioroato, and was an exceedingly popular
IntQ. After passing "Rasholme," as G. T.
lUfDiflons residence was ealled, was bush
land, divested certainly of most of the heavy
jmber, bat still covered with a dense under-
crowth of oak, pine and trees of other varie-
I ;iM. Then came the concession known now
u Dufferin street, running north aud south
irom the lake to Davenport road, forming
tt that time the western boundary of the
city. \^ e mua*. now return to the south
iide of Dandaa street, at the corner opposite
ihe site of Ossington avenue. There were
I to houses here until about two hundred
virds west of Devercourt road ; then was
teached Marshall's wheelwright shop, and »
Mnall dwelling house adjoining it. Dovercourt
•oad then only known by that name from
Dundas street to the Lake Shore road, and
I in 1852 containing only three houses. Ono
I ci tliese was occupied by Mr. Angus D. Mao*
ionell. and the third and lar;;est was
goill about 1850 and resiaed in by Judge
Samuel l^aley Harrieou until hi& death. It
Kisknowu as Foxley Grove, and it is from
it (hat the present Foxley street derives its
imt. After MaashaVi's houses was passed
;Dei'e were no hou.ses at all until Dutlerin
I itreet was reached. Then there was a large
iriruij; shed belonging to CoUard's tavern.
Then came a second licensed house kept by
Joseph Church (the building still remains),
iouwn as the Brown Bear, and then fol-
owed a noted hostelry, the Queen Street
Hotel, of which the proprietor was
I'M Robert James, known far and
wide as " Boh " James. He was
iimous for his horses and for his love of
sport of all kinds, and few meu of his class
were more respected by both his customers
I lod the general public. At this period
\iSi) the whole ot the north-eastern side of
Dundas street, from Ossington to Brock
trenue, was known as Denison Terrace, the
lame given to it many years previoush- by
the first owner if tiie land, G. T. Denison,
li Bellevuo, Toro.'^o, father of Richard L.
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Deniacn, ot Dorercourt, and G. T. Deniaon,
of Ruaholme. This gentleman was h re-
markable man in many respects. He came
with his father, John Denison, of
Hedon, Yorkshire, to Canada in 1792,
and four years later to Toronto. Ha
served as an officer in the York Tolunteers,
in the war of 1812 and was a prisoner of war
for many months. It was he who in 1S12,
aided by sixty men of the Canadian militia,
cut Dundaa street through from the Garrison
common to L mbton Mills, thus enablini;
oommunieaMon to be maintained throughout
the war between those two places. He was
instmmental in 1822 in raising a troop of
dra.oons, known as the York cavalry, now
as the Uoveruor General's Body Guard,
not in Upper Canada. He re-organized the
troops of cavalry militia for Toronto anu
Yorkville, he organized in 1855 the Toronto
.Field Battery of Artillery, and alao in I860
the Queen's Own Rifles, and would, but tor
his prematura death, have been made a
Companion of the Order «f St Michael and
St. George.
The locality where Collard's, Church's
and James' taverns stood was populi^rly
known as Appii Forum or the Three
Taverns, and there on fine days, )<oth in
summer and winter, were wont to assemble
racing men, eager to arrange contests to test
the capabilities of their various trotting
horses. Past the Three Taverns were no
houses OB either side of Duudas aireec for
S)Ro-cKToi^"-B§T * Of Fi et: .
— -"''
C* N fiMCTQ. £jv^ gir
and for six months in 1838,
during the Rebnllion was on active
service. Besides taking such an
interest in military matters, he was a noted
agriculturist, and for many years an alder-
man for St. Patrick's Ward. His sons,
Richard Liippincott and George Taylor
Denison both took an active part in public
affairs. The first served in the cavalry com-
manded by his father during 1837-38,and was
connected with the militia until his death ;
besides this he was for many years treasurer
to the Board of Agriculture for Upper
Canada, and an alderman of the city at the
time of his decease. The aecond son, George
Taylor Denison, was practically the father
of the volunteer movement in Toronto, if
about one bundled yards, until the toll gate
was reached, which was kept for many
years by James Kerr. The gate haii«e
was on the north east side of Dundas
street and rails extended across the road on
the oppo°ice side to the fence, so when th«
gate was closed it w«s impossible for con-
veyances to get through at all vntil it wm
opened, and pedestrians were compelled
either to wait its opening or ciimn over.
Close to che gate, on the south-western side
of the street, was a small general store, kept
by a Mrs Larkin, who was also p«K-
mistress. There was no letterbox at this
time (1853), and every one called for their
correspondence. Such a thing as delirering
a letter oever crossed the mind of any
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
751
one. There waa but one colleckioa t, d%j
anil sonriaiimes in Tery bad weather not that.
This post-ofBce waa tirat knowa as Deni&on
Terrace office, iheu aa Lippincott and
^oally aa Brockton. There were two or
three other houses cloae to the poat-office,
ud then the road now known aa Brock
avenue was reached, and there the hoaaea
finally atoppod on that aide of the road.
Coming weet through the toll-gat« on the
northern Hide of Duftdaa atreet were no
houses until Brock avenue waa paaaed, then
ttaiiding back a little way from the road
were four log ahantiea built for the
use of the lumbermen and
kDown aa Stoney Batter Village. Tbia
oame was giren to them by Colonel O'Hara,
who lived in a large red briok hoaae on the
Lake Shore road, about half-a-mile aouth-
veat of that part of Dundaa atreec. The
uaine pleased the fancy of the residents in
;hrse cottages, and so long as they remained
ilauding they bore no other. They finally
disappeared about thirty yeara a<;o. From
ibis point, croasiiii; by what was known aa
iho White Bridge, the line of the then
N'unhern Railway, Diuulas street ran
'.hrough the bush, without house or
residence of any kind on either
side of the road until it reached
wh<it waa then a concession, but which is
DOW Bloor street. Hera apanning Dundaa
otreet on the northern side of the concession
was a frame buikUm^ known always as the
" Blind" toll-gate How it got that name no
one ever knew, and yet it waa never spoken
of ia any other way. The reason of its erec
liuu was because many of the people who
wore riding and driving to Toronto avoided
the toll-gat« at Brockton by going down
Bloor St. until they reached DufFerin st. , then
proceeding along that until Dundas at. was
reached, thus leaviug the gate behind them.
The "Blind" toll-gate was demolished about
twenty years since. On the right hand aide
of Dundaa atreet, still going to the north-
west, about a quarter of a mile from the
road, stood the farm bonae with ita extensive
barns, stabling and pigeon house* occupied
by Mr (jeorge Cooper, and there wore no
other houaes on thai aide until the black -
smit.h'a ahop opposite the Peacock tavern waa
reached. On the left hand still proceeding
fromBloo.' atreet waa a small wooden build-
ing used by the Wesleyan body as a place of
worship, then a row of small frame
oottagea, bush land and fields intervened
until Harrison's cottage waa reaohed — it is
still there — then the next building on the
aame side was the old Peacock tavern, and
having arrived there we b-ing our descrip-
tion of Duudaa atreet, for^y years ago, to a
close.
Carl Ins-
One of the well-kuowu makcra cf oarling
stoiins ia the " ibinies" waa Mr. Peter M»
Arthnr, who lesivled on New, afttrwards
Nulaon, BOW JarvU atreei, in tue frame
baikliiig direoily opposite Hospital (uow
Richmond) atreet, on the uorth-wca ^coner
of those two atree a. His oommaneiae boai-
nosM is thas announced in the BritiaA Cohaitf
iu 18 9:—
" To Carlera— ' Geluqn* Flnr.tina Oonit:.
teriatAcuto' — Horace. — (SmrUng atones may
be had on apfiKcatien to the aobecriber,
who has taken paina to collect a number
of blocka of tlie moat excellent grain. Sev-
eral m'imbers of the Toronto Curlinfr Club
have already been supplied, and speoimena
may be seen on the Bay on Playing Dajn^ or
on application to Mr. Macdouald, at iha
City Wharf, or to the subscriber athia resi-
dence. No. 16 New Street The prioo of
the stonea is eight dollars per pair and np-
wards, according to the handles and finish.
Petkr MoArthtjk.
" Toronto, January 17th, 18.39."
Th ' Hora iai (juotitiou i!< from tne Oies
1, 9, 3, and ben g ir mslated irio.iii3 " A: d
t'lO r V. r.s are fast i>et with nippiiu; fro&t. "
Wort N iCkliia.
In the Archives Department at Ottawa,
in a letter from Mathews to Nepean, we
have a description ot ; he old fort on Lake
Huron. The MS. reads :—
The next and last post iu this commonioa-
tion is Michiiimackinac, at the further end
of Lake Huron, situated upon an island
about nine miles from the main. The wor'^a
here never were finished, and ita insular
situation is its chief defence. This is the
chiet resurt ot the fur trawlers fitting
out for the Northwest trade, and the centre
of a very ' onsiderable one in that vast coun-
try to the Mississippi— for this post, no
good one, I am inclined to think, can be aub-
stitnted nearer than the Falls of St. Mary,
very nany ka^uea from thence, that might
answc. for the Northwest trade, as the furs
are brou<;ht from thence down the Grand or
Ottawa river directly to Montreal, leaving
the lakes to the westward. But the lose of
Mackiuawill matirely sever from us the
weatem trade above mentioned, which is
carried on by the lakea, the greatest part of
which, there can be little dou^, will pass
by the Oswe$^ rirer into the United Statea,
and the Northwest trade, or a part of it,
must ultimately be drawn that way ako
from the same eaaae.
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LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
CdAl'TER CCXXIV.
TOROiNTO RACE COURSES-
Where Hornos Knn In |»ay* of Vope —
I'atroiu cr (he Boyal Sport.
Id any things have changed in und about
Torouto during tlie last sixty years, fevr
perbi\ps more so than the race coarses. The
c«iitra.>-t between tke " Woodbtne" course of
to-day and the tirst T' ronto track ia almost
as ^'n at as the di/rereiice botwetn the elec-
tric car, whicti leaves the tornier place say
»c 8:30 a.m. and arrives at b^t. Jaiiics
Cburch half au hour later, and the nld
Scarboro' stage of twenty years ago, which
generally took nearly au hour to accom-
plish the same diittance and at certain rea-
sons of the year often broke down on its
joarney.
Of th<> earlier course and of those which
miccsedcd it, and of the men who were
connected with them trom time to tiine
it .s proposed to give a brief account.
The first course in Toronto was, strange
to say.ou the Island at that part of it known
as "The IJcnd." It is thus pleasantly de-
scrib d in a letter from one of our
city's oldest inhabitants. "After cross-
ing the second bridge, tiie opc on the ' Big
Doi3," as it was called, there was a plateau of
smooth springy turf for half or three-quar-
ters of a mile, extending southerly to the
iiorihernmoat of t e two ridjjcs of sand
forming the beautiful valley leading thence
to the lighthouse at (-ibraltar I'oint. The
favorite resort for equestrians (and there
wore many of them, both ladies and gentle-
men, in those good oKi days) was the island,
BO long as the 1 ridges lasted. The valley
was mostly covered with L»ras3, but it was
rathor heavy riding ; tlie moment however
the plateau was re iclied at either end
there was a raco to the other end,
and many a pretty race of the kind tlicre
was. There was no 'regular' race course
in the neighborhood of York at that time.
Grrooms would try their master's horses at
the bend but I never knew of a 'proessional'
race on the Island. '! he only public race I
recollect in York in the early time was on
Front street from 'Small's Corner' to the
Market Place It was announced by placards
potted throagliout the town, the town
fiOQstable k^ the coarse, and all York
turned o«t to witness it. "
Our correspondent adds in a post-
■eript : — "It may, perhaps, seem
■omewbat absurd to call it a
*be&atifnl vallcylHitthe aand hills forming it
were covered with large trees from six inches
to two feet or more in diameter, (there was
Marcelf any undergrowth) and of
all hei.hts from six feet to ihirtv
and as the ridges rose and fell glimpacrs o:
the sparkling waters of tiie lake and bay
met the eye od eitlier side."
When Sir John Colborne was Lieutenant
Governor, be, in company with Lieutenant
Colonel Rowan, his military secre-ary, a
famous horseman and rider to hoHuds, was
in the habit during the summer time of rid-
ing there almost daily. it was also occa-
sionally the scene of " scratch " trottiiv
matches between horses owned by people in
or near the city. After the rebellion of
18;*7-8 this Island course w s less and les.^
used for pleasure, and not at all for raeiu;-
purposes, even in the very mild form jubt
described.
Of Sir John Colborne, the Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor, and of his services in the Penin-ular
war, we have all heiu-d ; how at ("uida/i
Rodrigo he was severely wounded, it was at
first thougitt mortally, yet he lived and was
present afterwards at Waterloo. Colinel
Rowan was an equally gallant soldier and
had served with distinction in many differ-
ent parts of the globe— in Sicily in ISOli 7,
Sweden in 1808 and in the Peninsula Mar
under Sir John Moore Yet later in 18i 9
he was on tiie \Valehcren expedition, and
i later still, in 1811, he was present ot the
action fought in Sabugal in I'ortugal. Dur-
ing tiie I'eninsnlar war he was at the battles
of Vittoria, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes and
Toulouse, and finally ac Waterloo. Some
of his relatives of the same n.-^me reside in
Toront.! now, engaged in the practi ■ oi
their professions as doctors, lawyers and as;
business men.
In 18I)ij, or the year following,a course was
laid out on the Garrison CoM:mon, between
the Old and New Forts. Races were held
here for three or four years auccessivelx
under the patronage of ths ofiici.,rs statioiieu
both here and at Niagara. There was a
famous horse known as Antelope, a three-
year-old, who carried all befo' e him on one
occasion on this course. He was ridden
by '• ilob " James, tie jockey, after-
wards the proprietor of the tjueen street
tavern on Dundas street, a man, who de-
spite his profession as a horse dealer and
general " sport," was respected by every
one who knew him for his straightforward
ways. Quite recently he has been de-
scribed by a veteran in the sporting world,
" as one of the whitest men you ever saw.'
This course did not long remain open Next
tollowini; it came Scarlett's, or t^ e Sitncoc
chase 'course on Dundas street, near the
Hnraber. It was situated on the
plains lying north of "Dundis
streat, l)etween the Weston road,
on the east, and the woodd on the
CITY or T
COL. MAC]
! !
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
753
western bank of the River Huml er. Th«
it&udB and necessary oSlce.s were near Dun-
du street, rather nearer tlie western than
tbo eastern boundry of the course. Mr.
Scarlett resided at UunnyTiiede, on Dundas
icreet, about a mile nearer Toronto, and
though he never owned a race horse, and
probably never made a bet, was up to his
eightieth year one of the hardest r'^crs in
the country, and an enthusiastic lover of
horses. This course was conpleted in
1837, and the first races were leld
on the 6th, 7th and 8th of the following
September. The amount of prizes was
rery small, and the meeting itself only a
»ery qualilied success. The British Colonist
of April 12th, 1838, contains the following
advertisement : —
"City of Toronto and York County Spring
Rsce meetings, over Mr. Scarlett's course,
23rd and 24th May, 1838. Stewards. John
Powell, Mayor of the City ; Col. Kingsmill,
Col. Carthew, Col. Dawson, Major Denison,
Major McGrath, Will. Goring, John Mait-
lan.l, Sec'y."
Among the gentlemen who are named here
ii9tewards,are several who were well-known
in Toronto more than fifty years since. Mr.
Powell, the Mayor, was a descendant of
Chisf Justice Powell. Colonel Kingsmill was
:i popular militia '-'V.cer. Colonels Carthew
and Dawson w.re stationed here with their
regiments. Major Deuison was George
Taylor Denison, of Bellevue, as clever a
rider in his younger days as ever mounted a
liorse and to the last day of his life a splen-
did whip. Tne other gentlemen whose
n»mes .'re given were lovers of horses and
lieen sportsmen.
In the following year, 1839, the Colonist,
OQ Jlay 1st, announces that the " City of
Toronto and York County Race Meeting will
be held on Scarlett's Race Course on June
19th and 20th." The following was the pro-
gramme : —
CITT OF TOUOXTO ANU YORK COII^'TT
BACE jUEETIXG,
OrKR SIMCOE CHASE COURSE.
ON Wodnesdar. the 19th, and Thursday, the
mh days of June, 1839: To start each day
at one o'clock precisely.
PRE.SES :
COL. MACKENZIE FRASER, Qr.
M'r. Qen.
STEWARDS :
The Hon. Sir Allan Naoier Macnab.
Colonel Cox. P. S.
Col. iBuUock. A.G.M.
Captain Markham, 32d
The Sheriff H. District
Lieac Meade,43rd L.I.
Charles C. Small. Esq.
John Barwick, Esq.
Col. Sparke, 93rd Hg'rs,
Major Ma<3;rath.
Captain Arthur. A.D.C
The Mayor of the City.
Lieut. M. Pipon.K.D.G.
Peter Bucbanan, Kaq.
C. Wallace Heatb Esq.
George Monro, Esquire.
FIRST DAY.
THE "ITT I'LATE OF TirTY BOVKRKIONS.
Free for all Horses— 'i year olds, a feather ; 3
year olds to carry G st. 9 lbs.; four, 7 St. 9 lbs ;
Ave, 8 St. 4 lbs.; six, 8 st. 10 lbs.; and aged, 9 st.
— lleata, two miles and a distance. Entranoo
THE'lNNKEEPERS' PLATE OF FIFTY PODNDS.
For Uorse» that never won Plate, Match or
Sweepstakes, of the value of £60. at any one
time before the day of entry- 3 year olds to
carry 10 St. 7 lbs.: four. 11 St. 4 lbs.; live. U st.
10 lbs.; six and aged. 12 St.— Heats, once round
and distance— Gentlemen Riders. Meinber.s ef a
Racing or Fox-hunting Club. Entrance, £1,
A JOCKBY SAUOLK.
For Horses that nuver started for Plate, Match
or Sweepstakes, before the day of entry.—
Heats, once round. Post entry.
SECOND DAY.
THE COUNTY PLATE OF FIF'I Y I'OUNDS.
Free for all Horses— 2 yrar olds, a feather ; 3
year olds to carry 7 st, S lbs.; four, 8 st. 4 lbs.;
live, 8 St. 13 lbs.; six, 9 st. 4 lbs.: and au;od, 9 st.
7 lbs.— Heats, once round and a distance. Win-
ner of either o( the lirst day's Races to carry 10
lbs. extra. Entrance, £4.
THE LADIES' PLATK OK FORTY POUNDS.
For horses bred in the Province, that never
won Plate, Match or Sweepstakes, before the
day of entry— Heats, once round and a distance.
Weights and Riders, as per Innkeepers' Plate.
Entrance £3.
THE TALLTHO HURDLE SWEEPSTAKES.
Of £5 each. p. p.— Free for all Horsea— Heats,
once round and a distance. Weights and Riders
as for Innkeeper.s' Plato, To enter for this race,
on the evening of the first day's races.
A JOCKEY SADDLE.
For ponies of 13^ hands higb, and under— Heats,
once round. Post entry.
Mares and Geldings allowed 3 lbs. Entrances
for the Plates co be rhade and paid at the Ontario
House, between tha hours of 2 and 1 o'clocn,
afternoon, on Monday before the Races ; and
the second Hors«!3 in each of the Races for these
Plates to have their entrances. H'inners to pay
0 per cent towards expenses. Riders must turn
out in full Jockey style.
JOHN MAITLAND,
Secrotaiy.
Toronto, May 23.
The races came off at the time appointed
and were fairly well attended.
(jrievous scandals arose over the race
meeting accounts for the years 1837, '38,
'39 ; charges of culpable carelessness, if not
©f actual dishonorable conduct were freely
made by certain of the stewards against
i other oflicials. These charges w ere at last
j submitted to a committee, who duly sat and
afterwards reported, though only by a
j majority, not unanimously, that the official
; accused, who was an offitier of the incor-
porated militia, " had duly accounted for
all moneys received and expended by him."
The spring mcelingof 1840 on Scarlett'i
Cdurse was the most memorable ever held
there. The following is a list if the gentle-
men under whose auspices the proceedings
took place :
I !
1%
> »
5
i
r
I
fi
i
mi
Pr-'i
ill
754
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
President— Co). Airejr, 3ith Reeiment;
stewards — the Mayor, Major Magratti, Sir
Allan MacNab, Capt. Markhatn, .3'2nd ; Col.
Spark. 93rd ; Capt. Campbell, A. D.C., Tth
Hutiars; Col. ' Bullock, D.A.G. ; Capt.
Arthur, A.D.C. ; Capt. Schoaiwar, K.D.U,;
Hon. J. H. Dunn, C. C. Sm»ll, Esq.. Wm.
Cayley, Esq., with Mr. W. U, Boulton as
treaiiurer and John Maitland as secretary.
The entries were fairly numerous for such a
very young undertakinc;, and considering
the additional fact that at that date there
were so few wealthy people in the prorince
who could indulge in the luxury of hone-
breeding for racing purposes. The City
Plata of £110 sierl-ug, equal to £150 cur-
rency, waa the I ..e ribbon of the meeting.
This was the tira . time snch a Urge stake
had been oQ'cred in the Upper Province.
in the list of stewards ^iven above are
the names of many men who bad already
done thei'.' country good service and who in
after years added to their laurels. Colonel
Airey, of the 34th, was a c;allant soldier and
afterwards greatly diatinguished himself.
Captain Markham, of the 32 d regiment,
baa served ^;i Canada during the trcubloa of
1837,.and was severely wounded in the action
of St Denis, in Lower Canada. Afterwards
he accompanied his regiment to India, where
in the Punjaub campaign of 1848-9 he oom-
nnanded the 2nd Infantry Brigade, being
wou ded in the attack upon MooUan, in
September, 1848. In the following year
he was present with his brigade at the
famous battle of Goojerat. For his eminent
•ervices he was nominated C, ]i. and created
a General officer a few years later.
Colonel Spark, of the 03rd, had served
with his reeiment throughout the war of
1812 and was severely wounded in the at-
tack on New Orleans, January 8th, 1815.
He retired from the service in the early
"Fifties." The Mayor, Mr. Powell, filled
that office for the third year in succession,
but being an ardent sportsman thought
quite as much of attaining racing distinction
as civic honors. He was as well pleased to
be a steward for the third year, as to be
thr e times Mayor. Major Maprath we
have previously mentioned. Sir Allan Maa*
Nab was the hero of the steamer Carolina
exploit at Niagara during the rebellion. H«
was so well known that no further mention
of him is requisite. Mr. Ounn was the l!e-
cblrer-General. He was a prominent public
man and was father of Alexander Roberts
Dunn, v. C., afterwards 11th Hussars and
still later Lieutenant Colonel of the 100th
Regiment. Captain Arthnr was A.
1>. C. to Sir George Arthur,
the Lieutenant • Governor. He "was
that and nothins; mor«." Colonel Bullock
waa the ever-popular Adjutant General of
Militia, while Captain Sjchoaswar was a
smart cavalry soldier and thorough sports-
man. Of Messrs. C C. Small, William
Cayley and W. H. Honlton we need not
speak ; their names in Toronto are as
familiar as household words, and their
memories are yet green. Here ia the pro-
rramme for the two days, as far as it has
been possible to procure it :
FIRST DAY.
CITT PLATE or £110 BTBRLINQ.
Open to all comers.
0AKKI80N PLATB.
For Horses that had never previously won a
prize ot £50.
SECOND DAY.
BT. LKOIR urAKSS OK £30 STKULIN3.
Open to Horsis of any HKe.
OOVERNOR-OENEKAL H I'LATK OF £75.
Open to Horses that had beuii at leu^t two
months In Canada previous to tbe race.
Th ' races came otf with great eclat in live-
ly weather, with the following results : — For
(he City Plate there were nine cntrici and
the race was wou by Captain Marktmu'. i
horse Prince Albert, a two year old.
There were the same number of eutrici
for the Garrison Plate as for the preuodiu^
race. It was wou by Shepherdess, a mar*
belonging to Mr. Abbott, of the Garr<son,
but an objection was raised and the dccibioii
deferred pending investi.,ations.
For the St. Leger and (iovernor-Generai's
Stakes there were five entrie.) for each, and
they were carried o£r by Mr. Stinsou's Lady
Jane and Mr. Richard's Little York.
On the evoniug of the second day tha
stewards and many of those who had attend-
ed the meeting dined together at the Ontario
House. Colonel Airey was in the chair, and
Mr. VV. H. Boulton in the vice chair.
In the following November a celebrated
steeplechase took place. Here is the au-
uouncement made a few days previously to
the event taking place :
Steepl* Chase.
BY Horses bona flde the property of Officers
belonginn to the Garrison of Toronto, and to
be ridden by Officers of the Garrison, over a
Course of One Mile and a Halt, to be ticlected
by the Stewards, and not to be shown until the
morning of the Race.
To come off
On Friday, IStli November, 1840,
Entrance, Five Dollars— P. P Catch WeighU
—No leap to bo ridden over before the Kaco.
The second Horse to save bis Stake.
All derails relative to the Race and Ground
to be decided by the Stewards, who may post-
pone the day If the weather prove unfavorable.
All expences of the Course, Bills, and adver-
tisements, to be paid by the Winner.
STEWAKD8.
Lieut. Colonel WINOFIELD, 38d Regt.
Lieut. Colonel MACKENZIE FRASER,
Asst. Qr. Mr. Oen'l.
Lieutenant DkWINTON, Royal Artillery.
H i is
IJ', I J I.
IK n ■■■t
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
7C6
■ccretarjr nnd Treatarer,
LUnUnant TAI.HOT, ^ItU ReKtinont.
ENTKAIVCKti.
C. B. Roche, Eiq.. 34tb UnKt.. Br. Mar* Pollj/—
6 yaars old— Mr. Nornmn, 34th,
Otpcaln ByroD. 3Uh, Ch. Ul. Ilncket-AKed-
Ovrner.
Captain Arthur, A. D. C, Bay G. Reindeer—
— ftgft' -Owner.
Colonvi Mnckenzie Fraser, Bay O. The Oeneral
—aged -Dr. Ilynn.
Lieiitenanl Colvllle. 85th Lt, Iiif'y, A. D. C,
Cli. O. Iavr by }f'its—6 years-Owner.
Lieut. Ltng, 31Ui, Ch. U. Niagara— o years
Owner.
Lieut. TalI)ot, 34th, Bay M«ro Maiden—O years
—Owner.
Lieut. Uutton. 34th, Bay G. The Cobbler-d
years— Owner.
Lieut. Tallujt, 3Jth. Ul. G. nobtail-a.goa -
Liru'. Col. Winclicld, 32nd, Grey cJ. Whitby— a
years- -OwniT.
Capiaiii !M,'\ikh:uii,32nd, Br. yiiXTe Sleeji;/ Mdi-ij
—aKO<l— Owner.
Lifut. ("ill. Airev, 34th. Bl. Maro Placid— o
ypara <!\viier.
Liciif. Ciimiibi^ll, 32nd. Bay G. I.itUc John, alias
Ji'ic!;cli'cr—i yours— Owner.
Mr. llobyna, 32nd, G. M. Cho})—a yeurs—
Owner.
Major McGrath, Br. M. A'ora Crr in a— Owner,
Cajjlain James McGral.h, B. II. Lanidarinn—
Owner.
Llout. Heath, R. O. /i'o(7>io/i;c— Owner.
Toronto, olli Nov., 1840.
1 hia 'utin<{ a private meeting, the result
appears never to have been puhli.iliod.
i'' e next race course after Scarlett's was
the on* k' own as Boulton'a. It occupied
the ground bounded on the nortli by Bloor
street, on the south, east and west by Bald-
win and .McCauI streets and .Spadina avenue
reipectively. A portion of the stands were re-
maining as recently as 1S88, at tiio rear of th*
Orange, and p*esibly may be tli*re now (1893).
Thi« course belonged to the iloultons,
and the meetings were projected by Mr. W.
H. Boulton, popularly known ainonc his
friendi as " I'dll Boulton," and of whom many
amusing stories src told. It was of)one ! about
1841 or 1842, and was in use for some years.
When Boulton's course ceased to be used
for hor.te racing another one was opened to
the right of the Kingston road, east of the
Don. This was always known as Jack M ait-
land's course. It lay to the south of the pre-
sent baseball grounds on what is now Queen
It. east, having the present Broadview ave.
as its eastern boundary, the Marsh as the
louthtrn and a heavy fence, on liic farm of one
Clark, who was also a butcher, on the we.st.
Among well-known men who attended
here was Ten I'roeuk, a wealthy American,
Dr. Carrell, of Rochester, also Harper, a
Virginian, who was as open-handed as he
was passionate, ard that is saying a great
deal. Besides these there was Caswell, who,
itrange to say, was totally blind, yet so fine
was his sense of hearing that he could tell
the various horses when at exercise hy their
■tep and thus judge, or calculate ra her. tiioir
chances of success. Another well-known
figure at the meetings held on tliis ground
was Parish of Ogdenabiirg. James .Miicliell,
of Torento, was his trainer. The luttir kept
\\. tavern on King street west on tlie site ol
the present Canada Lif* Building.
Succeeding .Maitland's cuma what wa*
known as (Jates' course, situated o;i rjie |).-r.
and Danforth road, some distance north of
th* \\'oodbin*, used only oca- ioh:iUy.
Trottinj; matches were somctinad held
tliere, and now (1893) it is used to :i jliglit
extent as a training ground.
In iS.'i? tlie (y'arlton raoe CDUr.iO was laid
out by the late Mr. \V. C. K' elo and his
son Mr. ^V'illiam Koele, It wai altotit two
hundred yards to tli* south of Duuda.-. trout,
to the west of what was tlinu tlio ro:ii > .iMioa
line, but is now Keole slre»t., Toronto . I unc-
tion. It was oval in shapti and was rather
more than a niilo round. There were exten-
sive stands, weighing rooms, and u'co^ary
offices. Among the visitors heie mi;; lit be
seen Lieut. -Col. K, L. Denis n, gouerally
driving a celebrated trotter known as Milk-
maid, " Bob" James from I!ro(Vi<ton, Hen-
derson from the same locality, Irvine, from
Weston, and alway.-t the oIlictTS of tlie Royal
Canadian Iliiles stationed at the barraoka.
Occasionally Captain C'ark, of the I'KHh
Regiment, with his quiet deternuned lace,
and Lis measured walk, put in an appear-
ance, and so long as the depot was in To-
ronto there were always some of the rank
and file under liis command also present
Sir Casimir Gzowski (then Mr. (izowski)
was for some time president. Colonel (J. T.
Denison was starter and Mr. .lohn Boulton
clerk of the cours*. ! he Queen's Plate of
fifty guineas was always thu great event of
the meeting. In 1860 this was won by a
hors ■ owned by Mr. White. 1 here wer*
nine entries. Tlie ho; se was called Don Juan.
At the 1860 meeting, the Toronto pur-e of
$200 only attracted two entries The county
purse o' $75 had but one entry, but so as to
make a race, Mr Beard entered his horse
'J'om Sayers on the course and won the race.
There was another event known us the
Scurry Stakes, this in the same year was
won liy a lad of eight years old, by the name
of Irvine, whose father was a fre(iuent ir-
tendant at the course. The name of nit
mount is not given
Bac ng in Toronto until the present
Woodbine track was opened was at a pretty
low ebb : however, the Carlton races
dragged out an existence for some y^ars.
They were finally discontinued about 1S76.
The grouad i» now covered by houses. Of
subsequent r^ciu^ fixturefl it is notnecsssarj
to speak.
• ■ n
L.:
rSfr
rjMJ
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
;'»'■ '■■ ■
CHAPiKK CCXXV.
MEOHANICS INSTITUTES-
Tlir »rowlb and FluetiiMllon of Hriilinieiil
In F«v«ur or Fr«« Itmdlns Itoonit for
Ilia re«pl« rr«iii 1831 !• I8h:i.
The first Mechanina' Inttitut* in this city
wai cAtaMislied in 1831, thrfe yaars before
York vi'i'eived it« cliariar of incurporation
aii 1 hail in iii.ino of Toronto restored to it.
Th« Institute nia> probably tra 8 its origin
»(■ .losopli Bate*, tlien just arrived in Yorli
from London, England, where tie had bsen
ffonnecttd with one of these lociaties, and
h , thinking a similar institution might be
established with advantage in Vork, con-
siilted with Mr. .Tanaes Lep^tlie, late of Kglin-
ton, who entered heartily into the project.
Tin in:uigur.\l nie(!'.i"2 ^''•■"' bo^d in danuary,
1S!U NlLiny of the iiniicipal inhabitants of
the town were fiie.spnt, Mr. J.esslie presiding.
The tir^t riuarterly nueting w.a > liold m Mr.
Thotnp^o'i'.'* ■ci.ool ro(-nfJi, when the report
read by .Mr. Hues eli iwed n list of fiftyeix
iriflmbcts. A;non^' j)'.oiiii:i2nt workers in the
:;i,.-f. were I>r«. W. \V. J'.ildwin, Dun*-
oofiibc, J. F. Cablicoft, Dm. lop and Holph ;
M ssr:-. Jnnios Cockshult, T. t'arfrae, .lames
full, I^eiiiiarn, (', C!. Small, James \Vort»,
I'aniea (i. Worts, (apt. Fiizpibbon, and
many otlier?. It is noj c irtain where the
Insititute bud its tirst liAMtation. I'robab'y
in it.s very car'.y days meetings were con
vened ..t any good-sized room t'.uil could be
procured, easily accessible to the mem-
liers Some meetings wer^, we know,
hrid in rooms in a wooden building in
C'olUorne street, tlien called 2darket
itreec. Known as the " Masonic i^iMigu. "
A library, or rather che nucleus of a lil)rary,
was begun, lectures were delivered, evening
jlasses established for the beneht of the
membi'rs and a museum commenced
Jd \H^r-> the Institute received a grant from
(.Government of £'200, equivalent to $800.
This w IS expended upon icientificapparatus
The celebrated Dr. Birkbeok, founder of the
Birkbeck Institution of Loridon, Eni{l&nd,
was commissioned to purchaie this ap-
pn.ratus. Ic was not only very expensive,
Du' was nevor wholly complete or at any
time of much benefit to the Institute. Littl*
progress was made by the Institute in
1837 owin,' to the excitement caused by
political events and the outbreak of the
rebellion. But when affairs in Toronto had
resumed their normal condition in 1838 tb«
managers of the Institute obtained from the
City Cnnncil a suite ot rooms for th« ac-
commodation of the Institute in the aouth-
•ast comer of the market building; where St.
Lawrence Market now itands. They ia
sue a notice on March 16th which readi
thus : —
Mechanics' iNSTixaTE.— A meeting of th«
members of tlie Mechanics' Institute viU be
held at tlis lucture room, market build itii;s,
on Friday, the '23rd inst., at three u'clock
p. m , to elect a commi'itae for the present
year. By order of the committee, J. F.
NVk.stlasd, Secretary.
Sir Francis Bond tfead, then Lieutenant-
Governor of the I'roviuco, was patron, and
occasionally wih his suite attended the
weekly lecturer
Mr. William Ross was librarian and
curator.
In 1841 the committeo presented their re
port, and as it gives a fair idea of the
society's progress it is given in extenso : —
Annual lt>>pnrt of llie 4'ainnillti'fi of the
TUltO.Vro Nerlianlcs' lusiliute.
Head at Ike SDciely'n Itn iw-j, Ifeb. "rd. H',1,
The Cominittco on deliverinif up th ir trust t'-
thoT sul•(•essor^. rfspcclfnily rer""' -
That diiriii'.? thoye.ir 22 now 'iii^fnUers have
joincil. but owint; to rernora s. ami Kumo mem-
bers doc'.ininsf to coiititiiK! tiieir subHcriiuioni,
the real inrreaso in onlr seven -the whole r;um
ber nf miMnburs being about 01.
The Financial Ac(!ouiitt arc -(^a'^h rerpived.
liic'.udiiiK bai >iiee in the 'Ire^surer -s tia-nls pt
thf* coroinen(;ement of the year. £4S 28, Od. ; of
which has been exnonded £23 1%^. Od.. I'^aving
a balance in the Treasurer's handn of £22 4s. (ki
a (ii-lailed account of which in on the tablp, for
th': j-xaniination cf the members.
Diii'infc the season the Lectures linvo been
continual weekly witli one or two exceiitions.
They have consisted of courses by tlie He v. Jlr.
LiUoy on the tniitd ; by the Itev. Mr Leach,
President, on education ; by Dr. Lansr, on chtra
ii'ry ; and one by th" Rev, Mr. Uoaf. on pco.
loicy ; for tiie nnt irinvr zeal of these Rcntlenien,
under the deiires3in.!.c eircutiHtancos which the
Institute has b id io strufjKle with, the Commit-
tee tender their Rratoful aeknowieilgiiionti.
'I'hey have also to return their thanks to Ur.
Boys, Vice-I'iesidont, for a donation ^of an
English translation of Linnaeus' System of Na-
ture in 7 volumes. An address ot congratula-
lation to theOov.-General on tiis arrival in the
city from the Institute, whieh was numeromly
signed by the members, was presented by the
Committee, which was Rraciou-ly received.
His Excellency in his reply was pleased to ex-
press his approbation of the princinles on which
the Institute is founded, and to promise what-
ever assistance was in his power to forward ita
objects.
There has been added to the library the re-
prints of the London and Edinbursb Reriewi
and Mafcazines, which Ir. is expected will be
continued. The property of the Institute has
been insured from Are in the British North
American Insurance Ofllce for the sum ot £209.
A large part of the balance in the treasurer's
hands will be required to place the library in
an eiflei«int state for circulation. It is t» be
regretted that many members neglect to return
the books within the time limited for read-
ing. Their attention to this is respectfully re-
quested.
An attempt was made to establish a class, to
meet five nlgbts in tbe wees, intended to eo(n«
bine I he advantages of a reading room and an
academy, which unfortunately failed from the
and
%i
iW.
i
LANI>MARKS OF TORONTO.
757
nnexpocfed opposition of the persons chiefly
intended to be bonefltted iiy it. The Comniiitoe
owe their best thanks to those gentlemen who
10 liberally Kare their names as contributors
(or that purpose. Respectfully submitted.
By order of tbe coinmittee,
John Hoys.
Vice President.
In the following year, 1842, Sir Charles
Bagot, Governor tJeneral of ('anada, was in
Toronto in the latter end cf April, princi-
pally for the purpose of lavin • the founda-
tion stone of tlie Toronto University. Tak-
ing; advantage of the occasion, the meiulieis
of the Ins itule presented his Excellency
with an adJrcss of welcome, Vilieroin tliey
refer gratefully to a pr.ijecicd j^eologioal
iu:vcy of tlie Crovii "o, anl they also refer
"nith still greater su. afactioii,'" to quote the
vioiiis of their ailiiress, to tlie opening up of
new channels of commerce under hi» Excel-
lency's aus))ice3. 1 hey co elude by assur-
ing tlio Queen's representative of their '• un-
feigned loyalty to our .'■overeigii."
In ]SH in considtTiUion ot the tum of
£16 cuncncy, eouivivlunt to .S(J4, the Innti-
ttits gave up po38e3siu;i of tlio iiiar..et build-
in^' rooms an(l rsmovtii to others .situated
over the store No 12 \VeHin„'io!i lUiildinjs,
Ki:ig street, having,' also, through the kind-
ness of .Sheriff \\. 1> Jiuvis, the use of tlic
Court lloom for its lecture {uirposes.
Daring tlie same year the City Council
were constructing a two-storey fire hall on
tbe site of the present one and tho I'olico
Court in Ccmrt street
On the memorial of the Institute ths
Council consented to extend its ground plan
10 as to give the Fire Department all the
accommodation required on tho ground floor
on condition that the Institute should build
te second storey for its library, reading, lec-
ture and board room, and puy to the con-
tractors the difference in co:j;: of thtbuildlnsr
«o extended, and as it was originally con-
trA'^'-ed for.
This ditiference amounted to £465 53 Gd
currency ($l,Sm 10) and was raised by
Voluntary contributions.
The foundation stone was laid on August
'.'7th, 1845. These new rooms were opened
on February 12th following,. when the annual
n\eeting was held, with Mr. John Ewart in
tic chair, and the inauL'ural address was
delivered by tho Honorable R. B. Sullivan
when he took occasion to congratulate tbe
Institute on its possession of^ such a con-
venient building for their various require-
ment -.
On July 28th, 1847, the Institute was
oorporated by Act of Fariiament, receiving a
(rant of money at the same time from the
Government, la 1848 th^ first of a series
ef exhibitions of fire arts, mechanism, ladies
work, etc., was held and remained open for
ten weeks. The financial result was fairly
B tisfactory, there being a prof. L of nearly
$200
In tho following year the Institute issued
for the first time a diploma to its exhibi-
tors at the annual exhibition. Tliis was <.e-
signed by \ir. Sauiiford Flemiii.', and wa»
lithograjihed by Messrs. Scobio & Half our.
The second exliiljition in 1S41) was a
greater success tlan its predecessor, as it ro-
Bultcd in a net ^ain of more than i'2'2'K
1 hree very activ workers wore in this
year remuvc-d by death, namely Me-srs.
Charles Sevvell, Henry Parry and John
Aiikcr.
Tlic iinnual E.Nliibition was again held in
ISo'), when one of the jirincipal exhibits
was a niiKkd of a locomotive, wliioii ran on a
raised track round the room, tlu; steam to
propel it beiiij,' j.'enerated by a .small spirit
i.'vinp. Thiri attracted a great deal of atten-
tion. It was made by Mr. A. l\irkes, a
wood-turner w ho resided on Adoluide olrcet.
Th? proiit fio.n l!ie l^xiiiliilio.'i thi.s ycur was
t-'-MO, a bligiit decrease fiom that of ha pre
decespor.
'i'ho rej)ort picsciitcd to the in';ni!jU!s in
iS.")l drew tli.nr atieniiou to liie fact that
the atcoinniodatiou provided wi.s insuilicieut
for th • nee. Is of I'tie Institute, and tliat
.-iiop.j iiuisL be taken to j!;'0'.niio larger
promise.'". It also referred "witii great re-
t;ieL to the expre-:.-j.'d inttution of Air. Wil-
liam Edwanls to re.-ig!\ the ofli;-.; of Bocri'-
tary." That i;i.utleman hail fiilcil the posi-
tion for t ii^ht years, and the co i inittce con-
cluded tlicir report bj- saying that he had so
discliarged his duties that they "are at fault
for sullicient pow«r of language adequately
to express th^ir indebtedness to iiim "
Subsequently tbe niembors ])t evented Mr.
Edward* with a complimentary address and
a purse of sovereigns. He wus alio created
a life member of the Institute.
The Exliibition ol 1851 was, as regard*
the quality of the exhibits, one of the best
ever held, but financially it was ud but a
failure, as the balance, after payment of ex-
penses, only amounted to a little more than
!r48. The events of the following year call
for no comment, the Institute not being able
to provide itself with the reiiuisite new
buildings which were so badly recpi red.
In September, 1853, the site oii the corner
of Church and Adelaide streets was pur-
chased by auction for $G,529; plans for a new
building were prepared and the publ'c ap-
pealed to for subscriptions. This uppea'.
brought in before the year closed 1^4, SOO
On the following April 17th, the corner
stone of the now Mechanics' Institute was
laid with Mi^souic honors. The brethren.
I ¥
en:
i> • \
1 ^i
'.n
;ii ■'
758
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
attired in regalia and accompanied by the
otiicers of tlio Inatiiute, headed by the band
of the Royal Canadian Rifles, marched in
procession from St. Lawrence Hall along
King to Church stroet, thence to the corner
of Adelaide street, where the proceedings
commenced by Air. 'ihoinas (iibbs Ri out,
D.(J. M., of Canada, addressing the meeting.
He, after some few preliminary remarks,
dwelt upon the reason for their all beiii<;
engaged I's they then were, and concluclcd
by saying : " To day we are here asaunibled
in the presence of you all to build a hal! fo.-
the public use of the mechanics of tliis city,
which we pray Ciod may prosper if it aeeia
good to Tlim, and that it may become a
buildiii!,' f')r good men and good deeds, and
promote Isiu-nony and hrotlierly love, till
the world itself shall end So mote it e."
Mr. ! hdfnas .J. Robertson, the president,
presented .Mr Hidout "ith a silver trowel,
suitably inscribed, which .Mi. Ridout briefly
acknowli'd^'cd, and then ptoceeded to lay
the stone Tliis bavin;,' been ilfwie, praver was
offered. Ilieu addrossos were ilelivered liy the
president, tlin llov. i)r. .McC-'aul, ami also by
Mr. l-'atrick Ire'anil, tlie .senior vicei)rcsi-
dent. A small cannou had l)oe;i phvceil on
the opposite side of the street close to St.
James' fchool liou^'e, from which a salute
of thi'ee rounds was iired and the proceed-
ings then came to an end by tiio whole
company <,'iviii!^ three cheers for the Queen.
Two able otlicials of tlie instituie passed
away in 18r)4— Messrs. W. Atldnson and F.
Thomas.
In 185;") tl.c Provincial Government 'eased
the nnfinislied building for four yoar-j for
official purposes, at tln' simo time paying the
Institute S.^.SS.*^ tn eiKiblethem to pay oil' the
outstandini: liabilitips upon the structure.
When the lease expired the Ciovcri.ine t
paid the Institute a further sum of §10,000
to enable it to complete the building in ac-
corrlance with tiie original desig'ia.
I he alterations required were at once
commenced and in ISGl were cnmpleteil and
the rooms ready for occupation. The total
cost was S48,;580 78.
It is necessary now to recall some few
ear. ior facts. In the winter of ISf)? and
1858 a course of lectures was delivered in St.
Lawrence Hall, of which the lollowing is the
programme : —
1867 — THURSDAY.
Nov. 26—" The Infancy of AnBloSaxondom—
Origin of the Langnagre."
Dan'kl Wilson, LL.D.
1858.
Jan, 8—
H, Y. Hind, M.a.
, li.A,
. B.-V.
aturo
15-" OpUcs.". . IlEv. E. K. Kendall,
•' 22- iJo Key. E. K. Kkndall,
" 2J— " KnRiijh Language and J. iter
(with illu-strative roadinRS)"
T. J. U()iu:>{TsnN-
Feb. 5— Do T. J. Uoukht.s:).v
•• I-.'—" On Sound. "..J. H. Ciiekrim an.
*' 19— " Astronomy. (Fixed Stars
NebiiUe)"
..C'( L. I'.AROX 1)K U()TTK.N-|irH()
" 2G— Conch d ag l^ecturcH. Y. IIinu
•M.A.
and
C.li.
-M.A.
FRIDAY
Doc, 4-
Do.
11-'
The Lectures will commence each ovcniiia: at
8 o'clock.
1 lOKKTS for the course, Ta 61 ; Ladies, .3s 9d ;
Monibors 01 the InslituLc, lis 9d. Admission tii
single Icci are, Id 3d ; Ladir and Aleraberj uf
Institute, 74rt.
The Institute lost by death in 18i)7 one
of its beat friends and workers * !oh i
Ewart, whfin we have previously i -loneJ
1 ho cour.?e of lectures for 18.")8 &,id 185'J
began in November, in the hall of the In-
stitute, none of the lecturers of t e jirocecd-
ing year thou. h re-appearing. This is the
profiramme : —
185*.
FlUDAY.
Nov. 2(5 -'Tlie Advertisements otfhn Ancient
Uomaiis." Hkv. Du. Ah ('aul,
Dec, 3 -" Air and its Hoiaiions."
\Vai.tki{ a. \Va rr.s, M. A.
" 10— "The I'oc ry oflii-inilr."
1)K. A. (). Ki':LLOoa, Port Hope.
" 17— " Water, lIydrvn:o!\. etc."
NS' Ai.rKit A. Watts, M. a.
18-0.
kkiuat.
Jan. 7—" Coal Gas and Carbonic Acid ani
their Uelal inns."
WALTKit A, Wat IS, M. a.
" li — " The Avonuciof Wfvst.ini I'l-aie. '. . .
Kivas 'I'lJi.i.v. /sc,.
■' 21 — ■' Sulphur and Phosvihonis."
Waltkk .\. ^VA•rTS, ■".A.
" 28 -" Chcinisry of Common Liic."
1)K. 'rilOUIiCliX.
Feb. 4 — " .Sea Salt and ils l)iv.'ivativ(M. "
Wai.tkk a. Watt^ .M. a,
•' U— " The Anatom.v and Comparative An-
atomy of the lOye."
Hhvkklut K. Moisnis, M. D.
" 18— " Glass and f'oreela n."
WALTEit A. Watts. M. A.
" 25— " The Luminous Appearances) of the
S-a."...BKVEItLF.Y H. MoHUts, M. D.
March 1— The Concluding Lecture
Mk. J. K. Pkll.
' Origin of the Literature."
Daniel a ilson, LIj.D.
Heat and Light in their Chemical
relaLloiis. ' II. H. Ckokt, D.C L.
l^" Tlie Clhcmical History of Iron and
Copper." il. H, Ckoft, D.CU
THE
LEOTURi;S will COMMENCE ICACII EVEH>
INO AT KIOIIT O'CI.OriC,
Mostly all of which will be illustrated by ex-
perimonii- and diagrams.
Tickets for the Cou'ser—Non • members. $1 ;
Ladies and .Mf mbi^rs of the Institiitc, 50
cents. .Singii? Admission. 12^ cfnti.
IlOliKllT KDWAKD8, Hecrdar'j.
TORO.NTO, November, 1858.
At the annual meeting held in ISJiO the
committee record " with deep regret the loss
by death of its lale, and for many years in
defatigable, secretary, Mr. Robert Ed-
wards."
LA.NDMAUKS OF TOMONTO.
759
Id memory of this most estimable man
the members of the luslitute subscribed for
a memorial portrait of him, which until
1S83 hung in the re<idin^-rooni of tlie Insti-
tute. In that year, by a unanimous vote of
the then director*, the Institute being
tout to I e closed, it was presen..<i. to Mr.
William Edwards, I rothor of the ;ate, and
hiiiiself as we ha^ e already seen, a former,
stcretary. That gentleman not long after-
wards offered the portrait to the City fublic
Library, whode custodians gratefully ac-
cepted it, and where it now hangs.
in 1862 a series intended to be annual, of
literary and musical entertainment ', was
instituted and proved most successful.
in the i<ame year the evening classes which
had been instituted on the inauguration of
the Institute were mad ' much more efficient,
ind were carried on with great success until
18S0, when they were discontinued in conse-
quence of the School Board having estab-
lished similar classes la three of their
ichools.
In 1868 it was proposed by the committee
to h Id an exhibition of fine arts, and in
August the following circular was issued : —
Tiin
TORONTO MECHANICS' INSTITUTE
THE EiailTH ANNCAL EXniBITION.
comprising the
FINE VND DECOUATIVE ARTS,
DESIQ.HIN'a. BTC, AXD LADIKg' WORK.
Will open In the Music Hall of the Institute,
ON FltlDAY, OCrOBEU 2nd, 1868.
aod continue open for at least ten days.
THEDIRECTOIIS respectfully solicit from
the Artists and Ladies of Toronto and vici-
nitT, and the public goaerally, contributions on
loan of urtvclcs in
(1.) lino Arts and Decorations, ancient and
modern, embracing Architecture. I'aittitiK-'
in Oil and Water Colors, Dpa>viiiKJ. Sciilti-
ture and Modelling, Dyosinkins and !'.n-
praving. Photography, and Decorations and
IJcsiKnsof cverv kind.
(!.) Spooinions of all kiiul.s of L;vdies' Work.
ThH obiects of the Exhibition are :— Ut. To
afford Artist .s Ladies, an 1 possoasorsof intop-
cstinganrl : are specimens of Art na opponun.-
ty of exhibiting Ihoir various nriiclea or pro-
ductions. 2nd. To rcalizi! funds towards reduc-
ing the H.-ibilities of the Institute. 3rd To
afford IntcrestinK and Instructiro amusement
to ihti public.
Tlie greatest cart> will bo given to the safe
keeping and return of all specimens entrusted
to the Committee of Management.
The Kxhibltion, comniencing on Friday, the
2ndof October, will bo open to visitors from 10
o'clock, a. m. to 10 o'clock, p. m.. each day of
its continue .oc. The charge for admission will
be ten codU.,
IntenJ^ni? contributors are respectfully ro'
questo 1 to'.ominiinicai(i with the undoraigned,
or with any monibcr of the Exhibition fJoininit-
tco, viz : VV. Edwards, cliairinau. Danii^l Hurj',
W, K Masiun. J. J. Withrow. T. McCros.^on.
and T. L»avison, or with any member of the
lioard,
lUCHARD LEWLS.
Secretary.
Toronto l,th August, 1S6S.
At this Exiiibition over 700 pictures wero
lexhibited Among them were many works
of the old masters, lent for the occasion, the
rest beintr the works either of Canadian
artists or their pupils This e.Khibition re-
sulted in a loss of more than SlUO.
From this year until 18SI5 whrn the Insti-
tute was merged into the L^ublic Library,
esiat)li3hed under the Fiee Libraries' Act of
1882, there is little of moment to record.
Recreation rooms which contained billiard
tables, chess and kindred games were opened
in the buildini;, besides a reading room spe-
cially set apart for ladies.
These all proved successful and tended
th popularize the institute. But " the
old order changeth and gireth place
to the new." On March 29th, 1883, at
a special general meeting of the niumbei's of
the Institute it was by an all but unanimous
vote resolved to make over all the property
of the Institute with its assets and liabili-
ties to the City Corporation for library pur-
poses. This resolution was duly c^.rried in-
to effect on June 30th following. It only
remains to mention some of the more
prominent workers for the Institute in its
half century of existence. They were : —
W. Edwards for 30 consecutive years, W.
Atkinson 17, •'. E. Pull 15, Hiraui I'iper,
R. Edwards and Thomas Davi.ion for 13,
and many others whose services extended
from eight to twelve years.
Th ' following is a list of the Trcsidents,
excepting for the years 1833-5 8-9 anil 1840,
the records ot which have liucn lost, .lohu
E.vart (1831, 18U), Dr. lialdwin (18.32-4-
7). Dr. Ilolpn (18.36), R. S. Jameson (1841),
Rev. W. T. Leach (1842), W. B. Jarvis
(1843), T. G. Kidout (1845 6■8^ R. B.
Sullivan (1847), Professor Croft (1849,1850),
F. VV Cumberland (1851-2, 18(15 6). T. J.
Robertson (1853), Patricl: Freehiid (1854-9)
Hon. G. VV. Allan (1855-1808 9), E. V.
Whittemore (1856), J. E. Pell (1857),
.John Harrington (1858), J. D. Ridout
(1860), Rice Lewis (1861-2), W.
Ed.>ard3(1863), F. W. Coate (1864), J. J,
Witiirow (1867), James McLounan (part of
1870), .)ohn Turner (part of 1870), M.
Swdetiiani (1871-2-3-4^ Thos. Daviiou
(1875 6 8), Lewis Samuel (1877), Donald C.
Ridout (1879), W. S. Lee (1830-1), JkUM
Masou (1882-3).
, i{ii
li I : ;.
r'-'r
^ l-'ilt
M. I
760
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Tho recording sccretariea bav« been in the
followinir order and number of years' service:
Jo3. Hates (1831), T. i'atson (1832 3 4-') G).
C. Sowell (1837-8 and 1841), J. F. West-
land (1840 and 1842), \V. Elv.ards (1843-
4-5-6-7-8-9. 1850. 1859, 18G0), R. Edwards
(18r)l-2-3-4 5-6-7-8), C. Longman (1861-2 3-
4-5-6), John Mo^s (1867), Rioliaid Lnwis
(1868), Samuel IJrodio (1869, ISTD-l), Joliu
Davy (1872-3-4 5 6 7-8 9, 1880-1-2 3).
The correspu'uling secrotarie.s liaTe been
A. T. McCord (1836), C. Sewell (1842 3 4-5),
J, F. Weailand (1841), W. Steward (1816),
Ale.T. Christie (1847-8-9, 18,")0-3), Patrick
Freelaiid (18.jl 2), M. Swe«tnam (18.')4-r)),
J. J. Woodhouse, (18.')r>), John Elliot (1857),
J. 11. Mason (1858-9, 18;i0). Fro u this dale
the oliica was not continued.
The ti'casurers have been James Lcsslie
1831-4 5-6) II. M. Mosley (1832), T. Carfrae
(183:5), W. Atkinson (1840-1-2-3 4 5 6), John
Harrin'jttoii (1817-8 9, 185 )-l-2-3-4 5 6), John
PatPi son (1857-8-9. 1860 1-2), .lohn Co van
(1863), W. Mdwards (1864-5-6-7-8-9, 1870),
John llallam (1871), Thomaa .Mallear (1872,
3-4 5), Vv. i; llartill (1876), II. JI. Ramsay,
(1877, 1881-2-3), U. B .Morris (1878-9), John
Taylor (188).)
CHAPTER CCXXVL
AN EARLY VOLUNTEER CORPS
And I's Iiniiieiliale Kucc*««or— Coiidiilons
or Sri-virr aci<t Oilier U.ita— The .\islit
<iuar<i mill It* IHiiiei.
In 183? and ti.e folio vng year during th ;
re! elliou there wiia mu':'ii iiiilitai-v enthusi-
asm in tlie Province. Young, niiddlca.ed,
;nde\encld men buckled on their rirnior,
figu atively sj eaking, determiuid to stand
l.y heir country and maintain the loner of
i.er flag
In tlie British Colonist of January, 1838,
two months after ho iuadtnt at Mont
gomer>'8 tavern in Yoi ge street, we find
this notico : —
" ll:o Army. — On Tuesday the Queen's
Rangers, our effective colonial corps, returned
from Niagara to Toronto, having been
reliered by the Queen's Light Infantry,
anotlier of the gallant and loyal regiments,
so promptly formed on the spur of patriotic
excitement, at lh«ir country's call.
" A detachment of volunteers hare arrived
from Perth composed entirely of young,
active dcotchmon. They number 104, rank
anJfila, and are accompanied in their march
by tk purser. 1 he otQcera are Capt. A.
Fraser, Capt. J. Voung, Lieuts. Muirhcad
aud Montgomery,and Ensign^* A. Fraser and
C. Fraser. I'hey are now attached to the
Pro-/ineial Militia, or Queen's Rangers, ooni.
manded by Col. Kingsmill "
But in a somewhat later edition of the
Coloimt the editor announced that he had
said too mu h when he described thes-a
volu:ree:» as being all Scot;timen, for on
February 8th, in reference o the cnrj s, ha
curtly remarks : — '• It is denied that they
were all Scotch, but English, Irish and
Scotch, and one of ihe officers an Irish-
man."
Sl'.ortly after the return of tho Queen's
Regiment, described elsewhere as the
Que n's Racers, but » ho must on no
account be confounded with the Qiiceii'j
Rangers of the rovolnt'onary period, who
afterwards became the 104th Regiment of
tho line, and wer finally disbanded in this
province in tha e\rly " twenties," there
was formed in Toronto what was
ki.own as thu "Night Guard," i nder
ihe ccimand of Clarke (lanible, Eoi|.
This gentleman is sill resiiUng in the
city, and almost as active as win n he led a
c nnpny of militi.k in the a*t ck uion Mont-
gomery's ta\ern.
The duties of the Nighi Guard were to
pitrol the streets of Toronto from 9 p. in.
unii 5 a.m Tho Guard was " told oil" into
t! rco .scjuads or pitrols. The first of thf'.so
pa' rolled tho streets west of Y(.n:;o
from 9 until 12 under Mr. Gamble ;
the 8C3ond went on Irom 12 until 3
under the Hon. William Cayley, an;
tlie third again in charge of Mr. Gambia
f:om3until5. The streets east of Yon;,'e
V ere similarly p.^troUed by others of the
Guard. Mr. G unble continuetl this duty
or about a month, when he was t: lieved bv
Captain Murray, who formed another <!uar<l.
Tho men who performed these duties w-to
all paid for their w rk by the i Joverno cnt of
the day. Captain Murray, whom wo have
just mentioned, was one of a Wfll-known
lirm, Me^ r». Murray & Newbigjing. I'iie
latter gcnlleii an died during die reb' llif)!),
and of hi.-) funeral and burial tlio Ih-ilish
Colonist of ISth February, 18.38, says : —
" His remains were interred in the Kjjisco-
pal burying ground, and being an Alderntan
of the city, and the Captain of a conipanv in
the City (Juard, the Mayor, Alder.nen and
Common Council of the city, the otfi.^er.i of
the City Guard, the otficers of Jie Queen's
R'.ingcrs, a large and respectable concourse
of the inhabitants of the city, and the soldisrs
of the company he commanded, aocompauied
his remains to the grave."
Gndually matters assumed their nor-
mal condition in Canada, aud tlie n ilitia
were sent to their homes and the Nighb
Guard dismissed, but a permanent mi itary
force was deemed by the Imperial Govern-
LANDMARKS OF TORONIO.
7«
ment a necfssity, for we find in the Qlobe of
October lOth, 1840, the following short para-
graph : —
" It is said that a provincial regiment is
;o be raised in Canada, to be called the
'Royal Canadian Regiment ' to bo com-
:Tiai ded by I lie Gover. or as Colonel, and to
be coinposed of men who have !\pent fifteen
ye rs in the regular service. 1 he men are
to be enlisted for twenty years, and to ie
iillovved to work as artiticei a and laborers
when not ot; er.^ ise employed."
On March "J'ind following there is a n.uch
longer notice copied from the Monreal
Herald, giving full details of the sclieme. It
runs I bus : —
"Some months ago «c mentioned 'hat it
wa in contemplation by the Government to
raise n ve eran hattal on in Canada, to be
ailed 'The Royal Canaiian Iteginunt,'
L'Oinposed of soldiers of the line '.vho have
served lifccen years This rcgii ent is to
be stationed on the frontier, and from the
enlistment being voluntary as well as on
highly favorable terji s, tliere \^ ill be little
chance of any desertions taking place, while
the corps may be depended upon as an elli-
cieni body.
"Tlie pay is to he the same .us that of the
Foot (juanls, and tiie ii en are ;o I e allowed
tn LO to agricultural labor and handicraft,
\Then not eu.;aged on military liutie^j. A
general oriler to tlds eil'ect was isf-ued by
His Kxcellency Sir iliehard Jackson, Com-
iiianiier oi the Forces, on the 4th instant.
We hope the veteran adjutants who served
ill the vdunteer battalions will not bo for-
jjolten by His K.xcclle: cy in bestowing com-
mis.'i' ns in 'The Roval Canailiau Regi-
ment.'"
The 12th Article of the condition of ser-
vice, as promulgated in the general order, is
important to those soldiers who, after fifteen
years' servi' e, have alrcudy procured thei
free discharge and received the gratuity. It
is as follows : —
"12. — Any man who ha; accepted free
dischu'gc with a gratuity after lifteen years'
service ii-.ay, if deemed eligible from charac-
ter and found tit for the sci'vic •, bo jiermit-
ted to enter, an 1 bo allowed to reckon his
former service, upon the condition that he
sliall not receive any addit onal pay for
length of service, or good conduct pay, until
the amount of gratuity paid to him on his
discharge shall have been saved. Officers
commanding stations will, on the3l3tin.it.,
forward, in duplicate, to tiie Deputy Ad ju-
tant General, & return of candidates of tlii-
description according to the prescribed form
(the character to be ex racled from the
parchment certificates), accompanied by a
declaration oi' their fitness for servi.e, aiijnail
by a military ti edical officer. This i etura
will also show whether each candidate in
married or unmirried, and the number of
children."
This was the Roy. I Canadian Rifle Regi-
ment which, its day of usefulness haviui;
ppssed a\«ay, was linally disbandc i nbou'i
twentv-two years sini e. An.ong its otfi era
in its thirty years of existence \' ere several
well-known men. One of these was Colonel
-Muter, who had served in the Peninsul*
and was wounded ar Talaver* ; al.so luiiuj
the war of 1812, \< he i he was present at th«
attack upon New Orleans.
Lieutenant and Adjutant MeDuneli waa
also a well-known man. He had been ,i:;
active ofliecr of tl;e Canadian Militia during
the rebellion. (Haptain .loliu Clarke was
another of it.s oiiieers, having exehangeil
into it from the lOOth Regiment. Iliilier
Givins, a grandson of Colonel (iivins, the
Indian Commissioner, also iicld a lifutcit:-
ant's comuiission therein. It posscs.sed u
sjilendid band. One of its masters, Mr.
H.irkness, was killed in the calamitoui Dee-
jardins Canal accident. It is almost neec-
less to add that as a regiment this Cfirp
never saw a shot fired in anger, yet its niea-
bers iiad served in all quarters of the ;4e)i.>'.v
and at one lime more than four-ti tl: *"
them wore medals for war serv'ces.
Like all colonial corps, it was never verT
popular ;uuon_' youui; men entering the
army as ofliccrs eitiicr in England or C.v
nada, few Canadians seeking to obtain com.-
mis.sion.s in it, yet when it was disbanded
there were many who regretted it.
The Onicrr* or the Oltl <iiicen'!t l{nn:;er<
Who Selllc4l iu Toronto ami their Ott-
reiidaiiti.
Of the ofliccrs of
who eventuallv, on
regiment, settled at
having des endants
the tj^uecn's Rangers,
the disbanding of the
Vork |(now Toiuntcji,
here, were Colonid*
Smith and Shaw, afterwards Major-(Jenor:ii
.Shaw and one of the members of the first
Mxecutive Council. Captain Givins. whose
daughters only passed away in 1890 in To»
ronto, and whose oraiuidaughtcr still re.~idee
he e ; Alexander MclDonell, the father of ne
four well-known brothers of that name ; Dr.
Macaulay, father of the late Chief Justie*
Gamble, father of Mr. Clarke Gan.ble, and
grandfather of .1. VV. G .-.mble Wlatney, of
Toronto and Meaford ; lastly, Christopher
Robinson, father • f the late revered Chief
Justice and grandfather of the present (1803|
Baronet S r Lukin Robineon.
i J!
H
762
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
CHAPTER CCX..VII.
THE ISLAND IN TH£ FORTIES.
The "Horse B«al," iti Owner and HU
Hi«iiir3' — .';!t«rU and I'aitlmai of Louc
Amu.
The past half ceatury has brought with it
Diiiiiy chap<;es, as all such periods of time
must do, ami, perliaps, nowhere fire these
Tii'iro manifest or p. greater metamorphosis
•xliibited than in that part of St. George's
ward in the City of Toronto, known as the
'• island."
Where palatial residences, as well as those
of less pretentious aspect, but probably with
•qua! interior comfort, now stand, only forty
years ago was a waste of sand and shinijle,
nnrelieved as now by houses with gay gar-
dens and joyous resiilcnts.
The site of Tlie Lakeside Home for Little
Children and ilanlan's Hotel was entirely
nnoccupied, save by scattered trees and here
and there a fisherman's rude hut.
impossible from the nature of the soil to
build a brick foundation. The lower storev
was of brick : the second and upper on*
were of wood. To the east of it was
another small dwtdling, occu])ied by the
kecpet of the lighthouse, James Durning,
while about one hundred yards to the west
was a third house, known afterward.s as
Parkinson's Hotel. I'iie.sc, the huts wc
have before mentioned, and the liglithouse,
were, until i85l?, the only dwelliugs upon
the Island. Uetweeu where now is Island
Park, and the Eastern gap, were a great
many trees, chiefly pines and Balm of
Gilead. Exactly opposite the present
Alert House is one of each of these trees,
and this spot waa a favorite rendezvous
for picnic parties. To the east are several
other scattered pines, much the same now as
then, and from them one of the adjacent
villas cakes the very appropriate name df
" The Pines."
In 1843 Louis Privat (always, though
christening
THE KIHST KERRY HORSE BOAT.
There werein 1843 three houses only on the
Island. U ith the exception of the few very
primitive dwellings, these were mere cabins,
used by tt:e tisher follis. Strictly speaking,
the " Island" was not an island at all but a
peninsula. It was not until 1857 or 1858 that
the inroads of the waters of the Lake dur-
ing a great storm caused what is now known
as the Eastern gap, and converted the pen-
jn^u'a into an actual island. The tirst
steamer tliat passed through this gap was
the Bowmanville, on April 19ih, 1859.
Of tlie hvuises on the Island, the principal
was a lur^e partly brick three-storey
dwelling trected by Lord Sydenham,
in 1839 as u summer residence, for
himself, in consequence of Toronto at the
time sutfering from a visitation of that
dread pest, cholera. This house. 50 x 40
feet, and of which an illustration is given,
was built upon a layer of four-inch planks
■ouk about two feet iu the sand, it being
erroneously pronounced Prevs), took up his
residence in the house built by Lord Syden-
ham , and opened it as an hotel.
He was joined there in 1844 by his brother,
Louis .Joseph Privat, with his family.
Tlmse brothers, as may be inferred from their
name, were of French extraction, thougli they
came to Canada from the United Stales,
where they had rcbided since tlicir depar-
ture from Germany and arrival there in
1837. They were descendants of one Louis
Privat, who at the time of the revocation
of the edict of Nantes lived in tlie province
of Languedoo, in France, and to escape the
cons quenoeaof that infamous "revocation"
ded to Friedrichsdorf, in Germany, some
few miles from Frar.kfort-on-tlie->'ain, one
of the four Hans towns. It will probably
strike readers as soniewhat singular that both
brothers should bear the same Christian
name of Louis. As a matter of fact Louis
Joseph waa the only one who waa at bis
LANDMARKS OF TOIONTO.
763
christening given the first of these two
names . The real baptismal name of the
other brother was Peter. He in his earlier
clays was employed by a French nobleman,
an adherent of the Bourbon dynasty, Count
Duchatfl, as a valet. Among the Count's
numerous retinue of servants was another
man also in slose attendance upon his
nioster, who was li ewise called Peter. To
avoid confusion, it was decided tliat Privat
should be known as Louis, and so he was,
becoming accustomed to the name. On leav-
ing his master's service lie did not discard
it, but continued its use so long as he lived,
fie, with his family, left Toronto in Vio'S,
removmf; to the village of Durham, County
(jrey, where he kept another hotel until
his death, which occurred on April 28rh,
I860, in his 61st year.
on a circular table set (lush with the deck
in its centre. This table as it revolvtd
worked upon rollers, which, being connected
with the shaft, set ilie p^iddlos in motion.
The horses were stationarv ; the table on
which they trod was furnished with ridgea
of wood radiating like spokes from the
centre, wliich the horses caughl
with their feet, thus setting the table in
motion. For some time the boat was worked
with only two horses, but after about two
years an alteration was elfectud in the ar-
rangements, and in the vessel as well. In
stead of two horses, five were introduce i,
and they walked round and round the deck,
exactly as horses do when employed in
workiui; a threshing machine, and the vessel
was set in motion precisely as such a ma-
chine is. Two pictures are given of the old
THE SECOND FKIIRY UORSK liOAT.
Louis Joseph Privat, though in his 7Gth
year, is yet hale and vigorous.
liut it was one thing to open an hotel; it
was another to make ic pay. So the two
brothers decidcd[that the one should " run "
the hotel, while the other should devote his
cmrgies, and these were by no means in-
considerable, to obtaining visitors and
customers to the same.
In furtherance of this object they pur-
chased a ve.sacl which had been running on
the Niagara below the Falls to ply for pas-
sen. ers between Toronto and the isUud.
This, under command of L. J. Privat, they
called the Peninsula Packet, but it is very
doubtful if one person in a hundred who
visited the Island by her means ever knew
whather real."name was.foi- from the mode by
which she was propelled she was invariably
known as '* the horse boat," and by none
other. She was by no means a very large
vessel, bein? only sixty feet in length by
twenty three feet wide, and had what are
now known as side wheels. These poddies
were set in motion by two horses who trod
" horse boat," still remembered with affec-
tion by many residents of Toronto in the
•' forties" and very early "fifties." The old
vess<.4 was. in 1850, taken off her route.
L J. Privat then built a steamer, called
the Victoria, with a steam engine of 25 horse
power, built by Mr. James (Jood, of Toronto,
and ran it as a ferry from Mr. Robert Mait-
land's wharf, foot of Church street, every
hour from 10 o'clock a.m. until 7 p.m. every
day curing the summer, returning at the
half hour to the hotel on the Island, until
the end of the year 18f3, when he .suid the
Victoria to (ieorge Tate, Esq., then super-
intendent of the Grand Trunk Railway, and
ran it for them until the fall of 1855, after
which he moved with his family to tiie then
"bush" of the township of Uentinck, County
Grey, where he lives now (1893).
Mr Knott, the soap manufacturer, owned
one of the early soap factories of Toronto,
which was situated on the Island, near und
east of the site of Privat's house He also
had a soap factory near the Hon. William
Allan's wharf at the foot of Sherbourne or
1^1
li-
'(■:■
I
1
1
'■
764
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Frederick street, and converted some of the
■torchouses belonging to Mr. Allan into tiie
factory.
Mr. Halloway. the lirst keeper of the
lighthouse, had the (irst liousu on the Island.
It was close to the lif^hthou^e, about 30x20,
and was built of frame. It stood noith-wesr,
of the pp. sent lif,'hli.oute. He had two or
three (iaiii^htcrs and a nephew who lived
with him Mrs. Ilailoway had a narrow
escape friiiii drowning, being rescued by
Capt, Mc(!ill Strachan, and ever after-
wards \\ lull slie would meet him she made
him tlKJroui^'lily embarrassed by throwing
her arms about him, and once, 'tis said, .she
ki:-'.=ifd him. '1 he lit;hlhou.-<e was built in
18'K) ly John Thomson, a Toronto builder.
Ttiis sva.s the njan who, w\vn\ the Uiiiicd
Stales declared war, carried the news to the
hotel, and was dismantled after the war of
1815. Mr. Bloor, of Hlocr's brewery, and
George Cooper, who lired on the Davenport
Hill, took part, by instruction of
the Government, in dismantling the
old house. There were two lart;e
guns, wliich they hauled around the Island
from what is now Hanlan's Point, along the
road by The Lake»ide Home, and then over
to the main land, via the Big and Little
Don These were then shipped finally on
sciiooneri belonging to the Mackintosh
brothers, of whom there were five, John,
Cliarles, James, Robert and Daniel. The
guns wore sent to Prcscott and tlu-u t[an.s-
shipped on wliat was known as Hiirliam
boata to (Quebec
Cornelius Van Nostrand, an old To
rontonian, wiien he saw the guns bein;^
re
z:^
J
M
zji^:^y^^' ■•■ ';:.:j^r\.^45S*f VICTOR! A Vs^r-;i^s.^3Lsi^i^: i^..^:i^
»HE THIED tSTKAM) FERTIY.
west and to the Mauitoulin Island. General
Brock, who had charge of the militia,
wanted someone to undertake this mission
tor him, but none of his men or officers
would volunteer to do it. Thomson, who
was present, said, " Well, Generai, I will
go." Brock took him at ins word, proTided
for him an Indian guide, and it was in that
way thai tho inhabitants of the far west
first heard of the war. Halloway was tlie
keepei of the lighthouse, and he is credited
with a ereat fondness for his iieer, and is
■aid to have occasionally " found" a keg at
the brewery.
The Block House stood at Hanlan's Point,
» few hundred feet north-cast of the present
moved, tlicught they would liave been muon
better left where they were.
The Island afforded its visitors many
other attractions besides the journey tliere,
which, by the way, generally occupied
thirty and sometimes, forty minutes. Op-
posi»:e the hotel was a merry-go-round and
two large swings, the one to the cast, tlie
other to the west of the merry-go-rounJ.
1 he first was eighty feet hig , the second
but thirty, and all three were largely
patronized by the younger portion of the
Island's visitors. For the elders there w;is
a bowling alley, known as ' Ten Pin Alley,"
while to ensure instruction as \\ ell
as amusement there was a small
Eoologioal
wolf, a wh
or three
of annuaer
nature,
the sport
IfU*d for
variably
tioD at th
Anothe
comisted
pifjeons
aoldtoi
i 1
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
765
zoological collection eoDsutiag of a bear,
wolf, a white deer, aeverat rarcooos ind two
or three earles. There was also a good deal
of amuaemeat ef a somewhat miscellaneous
nature. Every Queen's Birthday many of
the sportsmen of Toronto journeyed to the
IsUMid for blackheart shooting. These were
hirdM of paflsa(!« of the plover tribe, who in-
variably were making their anDual migra-
tion at this period of the year.
Another, though somewhat crnel, pastime
consisted of trap pigeon shooting, wild
pil^eons being netted by bird catchsrs and
aolid to Privat for that purpose.
of shooting this animal with a rifle ostensi-
bly loaded only with an ordinary tallow
candle. To see this performance a small
sum was ciiarged and those who witnessed
it went away believing the bear had met hia
(juietu-s solely through the force of the candle
striking him. They were not told, and pro-
bably would not have believed it had they
been so, that when the candle was put in the
rifle a bullet had preceded it, nevertheless
such was the case. This "sport" always took
place in the winter and there was from
time to time an occasional fox hunt also, a
i fox being let loose the night before to fur-
THE FOURTH (steam) FKRRT.
Besides these contests to test the prowess
of marksmen, there was turkey shooting.
This it must be confessed was very sorry
sport. A turkey was tied and placed on an
eltfvatioa about fifty yanls from where the
sportsmen (?) stood. Everyone who chose
to eater, and pay a York shillini; for each
siioi, was allowed to fire at the poor bird ;
the first who hit it became possessor of the
tfurkiay. This anuable pastime continued
Qotit the supply of turkeys was exhausted.
Tkere was yet one other occasioual diversion,
e^aaUy reprehensibU but perhaps not quite
so crnsl as the one jast mentioned, this was
shooting a bear with a candle. A bear was
porehasvd, and forty years ago these w ere
not difficult to «bt*in, and a omji resident in
Toronto lued to give an exhibition
sish the sport, and a very sxhiraratihg amuse*
ment was the result.
When the Frivat brothers left the Island,
they were succeeded by John Qainn.
Where th'?ir house stood is now covered
by the waters of tiie lake 1 he exact spot
is about 200 yards to the wsst of where the
red buoy now rides, marking the propo:-ed
crib work which will extend to the point
where forty years ago was dry land. An-
other 100 yards to the west is the place
where the sunken boiler of the steamer
Monarch lies, which was wrecked in 185t>
and where . everal years later was also
wrecked the steamer Southern Belli".
There is not much more to relate respecting
the old Island. Among the fishermen who
lived thee were David Ward and William
I (
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itL
. I
■I
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vH'' IS
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[■'\^i ■ ',
Mi
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11
!'?}:'.'
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768
LANDMARKS OF TOllOXTO.
»
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
d-(0Wb\ND5 A\ILLS 1S40 —
!■■ IIMH I
trAWBTQN MttlS.
_jLv,
■wi^m^iv^^-.^^:^
Strowger, who were partners. David Ward
wos succeeded by liis son William, who was
born on tho Island in 1848 and still resiilos
there, having a sort of general charge.
William Geddes and John Jordan were aUo
well-known fishermen. They, like thebcafh
upon they often liauled up tiieir nets, have
cone elsewhere never to return. To return
for a few moments to Louis Jos«ph I'rivat.
During tho time he lived on the Island two
of his family wore born ; one of these fought
on the Federal side all through the War of
Secession, being twice wounded, once most
severely. Ho still lives, though in soinowhat
shattered health L. J. Privat was as
humane a man as he wa» enterprising, and
on several occa.'<ions saved the lives of care-
less boatmen. Among others so rescivjd
were two brothers named Martin, 'J'homas
Carfrae and two young men named llaigh
and Osier. Of Privat it may be said with
safety that ha was revered by his family and
respected for his integrity and kindheart.cd
ness by all who knew him, and if some of the
amusements in his day were somewhat out
of unis n with the teelings of to-day one
can reply by quoting the French proven),
"autres temps autres moeurs. "
CHAPTER CCXXVIII.
LAMBTON AND ETOBrOOKEi
rirty Years Since— The Old NllU— Respect-
ing the Oainble. Flsber aud Uswland
Families.
Less than fifty years since, any one who
wished to proceed from Toronto to Lambton
by Dundas street not only ilid so under
conditions differing widely from those which
ol>taiu to-day, hut liad also for nearly two
M=^^
miles of t!io (listan-'o to pass througli a
orost almost untouched by the axe of tiie
lumberman, and in wliioh bears, as late as
1840, we-e still to bo found, besides game ot
many dififoront descriptions. V\ hero tho
Suburban electric car track on Dundas
street, to the o.xlrenio west of Toronto
Junction, HOW turns out of that thorough-
faro and runs almost at a right angle to-
wards the lake, was all but unbroken
forest save for the road ruiming through its
midst. J4J;av ng Toronto and proceodiug
west on f)iuida3 street towards the Hum-
ber, the last house on tho left hantl side for
nearly two miles was in 1849 a ymall
wooden tenement, some few hundred yards
to tlio ve.Ht of the junction of the then con-
cession, uow Keele street, with Dundas
street. On the right hand aide, Runny-
inede, Mr. John Scarlett's residence,
erected in 1838 and situated about a third
of a mile from the concession, was the last
building from there until the site of the old
racecourse on the Hnmber plains was
reached. All was bush land, on the southern
side of the road, almost to the lake, and on
the opposite side also for a distance of near-
ly it not quite two miles ;o the north.
The race-course known as Scarlett's
ground was on the plains lying to
the north of Dundas street, bounded on the
east by the concession runnius; towards
Weston, and on the west by the woods on
the top of the hill overlooking the Hnmber.
it is fully described in another chapter of
the Landmarks, no more need be said of
it in this sketch. Passing the race coarse
on the right was a famous tavern, kept for
many years by a .Mr. Featb vrstoiie, and at
race times a great resort for those who fre-
n
I'm:
■l'
■it
m '
■ /Hi
11 ,1
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!: I'!
718
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
qmanUd ihoae meetings, '[ixen is still an
bote OD the same spot, but tho old hostolry,
beloved as a calliiii^' place by tho Weston and
Idimico farmurs, aa well as by tlie sporting
fraternity, has given place to a more pre-
te'itiuns though probably not more comfort-
able dwelling.
Closely adjacent to this tavern stood, in
1849 and for many years afterwards, thn
well-known flour barrel manufactory of Mr.
A. 1) Arche ; this coiisisteil of two buildings
di>tani from each other about fifiy yards.
The first was that in which tho ribs of the
barrcl.i were put together, the socoiul thfit
where llic}' were headed, luiishod and
Bliipped to the tuitouier.s of the firm. A
great deal of amusuun-ut was alibrded the
despatched from tho former to the latter,
they were shot along thii slide with wonder
ful rapidity, as many as '280 and even 300
boing sent down m half an hour. Occasion-
ally it happened that one of the bairels was
arres td midway in its progrcis, either
through being made badly or from some
other cause. IJefore it could bo removed or
started again on i s journey, it was gener<
ally struck by the next one descending, when
both always toj)plo 1 over and were dashed
tn piuce.s below. Th s, when it happened,
alsvayd afl'orded the crowd of young folks
who were wato iiig and admiring tho oper-
ations immense gratilication, and was
gi'ueraily gn-'tttid willi a shrill clieer Ai
the Loitum of the hill on tho right was a
•mall boys of the neighbourhood once or
twice a day by the mode adopted to pass the
partly-finished goods from one building to
the other. The finishing shop was bomc ten
or twelve feet lower than the one where the
barrels were beeiUB. This was owing partly
to the mode of its construction, and partly
to the fact that it was on the desc nt of the
hfOl, while tb« former was on the
BBmmit A Ion? slide exactly resem-
bling a ladder with range twelve or
fifteen feet apart, extended from the
firit to tiM aecoBd shop, and when a sutQ-
fltont MiiBb«r of barrela were ready to be
large tavern, still extant, much used by
farmers and others who had business in the
neighborhood. Next to that again was
Howland's store with its fli.'ht of broad,
wooden steps, some twenty in number,
cending to it from the street. This L
has not been altered in any material
for more than forty years, and it is, n >re
assured, practically in the same state i^w
externally as when it was built.
Immediately in the rear ot the store there
was erected by Mr. F. A Howland a hand-
some brick residence, facing the river, of
which ther^ j a sketch giTen. It still
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
789
F'Ai-10VVLAND5ilOU5f:
J^MLiTON.
sxistB anil is ocoupicd by Dr. Co ton On tlie
right I ami side of Uiimlas street, goiiiL; west
aftfr crossing the ilumlier an i asc 'Ufling tiic
hill, were several small hoii.*cs, all
built of wcoci, and still remaining: (IHOIJ) in
nnicli tho samo stuto as they wore foily-fivc
yt.irs c'lyo. Almost at the top of the hill
was a small cooper's, or rather \vhcel\vri<,'ht;;
Bliup ; the I'Usines • has disappeared, lthon;,di
till' liuildini; remains. Next to it was a black
Biiiith'.s shop, which is there now as it was
in the •' Forties." In fro it of this shop
stood for many years, linally disappearing
about ISOO. a curious contrivance which was
used for shoeing oxen.
It consisted of a frame work, four feet
wide, of strong hardwood bars about four
inches square, and six feet long, dovetailed
into four posts about five feet high and six
inches square, forming the corners of '.he
stand, and resting on a substantial floor of
two-inch planks. There were three of the
horizontal bars on each side of the frame,
and on the top and ends it was held
tnnether in its length and width by timber
he same size as the posts. At the upper
II, 1 of tnis contrivance, midway between | his death in 1867.
the two corner posts, were two perpendicu- ] tirely rebuilt. A
It was an operation not often performed,
and when it was, wa5 iitt ended with a great
deal of trouble, not only to the worknian,
but pretty ypnerally to tin; ox This repre-
sents a jihaso of colonial life long {>assed
away, but tiiere are still many living who
can remember wlien sucli an occurrence was
by no means uncommon. P<v-<t the bUck-
sinitli's shop, still ascending the hill, were
twc or three cottages whiidi yet remain,
though somewhiit weather-beaten, and
then camo (Jainble's store, or, as
it was sometimes called, Milton Mills depot.
It is there to-day as it was half a century
since, altered in scarcely a detail and look-
ing as if it might remain for another titty
years. For some time it was the post-office,
but that has been removed els uhere long
ago. Of its proprietor, William Uamble,
more will be said presently. Still going
westward, there were a few cottages, soirie
of which, though altered, are still standing ;
then came a handsome rough-cast cottage,
occupied for several years by tho late Fred-
erick Augustas Whitney, who was a well-
known Toronto resident up to the time of
This honse has been en-
little further to the west
I'l rirs, oiie fast, the other moving from
r. L to left on a pivot at the bottom, and
capable of being made fast by a bolt at the
top When an ox was br ught to be shod
he was driven into this framework stall, his
head secured bv the movabl'^ bar, and the
blacksmith the commenced his anything
but agreeable task of shoeing tb* animal
was a harness maker's shop, which still
exists under a different proprietor. Past
that again wm a small wooden school house,
which was as late as 1854 the only educa-
tional establishment for miles around. Of
the education given there little can be said,
except that it was of the moat meagre order.
The building has been grMtly altered siaM
f
III
i;
>M
j
If
1
■■^M
11
H!:^
***-it''
li'.'
"?!
■K1
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J 5
■it:
m
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i ii
m
tji
770
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
1854, and Public sohocis are \< ilhin enyy dia-
t«nc« of kU th« rcsiJenU ot that iuciility,
but it le yet standing and is used as a place
of wcrthip by tlis IVjinan Catholics. As-
cending St. George'8 Hili, at itp. Bummit ou
tin) ligiit, stood, in 1848, the recently erect-
ed church belongiui/ to '■.he Anylioaii coin-
aianlon known a» St. (leorgc'n, I'ltohicoka,
row as luiinston. It was aitacliod lo the
lectory ci Mimico, <«'i;ich li.iii, prior to 1848,
as roct-or the P.srerend hocior i'tiillips, who
was ehaplsin lo th» Lugislattve Assembly,
and WAS noted in the time of tlio rebellion
of 1837 f'>r h;a uncompromising Toryism,
tbi.ti his mdnereiice to the political parly
known as the " family compact.'' i he kite
\\ illiain Lyon Mackenzie on more than one
ccca-iui: sinjijled lum out aa a victim for his
Iti is now necessary to refer to
the eastern 'lide of Dundas street, opposite
Scarlett's race course. Here on the brow
of the hill were two houses which hu i
originally b«en a waggon aliop.but were con-
verted into '1 welling houses by Mr., now
Sir, William IVaice Howland. One of
tiic.-fo was occupied by Mr. Howland him-
.self until 1854, when Mr Pele;,' Howland
lived in it, after the destruction by tiro of
his tir.-ii residence, which occupied the .site
upon which F. A. Howland afterwards
built the house already spoken of. PassiiiLr
a hundccd yards or so lo the west an i on the
veiy edge of the hill orerlookint; liie lliun-
bcr, '.viis Mr. l>"Arche's house. I'olh it and
Mr. Howlftud's (hvellinu' luive been lit'J.c
t.llcrcd in the la.st forty years. Sonic lev"
OBsparins' invective and biting sarcasm.
Dr. Phillips was never backward in retort-
ing, though it must be confessed he gener-
ally came ofT second best in these encounters,
*'t. (Jeorge's presents no architectural
oeauty. tliough it is prettily situated, in
1848 Dr. Phillips rejigned; he was succeeded
by the Rev. H. C. Cooper, a 15. A. of Cam-
bridg.', who for nearly thirty years held the
factory He died in 1877, and of hiin it
waa remarked at his death, " that he never
lost a friend or made a.i enemy !"There is one
distinction attached to>t. (^eorge's tiiat is
■nhappily shared by very few Anglican
thuiches in the Province of Ontario ; it is
free from debt, and being consecrated for
divine service, is with its surrounding erave
yard, the absolute property of the Episcopal
body.
very small tenements were closely adjacent,
one occupied by a man named (Jood, a iiiill-
wriglit of enormous stature, being six feet
nine tall.
At the bottom of tiio bill was Howland'i
ilotir mill, and in its rear a small disrilk-ry,
also the property of the fnmiiy. The prfscut
mills were built in 1843. Strictly speaking,
they were rebuilt, for they occupy the site
of an older naill purchased by Mr. Flowland
from one Thomas Cooper. The latter at one
j lime owned a wliarf in Toronto, which he
exchanged wilh another member of his
I family for Lainbtoii mills. This old mill
was of very primitive fashion. It had only
one " boiilt" and one " hand-packer," and
I the whole ()f the gearing, with the exception
i of the gudgeons and spiiiille,-!, was of wood.
j It was worked by water, of course, and had
LAN i>M AUKS 01-' TORONTO
771
»vn.*ti3now most uniisii.il, ai\ undershot
wlieel. It was 40 )■}• 50 feet and two ur.ila
.I'alf storeya high. Tlic lU'w mills uere most
euccestiful, though Mi. ilowUnd met with
no small nmount of ot>noaitioii, which by
dint of en rpy and persevenvucc he over-
c;vme They narrowly eseapcil destiuction
ill ISoO throujjli k terrible freshet «liioh
•wepL away the 11 umber and al.so the i)o!'.
bridges. i<'i ty years ago, just where ti\c
S resent head gates arc for the mill of lo-
•,y,was a sawmill, built by VVillium Cooper
ill 1812. It was puUoil down a few years
laier. The old mill i)uroliasod bj' Mr.
Rowland Ls saiil to have lieeii tiie second
one erected in Toronto Township, F.irr's, of
We^tou, bein^ the tirsU C'rosaing the Hum
niill.'i, which were situated on the banks of
Hie Huiiiber, about a ({uartcr of a mile to
to the south east of wheue the river is crossed
by Lambton bridge. C.osely adjoining tha
nulls only on the lop of the river's bank,
while lliey, of course, were at the bottom,
was MillwofKi, the r sidence for nearly
thirty-live years of .Mr. Tho.s. Fisher. Iliesc
mills were built by that gentleman for
gri ding wlitut, and • ever \xs' \ in his time
for any other purpose. Now tney form a
portion of an extensive "ehoddy'' manu-
factory, and present no resemblanco what-
ever to their original appearance. Millwood,
Mr. Fisher 3 hoiae, shown in the engriiviiig,
though deprived of nearly all the splendid
trees that originally surrounded it, id not
WiLLlAn Ga/ablls §tcre^
- <(COK£:;
Iro^
'^^E^^^S^W
'■A:
^ -"'^K-
^^:^^:^v
!/'
r-i';
mt
bcr ;o the left of Dundas street, about one
liur.r^.ied yards to the east of th ■ bridge; over
thj river, stood for many years, being first
erected about 1840, a stone laiilding its
machinery driven by water power, used as a
wool cardinfi! mill, aitd the business carricl
on by Mr. William Gamble, who has before
been n eutioned. Mr. Gamble gave up the
trade in 1856, and the mill was closed, and
after being used for diflfereut purposes was
filially palled down. Ascending the hill
wers tw9 frame houses about one huudreU
yards apirt, and they arc there yet, scarocly
altered in any particular. Just before the
top of the hill was reached, branching ofT to
the left as one proceoiled westward.
vati a narrow lane Icadini: to Millwood
altered from what it was when first com
pletcd, aboHi IS.'JO. Mr Fisher, who lesided
there so long, was a Yorkshire man by
birth, ooniing from I'ontefract (sometimes
pronounced Pomfret), whc^re he was born in
the year 1790. His early ilays were p ssed
in that lovt^ly old town, where is the castle
in which Richard II was imprisoned and
died, and where Vaughan, Grey and Rivers
were, with the tacit »pprovalof Richard III,
put to death. \\ hile yet a \ory young man
Mr. Fisher removed from I'ontefract t»
Leeds, where, on January 4lii, \H\'.\, he was
married to Miss Sarah Svkcs, of that ancient
town. 8ix years later he came to (.'auuda,
l>oing followed in 1821 by his wife. Mr.
Fi-^her first settled near where London, th«
F^ 1
■m
772
LANDMARK'^ OF TORONTO.
" Millwood'
Jlh. i 1 SllER •Ifo.nL-STf.AD '<ni.T^
■ 1356 - '®F
>va<ji
.8 Sfi^®!^
^MI5
:a
'4i^' -5^3
?or*«t City, bow stands, aud he cut the first
tree that wns ever ftilled on the sitt? foi- the
futare city. Of Airs. Fisht-r's journey fruin
Qa«b«c to York to join lier husband it may bo
reniarked it was pefiorni(id£or the entire dis-
tance on ft i)fttte;iu. which was a gre.-^t
ondertnlcing for a lady, (?ncuml)«red s she
was, with twf) youug children. Nir. b'iaher
w«» for many year* a n agistiiite for To
ronto triwn»hip. fiuring the relxdlion of
1887. be took up ar»n« in aid of the (iorcrn-
ment and was, on Novemlwr 2'Jnd, 18o8,
Xajsetted Major in the .Ird West York .Mili-
tia He (lifcd in Toronto in 1874 in his 85th
year, Mm. Fisher haring pre-deceaaed h'm
about 18 months. Before building the house
and milTa just spoken of. Mr. I ishcr
had erticted or the Hiimber about a mile
nearer it.s mouth tiian Millwood, <i lart'esaw
mill and substantial house adjoining it, Jost
when he had completed tlie latter, he sold
It to Mr, William Gamble, who erected a
iitone building several storeys) high on the
site o' the 8aw mill for use as tioor mills,
oallinj them Milton Mills, after a village in
the connty of Kent, England, with which
Mrs. (iam-ble's family were c'osely connect-
ed. It has been .^t<ited, though we
have every reason tobelieve it is not oorreot.
that the name of Milton was bestoweti on
the first mills by Mr. Fisher, after Viscount
Milton, the ellett son of Ekit'l Fitzwilliam,
a'.Yorkshi • nobleman and landlord of gr«at
celebrity. Very prol ably Mr. Fisher, who
was intensely proud of the county of broad
acres from which became, w s not ii little
gratified that they should bear a name closely
connected in his mind with his native shire,
as well aa with that of Mrs. Gamble.
Under \x. (iamble's superinlenJonce tlie
Milton mills were carried on for nearly 25
years, more or lees sucoesBfullv. Wiimi
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
773
that gentleman removed to To-
ronto in 1659, tbey ps»3e<l into
other hands and after maoy vieisaitudes of
fortune were finally closed and are bow a
rain. Mr. Gamble was a son of the wail
known Dr. Gamble, of the Queen's Rangers,
anc was born in Canada in March, 1805 He
married Miss Elizabeth Bowles IJi-enchley,
of Maiddboue, England ; they had one
daughtev.who married Mr. .John Boulcon, of
Toronto Mr, Gamble, unlike bis elder
brothei, John William Gamble, M. P. , of
line Grove, took little part in public
affairs. He deroted his time to his biisinoas
and to t' e promotion of agiicultural inter-
ests, and faithfully diacharyed his duties aa
a county magistrate. He was a well read
man. an ardent lover of the Anglican
church, and an immense favorite with youiig
people. He and Mrfi (Jamble both died in
Toronto in 18S1. Retracing our steps along
Fisher's lane, the > a sand road with no
houses on eilhi--f side and destitute of a side-
walk, V. e again come bank to Dundas street
aiiil turning to the left proceed westward
ttnvards St. George's ilill. On tlie left
hand side of the rood, now thickly built
upon, were only a few scattorcil houses.
Jnst w st of Fisher's lane w;i.s Dr. Phillips'
residence, th(?ro being no recloiy attached
to St. George's, and next to it a building
UHod by Mf •■amble o^ a general atorehouse
for his place of Uusitiess, almost, opposite.
Further to the west again, on thn corner of
the concession (goiiiE towards Mimico) and
Dundas atrt-ct, was a tavern kept for some
time by a famous horse dealer called Samuel
Guppy; it never being %^ry well patronized
it was closed many ^ ears since. Between the
uvft n and St George's Hill were two or
three very Bmall hoiiswi and nothing else,
and 30 the description of Etobicoise ends at
this point
CHAPTER CCXXrX.
AN EARLY INDUSTRY
r«r IMnkinK Carriages, Ueaplos Machines
auu Cab«.
From 1837 until 1849, ob the ait* of the
prescut Confedoration Life Building on
Vic'tofia street, about one hundred yards
north of Adelaide Ktre t. wivs situated the
well-known carriage and farmins/ implement
maiiufaetcH'y belougiBg to John iioll. He
was kjiown all over the ihen Home District
M makers of farming implemonts of the
newest patterns and with the latest improve-
ments. He made not only reaping ma
cSines but fdoughs, h rrowR, cuUivators,
liorHC lakes, and seec' drills. Tiesides this
decidedly misjella eous assortment of good."
lie built heavy waggons, and ho also
: was able to make far more carriat;e3,b\i<rgie«
and gigs than he could find purchasers for,
those who were able in those days tn in-
' dulge in th ■ luxury of a carriage being very
; few and far between That was the lime
! when in early spring the old title of
1 "muddy," a.s app ied to York, would do
I equally well for Toronto. At that season of
! the year teams, diawn by oxen, might fre-
: qnently be seen stuck fast in the mud or.
' both Adelaide and Victoria .sbroets. i'e(|uir-
; ing all the assistance that could be rendered
; them to extricate both the oxen and the
: vehicle they wore alten'.ptinir to draw from
their very uncomfortable iH>-*ition.
! It is said by old rebidi-iit^ in Toronto
that Bell built the tirst reaping inaehines
' ever made ia Canada. He wa- an ex
' hibitor of ;liese imp'.enuhis at the Pro-
: ^incial Exhibition held in llauiilton in
; 1847, and obtained .i diploma for "Jic same.
This honorary distinction is still extant
' and in po'jse.ision of one of the
; members of .Mr. Bell's family. Boll only
lived to complete about twenty ie:i.piiitf
machines ; he fell a victim to the cholera
' epidemic prevailing in Toront.o in IS-IO.
[ The late Mr. (leor^'e Crooksh^ak was one
of Mr. Bell's earliest cuitomera. He pur-
cha- d one of the lirar, it not the very first,
machine built at the Victoria street factory,
and nlaoed it on his Youge .stre>.'t farm, ten
miles north of Toronto. There was a .reat
prejudice against these machines in the
minds of the working clas.ies of th.e day. as
they were fearful that their introduction
would afTcel tie rate of w.iges. Threats to
burn the barns arid other farm iniildin s be-
longing to Mr. Crookshank were freely in-
: dulged in, but were, hi»ppily for all partiea,
never carried into effect. Bell claimed for
j his reaper that it would cut ten acres of
I wheat oats i r barley daily. Whether it
was quite as great a uccess as this
is not known, but at any rate
Mr. C'rooksluin.; was fully satisfied with his
bargain.
Besides making carriages, waggons and
1 agricultural implements, Mr. Bell built the
! first cabs ever used on Toronto »tre«.'t8.
[ Like the steamers on the lake and the earlier
locomotives on the railroads, they all had
a name ; the first one was called " (ieneral
Wolfe," the next " Wetlin.tou,' and a
' third was known to fame as "General
llrock." They, like the iieroes whose names
they bore, have long .since become extinct,
there being ver> few in Toronto who e- en
remember them.
As has be' :n already mentioned, .\lr. Bell
died in 1849 He was emphatically "an
honest man," and that the poet tellis us " if
the noblest wcrk of (iod. "
n
i
\:- i
I ■ ;'
LANDMARKS OV TORONTO.
I!
CHAPIEK CUWX.
THE OLD lOOTH REGIMENT.
Formnilflii of
• iV" 'i'lmr III
II
I KrniiiiUreiirr of «bf>
K<-;:liiifnt tliHt llMil Ml
Mad) <'iiuKdlnu».
Th«rn art; f«w reailera of the Laiuiiniirka
n'ifi have fi)rfi;()lt«ii the stirring ovciits of tli«
Indian Mutiny of ISAT 6S, wli»ri each Euro-
pean niitil tnuu^iil !r<'.>li titlin^.s of out-
r:\gCA and atrocities c.innnitioJ by the niutia
ous Sep;iy8, and wlieij !'.; itain's supremacy
ir. iier uasiiMn diMninions oeeined for » time
:> bo trcmlilin:; ii\ the baloknco It was at
''i:s pi-rioi, wlion the horrors of ("luwnpori',
th« lieroic defence of Luck now, und the
iiwYery of our troops in their attack
apon Delhi, filled everyone's mind, and
w^iun tfce names of Colin Campboll, Outrain,
■U.iveloc'k and Inglis were as familiar aa
household word* tliiit the lOUth Iloj{inieut
•ivsl. camu into existttucr. Seven cities are
s-iid to ••iiiin the honour of lieinj; the birth-
li'.ACi! of ilonuT, but at leool three time«
ihal numbn;- of p opla have sought to obtain
(.he di»tiiietii>n of being the first to suggest
that Canada not only waa willing but was
a\-o iiblo to raiae a body of troops to
tciiftt the motlier country in h«r need To
u ■ oiTr ill part-jcular can ihi.s hnnoor be
'.i^litly |2ivfn. The nwiting of the 100th
rvegimciit vva due to the tact thai not only
dnriu^ ili<> N'utiny, but previously, when
ihe CrinuMU Wivr waa racing, Canadian feel-
ing aiul piitri ti.sHi had bjAii sl^roo-jily
aroused, and many of our public nviu openly
a\ pressed the demre ot the p«t>p!e to give
*A\u rible proof of tht' devotiou of Canada to
I'.u^ir (^nrcn and to the defence of tko Urit<ish
V.mpive. These •entime^its wcie convii!ye<i
>iy the Xliiiistry of the tiuM to Sir EdaNind
■>V. Head, tlvcn (lovernor-Ceneral of Ca-
Ma^\h. He duly represunttfd them to tl)«
tlouH' Ciovernmcut, who $;ratefuUy acknow-
lei.l^ed the loyalty of the colony and acceptttil
tlie o lur made to rai«e a body of troopii which
war to he called tlv« 100th Prinoe of VValua'
Hviya! Canadian ftegimoBt, 'llie Gioveruai'-
Gonoial waa eaipctwerod to grant couiiuw-
liou^f! in tbis eorpa to one major on the ooa
Jition that he nM«ed two hundred men, to
$i captains who had Mkch to briug eiabtjr
rccr\ii!s, to eight Ueatenaata who were (o be
Tespjnsit>lc for half of th»t uumbar oaly, and
to four ensi^na who ha<i to pas& a qualifying
ex minatioH When tih« formation of the
regi ,ient was cumplrUKl, tiiis arraBcremcnt
was slightly alterod, tb«re being • V> tivj
Canadian captiiius instead of »ix, ksd five
fccioii.'iiH instead of fsvr. The following is a
•o'.nplete liat of the firct oflken of tbe rofti-
Bieni. I hose distinguished kgr an asteiiik
itere Canadioua, those by a doabh Mieriak
wero also Uppw Canada College boys, and
tboao by a diii{g<Jr wero ollicei-s wfiiO were
trausforrod lu the regiment from the por-
manont military staff boro or from rcrglaaents
then serving in tl»is colony : —
COLOTTKL :
' Major (Jeiicr.il Visconut MoItIUo.
j LIAIIT -COLONBL :
I George de Rotten bitfjft', C. ft.
! J n. C. Rabinsow, A. R. Dwnn**, V. C.
I Brevet Ut>ut.-Co>l
' cArTAis* :
' T. L M. Weguelin, John CUrkc*,
' Brevet Major, T. Vf. \\. Smythe*.
R H. Ingram, C-eorge McCartney*
P. G. H. Lake, (jJhan J. ( Wk",
lienry Cook, Rlcharfl C. ^rice*,
James Clery, (; P. Blake
iiunry li. firowne,
; V. c,
' LiBirrKNANTa :
George B. ConUon, Louis A. C'nanlt*,
'John lyiet, L C. A L. Dc KcKe
L C. A
fonille*,
Phillip Dcrbirfhirc*,
Alfred K. Kykeri'*,
Chas. H. Cairiero*,
Bv. T Oucbeaiiey*,
Brown \VaUi3*\
JatRos Lamb,
F. W. lieu well,
H«Dry L. >»ieholl,s,
Joseph Dooly,
liicUwd L Bayttff,
J no. Pletdver ,
KNSiONS :
I G. McD. MoorHoiu„ Gluts. A l'o«1»on**,
Frod. Morrie, T. H. lULLvin**,
! Jbo Gii.bs Ridimt**, W. 1'. Clartte*.
\ lienry E. Daridsoii*,
PAVMAfVSK :
Joseph lYutchiB.soo.
QHAnTr.K MAirnui :
George Gran t.4
WiiUam ^anwtt
ASSISTANT SirKdRONS:
Thomas Liddard, D^iiuel Miirrajr.
The contmaniling officer, Coiowl de Rot-
tenburf(, M'as a mtM of I<Mig and vari«<i ez-
peiienee. At the time of hiu appoiutnieot
to iba coBRtaand he was ad^niaut-^neral m
liilitia for this cuuotAy, and had alao served
kere duilui; th rebellion of 18^7 as a oaptaii
on the atafif »eoeivi«g the brev«t raa% if
■Mtjor for bis serviees on a special mimioa
npau w hich ha at that time Waa emplnyed.
I>efere leaving Torento to assume cofumand
of ('he regfimeat, Co1<mm1 d« Rotteuhurg w«e
ewtertaiwed at a farewell banquet iu tbe
Romio Ho* e by many ot iA\e militia odken
of tke time, and preaonted by tkem witit a
sword Talaed ;:t eae ba idred and tweoty-
iive gvAttMM. The Ute Ckdeoel B. W. Thorn-
eon preaided. He waa sttpportcd on his rii;bt
by tbe Govaraer-dSeneral, and on his left bf
the guest of ttw cveumg ; also by the laie ^
John B Robinson, Rev. Dr, McCaal and
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Colonel B3ok<;r. Of the many others pre-
sent few now survive. Major Dann, previ-
ous to joininv; the K Otb, had been in the
llth tlu3«ar.s (thoy bear the nick name of
t! e "Cherry I'ii kers' from I he color of their
oTerails) .-nul .'ifived with that galUnt
caviilry corps all throu(;h the Crimean oam-
piii;,'n. He belonf{C(i to the Lii^ht I'rigade,
and was one of the famous Six Hundred,
and on pence being irmcluded reooive I the
uiuoh-coTCted d coration of the Victoria
Cross for tiis jjallanLiy at the battle of
Balaclava in saxiiigthu lives of Scrjjeiinls
lieutloy, Boiid and Priv;ite Lovett. i)unn
was the only cavalry oin^er who 8ervfc<l iu
the Crime k that obtained this distinction.
On his return to Toron o, after poace was
concluded in 1856, he was received with
great entlmsiaom, and was, in conjunction
with Mnjur Wells, of thcl.st r.oyal F^egiraont,
also a Torontonian and an Upper Canada
College boy, who had likewise honorably
ses'wd in tlie Crimea, publicly entertained
kt St. Lawrence i all, and had a suord of
great, value presented to him 1 y his ad-
mirini; and i/ratilied f Ibw - countrymen.
Colonel uc I'voilcnbiuy retired from the ser-
vice in 1861, and \ ajor Dunn becoming
lieutenant colonel l>y purchase, sucoeed^cl
to the c<)ninian<l of the regiment Some
few years later ho exchantjc'd into the H.'ird,
and i.i January 1868, on the ina-'ch to Mag-
dala, in tlie Abysninian expedition, was
killed by the accidental discharge of his
yun while deer shooting. lie was buried at
Seiiafe, beloved and re;4retted by oliicers
and men. Of the remainin-. officers it may
mentioned i hat Majrir and Brevet Li' 'uteiiant-
Colonel Koi;eit.?on at one time served in
Canada in the 7lwt Rej;iincnt. Captains
Cool:, Clery and Browne, V. C. , had served
during the Indian Mutiny and greatly dis-
tinguished themselves at the defence of
Luckiiow as litutcnauts in the .32nd Regi-
ment, not only beini; mentioned in de-
•patclies by the general oiHcer in comm nd,
but promoted to c«ptaiuci'-:i and gazetted to
the ICK/th Regiment iu reco^-nition of tlieir
gaUantry. c a;)tiiin John Llarkc, who was
afterwards employed here upon the recriiiting
BtafiF, though not a rorontonian iiimself, was
closely cotin.vcted by marriage witii one of
Toronto'* well-known families. He married
Miss W dmer, daughter of the late Dr. Wid-
mer, a medic 1 practitioner of great ability in
this city, once an army surgeon who had
Berved with distinction in the I'enin.sular war.
Some of Captain Clarke's family still re-
side anioni; us.
Captain C. J, Clark* wac the son of a doc-
tor residing iu the northern suburbs of To-
ronto, and btfoie he received his commi.-sion
iBt e lOUlh was captain of the Yorkville
Cavalry. He i^aiaod considerable pubj;
notice for himself and his troop duiuif tlx:
Indian Mutiny liy his outspoken declaration
on parade in the presence of the inspecting
officer, " that he and his men would proceed
to the seat of war I y next ttearaer if the Gov-
ernment would accept their service-i "
Among the lieutenants Coulaon,
Lee, Lamb, Casault and de Cello
feuille had served in ilie Crimea Cas-
ault afterward.s becume a licuteniiiit
colonel in the Canadian militia aud w:i.t
created C. M. G tor his services to his com?
try during the tir-.t Xorth west rebellion
A melancholy interest a taclies to the nauv*
of Mr. lienwell. He wa.i father of tbr
young man \ ho met his death ax
NVoodatuck undor .such tr..gic eircuiii-
stances a few ye.'iri igo. Anur..; llr; otli^i!"
officers Ensiun I'.oii'.ton may bo refirr d ix
as one who wa.i pojiular amouij iill ranks it
the regiment. Except during the LeniiV
troubles, it is ni.iiiy years since the'-*
has been .so much military excitemeuL v«,
Toronto as there was during the time \hr
1' Oih was in course of formation '■■i'
j many weeks large crowds a.s»emblod "j-'-Ji
(lay at the old Bay Horse on Yongu .sti ■•('>(
I wliich was a rendezvous for the leorui'Jiv/
! panics, for the purpo.se of learning how f,l>>
j work was projirossing. What with watctr
ing the marching of recruits to the statiar,
j en route to Que'oe •, listening to the mu.sic
of the drums and fifes and aiiiniring tiie g.'vv
riblnms and scarlet jackets of the recruiti.'jg
! sergcau*.-, the town-'p-ople were pretty wei':
! employed r'ariy in the month of June,,
[ 1S.")8, the first (ietaehmeni ot the lUi'iL
Rettiiiienc sailed from Quebec for Englaoc
' under the ci.'minaad of Colonel do Molten
I burg A few weeks later Colonel tiordoii
of the 17th lieyiineut followed in charge ->C
I the second (x>rtion, and very s!u ily a;tef-
wards Major L>unu emliar.od with tlie re-
mainder of t e corps. Thei:' first quarte.s
were at Shorncliffe, and there under ih*
tutelage of uou-conimidsioned officers I'roir.
the Guards, all ranks were initiated iiix
the mysteries and intricacies of drill. After
six months tuition the services of the.
(lUard.smen were dispenscil with, the l\oy&i
t anadians being then able to con p^ire
favorably with any other infanttj
corps, not even excepting the Gu r<i»
thim^elvea. In November, 1858, cbe
recruiting sfcafT for ti e rej^iment returned te
Toronto so as to procure fresh men to tJlI
the racaiicies occurring from invabding, die-
charges by purchase aud other caabes. Cap-
tain John Clarke and Lieutenant Fletcfi'jr
were the otfi^'ers appointed ; they wei*
accompanied by four sergeants and iwc
buglers and M'ere instrumental durini^ U»»
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LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
f/, J I' iff.'
three y«ara they were stationed hero in ob-
teiaiiig .sume thro« hundred recruitfl. No
iwe o&eers ware over lieltur quAliiied for
«-acii a d«ty ; while e\aetinc strict disci-
pliiio they took an iutercat iii tbeir men
gaining their reaped and affsction. In oon-
ieqiU!Uco ecricua ciime was uriinown aud a
j{(>od claM of leeniit.? lecured Iiui'ing tiie
T,-holo time th* depot of the re^imuut way
jUtioit«d in Cttiuula, there was only one
oatirt martial aod not one case either of die
crauefui uoaduct or of d*serti«u. Ou the
recruiting depot being withdrawn from
Canada, Captain Clarke exchanged into the
Koyal Canadian Rifles and Lieutenant Flet-
•har r«lircd from tlie service, mbsequently
txtcoiiuug oolonei in the Canadian Milita.
In December, 1858, the officer ooin-
nanding the lOOtli Regiment was inforin-
td by ttie (/omm&nder in-chief that on
the lOtfa of the following month the
l*nnce of Wales would visit Shorncliffo for
die purpose of inspecting; the reginieul and
?ir(i8«utiug it with it« colors. This was
elt by all ranks of the regiment to be a very
iiigh oouipliment. His Royal Highness had
jast been gaz(.*tted to a colonelcy, but had as
yet .iiade no public appearance in any capa-
•iby, and his choosing this occasion for his
Srat acL was very gieatly appreciated by
•ffiocrs and men. Un the morning of the
day fixed for the ceremony the ree'imcnt waa
lirawn up in line waitin;,' for the Prince
to .iirive. This he did precisely at noon,
Mid ke was accompanied by the Dal;c
af Ci^mbrige, Major-Gcneral Viscount
Melville and nearly all the otlicers of the
SborncliUe and headquarters staffs He was
received with a royal salute, the troops pre-
senting arms, and the bands playing the
Tjatiomil anthem. It is worthy of remark
thai' the Prince's escort from the railway
station to the camp was a troop of tiie 11th
Hui^sars, the same regiment in which Major
T>uiiu had, as a subaltern, fought so bravely
and achieved such renown, and some of the
rerv men who had that day escorted the
Prince had but very lit*le more than four
yea>s previously followed Dunn in the glo-
rious but fatal charge " into the Valley of
Death. ' The Priivje, after acknowledging
the salute, rode slowly down tiie rank-i of
the regimiiot. He was foHowe i by t c Duke
of Cambridge, who, ona ot the London
papers of the time re«ord'3, was " pa ticu-
larly struck with the fine body of men com-
posing the 100th. " 1 he inspection over, the
troops formed three sides of a square, with
the drums in the centre, npon whieh reeted
the oolen. They were take > from there by
Brevet iieutenant-Colonel Robert^ou aod
Major Dnon, and by them handed to the
Prince. He in turn binded them to the
two senior enaigus, C M. Moorsom and J.
G. RiJout, who witn bonded knee t«ok them
from his iiandk. In preitoatiag the colors
Hifl Royal Hii^incM said :— "Ixird iVlelvilb,
t olonel de Bottenb'irg and officers and men
of tiie IQOth Regiment — It is moit gi atifyinj;
to IB4! that by the Qnecn's gracioas permit)'
sion, my first public act since I have had
the honor of holding a eommission in the
British army should be the presentation of
colors to a regiment which is the spontaue-
out offering of the loyal and spirited Cana-
<UaQ peopW. and with wltich at their dfisire
my name has be»n specially a:«sociated. The
ceremonial on wh:ch '.^e are now engaged po«-
sesses a peculiar significance and solemnity,
because, in confiding to you for the tirst time
this emblem of military fidelity and valor, 1
not only recognize emphatic Uy your enrol-
ment into our national force, but celebrate
an act wbich proclaims and strengthens the
unity of the various parts of this vast em)iire
under the sway of our common soverui^'u.
Although owing to my youtii and inexperi-
ence I can but very imperfectly give ex-
pression to the aentiments which
thi.'< occasion is calculated to awctken
with refprence to yourselves and the grca.
and flourishing province of Canada, ymi
may rest assured that I shall ever watch tiie
progress and achievemeats of your guUant
corps v\ ith deep iucerest, and that I lioartily
wish you all honor and snccess in the pro-
secution of the noble career ou which you
have entered." Colonel de Rottenburg re-
plied : "May it please your Royal High-
ness— As the immediate commanding oilicer
of your Royal Highness' Canadian regini&ut,
I tender my hnmbie duty to your Royal
Highness for the honor which you have
done the regiment this day in con.bjsjeiul-
ing to present its colors, and for the gra-
cious terms in which you have addre88e<l tlie
officers and men. I assure your Royal High-
ness that we are deeply grateful for this act
on the part of your Royal Highness. The
frcat colony in which thij regiment was
raised, amongst whose ranks hundreds oi its
sons are serving, and all who belong to it
are more or less connected with Canada,
will also fee most grateful for the honor
which the first regiment raised in a colony
for general service has rcc ived from your
Royal Highue83,und I assuro you at the call
of our sovereign, Canada would send ten
such rogimeuts as this one in de-
fence of the Empire, should such
an emergency ever arise requiring their
services The 100th Regiment has
received its hrst colors in the moat hoiier-
able manner such could be best« wed, namely,
from the hands of the illnstrious heir to the
throne of this country. It rests with the
¥
LAXDMAMKS OF TORONTO.
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rtgimcnt to maintain iheir colors always
with honor. I confidently aMure v»ur
Koyal Highness tb«r will do lo. If thMe
colors nr« ever unfnrled in lh« preaenct of
au enemy, Uie officers an<l men of the 100th
Regitnent will be ready to shed their blood
ID Vhe defence of their colors, of their Quoen
•ad of their conutry. I again humbly thank
yoHr Royal Tlighnoss for the honor yon
hare done the regiment."
Tliese formivlitios beint? concluded, the
regiment re form d line, then > ro! o into
open column of LOinpanics and marched pa!<t
his Royal lliglino:^s, first in slow and then
in quiek time. After that they were dis-
missed to their quarters. On the conclusion
of the parade the Prince lui ched with the
otficrrs of tho rogimint, afterwards return-
ing to London. lu tt e evenin '. in still fur-
ther cclfbiation of the day, tho ofKet ra ave
a grand ball whi h was attended by .he
whoie of tlie youth, beauty .and fasl Ion i'f ihe
county, and which pa-ted otl ■, K;. ifieat
eclat
In Janb, 1859, the rei,'iinent prooeeJed to
Gibraltar, from there in lS'il$ to .Malta, re-
tornin ' lo Caiiaila in U<(>t>. In 1S68 itas^ain
sailed for Kngl;viul,and iu 1877 embai kcd for
India, where it rnuain^d at the close of
Amritia; la erotlicuraeif tho Royal Canadians
may be mentioned Huf;li Rowhiudp, V.C.,
DOW Lieutoiiantiicneral, a gallaut and dis-
tingai-shcd soldier, who foughc biavely in
the Crimea. Ila for some mciiths in 1860
was junior Major of ti.e lOOtli, and was sue-
seeded by .%!ajor Henry Stiatton Bush from
the 4lst Fo it, al.^o :> Criinoiui liero, having
thsre lost the th.R use of his left arm.
Henry J. iJras^^it, late of the 10th Royals
and Chief of I'olice, Toronto, held a commis-
sion therein for ai out nine years, being
Adjutant, and an eflicivant one, for a con-
sidorabla period. I'obert Edward Colborne
Jarvts w*s aho a subaltern in tho 100th
in the early days of his nailitary oareer. He
exchanged in 1880 into a regiment serving
in India, and was with (ieneral Roberts on
his famous march to Candahar. Henry A.
^oDSs, one of the well-known I'rockville
{amily, was another of its junitr officers ; he
diod gcreral years ago. The first colors of
the 100th (now the first Lein>ter Regiment,
it having with other infantry corps lost
iks numerical distinction) were a feiv 'ears
ago deposited in the Parliamentary library
at Ottawa. There Uioy !k ii^' over the clock,
MTTing as a mute meinoriul of the only
Colonial regiment ever raised for general
Mrrios in the British Empire.
CHAPTER CCXX.Kl
THE THIRD YORK MILITIA.
Their HisCory aiitl llieir ('Al»r«--Proiii|.
neiil Men Wbs Have Served as Coniuiig-
•loncd onirers Tliereln.
The Third York Miiiti* Kagimenb was
first enrolled in tiie year 1811 or in the
very early days of 1812, aud consiktud of
two battalions, ths ICaat and West York,
though at a later data oth r additions weru
made to it. ft is to the East York Mlliii^i
that this article now particularly refers.
The following is as aecuiately as *an be
ascertained a list of ttis coinmissioned otii-
coes belonging to the corps in Jannary, 1813 :
Lieut nank-C-elonel — William Chew ett
.Major— \Villiam Allan.
Captains — .John Button, .lohu Wilson,
Peter Robinson, John Arnold, James Ken
wick, James .Mustard, Duncan Cameron,
Havid Thomson, John Robinson, Siiraiipl
Ridout, Thomas Hamilton, John Bum,
\'\ illiain I'arvis.
Lieutenants— John H. Shult2,George .Mus-
tard, Burnet Vanderburgh, Bobart Stnnton,
George Ridout, *'^^■lllialn Jarvia, Edward
iMc.Mahon, John Wilson, Eli Playter.
•Another Ust givoj this name as Samuel
Jnrvis.
Ensigns — Andrew Thorn, A. SnialJcy,
Donald McArthur, William Smith, AiKirtvr
Mercer, James Chewett, George Kuck,
Edv/ard W. Thomson, Charles Uenison,
George T. Denison, D'Arcy Uoulton, aud
Quarter- Master Charles Bay ties.
What a hoit of recollections this old
list recalls ! Colonel Chewett, though Ion;/
years since a mi mber of the great and silent
majority. has nr.SMiy direct desceu-
dauts re:~idin>{ in Toronto and in
the province of which it is the capital.
Kind, genial, WHIiam Allan is still
happily represented by bis ion,
and it .seems but tho other day, thou 4h it is
a generation, since Peter t'obinsoa was
gatlitred to his frvthcrs.
James Fenwii.k lias grandsons jtt i^; To-
ronto, and there are many diiect dcsten-
4. uts of Duncuii (.'ameron
'David and E'lw;M:d W. 'I homson were
uncle and nephew respectively. Iheir de-
cendauts arc far too numerous to refer to
even in the slightest detail.
John Robinsi.n was afterwards Cliitf
Justice of Upper ("anada. He "stands
among our best aud noblest, now his long
day's work has t eased "
Charles aud (it.iirge Dcnison were br.thers.
The tirst died in the i arly "twenties,"
leaving no (k'Hcend;i.nts. The latter was the
owner of Bellevae, Toronto.
Among the other officers the Ridout,
IIO.V. All, MAM AFJ.AN.
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Hamilton, Renlton, larvin, ^tivnton rm I
Morcer fftiiiilics hiive ■ill [d ij-'-il a Ifailiii;^
p,krt in Ckuailian |iiilili(! life
A ftortioii (if tho Tliinl Vorl; Kutfiiiiciu
were proneiit nl tin- sici;.! lunl crtpturc of De-
troit in tlio ( arly 'lays of nf ilin w;ir of iSl'i,
Aiid atsQ at (jiK'i'iistdii ili'i;^IUs in (>ctiil>er of
the i^arne yniir, wIirii Itrock aiiJ iio<loiicll
gailaukly tell as tlicy chui'icil on tliuir moii.
Ill Ifoe " 1,'ovoiitry papc; .■j," anion;; liic
(vrohivos ut i)ttawa i.s a inaiius'Tipt ac'.v)iint
of the preionUtiou to tliia regiment in Jauu-
L>«tt In thft i'Ti\''t woriln nf ttie papor which
hai liceii a1ri'a<iy i|'.iotei| : -
" I lie fvcriin^ sorvii'i' \» h read liy ilie
llcv. l)r. Str.ulian, und an appropriats »<'r
iiuiii frmii iliw following loxt : ' (iivo liia!ii.9
unto till! Lonl ; call upon liiis uaiaf ; inuUc
known liin ilicds ainonp, the people.' The
Third Kri{im«)Ut und all the rcepeclablu in-
liabitantti uf tlio town ultended. They who
h< ard it will nut rca*lily (orcet Ihe UMttur
or thu manner, and tliosu who were aiifor-
tun Uely absout would rvceive htkle eatis
*?*«»;!;■
TIIK
KAST yor.K cnr.nM,
,iry, 181S, of their olors, ono of wliiol", that
l,»iiini;; tho motto, " Docda Spc-aK," beini;
<pci;iully worked by tlieyourj;' hulies of
York. It 13 a pity vhat the Dinner cf these
patriotic young ladicii cannot bi; i^'ivcn in
detail. All. nnforiniKitely, that is kn(»wu i.s
that Miss I'owdl, d.i glitcr of tiic C'liiof
Jiistiic. wad Olio (if lliein.
It lias be<ii abu!ut(jly necessary to con
denso tho acconnl of the jircsentatiMn as
contained in the "Coventry papers, ' iliou^^h
M fur M praeiica le the o; i^inal wording
lia.s been aJliured to. The ymui;; ladies of
York had worked thin banner iuteiiding
to present it to the regiment iinniediately
upon its return from the expedition to De-
troit. Hostilities suddenly recoiiiiMenced,
though, and the iotcniion Mas delayed.
Some time later, after the lamented dcaih
of Sir Isaac Brock, Sir R. 11. Sheatfe, the
$;eneral commandiug the troops in Upper
Canada, having it in his power to uteid
the ceremony, the day wa.« appointed for
the purpose, and at 1 oclock p.m. tho r' ;,':-
inent was drawn up in front of the hi eh
at open order to receive an(i salute the
^'tneral and hie .suite aa they pa.'^sed
The serv ce and ceremony will be described
faction from any ucoount of a di.sconrj-e,
wliich derived much of its olFect fro n the
e.'.rno.st dincority ao (;ou3piciiuii« in the
prcarher '
The account, after cxrilaiiiirijj C' .-it tlio
ini'.nediate comniaiiilinij otlieor of ttii; rei't-
nient, Cohii.el Lhcwett was unavoidably
absent, so the men were under Major Alliui
(father of the llonoralilo (i. W. Allan, of
.Mo«g P.iri \ procce'ht thus :—
" Dr. Strachan, a.Lrr ! lie liiKcour^e was
ended, r'.'suiucd thu .surplice, aud a.'weudiu^
a .sinco whic : had b en erected near the
pnl[)lt lor the occasion, rcc^iieiiled tne uiing
lri(inM who had wrought the .standard for the
.'{rd Rogiini lit of Y'ork Militia to approach
with the person whom thoy had
chosen to present it. Tlie Rev.
Dr. Strachan ttien consecrated the
lvcf;iinen'.al Colors and the .^^tandard to a
presented by the ladieH, which were snp-
ported by Lieutenants (Jleorge Ridout and
Samuel .Jarvis. of tho 3rd Re^iiueut." Here
let U8 di resi for a moment. N»iurly fifty
years later than this event, namely, in 1859,
when the lOOth Prince of \\ alee' Royal
Canadii.n Regiment were presented with
their colors by the heir apparent, John
1 W
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i..\\I)M.\i;k,s of toi.'oxto.
MVJOIi A I, I. AN .-i rilor.STT TJiKK.
LANDMARKS OF TOHUNTO.
•81
(libbs Ridout, » nephew of Lieutenant
George Ridout was one of the oiisi;,'ns who
received them, lie being an otiiuer in ihc
rOOtli. iUit to return to tiic story, the
prayer of conaccratioa was oilVred by Dr.
,Sti';ioiian, and ou its conclusion " Mis3
{'owfll, da-uglitfir of the Jioiioi-able Mr.
,! us. ic-^ l'o\ ell, presented the colors to the
iiMJur with this sl)ort. elegant antl iiui-
nuiicd address, spoken in a mannor fto
iiiiiiably and unaffectedly dirtideiit and in a
tone .so intere.stingly ajjpi'opriata to the
st'iilinienta oi tiiu occasion and to the fair
pr^;:^elll'-r that it infinitely heightened the
soiemuity and iucrea&wi (1 speak from my
uwu fc -liugs) the rapture of ths scene."
Miss Powell's speech was as follows :
"Tho young ladies of York, in presentinj;
a bauiior to you, their brave and succensful
defenders, perform a duty most grateful to
ther own foeliuga. They arc proml
to imitate the cxamfjle of the
ino.-it rii.stiut;uished of their .sex among tlie
virtuous and heroic nations who have
[ilways rejoiced in giving public testimony
of their gratitude to their coiiutryiuoa le-
turnin;; from victory.
" Receive then this ensign of union as a
lukon of their lasting csti^em and the har-
Linge of increasing glory.
" I'lcceive it as a proof also that they
airoiii^iy partioipateinthat generous i)atriol-
isiii V. hich liurrs m ith so pure a llaiiie
ihrouj:!liout the province And whon you
bclio'.u it unfurled in tiie day of battle, let it
bucome a kind remembrance of the uiiliiniteil
coiilidcnce which they place iu the elFicacy
of your projection."
.\iyj*)r Allan received the colors
from Misfi Powell and haiuled thcni
to Hnaigus Cliailes Douisou and
Iviward Tliompson, thu junior officeis of thij
rcKHU'-'"t, rptuniing, itays the i.ccoi^.-t, '' to
the lovely donors of them thb i»ply .
" Mksda.mks—
" This regiment of milii'». iceives of the
young ladies of York with t;ie mo'st grateful
ackuowlodgmoht th?.s consecr^'twd banner."
Viie Major then proceeded in a business-like
and soldierly way to add that tho roginieut
h»d honestly tried to do its duty in the
[)ast and would for the future. The gallant
major concluded lii.'< very brief addrecs by
asburiii^' liie leginieiit'a fair benefactors that
"the Uattering contidcuce you place in the
e(!ioacy of our piotection shall not be dis-
sppoiiited. ' The "eroniony inside the
church then ended Emerging froni the
bacrod building the troops formed close
ooiu" n of companies aud were addressed
witli a few word^ of hearty contratulation
by Sir Roger H. SliealTe. Major Allan mUo
addressed thorn, statiag the circumstances
attending the yift and adding " they who
i ave consigned tlieso colors to our charL^j
zealouiiy hope tuat we shall never abandon
them, but with life." And he brought his
brief but pointed nddrcs.« tlius to a clo.se:
" Maroli then unilcr these colors inspired
by that pure honor wiiioh cliaraoinizos the
Christian soldier, wiiich inspirtis lurii with
reverence for religion and loyally lor his
sovt.roign and makes him the huniane pro-
tector of the fallen "
The;,o colors arc now in jjosseasioii of
Mr. tl. W. Allan, and, as can be ston fioin
the engraving given cf tl-e interioi of thit
gentleman's musenni at Moss I'ark.form a j)ro-
iniuent fe<-iture in its contents. Tl\o noble
chestnut tree imnifediately opposite Mr. Allan's
house, of wliK I), an engiaviiig also is ;:ivcn,
was planted by Major Allan, wUo cum-
mandeil the \S est yurk w hen they rec'ived
these Hags. It \ras ou y I'l the natural
ordsr (if things that in 1870 .\ir. .-V 11 an was
gazetted lieutenaiit-C(»lonel of tho regisiiental
division of West Toronto, and Richard L.
Denisou, a nephew of the Ensign I)eiii30u
who first carried one of the colors, .^s
lieutenant'colonsl of East Toronto, these
two divisions beinc fairly represcntati e of
the old regiment. As pooii a.s Mr. Allan
was gazetted to thi.s coinni.\nd he made a
vigoroiis search foi' these standard?, but they
had iiiyaleriously diaapjjearea, and not
without great difficulty were they recov-
ered Mr. Allan, with that courtesy he is
ever ready to extend to al' reipiiring infor-
mation, in reply to inquiries made writes :
"Colonel Deiibsou and 1, an our rii^ginieuial
divisions bad to a certain extent taken the
place of llie old ;{rd Yoik, agreed to make
a vi;,'orous search tor tho olii iu>lord of the
regiment. So far as we could learn they iiad
been for many years iu the custody of the
late t)oluncl Du^^gan, but he was dead. None
of his family could give us any information
about them, and the niilitia aut orities were
ontirely ignorant of what had become of
tiiem
" Colonel Deaisou died in ISTfS., and 1 had
FiOarly given up the search as hopel ts, when
one day 1 received a letter from my friend,
the lata Mr YenniuKS I'aylo*-. * • •
" This set rue on a fresh =*arch again, and,
finally, through the 1 itid assisiance of Mr.
K. il. Duggan, a son of th« lat' Recorder
Duggan, who had taken a great deul of inter-
est in tha matter, the two tiags, the t^uceu'a
color and the white silk tlag, were found in
a very sorry condition in the attics oi .he
Normal school buildings.
"It seems from all I could learn that when
the buildings were first opened a conversa-
zione was given there in honor of the titco
CktveraorCicD r*!, Lord J&lgin. Flags were
-5 II
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LANDMARKS OF TORON i 0.
borrowtfd ■wherever they could kt obtaiurd
to d««or?kti>. the roc m^, and these ainoi/g the
rewt, and but for ttio diligint seftich made
for iheui, t^«y wouhi probab'y liave luiii
there until ihey had entirely t'a.lloii to iiicco .
"Of course I was oidy to j ejoiced to yccuie
these two tta;,'9, even in their datnaijed coii-
diti'in, Luc vih c I oxcctidirigly re r t is,
that t'.ie legiuiauiitl color, wliicli 1 p'jr-
feci'.y reco'lcPt li'iviu>( S'-eii .vheu a hwy —
twji! which had 'Dutroit," ":- toi.ey C-reek,"
luiil other places vvii ro the iLittk com;)utiie3
of V'c veiiinuul wore eiigfigcd -wor: ed in
yellow silk ou the bunting, is I fuii" hopo-
lea.-dy hi-t.
"I havo i!i,»d.? dil jjent scarcii a,nd enquiry
eV'.'ry where where I thought it was iit all
likely to be f iind, but in vain, and if au
was proljcibly t'.o c.i.-.e, it wa^i lent with l.he
others, .iU uba occasion I h.vve isferred to,
tve shall never 1 /car see iJie Id lligag.iin.'
These colore were presvrv. i all tliroitjh
the rctuikiiider of ihc war of 18i'2 ;ind eii
ecuBtered fiome siDyular vicissitude , bein;i;,
it ia said, on one occasion buiir'd in a f^ardeu
to v'rcvtHb oven the posfilility cf their
bcinjT captired, but siix^e th o war were
uev 'T unfurled, except i;i presciioj of au
admii iuji t ublic. 1 lie last time they are
krown to htive bt?en UJn-d i^y the uuiilia was
in i'"!.")!}, on the occasion of tlie inauj;uratio!\
of ' ieueral llrcck;. uioinnient by tJenoral
Sir Fenwick Wiiliams of Kar^.
Tiio ''"aft York Iloijiini'nt was not
embodied aj,-ain after peace wivs proclaimed
iu 1815, uijt-il tlie re ellion of Isy", when il'ij
officarg were as foUov.'s , — j
Colonel — (Jeorco Uu.'rgan.
Lieut. -C olouel—.Iohu VV. Gamble.
Majors — J. H. Bf(.> )I>.s, .'-'air.u.'l Xalioa
Caiittviits — M'iliiftin l.Jaldwin, John ! aylor,
John I'laytor. Alex. Murray, 'ieorgo buij-
gan, jr., Jain> » Itrown, James Beatty, Jolia
fSproule, Thomas IXiinie Harris.
Lieute.naiits — IMwc-ird lliichina, Thomas
Bell ti, 0 Morri on, Joseph Woikmar,,
William Cawthra, Thomas Milburn, N'icholaa
Ciikwfor.l, Johu Duggun, John Wartfe, .1.
D. Rilout.
Knsif;!!* — W A. (iledde^, Peter Heward,
A. Mchoneil. D. Patterson, B. VV, Roberts,
Kdward Nation, A. 11 milton, Johu
Moore,
.At llie clos of tho ebellion, with the ex-
ception of the aanual mu.-.ter, no furth r
doty w s exacte ! from the East York, and
ia ISoo, on tbe roorgaiiiiatiou of the entire
militia »f both Upper aod Ixiwer Canada, it
ceased to exist.
Hefore ttloaing this .vrticlc a few words
TMiy be said in reference to the Queen's col-
or, which is none otiier than the Union
Jack of the present day, which has been, as
it ia now, with its triple rTovsen, binee tho
union of ( reat Britain and lielaud in ItJjl
It may be thus described : — It groundVf'ori^
is blue, and uo litis i» fiiiU placvd a white
cross, I'lagonally laid, the widih of which is
ouc-tifth the width or boi.st of the flng ; that
is to say, if the Sag is V) ft. long in the fly
an^i 15 ft. wide in the hoist, the St. .-\ri-
drew's Q-Ag ia three feet wi e. On thir. cro -i
'.s placed the red diatjonal eros.i of St. Cat-
rie , one fifteenth the widlii of the flae,
with a white border, or timbr.ution, of 'luo-
thirtieth tbo width ! bus one-half ot
the w'lite crc<-.s is covered by the red cros^
and its white border, but as the
St. Andrew's cross represent'^ the
senior member of tlie trio in the Union, tim
white is uppermost in the f5r.st quarter uf
the llag. 'I'hcii on to[) of these is a \» iut,>
U[i;'i'^ht cro.s oivi; third the width of thi
tiajj, and on this ngaiu i* tho rid cross ou\'-
hfth the width, thu.s leavin^j the wiiiie cros."
sh( winy a^ a boiiler for the diT<;;'e:ice i )
their reMpeclive vvidih.'<, or ouo-lifteenth th'-
width of the tlag. Thus, supposkig tiic tbi:
is .'10 feei ion;; and 1.5 feet wide, the upriu'lic
crof o of red is 3 feet wide, wiih a wiiiic
border 12 in. \' ide on either side. 1 he to'al
width of liie diagonal cro.«s ia 3 ft., of wiiich
in. white, I'i in. red, anil (j in.
,iij;ed the bread w hite npp in;o.~t)
quarter aii'l t e naiio-v.- v.hi'e in
Tl;e fif.st Union J«ck d^tc^
ru,sa(ies. and th; P' wire v.riius
there is IS
while, am
in the first
tho otlicin.
from the
alterations or additions to its pallcMi iiniil
1801. oiucc then it uas remained unal'ired.
Should the dr..-i(;"nda;;t > of those wh.o owa
formed t: e Ka.st ^'"ik .^ ilitia fV(r lii
called upon to defend it, they no douirt will
dc, a.j their forefatli
iiii, their duty
A Fori;«ttfii Fs^tory.
r^ess than forty 2ve years since— in fr.c;
as late as 1851 — thero stood on the .wst'iii
sieie ol Church, between Cerrard ami Chi-
ton itreet.x, the j;lue ''ictory of .Mr. S.iii ucl
Carr
Beyond this factory there wa.': a iart'o
patch of bush land, without any hcR\ y tim-
ber certainly, and this was a ^'rcat re.iurt
or the idle youths of Toronto. Cliuieh
street then only extended to (,'arUon strtet,
and for some very .ihorl di>itancc there
was a sand road which tern iiiated in thi*
wood, which was known as "Molly Woji'a
liuah."
'r^
^
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Cftvy titu-
■.■\t re.^ort
Cliuioh
in sUcet,
CO there
li ill thii
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LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
783
CHAFrt.H CCXXXil. j
THE QUEEN'S OWN RIFLES-
Tbe BatUIIon'* Stary rmm tb« Date of il»
toripaiaou Thirty Odd V«art Ago -It*
tiood Serrlce o« Many Flaldi.
Tbe militiaman cherishing the most pro-
per pridfi in his own battalion will aasur ;
the civilian that th ■ corps of which he is a
moraber has at least one feature wliith makes
it pre eminent in Canada's volunteer force.
l'c;iiapf, if it be tint he beloii^'a to a lura!
b.ttaiion, he will point out thivt in physique
the corps is head und ears above anything in
the country. Or it may bo that the bat-
tiilion possesses an exceptional number of
crack shots. Again, the offi'iers maj- bi^ iie
inurLest sot in the land, or the adjii ant the
oiiiy man in the scrrice who has a proper
appreciation of his dotioR.
Hnl let any tnember of any curps in the
Dominion be a ked which, of all Canadian
volunteer organiiations, he esteems the
ino t coinplet.' in ever respect, and the
answer will c 'me, in nine cases out of t&n,
" The Queen's Own Rifles.'
So t lig mu.st be one )f the cases in which
what everybody says is so. To tell Toron-
tonians why it is so would be as nnnecessiry
as useless. The Queen's Own Rifles is
Canada's crack battalion becAOsc it has won
its title to the posit on
Many men, f *hws of grown up families
now were lua onnf; chaps when the Q. 0.
R. forme. 1. Bui one battaliou, the Prince
of Wales' Rifles, o ^v'ontreal, is its senior,
and that by a scant five mouths. Thereftire,
tlie Queen's Own numbers secsud in the
list of ninety odd infantry organisations.
Jt was a m«mber of the warliJie
Denisons who originate.l. in 1860, a
plan for the formation of a volunteer
ijiittalioD for the eity of Toronto. In
18.'>6 several volunteer rifle companies
h.v\ been organised i*i Toronto. Tiiese
coinpaikias, wTifle regularly drilled, were
separate and independsnt organizations,
under the control of the inspecting 6eld
officer of the province.
Col. Geo. r. Denison, sr., proposed to the
Ciovernnient the organisation of a rifle
battalion and, the required assent being
given, a meeting of the officers of the various
c<jmpanie8 was called. At that time there
were only fou efficient conipanie.s in the
city, and the officers of the Brampton ami
Karrie oorap&nies were invited to attend,
as six were nec«8sary for a battalion. At
the nte*ting everybody was in favor
of the plan and on .\pril " 2b, I860, the fol-
lowing companies were gazetted as the 2nd
Militia Rifles of Can-
Compai -, Capt. U'm. S.
Company, Toronto, Capt.
Company, Toronto, Capt.
Company, Toronto,
Company, Toronto,
Company, Whi by,
Battalion Volunteer
ada : —
THE KlUST COMPANIES.
1. Rarrie Rifle
Durie
2. First Rifle
Geo Brooke.
3. Third Rifle
John Nic inson.
4. fiii-hland Rifle
Capt. \. M. Smith.
5. Foot Artillery
Capt. Tly. (.ioodwiu.
6. Highland Rifle
(.'apt. J as. Wallace.
It was originnlly intended that the Bramp-
ton company shou'd be iacorporated with
the new battaliou, but for some
reason tiie Whiiby company was
sub.itituted in its place. No. 1 Company
v,-?n afterwards drafted into the S6th Hat-
talion, and No 6 into the 34th, their places
and numbers being taken by new comjranles
V'jcru'ted in Toronto.
Tlie field o(ficer.s ami staff were : —
Lieut. -Col — Captain and Brevet Lieu .-
Col. Ourie, from No. 1 Company.
Majors — Capt. Brooke, from Na. 2 Com-
pany ; Capt. Smith, from No. 4 Company.
Paymaster— Major R. B. Denison, from
unattached list.
Adjutant- -Capt. (ioodvin, from No. 5
Company.
Quartermaster — Capt. and Brevet-Major
Nickiiison, from No. 3 Company.
Surgeon — Jas. Thorburn, M.D. , from late
4th IMfie Co., Toronto.
Asst. Surgeon — Frank Bull, Toronto.
In the Ir. ter part of 1861 and beginning
of 1862 other independent oon-pauies were
organized in the city, for the young men of
Toronto were, as a newspaper of the time
said " seized wit i a very ardent military
fever It is now the desire of our young
bloods to become learned in the glorious art
of war. an I th y may b seen driilinp in
the market place on an of these fine
summer evenings A favorite walk for
many of our citizens is to the drill ground,
where the marching, counter-marching and
i other intricate manoeuvres are witnessed
with much interest."
If th • "marchings and counler-marching.s"
were as stiff a.s that paragi-aph tlic warriors
must have had the proverbial pokers where
they would materially aid in producing a
military carriage.
The new companies which were organized
were commanded by Capt. Latham (No 7),
Capt. Murray (\o. 8). and Trinity College,
(No. 9), whilst others did not join u nil Nov
21, 1862, when the c rps was raised in
strength to ten companies, the Banie and
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! VI
784
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
:i_ ' ■ 1
li'
Whitby compauiea »g*in becoming inJe-
pen<i«at, wliile Capt i^tlimi's company
was transferred to the 10th Royals,
of Toronto. The Gazi'tte. of the date
mentioned states the rc;;imont to have b«9n
made up of th« followini; coinpatiics ; —
No. 1-Capt. D. G. McDonald. No. 2 Co., In
on"in;il fortnation.
No. 2~-C»pL .lamorf S nith, No. 3 Co., in origi-
nal roiniatioii.
No. '.V Capt. Peter Paterson, No. a Co.. in ori-
ginAl fnrra.ition.
No. 4-Capl. \V. R. Harri.s, Ist Merchania
Company.
Ni). :'' -Capt. Win. Murray. 2nd Mer. hants
Cojtiiiariy.
No. ti Capt. L. W. Ord, Victoria Uiflew.
No. 7 -Capt. Hoot. Sponce, Civil Servic.)
Rides.
No. 8— Capt. R. B. Dcni=on. Trinity Col'c^o
Ride^.
No. 9-Capi. riy. Croft, Unlvcr.sity College
Ritlo'i.
No. lO-C-\pt. A. T. Fulton, Na * Co. in origi-
nal forni.'ition.
On 18cli .NJarch, 18(i.'{, purmi.ssion '.ras
ifiven to aiif)pt the title of " 'l"he Qik'oij's
Own Iliilos, of Toronto.'' which on l.'Jth
January, 1882, was amemleil bv the .substi-
tntion of tlie words "of Ciiiiada " for " o
Toronto."
TIU: RKlilWI'.NT.M, I.ADCK.
Until March of lS(j;! l!io battalion was
without a rcL'itnoiital ba.l^rc ;\i,d belt onia
n>€nts, ami ihcio were n ■\\\x dilTeiencei in
the niiiiuti;vi of the uniform as worn iiy
olliiors. In 18G3 tlie Dioi^eiit badcfe was
adopted and worn without change until
187.">. when a black enaincliod cross for olH-
cer.^ and a scarlet one for sergeants
wore .-^u stituted for silver and bron/e
re.-jpcotivoly. In February, 1879, the badi^c
and ornament.s were ga/.etted as special to
the regiment.
It wou d . ot be going beyond the truth,
as liuown to every ndliliainan in Toronto,
to say th.a C'ul \V. D. Otter was the man
who brought the regiment from a by no
n»eans firm e.stabhshment to tiie j)ro-c!niiient
position which it assumed soon
after his promi.)tion to important rank.
It were a waste of wor^s to tell
Toroiiloniaiis of the military abilities
of the cotimandant of the Toronto
detiuiimcnt of the Canadian R''2;iment of
Infantry Col. Oittr lia.s met with na i;rea'
success at tlio New Fort as when he com-
manded thr Queen'M ( »wii. No higher com-
plimi?iit cr.uld be paid.
Col Otter joined No. 6 Company upon it.s
formation, and served as private and ser-
geant. He wag appointed statf-sergeaiit,
and shortly afterwardM lieutonant of No 1
s-ervic(? company, wliifli di.l lUv at ^ilacrara
for nearly tO'ee inontim in lS6-i. .".at the '■imi"
of tlie tirBt Fe ian ^'-w L'ljon ihe r turii
ho, 111! of the defenur force he w.>e appoin'f.l
lieutenant of No. 1 cojnpany of the repiment,
und a few mouths afterwords was advanced
to the onerous post of adjutant. He it wa.s
who first in.stitiited the keeping of a regi-
mental rccortl, the ponderous Tolnnie whi h
is now Adjutant Mercer's most valueu
charge, the loss of which woHld cause moio
wrath to the staff of the reiriinent than the
lesi'^iiation of half of the members.
•Some of the young men who for pay
sit on hijjh stools in d crcliairs'
oIli.'.H and write all <lay long m
obese ledgers would do well to look at this
QiK'fMi's Own record, wherein art- set forth in
Adjutant Otter's even, clerkly hand rhe
doiiii,'; of the l)old rideiiien The hand-
wilting i:; the writing of the man who goe.s
all, Hit Ills business, knowing' just wiiat ho
wants t'( do, how he shall do it witiioat
waste of words or time, and w o, havii.f
plrimiRd Ids labors, carries out his pl.-iu v,it>.
out sliii or mis-ftep Had not Col. ( ittei
cl!o<'>ii lo make a first-class soldier hi' could
have been an exemplar to engrossing ■ lorks
the Wdidd over.
Lieut. -Col. Otter spent much tim-! and
troubhi on the t,jueon's Owi regimental
rccoriis, and that wijat may be termed the
skeleton ^' the history of the corp.'i u in
such perfect condition is du* ta him.
THK KIBST I'AllAmO
It was on the Oneen':- birthday, bSGO,
that the first reaimenlal p\i'ade of tlio
battalion was held. Coinpaniss '2, 15, and -1
assemi.iled at 10 o'clock, and after drillin_'
for a tin'o, marched through the town to the
I'arliament j;ruiinds. where syf/'u ih joir wa.s
fired Tile townspeople turned out in great
iiumliers, and iii the afternoon the regulars
then .--tationcd at the Fort, and the voUui
tcers attended the races.
It was ill September of the same year that
the youthful I'rincc of V^'ale?, under ' ae
ciceroiiage of the Duke of Newcastle, visifed
Toronto. Tlic Heir Appareut was received
with many demonstrations of atfcction. and
was furuislied with a guard of honor fiom
the regiment, commanded by Capt. Fulton,
with Knsign ]5rowii as subaltern. On ^k\it
\-2 the corps was reviewed by His Roval
iiighness in the Queen's Park. The cim-
panies prssent were Nos. 1, 2, .*} :nul 4. the
Barrie company having been brought in for
the occasion. The various inoveni«nt=
were performed very satisfactorily, and
the Frince expressed his surprise at finding
such a young corps so proficient in drill.
At this time No. 2 Conipa y drilled in a
large room at the top of the building at tho
north oa.sterti corner of King and NoWon
(now .la' vim streetK, wldle Compantea ^ 4
and 5 practi.*ed in St. Lawrcr.ce Hall.
The soconii y ar of the battalion's hi-tory,
LANDMARKS OF TORONia
785
)8GS, was uneventful. The n^aal Qticcn'
liirthd*y parade look p)»ce, and on October
18 Comp«nie« 2, .'{, 4 and 5, with
ibe first and Second Troops of Vork
caTalry aad tiie York Field BaiVory, paraded
{•r brigati« drill on the Garrison Common,
b*ing inapoctd*! by Lt. Col. Mac[)ougatll,
ineptcting Gold ofiicer,
lu 1862 the corp^ was put fairly on its
feet. By a (KCiierul order dated Vov. mber
31 its strecgtn was incr«aatd by the addition
•f the ootup^nies mentione I above, ^^ hila
iiie Barrio and Wkiitby conipaniea wore
taken off the streiigtk. On September 24
tbe reorganised eorps WM iaapecied on the
Spadina Aveuuw C«fniriou« by the Governor
Oeneral, Lord Mon«k. Th« day't exorcise^
were marked by a caaualty. Major Brooke
beioK thrown from hie horM and haviai; his
[»H broken.
WINTKK VMFOHM SKLiCCTBD.
On Dee. 18 of Ihe same year the ofiicers
held a meeting at wki«h it wim decided to
wear winter uniforip w> fellowa ; — Darkf^rey
ooat ttimnied with grey fnr, £;rey fur cap
with blaek leather peak, aad long boots or
tnickerbockeM reaching to tlie knee.
rh« reinainkig portrion of the uni-
form, aays Lieuteuant - Colonel Otter,
•' wa« similar (or supposed to be) to that of
sfficers of M, M. ntle reginionts. " Tl»«
knickerbockers must have b(;«n a curie .is ia-
ao-vation in military Miiiforiii. During; iu a
■onth a ba«d waa ffirmed wnder the leader-
»liip ot Mr. A. Maui, an Englishman who
had acrved in the Imperial army.
Althoufjh the reiriment v as young in
Tears it wsks nut long before deatli fet its
iiark upon one of the Kt»ff. On Jan. 21.
M3 .fasistant-Snrgeon Fraiik Bull dieii and
was buried with military honorii. At the
fauend Companiea 4 ant 6 formed the es ort
wder Capt. Ord.
Oh February 11 of the »ame jr«ar the first
concert and b»ll in aid of the band fund
was given in the Music hall, aad was an
entire succeae, tb« aam of $286 beiug netted.
It waa on March >8 that the special
desiftnafcien of Queen'* Own waa conferred,
M per the following letter :
Adjutant-Gekbbal's Ofpick,
QH«b«c, Uth March. t»i:;.
Sir,— With B«torenee to »y tetter to you of
the mh inat.. I am 4<>«reJ hf H. Jfi., the Cum-
nander iu Obiet to acquaiat you thnt Her
MajrtMjr ha.s boenpioaatjd to approve of tnu ftad
Biisiaiioa Volunteer Hifte* of Toronto hcins-
desitfnatad in fntHre "The Queen's Own Kiftes
of Toronto." 1 have the honor lo be, etc.. etc.,
A. DK ^ALABKURV. Lit.-Col.,
Uep.-Adj. Gen. .Militia.
L,U-Col. Durie, Toronto.
ill May the standing orders of the regi-
Belli, as adopted by the oflicers, were *()•
piuvtd by the couimaiider in-chief
Queen's Birthday, 186.*^, waa signalizxi
by a parade of the rogiment at the Normal
school sroundg, where Mrs. Dr'per. wife
of the Chief luHtice, on behalf of ladies, the
relatives and friends of ihe oflicers, pre-
tented a .splendid m;ice to Lieut. -Coi.
Darie for the use of the band
After the pri'seirtiitiou the k>att»lion parad-
ed to Sp'\dina avenue, where, in conjunction
with the 30tii regiment, the Royal Artillery
and 10th Battalion N'oluntears, a /eudr Joic
was fired, after which Major CJeueral Napit-r,
C. B., reviewed the forces.
A GRAND KKVIKW.
On Oct. 8 there waa a i;i;iud volunteer
review on the Denisou ooinuuju, at the head
of CrookMhank lane, at whird 'JOO regular.*!
and 3,2l> I militia wern pr«»eui. Major-
Gencnil Liuilsay wiis in coimiiand. Thj
Qtteoi'.'.s Own were brigaded with the lOth
Bfttcaliofi, 'be Volunteer Artillery and the
Naval Hrij,'ade under Col. Tcacoeke.
In May of 18G4 the oHiuer.s provided
themiielvtts with f»airol jaektts and forage
cap.-!, and on tli« Quee I's liithday tlie usual
parr^de, in conjunction with the ret^ulars and
10th Volunteers, Mite held on the "pA.liu.i
avenue common. In June the bnttaliuii took
posat'ssion of the new drill siied wiiioh had
been erected in the large vacant fieM lo
the east of the old Parliament liuiidiuge,
joining Simcoe street. ,\boat this liina
companies G and 8 became di8organiz«d
owing to neglect on the part of tlieir re-
8})ective captains, and for somo time were
ineflfective.
in thia yoar the war of secession in the
nnitod States was at its height, and a party
ot SoutberR sympathi/.crs made the famous
raid upon St. Albans, Vt. The United
States CJovern»n«nt strongly protested against
their bor ler town.s arid e'ties being invaded
and sacked by expeditions from Canadian
soil, and a force of three administrative bat-
talions was ordered lo the frontier by tho
commander-in-chief. Tho Queen's Own was
ordored to iiud two con»p:inies, each
sixty-five strong, to form a part of
this force. The two companies were speedily
formed, the first consisting ot nisn from
Companies 1, 2 and 3, aiMl ihe second from
the remainder of the battalion, with .i few
from No. 3 Company, On Dec. 30 the two
companies proceeded by way ot St
Catharines to Niagara under ika following
officers : ,
Ifo. S Company.
Capt. C. J. tiillmor.
Lt. VV. D. Jarvis.
Ens. W. CorbonW
Adjutant, Knsign and Acting (.^pt. Dixon.
Messrs. .farvis and Corbould, though not at
the time officera, wers eiven commissions »s
No. 1 Company.
(apt. Jas. Brown.
Lt. W. D. Otter.
Ehs. Jas Bennett.
'- -K'-
i%
7M
LANDMARKS OF TORUMO.
tlicre were not sufficient officers able to
leave tbe r employ in eut I
Tl»e companies went into burraclcs at
Kiagara, fiadinj; aln*a«ly there a company •
•oiriposed of men from sevcnil bantilii^MH. ,
The whole was under command of Lt. Col.
Duric, of Ui« Queen's Own 'i he section of
tile rej(im«ot left in Toronto was uudur
ccimmand of Capt. Croft. The service
compunies put in fuur dreury mouths at Nia-
gara, and in April, 186.'), returned home,
hiiving seen no active service. On June 21
the battalion participaicil in a review at .
l'>:iirie. Major General Napier inspected
the corps.
Jn these days funds were none too plenti-
ful, and in -wiler that t'ne l)aud fund
ipijihl be augiiK iiltvl, an eiilertainnitnt was
pivon ill the ilii.l hhed, for which the s.';r- ^
vices ol a forgonoM celebrity, Harry Leslie, '
the "Canadian lilo.nlin," were en,'i^ed. The
venture did iijt ijrove .succoisful. Not-
wi hslandiiig Mr. Lf-'lie's f unity for secur-
ini{ suocesstui balaiui s there was a deficit of
$75 In Sepitinier, 180.'), the firt annual
ritle matches of the battalion were held «n
tl>e (larrisou common Ujiwards of $.S00
was given in prizes, and the cjinp;iicor8
DHinbered over eighty. At an cnua'tain-
ment iu the evening .\'ajor-General Napi r
distributed the prizes.
THE B.VTTALION FROSI'KROITS.
AH was now running smoothly. The
reaimtnt was ia a good fin.'.ncial
eondilion and the enthusiasm of both
offiears and men augured well for its fut.uru.
In the first week of Novembor word reached
Toroato of hostile denionstrations by
Fenians oa the Ni.^ftara frontier, and, in
consequeucB a guard from the I Och Royals
aad Queen's Own was ordereil to protect
the drill she 1 against possible inusndiariei
At fir»i this guard con:jisted of one
■ergeant, one corporal and six pri-
vates, furnished ahcrnately by the
two battalions A wee'.; later, however,
further aUrms were given, and the p otec-
tire force was increased tj 12 non corns
and privates, under an officer On Nov. 15,
a night attack wa« anticipated and a piquet
of 30 m»B under Capt. Jarvis with i.t.
Moi'isou and Eusiga Campbell kept watch
all uigh'. Nothing occurred. The towns-
p.'ople nevertheless remained in a state of
lear, and en Nov. 1& the Government
decided to send a force to the
froutier. The Queen's Own were ordered to
fuiiiish a company of 65 men for the service. |
A parade of tlie battalion was held the same
evening, and a call for volunteers not being
entirelf avcecisful, drafting was resorted to.
It was stftted, and was known to be the fact,
titat many men who were anxious to volun-
teer were infoimed by their einployerj that
their places would he filled If thty joined the
fo'ce.
Cajit, Jarvis was nominated for the com
mand of the service company, with Lieut.
M orison, of No. '2, and En.-siga (.'ampbell,
ef No. 9, as subalterns. On Nov. 20 the
company left for Saruia. On Nov. '27 the
cwmmandinj^ ollicer Lieu .Col Durie, was
a;)poiHted assistant adjutant-general, an4,
Mkjor Smith waiving his claim. Junior
Major GiUmjr was placed in com i^and until
further ordtrs.
Tiia s'Tvice coinpin,' was now doin:; duty
at Sarnia, but on J nuary 30, 18GG, tlie
wiiole battalion was ordered to piei/aio fi.r
service in consequence of furtlicr Fciiian
alarms. Parades were held tri-weeUl', , and
the scare was bcginuiiic; to die away, M'iieu,
at 11 p.m. o the evening of March 7th, tiiR
batliliou was ordered to parade atouee. A.t.
night officers and sergeants drose ahuut tiio
city warning their men, and at 10 o'clock on
til ; moi-ning of tlie 8th inst.,thc battalion
]) uaJed in tlie drill shed 417 strong. OrJer*
V' i< i.-3ued for the men to parade d.iily at
10 a.m., and 2:30 p. m for drill.
As may be conceived, the business men of
the city felt greatly the effect of ttiese
orders. Clerks were compelled to abanJoa
their desk.^ to attend drill. Strong objec
tions were made and, in order to relieve the
employers, on .March 12 the battalion waa
allowed to drill every evening iu place of
durin:^ business hours
This Fenian alarm made for the benefit
of the regiment, for, says Col. Otter, " Dur-
ing the excitement occasioned by the gen-
eral turn-out of all the volunteers in the
country at the time, advantage was takeu
of the military ardor then prevalent to re
organize Comp^vnies 3 and 6, which was doue
by Messrs J. R Boustead and G hi. Adam,
the remaining companies being filled up t»
their strength, viz : 65, aud No. 5 to ^,
which it had been specially permitted to do."
A RIOT IMMI.SENT.
On St Patrick's day the Hibernian Society
avowed its inrention of parading the streets,
while the great n)ajority of tite to«vn8pejple
avowed th.it no procei,sion should be held.
Representations were made to the Hiber-
nians that m the state of pubhc opinion sseh
a course would be inadvisable. 'I he Queen's
Own, together with the 10th Royals and a
provisional battalion which ha i been orgau-
ized, were under arms iu the drill shed from
10 a. Dt. until 4:30 p.m. At this parade the
muster of the Queer's Own was 39 officers and
66(3 men, inclusive of tlie service company
at Saruia and the Upper ("auada College
company, which w-as attached. On March
31 it was ordered that the evening parades
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
787
be discontinued, instead of which the bat-
taliou was ordered to drill two days per
weuk, forenoon and aftcrnoriu alternately.
T; 0 otficeri were to icceiv .i pay, witlioiit
allowance, while non coins and men were to
be paid 50 cents per drill.
Tlie Koivice company rrtiirncd from Sar-
nia April 4, leaving behind 2G men who liad
been transferred to the provisional battalion
under Capt Jarvi.i, who was serving as Lt. •
Col,, with Ensifjn Campbell as lieutenant
an! adjutant.
On May 24 tlic usual review w la held, but,
]>rcvious to the battalion kasin^' the shed
,T pleasant event took plaoe. Major
(lillinor, on bcliali of the ollicors of the
b.ittalion, pie.s nted Captain and Adjutant
Utter witli a splendid char^'er and appoint-
ineiitB. A review on the then far- trelcliiii!^
commons near .S: Stephen's churcii followed,
after which Majoi -Uen^ral Xapicr inlormed
the voluireers that they were relieved from
duty and that their j)ay would cease
It was not for lont,', however, that the
citizen suldieri were ])erniitted to lay down
their arms On May 31 at (i p.m.. Major
(iillmor received an order to proctiod
on the f<dlowing day with 400 men to
Port Colborne Humors of Fenians
croasin;.; the border at Fort
Krie had reached Toronto, and there \' as
another night of wild excitement. The an-
x-ioimcement of a few days before tiiat the
volunteers were to return to their iioaceful
avocations had b«en received with delight
by in*ny thousands of wives, bisters and
sweetnearta. Now, war's alarm once more
awakened the city, and all was bustle and
propir.ition. Tlio uniforms were donned
again, the men hurried to the drill shed and
prepared at once to leave for liie frontier.
EN ROUTE FOK THK KKONT.
It was half past four in the morning of
June 1 thac the battalion mustered in the
drill shed, 356 strong, with Lt.-Col. (Jillmor
in com aand. The town had been astir all
night, and the haversacks were filled with
comestibles furnished I y the friends of the
citizen-soldiers. At 5:30 the word was
civeii to march. Even at this early hour
thousands were astir, and at the wharf,
where the steamer City of Toronto wa.s
boarded, a dense crowd had gather-
ed As the steamer put out into
the bay cheer after cheer went u[),
answered bravely by the voluniccrs, so no
of whom Were never to return horn? alire.
Doubtless the frequent alarms of war had
given the men a feeling of doubt as to
whether there would be any fightinc; in this
latest expedition, and it is stated that the
journey across the lake was passed in a
manner to which young men are accus-
tomed Arrived at I'ort Dalhou«ie, tha
ba talion entrained and were spee ily car-
ried to I'ort Colbonte, wiiero the otlicers
and men were billeted upon the townspeo-
ple, i iie people of I'ort ('(duurne were in
.1. stat of great apprchen.sion, for a report
had gained currency tiiat th« invailing
I'enians had durintr tlio tnoi'nini/ cro.s«ed
the Niagara and had eHecleil a lodgment on
Canadian soil. i he u»ual guards were bet,
and tired soldiers and fearful towuspeoplo
were soon wiai)|)ed in slumber.
IJright and early the in xt liiorning (./'une
2nd) the battalion was under arms All
manner of !e[)orts a.i to the luovemonts ol
the Fenians were in circiilatiuii, and the
voliinteets were ordt-reJ to be in reaiiinc&s
to niarci) upon a moment's notice. During
the inoiniiic information of the eiieniv's
moveiuBnis was rereivud, and at 12. .">0 p.m.
the lallalion iiiarclieJ to a tram upon wliich
were the l.'lth Itattaliou of llamdlou and
tliu York and Caleilonia Hillo Companies,
which lia(' arrived tlie night bnlorc. At
4:."! ) a (I'i achment of 125 oUicers and n.en of
the (^lii'jon'a Own from Toronl') onio in.
It hail btLii intended that the force blioula
leave I'ort Co'.botnc at 2 a.m., but further
orders fiom Col. I'eacoeke of II. M. lOtli
Foot in trueted the commanding otlicer to
remuu ac I'ort Colborne ur.l 1 .'i am. At
that hour the force left I'orr Col-
borne, the strcn,'th bcin.' : — (Queen's
Own, 4S0 ; i;]th and York and Caiedonia
ll'.tla Cor.ipanie.s about 400. The whole force
wa^ under- coiiimand af Col. iiooker, of the
ISth. The run to Kidgeway was made in
rjuick time, and the brigade liiere detrained
i-nd inarched toward Sievensville for the
p rpo.sc of forming a junction with ('ol I'ea-
cocke's column. J hu advauci.'d puard was
caiiii)o.sed of No. 5 Company, Q. O. li ,
armed with Spencer repeating rides. The
remainder of the battalion, with the 13th
a li York liiti.r Company, formed the main
body of the column, and tiie rear guard was
furnished by tiie Caledonia t'ompany. In
this order the column moved forward about
two miles, when the Fenians were
discovered in the front. The ad-
vanced guard was immediately ex-
tended from the centre, with Companies
1 and 2 on lis left and light, No. 3 centre
supports. No. 4 left. No. 7 as a flanking
party on the left, supported by No. 8, and
No. G tlauking to the right. Nos. 9 and
10 were in reserve. After a further advance
of half a mile. No. 8 was sent as a support
to No. 2 on ttie right
COL. OTTBRS STOUY OF THE FIGHT.
Col, Ott'.'r says : — '" Immediately the
I'enians, who were extended beliind the
fences, their niftin body being well posted
m
. i « '
[)l
'< \n
iil
78M
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
)!'.'!
>'* I
E^i \'
Kh:l
iu a wood, opened firo, which was returned
by otir own men, who continued steadily
kdvaacin^. 'I'hu liring becaniu general, being
heaviest on our centre and right. At almost
the iirat tire Kusicn McEachren was hit in
the stomach and, being taken to the rear,
died in twenty minutes.
" We continued diving them for about an
hour, when, oar skirmisherii being reported
out of am i.unition, Nos. 9 and lU Compauius
were sent to the right, and the l.'Uh Batta-
lion ordereil to relieve ua, which they did
by sending out three companies to skirmish.
They had not been enga£;ed for more than
fifteen itiinutos before the cry of "cavalry"
was raisud at seeing two or three Fenian
horsemen advancing towards us. Col. Booker
ordered the reserve (CJueen s Own) to prepare
for cavalry and the companies formmg it,
viz : Nos, 1, 2, .1, 6 »nd 8 formed square.
The mistake was immediately seen, and the
order given to re-form column and the two
leading companies to extend. On ru-forming,
the reserve, boing too close to the akirniiali
line, was ordered to retire. J'he left wing of
the 13th, wJio were in our rear, seeing our
men retire and thinking we were retreating,
broke and retired in a panic, on seeing which
our men also broke and ran. Just previous to
this the Retire was sounded to Nos. 1 and 2
of the Queen's Own, who, not seeing the
necessity of the order, disobeyed until it
was again sounded, when they reluctantly
moved to the rear, the remainder of tlie
skirmish line doing ttie same, though not ua-
d«r3tanding the reason of their recall. On
seeing the reserve in disorder they, too, be-
came disorganized and fled. The fire of the
now pursuing Fenians became hotter than
ever and the volunteers being crowded up in
a narrow road, presented a fine mark for
their rifles, causint; our poor fellows to fall
on all sides.
" It was in vain that the otticers endeav-
ored to rally the men, Several times squads,
and even a company, were collected, but
never insufficient force to check the pursuit,
though a constant fire was kept up until the
J'enians ceased following. For the fi st two
or three hundred yards it was a regular
paiuc, but after t'aat the men fell into a
walk, retiring in a very orderly manner, but
completely crestfallen."
This is the plain, unvarnished tale of
the hittle of Ridgeway, m told by •
faithful liistorian. Lieut. - Colonel Otter
" nothing extenuated nor set down aught in
malice." In all the years that hare sine*
gone by there have been many disputations
ae to whom the blame of the lamentable fiasco
v as due, but, as will bs seen, Col. Otter per-
mitted himself to make no comment.
The Fenian invaders pursued to Ridge-
way station, where tliey abaudo <td the
action and moved upen Fort Erie. Tbe
Canadians returneil to f' rt Colborne, tirf^d,
hungry and ii! disposed to speak at ttie
day 8 proceedings. 1 hey had had no sleop
the preceding night nor had they eaten
aui{ht that day.
In closing his account of the action, Lt-
Col Otter says " Had the ' Retire' not be«n
ESunded we ihonld have beaten them in 10
minutes more, for part of their force was
actually retreating before we oonimenccd to
retire. General O'Neil, in command of the
Fenians, and other officers of their force,
owned to some of our wounded \\ horn they
captured (owing to our not having ambulan-
ces or vehicles of any desofnption), that we
'behaved splendidly,' and were nairitaken by
them for regulars, owing to oar eteadineso.
and that had we fought for five miautee
longer they must have succumbed, as theif
men were fast becoming demoralised. "
The following is a list of the Queen's Own
killed and wounded : —
KIIXKD.
Private J. Smith, No. 2 Company.
i..ance-Corpo al M Defries, No. 3 Com-
pany.
Knsign H. McEachren, No. 5 Company.
Private Alderaon, No 7 Company.
Private J'einpeit, No. 9 Company.
Private McKenzie, No 9 Company.
Private Mewburn, No. 9 Company.
WOPNDKD.
J Boaign W. Fahey, knee.
\ Private Ouester, leg.
/■Sergt. H. Matlieson, thigh (ilied
II June.)
No, 2 ^Capt. W. Lahey, moirth (died 11
I June,
l Private W. Thompson, neck
(Capt. J. B. Boustead, contused.
Lieat. J. H. Beaver, thigh.
Private Winter, thigh.
No, 4 — Private C, Lugsdin, lung and arm.
«^ e C Private C. I5eil, knee,
«0- o l^i'rivate Copp, wrist.
{Ldeat, W, C. Campbe 1, shoulder
Corp. P. Rebkks, kuec amputated
Private Ruthertord, foot.
No. 7,— Ser^ VV. Foster, side.
f Private G. T. Paul, knee.
i Private R K Kingsford, leg
No. 9. ] Private Pattersoa, a in.
L Private Vander Swissen, groin.
No 10 fCol. -Sregt. K. .McHardy, arm,
■ ■ L Private 'iVhite, arm (amputated).
In addition to the above several v\cre sua-
struck.
As may be imagined, the tired soldiers
spent the early pai-t of the iiigiit in deepest
slumber, while the wounded were ailcudod
to by physicians hastily summoned T\\f
No. 1
Theoffi
Ijower Ci
were recei
ford Th
o'clock in
men were
people.
il
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
7M
julder
troin.
itateil).
bre uvm-
Isoldiers
]dee})0-*t
lilcudoil
Tht'
dead were broucrht to Toronto, and two
days afterwards thouB&nd» followAd the
fuiioral pruocssion to the last renting plac«
of the brave voluntteri.
On thtf morriinL; of June 5, the day fol-
low lug the cue[ui!ement, t(ie battalion w&i
Krousod asd paraded at 1 a. ui iu coi>8«-
quunce ol ma aUnn whicli subHetjueutly
proved to be ill-founded At 3 a ni Ike
soldiers were once more arousi^d, aud were
inarched to a t>-»iii, on which were tlic
7th Fusiliers, of London, aud the 2'Znd Ox-
ford Rirtps, who had arrived tho previous
day. At 6 o'clock in the nuniunf^ the train
left for.Stirl;'3 crossing, about six niile« from
Port CollHirne, where tlie force detrained
and foEHu-a a column of route composed of
the 7th Fusiliers, who furuiwhetl the skir-
mishers, tho '2'Jnd Oxford, the St. C*tha-
riue.s Home Ouard, and the (.Queen's Own.
'i lie rear guai'd wivs furnisiic'd by the riHe-
men C'apt. Akcrs, of tixe Royal Knj^incer.s,
was in command of the whole. Douu the
Garrison roud, past (he battle ground of the
day before, the column pasfied, and, al-
though the skirmisher!" were exceeiUnqly
vigilant, nn Fenians wera seen. (Jountry
people who had come considerable di-tances
to view the scene of the late conllict,
Htated to Captain Akers that the
F< nians had recrossed the Niatrara
after i skirmish with the \\ elluiid
Field Rattery and the Dunuville Naval
Brif^ade. The march was continued to Fort
Erie, where the column arrived at '2:30 ji. ni.,
immediately uoinc; into camp with l':\e \uik
Cavalry, the 10th Royal.s, of Toronto, the
19th Lincoln. a provisional battalion of volun-
teers, two batteries of lioyal Artillery, and
11. M. 16ih, 47th and 60th regiments of
l'"oot, the camp being in command of Col.
Lowry, of the 47th.
The Quceus Own ren^ained at Fort Ei'ie,
doing picket duty, until 1:30 a. m. of the
5th iust, when orders wore received
to strke tents, parade without
bu^le sound, an 1 embark on a tra'::.
which was iu readiness. This was done at
.'{:30 a.m <iune 5, and the battali n was
Eafely entrained without any noiae or
clamor. On the train was found Col. (now
Lord) Wolseley, Acting Qua ler-.Master
♦i«neral of her Majesty's forces in Canada.
The destination of the battalion was un-
known to all.
SKNT TO STHATFOBD.
The officers supposed it to be Toronto of
Lower Canada, until at Hamil on orders
were received ordering the corps to Strat-
ford The train arrived at that place at 5
o'clock in the afternoon, and the officers and
men were speedily billeted upon the towns-
peo|rie.
The York and Caledonia conpaniea wer*
aUo ordered to Stratford, and were attacK#d
to the Queen's Own as Companies 11 and
l'.i. The Q. O. R. remained iu Stratford
■ ntii June 18 Besides th« Teronlo bibttal-
iou there were also stationed in the town
Capi. Gore's iiattery of Royal Artillery aad
two companies of the Kith Foot, the gari i:ii>n
being under tlie eommatid of Col. \\ oUelcv
for one week aad aftei wards under Major
Hancroft, of the 10th. Drill took [tiaci' twict)
a day. The t^ueeu's Own every night lonncd
a piquet of oae company to giiaiil the
::UU'< of the bat.tery, which were at the
railway station in order that they inii,'iil be
loadeil more speedily in the event ot a sud
den alarm.
On ilunt! 17 orders came from Toronto re-
calling the (.Uieen'a Own. and on the lollow-
ini^ day the Uittalion left for iionie, much to
the regret of tho citizens of Stratford.
On leavi g the town the .Mayor,
on behalf of the citizens and corporation,
presented an address to the commaud:iig
officer of the regiment expressing their re-
gret at the battalion's removal, ana testity-
ing to the uniform good conduct of the inec
during their stay in .'>tratford.
An immense concourse of people wel-
comed the regiment back t« 'I'uroiito,
and although a heavy rain was falling
the Queen's Own were met at the
drill shed by Major-Cieiieral Mapier, C. !>.,
comin:u>ding the district, who publicly
thanked the otiicers aud men for their sur-
vices. 'I hey were then dismissed from duty.
The strength of the cotps upon returning
to Toronto was T'iT), including the Vork and
Caledonia companies.
WILLING RKCRCITS.
The following geutlemeo joined the corps
as volunteers upon hearin? of the action at
Ridgeway : — J. K. Robertson, Adam Lillie,
Edward liutt, (New York), Geo M. Rae,
Rusk Harris, Alex Beecher, \\ . P. Cassels,
E. P. Crawford, G. F. Duggan, F. W.
llolmstcd, Jas. Louden, — Farewell, Wm.
Mulock, — Radenhurst, M. C Moderwell, C.
VV. liell, P. M. Barker, and a number of
others whose names have not been handed
down.
On the evening of the 19th June, the
Queen's Own gave a supper at the Queen's
Hotel in honor of tiie ofhcera of the York
and Caledonia companies, who left oa tba
21st for home, the Queen's Own band
" piaying them off."
The citizen soldiers had now returned to
their ordinary avocations, but they had by
no means lost their predilection tor the
trade of war. On the evening of June '2Tt i
the Vr-eekly parades were resumed with a
very Urge muster of all ranks. On July 18
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LANDM vRKS OF TORONTO.
(If ',';,;
M
(is "
i
)
inere waa observed a public holiJ.iy in honor
o/f the Toronto volunteers. A diiiner was
(.ivea the whole force al the Crystal I'alacc,
»»jj an address prescHted by tliu Mayor on
'.•ehalf of the cilizeue. On the
arening ot July 25 the corps
aiarch«d out, paaaing Ij ib« residences of
3one of the wounded At the residences of
Knsijjn Fahey, Privates \N hite, LMgsdiB,
Ouester and Bell three hearty c eers were
giTeu.
IN CAMT AT TJIOROI.D.
In August a camp of instruction was
icruied a' Thorold, and on t i 22ud the
Queen's Own received orders to join it,
leaving Toronto on the morn my of th'.' 2r)th
This wae done, tne City of Toronto carryiug
the battalion to Port Divlhousie, wlience the
k'orps marched to camp, immediately going
uiuler ca .vas. Tiie force in camp consisted
of a seiiii-b ttery of Royfil Artillery, four
companies of the Itith ilegimoul,
:hu I8th Battalion of Hamilton,
and the 2l'nU Oxford Ktfles.
Col \Vol8eley was in commaud The l^ueen's
Own ren ainrd in camp cil'Iu days, drilling
[hree times a day. On Septfuiber Isl tlie
jattalion returned to Torjnio. For the
ju.np she men weie paid |1 per day and free
lattona, the officers full pay.
On November 14th, tit* weekly drills were
continued, with a muster of ^nly 18 i otfictrs
&ud men. This uumber grew &m.iiier n til
l^'jcember 19th, when drill ceased. la a |
no'.c Lit': t. -Col. Otter slates tliat the reason
c< the small attendance at drill was in gieat
fnea^iiru the sending of the battalion lo camp
hc Tliorold. Immediately upon returning
[roai camp^ numbers ot men
jtmve the neccssaiy six months
iM.ice previous to leaving the force, <is tluir
Uisiix'ss or employers ^ould no l'')n^cr pur-
mit their romainina volunteers whun they
night be compelled to sacrifioc so much
tinr-: to drill.
During hecember Mr. Charaupka, of
Cobourg, was .appointed bandmaster in
place of .Mr. Murdoch, wiio went luto the
service of the (>rand Trunk lirigade.
In February of 1867 . orp .lohn CoDUor,
of No. 1 Com})any, died ot disease contracted
ia service, and was buried by hia company.
On Feb. 21 the »kl r^6eld rifles and
bayonets were returned to stores
previous t« the issue of th«
Speueer repeating rifles
Private A. Reed and Corp J as. Robins
soon after kuccvntbea to diMasc coatraeted
•n ■arviee, mad wer* accorded military
b«nal«.
On March 0 the Spencer rifles were iwaed
lo the compaoivi aad the m a were ia-
ttmeted in their uae. Once more war's
alarm was hoard, and on March lA the
battalion was ordered to para^ic three even-
ing.s in f()nse(|uence of another Fenian raid
being unMcipated. On Marci 27 the i um-
ber 01 duCici 'vas ruduced to two a week,
the officers to receive pay without aliow-
aii'.cs, and the men 50 oents
per drill. On April lOtli, 1867,
the well-knoun shoulder strap bearing the
letters (j.O.R. with the curpa' regimental
number was worn fur tSe first time.
A RRPl'llLICAN LX>MrANY.
A lo g period of quiet and steady gronth
now ensued. On Dominion day, ItMTZ, ttte
first parade in Toronto in honor ot the
oeuntry's national day was held The corps
participating were : the 13th fiussars, the
Royal Artillery, the 17th Foot, tiie 4th
Battalion <• rand Trunk lirigade, the lUih
Royals, Volunteer Field liattery and t^ueen's
Own. Col. .McKiaistry of the 17th Foot waa
in command, and the force was reviewed by
Major-iiencral .'-^lisied C. B. On Sept. 2
the first annual -aines of the regiment were
given on the cricket ;;rounds, at the corner
of McC'anl and College streets. The event
wr.s 'Qost succe.S'-,fiil.
On Oct. 9'Ji. lSti7, another change was
made in the arming of the men. The Spen
ccr was returned to stores, and ti&U lonx
Snider Entields were issued for the use of
the Queen's Own This waa the first breech-
loading weapon is.'tued to the battalion.
In November Lt. Col. (•illmor resigned
his commission, owing to his having lost his
business position through volunteering.
Major F. E. I >ixon assumed command, but
soon afterwards relinquished the colonelcy.
Lt. Col. Oillmor then resumed com-
mand pending the acceptance of
his resignation. In December the
Commander-in-Chief declined to accept
the resignations ef Lt. -Col. Oiilmor
and Majijr Dixon, and a few days later the
commaudingofTiccr was ap(>oiuted clerk to
tilt Legislative Assembly of the new
Province of (>utaria.
In the followincr year, 1868, all moved
smoothly, with th ' exception of an tinfortan
ate conflict between the commanding oifioer
and staff and the men of No. 5 company. TIhs
company desired, contrary to all usage, o
elect a captain from outside the regiment
Lt.-Col Oillmor would nut hear of such a
proceeding and No 5 company resigned in a
body. Three weeks afterwards the rebel-
lioaa miUtian en withdrew their reaignationa
and all movet' smoothly aa before.
Another alarm waa given in May,
when the regiment was onee more
ordered to prepare for aervice at a mom lU'a
warning Nothing came of this report, ex-
cept an order to drill twice a week lot three
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
m
wetks, the ofliiccrs to be paid one dollar and
the men fifty (.■(.•nts per dril'.
In the Autuinii of 18&S the new Militia
Act of Canada oatne into force, and all of
the volunteer corps of the iJnininion were
r«organi7.ed. Ou Oct. 14 the (juceu'a Own
mustered at tlie drill aheu, and Lieut. Col
(lillmor explained to the oflictrs and men
the piovisions of the new Act. The coni-
p«niod were then dismissed to their several
armniies to re-enrol, and forthwith l.'>0 rank
and lile aig ed the new compimy rolls. By
i>ecen»l>er 29, this number had been increas-
ed to 30 officers and '288 noncommissioned
officers and men. The members of No. 10
(Iiii;>hlai)d) (.'oniiMiny, were dissiitsilied at
the action of the Militia l>epftrtmeiit in de-
clining to allow them any [>uyment in lieu of
their expensive UDifurins, which had become
use esB under the new organization, and as a
consequence the ci mpany refused to re enrol.
The company rolls were returned to the
department
Karly in 1869 Ensign Otter, of No. 4
Company, and a brother Ji Lt. Col. Otter,
died, and was buried by the ref;imcnt.
Ensign, now .N'ajoi', I'elamcie coiiinKUulrtl
the lirin!» party of .'^O men, and the j)all-
bearers wero, t'.ipt. Whitney, Lts. Kahey
and Eliis, Kn.«i;^ns Kytrson, llobin.son ami
Erskine. A numher ot the lOt i Koyal.s al^•n
joined the funeral procession.
In February the new nonpivot drill, as
revised by a committee compooed ot Major
FHxon, Captain.^ Utter :ini' Chorri'i an, was
for the firit limc used by the rpginicnt, an^l
waa found to work admiral'ly.
1 he annn.il mess d inner, which was hcKl at
the Queen's hotel, March 18, partook of the
nature of a farewell to one of t lie most etficirnt
oflictrs of the batUilion, Major Dixon. The
olfic rs presented the Major with a h nd-
some clock during the <'venini».
At the annual inspection for pay, held by
Lt t ol. Diiiic, A.A.i; M , April 7, there
"ere ■^7C orticters and m^n pr svnt. In the
following Juno No. 6 ("omp.kuy b'^oanie i is-
organizcd and w. s ilisb.indfd, iho remain-
ing oMicers and men being transferred to
other conipanies.
Upf)n the o(;casion of the vWu of If. R. H.
i'rinco Artliur, Duke of Connaught, to To-
ronto, the battalion furni.shed a guard of
honor of 10) men under Vajor Hrown at the
City Hall, and again at the drill shed in the
evening.
ANOTHER FKMAN SCAUE.
About this tim ' rumors of meditatcvl
Fenian invasion arose, and in conseijuence
th ■ Toronto volunteers were ordcicd to be in
readiness for immediate service I he tjueeu's
Own ware instructed to furnish onessti^eant
and three men for guard at the drill shed
alternately with the 10th Royals. Thja
duty continued from Oct. 9lii until the ead
of the year, when the guard was withdrawn.
On the night of .Nov. Kith Sentry Jas. Laf-
ferty, of No. 3 Company, was tired at by
some unknown miscreant, and natrowlf
escaped death The ullct passed througl;
the Sentry box in vthich Lallerty was stand
ing, bat forlunnlely missed him. A fe»
■ lays .-lubsequently a diunken man an ounc
ed that he ' ad tired tiie shot, lie was takes
mto custody, but was afterwards dischnrgeiL
as nothing could he fcund against him. No
clue to tito would be assassin was ever ol^
tained.
The regiment had, in 1870, \nf
following year a very narrow escafie
from crreat loss of life. Ou ti;u niuhi
of the 17th .\'arch, ihe roof tf the liril'
shed, in whijh the batallion had been dril)-
ing the ni ht beiore, fell in owing to li.c
great weight of snow. It was not untj,:
.April 6 tli;il the shed was cleared. Jb/-
walls wev: cut douii to a level with the t«jvif
o llic arm'-ri^s, ami drill was resumed.
On (iovjJ Fiiday a most unfortunate .x'.
cident occuired at the Garrison Commoiriv
wiiilhor a number of members of tiio -fj'
men', had repsireil for pract' 'c at the 'i'.r-
gets. Private (iCo. Nu|)y,of No 4 Companv.
was shot and in.-tjinily killed tj\ b
rifle in the hands of I'tivate •".»»
coi ne of the -;ame company, liascoiune waa
not a" arc tint the weapon was loaiie'J
and nji.in snapping the trigger the cartriige
exploded with ratal result. Gascoigne wi?
tai;cn into custody, but as a coroner's jury
retutneii a verdict of iicc'idcn a! death, the
unfortunate \oluuteer wa.s di.scliar:;ed.
THE 1;KI> KIVKU r.X I'KlUTIoN.
At this time the trait. ir Kiel fomenico
the tirst Northwest llebcllion, establish^a
a so called " Provisional (.orcninunt ' j^nii
niiirilered Tliomas Scott, a resilient of Fort
(iarry, now \\ innipeg. The militia autliori
tics (lecided to send a force to suppress the
insuireciion, and on . April 17 a dcspaicU
arrived liom Ottawa aski: g for tiie names af
five ollicirs of the Quoi n's Own who would
join the Hed liivcr Kxpeditioo.
t'apts. I ennett and Harman, Lieut.
Beaver and Ensigns -^naw and
Crocker immtdia aly voiiintecre*! foi
this arduous service. Nothin lurth r wat
heard from headnuirttrs until April '22.
when the battalion was onlcred to furuisb
six men for the force. Nothing was said in
this second lommuiiication as to the etispoai-
tion o the ollicers who h»d volunteered
Subsequently Capt. Ilarman and En.sigB
Macdt nald were nominated as lieutenant
and ensign in tlie l'ir^l Ontario Kitles. form-
ing part of the exn diiicnary force. Ulti-
•<■
■■I
n
,ii
792
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
V
ft-.; t
I"
lil.
N^'^
luately 12 men of the l^ueen's Own
jcuieii the First and Sot-oiui ilitles. On May
ISili liic two otiioers niotitioned wore tnter-
liiURii ny tiio otli'iM-s' mes.s at the Queen's
Holes,, prio:- to ilieir joining the force.
Ou May '-Mtii of this year the volun-
teers ])araiiuil on SpiiJi'.a avenue
common, \\eiit throuyU the usual
niovtnieniji, and fired a feu do juie. Some
tini lieloie tiie i"2ulars had heou withdrawn
iroin Toronto, luivl this was thu iiia. aiuii-
vcr^ary ot the <,>ue('tr8 Hirtlulay nu wiiich
the xolunU'crs iiad not bci-n iiv-ihted liy Her
Majesty's troops in celebiating tlio anni-
\ orb,uy.
On Doniitiion day there was a very !hr;,'e
inytftcr ol tiie (Queens thvn, lOtli Koyal.-,
Lirand 1 ruuk Brigade, ami the KUii Uattaiion
of Hamiiton to witiuhi tiie unveiling of the
Ridgc'way nii'iLunient in tiie l^hat'ii's I'ark.
The (.lovurtsor-i •cncral of Ca ada, Sir Jo!in
Young, fjcrfornu'd the ceninony, and afiur
the cxitciscs Lieut.- 'olonel (iiiliimr i;ave an
oliicei s dinner at the Toronto Club.
In 1S71 the rei'imental drills 1 e^an in
(.iiand'^ liidiUj; Sciioil, llio new Jrdl shed
not having i oeu comiileted. L»\\M]u to the
small size of the ruling tcliool liie diilla
we>e m>t very satisfacto'y.
In tliis year there was no oelihrati. u of
Her Mujtstys l)irtiiday by the vohaiieer
force, U' order having been isautd.
CAMlINi. AT MACARA
From June (jih to '2l.st liic haitiilion was
under canvas a; NiaL;aia. The strength of
tlie ic^iiiient was 4'JO of all ranks. iW^ide-s
the t,'ucei. s Own there were in .amp the
following corps: — T.iionlo, llanulion and
\^"eHanll Fiel I liatteries, seven trofipa of
cavalry and the loth, l'2th, l.'lth. HUh,
ooth. ■■.9ch and -Uth battalions, in ail about
"j.OOO c'lHcers and men. Tin: camj) was
un.'.er command of Lieut. -Col lUirie. That
the Queen 3 O-vn were no carpet sohiiiis is
shown by the stalennjiit of tne:r luiiil day's
Work while 111 camp. Legiiinini; with a
inarch cf from five to nine miles beftire
breakfa.st, ther" •. as drill during the
greater part ot the day. The spirit and
eniuiraiKc of the men we:e admirable
l'>e:<iie leaving for Toronto the battalion
maicheii from Niagara to Queension
Hei.hts, a ihs-laiu-e ot seven miles, \\ ith a
steep iiill, 111 two hours and live minu es,
anti returned in one Lour and tifty minutes,
without having a single sltagnier reported.
Sir (leorge Ktieiine Carlier, Mini ter of
Militia, visited the camii and expressed
great satisfaction at all he saw.
At tbis camp the battalion mountc t for
the first time the (ilengarry c p, which was
worn for many years.
in thia mouth Lieut -Col. Skinner, cf the
13th Rattalion of Hamilton, organized the
tirst Canadian team of volunteer riflemen to
participate in tlie National Ritle Associa-
tion's annual meeii g at Wimbledon. Three
members of the Queen's Own were accorded
the honor of being asked to join the team.
Tiiese were : -Knsiyn Joa. I uicii, No. 4
Company ; Ser;;t. A. A. Macdonald, No. 9
Comriany ; and I'te. W. T. .lenuings, No. 4
Com[;any.
In October the Militia Department de-
cided to send a further force of two hun-
dred men to the scene of the Red
Kiver troubles, the Queen's Own furnisiied
eight men as its ipiota. In December Major
Cherrinian undertook the organization of a
University company, to lake tiie place of
the di b.inded tligliland company. The
major met with success in his task, and the
Toronto University was soon afterwards
Lia/.e'.ted. In Marcii, 1872, the new com-
pany appeared upon parade for the tirst
tine. 1 he nllicers were: \V. H. KUis, M.D.,
captain ; Messrs. Van der Smissen and
l.angton, lieutenants.
la April it was decided, at a meeting ot
otlicers, that the diiTorent companies should
in future be designated by letters iuste:(d of
lunn'iieis, as had been the ruU. Major
Jarvis otl'ered a resolution to this effect.
Although the brass band of the battalion
was 111 a veiy etlicieiit c(,nilition, it was felt
that a drum and life band siiould be orj;an-
i/eii. Acconiiiigly, in May, 187'-', the first
(hum and fife iiiind was organized from the
members of an Orangi' Young Tritons' lod e.
It ;■; not recorded liiat the reciuiting source
of tin, new musical organization gave ollcnce
to any of the mriiiLer.s of itie corps.
Tlu! annual camp for 187'2 was held at
Niu[4.ira, and lasted from June 12 to 27.
'1 he Queen's Own liad 4i>^ oflieers and men
in camp. In the autumn Karl DufTcriii, the
new (iovernor tieneral, visited Toronto, and
was fiunishcd a guard of honor, under
Major ilennett.
Next year, IS',',], saw Major Otter second
ill command of tiie Wimbledon team. His
leaving for Fiighind was theciuse for a largo
muster of olliccrs and men at the .^tation,
who clieered liim a hearty farewell. On
Major Otter's return, in September, he was
presented wth a gold watch and chain by
his fellow otlicers.
DISItANDl.VO OK THK BANK.
1 he brass band, which had been for some
time in a very inetlicient condition, was dis-
banded during this year, and the instrumrnts
were called iu. For some time the battalion
had only the services of the drum and fife
band, which was placed under a competent
instructor. In January, 1874, a inoveu cm
was made to resuscitate the band, but in
I
l.\m>.mai:ks of 'ji;i:()\ to.
riew of the rogimeiit's doht, ami the unset-
lied state ot the vohiiiU'er force cill over
C'iiiiaila, it Wiis ounsiilurt!.! Ixrsl to let the
11 ill ter rosr.. ; ho old iiislruiiieiits wore ac-
cordiiiuly %< M.
Au.un a member oftlie regiment was given
a iii<;li ])osiiii'n in the \\ iinbl'jdon tea'n,
Lieut. Col. (JiUnior hciii^ appointed to the
coininand. The lifes and drums played liie
coionel to the 3tation, where a niunber of
meniljors of the re;;imriit had aaienihleJ to
bid the comm.indiiig otlieer liod speed.
It was in thia year that the syatenfi of
weekly evening diilU wan put into opir i-
tion. A subscrip ion was taken up in aid
of a fund for tlia pni'chase of band instru-
ments, and ?900 was rai ed The ollicers
unanimously contributed tho amount of
thc.r drill pay to this fund.
Tiie inhabilanta of Iliilj.v;\vay and the sur-
rounding country in S.'pioinlj'jr invited I ho
regiment to aktend th« ceremony of unveil
mg a tablet in tho Metiiodi»t church iu tiiat
village, in memory of those killed in rlie
action of 1866. A number of < tlicen and
men accepted the invitation ami were very
hospitably entertained. IJrevct Lt -C'ol
Otter, on behalf of thfl Queen's Own, made
an appropriate speech.
The brass band was rc-tormed in Decem-
ber, 1874, under tiie maxtership of Mr.
Carey, whohadhehl a similar position in
the Royal Canatlian Hilles. A complete
new set ot i struments was ordered from
K upland and the band was soon in a most
crcUi'able condition of etliciency.
In May, IhT."), Lt.-Col. tiillmor resigned,
and Brevet Lt. Col. Otter accepted tho posi
tion. In this month new uniforms, tho
first of Canadian manufacture, wcro issued.
In June tho battalion went into camp at
Niai^ara, the total strength being 4r>7 of all
ranks. The new band, under -Mr. Carey,
accompanied the battalion to camp, i ho
camp was successful in every resprei
In August a largo number of olHcera and
ex-otiicers of the battalion gathered at the
Queen'-- Hotel and presented Lt. Col,
<iillmor with an address, beautifully de-
signed and illuminated by Capt. K. .M.
Chadwick. Lt. C'ol. (iillmor had been
previously tendered a dinner, with a more
valuable gift, but declined to accept any-
thing; beyond a simpl* addresa.
THE I'll.liKIMAOK RIOT.
For some lime there had been trouble in
the citv over the Roman Catholics of tha
city making "pilgrimage*" on Sundays be-
tween- their difl'ereut churches. A section
of tho population objected to this, and it
became noised about that an organized at-
tempt would be made on Sunday, October 3,
%o break up the proceaaion. 1 h^ authorities
mad a rc(iuisition for aiil from tho militia,
and tho (iovernor-deni'ral'.s liodv (Juard,
(,)nccn's Own and 10th lloyal-i were ordered
out.
At 8 o'clock on Sunday morning the
t,>ueeu's Own wero drilled liy l.t. Col
Otter in ciiarL'ing, etc. At noon the volun
teet-s were marched down to tho (Jity Hall,
and from there up King strcot to llathur.st
street, parallel to the " pilirr inage." whirji
moved along QuetMi street. Forliinatfly
there was no rioting, and th^' vohiuteeri
were dismissal at five oclock in the ait"r-
noon.
in December Lieut R. H. Hamilton un-
dertook very 8ui;ce.ssfully to recruit a com-
pany from the Toionto Lacr sse Club, to
take the place of l' Coin]);iiiy, which had be-
come disorganized in tho prtceiliiiLT year.
Tho following year, liSTt), w-as notable
solely because of the holding of the tirst
chill c!i parade since 1866. Service \\ as at-
tended at St. (icorLre's church, John street.
The wintei ot 1876 77 was marked by
.strikes among the omployei of the (irand
Trunk Railway, On New Vear'.s Day, 1879,
a portion of the (^)iieen's Own were ordered
to proeeed to ISelloville, there to -juppresa
rioters who were threatening and destroy-
ing the company's property. In order to
obtain full mu^tt'•.s of tlieir men many of-
(icer.-^ were out ail nigiit Wrwniiig tho mem-
bers of ilieir cf-mpanics, hut after a hard
night's work tlio liattalion mu.s'ercd at the
Old Fort at 7:.'5<) a.m. The weather was
very coKl, with deep siuiw, anl as the four
locomotives on the train had to be guarded
the men felt the hard.ship3 of their journey
severely.
At \0:',\0 p m. tho train entered Relle-
villc, where it was met < y a howling mob
of strikers, who iminediati.ly began tliiowing
iron bolts', ice balls an>l other missile.i at the
engine drivers and volunteers. The (^>ueen'3
Own were (juickly formed outsido of the
train, and had to stand (piietly facing a yell-
ing mob of strikers, who hurled vile epithets
and more tangible missiles at them \iajor
Miller was knocked down, I'rivate tt.
K Cooper received an ugly cut over
the eye with an iron nut and many
others were cut. After an hour's delay a
train was sent on to Montreal, having on
board a party under Capt. Huchan. In
leaving the station the train was beseu oy
the mob, but the rioters were beaten off.
ilefore the train started a man was found
ander one of the locomotives, endeavoring
to wrest a bolt in the macJiinery. Two
Queen's Own sen'riea took the striker ia
charge, upon which hia comradea attempted
a reacue. in the sculHe which followadf
one of the asaailanta waa wounded by •
m w
1
^=^ ■
•v-,r
u
m
i
1',
7»4
LANDMARKS OF TOKONTO.
i -'A
bayonet. The prisoner was sent off to jail
in charge of an escort under Sergt. Wm.
A shall, the detachment being liberally
■toned on the way .
At noon the men were relieved for
dinner, a party under Captain Foster
being lett to protect the engines,
which were about being taken to
the round house. The mob made another
attack and was reputed at the point of the
bayonet. One ot the most aggreesire of the
rioterb received a serious t)avonet thrust in
the throat ami would certainly have died
had not 8urf;eon Thorburn, of the Queen's
Own, attended to the wound.
Capt. Foster, fearing that his small de-
taclinient would bo rusheil on by the mob,
many of wl;om were figliting drunk and car-
ried I e vol vers, sent for a.^sistaiicc. C'apt.
R. B. Hani'Uon inimeiUately set off witli
his oonifiaiiy and sclievcd the
pressure. Tli'; rioters shortly afterwards
dispersed ami tlip volunteers gained a few
hours' nuu'li-nci'lod lest.
On the foUowiuL; ilay, .January .*?, the
force did pieket duty about the yanls and
station until evening, wh' n it returned to
Toronto, a settlement liaviiiLi been eileeted.
In adaition to wounds received at the hands
of the niol), mnny of tlic men had their
han 3 and feel frc'st-iiitten. They were ni st
inadequately clothed for servue in winter,
haviny only tiieir great eoats, ( ■leiii^any
caps and seit;e uiulornis.
The Major tieneral coinnian liii;,' the
Volunteer .\lilitia and the manager of the
(Jrand Trunk liailway hotli wrote, exprc^s-
intj their admiration at the conduct of tht;
Queen's Own ihinn;: tills very tryiii:^' ^'ervioe
'Ihe battalion met with a serious loss early
in February of isTT.when John U .Maloney,
the sergeant major. died. Maloney iiad been
a member of the eorps since ISO"), and was
deservedly popular with all ranks On Feb-
ruary 4 his body was buried with milit^irv
honors, the laud, firing party and his former
company apjiearing in uniform.
In the same month B Company, which
had been recruited from the Sons of ivigland
Benevolent Society, was taken into the regi-
ment. Capt. Strange, assisted by .Sergt.
Danford, did most of the work of organiza-
tion.
It was at this time that the battalion was
furnished with the Snider rilles,5.'iO of whicii
were issued.
In Marcii, 1877, Lieut Fred. H. Wright
formed a company from the students of the
Toronto School of Medicine. The new com-
pany joined the regiment as 1 ('ompaiiy,
the University of Toronto taking llie letter
K as their designation.
April 4 was uiguali/.ed by the opening of
the present drill shed, which had been
erected by the Dominion Ouvernment at a
cost of $10,000, the city furnishing the site
The strength of the regiment was speedily
increased, regular drill was resumed, and
the non-commissioned otlicers class wag
re-formed.
The Turkish war cloud was at this time
filling the whole of Europe with appreh n-
sion, and rumors of English war with Rus-
sia were rife. On May '2 the otlicers of tne
battalion held a meeting in the drill shed, at
which it was unanimously decided to otFer
the services of the regiment to the Britisii
War Office. The oiler was made through
the Militia Deparanunt. Fortunately, the
aid of the gallant regiment was not needed
by the Motlier Country.
Althouch the municipality of Lelleville
thankfully received the protection of the
battalion when the Oraiul Trunk rioters
were thinkini; of sackiii. the city, the Belle-
ville .Municipal Council ileclineil to pay for
tlie regiment's services, alleging that the
(ioverniiient should recompeuse the men
I.t.-Col. Otter eiitt red suit aizaiiist tiie cor-
poration of Belh'Viile. Ihe IJelleville peo-
ple then paid the volunteers' expenses.
In July the otliocrs held a meeting, at
wh cli the Vmsby was tixcd upon as the full
dress headgear of the regiment.
SOLDIER I,.\W STrDKNT.S.
I)urin„' the summer (> Company hatl be-
come disorgani/cd bui Capt. R II. Bowei
and Lt. \\. K. llodgins — now Major of the
(i. (J. F. tJ. , of Ottawa — so sujces.-^fully
took up the tasii of reciiuting among the
law students of the city, that the company
was soon reeslaldished on a firm touting.
1 he roL^'iment; j)araded before a distin.
gnished visito'' in (J tobcr, .877, when Col
Sir Henry Wilniot, of a Derbyshire, Eng-
land, voiiinteer corps, visited the muster.
Col. Wilniot was much delighted wilii the
evident ellicieiiey of the corps.
On Nov. 17 tlie annual inspectiou took
place in the (,!ueen's Park. Lt. (len. Sclby
ymythe, the commander in-chief of the
militia, comjilimented Lt.-Col. Otter on the
soldierly appearance and excellent work of
the men. A dinner at the National Club
closed the day's proceedings.
A drill competition, open to all of the
companies in the battalion, took place at the
.'arvis street lacrosse grounds, 27th April,
1878, the prize being a silver cup, Three
companies competed, D, commanded by
Major .Miller ; I' by Capt. R. B. Hamilton;
and H bv (^apt Nash. Capt. Hamilton's
command, won the trophy.
It was on the (.hieen's birthday of this
year hat the regiment made the first of its
many annual excur.^ioiia. The Militia d«
LANDMARKS OF TORONIO.
795
aiul
wai
of this
,t of ila
ilia il«
pHrtment bad arranged a preat review at
Montreal and invited tlic (^iioen'a Own to
part oipate. Tlie invitation was at once
Accepted, and on the evening of May '23 the
battalion entrained at the foot of West
Marliet street 434 strong, under jommiind of
Lt Col. Otter. Montreal was roucbed at
9:30 on the morning of the Queen's birth-
day, arui the battaliun immediately marched
u> Fletchers Field, whoie it was placed on
tlio left of the line. 'J'he other corps present
were the Montreal C'avaliy, Otta>ta, Mon-
ti'uul and U batteries ot artillery, Montreal
Engineers, Montreal Garrison Artillery,
I'rince of Wales' Kille«, Victoria Rifles, Fifth
I'usilieis, Sixth Fuiiliers, 65ih Rifles, Gov-
ernor GrnerHl's Foot Guards of Ottawa,
8iii K'tlalion of Quebec, and a co'i-
paiiy of American militia from Vermont.
The whole f<irce was under command of
Lieut, (ien. E. Solby Sniythc, with herd
DiilFerin, Govcrnor-Ge eial, as reviewin<;
oihcer,
KNTHrSIASTIC MON TRKAl.KRS. i
The p Dci.cilings licgan witli a/eu dt joie
after wiiich th; force tniircheil past in
column and (juarler cohmiii. The Queen's
Own carried ut! ihe honors in both of these
niovenient.^, and was heartily cheered by
llio thousands of spectators. Aft r the
miucli-piirtt a short held day was held, during
which a lanientablt accultiit occurred. The
Quotn'i Own, in attacking the artiilfry
brigade, came into colli.- ii u with the
enemy's fi;,'hting line, and during the ex-
citement a (iairison artillerynian uiscliarf,"'d
tt rifle in the fn.ce of Private .\ . l-'ni nier, of
11 company, Qufcn's Own, almost totally
destroying th^ nif^'ht of one eye.
After ti.e shuni fight the Queen h Own
marclicd bac'K to the (."rystal I'alace. in liie
evening the riflemen were hospitably enter-
tained by their Montreal comrades of corres-
ponding rank, and at I1;3U they left for
Toronto.
On this occasion th.e (Jovernment bore the
expense of the transportation of the bat-
tidion, while the Victoria Rifles kindly pro-
vided all eiitertaininent in Montreal.
U ilh a view o the c; coura<^eineMt of riha
shooting amongst the nicnilters of the corps,
there was this year adopted for the tirs
time the system of selling the men ammuni-
tion at a reduced cobt. This had the result
of very considerably increasing the number
of regular attendants at the butts. \
iShortly after th* return of the regiment
from Montreal, the non-commissioned ofliccrs
originated a plan for in some lueaburt ac-
knowledging the hospitality of ll.e Victoiia
Rifles and Montreal troop of cavalry, which
lalte ' organization had been, with tne
Victorias, indefatigable iu their eObrts
to secure all that would make for the com-
fort of the QuRHii s Own during their visit
to the eastern metropolis. It was decided
that the battalion shoul 1 present each corps
with a suitable souvenir, ami on h'ept. 14 a
deputation consisting of Color-Sergeant
Knifton, >^^«rgt F. Arnoldi and Private Geo.
E. Cooper proceeded to .Montreal, and ou
the following day, at the regimental games,
presented to the non-commissioned odiceri
and men of th* Victoria Itifles a silver cup,
bearing an appropriate inscription, and to
the cavalry an addresr and a bron/.e ista u-
ett*.
Tiiu athlates of the regiment in the autumt}
of 1878 formed an association football
eleven, and on Saturday, Nov 9, visited
Kinnsioii, where they played twj iir.itcl.es
with the Quern's College and V^ictoria Rillei
teams. The Toronto men won both matci.es.
A SHAM FICHT.
Thanksgiving day came late this year, uot
being set uutd Dec. 4. A para e was called
for yi.'iO in the morning, and, although the
day was very old and disagreeable, with a
ligiit snow covering '-he ground, there wa' a
fairly good muster. Major Jarvii being iu
command. At 10:30 a st^rt was made, and,
marching to the Wood hint race track, the
force was extended and marciied across
country. As had been previously ar-
ranged, there was an encounter witli the
Knj;iueer company, which fell back and was
beaten. Luncheou wa.=; partaken of ox\ the
grounds of th* Scarborough Hei<.'hls Hotel,
and a return was then made to the drill
shed.
In this year a system of granting long
service badges was inaugurated, the badges
being accorded for three, si.t and nine years'
service. Ihe first distribution was made on
October 9.
At the end of this year the various com-
panies of the regiment decided upon having
their armories fitted up at a cost of $ti5
each, and the work was performed during
the inac'ive season.
Su much delighted were the men with
their experiences in Montreal on the pre-
leiling (Jueen's birthday, that early in 1879
plans were projected for a second visit to
the eastern city. On Apiil 9th the whole
regiment volunteered for the trip, the cost
to each man being $1 75 for transport and
75 cents for rations. 'I he (iovernmeut paid
the balance of the expenses of transporta-
tion, whil* the otiicers paid for the bands
men. On the evening of .May '23rd the regi-
ment eiibarked at the Union Sta-
tion 531 s ong. O I the after-
noon of th* Qu en'B I irthday th*
usual review was held on Fletchers Field.
Lt.-Gen. Sir. E. Selby Smyth* was iu com-
»l
■ ■ s -1
:'l
Ml
m^tmtmmatMm.A,s»,r.it : ■ ■
796
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
iif^.;'
maml, ; nd H. R. H. the Princeas I.ouii
anil the Governor Generil, tli« Mai(i.us of
Lome inspected the force The (•i)rj)s present
^ore :— I'. IJattcry (rognlats*, Moiilnnl,
Quel)ec, Ottawa ami Slieri'orJ lioKl baiterit.s,
cadets of the Koyal MililaiT College, Mont-
i-eal (iarnson Artillery, (Jovcrii'irWenerars
Foot CuiinN, I'lmco of Wales', <»'ii''t!ii's Own,
Victoria, (i.")th an i Slh Riiles, .');!i and titli
FnsiliL'ra, and the Thirioeiuii llp;;inieiit N""_\v
Vork State Militi.A, of IJrooklya, N. Y.
Naturally, the Bn oklyn re;jinient re-
ceived the greatest attention, but
the Queens Ow.i nohly up-
held their own and their city's reputation.
After liie review tiic Victoria I'itles onco
more otfured their hospitality, but liio
C'ueen's Own r'^faaed to put their comrades
to j^o much expense twice wiiliin tin; one
twelve-month and declined the invitation.
Ill this year Lt. Fied. F. NUnlt-y was
■elected as one of the L'.ur.idian team for
Wimbledon, and sailed .hiiie 18
REVIKAV IS TORONTO
In the iollowuij; >SoptembL-r a grand re-
TJuw was h 111 on the (Jarrison Coiunions ia
hou(5r of tho 'iHvernor Cioneral and Princess
Louiao. Tho corps prcsiiit were: — .\ Bat-
tery, (re;.'ulars) Toronto and Hamilton
Field batteries. Second District Kn;,'inecr
Corp3, Toronto (iarrison Artillery, l.over-
nor-Generai .-? B' dy Ouard, Marliharn, Ux-
hndye, Port Uop.> and Peterboro' Cavalry,
Victoria Rillei, 7th, lOth, 13th, 'iOih,
•21.-!t, 3Stli. and 4(ith liattaliona of Infantry,
and the Victoria a-id C^ueen'n Own Rifles.
(ilad to hav« tuc op ortuiiity of returning
tliC hospitality of tiie \'i;torias, the (Queen's
Own provided breakfiihl and dinner for
their guests, and in the evening their of-
ficer*, together with the olHcers command-
ing other corps, ware entertained at the
National Club
For some time there had been friction be-
tween Mr Caiey, the bandmaster, and the
officers. It was finally found necessary to
dispense with his servi(;ea and to cast about
for a new head for the band. I he com-
mittee havini; in hand this duty recomm-jnd-
ed that John Rayley, lato bandma-^ter of H.
\1. 46th regiment, be entaged, and their ad-
fice was acted upon. Mr. liayley, upon his
induction to otlice, found the band in a
much disorganized condition, but by dint of
hard work, lie soon pl.ced it in an ethcient
condition.
On Oct. 18, the annual games of the
re^riinent were held on the Jarvii street
lacrosse grounds and were most successful.
The tug-of-war competition between uom-
panies was introduced and was won by
*' A " Company.
A apecial parade of the battalion was held
Jan. Hi of the following year, iSSO, when a
d«p'.itation of tlie Vicioiia llilles preserted.
tiie noil coinmitisionod ollicers and mi'ii witli
a silver cup as a token of their appreciation
of the welcome extended them on the
occasion of the September review. Tlia
.Montrealeri were suitably rntert;iined.
I''i:l()it'< were maile to have the regiment
visit Quebec for tho (Queen's Dirthday out
iiig, but it was found tiiat only a small pro
portion of tho men could leave their occ .pa-
tions for the no lessary time. It was there-
fore decided to hold a camp at .Niagara, . iid
on .Miiy 'J'J the battalion, .'(T^ strong, am
bai'keii on the steamer Chicora for the lime
honoreil camping ground. On tha following
day, Sunday, divine service was condiii^ted
by Rev. W. S Riinsford, then one of tho
cieruv of St James' Catheral, and on .Mon
ilay the usual salute was tired, with a march
past.
The afternoon was devoted to games and
several tugs of war, tiiat between the o(Ti-
ceii. and iioii conimis-iioned otlicers being
won by tho former.
The battalion's rifle shots were very buo
cessful at this year's Ontario Ritle Associa-
tion matches, winning third prize in the
battalion match and tirst place in the skir
mi<hiiig c(iin[>ftition, as well as many in-
diviilu.il pri/.i's. .At the Dominion Rille
As.sociaiioii matches at Ottawa a place in
the Wimbledon team was won by Staff
Scrgt. S. F, Walker.
Tne re:;iinpiital games were heM Oct. 30.
The company tug of-war was again won by
"A.'" company, wiiile t!.a ollicers once more
pulled the non coins, over tlie line.
On Nov. 3 the annual inspection took
place in the Queen's Park bofore .Major-
(General Lnarit, who had been lately ap-
pointed commander-in-chief of the militia.
The t,!ueen's Own turned out .">(!.") strong.
T e general was iniicli pleased wiih iho
work of the corps, and compared them
favorably with the London Inns of Court
Rifles, then the crack volunteer corps of
England.
REWARDS FOR .STEADY DRILL.
At this inspection the otlicdr command-
ing anaounccd in orders that a : adge
would be given annually to the non com
missioned oilicers and men who would per-
form ninety per cent, of the drill. The
names of those entitled to the badge were
read out in orders.
Lt Col. Otter also named C and I) Com-
panies as flan A companies until further
orders, he having determined — in accord-
ance with the powers given him by the
standing ord rs— that tliese companies were
best entitled to the posts of honor. As may
ba imagined, A and H Companies did not
LANI 'MARKS OF TORONTO.
797
i,ish tiaiiig thus displaced, and A Company
jl .tv«ral men. Tlie C'olontd evidfiuly
,1 not think tiie witlidiawai of theaa gon-
111(11 a matter for niueli Riief, for tliu
^i|ut'ii)t remarks in a tDot iiuto ttiat the
:t' . >«ho rt'siijned li<id heen t>o lux in their
.leiulaiii'c at drill ttiat the colonel had lust
iiti Iciice ill them.
hi ■.iiiuary, ISSl, Lt V'illiers Sankey or-
aiii/cil a class for tiifi practice of military
^ctlil i.g. .Many oHicnrs took the course.
■iiioii lasted two months. In the following
.mil Ml'. Sankey foimcd a 8i;,'n.illiiii^ ila.ss,
Dtn v> ich eventually aroi<a thf tii>t •sii^nai
,. |i; (('iiiicrU'd witii the rcgiiiunt.
nur.:.'.{ the winter, I..t.-t oLs. .Arthurs and
iivi-^, .md Surgeon-. Major Thorliurn left
jc 'v^imcnt, and on .March 18 tliesc (;eii-
eiiitii were dined at the Na ioiiid C'luh hy
,e (i!i. ers of ihe corp-. Aiikhi^ the yuo.sts
cii li.eotficeri comiiiaiidiii}: the city corjn
.1(1 the ollicers of the reorganized lOth
flic annual oiitiiu took pla e at lirant-
rl. whither the battalion had been invit
1 ',> she :50th DuJiriii llilles The camp
.ih\\ iKini May '21 to 25, the l(it:il strength
»iiu' .'i7."5. On the (^Uu'en's iiirthday iho
-u.i: ipvicw was hihl, and the coips wa.s
■M\,tuil with a bandsoino silver cup by
I .ii oiiicirs of the Dufferiii Ritles aud the
,'.i;.<Mis of iiratittord
t'ircii, no clouht, by the good example of
Liiu'. V'illiers Sankey, Assistanl-.'^urgeoii
Lissiif made use of his profcs^sional know-
;i^ :'( r the benotit of the battalion. In
[•ep:. I'r. (.■es.slie formed an ambulance cla.s.s,
f ii,«m!ier.s of which were taught the use
■ tiie stretcher, together with the means of
l.iviiijj " tirstaid ' to the wounded.
At a parade held Oct. 19, Lieut -Col.
(itei presented the badge for the best shot
::. til' battalion to Corp. K. S. Cassels. of I''
ftui.p.uiy.
Ice annual insfiection took place on Nov.
.', lut owing to inclement weath r tlie
Iregiiiioiit did not leave the armory. Tlie
hiiiiial uud ambulance corps oi this occasion
Im.nie th( ir tirst appearance in public.
In November a class for big gun drill was
Ifornuil under an instructor from the To-
i'Ut.i (iarrison .•^^lillery. At first theclas-s
livaa \' ry succehsful, but, owing to the want
|cif Ntorcs for more than one gun, the men
l>ecHtne wearied of waiting their lurn for in
htruction, and after two months' drill the
lclaS3 was stopped. It is stated in the
Kct:imental Record that the district stall'
aUu threw every possible impediment in t«io
I w»y of the class
t the close of this year s drill the several
I (^0 1 panies were restored to their original
places, running from A to K. The
commanding olHcer informed the men that
in future such companies wjuld lie placed on
the tliiiks as wore best adapted for the drill
or parade actually being performed.
The year IMM'J was one of ho moat pros-
perous the (^U( en's Own has ever knos«u. It
is recorded that more men volunteered than
in any previous year, and the system of
swlectiny; the beat physi(]ued recruits rgaii
to be adopted. liy this mtans weedy and
niidergrowii lads v/ere debarred from be-
coming members, and a standard wa.s set
up which has since been adhered to.
Karly in January the oilicers held a m et-
iiig, at wliioh an important aiteralion wiva
made in the style of for.igo cap worn. For
years the leather bound (ilengarry, with
tiio regimental crest in .iilvci on
the side, iiad been the undress iiiiifurr.i and
belli service cap. At this meeting it wus
decided to adop^, in place of tiio (Ilengarry,
the net lietd service caji Tiiis cup is now
worn by both oUiceis and rank and tile of
the iiattalion
The year IsS'iisalso notable on account
of the sergeants of tho battalion having in
February of that year e.stablisled a mess
and recreation room. Tho apartments
chosen were those still occupied, situ-
ated in the Ontario buildings, cor-
ner of Front ami L'hurch streets Many
an otiicer has graduated from the
sergeants' mess, us well nianagod and
Useful (in institution as is possesseil by any
other Caiiailiaii niililary organi/ation. The
rooms are capitally fitted up and, es[)ecially
in tiie winter, the n;cml)eis of the mess
spend many evenings there. There eiro to
bo found tho latest military {luldications,
two billiard tables, a card r om anci smoUing
room. One ot llie most popular invents ot tiie
veur in military cijcles is the annual dinner
of the sergeants' mess. Upon these occa-
sions tiioro is always a very large muster of
the trieiiila of the members, and it is
always arraii::od that some (.listincnished
military .nen are present to add to tlie en-
joyment of tlie evening by their speeches.
Lieut. -Col. Hamilton often says that tho
sergeants do as much for tho battalion as
the commissioned oilicers and no doubt the
gallant commanding' olliecr is right.
ACTOK SOl.IUKIiS.
On -May If), ISS'i, thn non commissioned
olHoers and men gave an entertainment in tl:e
Grand Opera House at which several of
them appeared for the first time on any
stage The play presented was "Our Wife,"
and it is recorded that the performance was
notably successful
'i he (Queen's liirthday trip this year was
to Kingston. A grand review had been r-
rangcd to take place at the Limestone City,
! -f
l
-.H
iKf
m
m
4
K
t;
W
i
7M
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
and th« Queens Own, 480 olronu. went down
?cr Orand Trunk Railway on the niuht of j
lay '2'X Tliu bailalion paid all expenses, j
exctptiii^' ftn al'.dwniice of fifty cents per
niiui granted liy the (iuvirnuient for suh-
■Uteno '.
The citizens provided liie rej^iment with
meals during its sny in iho city, and at
I0:.10 tlio rcvitw liei,'an on i'.arrietield coin
nioii. Tho otluT col |H participating were
the Montreal CJAii'on Artillery, li KiUiery,
(I.uuuDiiuc Kiu d liAtlery, the cadets of the
itcival Military College, Kingston, and the
14i"h r. W. O. i'litlcs. Lieut. Col. Villiers,l>.
A. C., M'as the reviewing ollicer. Tiio
guecn's Own, as usual, was easily
(ir.-t in etlioiency. The Deputy
Atljutant General spoke in very
complimentary terms of the e.\cellont \\o:i;
done 1 y tlie signalling coips It was upni
this occasion that the newly formed amlai!-
ance corps lirst did real service, being called
in to carry from the held tho remains of an
unfortunalt gunner of ilie Gananoqiie Field
Battery, who was accidentally killed.
Alter the parads the whole force marchcil
through the city, and then dismissed. The
olHcers of the 14lh I'.att. after.vards enter-
tained tiieir brothers in arms of the (^tueen's
Own. The return trip was made to Toronto
without misadventure.
On the evening of June IG the officers en-
tertained at tho Albany Club Captain and
Adjutant Buchan upon the occasion of his
leaving the regiment to reside in liie Xorth-
we~t, Capt. Buchan had been a member of
tho tjueen's Own since 1800, havin,- served
in that year as private in tho Upjier Canada
College Company. Ho was present at the
Belleville riots and did t;ood work as acting;
adjutant.
Tlie battalion shots were fairly success-
ful at the Ontario and Donunion Rille As- i
Bociation matches of this year. Tho
men chosen to go to Wimbledon were StalT.-
Sergt. Ashall, Sergt. Kennedy end Capt.
\\ ilkinson. At the annual regin.ental ritio
match there were 140 competitors. In this
year the custom followed for many years of |
canvassing tho city for prizes was discontinu- j
ed. It was found that the donors of the
prizes were in the habic of setting very high
value upon them, and the man who, for in-
stance, won a cup valued at $15, was
usually annoyed to find that it was worth
but half that amount. Lieut. -Col.
Otter appreciated the disadvantages of the
system, and at his suggestion it was decided
that each company contribute fifty cen;s
per man iu cash, with which the regin.ental
rifle committee was requested to buy prizes.
This system was found to work very .satis-
factorily. There were no longer complaints
iicard, and the fact of every man')i havint
contributed to tlie fund v^ aa an iDcenlivf f
many to enter tlio competitions.
F'ljr some time Lt. .^^ankey, who, it will In
remembered, had some time before organ
ized a signal corps, with Color Stir
geant Millington, had be(.>n ei);;a^(il
upon the design and maiiuf utiiro of wo
heliographs. 'I'hese instrument.-, utiieli wur
ceitainly the first made in Canaila if not the
lir.-^t used in the |)oniiiiioii, w< r tctid at a
|)araile of the signal eorjis, held Oct. 8, ami
were fi..und to \\(»ik adiiiirably.
.ASM AI. INHIICTImN
The annual inspection of the rei;im(nt |
took place Nov. 9, wlicn Major • •em ral
Liiiird inspected the (^>. O. R. and the li.iVnl
(ireiiadiers on the Oarrison (cm
mon.i. 'iho usual rev ew exercises were pii.
formed in eie>litable style, after wi.'w
A B an. I (" C(iinpaiiies were ordered to skir
inisli, bciii^' supported by l> M aiui K Coin-
panics. This exercise jicrfiirmod, .Msjor-
(JeiK.-ral Liiard called out tho cajiiaiiH i4
the eoiiipanics and e.<[)res»r(i lii< pUasurcat
tho iiiaiinur in which the work had Lt ii
done.
10 rly in February, 18S.1, tho non n in
mi-sidied clliccrs and men gave a very -iic
cessful dramatic and gymiia.-.uc ■ iitjr
taiiimcnt in the Craiid Opera I! .ii".
Hearing of the success ol imj
event, the oflicers of the Diitreiin
Ililles of Biantford invited the parti. i()iu,ti |
to rt [leat tho cincrtaiiinieiit iu liio Strut-
ford Opera House, Biantford. 'fiie iiivitii-
f ion V as acci pled, and after t!ie pci foiinaiiro
had terniiiiat' (1 !.,t.Col. Oltrr p;e--cii'el ii,|
the l)ulleriii Hillc^, on behalf of tho <iUieoii'j
Own, a sil\er cuj) and an address in lecogui-
tiuii of the kindne.-;S and atte tionl
which tho Queen's Own had rtceivn
from tlio Dutferins on the occasion A I
their visit to i>rantford on ti.ej
Queen's 1 irthday, ISSl. Lt. -Col. Joui'S
commanding the Braiitford battalion, it-
sponded in appropriate terms, and lhe|
visiting Queen's Own were subseiiuently eu
kertained to supper at the Kcrby house
London was the scene of the Qiicuisl
Birthday outing of this yenr. A ie\iew|
was i eld on the Carling farm in tho iiiorii-
in ,<»t which there were present tho Q.O II., I
Royal Grenadiers and tho Seventh Fusilicrsl
of London. Lieut.-Col. Jackson, D. A. <.j.,|
was in command. In the eveiung the lo-
ronto oflicers were dined at the London
club, while the bands gave a concert ia|
Victoria Park.
In June Lieut.-Col. Otter was appointeil
to the command of the Wimbledon teatii, 1)« f
ing th« first Torontonian to be accorded thati
honor. The regimental represeutalivei uil
w
LANUMAKKS OF TOKONPO.
790
IK' team Wirt! Slaff Serf^eatit AmIi.iII and
vfi^'iiut Keimuily. In llie Oiitii:ii> l.illu.
\-,jui.i.iti(>ii m^tcliesot thin yoarlli'; (^'iioen's
ht M .secured llie secund tc&iit pri/.« in llie
Aalkcr niatuli, lirsl learn prizns in tin; Tait-
I'liksHvy anil l^kirnii.Hliing niaiclics, uml four
tt.aivittiial ft;.';,'rri»ate prizes. At tlie Ud- .
million Ivillu Aasociiitiun matches in Sept. I
til'; Qiieeu'a Omii inar'i^nineu by no nifiins '_
Killowod up tlicir carcor of victory, and did,
III fact, very poorly.
Tlie annuiil iiiHpoction tuoit place Nov. 8
nf ilif iOviiibilion ground.-t. Tno space for
iiiaiiaiivrin^ waM very hiiiall and tliu iii<:n
well' iimcli crninpod. Maj.>r (Iciicral i..iiarcl,
snemeil, liowever, to be wrll plcascil. Tlio
iiijoyinenl i)f tilt day was iiiai red by un tin-
lortunatu accident wbicli (iriMiiti'd ;>.'■ llie
lutiirii march was bcin^ made. In Kins,' stieet
astioet car ran inlo Lapl l>cl.inu'ri!'s lior.-**,
ho ulTriL,'liliiii; tlic uniin.\l that the ollicer was
uiruwn. The h Ifcruzod animal plunged j
willly, ..nii knocked down StjiiT Serjeant
i.eikes. Doth wero severely injund. An i
iU'lioi) at law which followed resulted in a .
vei.lict fur Mr. ileakea. '
The alliletes of the .Montnal Garrison
.\rtillery in thid month sent a l^i>;Ly f.jut-
li.ill team to 'J'oronto to play llie l^>ucen'.-5
Own luiim on the 'Varsity ..iwn 'J'lie To
routoniaua won a holly ('(iiitr.siod mutch.
LT roU OTTKK Kl.TIRKS
lu December Lt. t'ol OUpi, wh > had
Ix'cii connected with the regiment since its
i'lrmatiun, resigned command of liie Cjute I's
Own, and became coinmand.int of the garri-
son at the New Fort. '-C" Company
CaiKiduin regiinenl of infantry was tiien, as
now, i-tationed al the fort. Major A. A. .
Miller was promoted to the position of ;
Lieut. Colonel. j
On Feb. 15, 1884, the sergeants of the
I'li'.talion held their first annual dinner in |
the mess rooms which had been established >
tiiiei; years before. Ihree evenings later ,
till, oliicersgave a farewell dinner to Lieut.- j
Col. Dtlcr. i
Hraiittord was revisited on the Queen's
Birtiiday, 18S4. In the mornin^f the |
(Queen's Own and Duffetiu Ilillcs made a <
route inarch through the city. In the after- |
noon a lacrosse match was played between i
a team from tne (^Veen's 0.\n and the j
Brantford twelve iu which tiic Queen's J
Own were worsted. The band of the regi- ^
ment gave a concert in the rink in the j
evening, and the officers were dined at the |
Kerby house On Sunday, 25tii, a church i
parade was held in the sWaliug rink. Rev. ,
■Manly Benson officiating. :
The semi-centennial celebration of the
fuundin<; of Toronto was held this year, and
on Dumiuion day there was a parade in the
Qucon's I'iii'k. The organizations present
were : liamilton, Toronto and \Velland
Fluid liatiirie.s, (iovernor-t ioneral's Foot
(iuardi, Ottawa ; .Sixth l<\isiliers,
Montreal ; 12th York Kuiigers,
!4th 1'. \V. 0. Hitles, Kin^jsion j
.'<4th, .%ih and 77th bftttal.ous and all of the
other Toronto corps. Lt. Col. O. T. Ueui-
son was in command.
Inth- autumn the otlicers formed an
athletic association, an 1 the annual games
too; place Oct. II on Iho Kosedale grounii.-i.
The annual inspcctiDii took place Nov. Ij
I cforu .MajorOeneral Niddleton.
The hiitory of the Nurlli west rebellio of
IKS,') iti so frebh in the minds of (.'anauiiins
that a detailed account of the cau&es leading
thereto will b unncc ••.sary.
It was on March the 'J.5lh, 1885, that
word was rcctiv d by way of Chicago of an
engagement between the moinaed police
and the insurgentH. Fort Carllun, the
scene of the eng>igeinLnt, was &u far from
any telegraph otiices that the information
was necessarily meagre. Or iers were re-
ceived from Ottawa at ^ innipeg on the
same day for the 90th liattalion and Winni-
peg Field Battery to leave for Qu .Appelle.
1 iiij force rtaa ordered as speedily as pos-
sible to take the route for the nearcs point
on the railway to Due ; Lake, where Riel,
the commander of the rebels, was entrenched.
On the n'oiningof Friday, March the 27th,
word was received in Toronto from Militia
ileal Quarters iu Ottawa, calling cut the
Queen'sOwn Kitlos and tiie Roval Urenadiers
for active service. This call was strictly re-
sponded to, and both battalions mustered in
the Drill Shed
Ti.e Queen's Own muster was ai follows : —
."^talT — Lieut. Col. Miller, Majors Allen
and Hamilton, Adjt. Delanure, Surgeons
Leslie and Natt.rass.
A. Company — Capt.
■on
V. Company— Capt
C. Company — Capt. Hu^iiea. Lieut. Ciieeae
borouiih.
D Company — Capt.
Mason and VValsh
K Company— Capt.
Mutton
F. Company — Capt
O. Company — Lieu .
George.
H. Company — Capt. Sankey.Lieuts.Greea
and Cassels
K Company— Capt. Acheaon, Lieut*.
Guntherand I'earson.
01U)EK3 FROM OTTAWA.
Later in the day orders were received
from Ottawa that each regiment should fur-
nish u contingent of 250 officers and men.
I'rowii, Lient. Tiiomp-
I'ellat, Lieut. Sjott.
Macdonald, Licuts
Kersteman, Lieui
McGee, Lieut. Lee
Hrock and Lieut.
.1
f
>lK
?tl
'^
P ii
800
LANPMAIiKS OF TOKOMO.
After }>araile Liviit. Col MilKi instructed
tba company «t1ioi;i'8 to liand in lu tli«
••ijutant naniea of the men in their com-
manda whu w^to best tirtoil fur active aer-
vice At a Huii.s(M|Uciit iiarudc the niimci of
the cho'cn men were read out, and at ei^ht
o'clocli on Siitiird.iy evening tlic men who
were to Hoe real liKhiuig inustcicd at the
Drill Shed.
On Monday. March HO, the TtdO mustered
a^'ain in the l>rill Slied, and at II u'cluik
(.'ol, Dcniiton, I). A. <•., ar.nounced that
orders liail cmn • for the ecrvicf for|m to ini
mediately take the route At I I :.'{() n'olock
the cor[)s was hrietly adilres.sed hy t'ol. Ol
UT, who was in cuuiiiiai d, and then llio
ijreal iloors of the Unll Shed swuii;,' open
and, headed hy tlieir hands, Torontu'^ |iiekud
riti/un soldiery in.uched up .liuvis nireil to
King, and the long journey to the Norlh-
west had coinrnonccd.
THK liKlAKTl KK.
King street was a niar^s of people
Citizens of all classes wihllv eiieered lUpul-
ing volunteer*. Fiiendi piosed in .iroiind
the ran a of ma: chin;; men and reacheil lor
hands extended to tl. em. Whei! the force
was at Yon^e .-irtet ilie (Irtnadier lian i
■truck up "Auld Lang >yne, ' and the
(Jueeii's Own followed 'Aith ' TheCirl I
L''ft r>ehuid Me." The ni'-n swunj; pfaiilly
through a hurricane of cliociw. An iniiiiensc
crowd iiad leathered at liie I'nion Sta ion,
and the students of I oronto Uni\ ersity kept
the nniUitude in a glow with patriotic s ngs.
The approacli of the column wa.s lieralded
by tlie cheers of llie tlious nds on ^'ork
street. TiiC ranks had to push their
way to the special trains on tiie south
sidinps. 'J'he crowd rushed evctywliero
'I'iie Union station windows and roof were
black w:th ppcctatDS. And every iiidivi
dual in llie crowil was hhouiing faiewvil.
The bands of the Queen's O in and (iren^i-
diets stood aside and played tiie re imeius
into the two trains which were waitin;; for
ihem. At \:?,0 the Queen's Own train pulled
out of the station amid reJoulded cheer
and ten m nutes later the Orenadiers train
followed, tlie bands of the two regiments
playing "Cod Save the Queen '' as the t.-ams
left the st.Uiou
At 4 o clock in the afternoon, the train
b aring the Queen's Own arrived at I'eter
borough, where the platform was found
crowded by a throng of enthusiastic citizens.
A few minutes before arriving at Peter-
borough the olFicers made up the parade
state, when it was found that the Queen's
Own had 'i88 men on board, 38 of the rifles
havins; secured l.its and jumped aboard the
train unobserved by the officers during the
ix.itement of embarkation.
The journey down the CI'.R tn Smith -
FallM (lartodk of llie nature of a triimpha!
pio^rcMs. At Kexernl stations guard* ol
iiDiKir Were turned (jul and hot refreshment.''
furnished the troops. At KaUd.ir wm I
was received of the Indians, and the volun
tci r« wno loft Toronto, fejirin:; that the re
liellion was more nt a scare th;in .i i'au.sp fm
hopini,' for i>''* .eservic , betunic oonMn'i'.i
that they would see rial lighting. Th';
lon^' journey was most tedious. At .Njat
t.iwa addiiiiinal ne^\K fr m the North we.i'
^avt the volunteers something' more to talk
of, but still the Ijluicn's Own dul not re;;ar '
as un>v elcoine the prospect of making th"
tii-.t nwirch thiou;;h llie bush over an uii.din
plelctl Hoctioii uf the Cuuadiaii I'acilio liail
way.
lU'MciIl^ or I'lPdK WK.AI'DNS.
Miii'li appicheiision was felt in Toror'.>
wiiiii it becani'-' noised about that the^ni.lff
tille with widcli the men were armed was umI
a Matislactory wea|ioM, and that men ar i ed
with it would bj ill tilted to cope with an
enemy jiiovbled as the icbels were with
!{cmitii;toiis lirm. Md. lUako brought tiii-i
matter up in the ]{oiise of Commons, an >
said that he would hold ihe .Ministers
)ioliticallv and personally responsible it they
did iiol sec Ih.at ilio tioops were furnished
at no matter what cost witli tho best pro
curable rilles. Il will be nothing Ichs than
murder. Mr. I'dake said, to send troop* up
tlicie with arms inferior to those of ine
enemy. Col. O'llricn, commanding oHic-r
of the .'{5th Sinicop Foresters, said that h*
and liis men considered the .Snider an
eminently satisfactory weapon.
Th* loni; journey to \N iiinipcg, with its
many " portages ' over (lie gaps in the C. \'.
II. line, was safely mide. On April 7th the
train l>eariug the Queen's Own ro Ind into
Winnipeg station, lo be wtico ned l>y thou
sands. Oflicers and men looked tired after
their long journey and inarches over snow
covered piaini.but all were iu excellent Hfiinis
and k.nxious to push on lo Q'.i'A)ipe!le
At four o'clock liie satne afternoon the
Quecu'ii Own left for Qu'Appelie. .At nine
I. 'clock the followin? moruing (^u Appeiie
was reached. Ikre a large gathering of
civilians, Indians and l> (iattery rcgul.trs
welcomed the Torontonians, wio
remained in camp until April 10.
when Col. Otter sent them to Swift
Current, whenca the lone march t'
Battleford commenced in company witii
"C" Company regulars, artillery, ani
Oovernor-lieneral's Foot Guards sharp
shooters. Col. Herclnncr wa^i in commana
of the staff. V,y April 21 the force had
forded the Saskatchcw.m and had travelbd
40 miles en the other side. Ou
.\t>ril
lord.
.it th
\\ m
wlieri
I.. (Wr
Mnldl
,.' *tli
I'.att'
40 .
vany.
(In
laiiny
I'ouiid
The
(ol.
louu;h
HI I'll 41
weri I
l.'itler
\ a rev
WallK
» ardjf
III to
liush,
i^iiiit
The
i'. ee
'ii'll.
> ,i.ptur
Mil
iliianh
;iinii'd
18 eiil
SiiU'i
i'(i xte,
l.t.-Col
l(. B.
I.ANDMAItKS OF TOlMtN'K)
HOI
April 27 tlu' «'<»luimi iirrivoii at H.itlli'-
lord. I'Im' I^I'tii'm (Iwii fiitiiMli'tl -tTvirf
.it till" I'rcHlivli'iiitu «liui'ili, iiiiil miNioiiN-
\y a\vaif<l iu'Wk ffoiii Clai-kc'H CroMMinn,
wliiTi' tlifi-t' linil Im'i'ii II iiit<'lu'il liatlli'
I'tWci'M tilt' loK'f l'i>nillllll|ll)'l| llV (it'll.
Nliililh-toii Mild til'' ii'IivIh a fi'W dav>i ln'-
'.I'l' At HattlrUird tin' fuK'i' coiisi- ti'd
!HI
I «• i<-
l\V<l CMll.Ii.i Illi'H (
.r iih' ;».
r.iittalioii, Hi); Ottawa Shar(iMli». >t>'i ■•,
40. (j'iii'ch'k Own. 2'> . one hail <" Coin-
:.:iM.v. 40; I', llattfiy, K iliH«»l<«l. 1 -".
nil; < I
KMH, Ml. Ml'.
On Mav <i this f,. !•<•'', aftft* iiiati
.intj;
Kianv iiiili-»<, nttat'lv'ii tin' Indian^ iindi
J'oiiiidiiiaki'r, a wcll-lxiiown liKJiaii chii'f.
Till- liattif wtKn a <(>iii|iii''.i' vi"l«n\\ for
(ol. OtttTH Unvr
TIm- (.^ufi'ii's Own
l<>ut;lit liriivi'iy. anil lia|<|iil,v Hiiffi'i-fd \i
fiii(»tl- i<hSHc'8, i;ij.'l;t liii'ii «i|' till' Idirr
uiTi killcii and 'J'i w.itiiidiil, aiiu.iiust tii''
ittt-r liriim- Coi.-.^ ii;i. Co. per. Privat'
\.iri'V. I»rivat'' Llcyd iiiid i'liviif 'iiol'H'i
W.iltH. of till' <>iii i'n'> O'
It w
IN .I'tiT-
.iiiU found th.it till' ndicls liad atti'iiipt-
t<
il «'ol. OMi
r f lui-rr into .'in a in-
'Us|i. Iiitt liH'kily (|i,> conitnandi'i-'H forc-
f^iilit prcvi'ii
t.Ml ti
Till' fo:«-" ri'tuini'il t,, r.ittli
d.
when'
!'. cii-aiiipi'fl, afti'iward- poinjj to liirri,
'' '' . On ,<iind:iy. M.iV l(». tin' lo;<'" imil«'r
• ii'ii. .Mi'iilli'toii iiiid Mioi'inid li.tt<H'hi' and
' ipturi'd Kii'l.
•In 'riiilif<il.'iy, .Filly 'J.'t. with I Ih' l:,.(|y
iuii»pd*< .'Hul (ii'i'iiiiili 'i-N. til'' f^o.l;. I,.,
iiinicd t" 'roniiiti.. 'I'lii'lr ii'<-'|itiiiii wan
I" ''iilliii-ii iHtic iiM it was disi'i'vi'd.
."''in<''' llii'ii ili»' liaitali<»i! Iuin |ii-oy;rrss-
<'d Hli'.idi y. Lt.-< ol. .Mil.t'i' i;,ivi' ipI.'K'c to
l.t.-Col. All'-n, and iiou (I.S'.l.'Ji l,t.-('ol.
K. IS. Ilaniilt<in is in coniniaiid.
lll.\ITKir(V.\X.\llI.
THE ROYAL GRENADIERS.
The ReffliiifiirH lllMlor.v 'rhr r»riiiMllon of
lh<> ItnUiilloii Th«> l'rrs«-nlnllon of lli<-
4'4tlonrH In lM«i;i.
T!if history u^ the lOth Roynl rucna-
lii'i-s i>j oni' Iri'ii'ht with Kvi'i\{ inl'i'i'st
t*/ many 'roionti«ni;ins. Tln' l>;i ttiil'mi lia^;
ll"l'll ill CNISl. ■!,(■, . si|||. |S(;|_ ,,||,j ,||||i|,;r
lli.it time ni.iny well-known .'iiid hiu-cc^s-
lul «'itiz''ns have Im'.'ii romn'cti'd with it.
On till' I'Vi'tiinfj of S;itui'day. Dtri'inlit'i-
21, l.'<(;i. th'Tc w iM held in tlu' .\Ii<'li;i niiv'
IiiHtitutc a_ incrtiiiK of many t'lasscs of
iiii'ii. Knu'iiicors. ai-fhitccts. sui'v.'voi's.
I'.iiUvay offirialN, coiitr.'ictovs, ini'chanii's
• ind others wen- .-ill tlicrc. F. \V. ('iitiihcr-
ImihI, to whom th«' wlicm.' for the furmn-
ti'>ii of a ni'W militi.'i owed it.s in . ptiim.
moved the ficHl
iltiti
<'n, r.illii;
lorm.iti'm of {■iit'li a luittalion. A er
fill' the
moetln
wii.s f(»rin<'<l. whi<Mi r
held
efiorted.
imiiiit-
at a
week later, that 2^0 rt'
rnii'H had signed ih'- rt>ll. and thai itsi.ri'JO
had liei n xiilmilied tow a rdf the expoimi's
of organization. It wa^ at this iifetiiii;'
that MMii'li't waH deeided ii|M>n as the col-
•iir of the i-eniiiiental tnnie. On tl ve
illj; of Molldav. Iterrliili'
ail. istll, ihi
••(iimnitti'e ap|p<>;iiied at the jjeneral meet
inw iin't and prcK'eeded to th" M'leetion of
4H lueinljerM of a v iiiiinilti'i' l" ni'ininat.i'
•rill, nil |i ll(H.
Two evening" later thi'se j^entli'iiieii
Were ni'l''«'t'''l : I'lNinastcr. .lolii' ,'^uiiil;
adjul.iiil, .1. (i. .M<'(l;alli ; qua itiTin.'ister.
'I'liomas (iuiidiy.
("m |.i 'liim
1". \\ . Ciiiiil I.'iii'l. A. I'.iiiii
.lohn \Vorthin;;ton. A. De (ir.'ifi'i. .'».iiidfi)iil
I'^i'ininf. W. ''• Storm, ,]:tK. \\ ortliinn'mu,
.lohn .MeCJee. A. Maiming, (leo. Carroll.
I
i"Uteniiiit.>'
W
Mi'W .'1 11
I, II. |-
''mine'.
F. Ci.at»<wortli. il'nry Unlierls, F, F. I'.i.-^n-
liinlT, i 'hll r.i \.'
Ion
W,
H''wai
li. i:. Si
t, .J. Ciiitz.
lilh. .). .\llii-
F,ii-i'nis -.1. .1. lti<'Kev. W. A. ytolhry,
II
aiiiiltoii.
i;. It
lllhl-
F. M. r
w. i;
.In
We
Kolieil Miteliell. II. F
1*
l».
a :ii-;,'i V
A week lat'-r the firNt ne'i'tin^j of offiei'i"
h"M.
W hell
■ pt. t 'iiliiliel'i;ili
j.iini'd for th' ii''iiien;tn','<olonelc.\ . Cap-
tains W.-rtliiiiftoii ami r.'iipel f."' Ml •
liiajielii .. whili' Lii'til. C<,atsw<irtli wad
app 'MM "I C'lptai'i to fill ih" pla"e viieat-
ed Ir, Ft. -Col. Cuinlierlaiid. and Fi'sinn
Prie.' wan (.'iveii the vaeant eaptniiiey.
Urn. I'.iiehanan and O'Dea were eleeteil
Mir|j;eon and assist,, :it snrt^eon.
A drill inntriK-tor was ohtained, ami
drill fur 'III' nlfie"rs liejffiii nn .ian. Tth.
In llie C.iiiail.'i tia/.i'ltr, Mari'h 14 ami
IJ'^. the Huh I'.att. of Vnlunleer Milili.i.
l;ifles was offii'ially aumiiineed.
.MM. 1 11 \ i.i:s I'.K \l, OUIHIIS.
Ileadiiuarters, (Jiieliee,
Miiirh 14th. IsC.l!.
No. 1.— The fi.nir.tii'ii of the fullowinn
i<ir|ks is hereliy ;inth<'rize(i, viz.: Idlli I'.al
t.'ilion V(»lnntier kifles, C!iiiada.
<';iptains- .lv)lm Wort hiiiutim. Alfr'd
•lohn r.rnnel, S.nidford I'lemiuK, .lames
\\<>rtliiH(!;tiiii, .\lfi" |t''<irassi, .Idhn M^'-
Ciee, llmei'Hoii Coatswi'i'! II.
l.ieiilenaiits— Thomas (iiindry, Willi.tm
Stewa!''l, llenr\ Itoln'ils, llaviil I'leminii,
l''rederic'k I'assmori', .lohn Alhistun, .Inliii
l'.ox;ill.
FiiM^n.s— .l;imes Isaac Iiiekey, William
."^lollery, Fdward Moiiltrie Peide, llnli-rt
.Miteheil, Kiehard Heiinis, (JeorRe Hamil-
ton, Ileiirx I'.eseoliv.
In the Cazetti- of .M.'itrh 2Sth, l.S()2.
a|'|H.'ared the f(dlowing nolifii'.'itiun :
Mn.iTiA ,\i roiNTMKMs -Militiuy Histr. i
No. .^, U|)|KM' Canu'lii. Teiitii Uatlalioii
N'olwiiteer .Militiii Kitles, ('aiiada.
To he Fieiiteiiant-Colonel — Major l>ed-
cric William Cumberland.
.iU
m
80-2
l.AND.MAltKS OF I'ltlJONTO.
To lip M.-iJDis -(\ipiiiin .Iiiliii Woilliiiii;-
I'.liSS, I'. TllOI'lllli
F. Wilkitis.
ton, from llu' first iMnii.;ii;y. ami C.nil.iiii , .fosoph Waddy, Doiia'il F.'isvtli. William
Jolin llrimol, from tho sccdiiil iMiniiaiiv,
N.t. 1 (".111
:>nii\— 'I'll hi' ("a|i|aiii, (i'nri;o
ntiil.
Mills, .l..!in Ki'lly. A. ■i'aylor, .loliii ■I'aylo:-
(■(iiii|iaiiy No. ;{— .li..si'pli 'layloi, A. !)(>-
jrraHsi, ( liaili's Siiupsnii, l.i
riivioll. Khj.. v't' ' Wcrtliiiiniiiii. p:
N'r). 2 Coiiipa i;\ - To lii' I'aptaiii
'i Ma^jratli, F.s j., vico IWiiin'l. proni'^t.Ml. liaiii C ilJiMi, Tlins. Aryi-s. ii
l\varil ]..i>okH-
hoa-l,
llmill.'v, Mii'hacl Milton. Wii-
A. W
as foll.'WOil hy ll
M
iirpliy,
("..^■'riil Order
III Kt'iil,
Fdw.iid II.
Mi-Kiin. i;
I .>oli<
■dlllti
■riio
1
DiMi
riMlinl jDllS
appii;iii luciits, ell
S.M.'i.s. .laiius 1- airlianks, Mii'lii
il.'.Ds, A. .lark
ml:
Kol-rrl r.i<ll, ('.
si'ViMl V iilllli
t.'.T Mililia Uif:.' (
M. Mall, ('111 i-.li«pl:tM l'»ii.|,.i), .Inhii llisjr-
ini'MJ this day .-il Ti
ii'.iaiid of llic I'oli'iw i
nti>. III!
|l!ti••l'|•^
1 .!■ till- iriii.s, .\ii>tiii Ml' .N.I ma iM. <>\\ 'ii MrNall>
Will. M. Mi.ldlt>t..ii,
■I P.
•hv f(
d iul.
a lia(lali<
d.M- (1
11
ii; cwdui
I, .ln!lll Mllciirll, .lollll Al-
I ; civisi
•!■* nf Si'
2li of till' (^lll^c^i(lal
'li,itia Law,
d
11 ii,> Nl.xl.
I'l llatta'ioii \ nlii
( ana I
lo iii> .":.-
■iin the .'V'
T!io rol
i.ii- -» \p
'rlaiii
.ttal!,.ii
■I' t;
I. Kr.'d. Ci:
M'Olitu,
riiiH'iit (Ml M.i r.'!i HU li,
\*'il!i:im .loiics, l!Ui Wilsiiii, .laiiirs
Mc.\!li-;i'r, .'.•im"s MrCiaw, C !•;. P>iill. .1.
C. Cili.-i.i:, Tl!".<. Si, irr. Tlio-^. Scat, (li'n.
.inliii KaiiiNmi, .\ii-
I Tale, -lai
11'
1
1 '^(>2, was ;
I 'nllip.'l ll.v
M.. .
.Iid;a Til. ■mi
'.IIMIl^,
r
It-ll'!-,
Will.
1"
•II w
ii'k, Ai:d|.w
'iiiia.'
.'I .Kinai'
lienrv M.
Cull. .1.
1-A. !'.
ts, (i
II
nn: t .11.
.Ian
'!!'■> I.nll-
■1 Tl'.Mliip-
>ll. (il'ii|\
P. I)i'):;i
lliildswi.rlli. All'riMi
.l..|iii Slut...
T. Slinr
■111.
ll'M'pIl
1 ;ia rii's
(' . mp
III. I'
ailllp K :l\ a ;;;i ll,
III Sli.-iiikliii,
!s(ii;, Tlu.'^.
Mif'l
•|-..l
ill
.1 a iiKc-^iia,
ill llo!iii.Mi, William l»oni.iiss. Win. U.
isDii Ci'.i l^ .s .i: t i
.liiliii ('.ini;
I Mil .sinia'i.
Iwaiii Mm
(i
:ir, .Vili-.'d r..Tiv, .\li
W
11 SloiiJ!;.'! t, .Il
.M
W .-itSdll,
, l-'rasor,
]'. .Mi-
( ■imp.i n\
No. .1-llius. Iliii'si, Miti
Ml. '.■.Ii, .li.lii, !\.;'i!, .Ii.'.ia I'.lli , lli'iiry .^av-
■.rsi'. .Ia!'i"s .Mnriav, .l.iiiii's I'rnt lu'i', .la.s.
C.iud.'rni.', W. I. Ki.lfili. i. 11. II
Wm. Nic'linils. Fli;,s \' ■. V. .',!,.:■
T.i' Fi-;i iicnis, K^'i.'v; l^lll^i,•l^
I"i an
l>p ''
Miidli
Will, iiii'il 'V, (i
'. I ,i;i-
Tliiiiii.'u
I'.'.ii, .Iiiim i;:i-'l;i:id, .lohii MmIiILii', llt'nr>
Ihrsi, II
il. .1;
Pet.
l.ni, 1. 1. lull
iliii il.i r> il', ("
r-iM,
'|.!l
Iliupia.S K
.Vrcln'r. Th
Dill
( )'(\iiiii'ir,
Ii. 1)1
lltMij.'uniii l)i'aii, S'.eplieii .Matt'
Wn
W
!!. P.'tti
V
dm III
.1 ir.ua n,
iiisiiM.! Mi'aii,
I,.'I\V
Kti'.ai'ii
Marsou, i!
Naliolas lii
I'
W
llTS.Ml
hiilip
Tliiimas Wi.iin.pih
I",, M.'ti.niin, Ivlw .a I'd llig-
rii.iN niirraiil, .lolili l>ill, Wm.
Wm. Caiw
W.iir.
Cli.arl
!iii •I'ayli.
K<Mr, .\a'\. McC
•s, Clja.^. Li'iiiiit, Wn
TlioH. lliifiarti
W
'1'. (.'rt'Wi
ii'ii.
1. (■
Ili'iiry .M.'('afl'
H.ivid
I
^ mail I
.1 (ISCp
McMu
.1;
-r., ls:i:i(' .liilllisou, Tlios
|..s F.cll. Uolicrt Car
i.li'.imor. Thus. 'I'luuniisiDi, Tavlnr IliitliM-,
William iloikson,
ilii'rl Mill
Wm. H. Cliesl
lii'i', C'lri.-
V,
.1.
■pli
.li>s.'pli IMii^nui, .ioliii I'ci'd, W. C. M.'in.sd
I'n'iisnn, Al.'N.iiKJi'r .Si,.w:,!-t, Win. Mi'M'il- S.'mui'l I'l't I it;r.-\v. (i.'orne Ca:r<>ll, T
M. P. MeNiiitv. I'lH..-^. MiiliT, Mirli.i.'l <':'i-i'
I'.uiiis, M.'ii'k Si'dt
L
iiii'iK'Hi.
Company N.
Iioaii, Cliarli'
Fred. Warii'ii
.«<■;!. Willi.'ini
Vi
ni'ii''
Mi
dl. T
Miii
W. Cr.'ws, .lolui Hillock
M. 11
Willi
irH'o, ii.'i.i'i
ippiiiH',
(iill:
Inllll (illlSdll
Thos.
Wilki
.skiiipim, Win. Harris, .lolin Ni'ill. N.'itlinn-
Ciir.".\,
•I nil'
•l..lin KiiowH.
ii'l Die!
W
illiam
atlr.•^v^
(;r:;:,t
.1.
Ci.'(»rne Kit- l''OX.ill, (ieoru'e ilox'
SkidiiH
lames
Ke.'ils, .lull
.\ I'.rui e|, jr., Ti'uliiis I'.riii
(iili>
>n, .iii-epli Wi
111
( onipaiiy
I-yen, .1.11
li'iirv .l;i
.''.-W
diert.';'
William
Wm.
lyle, .losepli Marshall
.Io«i.'tli CrevH, .lamei
I!:.mphries, lli'ii'y l.evett, -lam.'s Meln- Ifenderson, .lolin .\neliifler, (i
llul(
dl, N. liii'key, Wm. .h
lilies lliiLihes,
Dan-
Mi
don, .(oliii Maeiiilosh,
MiC
LiviiiU'sloiii', Will. Armstriii:^', \\ . ,1. , .Idlui Uoxall, i;. .laenlks, 'I'lioniiis Carfrae
orv,
.1;
( line
I'red. A. .Vliehilih
l(diii I'liirn
.1;
mes
Mill
d, W. W. L.'iiid, (ieiiriri' llassard, p.in, .loliii W «.rtliii;p;ioii, William Steward,
.•^..i.dford I'li'ininii, Wm. Hi
Yeo, I
iielia n
1 Hi
.I;
Fan
W. F. Nil-
l.edphilus Diiliie, .li'K. lli'.T-ilip, IVitiii'k noil, David Thomas, .lacid) Nokes, Simon
Kcily, Kiehard Smitl
Mi'Doryall, .1. Straelian, liiehard Fliilav, Wm. Miilvey,
C. Taylor, Fdward Cntterill, .I.iiu's .1. I'enton l'.iirii.s, Uoliert Hill, Peter (iall,
Mikey, Arthur Carkeek, .l;imes (>i;:;iii, A. .lolm M;iiisall, William W hiteomb, .Ifim.'.s
Diekie, Wm. Stewart, ll. Moiilti
V
Cam pill
W
illiam I'ord, Philip Kelly,
•losepli Green, Fdward Mj'ti.ini!. William Michael Keating, .lame« Miller, .!efl^e
Marn, II. Mi'l,jin^;lilaii, .lolm Cil.e'.t, .Inhii l Fensonn', I'.dwiii Fnircliild, Thos. Scott,
Olynn, Michael Curly, .lolm Mulhnr-y, .las. ■ TVm. Stewart, jr., .lolm W. Koeven, Dim-
mamsm^
LANDMARKS OK TOllONTO.
SU3
ciui Mi'Wiitl, (lOorKc (lU.VfiiltMi. Ali'xiiinlfr
IJci'uuT, .loliii (ircin', .loliii l!()iiiil»ii(k,
Win. Ui'Mt, \\\u. Cartor, .lolm Carter,
Siiimu'l Slow, Win. Hill, Aiit^iislii.s Alicll,
Will. I5lin:k, .Ills. IJoniiiU, Will, .luliii iJiixlii ,
Will. (Jruliiuii, W'iillt'i- (iray, CI 's. *i«»il<l.
tV.iii|iaiiv No. Ci— .Mitliai'l McCalic, Itobl.
Tail, .lotm I. Milf«, Win. Wii>;lit. Win.
Craijl, .laiiu'H 1. I'ikc, Win. Cliaili-s Snoll-
iiiK. NVin. Pavis, Win. 1. (Jivciis, W in. Wil-
son, 'riioma.s Cil.-ulstiiiic, U. Cinillcr, Wui.
r>nrn.«i, .lolin 'I'lioini^smi, .lolin Kav, Mat-
Iht'w iV'urd, Jaiucfl llawki'. Win. .Mnr|iliv,
Alex. .liiliii.>flom', TlioH. liarr.v. .1. Ilis.sop,
(tcorgc Iliit<l)an(l, .laim-s Worlliiii^^ton, .1.
15. Smith, Will. A. Stoll.-ry, U. W. C<>ii|t-
lainl, .loliii Wortliin^lun, jr., .lolin (Jiccn-
lo«s, Arthur <V)lcuian, (J. I.. l'ari'a<lis,
Wiu. Criiiio, Will Crowili'ii, .Xrchibald
Caiiipbiil, lU)l)(M-t Cainplifil, .lohii I'oster,
'riioina*! Ilt'lliMii, Sainiifl 1»(k1(1, Win. II.
Kilwii-k, JaincN llawki's, .laiiu'w Kaiiiscy,
.laincH Iloblis, .loliii Slovi'ii.'<nii, 'l'lit>inas
Kairltairn, .lainen TlioiniH^ni, Henry .1.
Sniitl, lOdwanl Mali, .lohii 'Prevail, .laine.s
Williams, .lohn .MeCi.'iiii, Win. I>. lioi^ers.
Win. (ioiiriay, .loliii .Maleolm, Ainli-e\v
Siiinlor, 'rUoiiias Klison, Henry .lacksoii,
I'.ii'hanl Smith, (leorj^e Knuliliaek, .lames
Kdgear, Alex. W ray.
(oiii|>aiiy No. 7 — 11. 10. (ireuf!;, .I.ime.s II.
Spriiift', C W. l{iieh;inan, jr., .lohn Shan-
non, Win. Hiiwhen, .lohn .1, Miles, .Michael
Smith, .lames Ci-<H«ks, .lojui Owi^er, .\. 1>.
IVal, .losoph Ilo}?ers, .S. Wiitson, W. .1.
Stiblw, Henry .lacohs, '\'\uk<. Downey,
Kven .Niehol.-JOii, W. 1!. Atl.ams, Henry Hen-
W(Hul, .lolin Smyth, .1. 'riiriier. Win. Ilen-
(ieition, Kobert Mishiin, (ieoi'>;'e 'rait,(ieo.
Jy. Armstrong. IL S. <V»lley, (). <i. Me-
liilio, .lohn Skaith, Alox. Si'ott, 'rhoiiia.s
Coleman, .lohn lto);'ei's, W . I>. Kou'ers,
.lohn M. Si'ott, tJeoi'f!;e C;impbell, I'eler
.lafobe, 1?. 15. Traey, M. (iarilner, W. H.
(ioiij^h, I'r;iiii'i« Tweeilie, S;iiiniel MeCoiil,
.lames Waldie, Kobert Harrison, .lohn M'-
l.annlilin, .lamee Spein'e, .lohn i'.ri.sto,
(ii'(>rne Steels, .I<Kse|>li Williams, II.
W'(H'(llu)n.se, Win. CineUer, Win. St iirji'eoii.
l''roiii the incetition of the reninieiit the
'ri'iitli Koyalu iinul(> steady pronri'ss. It
Was reiTiiiled, in .-Kvorda.iice with the de-
si^n of its founders, from the arlisans
and meehanies of the city. A healthy
rivalry betweiMi it ;iinl the (^neen\s l)wii
«|H'iiin;' lip, altlioiin'h, of eonrse, tl.e Koyals
.•ind their dark nniforineil brolhers-in-
Jirin.-i were always on the best of terms,
'riir cliiel ditfieiilty eneoiintered waf< thiit
of obt.'iininn- till' neee.ssary est.i blishment
I't (..ffii'eiw, for Toronto beinn' early in the
si.xtiiH a place of barely fifty thousand
inhiihitants, e<Mn|>ii ivi lively few of her
yoMiiti, men felt jii.stified in exixMidiiiK the
aMioniit necessary for the inircliase of the
luiilui'in. Still, the battalion made Hteiidv
pro^reaH, and when the I'enian war cloud
ap|N-ared, the Tenth Koyals had made
a name as one of Can.ada's crack corps.
.\t .•! mi.'etiiii; of the officers held in
.\pril. IStiL*, a I'ommit tiM' conipowed nl
the fi.'M officers. ttij:'tlier with Capt.
l)e(iraKsi, l.ieiit. (inn Iry, l')nsi^n lU-scoby
an! C.ipt. W(M-tliin^t(>n were appointed
to draft by-la w« for the ^^eii-ral govern
men: of ih" batt.alion. It was arran^ced
that the fi.ld <)ffi«'ers post officers to each
oompaiiy an follows: -
No. t Comp.'iiiy - Capt. , I. lent.
Stewaril, Ijwi^Mi Dinni.s.
No. 2 Conipiiiiy C.'ipt. Metirath, l.ieiit.
KobertK, i;iisi^ii Hamilton.
.\o. .'{ C»»inp;i ny- C.I pt. Flemiii;;', I. lent.
I'aHsmore, Mn-'iu'n I'elle.
No. 4 C»>in| .my -C.ipt. .Ia»i. Wdrthinj;-
ton. Lieut, (jiindry, i;ii.siv;ii Stollery.
No. ."> Company C.ipt. l)e(ir;iK.-ii, 1/ieiit.
.Mliiston, Kiisi,:iii Hcseoby.
No. t> Company— C,i pi. CoatJ<\\ ortli,
I. lent. I'lemin.::. i!iis;p;n Mitehell.
No. 7 Coinp.iny — Capt . (li'or^je Carroll.
I.i'iit. r.ox.ill, i;iiii.;n I)i<'key.
('.apt. .Mf(i"e, unattached.
Aiiidher meetiiiij; «if oflit'erN was held
early in May. ISCi^, when it waw de«-id»><l
to procure ',\~tO nt.iril of new arnifri. those
which li.ad Ih'cii piirch.-isi'd haviii;; jiroved
niis.it i.sfactory. .\t this time the recent-
ly issned militia >ren -ral <M'ders provided
tliat the .active militia hIiouIiI put in
tweuty-eiirht day.s' «'oii*«'cnti vt> drill. This
wan «'oiisi(iered to U" an (distacle in the
way of liettiiu' nnitable re«'ruitH. The of-
ficers, ill licet intr ansembleil, pjissed a
iindiou .slating; that in their opinion the
pn rioil of drill islunild Ir' left to the dis-
eretioii of the comni.'inderiin-chief. It
w;is .also suiinosted that six days' drill
woilM he more ea.sily executed.
.\t this iiieetiir.r ;i,ii undress cap for the
offieer.s w.as adopted.
Soni ' I'oiilit lii\iiin' arisen as tn the pro-
b.abilily of i!ie (Inverniiieiit "s ;iC(|niescinu;
in the ii>i|nesl re;:;i rdin^;; drill, the J^ieut.-
Col. w;iH anlliiirized to procurt> the recog-
nition of the battalion as nn .artillery
corps, shonlil the course of events ri'iidi'r
it expedient to do so. The (ioverniiu'llt
decided to ann'iid the drill regulations.
Weekly ]);irade« were u >w held. .and
the P.ritish re;;nlarM ;it the .New Fort
fninislieil drill scr;ieants. The officrs at
the fort, the reuiinenlal ininuten nt.a.te,
■also Irji, their .aid to the new offieei-K,
Home ui whom had alisolnti'ly ijo know-
ledii'e of milit.ary .affairs.
(Ml .Inly tl, ISd.'t, took place the presi'ii-
t.atioii of colours to the lOth Koyals by
Mis. Cnmtierl.and, wife of the lieulenaiil-
•'oloiiel comma ndiiiK- It was thiw describ-
ed by one of the ni;\\ spa (leis of tin" dav:
It is ajways a ploa^mt;' duly to t'liroa-
!p.
i
m
»••'
\l
U- ■ !■
til !
ih
ii
804
LANDMARKS 01*' TORONTO.
/
I
i-'J^
iclo tUe fact that any portion of the ,
coimiiuuity are jriving " aiJ ""1 I'oin- i
fort " lo the V()liiiili.'i'r movoiiu'iit. Iiut it
is doubly gratifying whoii that aid and ;
comfoi-t come from the fairer .sci'lions of
the comnmuity, The officers and !nen
of the Tenth Hoyals may well feel pnuil
of marching unilei- tlie colimrs presented
by the ladies of that <iiy. Gi-eat i)re-
paralion-i h:id been made for the ini|A>rtant
ceu'iuony- ^^^^^ '>" ^^^^' l'-"'*^ "' ^'"' •^'"'i''"'"*'
and men. The scarlet uiiiforms lately
t"iippiitMl bj- the (iuvenuneni l(K>ked bright
and gay, and it was tlic first time that
the mlire reginu-nt had turned out in
full dies* unilotni. That they made a line
apioar.inn- all who saw lliem admit. That
each ofiicer and man lo vUed every inch a
soldier nobody can (U-ny. j
At half-past two iu the aftenio:vn the
rcgimeul lefi headiin.trters. King sireet
we.-it, lieaded by the pioneer coiapaiLy
aud their band, in a neat white uniform
like the rep;ulars, and playing in capital
Btj'Ie on the new instruments presented
with their cokHir^*. They marched to the
Queen's Park, where they executed »vell
a number of battalion movements, under
command <_ f Lieut. -Col. Cund)erland, and
then manhed to the cricket ground, where
refresHiments were served. Tiie ciiizenw
were assead)ling at this time in gn-at
numbers on the comm.>n to witness the
pre.-Mitation. The spectators were esti-
mated at five thousand |>erson«. About
four o'clckck the sound of martial mu-^ie
wa-s heard in the distance, and in a few
compnnie-;, comprising the
IJMtialion, unth'r comnuind
Durie, mai-ched on to the
a firm tread, headed by
their baud, playing a lively (juick-step,
aud to^^k up their position on the south
Bide of the field. They had hanlly got
the word " Stand at ease " when tins,
tune of "The IJritish Grenadiers" was
heard, and on came the {gallant Ti'ntli,
and wheeled ([uiekly in line on the right
of their <'oniirani<iis-in-arms.
Itoih battalions were iM^erly scanned
bj' their frii'nds and fellow-eiti/.ens. To
tliose who judj^ed by ('olo.ir only, the
scarlet tunics gave the men of the itoyals
a decided advantage over the rifle green
of the Queen's Own. Mucli ngret was
expressed when it was annoniK'eil that
owing to sickne-s Major-Gi'ueral Napier
■would be uu'ible to be pn.sent to review
the troofin, aud take part iu the cere-
mony. He had. however, lielegated f'ol.
l'oil)ert8<,ii. Koyal Engineers, commanilmt
of the garrhson. to lake his pl;u'e. ("ol.
Uoberl.son an<l staff took up tlieii' position
in front of tlie brigade, now in liiu',
and Col. (). T. I)eni^'on, having assune'il
the command, the trooiw preseulod arms.
tone
liOII-
loth
vou
"the
the
moments the
Queen's Own
of Lieut. -Col.
comnidu with
An altar covered with a white cloth
was placed a short distance from the
line. Lient.-Col. Cundterland, Ensigns
Worthingtou and Hherwood, the two last
junior subalterns in the corps, adv.aneed
(ind took ui) their pcxsition iu front, and
the colours were brought out from the
tent, under charge of Sergt.-Major Helm
and the colour sergeants with fixed bay-
onets, and placed on the altar. On a
signal from Lieut. -Col. CuiaU'rlami, the
comnuttee of the ladies, headed by Mrs.
Cundierlaud. Col. Robertson anil staff, and
Kev. 1). McCaul, in full academic coislume,
left the tent, and approached the altar,
facing the brigade. On conung to the
front, Mrs, Cumberland in a clear
of voice read the following address
J' Li' lit. -Col. Vinn'ierkiiid, 'ht oj/i-i r-<
commin.4oned ojlicer'i nnd men of tin:
limjal li'e.ijiniei'ii nf Volunteer Mil it in.
The ladies of Toronto request thai
will do them the fav^.ur to ax'CtM>t
ficconi|i)anying stand of colours for
regiment, togethei' with a set of instru-
meuls for its banil, as an evidence ot the
warm interest they take in the welfare
of your corps, .and their high a|)i>n'eiatia:i
of the spirit by which it is animaieiL
In (onliding these colours lo your eli;uge,
the donors are persuailed that they en-
trust them to thcvse who will ever keep
them in safety and in honour, nor do
they doubt that if unhappily a neces-
sity should arise for uniurling them in
defVnee o; the province, you will inomptly
rally aunind them at the call of tluty,
and. emulating the historic gallantry of
vonr comrades uf the ri'gular service, you
will bear them with a valour which
will evina' affectionate attachment to
your homes, patriotic love of .\nur enun-
try and liA.al devotioa to your Queen.
(Applau.se..)
(•oNSKCR.\TioN III' Tin-; cin.onis.
The Rev. Dr. McCaul. president and
professor of the University o:' Toronto,
<on-ecrated the colours by ofi'i'riug up
prayer.
Col. liolertsiHi then haiuled, first the
(iueen's and then the regimental colours to
Mrs. Cumberland, who presented them to
the EnH'j;ns, who received them kneeling.
.Mrs. Cumbei-laiul then advanceil to the
altar, and mtid she i'/j>i\i\ not refrain from
expressing the groat pleasure it afforiled
her to take ;>ctrt in the interesting cere-
mony, in common with the ladies assoriat-
etl with her. in the iiresentatiou, all of
wh()m naturally took the dei>|R'st intei-est
in the wcdfare of the regiment. She c<»uld
aasure them that they would always be
Very zealous ol' the honour of the lioyals,
but they were certain that it would re-
main unsullie<l. (Applause.)
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LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
805
TIIK SI'KKt'IlKS IN BKTUllN.
Lieut. -<"<)!. Cuiiilicrlaiiil Hiiiii he doKirt'tl
to tfiHlcr the liidioK liis m<)t<t Knitflul
tliJuiks, on iH'lialf of liiinscll. tin' ofliccrH,
lKHl-<•«y;lmli^^«ioll('(l officiTu mihI iih'ii of llic
Ho.vals |<»r the most I'Xfclli'iit p;ift tlicy
liail |iivHiMit('<l iliJit (lay. \h- iiii'^lil say
that. wLtli arms in tln'ii- liaiiils. and liy the
blcMsiiij;- of (iod, tlu-y would stand ti|i in
dcffiK'i- of their h;i|i|iy lu.nn's. lie hoi»'<l-
an soldiers and tiH eilizens, they woiilil
always be ready to do all in their |K>wer
for tlii'ir couulry.rnled over l>y <.neof tiiehest
and ni'i'il lii'loved of Sovoreigiis. (Cheers.)
Rev. Dr. MH'aul then stepped forward
and, addre.ssin'V the offieers a^id non-eoni-
mi*<.>-i(Hied olfi<'e'.'s of the " 'renth," said
that it wJiH wiih no ordinary pleasure lie
addres-ed ihem a few words on Jin oi'ca-
Bion, th" need of which. In hdd no douiil,
would fill i>u>- of the briu'litest pa^es in
ill' annals of tluii- <'or|KS. It was uralify-
iiiK and honourahle to all ♦•oueerned. to
the p,ivei-s and receivers, to the ladies
who had pre.stnted the t'oloui-s, and to
those who h;iil received them, .-md there-
fore he could, with pei-fect propriety, term
the .'ici !\ most iiolde one. It was a most
nolile act on the part of the ladies .as
it testified the interest tliey felt in tlie
corivs, nnd .nt the same time n'.-ive a pi-<Hif
of lie Lr lilieraliiy. I'.y this [.ul-lie re.-o'.!,-
iiition ihey .show they felt the practical
utility of the i'oice of the l'rovii,ee, and in
expli<'it terni.s, sjiid that if w.ir shoulil
conn', they were ready to th> their pari,
to Hi'iid foi'th their husliands, brothers ;ind
sons in defence of their eouniry. trnstinj;"
that (iod wouWl, in His infinite mer<'y.
iM'in;^; them back to them unharmed. The
;ici was also Iioim ur.'ible to them .as the
donors in tlieii- addi'ess s.iid they felt they
wei'i' c,>n:iiliii^' the eo'.ouirt to worthy men,
wh.t. ill the event of wai', Woulil stand side
by .--i !i' with llu' }!,;illant refiiiuenls oi' ilie
I'l'fiul.'ir service sent out from the Motii-
er Coiiiiiry in tin' day ol our peril. When
they io iki'd at the (^tueen's Coli.ur (I'nion
.J.'tck) they would icmendier theii' dut.v to
the empire of wliich they fornn'd a part
anil lo the h.'ippine.ss they enjoyed under
the lieni'i'n rule of Our Most (ii'acious
Sovereiiii. ,\nd when they looked at the
reti;im"nt;il colour they would renu'mber
that they inisht be called t>n to defend
their happy lionies in this fair and fertile
<'ountry. the birthplace or the land oi
adoption of them all. .\nd in defendiiii?
their homes they were also protectiuft'
thi'Lr wivi'w, their dauj;;hters, mothers, sin-
ters, or sonn'one who would one day take
,1 deeper position than that of sister. Dr.
M<'('"!iul closed his eloipient roniai'ks liy
statiiii,' that Ih' felt siitisfied the men of
the Royals would preserve the colours
with i.'tisuriioil lionoui-, and hand tlioin
dt>wn witluiUl a Htain to tlu>se who suc-
ceeded them as emblems of the love they
bore tlieir country and their loyally ti>
their (^iieen.
.\t the re(|ueMt of the colonel command-
iirj;, the committee of ladies and fientle-
men who li.-id taken part in the eej'.Miio'iy
pa.s.si'd down the front of the bris'ide,
clo«i'ly inspected the men, and retii'ed to
the tent. Col. lioliert.son and staff mount-
ed their horses and liK'k up a position
on the west side of the field, f;iciii^' the
centre of the bri'j,ade.
TKOol'INi. rili: ;olol'I!S.
The en^i'iiis ;ind sei f^ci i:ts with the col-
oiirK then iii;ii<'hed to the left of th" line
and the escort c,impany, headed by ihe
bands, marched down, when the lii'iiiiiiful
ceremony of troopinji the colours w;is per-
formed, '{"lie coloiir.s were now displayed
to the breeze, and excited general ad-
miration. They were certainly very lieau-
tiful, and reflect the f?reatest ci'edit on
the taste of the donoi's. The i"egimental
Colour Ls of a he;ivv blue silk, ne.u- the
top is a ci'own. be.'iutifully embroid.M'i'd
w ilh tlu> motto. '• Ki'.idy. aye Heady !"*
Tlie number of the I'efiinient, " lOth Koy-
als.'" is en<'ii'cled by a beautiful sewed
wre.'itli in .-i ppropiia te colours, and eoni-
|Hi,s:'d of till' rose, thistl(\ sl'.jimrock and
m.'iple leaf, wliile underneath are the
words " Tenth Royal Reiiiment, 1. W t'an-
iida." On the Lnion .lack is a ciown of
bullion, with the words '• Tenth Royal
Re;;imenl, I. V. Canada" of the s;nne m;i-
terial. The st.'iff of each cohmr i'^ sur-
mounted liy a lion ;ind crown in solid
silver, ami a sliield inserted in each staff
Contains tlie leg-end th;it the colours were
" Presented to the Tenth l^oyals by the
I>adie« of Toronto."
iii;vii;wii> iiv Till-: roMMANi)',Ni'.
After the ceremony of trooping th- cnl-
ours terminated, the Irosips were drawn
up in line. The word wa.s then niven and
they quickly formed into eonip.'inies. ILich
band t(Hik up .'i position at the head nf its
rcMfiective battiilion and the couiiianios
inai<'hed past (V»l. Robertson and st.ifl in
slow and ipiick tin»", the officers salutinn'
iiH tbey passe<l aloiijl. The miircliiny,' of
both l)att!ili(>ns was hip.hly creditable, inid
the wheelinu', taken as t\ whole, well ;ind
sipiarcdy done. Of course some of the
Companies did belter tlian others, but,
whei'c all tried to do their best, it would
lie invidious to pjirticularize. The bat-
talions next ma relied jiasi in solid co'iiimn
and afleiwards were drawn up in line.
The adv.ancintj; in line on the p;irt nf
the " Royiils " could not h.-ive been bel-
ter executed by a re>iimenl of I'epular.-J.
On the word " halt " they h.alted .-ts one
man, showinjr a straight even Hue from
, -tr'
■m
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KltO
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
ri>;lit to loft. Col. KolMTtHoii tluMi rodi*
nji ill fi'Diit (if the liriitmli' mcoinpanicd
by his Htiiff ami tho offieiMs wi-re calli'd
arouiiil him.
Col. KoliortHon .•iddrcHHinn tlio com-
ma iidiiip offiei'r8 said that In' liiid to
utato that Mnjoi-tn-iifral Nnpicr ri'Krct-
tfd that he I'oiild iml W iiri'.sciit on surli
nil iiitori'Htiiiji uii asidii, in coiisiwinoiu'i'
f>f illiu'fls. It had afl'orch'd hiia d'ol.
Hobcitsoni iiuich plcasui'f to tai<(' part
ii! tlic ciTomoiiv, and In' li;id w itiH'ssi'd
lhf> pf! Inrtnaiici" 1)1' the vaiioiH iimvi'-
nioiils l\v till' Miiiiiiti'tM'8 Mitli surpri.'<i'.
Their iiiair'hintr past was cxtcli 'lit, thi'ir
*lu'(liii>i' well done, ami thi'ir advaiu'inp;
ill line |it'fl'i'i'l. Ill' llicu cnuipliiiu'iUcd
both otlicors iiiid iiu'ii on llu'ir I'llicicncy.
Tho ti'iiops pri'Mi'iiti'd arms, rcloi'inod
fiijuiiui, and foiiiiiny; icurs i.'fi return-
ed to tho I'it.v, llu' hand pla\iny; martial
tnni's. As tlii'v passed tlie lianaeks on
IL'inn sifoet the nuaril of the ^Htli iKe-
piilar Armvp turned out and presented
arnns. The (Queen's (>\mi paid the Koynls
a similar eoniplinient as they niai'i'hed
into their lieadiinarlers, KiiiK slre"t
wosl. In the drill room the uohmrs were
lurleil, the tioops dismissed, and tlie pro-
ceedin>jM tormina ted\
On May IS, l.stUl, fol. Brnnol, then in
<T>iniiianl of the Royals, received ordorw
(r<tni lieadiiuarterH to hold his eoniinnnd
TH readine.>vs for immediate active serviee.
The Call w.'iw nohly res|K>nded to. Men
who h:ul left the battalion heH()n;ilit Col.
Brtiuel to ;iy:ain enrol their names, and
acquie»<ei'iK'i' Ix^in'^ tfiven in a larp' num-
■feer of ca**'.s, the strenj,th of the batta-
lion went up to (iitT .Nnniher 1 ('omjiany
alon" numbi'red Idl nfliei-rs and men.
From cnpboard.s and ])re.sses in which
they had lain for y 'ar-s. old, nioth-oateiv
an 1 comlenined niiii'ornis were brou.iht to
the liirht of d;iy. and, in the tikilful hands
of the military tailor, wer" made jire-
eeii.ablo.
At laet, on th<' evening: of .hine 1, tho
mmnion'* came. The battalion was to
leave for the fronl on the foilnwinjr morn-
iuj:. ."^o long had thin tirder been exp'ct-
*d th;it the men were .nil in roadinoHs.
anl on the nK<rnin;c of Jnii'- 2, the Tenth
Uoyals, ov(M' (iOO strong', departed for
the fronti'r. the (^ueenV <>\vn, with some
Te;nilais. hivin.r .uuiie over the niglit be-
fore. The citizen-) of Toronto turned out
ea maMse to s.iy fur. 'well to the )j;alhint
redcctats, and cheer after cheer went up
as the rcfi'imcul Tiiarched from the <dd
drill shod to the (jneen's wharf station,
where they tr>ok train for Sii«j)«'n.sion
Bridjre. The whole Niagara country wat<
in ;i *»tate of excitement. It wius rumour-
ed that no less than f've thous.ind
Feuiaiu* unT.er "0>'noral" O'Xiel had
croKsod into Canada at Fort Erie, and
that they were marchiajj )i|X)n St. Catha-
rin'w. buriiinp and devaHtatinn aH tliey
wont. No autlientic information could Iw
obtain 'd by the RoyalH* commandor a*«
to the wheroalM)UtH of the t^noon's *>wn
;inl lath. of Hamilton. Tho Tenth Knyals
pr(A'oeded by train to ("hippawu. where
the niy:ht wan M|K'nt, and in tho moni-
ine- the HUii Bedfordshire Kept, arrived
with a battery of field artillery. This
made ii c<duinn of n thousand men, and tho
ni;ir<'h was con iiiuod up the river road.
nkirmit<hinir ]>arlie» l»oin>r thrown out in
fron:. Some ten miloH up the river road
word came th;it there had ln^on a.n
en.'a^rement at the hamlet of Now Ger-
many. Hfvmo fivi- ni'h's inland, and tho
column jtroceedod thenci'. Tho marchinp
was exceedinrly faxt. and the day terri-
bly hoi anl .■<nltry, so that sonio of tho
reiinlars. weiirhed down i\n thoy were
with he.ivy kii ijisacks a.nd o<iuipaire,
dropi)ed out. I'.etter .•irrantroinont*' iiad
iM'en made in respect of the Tenth Roy.ilH,
their imjx'diniejU;i beiuit
CAKHIKli IN WAcajONS.
at the re.ir of the column. Tho volun-
teers. havin-J onl.v their muskets and
liaversacks to cfirry. bore tho march so
well that not .i man dropped out. This
is hardly to be wondered at, »u< tho
Royals wore com|>t>sed. as ha.s In'on
stated, of hardy working men. Still, it
would be unjust in .any way to deti'act
from their pluck ;in 1 fortitude, qualities
Mhich their successors showed to have
been handed down to them when march-
inj; over the trackless i)rairieB of tho
.NCrth-west in the days of tho last Riol
j'<'bellion.
I'pon its arriv.'il at the villajre <if New
G'rm.any. the commanders of the column
foiin 1 th.at no Feni.ius had been seen in
the vicinity, but that fanners' men ha.d
broujrht roiK>rts of their i»resenee ;it
UidAeway. where, in fact, tlu-.v had
fou^rht the force nn ler (""ol. IWtfiker. .\n
immedi.ate start was nmde for Fort E.' o,
as it was surmised that the invad rs
would have lu'en beat'ii. and would re-
tire. The 1",» milef< arduous niarch wan
made, ;in 1 at iiiirhtfall the linhts of Fort
Erie were S"en. At this time the rear
of the fleeiH-C I'euian column wa^ .also
seen, .and .•il:houy;h an attempt w.is made
to come up with the invjidors, they ^rot
safely ;icro>s the river, leavinr, however,
s<'vei';il <»f their woiiuU'il and some
twenty odd of their nien to be t.aken
])rison 'rs. Uapt. (ieorsre II. Mc.Murrich
iieaded the party which made the cap-
ture. The I'eni.aiis made no resistance,
anl s(|uad.s oi the Royals and rej:nlais
wen. into si'veral houses and cn.ptur"d
the ;idven'.ni'ers. In a larj;e barn several
»,:
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
807
were found concealed under the hay, and
the dead body of one of tnom was found
stretched out on a table. The prisoners were
sent to Toronto under guard, and many of
them were sentenced to various terms of
iip prise nment
The Tenth, along with the regulars and
other volun cers, remained at Fort Erie
tor some two weeks.
A NIGHT ALARM
Alarms weru still frequent, and it
is related thiit one night the camp
was startled by hea ing a sI ot in the
rear, instantly the whole force sprang to
arms, and when, a few minutea later, Col.
Lowry, in command of the whole force,
appeared, the Royals \\ ere found drawn up
in the darknes , leanini; on their rities, and
ready tor contlict The colonel was im-
mensely delighted with this proof of their
ethciency, and later expressed himself in
very complimentary terms. The rej;iment,
being composed of citizens of all trades, was
in contant demand. They relaid railway
tracks, repaired cars and nngmes, built
bridges, made drains, sank wells, and
generally did all the engineering work
for tlie brigcide. The return to
Toronto was made June 16, and the regi-
ment was gladly welcomed. Altliough
it had not I een in battle, it
had rende ed vnluabltt srrvice, and had in
every way acquitted itself with hr>nor.
Shortly afterwards Col. Brunei was
ceeded by Lieul. Col. StoUery,
by Lieut-Col. Hoxall, who in
was replaced by Lieut. -Col. Shaw,
some reason the ctficieiu y of tin; battalion
had letrojjradcd, and in ISSO.after being for
some years almost moribund, the battalion
after vigorous assi^'.ance from
Colonel ('umberland, its foun<ler,
wn? rrorganized with new otticcra, the old
otitis resigning. Lieut. Col. Graselt n ok
command, with Major Dawson senior
major. The title of Royal CJren-
adiers wa's bestowed upo i it, and
prosperity once more shone on the
corps. The tall bearskin worn by tbe
Britisli (irenadiers was adopted as the hcad-
dres.'^, and Col. (irasett, who, with Major
Daw.son, had served in the regulars, soon
brouglil the regiment up to the mark.
sue-
then
time
For
CHAPIER CCXX.XIV.
CAPITULATION OF YORK-
The Forc-os Kngnsed— Prisunern Wli# Were
Takt-n— TiTiuit er .*turrend«r— Who Wmh
R«'N|iuii<>ible ?-«eiieral iiliraUe'H.Srrvires.
With the opening of navigution on tho
rivers and lakes of Upper Canada in 1813,
the note of war which had rung throuuh the
province in 1812, and which wu atilled bjr
the approach of winter, ngftin resounded.
The Ueneral in command of the United
States .Army of the North, in pursuance of
the real object of the war, namely
the conquest of Canada, deter-
mined to make an attack upon,
and if possible capture, the cvpital of tiie
upper province, the town of York. That
this was the design there is no doubt. The
following extract from the instructions
issued to the commander-in-chief ot the
American forces establishes that fact conclu-
sively. He writes thus :
" Febboary 10th, 1813.
"I have the President's orders to com-
municate to you, as expeditiously as possible,
the outline of campaign which you will
immediately institute and pursue against
Upper Canada :
'*lst— 4.000 troops will be assembled at
Sackett'a Harbor.
' 2nd— 3,000 will b« brought together at
Buffalo and its vicinity.
"The former of these corps will be
embarked and transported under convoy
of the fleet to Kingston, where they will
be landed. Kingston, its garrison and the
British ships wintering in the harbor of that
place will be its tirst object.
"The second will be York (the capital of
Upper Canada) the stores collected and the
two fr gates building there "
In accordance with these orders, on April
2r)th, 181.1, the fleet under command of
Coiiiniodore Chauncey sailed for York, hav-
ing on board the American (General Dear-
born, his stiff and a very considerable force.
It is somewhat ditficult to say what the
exact number of troops was. Some writers
have given t as low as 1,<)00 men, while one
has gone so far as to say it was 5,000.
Commodore Cliauncey himself says : — " I
took on board the general and suite
and about seventeen hundred men." So
probably, if we include the .'ailors and
marines of Chauncey's fleet, there were from
two thousand two hundred to two thousand
four hundred men.
This force reached York on April '27th,
and preparations were at once made by
General Dearborn to effect the landing of
his iroops. York was at the time all but
absolutely defenceless. James gives the
following painful picture of the state of un-
preparedness : ' The guns upcn the l»at-
teries, being witliout trunnions, were
mounted upon wooden sticU.s, with iron
hoops and therefore became of very little use.
Others of the guns belonged to the sliip
that was building, and lay on the ground
partly covered with snow and frozen mud."
'J ho various vessels having taken up posi-
r^BWIVM
808
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
lioD BO that they might be able to cover the
:roops as they landed, they began te dii
embark early in the n^ontiiig, Jorayth and
hi8 corps of riflemen being the first to make
the attempt. It iiad been tlie intention to
make the landing close to tlie sice of the old
French fort, i)Ul the wind bein^ very higli
the boats we«-e drircn to leewbrd and tlie
landing actually took place some half mile
further to the west. Armstrong says this
sp t was "thickly covered with brushwood,
ami already occupied by British and Indian
marksmen." it wns nothing of the kind ;
had it been so Forsyth and his men would
never have got any further ; they
had iroul)le enough to get as
far as tliey did. It was really
held by Major tiames (iivens, formerly of
.Simcoe"s corpj, tlie l^ueen's Jiangers, a man
still hdiioialdy remembered in Toronto, and
whose dausrliier, Mrs. Hiiiier, now at the
great age of 93 years, still survives (ISOU).
With the major were about twenty-five In-
dians and sixty men of the Glengarry
Fendbles
So stubborn was the defeiu^e made liy
Giveiis and bis little band, tl»at Forsyili,
wiio lost many of his men, wa-s about to re-
treat, when be was oppoituiiely reinforced
by the arrival of a reiruiieni of infantry
under command of .Major King.
ihe total force liie Americans ha 1 already
landed anu)unted (and their own authority is
ijuoted) to more than 1,000 men, and these
were encounleied by one hundred and sixty
men of the 8th Koyai llcgimcnt, fifty of the
Newfoundland veterans, and two hundred
and twenty militiamen. These troops
James tells his readers, " made a formidable
charge upon the American column and jiar-
tinlly compelled it, to retire." \othing
better illustrates the {uinciple of " liow
not to do it," than (i. neial Sheaffe's conduct
on this occasion. He was no coward it is
true, but he was a '" bungler " and that is
almost as bad. He sent, Majnr-Cieneral
^5haw with fonv men ami a six pounder gun
to the line of Dundas street, wheie he
stopped all through the action and ni»vcr
fir^d a shot. Lnsily, he, liiidiug resi.^ianco
no longer practicable, retreated to Iviiigston,
leaving tlie militia and civil authorities
to take care of themselves. In his despatch
to the commander-in-chief. Sir George
Prevost, General Shcatt'e writes : — "Lieuten-
ant Colonel L'hewett and Major Allan of ;he
Militia, residents in the town, were instructed
to treat »ith the American commanders for
terms." 'I hese wore as follows : —
Among the killed and wounded at the .siege
of York were the following : — Killed Cap-
tain Maclean, Sth Ret'iment. Wounded,
Lieut. Koven, R. N. V.; Ensign Robins, of
the Glengarry Light Infantry : Captain
Ijoring, lU4th Regiment ; Captain Jarvi«,
Incorporated Militia, and Rarrack Master
Hartuey.
The total killed, officers N. C. O. aad
rank and file, amounted to sixty-two. The
wounded to thirty-four. .-Vncliinleck in his
"Warof 181'i" says : " Shoaffe was super-
seded for his blundera in the defence of
York," and well tie deserved to be, but it is
astonishing to find him in 1851 a full general
of thirteen years'standing and colonel in cliief
of the ."Jlith" Regiment since 18'2a. Yet Hart's
army list in reiordin: the general'.* war
services wholly oirdts anythiuf' about York,
but says a good deal about Quoenston.
None of those wlio were in arms in 181.3
now s-irvive. They have all passed away
into tlie great unknown. Yet many of tiieni
whose rames ;ire given ou the capitulation
" In departint; left behind tliem
footprints on the sands of time."
Our thanks are duo to the Hon. G. W.
Allan, who kindly placed at our disposal the
original documents of the capitulation.
\ Tlie following is the full text of the capi-
tulation : —
Tc)')!!.'! 1}/ t'lipitiild ion riilrri il iti/o (HI the iHh
April, one thoitsa/nl rii/lil Ini mired (tiul
t/iirlcrn. Jar Ifir siirmulcr of tlir loirnof
i'nrk. ill I'liprr ('(Jiiiida, lo Uir urmyund
iitivn of the V iiiird •^^l^•'••. under the com-
iniind of Major (•'riirrnl PcurlKirn atui
Commodore ( htiiinrii/.
Thar the troops, leRuiar and militia, at this
post, and tliu naval otiii ers and seamen, shall
be surrendered nrisoiurs of war. The troops
re;,'iilar and miliiia. ;o ground ihoir arms
im nedintely on iiarade. and the naval officers
an i seamen immediately surrotidor.
'!'liat,all public sicr s. naval and military.
sh»li he immndiatoly tiven up to the cuiiimand-
iiili i.tlicers of the Army and Navy of tha United
Siat(;s
'1 hat all private property shall be guaranteed
to the cit.i/.ins of the town of York. That the
papers btfl iiiginj; to the civil oflicers shall be
retained by Uioni. That such surKeons as may
bo iimcurcd to attend the wuu ruled of the
liritish Itegiilar anil Canadian Militia shall
not bs eo:si(iered prisoner* of war.
'i'hal one licuitnaiit-colonel, one major,
thirteen captains, nine lieutenants eleven
cnsinn.H and one tinarier master, one deputy
adjutant-general of i he miiliia, namely :—
1. Lieut. -(Jolonel Chewott. 1, Major \V. Allan,
1. Chaplain .John Hutlon ; 2. ('aptain .John
Wilson ; .3, Peter Uobinson ; 4, John Arnold;
5. James F'.nwick ; e, James Mnsiaid ; 7, Dun-
can Cameron ; 8. Uavid Thomson ; f), John
ICobinson ; 10, bamuel Itiduu^ ; 11, I'homas
JIamilton ; 12, John Burn. 13. William .larvio.
Lieutenants— 1, John H. Schuliz ; 'J. Uourgc
Mu«tard;3, Harnet VandeiburKh ; 4, Uobert
Stanton ; 5, George lUdour : 6, William Jarvis ;
7. Kdward McMahon ; 8, John Wilson ; 9, Eli
I'laytor.
Ensigns— 1, Andrew Thorn ; 2, Andrew
.Smalley; 3, Donald McArthur; 4, William
Smith ; 5, Andrew Mercer ; 6. James Chewett ;
7, Geot'KC Kuik; 8, Edward Thomson ; 9, Chas.
Allan,
Juhn
mold ;
Dun-
John
homAH
(arvic.
roorge
Kobert
larvls ;
9, Eli
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809
Oennison; 10, Gcorgo DenniRon; 11, D'Arcy
lioiilton.
Quartcnnaster-Charles Uaynes.
Nineteen serifciints, four corporals and two
hundred ann four rank and fllo.
OfthoKield Train Daparim nt— ), William
Dunbar.
Of tlio Provincial Navy— 1. Captain James
Gouvrcnux ; 1 Llenienunt -Gieen Midshipmen ;
I.John Uidout; 2, Louis Ueauore. clerk; I.
James LonKsdan. on« boatswain, fifteen n»val
oflicers.
or His Majesty* Uegular Troops— 1. Lieut, de
Koven. 1 9»r|teant major and of the Uoyal
Artillery ono bombardier and three gunners—
shill be surrendered as prisoners
of war and accounted for In the
exchaiie;o of prisoners between the
United Stntes and Great Britain.
Sisfned,
G. C. Mitchell, of Maryland, Lt. Col. 3rd
Artillery. United statics.
Saiivftl S. Connor. Miijor and A. 1). C. to
.Major-General Dearborn.
Will. Iving. Major l.ilh U. .S. Infantry.
J. D. Kllioit. Lieut. U. S. Navy.
Wm. Clioweit. Lt.-Col. comm.inding 3rd
Uegimont York Militia.
Wm. Allan, Majo:- 3rd llcgimcnt York
Militia.
F. Gi>ivreaiix, Lieut. Marino Deparlmenu
York, .\prir28th, 1813. .
'I'he l'ori'5?oiiis: agreement of capitulation is
appriivcii nt by us.
Bisncd, T, • ,. ,
H. DiCAUiioUN. Mn.ior-Gcneral.
Ikaac riiAi'.s'tioY, I'omniodoro,
CliAPTKK ('CXXXV.
ST. JAMES' RECTORY
The .nail ATho Kiiill It lU Karliur ■■iiriMiio
— llH Occiipaiil r»r more tliaii CoriyFive
Years -lilt; Late Itcaii,
The o'nl fashioned red brick house of two
storeys, situited on the southern aide of
Adelaide, about one hundred an i fifty Yan.ls
to the west of Jarvis street, is one of
th« oldest brick buildings in the city, in-
deed is sai(i to ba the third such house that
was erect hI
Vic 'bat as it may, this house, for long
years the residence of the late Dean of To-
rouio, the Very ReTereiid H. J. (irtvsett,
D. D. , (and now occupied by liis successor
as reotof ot St. .James', but nH as dean,
the Uev. Canon Dumoalin,) hasi played no
uniui|ini tant part in the history of this city
and also iu that of tlK Anuli:an Church
iu Canada.
The house was built in the ca ly part of
the century, it is believed auout IH'25, but
tlie date is very uncertain, by a man
nanmd .\ndrews. wlio hiui intended ih-
buildin'4 for a hotel, if indeoa it was nH
actually used for tha; purpose. This latta
supposition is more than probable, as when
the late Ueau first occupied it, each door in
the upper floor bore ii numb r. A well-
known person nsniKd Fenlcn also lived there.
He was clerk, t ex ton, bead i; Kud gen-
eral factotum at St. Jameb' church, and by
the younger members of the congregation
at any rate was loo;;ed up to as a vety im-
portant person. He occupied the house
until 18.37, when the Rev. Henry James
(irasott began his tenantcy, which termi-
n<it(;d only with the life of that gentleman.
Henry James Grasett was the son of Dr.
Crasett, of the 48th Regiment, and was
born in Gibraltar on June 18th, 1808 It is
worth noting as a somewhat singular coin-
cidence, that not only the (.rasett family, but
also the Gambles and the Macaulays, of
Tordiito, wore descended from doctors who
served in the British army.
Young Cirasctt, on leaving school, was
entered iu 18.S1 at St John's College, Cam-
bridge, where, for his last yeftr, he had as a
follow undergraduate, his afterwards close
friend, brother clergyman and townsman,
tiie Keveread Henry Scadding. .Mr. Grasett,
as lie was then, took his degree as 15. A. ia
18.51, becfime M.A, eight years later, be-
came M. D. iu 1853, and finally Doctor of
Divinity in 18G1)
iiis lirst cliarge was in Quebec, after Ijeing
onlained Deacon in LS.34, by Bishop Stewart,
of <.>>uebec. in the following year he was
oiaaiued priest by the same prelate, and ia
.Inly of that year was appointed by hit
(luieesan, assistant minister of St. .3«me8,
Tiironto, Archdeacon John Strachan beini;
rector, [t seems strangle that less than
sixty years since Toronto and (Quebec were
in the same diocese, and that the bishop of
the latter place had a residence, which ha
occupied occasionally, in Toronto.
Prior to leaving Qucbsc, Mr. (rrasett w»»
appointed domestic chaplain to his bishop.
That was in ISIiS, and despite the
fact of his removal to Toronto, ia
such high esteem did Bishop .'^tcwart
iiold him, and so greatly did he value his
counsel, that he lieUl that office until tho
deaili of the bishop a few years lacer.
In the l.'itler end of 18.S9 Archdeacon
Str.ieiian became tiie first Anglican bishop
of Toronto, but still reiiiaiiicd rector of St.
James', not resigning that preferment unsil
1847, when Mr. Grasett was appointed in his
place.
immediately upon being consecrated bis-
hop, Dr. Strachan appointed Mr. (irasett
his examining and also his domestic chaplain,
and these two cflBcos Mr. Grasett tilled,
togetlier with that of private secretary to
the bishop, until i\m ilecease of the latter in
186S.
Ill St. James' rectory Dr. Strachan
often discussed with his friend and
ohaplain the knotty questions of th«
day. The subjects of the Clergy Reserves,
I'rinity College, St James' Cathedml, th*
m
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810
\
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
division of Toronto dioceie and many others
that at the tima caused heart burninga and
ill-feelingt, not only among Anelicaua but
amongst those of other denomioaliona also,
ware here debated by the w.xrm- tempered,
plain-spoken, though kijid-hearted biah«p,
with his sagacious counsellor, Mr. Grasett.
Quiet in manner as he was, Mr. Grasett
had no fear of expressin.; dissent when he
It is not to be supposed Mr. Grasett was
without an opinion on this vexed question ;
indeed it is well-known he had very decided
views ou the point, but he was able to hold
them and to give expression to them also
without causint; offence to those who differed
from him.
Among other notable visitors at the rec-
tory was Dr. Burnside, who resided on
* ST. JAMES RKCTORY — RKAK VIl'.W.
felt ft, from the bishop's views, but so un-
bounded was the coiiGdence ihalatter p'aced
ia him that their friendship was never in-
terrupted for a day.
Many still remember the violence of the
controversy over the Clergy Re erve question
and how strongly, not to say bitterly, Dr.
Strachan "as attacked, and how vigorously
he defended himself and his policy.
Yonge street, and who also greatly valued
Mr. Grasett's opinion. The doctor was a
munificent benefactor to 'Irinily College ;
he died iu 185"). Each Chri.stmas Day, so
long as the iatc Dean survived, there was
one guest always looked for, who always
I came and who \\as always honored, that
was the now venerable and veneraleil Dr.
Scadding. Ihe friendship of those two
."it
I 11
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• 5 If
1 1
5|
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I
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812
LANDMARKS 01'' TOIIONIO.
members of th« sama Alma Mater bej^m in
18SI, aad only tuiniinatcd witli the death of
the elder of thein
Mr. Grasett was apppointed the first Dean
of Toronto in 18157. li« proceeded to I'lng-
land about eighteen inuiiths later, or posfulily
H little longer, for the purposo of lai.ing liis
degree %» D. D.
Anionj; well linown clergymen who visited
at the rectory rnny be i. entioned the lute
Arthur Penrhyn Stanley, I). D , Dean of
\\'e.-.tminster ; 8<;lwyn, the famous mission-
ary hishof) and msny otheis.
Canon Kdniund Baldwin for many years
■ni'ikcd aide by «ide with the Dean 'it St
.lames', and exercised can inlluciioe among
the congregation becond only to ihut ot the
Dean himself.
I lie Deiin married in 1837, Misu Stewart,
daughter of the Honorable John Stcwurl. a
menii er of the Lciiislative Council of Lower
Canada. They had a large tamdy of sons
and daughters. Among the former are To-
ionto's pre.-ent cidef of police and Dr
tirasc'it, a nitdical p actitioner in the city
Tiie Dean divd in KSS'J, respected by ail,
even by tho.'<e who difl'crcd ir.oHt strongly
from him. lie Tvas never a brilliant n;an,
but he was what is l)etter— he was a
thorou'^h man in all his dealings and in all
he undertook. He occui'lo-"! a dilbcult posi-
tion under trying circumstani'es and at a
very critical period, and rxeieised |;reat
influence anion.: a large sijclion of the city's
residents, and exercised it wisely. Tiiough
no time-server, yet he reco;;nized, very
wisely, that amo g many men there are
many minds, and whcie principle was not
involved h<« was always ready to waive his
pai ticular prejudice in favor of unanimity.
He was a pioneer iu the history of the
Auglican C huich in Canada, and few men
have held a public position such as his was
so blamelessly, in the chancel of the church,
■where for so many years he had ministered,
Ids remains were interred, «n<l tiicre not
lent; afterward^s his widow was laid beside
hmi. " Iq the va.st cathedral leave uim."
CHAPTER CCXXXVl.
FRONT STREET OF OLD.
Tlio (inoderbaiN WlLirfaiid Mill— The Fulr
4;rouud — Oilier Kolable Buildinstt — Tkc
Old Fori.
Less ihan lialf a century since, so recentlv
as 18.'>l or Ty'I, any on« might ha> e strolled
from the ct.st to the west of tie city along
Front atreet, from Gooderham's mills to the
Old Fort, at almost any hour of tiie day,
without meeting more than a score or so of
people in the entire length of the promen-
ade, or a single injident happening to at-
tract any a tention.
loginning one's walk towards the west,
tiie first prominent buildings reached would
be those nundjertd 1, 2 and 3 in theeuLiiav-
ing. 'I lie<3e were the wharf and storehouse,
the mill anil the residence, of a veritable
pioneer of commerce in the city of Toronto,
the late Mr. Willium Cooderham.
Mr. (.ipdderham w;kR born in Scole, Nor-
folk, lui-Liid, on August '29lh, 1790. In
hia very early days lie was under the care of
a I'claLive engagrd in the East Indian trade
in London, Fnujluud.
Tint did not couti'1118 very long though
for when yet a very vunng man, .\lr. Good-
crham enlisted in the Knyal York Rangers,
an [ni])Oi'ial corps long since disbanded, aitd
went witii tliein to the West Indies. Itwa«
not long be:(>re he learned somethiii:r of the
grim rcalit:c:i of a soldier's, life, as his regi-
ni'Mit v.as iiotly engaged at Martinniue and
also at (iuadaloupe. However, he came
safely through the campaign, but on his
voyage hom« to i£ngland narrowly escaped
deaiii by cirowning, if not by fire.
His Majesty's ship .Majestic, on which
lie hud emt-arked, look hre, and only
with ilie greatest d fliculty were those
I n boaril saved. For some little time
alter his return to the old country
M'-. Gooderhain remained in H. M. service,
employed on iho recruiting staff, where he
amassed a considerable sum of money.
Eventually quilting tiie army he, in IS.'i'J,
came to Toronto, accom|)anied by no less
than lifty-four other rclakive*.
lint >ir. (iooderham was something more
than a mere coluhiat, he was a very consid-
erable cAT))iaii.it, as in addition to his rela-
tives he had with him £.3,000 sterling,
e(|iiiva!ent to $15,000, or very nearly so, and
for tho-e days a very large sum. It was, in-
dee.i, when Mr. (joodorham depositid it in
the IJ.ink of Uppi.-r Cunaila. tke largest sum
tliat >. I-. '1'. c;. Riiloul, the caihier of that
iiistiti-.tion, had ev^r received ovor ids coun-
ter to the credit of a pi'ivat.e account.
.•\lmost as soon as he arrived in Toronto
Mr. (Jo'nkrham entered into partnership
V' ith his rckiti\e, Mr. Jamea WoFts. and
they traded as ndllers under the style of
\Voi'ts & (ioodciham.
Hanging u}) in the counting house of the
present tii'in, flamed ant glu/.ed, is an in-
voice headed " 'A'ind Mills, York. U.C."
and dated January .30th, 1834, made out to
" Mr. Murrow, near Colonel \\ tils' office,"
for one barrel of flour, the amount charged
being £1 2s 6d currency or $4 50. This iu-
Toictt is the only one that is known to exist,
Mr. G. Gooderhain, the present head of the
I i'
^^
10 promen-
eiiiny to at-
Is the weit,
cheil would
the eiiiiav-
atoielit.use,
veriuble
>f i'orouto,
coif!, \or-
1790. In
the CK|-« of
uiliiin trad*
ng though
Sir. Good-
i Rangers,
niiued, aad
|es. IiwM
hiii; of the
iis Ilia re^i-
tuiKiue and
I he came
but on his
^ly escaped
on which
and only
irr.rf. those
little time
d country
M. unrvice,
wliere iio
sf nioiity.
ae, in 18;il',
hy no less
thing more
sry conoid
» liis rela-
> hlorlin;^,
irly 80, and
It wiifi.in-
osiLc-d it in
^r|;es^ sum
ier of liiiU
r iiis coun-
uat.
n 'I'oronto
lartnerahip
orts. and
le style oi
use of the
, is an in-
rk. U.C."
ade out to
la' office,"
It charged
This iu-
n to exist,
sad of the
-'■ t
'oil
M'
• I'j
w
ir
(t
® m
View of Front Street, :
t street, from the Old Windmill to the Old Fort, in 1849-52.
(See pages 813 and 814.)
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;48-52.
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LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
813
firm, having ttbtainod it m a curiosity a f«w
yean a;;o
Mr. Jamas vVurts, lika Mr. William
Gooderbam, was also a Norfdic man, having
been boru ia Yarmouth, tl.at seaport famous
for its parish church, (the largtst in Eng-
land) its ' oloators" its beach, and its"rows. '
lie died in 1834, in the prime of lite, and the
firm became William Uooderham.
The windmill was built by tliis Mr.
Worts, and for a number of years was solely
worked by windpower, but about 1846,
the suils were taken off, steam bein^ intro-
duced. A fe.v years after .^ard8, in 1852 or
1853, the top Wits blown off durin.; a storm
that swept over the city: d«iuendiir: to the
ground " like an umbrella,'' so its tall was
described by an onlooker. It vras then re-
built, and finally disappeared, owing to the
march of modern improvea:ents m mills as
in everyihing else in 186(i.
In 1845, William Gooderham too;; into
partnership his nephew (the son of his first
partner), James (iooderham \Vorts, and
this partnership existed until the death of
the former.
.lames (i. Worts had accompanied
his talher to Canada in 1832 when
•nly fourteen years of age, and was
an active member of the firm of Gooderbam
& Viurta from 1845, till bis death in 1882.
He was for many years one of the Wardens
of Trinity church, King street east, and for
thirty-nine years a member of the congrega-
tioTi) He was also a Harbor Commissioner,
and at all times a much esteemed business
man.
Mr. William Goodcrham built the lar^e
dwelling house to the west of the mill,
about 1850, and there resided until his
death thirty one years latei'. He was VVar-
den of I'rinity church for 38 years, and was
an English churchiiian of the old fashioned
evangelical type, a Tory of no doubtful color
and nn ardent Freemason. His children,
grandchildren and great-gtandci.ildrcn,
numbered no less than 90 when he, on
August 20, 1881, having all i ut completed
his ninety-first year, passed away.
Leavin.: the Gooderbam house, proceed*
ing west, the tower of Trinity church. King
street (number four on the engraving), is seen
in the distance, while still further oil'
'* pointinf; to the skies," is the spire of >t.
Paul's Roman Catholic church on Power
street (5.)
At liinity church has labored now for
exactly forty-one years the Rev. .Alexander
Sanson, he being the senior rector in point
of service in the c'ty of 'Toronto, if not in
the diocese. 1 he first rector was the Rev.
W. H. Ripley, who was hIso second classical
master at Upper Canada College. A marble
tablet is erected on the western wall of the
interior of the church t > his memory. He
died in 1849.
St. Paul's, on Power street, recalls to
memory llishop t'ower, and his selfdevot-
edness in trying to stem the tide of sorrow
and suffering he saw aroiind him. He fell a
victim to the immigrant fever of 1847, con-
tracted while ndnistering to the dying and
burying the dead.
(ioing further west, Mr. Henry Lathom'a
house (U) is passeil, and next to it that one
for some time occupied by Captain Atherley
(7) Mr. Lathom was a well - known
solicitor, having been a pupil in the office of
Mr. C. C. Small
Next comes what is apparently a necessary
evil in modern civilization, the Jail (8), and
as it is passed we reach the Fair green (U).
On this green were held till late m the
" fifties' not only c ttle and produce fairs,
but also u ild beast short s, circuses and oc-
casionally it was also utilized as a muster-
ing place for societies, who wished to make
a demonstration by marching through the
streets of the city.
One of the most notable, if not indeed th*
most notable, exhibition held on the Fair
Green, was that of the renowned P. T. Bar-
num in 1852. It was described thus :
P. T. baknum's
OKAND COLOSSAL MirSKUM A.ND MENAOKRIR.
The largest travelling ExmniTioN in 'he
World, being a combination of all the most
popular and unexceptionable amusements of
the age — enlarged and improved for the sea-
son of 1852.
A TKAM OF 10 ELEPHANTS
Will draw the G eat Cab ov Ju(iUER.\AUT.
A BABY ELKI'UANT
only one year old and but 3.^ feet high, will
carry upon his back, around the interior of the
immense Pavilion, the Lilliputian iiy.s. i o.m
TiiUiMiJ Themagnificentcortege comprises 110
horses and 90 men. The Pavilion of Exhibi-
tion has been enlarged until it is capable
of accommodating 15,000 spectators at once.
— The collection of living Wild Beasts in-
cludes the most splendid specimens ever ex-
hibited in America. Among m uy others
will be found
SIX BEAUTIFUL LIONS,
fresh from their native forests
A SACKED UURMESIC BULL,
from the l&land oi Ceylon, worshipped there
by the Pagan Natives, and recently taken
from an Idolatrous Temple.
A monster whitk or I'olar bear ! — of
prodigous size and ferocity.
A magnificent royal TifiRESs— the lar;j;eat
one ever captured alive.
An infantile camhl— only six months of
age, the first one ever born in America, etc.
M
;■'*
t • '.
P"
^mm
814
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
'^■^^•1
.i^^::;-
The DROVE or elei'iiants were captured
in the jungle of Central Ceylon, by Messrs.
i4 B. June and Geo. Nutter, assisted by
S60 nal ives, after a pursuit of three
months and four days in the
jangles. They were finally entrap-
ped and secured in an Indian Kraal or Trap,
of enormous dimensions and prodigious
strength, where they were subdued. The
calf elephant accompaiies its dam, and
was weaned on its passaire from India.
A NATIVE CKYLON CHIEF, of high casto la
his own country, has charge of the elepha^its,
having accompanied them from Cey on.
But for fear these attractions should not
prove sufficient, it was advertised in ad-
dition to the above wonders that lUe renl,
genuine, original
GKN. TOM THUMB
is attache 1 to this exhibition, and will ap-
pear, in all his performances, as given before
the principal crowned heads of Europe, in-
cluding Songs, Dances, Grecian Statuos and
his admired personations of Napoleon and
Frederick the Great. The little General is
twenty years of age, weighs only fifteen
pounds, and is but twenty-eight inches high.
Then besides all the foregoing attractions
there was
MR NELLIS,
the man without arms, w. o executed his
extraordinary feats of loading and firing a
pistol with his toes ; cut protile likenesses ;
shot at a mark with a bow and arrow ; play-
ed upon the accordion and violoncello, etc.
And in addition to all these marvels a
fine military band performed the most popu-
lar airs of the day, as tlie procession eniercd
town, and also during the hours of exhibi-
tion.
Finally, the charge for admission was only
25 cents to the whole of this immense estab-
lishment, including General Tom Thumb,
the entire collection of wild animals, wax
statuary, Mr. Pierce s performances in the
dens, the baby elephant, Mr. Nellis' per-
formances, etc., no extra charge under any
pretence whatever, let the reports be what
they may. Doors open from 1 to 4, and
from 7 to 9 o'clock p.m.
Some little distance to the north of the
Fair green is se n the back of the house oc-
cupied for so many years by the late
C. C. Small (10) which has been
fully described on a previous occasion.
Following that is the residence of the late
Dr. Christopher W idmer (11) in early life
an army surgeon, seeing hard service in the
Peninsala under Wellington, attached to
the 14th Light Dragoons, a regiment ren-
dered famous by ' he novelist Charles Lever
as being the one in which served that hero
of fiction Charles O'Malley.
Afterwards he become a leading man
both as medical practitioner andr
politician in Upper Canada. Hm was for
soma time a member of the Legislative
Council, but for many years before ias death,
which occurred nearly forty years since, he
had ceased to take an active part in politics.
As Dr. VVidmer's house is left behind
Lamb's glue factory appears, (12) built in or
about 1846, then three dwelling houses,
(13) erected by Dr. Widmer, that in the
centre occupied for some years by one of
Mr. William Gooderham's sons, and that
on the west by the late F. A. Whitney, a
grandson of Dr. Gamble, o.t the Queen's
Rangers
Mr. Thomas Collier's residence (14)
Russell Abbey (15) and the Toronto Gas
Works (16), are all close together, and then
comes John Snarr's steam saw and planing
m Us (17).
Mr. Collier just named was a much es-
teemed official belonging to the Canada
Company.
Cull's starch factory and shipyards (18) are
next passed, and then the cupola of St.
Lawrence Hall comes into view. This
building, when first erected after the great
fire of 1849, was much used for balls, re-
captions and public meetings.
It was the e that the Mayor and City
Council welcomed Sir Edmund Head en
his hrst visit to Toronto as Governor-
General. It was there also that Major
Wells and Lieutenant Dunn, V. C , were
feted on their return from the Crimea, and
it was in the same building in 1855 that one
of the most enthusiastic meetings whicii was
ever held in the city took place in aid of the
patriotic fund for Britain's sick and woui.ded
soldiers then serving in the east.
The Commercial Mills and Messrs. Berst
& Halliday s distillery (20) and Le^vk's
soap works (21) are next, close togeiner.
They have long ago disappeared.
The City Hall (22) looking in 189.3 very
little changed from what it was ferty years
ago. is next, while on the water's edge is seen
the building once occupied as a fish market
(23). It has disappeared and those who re-
member it and ita unsavoury sarroimdiags
and noisy occupants are aware hovr little
there is to regret new that it has gone. 1 he
Welllneton Hotel (24), famous as a reaort
for farmers, market gardeners and
others frequenting the markets of the
city on business was a little to the
west of the City Hall, and then is seen what
was always expressively but inelegantly
describe 1 (owing to its peculiar shap.) as
the Coffin Block, (25.)
Maitland's wharf comes next (27) and
then, with its front door and windows tacittg
m «i
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
•15
the wharf, it the North American Hotel.
The proprietor of this houao for many yeftri
waa Mr, U. C. Horwood.a quiot tmt popular
man with all who knew him. In this hotel
Capt. Gilskin, commandinf the fcailin({ veeael
Cherokee, the firat ahip that erer aailed
direct from Toronto to Liverpool, waa pub-
licly banquetted before he ret out on bis
voyage, by the citizena of Toronto.
The llank of Montr9al(28) Hrown a(29) and
Yonge atreet wbarvea arc further wcatward,
iu close proximity to one another. Vonge
atreet {30), aometimea called Uorric'a
wharf brings to mind many notable
men who were efien mot there, or
in ita immediate vicinity. Of these
Captain Richardaon, first commander
of tiie Niafara steamera and then Har-
bor maater ia well remembered ; F. W.
Barron, principal of Upper Canada College,
and Dr. Heilder, both aa cool yachtamen aa
they ware reapectivcty elevor achoolmastor
and aurgeoB. Colonel E R. O Brien, who
might well h%ve aerved Tfaackeray aa the
original of Colonel Newcooae in hie aovei
"The Newcomea," was also a well-known
face, aa were alae tboao ef G. B. Holland and
Ci^taina James aod Themaa Dic.<, tbe
Twobys and many more.
We are eettiug to the end of our atroU
though. Tinning a wharf (31) comes next
wtkii some diataace further west the
Queen's (32).
1 hd Tinnings, both father and aon, were
active pushing business men, and deservedly
enjoyed a high reputation Occasionally
tiiey were jocularly ap ken oi as the
"horae marines," in allusion to
their fondueaa for horsea aud horse
racing. They were largely interested
in if they did not actually own, a race course
to the east of tiie eity over the Don river..
Queen's wharf was always called into use
in the days of the Niagara steamers all
throHgh the winter, fey tbe owners ot the
steamer Chief J4astiee Robinson. This
vessel ran to and from Toronto luai Niagara
throughout the winter season on more than
ene occasion, sailing from the Queen's
wharf.
The Old Fort, (33), is now reached. Its
memories are legion. Many a sad story, many
a romaace and many a bitter partiag has it
known aud watoesMd, but sorrowful as
swne of the revollectioDS of tiie Okl Fert are
it has also mai^ joyous ones and
it ia well to remember that of many of
those who wui out ef ita gates, it could be
aaid —
"Xiia path of duty was the way to glory,"
CHAPTER CCXXXVIL
OANAOIAN LAKE NAVIQATiON.
An Areonni of the Vlrat Vessela Ikat
Hailed Oar Ittlantl IVaterti and of Tiioae
Wbo .Manned Vkev, ltt781TT«.
From 1677 to 1893 is little more than two
centuries, and it is at the former date at
which thii history of the Canadian marine
bc};ins,wlien the place where the City of I o-
ronto now stand* was simply a portage on
Lalte Ontario, without houses or permanent
buildings of auy kind, a spot used by tlio
Huron Indians, not only as a tiading place
iu their dealings with the French, but aUo
as their own headquarters. Those visiting
it by land did »o, of course, on foot, and
those who came by water were trau.sported
thi her either in batteaux, canoes, or in small
vessels of the most primitive description. It
is our purpose to cive an account in these
pages ot the development of the shipping on
Lake Ontario and the waters immediately
adjacent thereto, tracing ita growth from its
infancy to the present day. The name first
given to Lake Ontario by ChaniplaiP; the
great French discoverer, was not its present
one. He called it " Lake St Louis, ' after
the French monarch. Subsequently, for a
brief period it was known as " Lake Fron-
wenac," after the famous Governor of that
name. Count de Frontenac, who represented
his sovereign here from 1672 to 1682 aud
from 1689 until his de th in 1098. It tiually
received, and has ever since retained, the
name it now bears — Ontario The first
European who accomplished the ascent of
the Sc. Lawrence from the Atlantic to Lake
Ontario was M. de Coureelles, in 1670. He
did so in furtherance of the policy that \« as
being pursued by France to Sfcure the fur
trade with the Indians in the north and
north- Most of the American continent. About
three years later than this a young French
traveller, Sieur La Salle, arrived in Canada
full of a project of discovering a route to
Japau as well as to the Kast Indies by pene-
trating further and fur: her to the west until
ho reached the nor'bern seas. He diHclosed
his plans to Froc t.v<a , who hi 1 succeeded
De Coarcelles as '< . rnor of Canada, and
quito won him over to his views. Furnished
by Frontenac with letters of introduction
to influential people at tbe French Court,
he returned to France, and while there ob-
tained from the iiionarch a grant of the
seicnofy of Cataraqui, together with the ex-
clusive right to trade in the west, aud full
liberty of exploration. Armed with these
extensive powers in 1678 La Salle returned
to Canada, and for about a year employed
himself in building fortresses at Cataraqui in
■■:-TiirVn^^a^
ti-'-'
'0.
rtl
M
816
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
coiiBtruoting ships on Liika Ontario ntid in
conunercinl traiisiictions with tlie Ir.diAiia.
Th« first kuiline vessel built upon Ontario
was a atnuli schooner of about ten tons
burden, constructed at thc"CubinR," where
Kingston is now Uf)rin tiiis vo<<sel on
November IHth, lti78. La Salle sailed
from L'aturii(|ui, his destination beiii^ the
mouth of the River Niagura. Uo had as his
companioiiH Father Huiimpin and Chevulicr
do Tudti. and on his veitsel carried both
merchandise and the materials for construct-
ing a ship
Soon after entering Niagara River, La,
Salle itiid Father Hennepin, M'ith their
Hnmll craft, were hioui^ht to a stand at the
head of the eddy at Queonston, where lies
a lartje rock, which is to the present time
distinguitdied as Haunepiu Rock. Their
vessel was wreciied, ami the rigging and
other stores for tiic Grillin wore lost, though
the anchors and cables were saved I hi^
wreck took place at Thirty Mile Point,
where there is a very bad shore.
- ";-
am <U articles of rusted iron were frecjuently
found ttiere when iie (a young officer) tirst
came to Fort Niagivra with the French
troops."
After the keel had been laid La Salle
requested Fath.er liuni epin to drive the
first bolt, but this honjr was declined
through, as ho iiiinaelf tells us, "the
mo estyol my relicimis profession."
As the buildin;; ot the veHsel progrp.«sed
so did the an;;ur and Jealousy of tho Indians,
and their intention, Hhoul< '"'voiable
opportunity present itself of .i>^ the
ship, was revealed to tho Frcncn uy one of
their sqiniws Kroni La Salle's biotrriiphcr
we learn that "as sprinj,' opened sli ■ was
ready for launching. 1 iio friar j)ronourice i
liis blessing on her, tiie cissaniblcd company
sang i'e l)?iini, cannon were tired and
French and Indians, warnied alike jjy a
;,'c'ni'rous gift of brandy, shouted and yelled
in chorus as she gided into the Niii<rara.
11 'I' builders towc 1 licr out and anciiored
her in the stream, safe at lust from incen-
'^lii^c:^::'
'tlli^
TIIK UAKQrK CKIITIN'.
Once more La Salle returned to Frontenac
and again by another vessel shipped fresh
tores aud supplies for the (irittin. The
name of this ship is not given, but the other
was known as the Frontenac.
There is much difTcrence of opinion as to
the exact locality where the Griffin was
built .ind on wiiich side of tlie Niagara rirer.
Van Cleve, writing in 1878, after very careful
stu iy of the matter.saysit was at the inoutii
of a stream entering the Niagara River, six
miles above the Falls, and which is now cal-
led Cayuga Creek.
This is the very general opinijn. But
Van Cle've quotes tiic following all but con-
clusive testimony : —
••Joshua Fairbanks, late of Lewiston, who
rame to Queenston in 1793 (before Lewiston
was known as such) from Massachusetts,
was veil acquainted with an old French
officer who did not return to France after
the conquest of Canada by the Knglish in
1759. Thi-o old officer frequently told Mr.
F. that the barque Griftiii was built at
Cayuga Creek (two leagues) six miles above
the Falls, and that small spikes and other
diary hands, and then, swinging their ham-
mocks under her deck, slept in peace beyond
reach of the tomahaw ks of the Indians who
gazed on her with amazement. Five small
cannon looke I out frcm tier purt-boles, and
on hc-r bow was carved a portentous monster,
the (iritfon, wlinsd name she bore, in honor
of the armorial bearings of Frontenac."
(Parkmau.)
There is some difference of opinion as to
the name < f this vessel. Father Hennepin
says she was called "The C.'ataraqui," but
Garneau and other writers describe ber as
*'!he Griffon, 'and there is little dcubt but
that was her name. She is described as
'a kind of brigantinc, not unlike a
Dutch galliot, with a broad, elevated bow
and stern, rery flat in the bottom, looking
much lirger than biie really was aud of sixty
tons burden.'
At length, in 1679, accompanied by
Father Hennspin, who «as a Flemish
Recollet. aud had come from France with
him. La Salle on August 9tb entered Lake
p]rie on board the Grifi'on, this being the
first ship which had ever floated upon its
t ■»
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
•17
lently
) tirst
Vcuch
Salle
e Iho
cUuoil
"the
[refsed
iidiuus,
iTouible
litl the
one of
irivphor
ih ■ was
louiice i
jinpauy
eil aiul
e by »
a yelled
'siivi^ara.
mciiored
u iuceu-
ffi\.
f-W:;.^
''I
f -11-
leir ham-
cc beyond
L\us who
ive small
ioles, and
monster,
in honor
outenac."
nion as to
Hennepin
aqui,'' but
be her as
doubt but
cril)eJ »3
unlike a
ated bow
|>m, looking
ud of sixty
panied by
Flemish
ranee with
tercd Lake
being the
upon its
wateri. He sailed from and to wid nf it,
and ([oinK through the Straits of Detroit he
then entered a beautiful sheet of water, to
which he f;ave the name of Lake St. Clair.
Passing thence through the narrow channel
whereupon now stands the town of Saroia,
he readied l^ke Huron. Here a terrible
storm struck the Tvuel, and the terrified
sailors fell upon their knees, thinking their
craft was about to founder. The pilot, too,
Tehemently upbraided La Salie for having
pervuaded him to leave the ocean, which he
had suucessfully navigated for so many
years, o<j1j to meet kis end in a wietched
la'<<e. Uut the storm abated. There was a
great caln and iMiehillimaokinac, standing
on the south side of the strait betwreu Lake
Huron and Michigan, was reached, the voy-
age coming to an end in one of the buys to
the north of the Utter lake. La Salle re-
mained in the North-west for some tune
longer, but he sent the Griffon back laden
with valuable furs, %nd she is supposed to
have foundered, as nothing more was over
heard or any trace found of her.
TUB BARLIKR SETTI,ER.H— CANOB8. BATTF.AUX.
There iano (loubi that the early i^ettlers
of Canada in their journeys from one por-
tion of the country to another had clearly de-
tined and regular routes, in pursuing their
way from the Atlantic to the interior of the
country the French would at times
only ascend the St. Lawrence as far
as the mouth of the River Sorel, then
prooeeding westward, following the course
of the river, would enter Lake Ciiamplaiii
and from i here proceed to what is uow the
State of Mew York. At other times instead
of doing this they would continue the ascent
of the St. Lawrence until Lake St. Louis or
Ontario was reached. The French found it
better to proceed by the River St Lawrence,
while the Knglish had to follow the high
lands separating the rivers flowing towards
the great lakes of the north, from those
emptying their waters into the Atlantic,
i he American historian. Wild, tells us : —
"There are four principal channels for trade
between the ocean and the lakes. One by
the .Mississippi to Lake Erie ; a second by
the Potomac and French creek to the same
place ; a third by the Hudson and a fourth
by the St. Lawrence." (Like Ontario
Lake E-ie has not always borne its
present name ; it was at first called
Lake Okswego). From La Salle's >imc and
for nearly a century later these routes were
travell d by Indians, French and English,
and last of all by the U. E Loyali.sta,eicher
on foot or in open boats, for until the close
of the eighteenth century but little advance
was mads in the modes of travelling either
bv land or by Wiiter. For many years the
canoe was the only vesnol used by the
Indians, and was employed by them citliar
in hunting or vipon warlike expeiiitlon^ It
was comparatively lij,'ht and c uld i\l<)o bo
easily hidden on the shores of l.lie lakes or in
the thickets and ruxhts iidjoinin^ the rivers.
At las', the French appeared brin^iiii; with
them their batteaux, but for u great number
of years the birch l>ark canoe was the only
means of transit. In 1685 the Marquise de
Nouville, when on his expedition against the
Five Nation*, conveyed his army across
the lake in canoes in two division.^, lueetiu.'
at Osweso Referring to inland navigation
by this means, Gourley, in writing or La-
chine, tells us : " From Tjtvchine the canoes
employed by the North west Compiiiiy in the
fur trade take their departure. Of all liio
numetous contrivances for tranipdrtiiig
Heavy burthens by water, these ve.s^elH are
perhaps (he nio«t extraordinary ; scaroely
anything can be conceived so inedeiiuate
from the slii;hine ■ ef their construction to
the purpose they are applied to, and to con-
tend against the impetuous torrent of tho
many rapids that must be passed through in
the cour.ie of a voyage. They seldom ex-
ceed thirty feet in ien.:th and six in breadth,
diiniuiihing to a sharp point at each end,
without distinction of head or stern ; the
trame IS composeil of some small pieces of
some very light wood ; it is then covered
with the bark of the birch tree, cutint^ con-
venient slips that are rarely more than
the eighth of an inch in thickness ; these
are sewti together with threads made from
the twi.-ted fibres of the roots of a particular
tree and strengt-ened where neces.sary by
narrow strips of the sante materials applied
on the mside ; tlie joiuts on the fragile
planking are made water-tight by being
covered with a species of gum that adheres
very firmly and becomes perfectly hard. No
it on work of any description, not even nails,
are employed in building these slender
vessels, w ich when complete weigh only
about five hundred weight each. On being
prepared for the voyage they receive their
lading, which, for the convenience of c.irry-
iug across the portages, is made up in pack*
ages of about three-quarters of a hnudred
weight each and amounts altogether to five
tons, or a little more, including; provisions
and other necessaries for ihe men, ol
whom from eight to ten are employed to
each canoe ; they nsually set out in brigades
like the batteaux, and in the course of a
summer upwards of fifty of these vessels are
thus despatched." The route they took was
up tlie Ottawa E ■«•?>»• to the south-west
brunch, proceeding by i<< i^.d the cluster of
small lakes into whici; it e.iipties, until Lake
Nipissing was reached, from thence to Lake
i H
•!..■
■' T-
I •!:
l:^M
!f
B
fin,;:
1^ ;
'r:i
ill
■i I
818
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Huron .id thas to Lak* Superior, procead-
ing on its northern shore to the Urend I'or:-
age, a distance of no leas than 1,100 miles
from the point at which they departed
When we remember that there werenot only
the rapids with which to contend, hut also
the portages, which varied greatly in e.xtcnt,
some only being ii few yard.s wide, otiiers a
few miles, and that at all of tlie rapids an 1
each one of the portages, tiie canoes and their
contents had to he liftctl out of the water
and carried on the men's shoulders until
sailinr; could be rpsommenced, we shall have
some slight idea of the hardships thai had
to be f.ulured by the jdoreer members of
our merchant inland marine service.
The batteau.x, wliich wre used like the
canoes for tlie t.ranspott of both goo s and
passengers, were many, though not i>ll of
them, built at Lacliine, some nine miles from
Monticul.
.Some of tlicm could accommodate as
many as five or even six families. They
oould also carry a lar>;e weight of luggage or
freight. They were divided into brigades of
twelve boats each. and there was a ?;uide, or,
as lie was generally called, a conductor, with
five men under him on each batT.Ui>.u, Tliis
conductor tilled exactly tiie same position
on tlie batieau that a captain would do who
was in coiinrand of a tihip. .Sut-ceedin ; the
battd»ux' came at a long interval the
Schenectady and Durham boats, but of
these and their construction more will be
said hereafter.
An excellent account of the first vessels
which traversed La e Ontario a hundred and
thirty years ago may be found in M.
Poujhots " Memoir upon the late w r
in North America betsvean the French
and Engli.?h, 17.").l-60" which was translated
and editei by F. B. Hcugh and published
at Roxbury, Mass. In it we find that
when the French troops arrived in Canada
they were transported " in hatteuux for
Montreal." (Vul. l,p. 36.) 'J'he.st' liatteaux
were the boats used for traiii<i)ortation in
those early days In the carruge of
freight ihey would take about lliree tons
and in conveying ;voops would probably
accommodate about twnnty -fiTe or thirty
men. Pcuclio writes : —
" 'i'he Dalteaux used for the navigation
of th -■ ui(per part of this rivar carry six
thouHttud ppuiids, and are of peculiar form
to enable tiicm to resist the elForts made to
take tlicm up the rapids. Those that the
English built at tht latter place (Mon-
treal) were larger and lighter, but could
not 'jndure this navigation after the
first voyages. They were alwayfi riiled
with water by the eH'orts made to k ep
tbeni up and tho8« of tt'? French did much
betUr service. 1 h Rngliah iid not furnish
their batteaux with &ails, wnich are very
essential on good ouca. ions, but tiiey pro-
vided good ash oars, while the French
used those of pine, \\ hich were poor, badly
made and used up iu great numbers." (V 2,
p. 94.)
Me further states that in 1755 the )■ gi-
ments of (iuienne and Beam " left on the
1 9th of July for Froutenac. They embarked
at La Chine in bat eaux laden \\ ith provi-
sions." (V. 1, p. r>8) La Clime is a few
miles from Montreal Th« " Froutenac"
referred to was Fort Froutenac, iio>v Kings-
ton, Ont
When it was determined by i he British
to tittack Fort Jsiagara it was resolved that
the ollic'ji- in command of the force " should
receive a suthcicnt number of batteaux to
transport his troops and artillery by way
of Lake Ontario." (V. 1, p. 44.)
Ontario's fikst ,st;m)ON i-.ns.
The troops referred to arriv d a Oswego,
but sickness " prevented the execution of
ilieir designs," so that awai ing further
movemouls " they also undertook to build
V ssels to form a fleet upon the lak "
(V. I, p. 45). A foot note to this page of the
American edition of this author aays : —
" The first English schooner on Lake On
tario was launched this suniiner. She had
40 feet kce , nioun:e<l 14s»\ ivel guns and was
made to row wh n necessary. The fleet fitted
out by the Kuelish at Oswego in 17i5'»
consisted of a decked sloop of eight foiir
pounde'.s and thirty swivels, a decUevi
schooner of eight four-pouuders and t^ieiuy-
eight swivels, an undecked schooner of lour-
teen swivels and fourteen oars, and another
of twelve swivels and fourteen oars. All of
these were unrigged and laid up early in
the fall."
At the surrender of Oswego in Angus ,
1756, the, I'ri ish found (piite a sliip-building
yard '"with nine vessels of war, of which
one carrying 18 guns was finished. The
others were upon the stocks and all tlieir
tigging was iu the niaga/incs." (V. l,p. 68.)
I>uriiig the spring of 1757 a party of
Fr neh soldiers descended on Fort (itorge
near Mon real " to curprsc it, but being
discovered they contented themselves « itii
buiuing a saw iriill and some battfuux "
(V. 1, p. 76.) A foot note says there
wer ' 150 batteaux, wi h four brigaiilines
and two galleys, each of fifty oars,
'■viithou reckoning much wood for con-
struction," and a. Fort William Henry
on the ISth March the French dis-
troyed 1150 batteaux and "four brigantines. '
Mante states that store houses were burned,
with " all the liutd of the Hangers and a
sloop on the stocks." (N Y. Col. His., X
lOt furnish
are very
they pro-
le French
oor, badly
a." (V. 2,
> the r gi-
eft on the
embarked
ith provi-
is a fe IV
^rontonac"
okv Kings-
i
'j 1
I
le British
olved that
" should
Ltteaux to
/ by way
us.
I Osuego.
cent ion of
a farther
ik to build
he lak "
ingc of the
lys : —
1 Luke On
She had
lis and w as
fleet fitted
> in 17u5
iif{ht four
a dp.cUeil
id t>>en:y-
ler of lour-
d another
•s. All of
p early in
n Angus ,
ip-buil(Unj;
of which
>hed. The
I all their
V. ],p. (iS.)
party of
)rt (icorge
but being
lelvea w itli
batttttux "
iays there
Drigan lines
fifty ours,
1 for con-
am Henry
jnch d.'s-
iganiines. "
sre burniid,
;erB and a
1. Hie., X
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m
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LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
9m
544, 548.) and "outh* Bi(^e of the anemy
Volf. a German officer, came to burn a vessel
upon the stocks near Fort Niagara."
In : u account Pouchot gives of the attack
on For. George, he speaks of troops "marched
by Ipnd to th-^ right of the lake, so as
to cover the landing ot the army, which
took passage in batteaux." (V. 1, p 86.)
He further, in v. 1, p. 97, writing about
Niagara, says that the vessels belonging
to th French " lay at anchor till the wind
favoured." This was at the mouth of the
Niagara River, and on this day for the first
time were observed " St. Elmo's Lights on
Lake Ontario." The historian, continuing,
writes : —
'• About eleven o'clock in the evening, as
one of these flaws was approaching, some
electrical fires appeared on the top of the
two masts and at the points of the yards.
These lights were eight or ten inches long
and appeared to be three or four wide aiid
very brilliant. The sai ore alarmed our
crew, who at oace closed the hatchways,
the pipes of the pumps, and other places,
wherethey imagined this fir. could penetrae.
M. Pouchot was amused at all this and re-
assured the passengers. When another
flaw came on these lisrhts re-appeared again
and showed themselves twic afterwards.
They disappeared as soon as the clouds
removed from the atmosphere the attraction
of the vessel, but re-kindled as soon as the
clouds came over. They lasted about half
an hour ach time. At daybre-vk the wind
freshened and blew so strong that we v\ er
oblii^ed to run vith bare poles before the
wind, and it being in our stern we arrived
at Froutenac in twenty one hours from
Niagara. This was one of the shortest pas-
sages that had been made, having saiL d
about ninety iaagues in this inierval of
time." (V. 1, p. 97-98.)
These St. Elmo Lights may b* briefly
explaii.ed. When a large conductor con-
nected ^^ ith an electric machiao is giving a
rapid succession of bright sparks to a
ball connected with the ground, the
sparks cease as soon as a poiuted wire con-
nected with the ground is held in the
vicinity of the conductor. No discharge
is heard, but in the dark a faint gIo<v
is seen at the end of the wire, ^hich
oontinuea as long as the machine is
burned. Remove the wirf and the sparks
instantly re-commence This glow is kao>« n
to sailors as St. Elmo's (San Telmo) fire,
ki old days Castor and Pollux. (Plin.
H. N. 2, 37.) Suppose now one of the con-
ductors to be a thunder cloud, the other
the surface of the earth, the discharge
will usually take place bet.veeo the places
•f greatest surface density, and it n ill in
general be mora gradual, as these are more
poiuted and of less capacity.
In ritiiig of the advance of the En.lish
on Fort George, Pouchot says (v. 1, p. Ill)
that the army " sat out at six in the
morning «pon the open lake. - First there
came five barges and then sixty, vihich
furmed the advance guard of the army.
Finally, the lake appeared covered v«ith
barges, each holding twenty men or up-
wards." A foot note to page 111 of Pouchot
says that '' The English army embarked
in nine hundred boats and one hundred
and thirty-five whale boats, with cannon
mounted upon rafta to cover the landing, if
necessary"
He also says that in 1759 (v. 1. p. 140-
141,) when ha was sent by M. de Vaudreuil
to Niagara, '• at La Presentation" (O^dens-
burgh) " they found batteaux that had
been sent to meet them," and that '• they
embarked and on the 4th they reached
Point an Baril. three leagues above La
Presentation. He at once visited the creek
\\here ihey v. ere building two barques, each
for ten pieces of twelve-pound cannon.
They should have been ready to launch, but
he found one with its planking and the
other with only the ribs up. He at once
caused the labourers to be doubled and
ordered the work to be pushed day and
night, while ha was himself busy in en-
trenching this post, which a party might
have easily burned with our vessels there.
On the 9 th they launched one of the barques,
which was named the Iroquois."
Pouchot further writes (v. 1, p. 141-142) :•-
" On the 12th the second vessel, named the
Outaouaise, was launched. We may judge
from this what diligence had been used
in their construrtion. They were soon
equipped. " On the 25th vha French troops
left for T^iagara, arriving there en the
30th." '.Chia would be five days for the
journey from Prescolt to Niagara, uhich
today (1893) would occupy about fifteen
hours
In June of 1759 M. Pouchot had sent a
; roop of Indians from Niagara to observe
the English at Oswego. " These ladians
had ?one upon the barque Outaouaise. which
was caught by a eale of wind so fiercely that
its mainmast and bowsprit were broken.
They were obliged to run do»n to La Pre-
sentation for some time, which prevented
them from cruising before the Oswege
river to discover the mevemants of the
English." (V. 1, p. 158) A foot note to
the original edition of Pouchot oa this event
reads : — *' It is remarkable that these In-
dians, who had never encountered a tempest
in a vessel, were greatly frightened, aad
threw their ei-naments, arms and tebaece
m
\y.
.A
t"|
820
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
•vwrboard to appMuse the Maaiteo af th«
lake. Th«r« tMpp«u«d to be a Caoadiaa
Ml boftrd, who WM a mere dwarf in staturo.
Th« Indiana, who had nevsr aeen >o amall
a man, took him for a Maaitou, and could
■eareely b* raitrained from killing and
throwing him overboard like another
Jonah.**
Poucbot, in writing of the approach of the
Soglish army against Niagara, itates (v. 1,
p. 159) that in 1759 "on the 6«h July the
Iroquois, at four o'clock in the afternoon,
entered the river" Niagara, and that " M.
Poachot learned by this corvette that there
were then no English at Oswego," and
that " on the 7th leven barges appeared
under the steep shores of the lake to
reconnoitre the place," and that '* he
se«4 out the corvette Iroquois to cruise
towards the Little Marsh," and on the
8tk " he signalled" from the fort to the
corrette " to tend ashore the shallop."
A shallop is given in Webster as "a
sort of large boat with two masts and
UBsallj rigged like a fichooner." Pro-
baUjr the boat called a shallop in 1759
also, and very likely, was propelled by
eaas. A corvette is a sloop-ef-war ranking
next below a frigate and carrying not more
tium twenty guns
At a later date we read that the corvette
" brought denpatches from Montreal and
In writing of the attack on
1760 Pouchet says " the English
five great batteaux, of thir-
on each side with a camion
at the end," and an Indian reported that
" while Galling in the Bay of Cataracoui
he saw two English vessels, which were
anchored near Little Cataracoui," and that
" the great vessel had three decks and ten
gnns on each side."
Cataracoui was Kingston harbour. The
Iroquois and the Outaouaise were the two
armed vessels which did great seivice for
the French oh Lake Ontario, but finally fell
intc the hands of the English.
1'wo other vessels were the Seneca, of
22 cannon, and the Oneida, of 18 cannon.
Thesu vessels were named by Knox, the
Historian, the " Onondago" and the " Mo-
hawk.''
Quebec.
Oswego in
had bn;lt
teen oars
A FEW MORE OF THE EARLY VESSELS.
It is a long cry from 1679, the jrear in
which the first sailing ship, La Salle's
(•riflfoQ, appeared upon the lakes until
1755, when we next have any authentic re-
cord of sailing vessels being atloat on Lake
Ontario.
The treaty of peace with France was signed
in the end of 1760, and for the next few
years there were few if any vessels on the
lakes, except th« battoaux aud canoes.
Nevertheless we find some progress was
being made, as the following interesting pas
sages from the Detroit Trilnine will show :—
" la 1766 four vessels plied upon Lake Erie.
Tkeso were the Gladwin, Lady Charlotte,
Victory and Boston. The two latter laid up
in the fall near Navy Island, above Niagara
Falls, and one of these was burned acciden-
tally November 30th of the sam year. A
vessel called the Brunswick, owned and com-
manded by C aptain Alexander Grant, made
her appearance ou the lakes during the year
1767, and was lost some time during the
season following. Captain (irant was the
commodore of the lakes for two or three
years. In 17 9, Sterling and Porteous
built a vessel at Detroit, called the
Enterprise, Richard Cornwall, of New
York, being the carpenter. The boat-
men, who went from Schenectady with the
rigging and stores for this vessel to Detroit,
were to have each £20 and ten gallons of
rum. 1 hey were seventy days on Lake
Erie, and two of the number perished with
hunger and their bodies were kep~ to decoy
eagles and ravens. They returned to New
York in February, 1760,' by way of Pitts-
burg, then called Fort Pitt."
• lu May, 1770, a vesel of seven'y tons
burthen was launched at Niagara, called
the Charity. The samj year the Duke of
Gloucester, Secretary Towusend, i^amnel
Tutchet, Henry Baxter and four others
formed a company for minin.' copper on
Lake Superior. In December they built at
Point aux Pines a barge.and laid the !■ eel for a
sloop of 40 tons burden. Of the success of
this cut: rprise we are not informed. Subse-
quent to the above period very little was
accomplished in the construe ion of craft for
lake navigation, and the few that came into
commission were used solely as traders, as
were in fact all those previously named. A
short time after, 1770. batteaux from .Mont-
real and Quebec, employed by the Hudson's
Bay Fur Company, made their annual tours
westward, ^jathcriug large quantities of furs
and returi'ing homeward in the fall. It has
been sta.ed that the tirst vessel built on
Lake Or.tariowas in 1749, but this, wc have
reason to believe, s not correct "
From this extract, therefore, it would
appear that — even allowing it to be
correct that a sailing ship was built
on Lake Ontario in 1779 — exact-
ly seventy years had elapsed between
the appearance of the first vessel, the
OrifTon and the one just referred to. The
Declaration of Independence by the North
American coloni<>s was made on .luly 4,1776
and during the war which immediately fol-
lowed thereupon the Home Government
fitted up a shipyard at Carlcton Island and
esa was
»how : —
,k« Erie,
harlotte,
r laid up
Niagar*
Kccidan-
year. A
and eom-
.nt, made
r the year
uring the
was »he
o or three
Porteous
lUed the
of New
:he boat-
f with the
) Detroit,
gallons of
on Lake
■islied with
■ to decoy
d to New
of Pitta
iven'y ^o""
t,xtk, called
te Duke of
,d, tSamnel
our olhera
copper on
hey built at
he i; eel for a
s succais of
ed. Subse-
•y little was
1 of oiaft for
it came into
J tradei-B, as
named. A
from Mont-
he, Hudson's
^nnual tours
titiei of furs
fall. It has
sscl built on
his, wc iiavc
•i
it would
it to be
vras built
;9 — exact-
sed between
vessel, the
red to. The
by the North
."iuly 4,1776
uediateW fol-
Governnient
\u Island and
v.
y.
y.
u
a:
V.
V.
3
»
•J
a
3
■e ^
o S
^ ^ ^
a
o
— rf
- -4
1 I
I-f )\
.1
•'?■ i;
t I
■t
i
^
«
li
d
F
Y
h
H
b(
ac
M
dt
nc
•f
pe
foi
lio
it.
i''J
ill-
'i I
M'
■
Th(
voli
sup
late
not
late
aft«
rive
wer
U,
Xor
gres
peac
are
erall
sail.
the
then
for
Mur
the
"Ion
chief
feet
short
thef,
lelvel
thair
incce
way
Tesse
Of
duriu
Iar-e«
which
She
Andn
p
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
821
there built Mvenl veaiels which were After-
wards used in conveying troops and stores
along the laiie to rarioua ports between the
dockyard and Niagara. These will presently
be referred to more particularly. Before
doing so it must be remembered that until the
period of which we are now speaking, all
vessels upon the lakes were flat bottomed
boats, built to stem the rapids and currents
with greater safety, and it was many years
before this class of boat was wholly super-
seded. Travelling in those days was attend-
ed with the greatest difiQculty and vexatious
delays. Distances that could be covered
now, even by water, in twenty-four bours,
often took nearly as many days, and when
people r>Arted on a journey it was impossible
for them to say with any degree of accuracy
how long it would take them to accomplish
it.
CHAPTER CCXXXVIII.
The lifar of Intlcpendoace — A. CSevera-
■ieiit.ll Harbwar Sorvey-The V. VL Loyal-
Ista— l}fS to 18M.
We have already referred to the batteaux.
These, at the outbreak of the American re-
volutionary war, were being gradually
superseded by the Schenectady, and still
later by the Durham, boats, ihonga they did
not finally disappear until half a century
later. The Schenectady boats were so called
after the town of that name on the Mohawk
ri^ er, in the State of New York, where they
were built. They were greatly used by the
U. E. Loyalists, who flsd from the revolted
Xorth American colonies during the pro-
gress of the war and on the conclusion of
peace to make their homes in Canada. They
are described as " being flat- bottomed, g n-
erally small, and ri>;ged with an uu^ainly
sail." Faniilies who intended going from
the United States to Canada would either
themselves build or cause others to coastnict
for them such boats as would bo required.
Murray gives us the following description of
the Durham boats. He says they were
"long,shallow, and nearly flat- bottomed. The
chief instrument of steerage is a pole two
feet long, shod with iron, and crossed at
short intervals wi.h small bars of wood like
the feet of a ladder ; the men place them-
selves at the bow, two on each side, thrust
their poles into tno chnnncl, and, grasping
laocessively the wooden bars, work their
iray toward the stern, thus pushing on the
vessel in that direction." — (Canniff. )
Of the vessels built at Carleton Island
duriD;^ the war of independence one of the
largest appears to have been the Ontario,
which was pierced for and carried 22 guns.
She was under the command of Captain
Andrews, of tha Koyal 1,'Avy. This officer
was also the first commissioner at the dock
yard, besides being the commodore ot the
small fleet which Mas maintained upon the
lake principally for the conveyance of troops
and stores for their nse. Same time between
the years 1780 and 1783— there is some dis-
pute as to the exact year, but the former
date appears the more probable— whilst the
Ontario was proceeding from Niagara to
Oswego, having on board, in addition to her
crew, a detaci.ment of the 8th King's Re<{i-
ment under the command of Colonel Burton,
she encountered a fearful storm, and
her gallant commander and all under his
chari(e were totally lost. No less than one
hundred and seventy-two persons perished
on this occasion. In 1788 a survey ef all the
lakes and harbors from Kingston to Michili-
niackinac was made by Deputy Surveyor
General Collins, acting under instractieos
received from Lord Dorehester, the then
Governor of Canada. Reading the report
made on the work by Collins, in the light
of a century's experience, one is tempted to
amusement at his "tatemenis about what ho
considered should be the tonnage of vessels
built for service upon the lakes. VVs give
his renort in his own words : —
"Vessels sailing on these waters being
seldom for any length of time out of sight of
land, the navi<^ation must la considered
chiefly as pilotage, to which the use of good
nakual charts are essential, and therefore
much wanted. Gales of wind or squalls
rise suddenly upon the lakes, and from tb«
confined state of the waters, or want of sea
room (as it is called), vessels may in some
degree be considered as upon a lee shore, and
this seems to point out the necessity for thei '
being built on such a construction as wi 1 best
enable them to work to windward. Schooners
should, perhaps, have the preference as
being rather safer than sloops. They should
be from eighty to one hundred tons burthen
on Lake Ontario and fifteen tons burthen on
Lakes Erie and Huron ; but if not intended
to communicate between these two lakes
they may then be the same size as on Lake
Ontario ; and if this system is approved
there can be no necessity to deviate from it,
unless an enemy should build vessels of
greater magnitude or force ; but as the in-
tent of bringing any such forward, at least,
the building of them, can never remain a
secret, there may be always time to counter-
act such a design by preparing to meet
them, at least on equal terms. It docs not
seem advisable nor do I know any reason to
continue the practice of building vessels &»t
bottomed or to have very little draft of
water ; they are always unsafe, and many of
the accidents which have happened on tfao
lakes have perhaps in some degree been
i,
lit '
M.'
f
[I
i'
' 1' I
1 ■• ?
1 ll
1 »
822
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
owing to that cou&tructian. On the con<
irary, if th«y are built on proper principles
for burthen, as w^ 11 as sailing, they ara
safer and will find sufficient depth of water
proportioned to any tonnage which can be
requisite for them upon these lakt-B."
MURK SIIIF BUJLDINO.
'I he Government had ship building yards
at iNiurney's and at Navy Points. Among
the vessels constructed there was the Speedy,
schooner, besides th« Mohawk, MisaissagA
and the Duke of Kent. About the same
time also, that is, between 1776 and 17S2,
came the large influx of U. E. Loyalists
from the United States to Canada. For the
most part they made use either of the bat-
teaux or of open boats to convey themselves
and their tamiliea, together with such
small earthly possessions as remained to
them, across the lake. The most of the
early commanders of ships plying upon the
lakes belonged to the Royal Navy. Among
them were Captains ISouchette, lilarle, For
tichc, AleKenzie, Richardson, Steele and
Paxton, The first named of these officers
bad in 1793 the entire command of the
naval force on Lake Ontario. His son,
Joseph Bouchette, who was born in 1774,
made the fifitt survey of Toronto harbor in
1793 Under date 1831 he thus describes
the scene of his labors : — " General Simcoe,
who then resided at Navy Hall, Niagara,
having: formed extensive plans for the im-
provement of the colony, had resolved upon
laying tt<3 foundations of a provincial capi-
tal. I was »f that period in the naval ser-
vice of tlie I lis, and the survey of Toronto
(York) harijor was entrusted by his Excel-
lency to my performance I still distinctly
recollect the untamed aspect which the
country exhibited when first I entered the
beautiful basin, which thus became the
scene of rit early hydrographical operations.
Dense and tracklessi forests lined the << argin
of the lake and reflected their inverted
images on its glassy surface. The wandering
savatre had constructed his ephemeral habi-
tation beneath their luxuriant foliage — the
group then consisting of two families of
Mississagas — and the bay and neighboring
marshes were the hitherto uninvadt d haunts
of immense convoys of wild fowl. Indeed,
they were so abundant as in some measure
to annoy us during the night."
This was ia May, 1793, and from con-
temporary records it appears that Gor-
ernor Simcoe made bis first visit
to the site of the proposed capital of
the yoang province at the samo
time The Gauttt •i May 9th,
17%. printed and pabliflbed at Newark,
tells us that on May 3rd of that year, " bis
Excellency, the Lieutenant-Governor, ac-
companied by several military gentlemen. set
out in boats for Toronto, round the head of
Lake Ontario by liurlingtou I ay, and in the
evening his Majesty's vessels, the Caldwell
and BufTalo, sailed for the same place "
The stay of the Gorernor and his friends
in Toronto could not havo been of long dur-
ation,for in the Gazette ol May 16th it is an-
nounced that "on Monday, the 13th, about
2 o'clock, his Excellency the Lieutenant-
Governor and suite arrived at Navy Hall
from Toronto ; they returned as they had
gone, in boats round the lake." A little
eirlier than this in the same year, the Gazette
of April 18th, 1793, also informs us that
"his Majesty's sloop, the Caldwell, sailed
the 5tn inst. from Niagara for Fort Ontario
(Oswego) and Ki' gston." Again on the 13th
of the month we learn from the samo source
that "there arrived in the river (at Niagara)
his Majesty's armed schooner, the Ononda-
go, in company with the Lady Dorchester,
merchantman, after an agreeable passage
from Kingston of thirty-six hours." The fol-
lowing is a list of those who eame as passen-
gers on board of the former vessel : —Mr. L.
Crawford, Mr. J. Denison, the great-grand-
father of Toronto's present (1893) Police Ma-
gistrate, Captain Thomas Fraser, Mr. Joseph
Forsyth, Captain Archibald Macdonald,
Lieutenant McCaw, 60th Foot, and Mr. J.
Small, Clerk of the Executive Council. A
few weeks later, on May 2nd, the Gazette
says, " on Sunday morning early, his .Ma-
jesty's ship Caldwell arrived here, and on
Monday also arrived from Kingston, the
Onondago in twenty-three hours.'' The point
of arrival is, of course, Niagara.
TIIK DUKK OF KENT.
This summer the Duke of Kent arrived in
Canada on his first visit to this country. He
was conveyed from Kingston to Niagara
en board the Mohawk, under the command
of Commodore Bouchette.
The late Colonel Clark, of Port Dalhousie,
gives in a letter published in 1880 the fol-
lowing pleasing account of the Duke's visit :
" The civil and military authorities of the
province met his Royal Highness at Quebec
and paid him all the honors duo to hia ele-
vated station After a short stay there,
and many visits to the chief objects of in-
terest in that neighbourhood, he determined
to pay a visit to the freat object of wonder
and admiration in America, the Falls of
Niagara, the fame of which had excited a
lively interest, oven then, in England. His
Royal Highness aad suite left Quebec for
Montreal in a number of the ordinary
caleehes of the country, drawn by French
ponies, and urged over tho rough roads by
Canadian habitant drivers, with pipe in
mouth, »s is their custom. From Moatreal
LA ^ DM ARKS OF TORONTO.
823
einen.sek
5 head of
nd in th«
Caldwell
s friendi
[ong dur-
it is an-
Ith. abou»
i«utenant-
lary Mali
they had
' A littl«
Iha Gazette
I u8 that
rell, sailed
r» Ontario
m the 13th
ime source
it Niagaia)
he Ouonda-
Dorchester,
,le passage
s." The fol-
e as passen-
bI :— Mr. L.
iireat-grand-
[) Police M»-
, Mr. Joseph
Aiacdonai'i,
and Mr. J.
Council. A
the Oazette
ly, his Ma-
lere, and on
lingstou, the
i." The point
:a.
r.
at arrived m
lountry. He
„ to Niagara
the command
)rt Dalhousie,
I860 the fol-
Duke's visit :
horities of the
less at Quebec
due to hia ele-
t stay there,
objects of in-
he determined
ject of wonder
■^ the FallBof
had excited »
iingland. His
eH Quebec for
the ordinary
p'n by French
rough roads by
with pipe »B
Fr«ni Moatreal
they proceeded to Laohine, in the same pri-
mitiTC fashion, where the Royal party em-
barked in a large batteaux, manned by hardy
▼oyageurs, to stem the mighty St. fjaw-
rence. After many ' a long pull, a strong
pvill, and a pull altogether,' and many amus-
ing minhaps and adventures, thoroughly en-
joyed by the Royal party, they at length
reached still water at Oswagatchun — now
Ogdensburg— where they were met by a
barge from Kingston belungiag to my
brother, Petrr Clark, Esq., Clerk of the
Legislative Council, and manned by a torce
of military and »ailori from the latter city,
where they were quickly and safely con-
veyed. They were soon embarked on board
tlie King's ship, Mohawk, commanded by
Commodore Bouchette, grandfather of the
present Commissioner of Customs. In this
vessel they proceeded up Lake Ontario to
Navy Hall, on the Niagara River, the resi-
dence of his Excellency Sir John Graves
Simcoe. 'i he Royal party was there re-
ceived and entertained with all the state and
disunity that was possible, by his Excellency
and the various civil and military authori-
ties, With much dithculty horses and
saddles were procured for the whole party,
when they proceeded alone the banks of the
river to the Falls, where at that period
there was but one small Iol' hut for the re-
ception of visitors. Their horses being tied
to the trees, they proceeded by an Indian
path to the Table Rock. Some of the mure
adventurous succeeded in descending beneath
it, by means of a rude rickety Inaian lad-
der. Curiosity being satisfied^ the Royal
party made their way to Queenston, where
an ample and si bstantial lunch was pre-
pared by the Hon. Robert Hamilton, who
had the honor of entertaining the illustrious
visitors. They then returned to Niagara,
where they dined in the evening with his
Excellency the Governor. Many of the
great chiefs and warriors of the Six Nations,
headed by the renowned Capt Joseph
Brandt, in full war paiit, gave the war
dance before his Excellency's residence for
the amusement of th«> Royal party. The
next moruing a large party of the swiftest
and mosc skilful of the young warriors got
up a nU'tch of baseball of a very excitinc;
character. Then there were foot races and
several other characteristic games, in which
his Royal Highness took a very warm in-
terest, and expressed the high gratitication
he felt in witnessing them. Alter having
examined the Fort and other objects of in-
terest connected with the French occupa-
tion, the Royal party embarked for Kingston,
en route for Quebec. The frontier towns on
the American side had not th n been trans-
ferred to the United >States authorities."
The vessel kn"?ru m the (Caldwell, whieh
has been sevral times referred to, was
named after v.ho Receiver-lieneral of Que-
bec, thp Honoiable Heary Caldwell.
Collins' report on the harbour of York
(Toronto) has already been quoted. Theru
is another report somewhat analogous from
Governor Simcoe preserved in the archives
at Ottawa concerning York harbour and the
erection of barraoks for the Queen's Rangers.
In this letter Simcoe says that it was a most
desirable harbour. The spot of land referred
to is Hanlau'3 Point. This was (Gibraltar
Point, and on it was a large bloek-house.
which stood about a hundred feet north of
Hanlau'a Hotel from about 1796 until 1825.
It was dismantled in 1815. The "' bottom
of the harbour " is the Dou. It may be said
that the proposed buildings of stone were
never erected. The first huts built wore on
the west side of the old fort — a row of six,
that stood on thi» left side of the old gats at
the eastern entrance to the fort. The letter
is written by Lieut. -Governor .'^in coe to
Col Alured Clarke, of the Royal Engineers,
Quebec, and reads : —
Concerning York Harbour ind H^'orkt —
Simcoe to Clark''.
" I lately examined this harbour an<l found
it to be without comparison the most proper
situation for an arsenal in every extent of
that word that can b« met with in this pro-
vince. The Spit of Land which forms its
entrance is capable of being fortified with a
{«vf heavy guns as to prevent any vessel
from entering the harbour or from remain-
ing within it. From the diversity of the
Sand Banks any small point of ground
is sufHcienily strong to be selected for the
present purpose, and which, as eireumstanccs
shall require, may be occupied to the widest
extent. At the bottom of the harbour there
is a, situation admirably adapted for uq
arsenal and dockyard ; and tkf re flows into
the harbour a river, the banks of which are
covered with excellent timber. Upon this
river I propose to coi\struct a sawmill,
principally for the benefit of the settlement,
but which, I have no doubt, will, .it the
cheapest rate, supply every material that
may be wanted for his Mttjesty's service in
the various ports on Lake Oaiario I have
fixed upon a site for a place for a town on
the main shore ; and another, where
I propose to build birracks for
the king's troops. These barrac'o
1 have the idea of constructing so as to hold
250 men and officers with hualth and conve-
niency. The ground not being as yet sur-
veyed, I cannot transmit to your Excellency
a plan. But my general idea is to build
them of stone and in the form of an oblong
of three sides, a single stojy in height, eo
i
,1
.i>
V'ii
ill
I
824
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
closing the angles to the land with a kind
of breant-work of aod, to leave an
opening towards the harbour for a
battery eu barbette. I have heard of two
eighteen pounders that were sunk in the
lake after ihe late pea'se. They are describ-
ed as beine good guns and easy to be weigh-
ed. If I obtain them, I should propose to
place ihem and some heavy carronades on
the part of the harbour opposite to the in-
tended barracks, where 1 should wish to
build a storehouse that mii;ht occasionally
serve as a bloekhouse to secure such bat-
teries as may be necessary for the troops to
erect. I must observe to your Excellency
that at this point there is an excellent har-
bour for batteaux."
THB FIRST MKRCHANT VKS9EL.
In the summer of 1793 there appeared on
Lake Ontario for the first time the premier
merchantman ^ailt in Canada. She was
named the York, and had been constructed
on the River Niagara in the previous year,
1792. Althoueh sailing vessels were now
being used, not ouly for the conveyance of
merchandise, but also of passen^'ers, other
modes of transit by water were far from
being obsolete, for we read in the Gazette,
published August 1st, 1793, that " a few
days ago the first division of his Majesty's
corps of Queen's Rangers left Queenston
for Toronto, now York, and proceeded in
batteaux round the head of the Lake On-
tario, by Burlington Bay." The second de-
tachment of this gallant corps was, how-
ever, more favored, for we learn from the
same authority that they "sailed in the
King's vessels, the Onondago and Caldwell,
for the same place." The Is'^^ portion of
the regiment left on the 29th A July, and
they were accompanied by the General him-
self, the Gazette telling us : " On Monday
evening his Excellency, the Lieutenant-
Governor, left Navy Hall and embarked on
board his Majesty's sciiooner, the Missis-
aaga, which sailed immediately, with a favor-
able gale for York, with the remainder of
the Queen's Rangers." Some days later the
Onondago and Caldwell, having returned to
Niagara from York, (Toronto) again sailed
from the former port, the first conveying
the Chief Justice of the province, the Hon-
orable William Osgoode, and the Attorney-
General, Mr. John White, to Kingston, the
second having on boa id, en route for York,
Major Littlehales, who was the much valued
private secretary to the Lieut. -Governor.
The next notice we have relating to the
fleet OB Lake Ontario is contained
in the following general order, dated
York, 26th ot August, 1793 " His Excel-
lency, the Lieutenant Governor, having re-
'^eived information of the success of his
Majesty's arms under His Royal Highnew,
the Duke of York, it is His Excelleney's
orders, that on the railing of the Union Flag
at twelve o'clock to-morrow, a royal aaluto
of twenty>one gune is to be fired, to be an-
swered by the shipping in the harbor, in
respect to His Royal Highness and in com-
memoration of the naming this harbor from
his English title, York. E. B. Littlehales,
Major of Brigade." The records of 1794
are very barren, but we do learn that early
in that year the " Anondaga of 14 guns,"
the same vessel aa that commanded by Com-
modore Houchette. the " Onondago,' there
being some slight confusion in the names,
was stranded at the entrance to the harbor
and given up for lost. She was, liowever,
got off the shoal and floated into deep water
by the exertions of Lieutenant Joseph Bou-
cnette. This was the same officer whom
Governor Sinicoe had already instructed to
make a survey of these waters. Several
journeys appear to liave been undertaken on
the lake and River Thames during 1794 by
tlie Governor, but they were all performed,
so far as we can i sctrtain, in open boats.
The following year, 1795, in June, General
Simcoe is again at Navy Hall, Newark, and
there in visited by, and hospitably enter-
tains, the famous French traveller, the
Duke of Rochefoucault de Liancourt. We
quote from the published diary of that
nobleman the following remarks. Writing
from Detroit, while en route to Navy Hall,
on June 21st, 1795, he says : '* After a
hearty breakfast on board the Chippaway
frigate, commanded by Captain Hara — where
we learned that this vessel, which is about
400 tons burthen, cost n\e thous-
and pounds sterling — we embarked for
Chippaway,'' we presume on board one of the
boats belonging to that ship, for he further
tells us it was a king's vessel and manned
by six soldiers, who weie excellent hands at
rowing, and that the commandant insisted
on Lieutenant Faulkner attending him as
far as Niagara. Arriving; at Navy Hall,
continuing his narrative, he relates : —
'V'^ome trifling excursions we made in the
environs of the city, and especially a tour of
four days with the Governor along the banks
of the lake, afforded us an opportunity of
seeing the interior of the country . The
chief purpose of this journey was to reach
the extremity of the lake. A boat made of
the bark of trees and destined for the Gov-
ernor's excursions between Detroit and King-
ston contained the whole company." He
then proceeds to say who they were ; then
continuing, say .- — "Twelve chassenrs of
the Governor's regiment rowed the boat,
which was followed by ano her vessel carry-
ing tents and provisions." A.ain, says the
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
825
ghnMB,
llcney'i
on Flag
mIuU
be an-
rbor, in
in com-
i>r from
tlehalM,
of 1794
ht early
I guns,"
by Com-
,'^ there
names,
i narbor
laowever,
ep vater
ph Bou-
r whom
ucted to
Sereral
rtaken on
1794 by
erformed,
sn boats.
, General
rark, and
Iv cnter-
siler, the
lurt. We
of that
Writing
fcvy HaU,
•• After a
Ihippaway
ra — where
ia about
thoU'-
krked for
one of the
further
id manned
hands at
insisted
}g him as
avy Hall,
5 : —
kde in the
a tour of
the banks
rtunity of
try. The
to reach
made of
the GoT-
and King-
|any." He
■ere ; then
wears of
th« boat,
issel carry -
says the
sam* writer, "Qovernor Simcoe intends to
make York the centra of the naval force on
Lake Ontario. Only four gunboats are at
present on ihis lake, two of which are con-
stantly employed in transporting merchan-
dise ; the other two, which alone are Qt to
carry troops and guns and have oars and
sails, are lying under shelter until an oc-
casion occurs to convert them to their in-
tended purpose. It is the (Governor's in-
tention to build ten smaller cun-hoats on
Lake Ontario and ten on Lake Erie. The
ship carpenters, who construct them, rcsi<le
in the United States and return home every
winter."
The Duke was Sb this time expecting
a communication from Lord Dorchester, re-
specting his own future movements, and he
records with some disappointment on July
6th, that "the English ships are not yet
arrived from Quebec."
A CANDID I'RIKND.
After a visit of eighteen days at the Gov-
ernor's residence, the Diiko left there for
Kingston, on July 10th, embarking on the
"Onondaga," a cutter pierced for twelve
guns, but in time of peace only carrying six.
Arrived at his destination, he remarks re
garding the Canadian navy : —
"The Royal Navy is not very formidable
in this place ; six vessels compose the whole
naval force, two of which are small uunboats,
which we saw at Niai;ara, and which are
stationed at York, two small schooners of
twelve guns, viz : the "Onondago," in which
ve took our passage, and the "Mohawk,"
which is just finished ; a small yacht of
eighty ; ons, mounting six guns.as the two
schouners, which have lately been taken into
dock to be repaired, form the rest of it. All
these vessels are built of timber fresh cut
down and not seasoned, and for this reason
last never longer than six or eight years.
To preserve tbem, even to this time, re-
quires a thorough repair. They must be heav-
ed down and caulked, which costs at least
one thousand to one thousand two hundred
guineas. This is an enormous price, and yet
it is not so high as on Lake Erie, whither
all sorts of naval stores: must be sent
from Kingston, and where the price of
labor is still higher. The timbers ot the
Mississat^a, which was built three years
ago, are almost all rotten. It is so easy to
Hiake provision for ship-timber for many
years to come, as this would require merely
tne felling of it, and that too at no great
distance from the place where it is to be
used, that it is difficult to account for this
precaution not having been adopted. Two
gunboats, which are destined by Governor
Simcoe to serve only in time of war, are at
present on the stocks ; but the carpenters
who work at them are but eight in number.
I'he extent of the dilapidations and em-
bezzlements, committed st so great a dis-
tance from the mother country, may be
easily conceived. In the course of last
winter, a judicial enquiry into a charge i
this nature was instituted at Kingston. The
Commissioner of the navy and the principal
ship-wright, it was asserted, had clearly
colluded against the king's interest ; but in-
terest and protection are as powerful in the
new world as in the old ; fur both the Com-
missioner and ship-wright uontiuue in their
places.
"Captain Bouchette commands the naval
force of Lake Ontario, and is at the head of
all the marine establishments, yet without
the least power in money matters.
This gentleman possesses the confi-
dence both of Lord Dorchester and Governor
Simcoe ; he is a Canadian by birth, but
entered the British service when Canada fell
into the power of England.
"While Arnold and Montgomery were
besieging Quebec, Lord Dorchester, dis-
guised as a Canadian, stole on board his
ship, into that city, on which occasion he
displayed much activity, intrepidity and
courage. it is not at all a matter of sur-
prise that Lord Dorchester should bear in
mind this eminent service. By all accounts
he is altogether incorruptible, and an officer
who treats his inferiors with great mildness
and justice.
" In regard to the pay of the Royal
Marine force on Lake Ontario, a captain has
ten shillings a day, a lieuteuant six, and a
second lieutenant three shillings and six-
pence. The seamen's wages are ei^ht dollars
per month, i he masters of merchantmen
have twenty-five dollars, and the sailors
trom nine to ten dollars a month
" Conim inder Bouchette is among those
who most strenuously opposed the project of
moving to York, the central point of the
force on the lake, but his family reside at
Kingston and his lands are situated near
that place. Such reasons are frequeutly of
Buthcient weight to determine political
opinions."
The Duke's meaning here i» plain enough,
namely, that by Bouchette's aid Lord Dor-
chester (who at the time referred to was
known as Sir Guy Carleton, being after-
wards created Baron Dorchester), succeeded
in entering Quebec, whilst in a state of siege,
but he expresses himself rather loosely. It
would be impossible for a comparatively
large vessel, such as was under Bouchett«'s
command, to pass undetected through a vigi-
lant blockading squadron. The real facts are
these. Sir Guy Carleton had heard in Mon-
treal of the danger which threatened Que-
;. \: '%
: ( i ■
■<'
1} f: i
if
' - -1
1 ■
'If
I''.2 i
Rt I '
'I
8<2d
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
bflo. H« thereupon resoWod to get his
■mall forces together in defence of that
important )iluco. Montgomery approach-
ing, he (Carloton) ordered the troops to
withdraw to his Ueet Unfortunately,
t ley were intercepted by the American-,
but Carleton escaped, lu a small boat, with
mutiied oarf, he was rowed at the dea.l of
nignt through (he Amcricuii vessels below
Montreal, and, after a perilous journey,
reached Quebec. This boat belonged to
Bonchette'a ship and was manned by sailors
■nder his command.
The Kame authority in telling us that
liouchette was oppusud to Ooveruor Sim-
ooe's plan of making York the capital,
rather more than hint-> tliat hia opposition
was from interested motives. Tliis un-
worthy insinuation may be pa.'^sed over un-
noticed.
I he passage from Niagara to Kingston
generally took thirty-six hours to accom-
plish, but on the occasion of Rochefoucault's
journey it took no less than forty-eight.
At the time of the Duku's visit to Kings-
ton ha tells us: "The merchant vessels
h«re at this time are but tiiree in nuniber,
and make but eleven voyages in the year."
The Duke makes one observation while at
Kingston which shows him to have been pos-
sessed of keen foresight. It is worth quot-
ing. He remarks :
*• Kingston s ems better fitted for a trading
town than Newark, (Niagara) were it only
for this reason, that the ships which arrive
at the latter place and are freighted for Lake
Erie, pass by the former to sail aeain up tlie
river as far as Queenston, where the portage
begins. Nor is the position of Newark
equally advantageous for sharing the trade
in provisions, with which the lake rnay one
day supply Lower Canada, England, per-
liaps all Europe, if Upper Canada should
ever answer the expectations entertained by
Governor Simcoe."
The Duke took hit departure from King-
ston for the United States by way of Oswego
on July 22nd, 1795, sailing in a barge be-
longing to Major Dobson, ^ ommandins; the
troops at Kingston. It was manned by
four soldiers quartered in the garrison,
under the command of an officer named
Lemoine. It took nearly two days to ac-
complish the journey.
GENERAL SIMCOE's PLANS.
About this time there was running on the
lake between Kingston, Oswego and Niagara,
a schooner named The Sophia. She appears
to have been a quic; sailer, as the Gazette
infornis us that she accomplished - < May
her journey between Kingston and Niagara
in eighteen hours.
In 1796 Governor Simcoe was engaged
not only in erecting buildings for the nss
of the Government at York (Toronto),
but also iu constructing a wharf and
what is spoken of in the correspondence
with the commissary of stores, John McGill,
Esquire, as a " cannal," This probably was
something in the nature of a dock. A boat
was also being built " for the purpose af
transporting stone," probably from Niagara
to York, to aid in the erection of (lovern-
ment House. Wegivstheboatbuilder'sreceipt
for materials he received for this purpose
from Mr, McGi I. It is copied from the
original document preserve i in the Parlia-
mentary Library :
" Upper Canada,
'• York, 5rh May. 1T96.
" Received of John McOlll, K!<quiro. commis-
sary of stores, etc.. for his Majesty's forces In
Upper Canada, for public service ordered by
his Kxcelioncy Llentenant-Qovernor Simcoe. at
York. One hundred and forty-three pounds
spikes, fifty nouudn pitch, thirty-fivo pounds
oaltum, eight pounds 20d nails, one grapnail.
five inch tarred rope, nineCy-cight pounds,
thirty pounds bar iron for bolts, having ex-
pended the same in building; and fitting out a
strong boat for the purpose ot transporting
stone for the Government House.
" I have signed three receipts ot same tenor
and date.
*' Georok Gibson."
This is endorsed :
" York, stone boat— 143 lbs spikes, 50 lbs
pitch, 3.j lbs oakum, 8 lbs 20d nails, 1 grapnail.
98 lbs i in. tarred rope, 30 lbs oar iron.
•' May 5th, 1790."
About seven weeks later there is a letter,
addressed also to Mr. McGill, referiing to
the work then proceeding at York, and
sigred by Governor Simcoe himself. It is
in the following terms :
" York. 25th June, I79G
'Sir, — Y'ou are hereby required and di-
rected to purciiase from time to time such
quantities of rum as may be requisite to
give to the men employe < at work iu the
water on the wharf and canal at York, ; nd
for so doing this shall be your order and
authority.
•'J. G. SiMCOB.
•' J^hn MoGill, Esquire,
•• Commissary of Stores, etc."
The i^chenectady boats had a: 'Im period
by no means becot -obs ete oruis;i,ipeared,
for in the O"--' ■' October 26th, 1796,
is an advertis tT-ring for ^ 1e " an
excellent five .ued boat, Sol ctady
built, well paii I. allow' d to equal any
running to or from hat ice. Enquire at
the Printing Office, Niac .ra. "
TheMohawk, referred to by Rochefoucault,
was in the November following engaged in
conveying President Ru&sell from Niagara
to York. This gentleman had ^ucceedei
Governor Simcoe, who had obtained leavfl of
absence aa Governor of the province.
LANDMARKS OF TOUOXTO.
827
he Qse
ronto),
'I and
ndenco
VlcUill,
bly was
A boat
rpose •£
'Niagara
Jovorn-
i receipt
purpose
om the
Parlia-
r. 1796.
cominls-
[orcos In
dered by
imcoe, at
I pounds
3 pounds
grapnall.
poundB.
aving ex-
ting out a
nsporting
iine tenor
hBRON."
!3, 50 lbs
gr;ipnail.
Is a letter,
feriiug to
«:<
elf.
:ork, and
Ic is
1796
and di-
ime such
(juisile to
iu the
ork, ; nd
)rder and
llMCOB.
period
leared,
III', 1796,
\ie " an
■ctady
qual any
inquire at
lefoucault,
ngaged in
I Niagara
succecdc'i
ed leave of
ue.
The fact has already been referred to that
Canada took the lead in building the early
■liipa whicli lailcd upon the Takea. The
Americans purchased a vessel from the
British iu 1796, known as the Detroit, and
■h« plied on Lake Krie. Not, however, antil
the following year (1797) wore any American
built ships afloat either upon Lake Ontario
or Erie.
In May of the same year (1797) we again
hear of tlie Mohawk, and also of a vessel
which has not been referred to before. She
was called the Governor Simcoe, constructed
for the North'W est Company, the first vessel
built for trade upon Lake Ontario, (Cann ff,
p. 14'J). About the same time, the fast is
mentioned in the Gazvtlc of May
.list, there arrived at Niagara "a
deck boat, built and owned by
Colonel John Van Rensselaer, of Laning-
burg, on the North River." The Gazette
proceeds further to inform us that " this
enterprising gentleman i uilt and completed
this and one other of the same biguess (fifty
barrels burthen) and conveyed them by high
water to Oswego and arrived there without
injury this Spring. '1 hey are to ply con-
tinually between Oswego and this pUce and
Kin.ston,"
An advertisement dated June 2l8t, 1797,
will prove interesting. It appeared in the
Gazette of June 28th and reads thus : —
" Taken up a Canadian Batceau. She was
found adrift the 14th inst. , on the Lake, is
now well secured and the owner may know
where she may be found by applying to the
printer and paying costs '' The Mohawk
continued to ply throughout this year upon
the lake between the ports of Kingston,
Oswego, Niagara and York, but we learn
from the Gazette of December 2nd, that
" Fears for the fate of the Mohawk are en-
tertained by several persons. It is said
minute guns weio distinctly beard through
most of Thursday last, but we hope it has
suffered no further than being driven back
to Kingston." It is also learned from the
same source that the Onondago, which has
been previously referred to, had been
aground in Hungry Bay but had got off
safely.
These fears were not wholly groun<Il(;ss,
for a day or two later the Simcoe arrived at
Niagara, with the iotelligeuce that tho Mo-
hawk had encountered a heavy storm, in
which she w:;s partially disabled, losing her
bowsprit and most of her sails.
In August ttiere was a proposal to place a
gunboat on York harbour. A letter in the
Simcoe papers in the Archives Department
at Ottawa, written by Cel. Arnold to Pre-
sident Russell, dated Aug. 21, 1797, says : —
** TIm Klection of York for the capital of
the province was made upon the moat mature
reflection. 1 therefore trust that the re-
moval to it will neither have been so sudden
nor so unforeseen aa to have occasioned any
material impediment to the due course ot
Ihe administration of justice, as that is a
circumstance which should be particularly
guarded against.
"In conseciuenceof your representation of
the necessity of a small armed vessel being
immediately built at Toronto, to be entirely
under the orders of the civil government, for
the purpose you mention, you are hereby
authorized to build and employ such a vessel,
taking care that tlio same is done in the
most economical manner. "
TIUVELLINO 17NDKR DIFFICII.TIKS
The fo lowing instance of some ot the ditli-
culties attending travelers at the period to
which we are referring will prove interest-
ing. It is a notice of the death of Mrs.
(jlamble, taken from the Toronto Colonist ot
March 10th, ISilO, and was written by a
gentleman who, even as late as 1833, had e.\-
perienced great ditticulties, not to say hard-
ships, in his journeying from Quebec t) To-
ronto : —
"Mrs Gambia continued to reside wi.ii
her father at Manjrerville, New Brunswick,
until 1798, when, her husband having in the
meantime been promoted to the surgeoncy
of his regiment (the Queen s Rangers), she,
with her hve daughters, the eldest then but
thirteen years of age, accompanied by her
father and a sister, ascended the River St.
John in a bark canoe, crossscd the portage
by Temidcouata to the Riviere du Loup
came up the St. 'Lawrence and joined Dr.
Gamble, then with his regiment in sarrisoii
at York."
On March 8th, 1798, Samuel Hurst, of
Newark, advertises in the Ga:.ette as follows:
"Taken up, some time last fall, in the
mouth of the Niagara River, by the sub-
sctiber, a three-handed Schenectady boat.
The ewner, by proving his property and
paying the expense, may have her by apply-
ing at Mr. Forsyth's store in this town."
A little ater, on April 6th, it is recorded
how Mr. John McEwen and two others, in
trying to reach their sloop lying in the river
(Niagara), were drowned. The name of the
vessel is not given.
On the 19th of the following May the
schooner Simcoe, under the command of
Captain Murney, arrived at Niagara from
Kingston with the intelligence " that up-
wards of a hundred houses in the lower
province have been carried away with the
ice this spring." We shall have occasion to
refer to Captain ^lurney later.
Five days after this, on May 24tb, we find
a sloop advertised for sale. Here is the
'^1
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J3--
t I!
! y-
I I
I
823
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
it appeared vnOatim tt
•dTartueinent aa
liUratiia.
"to bk sold.
"On that stacks at thu Buy of Long Point at
any time before the 2Sth of June next, a good
BLOor, ready for launching, in good order and
warranted sound and masterly built. She is
fr&nied of the beet black walnur timber. 38
tuns burtban. and calculated for carrying tim-
ber. With her will be sold iierripKin« and
tackle cciupliiat. She will bo solO by consent of
Mr. Troyer. and a good title with warranty
given on the sale. The conditions are for casa
only, one naif down and the uihcr in throe
month*, with approved security for payment.
" Wm. Okalv."
•• I Approve cf the above, J. Tkovkk."
A toot note » appended informing Dealy's
creditors that to eusure payment of their
accounts they must be duly rendered before
.iiinc 28th.
Xd Gazette was issued either on June 9th
or lUth, but in the number that appeared
on the 23rd the p;iblic are brietJy arl curtly
told that " the Gazette not appearing last
weiik was unavoidable."
On October 27th following this, we learn
of the death by drowning of .Mr. Cornwall.
This accident was caused by the upsetting
of his boat near the garrison at Yor.;.
In the paper issued November 24t!) there
is a para^^taph referring to recent storms
upon th lake. It i« worth quoting in its
enti;ety, quaint spelling and phraseology in-
cluded.
" During the late heavy gales of wind
which we have had, a vessel loaded with
.^uhdry goods was drove on shore at the
.Mississacjue Point at Newark, and another
vessel belonging to this town was drove on a
place called the ' Ducks' where she receiv-
ed considerable damage. York, November
•J-t "
The place referred to as " The Ducks" is
also mentioned by liochefoucault as being a
dani,'erous point for navigators.
Tiic Gazettr, under date at York, Novem-
ber 29th. 17'J8, announces from an English
source " the very jijratifying information of
an action having taken place between Ad-
miral Nelson and the French fleet on the'r
return from Alexandria, in which the Bri-
tish were happily victorious." This was
headed " Glorious, Glorious News !"and the
paper conclude? the account of the action,
which it gives in full, together with a list of
the killed and wounded, thus : — " In conse-
quence of the above important intellij^ence a
talute V. as tired yesterday at So'clock p. m. from
the garrison, and in the evening a general
illumination throughout the town took place
on the happy occ sion."
The following paragraph, showing bow
diflioult were the means of communication
at tlii.s time throughout the province, ap
pears in tie Gnzelte, dated '' York, iSatur-
arrived at
York
He
sailed
from
the
29ih
o:
we
are •_
iven
the
name
of
day, April 13th, 1799 ' ' We ant cipfctod
more interesting matter than is contained in
our sheet of this week, but in consequence
of the non-arrivals by water from Newark
(Niagara) and the irregularity of the con
veyance by land, nothing important has come
to hand. The Gazette labors at present
under the greatest possible disadvantage for
want of a regular conveyance between this
place and Newark."
The paper goes on to say that i*'* owners
entertain "an anxious hope'' that better
things will soon prevail.
GOVr.llNOR HUNTKR ABRIVK9.
On August 16th, 1799, the newly appoint-
ed (Jovernor, his Excellency Peter Hunter,
on the schooner Speedy,
thence to Niagara on
the same mouth, but
no information as to
the ship conveying him,
*houeh it was probably the Speedy. Mr.
Hunter remained at Niagara until S«-:pt«m-
ber Stii, when he again set sail, this time
for Kingston. As in his previous short
journey, the paper does not name tse ship
on which he em> arked, A very few days
later, on September I4th, this advertise-
ment appears prominently in the Gazette :
"The Toronto Yacht, Captain Baker, will, in
the course of u few days, be ready to make her
first trip. She is one of the handsorottst vessels
of her size that ever swam upou the Ontario,
and if wo arc permitted to judge from her ap-
pearance and to do her justice, we must say
she bids fa<:' to be one of the swiftest sailing
vessels. SKe is admirably well calculated for
the reception of passengers, and can with pro-
priety boast of the most experienced cfllecrs
and men. Her master builder was a Mr. Deni-
aon, an American, on whom she reflects much
honor."
" Ittr. Denison" is a misprint for Dennis,
a gentleman of whom w« shall have much
more to say here.ifter. It is to be regretted
that no information is given aa to f here
tlie Toronto Yitcht was built and laum hed,
nor as to her dimensions and tonnage On
November 3oth. the Gazette chrooicK* the
death of a raftsman upon the Don by falling
from his raft into the river. Jt adds that ''his
his remains were interred in Masonic order,"
'i he last days of the year appear to have
been very stormy, for Me learn from the
CovsteUation of December 7th, e paper pub-
lished in Niagara, that " on Thursday last,"
this would be on Novornbe-i 29th, " a boat
arrived here from Schenectady, which place
she left on the 22nd ult. She pas-sed the York,
sticking on a rock off the Devil's
Nose ; no pru.spect of getting her otf. A
small deck boat also, she reports, lately
sprung a leak twelve miles distant from
Oswego. The people on board, many of
whom were passengers, were taken off by •
LANDMARKS OF TORONI'O.
829
voMel pMsing, when she instantly sank ;
cargo is al*. los'/. "
Th« Mme papers refer 'o two other resr^els,
natiMly, tlie Gencaca and the V^ggj, both
schooners. I ho former appeara to hav« been
more than a month in accomplishing the dis-
tance between Oswego and Niagara, haviuf
" been driren back by heavy gales." The
latter vessel, the P ggy, was owned, in part
at least, at York (Toronto). The reference
made to her is contained in an Kdvertise-
ment running thun : —
''For sale, one moioty of the ws'Jknown
schoontr Pegsy. Any rocomnicridation of her
suLilir.g or accommodation will be unneccHsary.
With these particulars the public iire well
acquainted, and the Durchaser will nn doubt
4ati!«fy himself with personal inspertiou. Fur
terms of sale apply to the oxccnror aiid exe-
cutrix."
The Peggy had been held, as many ships
before the Board, until which time the
consideration of this petition is deferred.
A week later pressing reference is made
by advertisement to a vessel called the
Duchess of York, but no particulars are
given respecting her.
The sciioouer York, which we have men
tioned as being the lirst Canadian nierchanb
V33sel, hau, as we have just ."Con, encounter-
ed a severe storm on the 29th of November,
and was grounded near the mouth of the
Geneva river. (>he became a total wreck,
and went entirely to pieces.
At the end of this year (1799) a casual
reference is made to a Government sloop,
known as the Terrahoga. Siie was little
known and wo never find her again men-
tioned .
la tlie first days of the prc^sent century
> ;
Dennis,
Lvo much
regretted
to » here
launi bed,
laga Oil
icl'.* the
by falling
that '"hia
lie order."
to have
from the
aper pub-
day last,"
" a boat
icb place
the York,
Devil's
er off. A
ts, lately
tant from
I, many of
in off by a
L0.S3 OF TllK YORK.
I 1^
are in the present day, in shares, and this
moiety offered for sale was part of " the
estate of Thomas Berry, merchant, of York,
deceased.
Complaint was made even in theie early
days of excessive port charges, for we find
that Capt. Jos. KendriclL, of the Pe^'gy,
protested to the Executive Council, and in
the Simooe paper.s in the archives at Ottawa
is the following from the minutes of the
council.
Minute of Council, 6thAufist, 1709.
Read, the memorial of Joseph Kendrick,
master of the schooner Pe^^y, complaining
that the port charges from this town to
Niagara are too high for a vessel of her
tonnage, etc.
Recommended, that a tabic of the charges
cnade ■ clie entry of vessels and craft of all
kinds by the superintendents of the several
por*' on this and the Upper I aku be laid
the Gazette of April 'J6th, May 2nd and 10th,
contained this notihcatioa :
•' Snoriffs OiHcc.-). York.
April 18, 1800.
" Home District, to wit :
" By virtue of a writ of fieri faiias, at thosuit
Oi Potor Vanalst.iue, against the (;oods and
chattels of Abnor Miles to me diruuted. 1 have
signed and taken in execution one-third hhura
of the dcb.ooner Jemima or Gur.ssce packet, as
belonging to the said Abner Miles."
The advertisement proceeds to say that
this share will be sold on the sixteortth of
the following June to the hic;hest bidder. It
concludes by enjninint; all per.sons who have
any lien upon the ves-sel to at once notify
the fact to the sheriff. It is signed, "Alex-
ander McDonell, Sheriff."
On May t7th we are informed that "on
I'hnrsday evening last His Kxcellency, Peter
Hunter, Ksq., Lieutenunt-(.iovernor of tiiia
province, arrived in our harbour on i oard
the Toronto."
I
J
']
kl
t , V
830
LANDMARKS OF TOTtOXTO.
i' i.'-
■I
Id the Oazetle of September 6th appear*
this somewhat amusing apology from the
printers of the paper : *' VVe hope to be ex-
cused for the badness of the quality of the
paper we are obliged this day to print on,
owing to the non-arriTal of the vessel, which
has our new supply of that article on board
and which we daily expect."
AK INTEBRSTING SCHEDULE.
The following return of lake shipping at
the close of last century is of interest :
Ontario.
.5 Erie. Hnron and
3 Micbigan.
o
. . ►» j_j ^ o o "i ^ St* f^
"-1 'T)«"0 _- -
a
a
2. 00 000' §•
50 00005
CO-
»5
p ■
1 •
ccor
E*o •
<» a
fin
55
P
3
o
s
a
a.
U
(-» r* s
e o >-■
M ;r. B
on-
O O .
3 3 •
■3 •a :
p p .
3 -3 .
! o'o'p^s
' -I >t ^?rp
^ ai a <» JLjH
' CD 03 ^^Cr
: ooggo
; 00-^0
■ '2'2 ^^"a
• P •» BO
O
B
a
c: ^< -i oi o 3. o ■!» ci o< ci ^ ^i I ' uiinago
I I
osixx cs»'«'C. <»o>cncno>
OQ
B
2 o*
3 2""
-^
■«1B
■4
w. w
i-»^
(t>
cr
»
l! ,'j
Respectinr; the lake harbors there is the
following in the Simcoe papers : —
" lie York, Johnafoxon and Kinguton.
"The situation of two towns seems to hare
been properly laid out in the eastern part
of the Province, the one being where the
rapids end, called Cornwall, and the other
at the termination of the ship navigation of
the lakes, near the island of Livy, named
Johnatowti.
" Kingston, at the mouth of the St. Law-
rence, being the best Imrbour for the ship-
fiing at this end ot the lake, svnd the place
where the batteaux from Montreal resort,
must be a town of some consequence, though
it is incapable of defence, unless on a
system beyond all propriety. It cannot
under present cii'camstaBcee be ot very
great importance. It has astonishingly
increased since the establishment of the
Government.
" In the apper part of the province on Lake
Ontario, thia best harbour is that of 'i orouto
or York. A communioaiion between this
place and Lake Hnron has been explored,
which may be of the utmost commercial and
military advantage to the province "
In the first year of this century there was
constructed in : he township of Mar \ sburgh,
a short distance west of the Stone mills, a
schooner of some celebrity. It was built by
Captair. Murncy, father of the late Hon. Ed-
ward Murney, of Belleville. Captain Mur-
ney came to Kingston, in 1797, at the
solicitation of Mr. .Joseph Forsyth. It was
constructed for himself, and was made al-
together of red cedar, a kind of wood form-
erly very plentiful along the bay, and which
posg3sses a most agreeable odor, and is ex-
tremely durable. The vessel was named
the Prince Edward. John Clark, of Dal-
housie, says of this vessel, that he was on
board the following year of her building, and
that she was a " staunch, good ship, with
an able captain." Her size was sufficient to
allow 70<) barrels of flour to be stowed be-
neath her hatches. She ran upon Lake On-
tario for many years, anii made for herowner
a small fortune. She was in good condition
in 1812, and was employed by Government
as an armed vessel. A schooner called
Prinee Edward, probably the same. Captain
Young, was the first vessel to land at the
pier when erected at Wellington. (Canniff,
p. 153. )
111 the same year, 1800, we learn from the
source from which we have just quoted,
that '' a schooner of 100 tons was brought
to Clifton, and during the winter of 1801,
she crossed by the portase road on immense
runners 10 Queenston, where she again found
her native element in the Niagara river."
She was in 1804 lost in bringing a cargo to
Niagara, with all on lioa'd.
On May 16th, 1801, the Toronto again
arrives at York, carrying the Lieutenant
Governor, who was to open Parliameiit on
the 28th of the same month.
nelson's DANISH VICTORY.
On June 13th is this announcement:
" lAst Monday," that would bo on June
8th, " was a day of universal rejoicing in
this town, occasioned by the airivnl of the
news of the splendid victory gained by Lord
Nelson over the Danes in Coponliugen
K ads, on the 2nd of April last."
fi
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
831
On August 29th following, we are ap-
prised by the Gazette of Mr. William
Allan's appointment as " Collector of
duties at this Dort (York) for the Home
District."
in the Niagara Herald of January 18th,
1802, appears the following paragraph :
— *' The sloop Mary Ann will sail from this
town (Niagara) on first favorable day." In
addition there was the vensel known as
Skinner's S oop. We learn " through a
private letter from Captain ^Eneas Mac-
douell to Ensign Chiniquy, dated York
(iarri;ion,28th March, 1802, of the receipt of
a budget of news by Skinners Sloop."
(Scadding, p. 527).
On March 30th, 1802, Levi VVillard adver-
tises in the Gazette that he " will run a boat
from Y'^ork to the head of thelake onca a week.
The first departure will be from York, the
31st instant, und from the head of the lake
on Saturday every week." This advertise-
ment continues in several successive num-
bers.
In the Gazette, published on May 15th of
the same year, we again hive the intelli-
gence of the Governor's arrival at York, and,
aa in the two preceding years, h« cam* on
the Toronto, after a remarkably quick pas-
sage from Quebec of nineteen days 1
Travelling at this period both by land
and lake was a widely different matter from
what it is now. There are many living who
can remember, and remember with a shud-
der, wiiat its discomforts were less than
fifty years ago. Long after the Upper Pro-
vince had been settled it was an undertak-
ing of no small magnitude to accom-
plish a journey, say from New
York to Kingston or York. Writers
who are presumably well acquainted
with the subject, relate how travellers were
cix weeks in accompliahinf; the distance
between Albany and the Bay of Quinte.
Other instances are given of faiiiilies
being a month on their journey from New
Jersey to the same settlement.
Compare such inconveniences with the
comforts obtainable in 1893. A traveller
can dine in New York on one Sunday and
in Liverpool on the one following. He ean
breakfast in Toronto, have his lunch, say
at Buffalo, and a late dinner in New York,
or he can dine in Toronto at a late hour one
evening and breakfast in Montreal at a
tolerably early hour on the foliowisg morn-
ing.
In the Gazette, published February 5th,
1803, there is a proclamation from His Ex-
cellency, the Lieutcnank Governor, Peter
Hunter, Esq., constituting two additional
places aa porta of entry in the following
terms :—
" I, Peter Hunter, Esquire, Lieutenaafc
Governor of this Province, do hereby de-
clare and appoint that in addition to the
Ports of Entry and Clearance ectabUshed by
and under the anthcrity of a certain act."
The document then proceeds to quote this
act and to define the locality of the new
ports in these words : " The places
hereinafter described nnd specified, that
is to say : * * * on
the west bank of the river Gananoque,
in the Township of Leeds, in the County of
Leeds, in the Distiict of Johnstown, at or
near the place where the said river
St. Lawrence » * • j^^j
on the north bank of the river
Chippawa, in the township of Stamford, in
the county of Lincoln, in the district of
Niagara, near to the bridge over the said
last mentioned river, shall froii the four-
teenth day ot February next, severally and
respectively be and the same are })y these
presents proclaimed to be ports and places
of entry and clearance, for all goods and
merchandi/.e, brought into this province
from the United States of America."
The document conclude by again quoting
the act of Parliament, under which it is
issued and then is signed "By His Excel-
lency's Command, William Jarvis, Secre-
tary."
On the 14th of May following the Govern-
ment schooner Duke of Rent, arrived at
Y'ork from Kingston, conveying a detach-
ment of troops. This is the first mention
we have of this vessel. On June 25th,
the Gazette tells its readers
that the Lieutenant • Governor wifeh
his ^uite, will sail that day from York
for Quebec, via Kingston, and on July 29th
the same paper refets again to the arrival in
York harbour of the schooner Duks of Kent.
In the Gazette of November 26th there is
this notice : — " It is currently reported, and
wc are sorry to add with every appearance
of foundation, that the sloop Li idy Washing-
ton, commanded by Captain MuiTay, was
lately lo^t in a gale of wind near Oswegu, on
her passage to Niagara. Pieces of the wreck
and her boat, by which she wa< recognized,
together viith several other articles, are said
to have been picked up. It is yet uncertain
whether the crew and passengers were saved.
Among the lattfr were Messieurs Dunn and
Boyd, of Niagara."
The vessel just referred to was the fir^t
American craft bnilt on Lake Eric. She was
constructed at Four Mile Creek, noar Erie.
Pa., in 1797. For one soMon only she
sailed on Lake Erie She was then sold to
a Canadian, who took her on wheels round
the Falls from Chippawa to Qveenston.
I'here she was raeiatered as s British vessel.
r^
W4
'i !i
5 ' I
I
■
'Jtl
i I-
■'* It
■f
:Ll.
832
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
i!^
her namn beiog changed from Washinj{ton to
Lady Washington.
T0BK'» FIONEEB MEKCHAirr.
The basihess hindrances arising from the
delay or non-arrival of expected vessels
kave previously been referred to Another
instance of it is given in the advertisement
pnl''i»hed in the Gazette of December lOtb,
1803, by Mr. Qaetton St. George, where,
atcer explaining that he had lost a large
quantity of goods through the founderi g
of the Lady Washington, he thus expresses
to his cu-tomers his regret for their
tailore to receive their supplies : —
•* Mr. Sfc George is very sorry that he
baa not received his £aH~ India goods and
groceries. He is sure they are at OdAego,
and should they not arrive this season,"
that is before the navigation of the harbor
•losed for the winter, " they may," the ad-
vertisemeat concludufl, " be looked for early
ia the apriug. "
The OazetU of the same date also gives a
table of exports and imports ai. Quebtc for
•le year 1803. It is to be regretted the
«pian titles only are given, not the values.
An ong the export* are 14,0S4 barrels of
Sonr and 372.5.3.^; busheU of whea , a large
(fnanlity of 8a.lte:l beef, pork and fish, six
ke«:s of tobacco, also tl" same quantity of
Curiadi\ balsam, and a larje coiiaigninunt of
sartinparilla. Timber, rough and prepared,
forms, as was to h<f, expected, the chief arti-
cle of export, although it is nearly equalled
by furs, among which was the enormous
number of 207,229 deer skins.
Among rlio imports of the dutiable arti-
cles are 6 173 pnnclu;<m8 of rum, 103,
556 ininots of Fait, 17,172 packs of playing
cards and lu»t but by no means least 210
oasoB of Noyean.
Mavicjatiou inu3t have opened late in 1S04
for noi until the 22ud of May is there any
intelligonce iu the Gaz'Mt respecting the
vessels on the lake. Even then
tho inform tion i-< most n\eagre. The
fact is merely recorded thi»t npou that date
tlio Licutcnant-Oovernor and suite sailed
from Yi.rk to Kingaton on their way to
Quebec They returned to York on August
29th following. Terrible storms and floods
devastated the country early in Sep-
tember and the River Credit rose to
Kocfa a height that the Indian camp was
iloodo<l, its inhabitants barely esc ping witii
their lives and losing al) their canoes and
arms l>nt a still wo> storm took place
oorly in the next month, resulting in the
total losa of the Government schooner
Speedy. I he Oazette narrates the story
tbas :—
•• The Speedy, Cap ain 0. Paxton, left
ilua port on baad»j evening, the 7tb of
October last, with a moderat* breeze from
the N W., for Presque Isle, and was descri-
ed off that Island on the Monday
following before dark, where prepar*-
tions were made for the reception
of the passengers, but the wirid coming
round from the N. K blew with such vio-
lence aa to render it impossible for her to
enter the harbor, and very shortly after she
disappeared. A large fi e wm then kindled
on shore as a guide to the ¥es8«J during ohe
night, but she has not since been seen or
heard of, and it ia with the mo?t painful
sensations we have to say we fear she it
totally lost."
A SAD i^TORV.
The paper goes on to say that eaquiry
had been made at all the lake ports, but ne
information could be obl>ined about the
ship excepting that a mast, compass-b«»K
and hen-coop, known to have belon;;cd te
her, had been found on the beach at the
opposite side of the lake. On board the
Speedy were among others. Mr. Justice
Cochrane, Mr. Robert.). D.Gray, Solicitor
General ; Mr. Angus McDonell, Advocate,
and a member of the House of Assembly ;
Mr. John Fiisk, Hi^h Constable of York, and
^lr. (ieorge C'ov/an, who Mas an Indian in-
terpre er
" These centlimcu were," the Gaze'te gooa
on, " proceeding to the district of New-
castle, in order to hold the Circuit, and for
the trial of an Indian, (also on board the
Speedy), indicted for the mur ler of Johe
>harpe, late of the Queen's Rangers." The
sad story concludes by sayi g that it
is feared others, whose names were
unkno\rn, had also perished, ami
that the total loss of life amount-
ed to twenty souls. In the last issue of the
(•itzette, in Dticember, 1804, there is a refer-
ence made to the schooner I'eggy. She h.id
brou;;ht a valuable consignment of goods for
Quotton St. (ieorgb. and that enterprising
;,'entleman informs his patrons that " they
will close his supply for this year " We
may conclude, therefore, that though
navigation had epened late in the
season of 1804 it had not made up for it
by closing early. The imports and exports
at Quebec for 1804, excepting iu wheat, do
not show any very great diflerences from
those of the preceding year Among the latter
are 200,043 bushels of wheat, a decrease of
no less than 172,490 bushels, but there is a
very considerate increase in oats and
barley There is, too, a considerable
augmentation in the nu . ber of deer skins
exported. They exceed by mote than 41,000
those shipped the year previously. Amon;^
the dutiable imports there is an increase in
the quantity of rum, but the uumLer of
\'tf- goca
■ New-
kml for
ard the
Joha
The
ab ib
were
aad
mount-
f the
ref«r-
h,>d
ds for
prieinsr
' they
We
hou^h
the
for it
xports
t, do
froB
latter
se of
e ia a
and
er&ble
skins
41.000
^mon;:;
oae in
-er of
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
8:»
packs of playing cards decreases exactly
3,000 pac is. In salt, too, there is a de-
crease of more than 9,000 minots. But the
Canauians were less luxurious in 1804 than in
its predecessor, for the importation of
Noyeau ib conspicuous by its absence.
The records of shipping for 1805 are very
barren. The arrival at York and departure
of the Lieutenant-Governor for Kingston and
Qaebec is noted without any information as
te the means he employed to transport him-
self from place to place. Only in November
is there a casual reference made to the
Toronto Yacht. She had apparently been
lying near the Garrison, for we learn from
tke Gazette of November 16th that "a boat
jmb off from her to the rescue of some per-
aoas in danger ef drowning, who had been
■jiset from a boat bound from the Credit to
Toronto," and which had been, to quote the
ChxiCtte, " overset near the Garrison at the
entrance of thLt (York) Harbor." Despite
all exertions though, one person and nearly
all the cargo, were lost. The officer iu com-
•naad of che Toronto Yacht was Capt. Earl.
DKATU or NEIJiON.
llio Gazette, published January 11th,
M06, contains the following paragraphs : —
" As the public curiosiiy has i cen lately
eeosiderably excited by a report of Lord
Nelson's havini; fallen iu with and obtained
a victory over the combined French and
Spanish flee*;, with the loss of his life, we pub-
Vmh the following letter, with which we have
been poUucly favored (dated 29th December),
received by a gentleman in Niagara. The
paper then cautions its readers against plac-
ing too much r<>''.ance on the letter, and
proceeds to give its contents, which ran
tins :—
"I hasten to let you know that we have
received direct information from Albany
that Lord Nelson has fallen in with the com-
bined ileet, taking nineteen, sinking two,
blew up one, and seven ;;ot away. Two ad
rairals (French) and one Spanisii taken
prisoners. Lord Nelson was shot with
a musket ball through the breast and killed.
No other of&cer of distinction on either side
waa lost. • * ♦ • Lord Nelson's fleet
consisted of twenty seven. It was spoken
of as certain in Albauy."
By a Gazette extraordinary, dated January
20th following, the news just referred to wai
fnlly confirmed. On the same date the
Freaident, Alexander Grant, Esquire, order-
ed a salute to be fired in honor of the vic-
tory by the troops in York garrison. The
following letter, copied from the original
document and addressed to the commissary
of stores, will be read with interest : —
"YOEK, 20th January, 1806.
"Sib,— You will please issue te Sergeant
Robert Hadden, of the Royal Artillery, one
barrel of gunpowder to be used in firing a
1 syal salute in honor of the signal and
glorious victory, obtained by the
British fleet under Lord Nelson,
over the combined fleets of France
and Spain, at the entrance of the straights
(sic) of Gibraltar on the 2Ist of October
last, and on such other services as may be
occasionally required, and for which Ser-
geant Hadden is hereafter to account.
The Hon. John Mc(iill, Alex. Grant,
" Commissary ef Stores. President. "
Later, on February 15th, the Gazette
refers to the loss of a boat plying between
Oswego and Sandy Creek, near the mouth
of the Salmon river, when four people lost
their lives. Still later, on June 14th, the
&a::6<^e prints a request. " That no person
will draw sand or pass with loaded waggons
or carts over the new bridge er float at the
opening of the Don river," and then pro-
ceeds to explain " this source of communi-
cation, was intended merely to accommo-
date the inhabitants of the town in a walk
or ride to the Island. "
Among other notices that appear in the
Gazette of May 16th, 1807, is one appointing
" Joseph Chioiquy, Esquire, Collector of
Customs at the ports of St. Joseph and St.
Mary." Uy a letter of Governor Gore,
written in the following August, we learn
that the schooner Toronto had met with an
accident, of what particular nature we are
not informed. We also see that even those
who held such prominent positions as his,
were compelled even at this period to have
recourse to batteaux in proceeding from
place to place.
NEPTUNE CONQUERS MARS.
The Lieutenant-Governor, writing from
Kingston, '24th August, 1807, say.-j : —
"SVe arrived here (Kingston) yesterday
after a pass.-.ge of forty eight hours. Mra.
Gore suffered very much from sickness and
the gallant major was near giving up the
ghost. As for myself I never was more
hearty in my life.'' He is on his way to
Montreal and proceeds to add : — "I have
got two batleaux and shall start at ten
o'clociv to-morrow, and hope to be with you
at furthest on the 17th of next mon'.h."
In the latter portion of his letter ho refers
thus to the recent accident to the Toronto
Yacht "I am vexed to hear of the Toron-
to's disaster. For God's sake let us avoid a
second Speedy atfair."
Unfortuna'ely, there was yet another
ace dent to this same veascl, for on October
17th following the Gazette briefly chronicles
the event. It occurred on her passage bO'
tween Niagara and Toronto, causing her to
put back to the former port. At this time
<\h
^<
i
i. ..-J-M;
834
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
the means of communication throughout the
provinca must hkve been, both by land and
\«atcr, in a most primitive condition, for
almost touch number of the Gazftte contains
complaints alout the non-arrival of various
articles requirad by the publishers. This
important announcemaut is made in the
Gazette o: March 16th, 1808:
" It is with pleasure "c inform the public
that i he dangers to vessels navigating Lake
Out irio will in a great measure ba avoided
iiy the erection of a lighthouse on Gib-
I iiltar Point, which is to be immediately coni-
}>letcd in compliance with an address of the
House of Assembly to the Lieutenaut-
(lovornor."
It has been statsd on, perhaps, somewhat
doubtful authority tiiala lighthouse had been
commenced at tliis place in 1799, or even a
year earlier, also that the schooner Mohawk
ii!id been employed in carrying stone from
Niagara for huilding purposes, and that
building had begun. This my have been
so, but the undertakini; must have been of a
private nature, aud never came toauytliing.
The Act for the establishment of li>;ht-
houses at Isla Forest, near Kingston, at
Niissiasaga Point, naar Niagara, and at
Gibraltar Point, opposite York, was not
passed until 1803, and there is no record of
any advantage having beun taken of its pro-
visions until this year, 1808. By this Act
the maintenance of the lighthouses is pro-
vided for by levying a toll of threepence
I)e:- ton (this would be Halifax carreucy,
equivalent to five cents) "on every vessel,
boat, raft or other craft of ten tons burthen
or upwards, doubling tha point named, in-
ward bound."
We hear of two new ve9sels this year,
namely, the Elizabeth and the Goveruor
Simcoe. i hey were built by Judge Richard
Cartwright, the first for himself and the
second for the Northwest Company, to re-
place one similarly named that had become
worn out and whose advent we have already
mentioned. These schooners were built and
launched at Mississaga Point, at the mouth
01 the river Cataraqui.
In the Gazette of April 7ih following,
there is » reference made to the schooner
Mary Ann havint; sailed from Kingston on
the 3rd or 4th inst. " with an elegant assort-
ment of fashionable printed cottons and cali-
coes," and that her arrival at York is duly
expected. The Toronto Yacht was fairly
busy in the latter end of 1808 conveying the
Governor to and from Niagara and York.
There also appears to have bean a schoon-
er on Lake Erie at this time known as the
Camden, for in the Oazetle of July 30th re-
ference is made to the Lieutenant Gover-
nor's return from a journey to Amherstburg
and Sandwich. He is said to have returned
to York by Lake Erie "on board the Cam-
den, having had rather a tedious passage of
seven days and blowing adverse weather."
Navigation closed early in I SOS, for on
December 14th the Gazette announces that
in consequence of the suspension of our
water coinmuuicatioQ with Niagara at the
present season " the day of publication
would in future be Wednesday, instead of
Saturday, as heretofore." This year is re-
markable not only as being the first in which
the provisions of the Lighthouse Act were
enforced, but also as being the last year in
which the navigation of the Canadian rivers
and lakes was compassed solely by sailing
vessels. The introduction of steam power,
then threatened, became an accomplished fact
in 1809, and as that year marks a new era in
the life of our Canadian marine the
second portion of the history of that
service closes at this period.
CHAPTER CCXXXIX.
Six Eventfnl Years— The Virst SiPAiii VfH-
sels— The >Var of tSl'i aud thi^ Ituttlt-s on
the Lakes— 180» 15.
The six years from the beginning of 1809
to the new year of 1815 form one of the moat
interesting periods in Canadian history.
They were marked by the first introduction
of steamboat navi;:ation on inland waters in
Canada, and also by the occurrence of one
of the most fiercely waged wars and hotly
c nte£>ted battles both by land and sea that
England has ever been engaged in in con-
junction with any of her dependencies. The
first steamboat that ever floated on any
waters or in any country appeared on
the great River Hndson, in tha United
States, in the year 1807. > he second sailed
on Canadian waters in 1809, from and to
Canadian porta. CannifF thus describes both
vessels : —
" The River Hudson, named after the
navigator of that name, who ascended this
splendid stream — called by the native In-
dians 'The Great River of Mountains' — in
1609, has the honour of being the place
whereon floated the first steamboat ihat
existed in the world. The boat was lauich
ed in the year 1807, being named Clermont.
It was of 150 tons burden. The engine was
procured from Birmingham. Robert Ful-
ton, of New York, though not the origina-
tor of steam power, was the first in America
who directed it to the propelling of boats.
Fulton, the pioneer in boats by steam, lived
not long enough to see accomplished the
grand end of propelling beat« across the
Atlantic thus. He died in 1815. The
secoud steamboat built in America was
launched in Montreal 3rd November, 1809,
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
835
irnod
Cam-
a« of
fr."
>r on
I that
,f our
U tl-.e
cation
ead of
r is re-
i which
t were
yeftr in
, livera
sailing
power,
hed fact
w era in
aB tli«
of that
•niM Ves-
littles on
ig of 1809
; the moat
i history,
iroductioa
waters in
nee of one
and hotly
\ sea that
iu in con-
iiciea. The
d on any
Ipeared on
hd United
fcond sailed
•cm and to
icril^ss both
built by John Molson, It was called Ac-
commodation, and p ied between Montreal
»ud Qiibbec. At the first trip it carried ten
pas8en);eri from Montraal to Quebec, takini;
thirtytiix hours. The whole city of Quebec
came out to see her enter the harbour. The
fare was ei ht dollars down and nine up."
Of the vessels upon the lakes in 1809 and
1810 there are scarcely any rocorda.
There was the liella Gore, in the latter
year under the command of Captain
Sanders, running between Nagara,
York and Kingston. Another, com-
manded by Captain Grace, the name of
which was not K'ven, ran between the same
ports ; while yet a third plied between York
and Niagara, commanded by Captain Conn,
and from some peculiarity in her shape often
spoken of as Captain Conn's coffin. The
ditticultiea expnrieuced in travelling from
one portion of Canada to another in those
days can hardly be even imagined by the
younger generation of Canadians. They are
accustomed to regard a trip to Montreal in
a Pullman car or one of the iioating palaces
of the lake as a luxury rather than a toil,
yet this is a description (contained in " Can-
niffa Upper Canada") of what travelling
was here only three-quarters of a century
since. He says : —
" The following is a most interest-
ing instance of batteaux travelling
put in our hands by the Rev. Mr.
Miles :— • I left Kingston on the 6th of
April, 1811, hat as the travelling then was
nob as it is now, I did not arrive in Montreal
till the loth. I will just copy verbatim the
journal I kept on my passage. Durham
boats were scarce on the Canada 'side at that
time, but it was thought if I could get to the
American shore I would find one on its way
to Montreal. Well, I found a man in Kin>;-
8ton just from Grindstone Island, who had
hrought up some shingles and tar to sell, and
he told me if 1 could get to Briton's Point,
several miles down the river from Cape Vin-
cent, and to which place he would take me,
that he thought I would find a Durham boat
ihere, and the following is my journal on
lliat route ;
" 'Grwdstone Island, April 11, 1811.—
Left Kingston yesterday, April 6th, at 3
p.m., in an open skiiT, with R. Watson, a
clerk in Dr. Jonas Abbott's store, and two
handa belonging to theskiff; head wind; rowed
hard till about eight in the evening, when,
having blisti red both handa and being very
much fatigued, we drew our akiff on shore
and eamped on the shore of Long Island,
abont five miles above Grindstone Islan \ ;
wind strong from the north ; very cold and
without victuals or fire ; feet wet ; slept
Borne, walked some, and by daybreak was
somewhat chilled ; strong head wind ; stuck
close to our dear lodgings until eight, when
the wind abated, and wo stuck to our oars
till about eleven o'clock, when we made
Grindstone Island, weary and very hungry ;
eat a hearty dish of "sapon" and milk ;
rested aijout an hour ; set off for Briton's
tavern on the American shore, where we ar*
lived about 4 p.m., the water being en-
tirely calm ; ha 1 not been on shore ten
minutes, aa good luck would hi^ve it, before
we engaged a passage for Cornwall in a
Durham boat, and a breeze coming up
dir. ctly from the south, our American boats
immediately hoisted sail and proceeded about
thirty miles, when the wind chan:.:ed, and we
put into a bay on Grenadier Island, about
nine in the evening ; r.te some supper at a
house owned by Mr. Baxter ; spread a sail
upon the lloor, and aeven boatnie i and four
passengers camped down before the fire ; iu
the morning I felt my bones as though they
had been lying on the soft side of a hard,
rough floor. "April 8— Head wind still ;
wished myself either at Kingston or Mon-
treal. April 9— Still a head wind ; must
take it as it comes ; reading and writing the
order of the day ; at 7 p. m. hoisted sail ; at
1 a.m. arrived at a house on the Canada
shore, and slept on the floor until daylight.
April 10— Left for Oguensburg. where we
arrived at ii p.m.; fo;indanold acquaintance
and paised the afternoon quite agreeably.
April 11— Had a good night's rest; still a
head wind ; found the printing oitice and
composed types the greater part of the day.
April 12— Still a head wind April 18—
Left Ogdenubur^ and arrived at Corn nail.
April 14. — Left Cornwall and arrived at
MoGee's, L^ke St. Francis. April 15 — Left
McGee's ai .i arrived at Montreal about 8
ji.ni. 1 ravellinc expenses from Kingston to
Montreal, $9 75.' "
IXIT TOIlONTi) YAChT.
Early in the summer uf 1812 the Toronto
V: acht ceased to sail upon the lake. She
was wrecked off the island opposite Toronto,
and for many years a portion of her hull re-
mained upon the beach.
Before proceed ng to relate the his-
tory of thd shipping upon the lakes
during the war that broke oat in 1812
between Great Britain and the United
States, it will be necessary to go back
for a few yeara and ^'ive particulars relating
to an Act of Cungresa passed by the Amei -
can Legislature in the year 1807. This was
known as the Embargo Act, and ia described
by an American author aa one " laying an
embargo on all shipping, foreign or domes-
tic, in the porta of the United States, with
specific cxceptiona." This Act waa passed
by Congress with closed doors, in a session
I
'9
''i
I i
r
83d
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
I
»>!•. :)•
»
M
I
"J
f7'
of four houii, in violation also of the usual
inodM of Ugialativ* procedure. Tu again
qaota oar previous authority, this Act pro-
hibited " all vease s in the porta of the
United States from sailing for any foreign
port, except foreign ships in ballast or with
cargoes taken on board before notification of
the Aet, and coastwise vessels were required
to give heavy bonds to laud their cargoes in
the United States." It is added that " the
little life left in American commerce under
the pressure of the orders and decrees of the
belligerents," who were France and Eng-
land, " WAS utterly crushed out by this
Act." At this time it must be noted there
were many points cf dispute between the
United States, France and Great Britain.
By passing this Act the American Govern-
meut hoped to bring such pressure to bear,
on the latter power especially, as would
cause her to yield in favor of America some
at any rate of the disputed questions. But
this is what really happened, and we again
quota from a United .States writer : —
" The French Government viewed it (the
Embargo Act) as far more injurious in its
effects upon Great Britain than upon them-
selves, while England, feeling that her
national character aud honor were at stake,
and believing that she could endure the
privations which the measure would inSict
in both countries longer than America,
proudly refused to yield a single point."
We have described this Act thus fully so
as to render more intelligible the references
we shall be obliged to make to it in our
istory of events upon the lakes during the
next few years.
On June otii, 1812, the schooner Lord
Xelson, belonging to and owned by James
and vVilliam Crooks, of Niagara, freighicd
with flour and a general cargo, sailed from
that place for Kingston. Leing found in
American waters, she was captured by the
Oneida under J^the command of Lieutenant
Woolsey and condemned as a prize under
ihe provisions of the Embargo Act. Two
other schooners, namely, the Ontario and the
Niagara, were in the same month also taken
by the Americans. The former was speedily
released but the latter was sold by her cap-
tora. These acts naturally led to retaliatory
tactics being adopted by the Canadians.
When the news of the declaration of war
reached Ogdeusburg on the St. Lawrence
there were lying there eight American
trading schooners. They naturally en-
deavored to escape to the open waters of
Lake Ontario, but a company of volunteers,
about fifty in number, commanded by an
enthnaiastic Canadian named Jones, chased
them in open boats. They succeeded in cap-
tnrinc; two of the fugitive vessels, named the
Sophia and Island Queen, and after taking
posaeaaion of their oontenta burnt them.
Thia toolc place near Brock vi lie at the foot
of the Thousand Isles. On July 29th, an
attempt was made by the Uritiah fleet on the
lakes to re-oaptura the Lord Nelaon, which
waa lying under charge of the American
vasael the Oneida, in Sackett's Harbour.
Ihe attacking force aailed from Kingston
under command of Commodore Earl, who
had formerly commanded Toronto Yacht.
It consisted of the following vaasela: Royal
George, 26 guna ; Princa Regent, 22 ; Earl
of Moira, 20 ; Simcoe, 12, and Seneca 4.
The expedition waa not succesaful and waa
attended by some loss of life and not a little
damage to the Canadian ships.
DECLARATION OF WAR.
War had been formally declared by the
President of the United States against
Great Britain on June 19th, 1812. When
the intelligence reached General Brock, who,
in the absence of Lieutenant-Governor
(>ore on leave to England, was Administrator
or President of the Council, he was nl York.
His first orders were on June 26th, 1812,
sent to Captain Roberta, \^ ho was in com-
mand of a small detachment of the 41st
Regiment, quartered in the Block House on
the Island of St. Joseph, in Lake Huron,
about forty miles north-east of Mackinaw,
or, as it haa been called previously in theso
pages. Michillimackinac. These commands
were to capture the fort at this place, it being
the headquarters of the Indian fur trade.
Captain Roberts set out, accompanied by o
hundred and fifty voyagcurs, an armed
schooner, the Caledonia, and his own com-
pany of forty-six men, on his expedition.
They sailed on July 16th in batteaux and
canoes, and on approaching the fort sum-
moned its occupants to surrender. This
they did without iiring a shot or a life being
lost on either side. General Brock next
determined to make an attack upon and
capture if possible Fort Detroit and so
secure command of the lakes. Brock had
crossed from York to JNiagara in a canoe,
accompanied only by a friend and their
boatman, and from the latter place the force
intended for the attack upon Detroit set
forth. They embarked on August 5th, 1812,
and six days later were near Amherstburg,
on Lake Erie The Kingston Gazette of
Sep ember 19, 1812, contains the following
general orders issued on that occasion : —
GENERAL ORDER.
Headquarters, cainp. Bank of Lake Erie. 15
milea s.w. Port Talbot, August 11, 1812,
six o'clock p.m.
The troops will hold themsehes in readi-
ness, and will embark in the boats »t twelve
o'clock this nigh . It is Major General
Uking
th«in.
le foot
th, an
t on the
which
nerioan
arbour,
ingstoa
•1, who
Yacht.
: Royal
! ; Earl
neca 4.
Ad was
b a lUtl«
1 by the
against
When
ock,who,
Sovtrnor
inistrator
lit York.
,h, 1812,
in com-
the 4l8t
House on
3 Huron,
[ackinaw,
f in the30
pommanda
^e,it being
ur trade,
ied by
Etn armed
own com-
xpcdition.
teaux and
fort sum-
er. This
life being
roek next
upon and
and so
Brock had
a canoe,
and theii
e the force
Detroit set
5th, 1812.
iherstburg,
Gaz'-Ue of
following
sion : —
ke Erie. 15
It 11, 1812,
es in readi-
_ at twelve
jor General
LANI>MARKS OF TORONTO.
837
Brock's positive orden that none of the
boats go ahead <>£ that in which is the head-
quarters, where a lirht will be shown dur-
ing the night.
The officers commanding the different
boats will immediately inspect the arms and
ammunition of the men, and see that they
are constantly Uept in a state for immediate
service. As the troops are now to pass
through a part of the country which ia
known to have been visited by the enemy's
patrols, a captain with a subaltern and
thirty men will mount as a picket upon the
landing of the boats, and a sentry will be
furnished for each boat, who must be regu-
larly relieved, to take charge of the boat
and bagga e. A patrol from the picket
will be sent out on landing to a distance of
a mile from the encampment
I>y order of the Major-General
J. B. Gleo(J,
Major A.D.C.
The next day General lirock issued an-
other order emphasizing the one just quoted,
and also drawing the kttention of officers
commanding boats to the fact that :
" A great part of the bank of the
lake where the boats will this day
pass is much more dangerous and
diliicult of access than any we have
passed ; the boats therefore will not land
except in the moat extreme necessity, and
then great care must be t.iken to choose the
beat places for beaching. The troops being
in the neighborhood of the enemy.every pre-
caution must be taken to guard against
surprise.
By order of the Major-General.
J. li. (iLEOr.,
Major A. D. C.
When Brock arrived before Detroit, \s hich
he did on August 15th, there were in the
river the Briti-h gunboats Princess ('luir-
lotte and Hunter. They opened fire ujioti
the fort and were aided by a battery of live
guns, which had been erected by the British
on the side of the river, opposite Detroit.
Next day the garrison capitulated to Brock
and over two thousand men became prison-
ers of war. A b ig called the Adams was
also captured. Many of these were con-
veyed by the two ships we have just named
to Fort Erie, from thence to Quebec via
Kingston, but as it was by the Qat bottomed
boat and canoe that many of the troops had
ascended to the head of the lake so by them
many of the prisoners taken at Detroit were
conveyed to Quebec. On August ISth
Broc^ sailed for Fort Erie in the Charlotte,
and on August 22nd arrived in York.
l^'rom York Brock proceeded to Kingston,
where he remained until September 5lh,
whtu he left there for Niagara, again mak-
ing the journey, it is believed, in a canoa
This was the last voyage, excepting tne to
Detroit, on October 9th, the gallant soldier
made. Just after the departure of Brock
from Kingston a naval engagement took
place near Johnstown. In reference thereto
the Kingston Chronicle of September 19tb,
1812, contains this paragraph: "On the
16th inst," three days earlier "A brigade
of boats under convoy of two companies of the
Newfoundland regiment, And a detachment
of the 49th and of the Veterans, were attack-
ed by the Americans about twe ve miles be-
low .lohnstown." This attack, it seems, did
not terminate to the advantage of the as-
sailants, for they lost to the Canadians one
of their Durham boats and had more than
twenty men killed and wounded. By a later
paragraph in the same paper it appears thst
all the boats al'ove referred to arrived safe-
ly at Prescott on the morning of Septemb r
17th.
TWO VESSELS CAPTdRED.
In the early morning of October 9th, in
this year, the Americans succeeded in cap-
turing from the Canadians, on Lake Erie,
two vessels, namely theDetroit and the Cale-
donia. The first was the brig that formed
part of the spoils taken by Brock when
Fort Detroit surrendered and her name waa
changed from the Adams to Detroit in
honor of the victory. She was under the
command of Lieutenant Rolette. The second
was the prop rty of the North-west Com-
pany and carried a valuable cargo in the
shape of furs. i be Detroit carried six guns
and a crew of fifty-six men. She had also
thirty American prisoners on board. The
t aledonia had two guns, twelve men and
jilso had a few prisoners. The capture was
effected at Black Rock on Lake iirie by
Lieutenant Jesse D. Elliott. U. S. N. The
victors thonis, Ives confess tliat they
accomplisheU it by surprise. Later in the
day the Detroit, beins; within reach of the
guns of Fort Erie, was so severely cannonad-
ed t at the cable was cut by the Americans
and she drifted down the river Detroit to
the western side of Squaw Island near the
American shore. She was at once boarded
by a party of soldiers of the 49tli rep^im'/nt
British infantry stationed at Fort Erie. They
were compelled to abandon her after a hotly
contested figlit. Just as night waa approach-
ing General Brock arrived from Nia.ara
and, supported by the j,'uns of the
armed schooner Lady Prevost, made an
attempt to re-capture her. To prevent this
happening she was set fire to by the Ameri-
cans, and was burned to the water's edge.
The Canadian loss in this action h.^s never
bet n accurately ascert lined. 1 he Ameri-
cans reported theirs as two killed and five
\P^
1 ,
■n
t
l.;.;,fe.
K
l:S
'
':
838
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
wounded. Tha 1 sb of the Caledonia was a
serious one, the value of her car<:;o bcinj;
estimated at no less than |200,(>U(). It
need hardly be said tlio United States Gov-
ernment exulted, while General Brock lo-
yarded it very seriously. In a letter to Sir
George Prevost, dated October Ilth, written
but two days before his deatn, he s lys :—
" The event is particulaily uufortun ae, and
may reduce us to incalculable distress. The
enemy is making every exertion to gain a
naval laperiority on both lakes, which, if
they accomplish it, I do not see how we can
possibly retain the country."
DtATH OF BROCK.
On October l^Uii following, took place the
battle of Queenston Heights, when General
Brock and his A. D.C. Colonel McDoucLl
fell, like the gallant soldiers they were,
with their faces to the enemy. The Simcoe,
under command of Captain James Ricliard-
son, took the news to York. The following is
the account given of hi* arrival in the har-
bor from Dr. Scadding'a '"Toronto of Old."
Ho lays : —
"The Moira was lying olf the Garrison
at York when the Simcoe transport came in
sight filled with prisoners taken on Queen-
ston Heights, and bringing the first intclli-
<^enoe ot the death of General Brock. We
have heard the Rev. Dr. Richardson, of
Toront'i, who at the time was sailing master
of the Moira under Captain Sampson, de-
scribe the scene. The approaching schooner
was recognized at a distance as the Simcoe.
It was a vessel owned and commanded at
the moment, by Dr. Richardson's father,
Captain James Richardson. Mr. Richard-
son accordingly speedily put off in a boat
from the Moira to learn the news. He was
first startled at tbe crowded appearance of
the Simcoe's deck, and at the unwonted
guise of kis father, who came to the gang-
way conspicuously girt with a sword. ' A
great battle had been fought,'' he was told,
'on Queenston Heights. The enemy had
been beaten. The Simcoe was full ot prison-
ers of war, to be transferred instanter to the
Moira for conveyance to Kingston. General
Brock was killed.'
'- Elated with the first portion of the
news. Dr. Richardson spoke of the thrill of
dismay which followed the closing announce-
ment as something indescribable and never
to be forgotten."
At this time the following gunboats were
upon Lake Ontario — the Earl of Moira, 20
iruns ; the Duke of Gloucester, 14 guns ; the
Prince Regent, 22 guns ; the Royal (ieorge,
26 guns ; the Simcoe, 12 guns ; the Seneca 4,
the Priaceas Charlotte and the General
Hunter.
On November 9tb, 1812, a naval encounter
between the American and Canadian Navy
took place near Kingston. ConiiiioJore
Chauncey, of the U. S. Navy, on board the
Oneida, with several other vessels, lying off
the "Ducks," on the evening of the
previous day, hoping to intercept the Eng-
lish fleet, composed of the Royal George,
of twenty-six guns, under the command
of Captain Popham, the Duke of Gloucester,
of fourteen guns, and the Pnncc Regent, of
twenty-two guns, who were returning from
Niagara. These vessels reached the Bay of
Quinte safely during the night of
November 8th and were proceed-
ing on the following morning on their jour-
ney to Kingston whenChauncey encountered
them. A battle which lasted tor more
than two hours ensued, and which ended by
the Americans retreating to Sackett s Har-
1 or. On their way thitherwards the Oneida
fell in with the British vessel, the Earl of
Moira, actine as an escort to a sloop which
had on board General Brock's plate, bookH
and other private effects. These were all
captured, but subsequently, to the honor of
Chauncey, restored to the general's repre-
sentatives. As the American vessels were
returning to Sackett's Harbor they discov-
ered the schooner Seneca, under the com-
mand of Captain Richardson, trying to
make her way into Kingston. They prompt-
ly fired into her. Richardson tried first of
all to run his vessel on to Amherst Isle; that
failed. He then essayed to get into port, but
almost as he reached safety a 32-pounder
struck the ship and she sank, the crew firing
their only musket as she went down. She
was afterwards raised, and sailed for some
years longer.
CAPTURE OF YORK.
This was the final contest oa the lakes in
1812. Winter set in and hostilities were for
the time suspended. But in the following
May, Chauncey, who has just been referred
to, appeared before York in command of a
hostile fieet of 14 vessels. He was opposed
on the lake only by the British vessel the
Duke of Gloucester, which was at once cap-
tured. A schooner which belonged to
Joseph Kendrick, called the Hunter, wm
also encountered and destroyed by the
Americans. The Prince Regent had sailed
from York for Kingston on April 24th pre-
viously, and so in all hnman probability
escaped capture. The frmraes of two ships
were on the stocks at the time York capitu-
lated. They were destroyed by the order of
General Sheafie, who was la command of the
garrison. Captain Sanders, who had pre-
viously commanded the schooner Bella Gore,
was killed in action at tke same tinoe.
Less than a month after tiie eremta just
chronicled had taken place at York, the
Navy
ridore
, the
ngoff
E the
Eng-
Borg«.
tmand
jester,
ent, of
5 from
iay of
:it of
:oceed-
r jour-
inter«d
: more
ided by
IS Har-
Oueida
Earl of
p wbich
B, bookt*
were all
bonof of
's repre-
els were
y disooT-
,he com-
fy ing to
• prompt-
d first of
Isle; that
port, but
Ipounder
rew tiring
irn. She
for Boine
• l&kes in
were for
following
referred
mand of a
3 opposed
reisel the
once cap-
longed to
nter, WM
d by th«
had sailed
24th pre-
irobability
two ships
jrk capitu-
h« order of
land of the
J had pre-
B«ll» Go'«»
id
eveata just
York, tho
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
83!)
naral commander-iachiaf upon the lakes,
Sir James 1^. Yeo, having been re-inforc<*d
by 500 English seamen, actins; nuder iu-
Btructiona from Sir George Preroit, deter-
mined to make a d«scent from Kingston
upon Sockett's Harbor and destroy the
naval stores there as well as any veHsels iu
course of construction. On May 27th the
British fleet of six vessels, mounting' alto-
gether more than one hundred guna, to-
gether with a number of batteaux, carrying
nearly one thousand troops and commanded
by Sir George Prevosc in person, sailed
from Kingston for Sackett's Harbor, where
it arrivod about mid-day on the 28th. Sir
George, after making a reconnaissance, con-
sidered the place too strong to be oipturod
by the force under his command and
ordered Sir James Ye > to make sail for
Kingston. Forty Indians had accompanied
the fleet from Kingston, and they, not
knowing why the troops had not landed nor
why the ships did not open fire upon ihe
harbor, rowed direct for th* shore, with
the intention of attacking the Ameri-
cana. Their appearance so terrified
a troop of dismounted cavalrymen
who were on shore that the latter raised a
white flag in token of surrender. They were
at once conveyed to the Canadian ships as
prisoners of war. Sir George Prevost, as
soon as he learned of this incident, conclud-
ed that the Americans were l«ss formidable
than he supposf d, and countermanded the
order given for the fleet to return to Kings-
ton. The troops landed and attacked the
place, but they were unsupported by the
fleet, and the attack failed. The ships
encaged in this enterprise wore a new one,
the Wolfe, of 24 guns, just completed,
besides the Royal George and the Karl of
Moira, and the schooners Prince liegeut,
Simcofl and Seneca. The GovernorGeueral
Sir Georgo Prevost, was with Yeo on his
flagship the Wolfe. The loss of life on both
sides was very heavy, the British having
no less than 48 killed and more than 200
wounded. A few days later than this, on
June 6th, Sir James Veo succeeded iu cap-
turing at Stoney Creek seventeen batteaux
loaded with supplies for the Americans. On
August 8th, Sir James Yeo with six ships
appeared off Niagara in the hope of engag-
ing Channcey, commandini; the American
fleet there stationed, consisting of four-
teen vessels. One single broadside
was fired by Chauncey, and he then retired
ander cover of tho guns on shore. The
whole of the following day each commander
manoeurred to gain the advantage, and on
the morning of the 10th Yeo, considering
the odds were in his favor, bore down upon
Chauncey, intending to attaok him, But
the latter declined tlm I attle and retired to
Niagara. Two schooners, though, belong
ing to the fleet, namely the Julia and tlio
Growler, were captured by the llritish.
During this engagement no lives were lost
by the British and it is believed but few if
any by the Americans.
■bib's vamuus battlc.
On Soptombar 10th, 1813, took place
the memorable battle on Lake Erie
between the American and Brit-
ish squadrons. The former was under the
command of Commodore Perry, U.S.N,
the latter under that of Commander Bar-
clay, R.N. Harolay's force consisted of
the Detroit, flagship, of 19 guns~ahe was
a new vessel and had only just been put
upon the lake ; the Chippewa, carrying two
swivel guns and one long 18-peunder on a
pivot ; the brig Hunter, of 10 guns ; the
Queen Charlotte, 17 — she was under com-
mand of Captain Finnis ; the Lady Prevost,
13, and the Little i^elt, of three guna.
The United States fleet comprised nine ves-
seh, namely Perry's ship, the Lawrence, of
20 cans ; the Scorpion, 2 ; the Caledonian.
3— this vessel had previously been captured
from the Canadians ; the Niagara, 20 ; the
Ariel, 4; the Trippe, Tigress, Ohio and
Porcupine, of one gun each. The Am-
ericans had fewer guns than tho
Canadians, but they were of heavier calibre.
Their ships, too, were well manned by nearly
six hundred picked men of tho American
merchant service. The Canadians on the
other hand had only fifty experienced sea-
men among their six ships, while the rest of
the crews were made up of two hundred and
forty soldiers and eighty wholly untrained
voluntet r sailors. The ships did not come
to close quarters until about eleven o'clock
in the morning, then for more than four
hours the battle continued. For some little
time during the earlier part of the engage-
ment the ad vans. I ge was wholly with ti\o
Canadians. The guns from Barclay's ship
ha 1 not only silenced those of the Lawrence
but also disabled her. Of her crew of one
hundred and three men no less than twenty-
two had been killed and sixty-one wounded.
Perry, perceiving his ship was useless, de-
termined to abandon her. Wrapping his
commodore's flag around him, ho, iu an open
boat, mada for the Niagara which he reached
safely and was received on deck by her
astounded commander. Captain Elliott. The
latter, actin;; upon orders from Perry, put
ofl from h B ship in a small boat to bring
the other American vessels into action.
About this time the wind changed,
then was seen how lamentably de-
ficient Barclay was in efficient aaa-
men. His vessels from that cause soon b*-
r ■/ 1
,1 :
••il
:i
',
840
LANDMARKS OP TORONTO.
cam* unmanageabU. The Detroit and Quctn
Charlotte were entansled and the Lady
Prevoit was wholly diiabled. Barelay oom-
mandiiig the Detroit waa seriously wounded.
Finnie, the captain of the Charlotte, waa
killed, and all the other offioera and three-
fourths of the men were killed or wounded,
it was not possible for Barclay to continue
the fight with any hope of success, and at
three o'clock in the afternoon his flai{ was
lowered on the Detroit and the whole fleet
capitulated. In this terrible encounter the
Americans lost twenty-seren killed, and
ninety-six wounded ; the Canadians forty one
killed and ninety-four wounded. The ralue
of the ships taken by the Americans was
1226,000, an enormous sum for those days,
but a more trifle as compared with the cost
of one single iron clad cruiser in these.
Harclay was paroled at firut, then exchanged.
Immediately this was elTected he, by the
rules of the service, was tried by court
martial for the loss of the ships, the result
bein^ that he was fully and honourably
acquitted of all blame.
CHAUNCKY AGAIN DKFKATKD.
During the later days of Septembei an
engagement took place near Burlington Bay
between Chauncey and Yeo. The former
had five Tessela under his command, the
latter two, namely the Wolfe and the Royal
George. This ended to the entire discomfiture
of the Americans and they again retired
to Niaeara. On October 5th Chauncey, hav
in,' sailed from Niagara east- ward, succeed-
ed in capturing off the Dacks, the British
transports Coniiance, Hamilton, Mary and
Lady Gore, besides the Drummond cutter.
But it must be noted that the Confiance and
Hamilton were the Growler and Julia, which
had on August 10th, been taken by the
British from the Amerioans,and their names
changed by their captors. During the rest
of this year Sir James Yeo remained inac-
tive at Kingston.
During the winter of 1813 and
early spring of 1814 the British, at
Kingston and the Americans at Sackett's
Harbor had been unceasing in their pre-
parations to secure the command of the
lake. Ihis object was deemed of such
paramount importance by both Govern-
ments that while the English withdrew
both officers and men from service
on the ocean for duty eo tiie lakes
the Americans not only did likewise but
added twenty-five per eent to the pay of
those so employed. On May 4th, 1814 Sir
James Yeo, with a fleet of eigkt vessels,
sailed from Kingston with the intention of
making an attack upon Oswego. Chauncey,
the American naval commander, was with
hia fleet at Sackett'e Hart>or, but, though he
was aware of Yeo's designs upon Oswego, h<
did not attempt to intereept and attack him.
Arrived before Oswego the attacking foree
landed, and after a gallant resistance on the
part of its defenders, suooceded in wholly
subduing it. All the stores and munitions
of war in the fort were taken, and it and the
barracks destroyed. The naval stores had
been removed to Onondago Falls, several
miles above Oswego, and thns esciped cap-
ture, though Yeo, on Mav 29th, made an
attempt to become possessed of them, which
waa unsuccessful. The British vessels en-
gaged in this enterprise were the Star, Cher-
well, Magnet, Chariot e, Prince Regent,
Montreal and sevt ral gunboats. The loss of
life was very severe on both sides The
British had nineteen killed and seventy-five
wounded ak:d tbi Americans bad six killed
and sixty-three wounded and missing. Among
the English officers who were wounded were
Captains Mulcaster and Popham of the
Charlotte and Montreal respectively.
In June the fort at Sodus Bay was cap-
tured by the fleet under command of Sir
James Lucas Yeo, and a large quantity of
stores of various kinds came iiilo the hands
of the captors. The loss of life on both
sides on this occasion was very small.
NAVAL COURT MARTIAL.
Arising out of the attack upon Oswego,
there is reported in the Kingston Oczette, of
Nov. 7tta, 1815, the proceedings of a naval
court martial, held August 14th, 1815, in
Portsmouth, England, for tho trial of
Captain Popham, of the Montreal, on the
following charge : —
" For having, contrary to a verbal order
of Commodore Sir James Lucas Y'eo, at-
tacked a flotilla of American boats in a creek
on the Lake, which were proceeding from
Osweqo to Sacktct's Harbor, with stores of
every description for the equipment ot a
large ship that was building in the latter
harbour."
The court decided that as lie had been re-
inforced after the Commodore's order Capt.
Popham was justified in making the attack
he did ani acquitted liim. "They at the
same lime severely ^uimadverted upon the
^relations that apprrently existed between
Sir James Yeo and nis subordinate, Captain
Popham.
On August 12th, 1814, Captain Dobbs, of
the Royal Navy, captured two American
gunboats, the Ohio and the Somers, off Fort
Erie. There was a tliird gunboat in com-
pany with these two, the PorcuiuBe, but she
made her escape. This feat m as achieved
by Captain Dodds < with but seventy-
five men in open boats. The prizes were
conveyed to Chippawa.
About the same time as the events abov*
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Ml
been le-
ier Cap*,
he attack
ly at the
upon the
between
I, Captain
alluded to, the Americans made an un-
nuooeMful attempt to repoiMH themielves
of Michillimackinac. Their fleet ooniieted of
five TeaMli, namely Niagara, Caledonia, Si
Lawrence, Soorpion and Tigreu. Iheie
■hipe had returned to Detroit about the end
of Anenet. At the oloee of September Sir
Jamee Yeo had completed and launched hie
fanioua ship of 100 guns, the St. Lawrence,
but there was no real need for her now, as
the war was Tirtually if not actually over.
Sir Jamee Yeo was now matter of the
lake, for in addition to the St. Lawrence
he had under bis command four ships, two
brigs, and a schooner.
In St. Mark's churoh, Niagara, on its
eastern wall is a tablet to the memory of :
CAPTAIN CiOPUBSTON RADCLIFFB, R. N.,
who fell whilst gallantly boarding
one of tiie enemy's schooners at
anchor off Fort Erie on the night of
the 12th August, 1814.
He was * native of Devonshire.
This stone is erected at the request
of his brother and sisters by
their nephew,
W. P. Radcliffe, H. M. XX Regiment.
This was one more of the many useful
lives lost gallantly in the prosecution of a
worse than useless war.
No further encounters took place between
the two fleets ; peace was shortly afterwards
concluded and with peace in the country,
this portion of the history of the lake vessels
terminates.
CHAPTER CCXL.
A New Bra— Feace Helgns In the I.and—
Mercaatlle Baterprlse Kevlves-181K (•
1819,
As soon as hostilities between Great
Britain and the United Statea had eeased,
many claims were made by non-combatants
en both sides for compensation for losses or
injuries inflicted upon them owing to the
war.
One of these made upon the British by an
American firm of produce brokers and ad-
dressed to Sir James L. Yeo brought from
that gallant admiral the following reply : —
H. M. S. St. Lawrence,
Kingston, 8th March, 181&.
Obntlembn.— I hare received jour letter of
the Sdtb of February, stating that in the spring
of 1813 you had 100 barrels of flour in the store
of Nathaniel Merril, at Sodus Bay, on Lake
Ontario, for the purpose of transporting the
■ame to the village of Ogdensburg, fo.' the use
of the inbabitanu of that vicinity, but when
Sodas Bay ww captured In the month of June
laat by the fleet under my command, the said
900 barrels were taken on board, and requesting
I would cavse yon to be compensated for the
loss you have thus sustained.
la return to which I beg leave to observe,
that Irosa the respectable channel through
which it was forwarded to nie, I have no doubt
your statement may be correct.
I rouret it does not come within my power to
oomply with your request, from the length of
lime which has elapsed and the sale and dis-
tribution of the property.
1 have, therefore, only to recommend you.
gentlemen, to lay the case before su'h Com-
missioner or Uoard as may hereafter be ap-
pointed by our respective Oovemments to in-
vestigate similar claims.
I am. gentlemen.
lour most obedient humble servant.
J AMIS Lucas Yea
The writer of this letter appears to be
almost att proficient in concealing his exact
meaning and being strictly non-committal in
what he does say as a certain astute states-
man who is sometimes known as "an old
Parliamentary hand."
Peace having been concluded between the
United States and Great Britain, and Can-
adians, having no longer invasion by a
foreign power to fear, nor the necessity of
taking up arms in defence of their hor.tea
forced upon them, naturally turned their
thoughts in 1815 to improving; the means of
internal communication, both by land and
water, throughout the country. A steam-
boat had, as has already been seen, appeared
upon the St. Lawrence in 1809, but the
calamitous troubles of 1812 and the next
few years put an end for a time to com-
mercial enterprise of every description, ex-
cepting such as was connected with ship
building for warlike purposes and the
supply of food, cloihin:; and other neces-
saries for nie troops. In the autumn of 1815
the consttuction of the first steamboat in
Upper Canada was commenced (the Accom-
modation, though sailing on the St. Lawrence
six years previously, being of American
build). Of this steamer, afterwards
ca led the Frontenac, much more will
be said presently. The passenger
traffic on the Inkes in this year was carried
on much as before the war. Running be-
tween York and Niagara wore two schooners
named the Dove and Reindeer, the latter
under command of Capt. .Vlyere, There also
ran from Kingston to Sackett's Harbor a
fast sailing schooner called the Kingston
Packet. Her captain was James Chapman,
and the fare each way was two dollars.
NEW WAR VESSELS.
The following notice appeared in the
London (England), Gazette of August 2lBt,
1815:-
"In order to secure to us the possession
of Canada in case of a rupture with the
United States, the Government has give*
orders to build upon the lakes new vessels
and gunboats suitable for the navigation of
those waters. Everything necessary for the
arming and equipment of those veeieis ie
preparing in Englaad."
I 'Pi
!•■ ;
'■in ;i
'i^
I
842
LAN DxM ARKS OF TORONTO.
:i¥
n
'■\.
Towards the cloao ot this year, on
September '25th, Lieuteiiant-Cioverucxr
Gore returned to York after his
four years' »bsenc« in England. The gun-
boat Montreal, then lyinj^ in the liatbor,
dred n salute in his honor. Still later can
be tound in the Kingston Gazette, of No-
vember'25tli, the following paiayraph : —
"Wo learn with pleasure that a steani-
boat is about being built in this place to
ply between Kingston and Presuott The
shares, wo un lerstand, are already taken
up, u lid th'! work is to be commenced im-
niedialely." The Gazette then proceeds to
quott^ from the Montreal Gazette of Novem-
ber 13th, previously, some of the advantages,
these being principally the extension of
trade, likely to arise to the provinces of
Upper and Lower Canada as the result of
this utfdertaking. In November, 1315,
the Montreal Gazette noticea tl.e 1 unch
there of whi'.t is describad as that
•'elegant steamboat, the Car of Commerce,
in the prosence of an immense crowa of
spectators." 8hc was intended for the
vatera of the Lower St. Lawrence, between
Montreal and Quebec.
Early in the year 1816, on April 6, the
following information ix given in the columns
of th Kingston Gazette : —
" The House of Representatives at New
York has rejected* bill for incorporating a
steamboat comjvaiiy for Lake Ontario. Veaa
49, nays "'x"
On the opening of navigation in May,
1816, th schooner Perseverance began plying
as a passenger packet, under the command of
Captain J. G. Parker, between Kingston
and Sackett's Harbor, probably in opposi-
tion to Chapman's vessel, the Kiagston
Packet.
THE FIBST STEAMBOAT.
The fact has already been referred to that
in the previous October a steamboat, the
lirst built in Upper Canada, had been com-
menced near Kingston. The follow-
ing account of the circumstances attending
her construction is taken from "The
Settlement of Upper Canada," the bay re-
ferred to is tliat of Quiute : —
The first steamboat on Lake Ontario,
tho Frontenac, wa.«i built upon the shores of
the bay, at Fiuklce Point, Ernesttown,
eighteen miles from Kincsion, and within
the corporation of liath. She was com-
ineviced in Octobe;-, 1815, and launched the
following season. The thrre years of war
had caused many changes in Upper Canada.
On the whole it may ba said that the war
materially benefitted the province.
.After peace things did not reiapss into
their former state. A spirit of enterprise
was abroad, especially in the mercantile
community. Ihe leading men of Kingston
conceived the idea of forming a company to
build a steamboat to ply on Lake Ontario
and the navigable waters of the St. Law-
rence. A company was consequently formed
composed of individuals belonging to King-
ston, Niagara, Queenaton, Y'^ork and Pres
cott The shareliolders of Kingston were
Joseph Fo'-syth, Yeonians, Marsh, Law-
rence, Herkimer, John Kirby, Capt. Mur-
uey, William Mitchell, and, in fact, all of
the principal men e.xcept the Cartwright
family. Advriisements were issued for
tenders to construct the boat. The advcr-
tisemer- was i-esponded to by two piirlies,
a Scotchman by the name of Bruce, from
Montreal, and Henry Teabout,froni Sackett's
Harbor. Bruce was several days at King-
ston before the other person arrived, and he
supposed he would got the contract. Mr.
Finkle says Teabout came with a letter from
Hooker and Crane to .Johns and Finkle, in-
forming thin who Teabout was, and asking
them to favor him with their influence in
procuring the contract. The letter was
shown to Mr. Kirby, of Kin^jston, who was
one of the committee of the company. Mr.
Kirby assured Finkle and Johns that, not-
withstanaing the prejudice which existed
on account of the war, the tender of Tea-
bout should receive every justice. No other
tender being made, the committee met and
decided by a small majority to accept Tea
bout's. AH those who voted for Ihucn
" were either Scotcli or of Scottish descent."
Teabout harin.' received the contract, at
once, with Finkle, set about to find a place
to build. After two days' examination of the
coast he selected Fiukle's Point, in con-
sequence of the gravelly nature of the shore,
as thereby would be obviated the delay
which frequently followed rains, where
soils would not quickly dry. The next con-
sideration was to advance £5,0 iO to go to
New York to procure a ship carpenter and
other necessaries to commence operations.
" .Accordingly we (.Johns and Finkle) became
security, with the undrrstanding that so
soon as the boa: should be sr far adranced
as to be considered worth the security, oar
bond will be returned. So satisfactorily
did the work progress thit thn bond was
shortly handed to us by the Treasurer, who
was \N'illiam Mitchell. Here I will digress
a short time. Durius' tho war of 181'i
David Eckford, the m ister ship builder of
New V^ork, was sent to Sackett's Harbor t j
take charge of tiie shipbuilding at that
place and breught with him his carpenters
Among them were three young men, Henry
Teabout, James Chapman and William
Smith. The lasi was born on Staten Island,
the other two in New Y'ork. Teabout and
hi
w
f
m
O
843
ita
.1
*J
0 'I f
m
iU «
m
il
844
LANDMARKS OF K.ROMTO.
Smith served their time with Eckford.
Chapmau wr s a block turner. At the close
of the war these three formed a co-partner-
ship, and Teabout, in contracting for build-
ing the Frontenac, was p.cling for the com-
pany. Before biiilding the steamboat they
had built for themsolTeb at Sackett's Har-
bor, the Kingston, the only craft plying
between Sackett's Harbor and Kingston, and a
fine schooner for the lake called the sVoolsley.
Cnapman was in charge of the Kingston and
was doing a more than ordinarily profitable
business. Rruce's friends wished to do
8om«thing for him and had him appointed at
:i gainea % day to inspect the timber of the
Frontenac. His i>udy was to delay the
building of ti^e boat. There was a constant
contest botVi .^en him and Teabout. "
The contract price of the wood work wa?3
£7,000. When the boat /as almost ready
for the machinery the coutractor's funds
were expended. The engine cost £7,000.
Before the vefssel was completed the cost
reached nearly the sum of £2(>,0C/0,
THR STKAMKR LAUNCHED.
The Kint<Bton Gazette informs us that : —
" Ou Saturday, the 7th of September, 1816,
the st^anr'i'oat }*rontenac wa.s launched at
the Tillage of Ernesttown, A numerous
cone ourse of people assembled on the ooca-
sion. But, in consequence of an approach-
ing ahower, a part of the spectators with-
drew bofot's the launch actually took place.
The boat moved slowly from her pla^e, and
descended with majestic sweep into her
proper element The length of her keel is
]50 feet ; her deck 170 feet (the tonnage
was about 70( ;. Her proportions strike the
eye very agn eably, and guod judges have
pronounced this to be the best piece of
naval arch .eclure of the kind yet produced
in AmerirA. It reflects honor upon Messrs.
Tiaabout^ A Chapman, the contractors, and
their workmen ; and also upon the pro-
prietors, lie greater part of whom are
among the most respectable merchants and
other inhabitants of the County of Fron-
tenac, from w'.iieh the name ia derived. The
macliinery foi' this valuable boat was im-
ported from Knuland, and is said to be of
an excelletit struoture. It is expected that
she will be tiniihed and ready for use in a
few M-eeks. Steam navigation having suc-
ceeded to admiratioii in various rivers, the
application of it to the waters of the lakes
is an interesting experiment. Every
friend to public iniprovement must
wish it all the success which is
due to a spint of useful enterprise."
The Oazfttf adds : — " A steamboat was
lately launched at t^arkett'i Harbor. The
opposite sides of the lake, which not long ago
vied with each other in the building of
ships of war, seem now to be equally
emulous cf jommercial superiority." Gourley
says th« boac at Sackett's Harbor was on a
smaller loale, and less expensive. " She the
Frontenac, was estimated to coift £14,000 ;
before she commenced her journeys,
her cost exceeded £20,000." ** The
deck was 170 feet long and tbirty-two feet
wide, draws only eight feet when loaded.
Two paddle-wheels with about 40 feet cir-
cumference ; answers slowly to the helm."
In the following year this intercs' ng in-
for matiou is gleaned from the columns of
the Kingston Gazette of May 24th : —
" Yesterday afternoon the steamboat lefl
Mr. Kirby's wharf for the dock at
Point Frederick. We are sorry to hear
that throui?h some accident, the machinery
of one of the wheels has been considerably
damaged, notwithstanling which, however,
she moved with majestic grandeur against
a strong wind. VVe underst^ind she has
gone to the dock, it being a more conveni-
ent place for putting in a suction pipe."
•lust a we«k Inter, on May .3Ist, the same
paper tells its readers tliat " The steam-
boat Frontenac, after having com-
pleted the necessary work at the naval
yard, left this port yesterday nicrrirg
for the purpose ot taking i;. w od
at the Bay Quinte. A fresh breez.e was
blowing into the harbor, against which she
proceeded swiftly and steadily, to the ad-
miration of a great number of spectators.
We congratulate the managers or pro-
prietors of this eleganr. boat, upon the pros-
pects she ali'ords of facilitating the naviga-
tion of Lake Ontarie, by furnishing an ex-
peditious and certain mode of convey-
ance to its various points." "June
7th, 1817. The Frontenac left this
port on Thursday, 5th, on her first trip for
the head of the lake."
Upon this, her maiden trip, the Frontenac
TTiR under the command of Captain James
Ml' veuzie, a gallant sailor, who had pre-
viously served io the Royal Navy. A. G.
Petrie was her purser, (aptain McKenzic
commanded the Frontenr.c as lon^ as she re
mained on the lake.
The route of the Frontenac was from Pres-
cott to York and lack once a week. Later
on she went further westward than the iat
ter port, 1 ut in her earlier days, or very
early days rather, there is no record of her
having done so.
Captain James McKenzie first serred on
the lakes during the war of 1812. v\ heo
peace was concluded he, like so many othei!-,
both of the naval and military services, wus
placed on half pay. An inactive life in
England, though, was foreign to his ta-te«,
so, having in the meantime made himseff
if I
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
84S
qually
I our ley
u on a
ihe the
l4,000 ;
iirneys,
'• The
ffo feet
loaded,
eefc cir-
helm."
8' ng in-
lumnt. of
Lboat left
lock at
to hear
machinery
Lsiderably
however,
ir against
she has
i conveni-
on pipe."
, the »atne
:he steam-
ing com-
the naval
f iu':!ving
|. w Jd
breez-e was
which she
to the ad-
spectators.
8 or pro-
,n the pros-
the naviaa-
ling an ex-
of convey-
" '« June
left this
Irst trip for
|he Frontenac
kptain Jamss
?ho had pre.-
,Javy. A. <-»•
|in McKenzie
,nn as she re
Ls fronA Pres-
Iweek. l'»t"
than the iat
|dayi, or very
record ot ber
5rit serTed on
1 1812. vV he-
I many others.
J Bervices, was
pactiv* life m
1 to his ta-te«,
fmade himsell
acquainted with the nature of the steam
engine, and seein); that it was the propelliuji;
power of the future, he returned to Canada
in 1816, and his services were soon made
available in constructing the first of her now
magnificent fleet of steamers.
TONKAGK ON VES3BL9,
Returaing for a short time to the events
of 1816. From the Kingston OaztUe of June
Sfch, we extract the following notice : —
" Orders of the Lieut. -Governor-in-Council.
Toronto, May 22nd, 1816. It is ordered
that so much of the Order-in-Council of the
18th of April, 1816. as imposes a tonnage
duty on vessels belonging to the subjects of
the United States be cancelled, and that the
following tonnage duty be imposed in lieu
thereof :
"On all vessels above five tons to fifty tons,
the tonnage duty to be 3^d per ton.
" From fifty to one hundred tons, five
shillings or one dollar per ton. On all vessels
above one hundred tons, 123 and 6d per
ton,
•• (Signed) John Small,
••Clerk of the Executive Council."
The leason for this order was that
previously to its date, a rate of 12s and 6d
per ton currency, equal to $2 50, had been
imposed on <^il vessels, either from
Canadian or American ports, entering those
of the former. This was a higher rate than
obtainea on the American side ; hence this
order which equalized the dues at all places
on Lake Ontario. Despite *he fact that
sailing; vessels at this date were being multi-
plied, and steam navigation of the lakes and
rivers an accomplished task, the batteaux
still pursued " the noiseless tenor of their
way," but at great risk, both to their navi-
gators and passengers, for it is learned from
this same paper that on June 5th previously
one of them, loaded with sand, proceeding
towards Kingston, being strmck by a sudden
squall sank, and that all on board, four
men, perished.
The schooner Perseverance resumed her
trips this year early in May, under the same
conditions as the previous season.
On July 13th the Gazette announces the
" Launch on Monday last (this would be on
July 8th) of the fine ship Beckwith, from
his Majesty's dockya'-d, Point Frederick."
Another steam vessel known as the Mal-
sham had now been placed on the St. Law-
rence, between Montreal and Quebec, for on
August 10th is a notification of the fact that
she had arrived in the latter port at the
same time as the Car of Commerce previously
referred ta
On November 30th the Kingston Oazette
refers to the supposed loss of the schooner
Comet plying between Kingston and York,
in the following terms : —
*• It is reported, and we fear too true, that
the schooner Comet, Captain Warner and
'•'ned by Mr. A. G. Goss, of this town,
which has sailed as a packet from this port
to the head of the lake has been lately
wrecked near Burlington Bay and every per-
son on board perished, there being a num-
ber of passengers, except three, the captain,
a woman and a sailor. VVe hope soon to
have the particulars of this distressing oc-
currence " A week later, on December 4th,
the paper stated that this report " has been
contradicted."
Two other vessels are referred to at this
time as belonging to Kingston, namelj the
schooner Pert, Captain Sampson, and the
Ann, Captain Mosier. This latter gentle-
man's name is frequently to be met with
later on.
The winter of 1816 and 1817 seems to
have been remarkable for its mildness, for in
the beginnint; of January of the latter year
vessels were still passing into and out of the
ports of York and Kingston. That very
serious attention was at this time being given
to the means of communication by water
throughout the Province of Canada is shown
by the following extract from the
speech c' the Lieutenant-Governor when
opening the Provincial Parliament at York
on February 4th, 1817, wherein he says : —
•* The improvement of the water communi-
cation of the River St, Lawrence, below
Prescott, is also deserving of your serious
consideration.'"
MORE WAR VESSELS.
On April 5th, 1817, a list is given in the
UpjH'r Cancula Gautle of — " The f ilowiug
ships being commisyioned upon the Ukes of
Canada : — Kingston, 56 ; Commodore, Sir
Robert Hall, Burlington, 42 ; captain,
N. Lockyer. Char well, 50 ; captain, .\lont-
resor, for Lake Ontario. Champlaiu, :)2 ;
Captain Duell, for Laki; Champlaiu. Con
fiance, 32 ; captain, D. Pring, for LaUe
Erie."
Navigation had opened rather early in
1817, for on April 14th vessels were entering
not only York but Kingston harbors. The
Mary Ann, under Captain Mosier, arrived
in Kingston from York on that day, " with
passengers and baggage," while the Netley
also left Kingston for Niagara with troops
on board.
Among ether vessels arriving at and sail-
ing from Canadian poits in this year, and
the property of Engli^ih, if not Canadian,
owners, are the Dolphin and Henrietta, both
belonging to Kingston.
On June 20tb, 1S17, the Kingston GaztUe
annountes that the Frontenac has com-
&w.
ifch-
i .V-
846
LANDMARKS OF TOIIOXTO,
pletcd hor second trip across Lake
Ontario and will in future ie»ve the
different porta on the following days :
Kingston, for York and Queenscon, on June
22ad, July Ist, 10th, 19th and 28th and from
Queeustou on her return trip on June
26th, July 5th, 14th, 23rd, and August 1st ;
she also called at Ernesttown, Newcastle
and Burlington. The fares were as follows :
£ >s. D.
Kingston to Ernesttown 0 10 0
" New Castle \ 15 0
" Yorkand Niagara, .. . o 0 0
•' Burlington .■? 10 0
" Prescott I 10 0
Prescott to York and Niagara .... 4 0 0
" Burlington 4 10 0
York to Niagara 1 0 0
No information is given as to the days
on which the Frontenac mailed to and from
Kingston and PrescotU
BRIE 3 FIRST STEAMER.
The first steamboat built to ply on Lake
Erie was Walkin'the-Water.built at Buffalo
at the same time the Frontenac was
commenced at Kingston, beginning her
almost the same period as the
at
voyages
former.
Referring
mentione I
to the Kingston, the resiel
as having been built by
Teabout and Chapman, at Sackett's Harbor.
She was meant to run from Lewiston to
Ogdensburg, her length was one hundred
and her width twenty-four feet, her burthen
being about 246 tons. She appears to have
been a failure and speedily disappeared.
The arrival at Ernesttown of the ma-
chinery for a second steamer has already
been referred to. She was named the
Queen (Jharlotte, and was launched April
22iid, 1818, the Frontenac having resumed
her trips for the season, navigation baring
BTflAMKR W^AI.KIN-THE-W.4TER.
rn "
Just at the end of this year, on December
16, is noted " the arrival au the port of
Brnesttown of the machinery of a new
steamboat which is upon the stocks at that
village, at the same shipyard where the
Frontennc steamboat was built." The King-
ston Gazette, from which this extract is
taken, goes on to observe that : " The
buildin? of the only two steam vessels on
the Canadian side of the lake at the same
place is a proof that the builders think it a
favorable situation for shipbuilding."
It proceeds then to impress upon the
people of Ernesttown the necesaity that
exists for them to provide a good wharf for
the accommodation of ships sailing from or
calling at that port.
re opened, three days earlier, on April
19Lh.
The following additional details concern
ing her are given by Canniff.
" Almost immediately after the Fron-
tenac was launched a second steamboat was
commenced. The material which had been
collected while building the Frontenac had
not all been used, and went far in the con
structiou of the Queen Charlotte, which was
destined to be the pioneer steamer upon the
Bay Quinte and River St. L«wrence in its
upper waters. She was built by shares of
£5D each. Johns and Finkle had nine
shares. She was built (Gildersleeve, beini;
the principal shipwright), launched, and
commenced running in the early part of
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
H47
Lake
iufifalo
was
ig her
as the
▼estel
Ifc by
[arbor.
ton to
uudrod
jurthen
to have
ed.
he ma-
»1 ready
led the
1 April
resumed
I haTing
'.y<i.9*
on April
concern
the Fron-
iboat was
had been
tenac had
,n the con-
which was
upon the
ice in its
shares of
had nine
jeve, beinc
ched, and
y part ol
mm
i/ii iS'lii 'Ml
I ■■■•'
H
H
d
p
ft^i, ,4?
11;!
^li
l,il
mill
PM.;.(
' ,4
n I !
II f^^^d
.i -
11!
J? :i
848
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
181i. The engine was furnished by
Brothers Wards, of Montreal,being made at
their foundry. She was not long launched
before tthe was ready to run She made
trips twice a week from Wilkins' Wharf, at
the Carrying Place, to Preacott. She was
commanded a few of the first trips by an
old veteran captain named Richardson, who
lived then near Pictou and afterwards to
the close of the season, by a young man
named M osier. Of the number of passen-
gers on the first trip we hare no knowledge,
but suppose them to be few, for Belleville,
then the largest place above Kings-
ton, was a mere hamlei — Trent,
Hallowcll, Adolphustown and Bath
were the enly stopping places from
the head of the bay to Kingston. They
were regulated in their course the first
summer by frequently heaving the lead, an
old man-of-war 8 man being on board for the
purpose. (Collins reported in 1788 that
vessels drawing only from eight to ten feet
of water can go into the Bay of Quinte).
For two seasons she was commanded by
C'aptain Dennis ; Mr. Gildersleeve was
purser the second and third seasons ; and
the fourth commenced his captaincy, wL';h
lasted as Ion:; as the boat was seaworthy, a
period of nearly twenty years : he was at
the buildin?, a master shipwright, and be-
came a stockholder.
The fare from the head of the Tiay of Quinte
to Kingston for the first season was £1 .53.
currency, equal to $5 ; this included meals.
The Charlotte was a very acceptable im-
provement ill the navigation of the day. A
few of the owners of sailing craft, perhaps,
suffered for a lime ; but the settlers regard-
ed her as an unmixed blessing. During the
first years she was so accoinmodatins as to
.stop anywhere to pick up a passenger from
a small boat or let one off. She was not a
commercial success until Gildersleeve be-
cam.' her comiiiauder ; after that she paid
w 11. She ran for many years, and vtvS
finally broken up on the shores of Cataraqui
Bay. Ill this yenr uii important amendment
was made in the Lighthouse Act, which
has liceu befc c referrctl lo as having been
passed in 180;5. It was fe t to be a great
hanlahif) at ports where there was no light-
house that the ships frecjueiitiiig or passing
that port should be subject to lighthouse
dues, jo it was cnauted that " No vessel,
boat, raft, or o*her craft of the burthen of
fen tons ,\ad uj' vards shall be liable to pay
»ny lightiiouse duty at any port where there
atiall be iw lighthouse erected, any law or
usage to the contrary notwithstanding."
ItOiE CHAN«iB>' ^riLL.
The Kincsioo Gazette, in its impression of
May 12tL contains the following paragraph.
dated York, April 30, relating; that : —
" Captain Patterson, of the schooner May
Flower, laat week tried in this harbor the
power of a machine which he haa invented
for propelling small vi sieli in light winds
or to work out of harbor with a contrary
wind. The experiment completely answered
his expectations, the vessel proceeding with
a comparatively small power at the rate of
three knots, or miles, per hour, and he feels
confident that when the machinery is com-
plete it will perform at the rate of five miles
per hour." This is the first reference
to the schooner named herein, also to
the machine of Captain Patterson's inven
tion. It is also the last, so it may be presumed
it was not a very great success The saint-
paper contains an advertisement from the
Assistant Commissary General's office offer-
ing for sale " a number of batteaux and
Durham boats, with their appurtenances,"
also a "second-hand cable." On May 8th
the Frontenac arrived at Kingston from
Niagara, having on board two companies of
the 70th regiment. The following week,
;>lay 19th, the Gazette mentions the fact that
the stage betweer. Kingston and Prescoit
had been discontinued, adding, " This would
be more regretted had not the new steam
boat Charlotte now commenced runnins up
and down the river, so that travellers on
tills route may be accommodated with a
safe and agreeable passage by water instead
of the former carriage by land." A terribl'>
storm .swept over Lake Ontario in the middle
of this month. The Gazette thus refers to
it: — " The steamboat Ontario, which was,
in the recent storm, driven on a ledge of flat
rod-: near Oswo o, has been got off and ar-
rived here this morningr. ' The paper a d.«
that the damage, though not inconsiderable,
is less tlian was anticipated, and concludes
its remarks thus: — " It is expected she will
be ready for furth' r operatiuiis in a week or
ortnight ..t the fartherest (s/'c) " The On
taria was an American vessel, belonging in
Sackett's Harbor.
As soon as navigation opened in 1819
the Frontenac is again nieniioneil, for the
Kingston Chronidn, April 30th, contains
tiiis advertisement: —
" The steamboat Frontenac, James Mc-
K n/.ie, Master, will in future leave Che
diil'erent ports on the following days : —
"Kingston for York on 1st, 11th and
2r)tli days <'f each month. York for Queens-
ton oil .3rd, 13th and 23rd days of each
month. Niagara for Kingston, 5th, loth
and 25th days of each month.
"Rates of passages from Kingston to
York and Niagara £',i. From York to
Niagara £1 ; children under three years of
age half price, above three and under ton
ihat :—
r May
lor the
tvented
winds
ontrary
iswered
ng with
rate of
he feels
is com-
va miles
eference
also to
i inven
iresumed
lie saint'
rem the
ce offer-
iAMX and
inances,"
May 8th
on from
paniea of
icr week,
fact that
Prescoit
his would
w steam
inninc up
■ellers on
d with a
•r instead
A terribl>
he middle
refers to
liich was,
Jge of flat
and ar-
iper a ds
siderable,
concludes
she will
a week or
The On
■onging to
in 1819
for the
contains
ames Mc
leave the
ays : —
11th and
for Queens-
8 of each
5th, loili
iiif^ston to
II York to
ee years of
under ten
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
S49
I
two-thirds. A book will be kept for
entering the names of passengers
and the berths which they may
choose, at which time the passage money
must be paid. Passengers are allowed
eighty pounds v\ eight of baggacie. Surplus
baggage will be paid for at the usual rate.
Gentlemen's servants cannot eat or sleep in
the cabins. Deck passengers will pay fifteen
ahillint;s, and may either bring their own
provisions or be furnished by the steward.
For each dog brought on board five shillings.
All applications for passage to be made to
Captain McKenzie on board."
The advertisement then gives particulars
as to the charges for freight, concluding : —
"For each small parcel, 2s 6d, which must
be paid on delivery." The date is "King-
ston, April 28, 1819."
RATES AND CHAKUES.
A few weeks previously to the date of the
foregoing advertisement, the following
notice was issued by a syndicate who were
"running" a line of Durham boats. In it the
Frontenac is referred to by name and
the Charlotte by inference. It is thus
worded : —
"The subscribers, having established a
line of Durhnra boats from this place, pro-
pose forwarding from the different ports of
the lake to that of Montreal on the following
terms, viz.: —
"From York, Niagara, Queenston and
the head of the lake, fer each barrel of
flour delivered at the port of Montreal,
58 6d.
" From Kingston to the port of Montreal,
for each barrel of flour, 43 6d.
"From York, Niagara, Queenston and
the head of the lake, for each barrel of
potash delivered at the port of Montreal,
123 6d.
" From Kingston to the port of Montreal,
for each barrel of potash, 10s.
"From York, Niagara, Queenston and
the head of the lake, for each barrel
of pork delivered at the port of Montreal,
8s 3d.
" From Kingston to the port of Montreal,
for each barrel of pork, 6s 9d.
" Merchandise will be transported bj the
Bume means from Lachine to Kingston, at
the rate of Ss per swt.
" An elegant passage boat will also leave
Kingston every tenth day for Montreal,
which will be fitted up in the most com-
modious manner and prevent any delay to
passengers leaving the upper part of the
lake in the steamboat Frontenac, it having
been built for the purpose of leaving this
place immediately after her arrival.
" These arrangcmtnts will take etfect at
the opening of the navigation, and be con-
tinued during the season.
" TuoHAa Markland,
•* Pktbr Smith,
"Lawrenob Hkrkimer,
" John Kbkby,
'• William Mitchell
" Kingston, February, 1819."
1 here weia on the lake in the year 1819,
besiles the sailing vessels already
mentioned, the Wood Duck, apparently a
small schooner, the Red Rover, (Captain
Thew), and the Britannia, the property of
Matthew Crooks, of Niagara, (the was
splendidly modelled, of 120 tons burthen,
and was under command of Captain Miller.
In addition to these we find at various
times from 1815 to 1819, the Jane, auder
Robert Hughson, the Willing Maid, John
Smith, and the Asp, under George Miller,
The May Flower also still plied from York
to Niagara and Kingston.
A new steamer, known as the Dalhousie,
was commenced in 1819, which will be de-
scribed fully in the next chapter.
CHAPTER CCXLI.
A ProRresslve Enterprise— Tbe March of
Improvement— ilore Steamers and. More
Trade-181» to 1837.
lu ih" preceding chapter a very brief refer-
ence was made to the Dalhousie as being a
new addition to the fieet of steamers on the
lake. She v. as built at Prescott, ran
from that port to Kingston, and was a large
steamer of 350 tons burthen.
There was a very well known schooner on
the lakes about 1820 called the John
Watkins ; she was afterwards commanded
by Captain Thew. This gentleman once
found himself in an awkward position In
consequence of flying from his masthead an
ensign which vessels of the Royal Navy
alone hvo the right to carry. iShe, to his
great amazement, wlieu lying off Kingston,
was boarded by an oflicer and detachment
of marines from an English man-of-war ad-
jacent, and his colourr confiscated. They
were, however, soon afterwards restored to
him upon his representing to the Amiralty
that thoy had been displayed inadvertently.
As a matter ot fact the flags had been a
present ta Captain Thew from Mr. Thomas
Dennie Harris, of Toronto. This gentleman
was the well-known nierchant of King srreel
west. His place of business wad situated
at the warehouse known as No. 124. He
retired from business some years later, and
at his death was harbor master of the city.
The Lady Sarah Maitland was another of
the lake schooners, Sinclak- was her captain.
Like others of those who commanded sailing
craft he afterwards had charge of a steamer.
'\W
. <■■;
I II
( 'I I
KM
f '
r
1
ft
; ?
3 I
8S0
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
This scliooncr rcceiveil her name in coiiipli-
meiit to the wife of Sir I'»:regriue Maitlaml.
Lieutenant-Go vcriior of Upper (.'auada for
nearly ten years. Lady Sarah was a
daaghterof the Duke of Richmond and was
ono of the *' fair women " who were at the
celeVjratcd ball given in Urusscls by tlie
Duchess of Riclunond on the eve of
Waterloo.
Early in 1820 a schooner known as The
Brothers, built for a joint stock company,
of which Mr. Oates m as one of tUe principal
shareholders, was launched at York. No
such event had taken place for a number of
years previously. There was another small
vessel called the Caledonia. She ran between
York and Prescott, or crawled rather, as it
took her no less than si.x days on one occa-
sion, and iliat in September, to accomplish
the distance from Prescott to York.
A WONDER I tU. VE.SSKr. !
On July 1820 there was launched at York
a sijop called the Richmond, of 100 tons
burthen. She sailed from York to Niagara
nnder the command of Edwarc' Oates, who
was a laree aliar«holder in her. We learn
from an advertistment in the Observer, dated
July 17, 1820, that : " The Richmond has
excellent accommodations (sic) for ladies,
gentlemen and other passeneers, and noth-
ing will be omitted to make her one of the
completest and safest passage vessel.i o the
class in America, being manned with ex-
peri need mariners." This very modest an-
nouncement is signed by Edward Oates
and is iiisued from Y'ork. Captain Oates'
trumpeter had evidently been dead for a
very considerable period.
Two years afterwards Captain Oates is
again to the fore, for he advertises the sail-
ing arrangements for that .lunmier. Not only
does he "respectfully itifoi'in his friends
and the public, that his packet shall leave
York and Niagara" on certain days specified,
but he also adds this emphatic assurance
that "pnssengers may depeuii on a passage
on those day«." He conchidea thus loftily :
"Tlje superiority of sailing and accommoda-
tion for ladies and gentlemen are too
well known to the public to make
any comment upon." This advertisement
bore date York, June Ist, 1822.
As an amusiug specimen of " putting on
frills " in the advertising line, it has few
equals. There are still some old people re-
maining wit!) us (189.3) who aa children
were passengers on this incomparable packet.
The lapse ot more than sixty years has failed
to obliterate the wretched inemoiy of some,
at least, of her voyages from York to
Niagan. This schooner came to a dis-
astrous end, being wrecked near Brighton,
on Presqu'Isle Bay, in 1826 ;
SOMK NOTAI'.I.K STKAMEltS.
In 1824 anotiier stteainer of no less than
350 tons Wiia built at Quconston, and was
called by that name when she was
launched in 1825. She was owned by
the Hon Robert Hamilton, and at first com-
manded by Captain Whitney. Tho Queen-
ston ran from Prescott via York to Niagara,
and was in constant demand by the Govern-
ment as a trooper. This Iwat will be men-
tioned frequently as the history proceeds.
In the spring of 1825, just prior to the
launch of the Queenston, there was an ice
jam in the Niagara river, causing the river
to rise. Owing to the great pressure of the
ice against her it was found desirable to
keep blocking the vessel up and extend her
ways. Owing to this she was forced some
di.stance up tlio gully or ravine b«)youd the
place upon which tier keel had been laid
A small steamer known as the Caroline,
of only 75 tons burthen, was built at King-
ston in 1825. Her route was from the head
of Kay of Quinte to Prescott.
On June .'}, 1826, the Loyalist publislies
this announeement :
" The new steamboat Canada was towed
into port this week by the Toronto from tlio
mouth of the River Rouge w here she was
built during tho last winter. She will short-
ly be fitted up for her intended route, which
we understand will bo from York and
Niagara round the head of the lake and will
add another to the increasing facilities of
conveyance in Upper Canada. Six steam-
ers," the Loyali.-it adds, " now navigate the
Sr. r^awrence and Lake Ontario in this pro-
vince besides the Canada and a boat nearly
ready for launching in Brockville. "
In this year, as in its predecessors, tho
l*'rontenae was steadily employed. On June
9tli slie arrived in York harbor having on
board for duty at the garrison the head-
quarters division of the 70th Regiment, and
as that corps disembarked she received a de-
tachment of the 76th Regiment en route to
Quebec. The same paper refers to the ar-
rival at York on the preceding Tuesday of
the steamer Queenston.
An American vessel known as the Martha
Ogden was also plying this year bet. eeu
Y'ork and Niagara She was the property
of a United States firm of merchants.
THE KIKST "city,"
The steamer Toronto was commenced at
York late in the year 1824 or early in 1825.
She was built at the foot of Church street,
on the bay, and was of peculiar build, being
constructed of h'ilf inch planks and the same
shape at both ends. She is described
by Dr. Scadding .-is being "A shell
of successive layers of rather thin
boards placed alternately lengthwise and
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
851
athwftrt, with coatings betweea of stout
brown paper, pitched." She ran betw en
Kingston and Prescott a short time, after-
ward* to Toronto. She proved a failure, and
after a few seasons disappeared. She was
oomaanded by an Amerioan captain named
Shaw, and aifterwards by Capt Mcintosh.
Of the steamboat Canada, which has just
been referred to aa beinf; iu tow of the To-
ronto, the Loyalist, in its impression of
August 12th, 1826, says (and as evidencing
tfa* strides that were being nia:le in the
means of communication on the lakes,
the following passage is quoted in extenao):—
" The new steamboat Canada, Captain
meana of conveyance with those (en years
ago. At that time only a few schooners
navigated the lake, and this paasace waa
attended with many delays an i much in-
convenience Now there are five steam
boats all affording excellent accommodation
and the means of expeditious travelling.
The routes of each are so arranged that
almost every day of the week the traveller
may find opportunities ot being conveyed
from one extremity of the lake to the other
in a few hours. '' The paper then gires a
list of the steamers running at that time
and their routes. They were "The Niagara
and Queeuston from Prescott, the Froutenao
)ors, the
|0n Junf
,vinfi <'
le head-
lent, and
xda de-
route to
the ar-
isday of
Martha
Ibot .cen
Iproperty
Its.
lenced at
in 1825.
street,
Id. being
1 the same
described
Ja shell
ler thin
rise anu
Tllli: STICAMliK .MAr.TlI.\ OODETT.
Richardson, made her first trip to Niagara
on Monday last, and 'vent out of the harbor
ill fiue style. Her appearance reflects much
credit on her builder, Mr. Joseph Dennis,
ami the machinery manufactured by Messrs.
NVards, of .Montreal ia a specimen of superior
workmanship.
"The combined excellence of the model and
machinery of this boat are such as will ren-
der her what is usually termed a ' fast
boat.' Tiie trip to Niagara was performed
in four hours and some minutes. Her pre-
sent route we observe is advertised from
York to Niagara and the head of the lake.
"On noticing this first trip of anotlier stdum
boat -.v e cannot help contrastmg the present
from Kingston once a week, with the
Canada and Martha Ogden, between York,
Niagara and tiie liead of the lake every
day. AfiFording," remarks the Loj/alut, most
complacently, " facilities of couiuiuiiicatiou
which the most sauguiuo could scarcely iiave
anticipated at the period we speak of."
After a passing reference to a steamer
called the Cornwall, running on LaLe St.
Louis, and to the Charlotte, Toronto and
Dalhuu^ie, the article concludes thus elo-
que tly :
" These are some of the evidences of im-
provement among us during the past few
years, which require no comment. They
speak for themselves, and it must be pretty
1
' ' I;.'!
852
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
r %|1
m
[(/
i f-
endent from such facts as these that thosn
who cannot or will not see tlia pro;;ress we
are making must be wilfully blind."
The Niagara mentioned in the prcccdinp;
paragraphs had been built at I'rcscott, and
was under the command of Captain Mosier,
who is mentioned previously as in com-
mand of a schooner between Kingston and
Saekett's Harbor. The Niagara had rather
a curious history. She was originally a
sailing Tessel, owned and ommanded by
Captain M osier, and called the Union, of
Wellington Grore. Owing either to her
being faultily built, or from some unknown
cause, she suddenly capsi/ed in the Hirer
St. Lawrence, near I'rcscott. Captain
Mosier, nothing daunted, succeeded after a
time in righting and getting her iuto dock
at Kingston. There he cut her in two,
added about thirty feet to her length by an
insertion, and then launched her as a
steamer. The Loyalist describes her as "a
handsome and well built boat with a power-
ful engine and most excellent accommodation
for travellers."
Fre(juent mention is made of this vassel
throughout the season. Early in thi; month
of September " the steamboat Niagara,
Captain Moaier, made her trip last week
from York to Proicott and back again in
.-something les-s than four days." She called
each journey at Kin<:ston, Gananorjua and
BrockTille, and the distance covered was
nearly five hundred miles. Considoring the
numerous and lenjrthy stoppages that had to
bo made, 'his must certainly be considered
as, for the period, a very creditab'o perform-
ance.
SOME XOTABLK TRAVEI.LKIIS.
The Queenston was viy regular in b^r
jonrneya all through tho season of 1<S2(J.
The An.'.dican Bishop of (Quebec paid o, vioit,
in discharge of hia episcot-'al duties, to Vor'.-,
extending over several days, leaving; Ihe
harbor on his return journey to Kingston on
September I'ith by the Quoenston. When
that steamer returned to ^'ork a fjw days
later she had as passengers, on tlieir way to
Niagara, several orticers of the Royal Navy,
among them being Admiral Lake, of H. M.
ship Jupiter, and Captain Stewart, of the
AlenaL
In the Loyalist of Nov. 11, 182G, a seriou.s
accident to the Niagara is reported. She,
it appears, struck on a reef of rocks ofif
Poplar Point, about 60 miles from Kingston.
The paasengors were taken off by the Queen-
atoB, and, owing to the indefatigable ex-
ertions of Captain JVl osier, the greater
portion of her cargo was saved and forward
ed to York.
Tiie same issue of the Loynli.-<t contains
an advertisement asking fur tenders ' ' fi'r
supplying the Royal Naval Establishment
at PenetanguiHhene with fresh beef." It is
dated York, November Ist, 1826, and sign-
ed J. J Hillings, Deputy Assistant Com-
missary-General. In the following week a
notice appears calling a meetin); of the
stockholders of the steamer Canada to " bo
held at York, on board of the boat, on
Monday, 4th December, at 12 o'clock.'-
This was signed " By order of the Com
mittee of Management. J. \V. Gamble*
treasurer."
Mr. Gamble's name does not again come
up prominently iu connection with the his-
tory of Canada and her Marino. It may be
observed that he was the same gentleman
who in after years played a very
prominent part in Canadian politics. Ho
was a member of the I^rovincial Parlia-
ment for nearly two decades, and resided at
Pine GroTc, ^about ten miles north-west of
the city.
In prospect of thia meeting which
evidently caused Captain Richardson to
have doubts about his being further entrust-
ed with the sole m .nagement of that vessel,
he, (Capt. R.) addressed the followin':,'
letter to the stock-lioldTs. It is contained
in the LoyalUt of Docomber 9th, and reads
thus ; —
" (lentlemen,— It having been dooidetl at
a meeting of the stockholders, held on
board the Canada, that 1 should be invested
with the sole charge and management cf the
boat the ensuing year, unles.? at a meeting
to be held the first Monday in March, other
arrangements take place, I seize this oppor-
tunity on the eve of my doparture for Eng-
land, to afianre the stockholders that I have
made eery arrangement for the safety of
the boat and the necessary repairs, and at
the same time I respectfully submit to them
the ostensible motive of my voyneo,
(ientlemen, I am so deeply embarked lu the
speculation I have entered into th.'.t the
prospo(;t of the stock depreciating, and of
the boat's service,? and my own labors being
rendered nbnrtivo in so lucrative a ferry
as that be tw .^t York and Niagara, mainly
by a plurality of the management, fills mc with
dismay. And, as I triist i am entitled to
the confidence of the stockholder.^ generally
placed in my abilities, and am convinced
that unlea.s the power of management be
invested iu one person to act with all his
enerijies in the scene of profit, to sei.-^c the
ad van ta'.'es of market in the economy of the
outlay witli the discretion of a. sole owi>er,
loss and ruin to myself must ensue. With
this view of the subject I embark for Eng-
land to endeavor to raise funds cuid reliev?
those gentlemen who ore averse to my man-
agement, and to take up the remainder of
LAIsDMARKS OF TORONTO.
853
nt
is
m-
iin-
ka
the
bo
on
ik.'-
om
iblo
;ome
1 his-
ly bo
eman
very
Ho
arlia-
led at
est of
which
on to
ntvust-
vessel,
lowinj;
ataiuei-l
readi
ided at
loUl on
nTe-^tcd
of the
meeting
other
oppor-
Kng-
I have
ifety of
and at
to them
voy?.ec,
I HI the
IvAt the
and of
rs bcmg
a ftirry
mainly
3 mc with
itlcd to
eneraUy
mvinceJ
tment be
1 all his
seiM the
y of the
le owner,
e. With
for Eng-
d reliev?
iny inan-_
aiuder of
)r
the stock, that they who so kindly confided
in my assurances of individual profits, ami
placed implicit reliance in my integrity and
abilities, may not Im disappointed in their
fair expectations. Confident tliat I possess
the hearty wialies of success from many
valuable patrons, in takiii^; Icavu, I am
happy to BubHcribe myself, gmtleuien, your
most obedient humble Hcrvant, Hugh Rich-
ardson, York, Dec. 6, 1826. '
The following paragraphs appeared in the
Loynlitit on D<cemb«>r lOlh, 1826.
" Light House — The want of a li<;iit
liouso at the eastern extremity of the lake
has often boon compl lined of. The subject
may probably present itself to the atten-
tion of Parliament,"
" llurliugton Canal — We are happy to
iearii that thoscliooncr Cieneral Brouk,with
a cargo of mercliandise passed throuj^h tlio
cai al on Saturday last. This fact will re-
move whatevor doubts may have lemaiued
as to the success of this work."
This is the first timo we tiixl the t Jeneral
Krock mentioned. Slw had been built wo be-
lieve in York, and was used almo'^t wholly
as a merchant vesioi.
THK Canada's sjiAKKHoLUKiia.
Kenpecting tlie stfainship Canada, Cap-
tain kichard^ioii made his trip to England
and returned to York early in March, 1827.
The meeting of the Canatla's stockholders
held on the previous 4th of December had
been adjourni-'d until April 2nd, 1827, and
in anticipation of the proceeding then to be
li«ld, Captain Richardfoii again writes
" To the shareholders in the Canada
Steamboat. '
" (Jentleinen, it must !>e fresh in thn
incmory of you all that I am iihc original
projector of thy Canada ; that my abilitiea,
lu whatever li,t,'ht they may Ik; received,
wore wholly qv ployed in planninu, con-
struotiug and utting hor ow. Facts have
ttlrea ly proved that I led no one astray by
false theories in her coiistructi u ; and iier
engine is upon the model of the very best
jiow generally in u-ie in England. I have
been all along by far the largent shareholder,
and nearly the wlidle of the aharci ',vere
tft'.ion up by gontlenn^n upon uiy personal
.so)::itatioii«, in doing which 1 did not fear,
in the stronger d language I was master of,
to pledge ti\e .suocess ni the uudertiddi-g,
not only on tl>e proepoct of the lucrative
terry, but also upon the faith of my own
p<-'r2onal exertions. Then do I infer too
much by saying that a friendly disposition
I.I. wards me, a confidence in my abilities and
:i y integrity (with very few exceptions),
was the b»«i:i npon which I met with such
general patroiiaga ? However, after a cer-
tain period it was n* longer possible to raise
sufficient stock to complete the vessel ; the
expodiont of borrowing was resorted to, and
a debt of £l,2<)0 contracted with the bank.
"Upon this the boat commenced her opera-
ions, and ran from the 7thof August, |period
of 08 days ; during which time, gentlemen, I
look upon it as a matter of congratu-
lation tiiat at the v. ry first starting,
having an American boat to opposo
lier, the proraeds of the Canada
not only paid her current expeiisca but aUo
a sum of upwards of .i!200 in extraordinary
ouitit, inoludiug £40 insurance on money
borrowo'd, also the interest thereon ; JL'.')0
ni:arly for replacing her wheels, repeatedly
do.str<jyed, and considerable repairs. I sue
nothing but what is most flattering in this
her first outset. Thus it would have appear-
ed wiien I made my report, »lia» had I done it
in the most favourable light, I should havo
thouLfht, a-s one of the guardians of the
property entrusted to ny charge, tiiat I wa i
only fulfilling a duty I owed the stockhold-
ers when I enhanced rather than depreciated
its value. At the end of the Reason, from
disappointmuntw and expensus in collecting
the amount of the shares lak'm up, there
was still wanting a sum of £-MX), and at the
last general mciiting the further sum wa.-s
borrowed, hampering the boat with a debt
of .i;],0(K). At this crisis, at a great per-
sonal expense
and a groat9r sacrifict
of domestic comfort, I set out for Eiiglan.l
to tre.spa.s3 upon my own immediate friend:j,
and now luturn prepared to rflievo thi;
einbarra.^snicnts of the boat, and am willing,
in the face of reprc.iintatioiis that went to
disparage the stock, to invest a much larger
capital in tiio Ciuiada, in doing which I
confer a bon3tit on the whole, and trust I
five further proof of the sincerity of iny
professions when I U' ilertook the arduou.-!
task of rjetting up a st(...;n!>.';'.r. But, gentle-
men, things hav" not gone im I wishcti, or
as i intended ; .ad, perhaps, I am the only
person who will iiave property invested in
this ve-^Bel to b\\c\\ %n mnount as to mvke it
of vital ini])ortancs that 3ucce3.s should at-
tend the iidventure. Tl-erefore, upon this
ground, upon the ground of my beinir the
proj ctor of this vessel, upon the responsi-
bility of my situation as master, ostensible
agent, and possessing owner, I mwt earn-
estly solicit your particular support to my
appointment as managing owner of thirf
vessel ; and to that ettpct may I again
solicit the most general attendance of the
stockholders at the meeting to be held on
board the Canada, the second of April 'i
I am, gentlemen,
Your very obedient servant,
Htnai lliCHAKusoN.
York, March 24, 1827.
:|l
i
I
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8H
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Navigation opened early in 1 827, for under a
■alatfl from the garrison the Lieutenant-
UoTernor and hia family left York for
St«ffiford on board of the Queenaton on
April 4th, returning by the Canada on the
21it of the same month.
8UMK SBBI008 AOOIDBNTB.
The accident which occurred to the
Niagara iu the previous November wae
much more serious than had been antici-
pated, for the Loyalitt of May 26th, says :
" The report in circulation last week that
the steamboat Niagar* had been got off
troni the beach near Long Point where she
was unfortunately stranded last fall is in-
correct." The paper adds the expression of
its confident hope that she will in a fewdays
be afloat and that they will soon have it
in their power to announce her
safe arrival iu port.
The Loyalitt of April 21st records the fact
of the accidental drowning of the mate of
the Canada in these words : — " George Reid,
mate of the steamboat Canada, was last
night drowned by falling from the plank
leading from the wharf to the vessel. It is
painful to hear that the unfortunate man
loaves a wife and five children to lament bis
sudden loss "
THE "loyalist" asks FOB MOKE.
The Loyalist is at this time desirous that
more steamers should be ad.led to the lake
fleet and thus brings the subject before its
readers.
" The Queenston performs her trips regu-
larly from Prescot t to York and Niagara
once every week. The convenience of i\
second aud even a third boat would, how-
ever, be a great accommodation to travel-
lers. We are happy to hear that Captain
McKenzie, late iu command of the Fronte-
uac, (now laid up) has made arrangements
tor building a new boat to be propelled by
an engine of greater pjwer than that of any
other now navigating; the lake. Tlie ac-
knowledged ability of Captain McKenzie
while in coinmaad of the Fronteaac, the
regularity with which her trips were per-
formed, and the attention ho at all time«
bestowed ou thu comfort and couveuicuce of
his passengers, induce us to hope that
the undertaking he has commenced
will speedily be carried into efifect."
The Dalhousio, under the command of Cap-
tain A. McDonell, resumed her trips be-
tween Prescott and Kingston on May 2nd,
leaving the former port ou Wednesdays and
Saturdays and the latter on Mondays and
Tharsd >ys, stopping each way fur half an
hour at Brockville and Gananoque. The
advestisemeut concludes thus : — "Passen-
gers must be punctual, as the boat carries the
mail; she cannot be delayed for anyone."
On June 9th, following, an advertisement
appears in the Kingston papers offering the
Frontenac for sale. We quote the same in its
entirety.
"Uy public auction will be sold on Mon
day, the second of July next, at Kingston,
as she now lays at wharf, the steamboat
Frontenac, with her anchors, chain-cables,
rigging, eto., also the engine, of 50 horso
power, manufactured by Messrs. Watt and
Boulton. Sale to commence at 10 o'clock
a.m., on board. For any further informa-
tion applieation to be made to Mr. Strange,
Kingston, or to John Hamilton, Queenston,
June 1, 1827."
No sale took place or if the vessel was
ever offered publicly it was withdrawn.
The Queenston, under the command of
Captain James Whitney, running between
Prescobt, Kingston, York, the head of the
lake and Niagara, was constantly employed
in 1827 in the conveyance of troops from
and to these various ports. It is announced
in her advertisement for the season under
date May 25tii,that "every endeavor has been
made to render t^e accommodation and fare
on board of the best description. "
Captain Richardson's steamer, the Canada,
was rather unfortunate this year, in the end
of July, while crossing the lake from
Niagara to York, she broke her main shaft.
OOOD-BYB TUB FBONTENAa
This accident was, though, happily repaired
in about three weeks, for we learn from tha
Loyalist that she re-commenced her trips to
and from Niagara on the 7th August. She
was again subject to severe damage in a
storm ou the lake during October, but was
not incapacitated for service. On iJecember
1st she made her last trip for that season
and laid by for the winter.
We have just mentioned that an attempt
had been made to dispose of the Frontenac.
It came to uothing at the time, and at the
end of August her owner, Mr. Hamilton,
removed her to Niagara There she was set
on tire, the Loyalist of September 29t i thus
referring to this dastardly act :—
"The Messrs. Hamilton, proprietors of
the steamboat Frcntenac, have oH'ured a re-
ward of £100 for the discovery of the per-
sons who set fire to that vessel some time
ago. Tiie Froateuac, after being fired, was
loosed from her moorings and hud drifted
some distance into the lake, wh< n she was
met by the Niagara, Captain Mosier, who
took hw iu tow au'l succeeded
in bringing her to the wharf at
Niagara, where, after some exertions, the
flames were extinguished." .She was soon
afterwads broken up, and thus terminated
the existence ot the first steamboat built on
Lake Ontario. Sic transit gloria mutuii.
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
855
Bent
( the
iniU
Moa
•ton,
nboat
nbles,
horso
tt and
I'olock
brmft-
rwge.
miton,
(I was
rn.
Mid of
etween
of the
[iployeJ
IB from
lounced
I under
has been
and fare
Canada,
I the end
^e from
in shaft.
repaired
1 from th«
ir trips to
usU >he
mage in a
., but was
December
at season
attempt
rroiitenac.
at the
Hamilton,
he was set
29t:i thus
f
rietors of
red a re-
the per-
some time
fired, was
jad drifted
n she was
osier, who
succeeded
wharf at
grlions, the
was soon
terminated
at built on
mundi.
THE FAMOUS ALCIOPE.
Early in 1R28, on March 27th, Sir Pere-
grine and '. ady Sarah Maitland, the former
being the Lieutenant-Governor of the Upper
Province, embarked at York, on board ihe
Canada, for Stamford. This journey of his
Excellency's involved Captain Richardson
in an amusing, though somewhat heated,
discussion in the columns of the Colonial
Advocate, with the editor of that journal.
Captain Richardson had been accused of
perniittins; undue exclusivenesa on board the
Canada, in the exclusion of other passengers
upon the occasion of the Lieutenant-(jover-
nor's journey. After first of all denying the
report that on account of the presence of
their Excellencies other passengers were
declined, and then giving an emphatic as
surance that had his distinguished guests so
wished is no one else would have bei^n taken
on that trip, Captain Richardson concludes
his letter to the Advocate thus :
'^ As long s L command the Canada, and
have a rag of color to hoist, my proudest
day w!'.i be when it floats at her masthead
indicative of the presence and commands of
the representative of my Kincr.
" Hugh RicuARDSoy,
" Master and managing owner of the Can
ada steam pa ket, April lltii, 1828.'
Among sailing vessels employed upon the
lakes in 1828 was the Canadian, built at
York, and launched there about the middle
of April. She was the property of William
(iamble, afterwards of Milton Slills, Etobi-
coke, and Captain Bowkett, who com-
manded her. ^he was used principally for
the transport of grain.
A passenger vessel, of about 80 tons
burthen, known afterwards as the (leorge
the Fourth, and plying between Ivingston
snd York, was also launched a day or two
earlier than the Canadian. There was be-
sides a well known schooner called the
Catherine, commanded by Captain Catnp-
bell, conveying goods and passengers be-
tween York and Niagara.
Late in .Niay or in the very early days of
Tune, 1828, a new steamer, designed to suc-
Deed th<' Frontenac, was launched at Nia-
:;ara, wher« .she had been constructed by her
awners, Robert Hamilton and Andrew
Heron She arrived in York, it being her
first voyage, on June 26th, 1828. The
Loyalist thus speaks of the event : —
"The new ateami oat Alciope, built
kt Niagara, owned by Robert Hamil-
ton, Esq., and commanded by Capt.
McKenzie, late of the Frontenac, with a
number of ladies and gentlemen on a party
of pleasure, made her first entry into our
harbor on Thursday last. She is a tine
model, and fitted up in a most elegant and
convenient manne" for passengers. She
commences her regular trips, we understand,
next Wi^'ck, and under the command of
Captain McKenzie, so well known for his
■kill and experience as a seaman, and for
attention to bis passengers, we have no
doubt the Alciope will be found a valuable
acquisition to the regular communication
which is now afforded by means of the
several steamboats plying on the lake, and
that she will receive a share of that public
patronage which is so deserveuly bestowed
upon the owners and commanders of other
boats whose public-spirited exertions are
worthy of the highest praise."
Many people have wondered why this
vessel received the name uhe did. It is a
purely fanciful one, and though appar ntly
of Greek origin, does not belong to any of
the ancient heroes or heroines, whether real*
or mythological.
SOME MURE FAMOUS lOKti
On June 7th, 1828, the Loyali.it mentions
that Commodore Barrie in " his Majesty s
schooner Cockburn entered this port (York)
on Motiday last, and on landing at the (Harri-
son was received by a .-^alute, which was re-
turned from the schooner. The yaclii Bull-
frog was in company with the Cockburn."
The Commodore intended to proceed by
land to Lake Simcoe, thenco on a tour of
inspection of the several naval depots of the
lakes.
There is a passing allusion to the Alciope
in the Loyati.H of September 6tb, respecting
tlie movements if tlial vessel for the ran ai:,-
der of the season.
On the 27th ot the same month Mr. George
Savage advertises from York that " His
Excellency the Lieutenant Governor haa
been pleased to appoint him Collector of
Customs for tiiat port." He succeeded Mr.
William Allan.
The schooner George Canning ran between
York and Niagara at this time. Captain J.
Whitney, afterwards famous as captain of
one of the lake steamers, was in command.
In the following year, 1821), was built at
Bath, upon the Bay of Quinte, by Gilder-
sleeve, the Sir James Kempt. She wan
commanded by various captains and rnu
h twecn Fre.scott and Belleville, attaining a
speed of about twelve miles an hour.
SOI.niK.R AND STATESMA.V.
This steamer received lier name out of
complinieut, not, as might be sup-
poaeil, to a tamous sailor, but to
a noted soldier and statesman. Sir
James Kempt, sometime Lieut. -Governor
of Nova Scotia, afterwards Governor-General
of Canada. He had seen service in many
different parts of the world ; in India, Hol-
land, Naples, Sicily ; during the Peninsular
Mi
■ I.
^:-;:U
■fe
I'
m
856
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.'
w ir alao, where at the assault on the Castle
of Itadujoz he was eevcrely wounded. He
recovered from bis injuries, and during the
remainder of the campaign was urc.-ent as
Atajor-Gcneral, commanding a urigade at
the battles of Vittoria, Vera, NiTcUe, Nive,
Orthes and Toulouse. Though he was
again wounded at Nivelle he remained on
the field until the conclusion of the aation.
Finally iie commanded the 8th Brigade at
Quatre Braa and Waterloo.
In a history of the lake shipping, publish-
ed sonio yaars aiuce, this vesiiel is erroneous-
ly (les;:i-ibed as the Sir J^mcs Kemp. It is
iliHioiilt to understand how such an error
could have been made, as there was but one
!Sir .lames Kempt and but one steamer
named after him. No one of the name of
Kemp ever occupied any prominent position
in Ciuiada eilher. But humauum e»t trrarc.
tain J. Whitney, and ber route was from
Kingston te Niagara by the head of the lake.
She was a great favorite with the emigrants
fram the old country, possibly to a very
great extent on account of her name. She
was the largest vessel then on the lakes.
The Upper Ccuiada Herald, published at
Kingston, announces on December 8,1830 :
AUCTION.
" The steam boat Toronto, together with
all her furniture, will be sold at public
auction to the highest bidder on Monday,
l.'Uh inst. The sale to t«kc place on board
of the boat at 12 o'clock."
The notice is dated December 1st previ-
ously.
in the Upper Canada Herald of Januarv
16lh, 1831, we are told that "on Tuesday
the 18th, beinfj the Queen's Hirthday," this
was Adelaide.. Queen of VVilliatu 4th, "Com-
-^*4*^-?T^^ ^-^^Zr-., -;55a2?^-' ^^^-^'-yy^
^-^^^^^
THE STEAMEH QllEAT BEITAIX.
In 1829 we have the Canada, Niagara,
Queenston and Alciope all plying between.
Kingston, York and Niagara. The opening
of navigation was exceedingly late in this
year, for on May 16th it is noticed in the
Lo;ialist that " the steamboats have some
dilHculty in uettim^ into the Niagara river
from the large quantities of ice passing down
from tlie upper lake.''
The Toronto and Dalhousie in this season
were both running between Kingston and
Proscott.
In 1830 a famous vessel was commenced
and launched. This was the Great liritain
of 70^) tons, owned by the Honorable John
Hauiiltou and ut first commanded by Cap-
modore and .Mrs. Barrie gave an entertain-
ment ut Kingston to a number of the
inhabitants and to the naval and military
oflicers on the station."
ANCIENT rosTAL ARRANGEMENTS.
In this year the owner of the Alciope, Mr.
Robert Hamilton, substituted high pressure
for low pressure engines in the vessel, and
changed her name from the Alciope to that
of United Kingdom. Her new commander
was Captain Isaac Harrington.
In 1831 we find Captain Richardson, com-
mandimr the Canada, writing a lengthy let-
ter to tlie Niagara Gleaner, dated York,
April 23rd, in which he says : —
Sir,— The postmaster at Niagara having
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
85V
rom
xke.
Mita
very
Shs
kkei.
id at
30 ;
with
public
nday,
board
previ-
anuary
uesdav
," this
"Com-
cntertaia-
Ur of the
id military
ilciope, Mr.
ligh preaanrc
I vessel, and
]:iope to that
commander
^rdson, com-
1 lengthy let-
iatcd York,
zara bAvioK
refused this day any longer to take the way
letters and papers from the Canada on her
arrival, as haretoforti accustomatl, and the
distance from the landing to the postotlico
being such, and the stay of the Canada so
short as to preclude ma from undertaking
their delivery, I am of course forced to do-
cline receiving for the future any letters or
papers tor Niagara. Lust season the Canada
carried the mail, this season — not. Hut that
tlie public may not fancy that the extrava-
gant compensation to the Canada had
weight in breakint; up the arrangcnuait of
last year, I beg to state that the Canada re-
ceived for carrying the mail and all we,/
letters and new.sj)apLrs, Is. .'{d per trip,
or 23. 6d. per day, vrhilst she made her
double trips, and Is. 3d. per day when
she made but ono. What will re-
sult from the present change ?
The Canada will lose a source of emolu-
ment, which perhaps would have been
creditable to the post oflice had she enjoyed
it from her first opening of the ferry I The
public will pay 7d instead of 4id for
their letters, and receive them 24 hours
later than by the Canada ; and the post-
( tlicc will have credit for understanding
financirtl arrangements, better tlian public
accommodatio:' — as by a retrograde motion
of delivery of 24 hours, it increases the
value of postage 100 per cent.
I am, uir, your most obedient serrant,
HlXiH lilCIlAKUSON,
.\1. O. of the S. P. C.
We have only to remark in reference to
alove letter that the Canadian public of to-
day would find it very hard to reconcile
themselves to u charge of seven pence or
fourteen cents on a letter between Toronto
and Niagara.
Thiis year a small steamer known as the
Irorjuois, of but 100 tons burthen, was
launched at Prescott. Very little is known
about lier. Her route was between Prescott
and Dickinson's Landing. She was what
Wiis called a steam wheel vessel and de-
.-^ceudcd the rapids. She was found unsuit-
able for that purpose and was soon laid
aside.
.\S OTHEKS SAW CS
Referring to the (iovernment dock-yard
at Kingston in lS32i3the following interest-
in^,' pBs.sai;e contained in a book published
by Lieutenant E. T. Coke, of H. M. 4.'ith
Foot, entitled *' A Subaltern's Furlough."
He says :
" Two steamers were at this time contin-
ually running between the Ottawa and On-
tario, and the traffic of heavy boats also
appeared considerable.
" Several large hulks of Teasels of ^^ ar,
built during the 1
ast war to cope wit
those of the Americana on the stocks at
Sackett's Harbour, and which were never
launched, are now faat falling to decay in
the Navy Yard at Kingston.
" A aeventy-fonr had been sold a few
months previously for £25, and a few days
before our arrival a heavy squall of rain ac-
companied by lightning had split the St.
Lawrence of 120 guns down the centre.
Th» propa giving way, the vessel broke into
a thousand pieces, covering the ground all
round with a heap of ruins. "
The narrative concludes with a prophecy
that the four or five frames of vessels .still
there on the stocks will soon meet with a
similar fate.
CAl'TAIN M'KENZIK's DEaTH.
Captain McKenzie, who had been first
in command of the Frontonuc and after-
wards in that of the Alciope, died on .-\ugust
27tii of this year He, at the time of his
death, was engaged in the construction of
twr) other steamboats ; one at the head of tiie
lake and one at Lake Simcoe ; and was, on
moHt occasions, consulted respecting the man-
agement of steamboats, so that he may justly
Ih) called the father of steam navigation in
Upper ('anada. His death WL\b considered
a great loss to society and to the country
Three new steamers were launched in this
year, namely, the John By of 100 tons at
Kingston ; the William IV. of 450 tonn at
Ganano<iuc, and the Transit of 350 tons at
Oakville. The first of these, the John By,
ran between Toronto and Hamilton, under
the commai..i of Captain Kerr. She was of
peculiar construction, having a paddle wheel
in her stern. The first one put in was too
large and hud to be removed. Even when
this w <s done the vessel did not prove a
success, and she came to an inglorious end-
wrecked at Port Credit. The William IV.
ran between Toronto and Prescott, and
was commanded at various times by (.'ap-
tains McDonald, Paynter, Jones and John
Cowan. She, having four funnels or smoke
stacks, was visible at a long distance. She
finally, became a tow boa
The third of these steamers was first of all
known iis ti)c Constitution, nnder the com-
mand of Captain Zceland. Later she cl^me
under Captain Richardson, who with Mr.
(jilkison were the principal owners She
plied between York and Niagara and l;ad
her name changed to the Transit. She was
finally wrecked.
In 18.13 the steamer Rri annia was added
to those already on the lake She was built
at Kingston and was ot 'JOi) tone burthen.
In the Montreal Utttler of .\pril 16th, 18.33,
aad in subsequent numbers of the same
paper, is the following notice respecting
m
■m
ra ■
8M
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
" The 8ub«criben beg to Minounoe that
the B«w and elcKant ■teamer liritftooM will
be ready eerly iu May te vij betireea thia
eKy aad Laprairie. Mr. Jamea Thonif eon,
of that place, baa beea appointed agent for
the reeeiTi*;; aad lorwardiog of properly .
"(Signed,) JoaHToKBANOB&Co.
" Montreal, April 12tb, 183S."
Jast a month later, on May 19th, the
paper k>vm ^^ iatelligeoee of thie
■1, nnder Commander Luekin, " having;
commenced her regular tripe between Mon-
trii and Laprairie, in con j auction with the
linee from and to the United Statee, Quebec
an**. Upper Canada."
THBSK MOTABLB STIAMBHS.
In addition to the Britannia, iu the
same year were built the Cobiurg,
steamer of only 900 tone. Her route at first
was from Hairilton to Toronto, when she
was in charge cf Captain Ives. Then she
waa sent to the Bay of Quinte, where, at a
later date. Captain Grass took charge of her.
She waa bailt ny J. 6. Parker, a well-known
Kingston man. She did net prove a very
great aiacceM.
The Brock vlUe waa of 300 tone burthen, in
length 14f feat, in width 93^ feet, and her
eaUn waa 84 feat long.
Tbe BrockviUe Mecorekr of August 30,
1883, aaya : " The ateamboat Brock 'ille ia
to be launched on Wednesday, September
4th, at 12 o'clock noon. The Ureat Britain
and William IV. are expected to be in thia
port at that hour." In another paragraph
the editor complacently remarks regarding
- - ..-, . . \^-'-^' ' ^'■'»r..^ J
THK STEAM KR WILLIAM IV.
the Kinf;aton and the Brockvitle.
Ejhch of tliesa steamers received its name
from the place where it was constructed.
The Cobonrg was of 500 tons bui theu, and
up to thia date only one vessel, the Fron-
tenac, had equalled her in this point, and
only one excelled her, namely, the Great
Britain.
."^he was the property of Charles and
James Mcintosh, two brothers, both of
whom died on board of her from an attack
of cholera in the year 1834. $^Sbe plied from
Prescott to the head of tlm iake, and for
some time was undei the charge of Captain
Zeeland . She will be hea d of again from time
to time in this history, notably iu 1837
and 1838 during the rebellion. She finally
became a tow boat.
The Kingston was u comparatively small
the Brock ville that " she will probably be
the fastest and best finished boat on the
Canadian waters."
Her builders were Shay k Merritt,
of Montreai, and her engines were sup-
plied by Avery, of Syracuse. She made
her first trip between Brockvllle alid the
Long Sault, under the command of Captain
L. Hilliard. on .April 1st. 1834.
TH08K DOCK YARDS ! !
A previous reference has been made to the
way in which the dock yards at Kingston
were being neglected. In April of tliis year
the following advertisement appears in a
local paper :
SALE OF NAVAL STORES,
AT KINGSTON, UPPER CANADA.
On the 20th May, 1834, will be offered
for sale, by public Auction, at Kinr^ston
first
■h*
Rh«
at a
i her.
Bown
very
•n, in
kd her
It 30,
jl'ie ii
«inber
Britain
n this
ftgraph
[Mrding
ibably be
t on the
Merritt,
rere »up-
>he made
alid the
}f CapUin
.834.
ade to the
Kingston
thia year
ears in a
ES,
NADA.
be offered
KinRston
LANDMARKS Or TORONTO.
859
Dook Yard, Upper Caaada, a large quan-
tity of
NAVAL STORES,
oovsisTiNu or
Anchors, fron 2 cwt. to 15 cwt. ; 1,000 tons
iron baHaet,
Aboat ISO brass shivered single blocks, from
4 to 6 iacfaes ;
Blocks oommoB, about 9,000, from 4 iaches
to 23 inches ;
Blocks douk^.e, 2,000, trom 5 inches to 20
inches ;
Blocks careening, double, treble and four-
fold, 18 in number, from 21 inches to 31
iaetoes.
Do clewline, clump and long tackle, from 8
inches to 18 ioches ;
Do sister aad topsail sheet, from 6 to 21
inches, 100 ;
Do double and treble cat, from 12 to 18
iBches, 30 ;
Do snatch, 12 to 17 faiohee, tweuty ;
Do iron-boand top, simple and double, from
6 to 20 iaches, 200.
DOATS' BARGE, 41 FEET ; CUTTER 38
FEET.
Bolts, anchor stock, ring, set aud wrain,
1,300 ; buQtin, white, -ud, yellow and blue,
8f)0 yards ; copper boltatave, one ton, trom
1-2 to 1 1-2 inches ; iron, round and square,
9 tons, from 3-4 to 2 3-8 inches ; tar brushes,
chain cables, with gear ; canvass, 1,500
bolts, from number 1 to 8 ; iron casks, 300
in number ; Carpenters' tools, compasses,
sij^nal flags and pendants ; sixty ooils bok
rope, from 3-4 to 6 inches : 100 coils rope,
cable laid ; 15 coils cordage, 350 coils, haw-
ser laid ; 1,000 cringles of sorts, 1,200 dead
eyes, 300 hearts, timber dogs, fearaought
files, glass, 3,000 panes, stone groand ;
hammers, hammocks, hinges, tackle i>ook8,
caulking irons, kersey, old lead, 4 tous ;
lead pipe, from 1 1-2 to 3 inches ; lines,
chalk, dcepsea, log and hand, 2,000 m
number ; locks, brass, 100 in nnml^er ;
turning lathes, with tools, 2 sets ; mauls,
450 iu number ; nails of all sorts -Aiid
spikes, two tous ; needles, paint, chain
pump gear ; sails for frigates, 2 set-^ ;
shivers lignumvitae, 3,000 iu number ;
steel German ; stoves, Canadian ; 8 barrels
turpentine ; twine, 4 tons ; wire, copper ;
wire, iron; several old and half worn boats ;
with a great number of other articles of
Naval and old Stores ; also,
THE BULLFROG YARD BOAT,
of about 00 tons, nearly new and completely
rigged, and well furnished in every respect;
will make an excellent Packet.
Pine p!ank, aboat 19,000 feet ; elm board,
4,000 feet ; oak board, 1,500 feM ; and sev-
eral thousand feet of oak and pine timber.
A quantity of Slop clothing and bedding,
provisions and victualling storeo.
The sale to commence at K) o'clock, ^ m.
and to continue every working day aaiil the
•ale is oioeed.
The biddings to be in sterling money, the
Dollar 4s. 4d. A deposit of 25 per oeat.
to be paid at the time of parch <se, which
will bco->me forfeited to the Crown if the re-
mainder of the purchase money be not paid,
and the Stores taken away, on or before the
7th day of Joae next.
The Stores may be seen, and further par-
ticulars learned, on application to the Mas
ter Shipwright at Kingston Dock Yard.
RO'.'ERT MOORE, Master Shipwright.
April 24. 1834
ITfLL MOftV STKAHBBa.
In an advertisement respecting the move-
ments of the steamer Cobourg for the sea.son
of 1834 it is noticeable that York has now
become Toronto. The latter place is so des-
cribed with the parenthetical addition " late
York."
In 1834 the Commodore Berrie was buih
at Kingston by Henry Uildersleeve. She
was of 275 tons cipicity, and her com-
mander was James SincLiir. Hor route
was from Prescott to Toronto and Niagara.
Her advertisement states that she was pro-
pelled by two superior low pressure engines
of Meesrs. \V.>rd & Co. manufacture.
From the Western Mercury of August 7.
1834, published at Hamilton, it is learned
that a new steamboat built at Oak\illL,
(and known as the Oakville,) had com-
menced running daity between Hamilton
and Toronto, Sundays excepted. This
steamer is descri!y d as being a very hand-
sooMt boat and elegantly fitted up. Her
captain was James Mills
The St. George, a fine steamer of 400 tons,
was built and launched at Kingston early
in IS;>4. She ran from there to the head
of the lake. A paragraph is contained in
the Hamilton Wejuern Mtrcury of June
16th in that year saying that the steamers
( onstitution. with 70 emigrants, the C'obourcr,
St. George and William IV. with 35U, 110
and 90 respectively had landed these pas-
sengers at Hamilton.
The St Cieorge's commanding offioei was
Lieutenant Harper, R. N. The vessel he
commanded was at this time the only low
pressure, schooner-rigged vessel on the luke,
and it was claimed for her by her owners
that as • sea-boat there were aoua to sur-
pass, if any to equal, her. Among khe other
steamers plying bet^- een the varioHii lake
ports at this time was an American steamer,
whose route was front Ogdensburgh to Kings-
ton, theuce by Soikett's Harbor, O>wego
and Kociiester to Toronto, proceeding trom
(
' \
'^l
r^\
I'
f]
>>1
860
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
hi
there to Niagara and Lewiiiton. Slie was
called the Oawego, Captain J. T. Homaua
A stcatmr kuowii as the Eaterpriiiu waa
also built at Kingston in IH.'M, t)ut blie ran
l<ir a very briuf periud, being speedilj* broken
up. Another, known as the Unioc, to ply
between Hamilton and loronto, waa also
completed at Oakville at nearly the same
limu She waa jwned by a joint Ktock
company. She waa afterwards couvurted
into a barque.
A Btcainer called the Peter Robinson,
built late in 1833, or very early in the fol-
lowing year, to ply upon Lake tiimcoe. was
offered for sain in the summer of 1834 by
her owner, Mr. Churled Thompson, th
reason alleged bt-ine that he (Thompson)
found it impossible to be absent troiii home
to attend to the boat hiiiiiiclf. However,
Mr. Thompson had to mako it possible, for
no sale waa effected just then at any rate.
'I'liose who knew Lake Sinicoe at a much
later date than Ks:{-1 will not nuioh wonder
at it.
A paragraph, appeared in the Kingston
Chronicle lute in July of a soinewhai ciu!;-
matioal uaiure, auuouncini; that several
vessels, " sbould circumstances permit,''
would be speedily added to tho lake sorviee.
What this referred to waw never clearly
explained, or even explained at all.
STILL THEY COME.
Another steamer that did good service
on the lalies (vas built in 18.35 in Scotland
und put to<;cther in Montreal, and uuder
Captain Jamea Sutherland plied upon tho
lake. She was called the Traveller, and
she did not belie her name, for .she was of
excellent speed and capacity. In the end
sne was put to useful but somewhat i>;uoble
work, being converted into a tow-! oat.
She will bo often heard of iu the next few
years. For the lirst time in the history of
the Cana<la .-steamship she appears in 18.'>5
uuder another commander. Frank liury
in this year takes the place of Captain liich-
ard^^on ; the latter remains th ukIi as man-
aging owner. The steamer's route was the
same. On February 24th an advertisement
ai (pears in the I oronto Courier ofl'erin<{ for
sale the schooner Huniber of 50 tons burthen.
yiic was lying east of Cull's wharf.
W. L. Whiting & Co., of lirockville, also
advertise in the same and in other ]>rovinciaI
papers " that they will be prcpaied at the
op iiing of navicacion with a suthcieut num-
ber of most improved covered barges to en-
sure despatch in the transport of produce to
Montreal, and merchandise from thence by
the St. Lawrence to any part of Upper Can-
ada." I'hese gentlemen also notify the public
that " entries are passed at the Custom
House without charge of commission."
What wind and water did for the in-
hubitautis of Toronto aome dozen years later
was in 1835 proposed to be effecte>l by artifi-
cial means. The propottitiou waa to l»uild
a canal or " cut" acroaa tfce peninsula, op-
posite I'or into. A meeting was called in
furti.erance of thia project on March 3,
1835, when one of the reaaona giren in aup-
port of the schema waa that " It would
most certainly, by letting in the pare water
of the lake, purify the waters of the bay. "
Nature made thia ** cut," now many yean
ai;o, and yet,strange to say, people are to be
found who venture to aaaert that '* the
waters of the bay" are only even compara-
tively pure, when compared with, well, lot
us say a very dirty canal.
The steamer Cobourg in 1835 had as her
captain C I'aynter and made her trips as in
liie season previously. The Constitation
became the Transit, and under Hugh Kich-
ar.lson, (formerly maater of the Canada and
atill her manager,) ran from Hamilton to
Toronto, Port Hope, Cobourg and Rochester.
On June 18th, 18.'i5, tlie Great Britain, Cap-
tain J. Whitney, arrived in Toronto harbor
with a very Icrge number of emigruits. Thia
steamer ran from Pre^cott to Toronto and
Niaj^ara. At the latter port tlie American
steamer United States, Captain J. Van
Cleve, ran in connection with her to porta
on tlic opposite sidn.
This season the Peter Robinson was again
upon Lake Siincoe, Charles Thompson still
be ng her owner, and connecting witli her
was the Pcne anguiahen ■ for Jslo St. Joseph,
the Sault Ste Marie and Mackinac.
AN INGENIOUS ILAN.
Late in the year, on November 10th, a
terrible storm took place on the lake. Two
schooners were wrecked otf the " Ducks,"
near Kingston, a place that has been men-
tioned several times already, and always, or
nearly so, in connection with some shipping
di aster.
Other sailing vessels that are mentioned
include the Three Brothers, so called after
the Mclutoiih l>rotliers : John, who com-
manded her; Charles, who h d chai'ge of
another lake schooner, the Superior, and
Robert, the master of the Eunice, pre-
viously mentioned. There were several
others also, namely, the Robert I>uru.i, the
Emily, the Prosperity, Fanny and Perse-
verance ; besides the (iuerut>ey, Peacock,
Caroline. Fair American, Sovereign, Jessie
Woods, Erin, Charlotte, Winnebago, Lord
>lelson, Enteri>rise and ISoxor. Of these
the Fanny, Sovereign and Jessie Woods,
were the property ot .\)r. James Lockhart,
of Niagara. The firsf named was under the
command of Captain Dick, a yallant sailor
and enterprising man. A great deal will
LANDMARKS OF TOHONTO.
861
the in-
1-8 later
y artifi-
0 Imild
la. op-
blled in
u-ch 3,
in sup-
t would
•e water
le t)ay."
ny ywkW
ure to be
at " the
jompara-
well, lot
,(i as hor
rips as in
iBtitatioo
igh Hich-
nada and
nilton to
Locliester.
lain, Cap-
ito harbor
aits. This
•onto and
American
1 J. Vail
r to ports
was aj^ain
npston still
witii
her
Jt. Joseph,
10th, a
.ke. Two
» Ducks,"
beeu men-
always, or
shipping
mentioned
Ued after
who com-
chai'ge of
)orior, i*nd
nice, pre-
re several
l>uru,i, the
and Pcrae-
Peacock,
igu, Jeasi'
bago, Lord
OC these
ie Woods,
Lockhart,
under the
allant sailor
X deal will
be heard of him as this hiislory pro<;ros8ea.
Captain I'eckc, a veteran sailor, was the
otiicer in command of the l>oxer. He is
stated at this lime to have been navigating
the lakes for nearly forty years.
Captain Ueorge in his barge from Quebec
visited foroa'o in 1835. This nun was not
a sailor by profession, but he was a born
nautical mechanician. He had a sche.nu for
enabling loaded vessels to overcome the
rapids of the St. Lawrence and reach the
upper ]>orts on the river without disturbiiic;
thair cargoes. TtuH was to be iunc. ly pul-
leys or chains anchored in the bed of the
river or fixed upon the biiuks. He con-
trived to get h.j own vessel up in this way,
ioaded with a i:eneral assortment of mer-
chaixlisc. But the ex))euse was loo great
for private owners, and as the con.structicii
of canals round the rapids v< as souu after-
wards completed, contrivances like that of
Captaiu (jeorge, however ingeuious, w«re
useless. Dr. Scaddtng describes George's
barge as possessing a peculiar rig, its
masts formiuLT above the deck a sort of large
St. Andrew's cross, such being, in his
opinion, the most convenient arrangement
fur working t)ic leg of mutton or triangular
sal a which he used. In reference to the
navigation of the rapids let us here nient on
that Captain Ma\well first navigated in a
steamboat the deep channel of the Long
Sault, and Chaplain Uilliard on board the
Ontario fust tlescended the rdpids at L.%-
chine.
In tiie Hamilton Oazette of February 6th,
1836, this advertisement is fouud :
" Tlie Sohoomir Aurora,
" Edward Zeeland, Master,
"Intends running during the winter, when
the weather will permit, between the I>ar!in'4-
uu ('an 1 aud the iiani^uu v.tiaii ut To-
routo Enquire for hor arrival and depar-
ture at Mr. Hurley's Hotel."
NEW YKAR CH.VNCES.
Navigation opened ear y in May in IH'Ab,
aiul the Hamilton llauttt thus allude.stuilie
steamboats on the lake :
" The Transit, Captaiu tlichardson s b'lku-
tiful vessel, is ready to start the moment
her icy tetters are broken, and our old. safe
and comfortable friend, the Canada, is ready
to follow in her wake. We hear she is in-
t nded to go to some port to the eastward,
and if the ice ren^.aius much longer we shall,
-ui'e as Ci^gs are egg-f, sea the gallant cap-
tain, as he has done before, cut his way
out."'
Tiio Cobourg had had new boilers put in
at a cost of |2,500, and both it and the
Traveller had been geueia.ly repaired.
The Transit made her iirst trip fioni To-
ronto to Niagara on May Ist.
On May 18th the Hamilton Oaiettt pub-
lishes this advertisement :
"Otfice of the (jrand River Navigation
Company, 8eneca,Grand River, July 21.1835.
" At a meeting of the Board of Directvrs
of the Grand River Navigation Company of
ihis dace it was
-ORDERED
" That the first steamboat of not less
than fifteen horse power that shall plv on
the Grand River, from Dunnvilla to the
head of the navigation when opened, shall
be allowed to pass toll free through the
locks of this navigation as long as she shall
ply thereon,"
The same privilege was also to be
extended to the two tirsi covered barges
costing not less than ^'1,000 that passed
through The advertisunicui was signed
" By order of the Board, Jame.s Little, Sec-
retary."
Three steamboats, the Sir James Kempt,
the Broekville and the Kingston, were in
this i>eason plying between I'rescott and the
r>ay of Quinte, touching at HoUowell both
up and down.
A steamer known as the Thomas McKay
plied between liUiebec anil Bytowu (Ottawa)
in this year, liut her journeys appear to
have bei n somewhat spasmoiiic.
In the tamo season wo tiud between To-
ronto aud Hamilton the Britannia, under
Captain Ilerchmer, Shu had been built in
lvinL;.-;ton and wa'i of 200 tons burden.
The steamer William IV. was in tiie
season of I S36 placed under the command of
Cupiiin Uilliard, who has been previously
meutiuned as the captain of the Broekville
on the Hay of t,Hiinie.
The Kingston Chronicle of an early date,
in May, I8.'<tt, i^peaks of the steamer ilytown,
ruu ing fioin ls.i:i;,'iion to By town. (Ottawa)
also of the Li'.laracjui, bt'loniriug to the
0..tawa and Kidcaa Canal Forwarding Com-
j.any. as having just been hiuiiulioil. This
vusricl was under Captain Chambers. The
same company had two other steamers on
the route between Bytowu and Montreal,
namely, the Ottawa an i the Shannon.
T'le following advertisement appears in
the Toronto Courii r of '.'ay 'iSth :
" CUTTER FOR SALE.
" The well-known (iovernment built cutter,
Bull Frog, about 40 tons burthen, witti all
her running aud standing rigging connilete,
aud in good sailing order, will t)e sold very
low for cash or approved endorsed notes fcr
half the purchase nionev. For particulars
apply to " BURK E & 0' N K 1 Ll,
" Toronto. '
Another advertisement, relating to the
navigation of the h.ke, appears in the same
paper on August 18th, It tells us that :
M2
LANDM^SRKS 0¥ TORONTO.
" The well-knowu steamboat Oiwego.Cap-
tain Malcolm, and Oneid , Captain Smith,
will ply daily (Sundays excepted) between
Osweto and Lewistoo, in connectioa with
the ataamer Transit, Captain RichardsoD,
raaning from Lewiston and Niagara every
morning to Toronto. Travellers who take
passage on board laid boats will arrive in
Toronto by nuon next day and st the low
fare of 94 '50 from Oswego."
It will be seen from this notioe that a
change has been made in the command of the
Oswego, it being transferred from Captain
Homans to Malcolm.
KINfiSTOf* NAVAL STORKS.
On June 27th, 1836, there was a gre*t
public sale ot naval stores at Kingston Dock
Yard. Resides stores of every imaginable
kind need in ship building the sale included
one frigate, in frame, 56 guns ; one ship,
in frame, 22 guns ; one bri^r, in frame, 14
KUBS, and one schooner, in frame, <f 4
j;nna ; also the Cockburn schooner, 70 tons,
paid off in 1834. with her masts and spars ;
also the Hull Frog, tender of 60 tons, with
her sails and rigging in store ; also ton gun
boats in good condition, " as f^r as they
are finished," to quote the exact words
of the advertisement, besides " one old
schooner and four old ships of war
lying aground on the mud in thu harbour,"
to again quote the same source. But besides
this df:cidedly miscellaneous collection
there were twelve boats new, and in use,
from 14 to 32 teet, chiefly built of the best
rock elm, and in addition were offered for
sale six tire engines, three in good repair ;
the other three the advertisement contents
itself by describing as " repairable," which
was a strictly noii-commitlal statement.
1 he papers of thj day give no information
how this sale resulted. There was no alter-
ation made for the season of 1836 *n the
sailing arrangements of the Great Britain
and United States from that which o -
tained in 1835, and their respective com-
manders were unchanged. I'liere was,
though, a small steamer, subsidiary to them,
running from Prescott to the head of the
Long Sault rapids, called the Dolphin. She
does not appear to have been a vessel of any
pretensions.
The Montreal Gazette of June 2Sth hat
this brief advertisement :
'* For sale, the new steamboat Toronto,
forty-five horse power, and ihe Lady .\\1-
mer steamboat. Anply to A. T. Hart,
Three Rivers."
These were probably small river steamers
running to Montreal. The first named of
them must not be connected with the boat
of the same name, which has already been
mentioned as having been built in Toronto.
Under the heading " Port Credit For-
warding Bosiness," on July 6th, Captain
jQha Moaier acquaints his friendf and tba
paUio that he has established himialf at
tha iMW and thriving village at the month
of the rivar Credit for the purpose of car-
ry ng oa the forwai aiug business in all its
branches. He respectfully seliciu pa-
tronage, and in doing so adds the assurance
that all biuiness entrusted to his charge
will be promptly and carefully attended to.
1 n the Torouto Courier of tiio same date,
and side by side with Captain Mosier's ad-
vertisement, is another announcing that the
schooner Adelaide, of 120 tons. Captain
J. Atkinson, will sail from Toronto for Pun-
etanguishene. Kettle Creek, Amherstburg,
Sandwich or Goderich, on or aboat July
15th or 20th. Intending passengers were
to apply to James Browne, Esq., Toronto,
or to the master on board. There is some-
thing delightfully vague in the announce-
ment " on or about the 15th" ; a day or so
either way appears to have been of no mo-
ment.
The Peter Robinson was on Li.ke Simcoe
this as in the preceding season. There is
a reference made to her in the announce-
ment of a pleasure trip across Lake
Huron, contained in the Toronto Courier
of July 23rd, which states that tbe steamer
Penetau4!uishene will leave the port of the
same name on August 9ih for the Grand
Manitoulin and St. Joseph Islands, lie
Sault Ste Marie and Michillimackinac,
stopping a day or two at each place, return-
ing by the same route to the port of de-
parture. That was purely pleasure. The
business-like part of the excursion is shewn
in the concluding paragraph of tho ad-
vertisement with its peremptory statement
that intending excursionists will be ri-
quired to leave Holland Landing in the
steamboat Peter Hobmsou, on Monday
niorning, August 8th, at 8 o'clock.
In the Toronto Courier of August 20tii,
is a notification of the intended sale by
auction on the .SOth of tliu same month liy
James M. Strange, at his rooms on Yon>;fl
street, of the schooner Plough Boy and tiie
sloop .Martin Van Ruren, they having beeti
condemned for otfences a^'ainst the revenue
laws. These two vessels were probably
both American smugglers. Among their
cargo s was not only " a large quan-
tity of Young Hyson tea," but also
" one barrel of whiskey and seven boxes
of segars."
On September 3rd Sir Francis Bond Head,
the newly appointed Lieutenant-Governor
of Upper Canada, returned to Torouto
from a short tour in the eastern divison of
the province in the steamer Great Britain,
it For-
CapUin
and tb«
DMlf ftt
e month
of car-
1 all ita
ciu p*-
Muranoe
I charge
inded to.
,1110 ilate«
■ior's ad-
; that the
Captain
> for Fen-
lerstburg,
loul •July
;arB were
Toronto,
B is some-
annouuce-
i Jay or so
)f no ino-
.ke Simcoo
There ia
announce-
OSS Lake
ito Covrier
tbe steamer
K>rt of the
the Grand
sUnds, iio
Umackinac,
[ace, relurn-
lort of de-
^sure. 'I'he
[on is shewn
|of the ad-
statement
.ill be r>-
ling in the
n Monday
tk.
.ugust 20th,
led sale by
_ month by
IS on Yon>;e
.loy and tlie
Ihaviiij; been
,l»e revenue
•c probably
^mon« their
large quau-
but also
seven boxes
I Bond Head,
(int-Governor
to Toronto
l-n divison of
teat Britain,
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
a<3
taking up bU quarters at Uovernment
House.
In the Toroato Countr of September 17th,
copied from the Detroit Advertistr of the
previoua August 27th, ia a paragraph to the
effeet that the editor of that paper had
heard from Uaptahi Robioaon, of the steamer
Ueneral Gratiot, that a schooner of thirty
tons burden, without color or name, and
containing a crew of twenty-three persons
armed with pistole, dirks ad muskets, was
taken in the St. Clair Kiver under strong
suspicion of having piratical intentions. Re-
ferring further to these men the Detroit
paper says " they were all ornamented with
huge moustaches, and were commiiiided by
onu whom they called General Dixon."
A raVORITR niSAPPEABS
The Provincial Parliament assembled early
in 18.37, and on .March i22nd ibe Hamilton
Gazelle gives a long lisi> of Bills which bad
passed daring the session. Among those
relating to the proviucial marine there were
as follows: — "The Acts incorporatin.; the
Grafton Harbor Company, providing for
the survey of the Ottawa River ; granting a
loan to the South Harbor Company, Nta
gara, and also to a similar company at Gan-
anoque ; Acts compelling vessels to carry a
light at night, and also for the improvement
of the navigation of the River Trent ; also
incorporating the company of the Port Dar
lington harbor ; enabling the Canada Com-
pany to erect a harbor at Goderioh ; incor-
TUK STKAMKR U.NITKD STATES.
The steamers on the lake throughout the
season of 1836 comprised among them the
Traveller, Transit, Britannia, Hamilton,
Great Britain, Canuda, Commodore Barrie,
Cobourg and Oakville : on the Bay of Quinte
the Sir James Kempt, Brockville and Kini,'-
ston ; on Lake Simcoe the Peter Robinson,
and making occasional trips on Lake Huron
was the Penetanguishene. In addition to
these there were the American steamers we
have more than ouca mentioned, namely,
the Oswego, Oneida and United States, in
the following year, 1837, several other
steamers were added to the now rapidly in-
creasing fleet. They were the Sir Robert
Peel, of 350 tons ; the Queen Victoria, of
20C tons, and the E>;periment, of 150 tone.
More will be said of these presently.
porating the Beverly Navigation Company,
the Forr Erie Canal Company ; and several
Acts authorizing loans to various towns to
enable them to perfect their harbor^i or com-
plete the erection of lighthouses.
The schooner Britannia, forming a portion
of the estate of William Crooks, of Niagara,
deceased, was offered for sale on March 23rd
by his executors. Beyond the fact that she
was at the time of sale lying in Oakville,
there is no further information given coa-
cerning her.
The Traveller in 1837, Captain Jamea
Sutherland, made two trips a week between
Rochester, Cobourg, Port Hope and To-
ronto, and between Hamilton, Toronto, Port
Kage and Cobourg. The Britannia, n«
longer under Captain Hercbmer, but under
.Sc,
m
1 if'S
I'
■ t '■■
m
ft.
804
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
William Colclon^'U, ran daily bftween To-
ronto and fliuniltoti, calling oiw:h wriy ut
Port Credit, Oukvi le and liuriiii^ton liiiv.
The Hamilton (iazetfr on April I'.Uli rtli im
to the lake ntcamcra and to their routes iii;d
commanders for tb« aeaaon then commonc-
int;:— The William IV., Captain Hilliard,
was to Hail from I'rcsctjtt to Toronto. The
(ireal iJritain, Captiin Whitney, continued
the 8ame route as in iMItii. The Commutlote
liarrie, Captain lierchn:er, did likRwiso
Thu ( oltourg wad commiiiideil thi-i suaaon
by I aptiiin Harper, K. N., la e of the St.
(•forgo. The latter was under charge of her
former purser. These vessels ran from I'res-
cott to Toronto in conjunc'.ion with one
another during the Roai<un.
Ilio Sir .lumcs Kempt i.nd lirockvillo.
fiiplain (aider, continued to run from Pros-
colt 10 the Hay of (^'iiiiile. I ho Transit,
Captain Kichankon, was betweii Toronto
and Niagara Captain Kichardton'a former
sti'atiier, the Canada, ha i now been finally
wivilrawn from service on the lai.o
I>uring her futire career, with tiie excep-
tion of i.ne scA'-.on. when .she ran irom
Oswfg) to Kingston, she had been on the
Niagara route. Her end came through
rnniiiiig ashore near ().«wego, wucu aiic was
wrecked and fitially broken up.
1,1(;1IT UOISK COMMISSIONKUS.
()i) April (lili tlio Vppi'r ('{(iindn Gn~.rUf.
Hni)uunc('d lliat his K.xcellency the Lit;Uleii-
ani (iovernor had been plcasctl to u|)pciiit
William Chishoha, George Chalmer;), and
Merrick Thomas, Ks<|uiri3, to bo conunitt-
sioDcrs for tlie erection of a lighlhoiisu at
Oakville ; Colin C. FeiTJe and M'lmoiid
Kuchie, E,i(juiic.s, to completo the llurling-
ton Cauiil ; also to be conuiiis.siouors, under
an .'.ct j)a.sscd in tlio previous scosion, the
Honorable Z. lUirnrii.m, (!. S. lloulton,
Alex. .\:cn')nell, .\. .S i'Vascr, and K-iVitrt
Jame-i^on. K^i|iiir' -, to im[)ri)vc the naviga-
tion of the ini Ji.i water.^ of thu district of
^."owca.stle ; also William >-owtic;>, .John T,
William;, aiul Wiliiiun Ow.stoii, l\i(ittirea,
for tiic erection of a li;' lit house on (j nil
I-Ianil ; tinallv, Major lionnyi i.stie, \\ il-
liaii! Henry I'rajicr, and flugli Richardson,
Esiiuire.s, • comini sionera for the improve-
ment of the haibor of Toronto.
The Hamiilan Hii-rtU of May lOlh pub-
li!<lie.s the followiii_' pai:r.:rap cxtr.n 1 d
fiom the Cobourg Sim- : — " Rico Lake— The
stciimboat. .Sir F. i'>. Head (formerly the
Noi\huml)orland) will commence running in
a few daj^a. She i.s intended to perform the
trip I/O Sully and back every day (Sundays
excepted). The Pen adash has also been
fitted at great expense by Mr. W . IJo-swell,
and will be ready in a few days for the
sail e route."
Capt. James Sutherland, vf the 1 raveller,
has already b> n mentioiinu several times,
and there are uwt many men now living in
Toronto who can look buck twenty-fivt or
thirty years or more without calling to
mind (hii popular, gooil, '^r^jst and
thorough uamao, (although llufT in \\'n
demeanor). Ho came to this country
shortly before the rebellion of 18.37
A OALLANT .<4AIM)K.
lie navigated the (irst steamship (the Uni-
corn) ac;ross the ocean to Quebec. He waa
also Ml the liud.son l>ay service, ami was
placed in command, shortly after his arrival
in Canada, of the steamer Traveller, which,
in XS'.Vt. and some years following, ran
between Hamilton and I'rcscott, uud tluring
the rebellion carried troops to ditl'erent
points on lake and river, in 1840 h<; waa
placed in command of the new steamer,
Niagara, (name afterwards chan|;ed to
Sovereign). She was a fast veusel for those
days, and was {)lae^d in the lino of Royal
Mail steamers, in lh42 Capt. .lohn Elmslev
and Donald liethunu, Kf({ , purchased tho
Soveruiirn from fton. .Ino. naudlton, and
Capt Elmsley eommaiidcd her. Cnpt.
Sutherland was ttien placed in command
of the St. tiuorjjo, a good, staunch aea Ixiat,
but inferior and slower than the Sovereign
Tliis chantfc wa.« not agrtnablu to him, par-
ticularly as ho freipiently .-utfered the morti-
fication of .seeing his toriiier nhjp paaa liiin
on the route up the lake. The St Georg'i
Was f)n the direct route b i wcon Kini.'aton
and Niagara, and il occa^ioll^llv liap])ene(l
that the Soverei^'u also left ou her trip from
Kingston to Toronto nearly an hour after
the >t. (I.'orge had started on her upward
trip, and it was on one of these occisiou.^
thai, (apt,. .Suti;cr:and cam'' out with one oi
his i|U.'er siyiii,;.!. Whin lli; ."'t.iieorge wa !
olt" liic '■ l)ukr>,'' ai.Muit tv.ciityfi'.'o mib' ^
west of Kingston, Uie Sovcreijrn w as ol'svr v ;
som" dista, ' a-.siern, but ove^ :akini; \\.v.
.Si (leorgo ra()idly and woidd souii pa. is hiv.
Suthcrhuul r)aoed tiio deck, now and lluii
casting tii s eves on lheai)proat:iiiM j ." iivcreign.
iiis mate said to him, " Capiuin. hero
comes the ^over^'igu aficr u^" Suthor
land lookod astern a ain, and liitchii. '
up his tr.ousers, .-ailor tasldon, said witn
a sort of grin, •' So elie is after us, ;.;
she ? \Vell, we wdl soon pay her oti' in
her own coin, and ix? afti r licr shortly.'
T!ie writer calls to mind jn.-.l uow, aiiotlnu'
of Capt. Sutherland's characteristic remark.-,
and many more might be aihled if fuUy re
jnemberedL One of his avbin waiters was
quite a clever musician, and peiformed very
well on the cornopian, he bavin;; been r
bandsman in one of the regiments stationed
at Toronto. On certain occasions, \\h' \
i ill
LANDMARKS OF TOROMO.
865
■oUer,
lintuH,
iiig tD
iv« or
UK to
t anil
in Itn
owutry
1837
ifl tnl-
nil was
) arrival
, wUiuh,
infj, ia»
A ilunni;
ditTerent
111.' wns
atcAmor,
vnpeJ to
lor those
of Uoyal
[J Elmslcv
tued tl>t3
Iton, iknd
Cftpt-
I aea linat.
Sovevyitlii
( him, par-
the mortt-
pftw him
f,% Georj;'!
KinL'dtDii
hapi>«n*='^
Uii' from
hour after
icr upward
occasiou-
nith one oi
ieoi'S^e wai
y.fivo mil'"'
ftsoi'sofv-i
•akini: tin;
uii piV.id hi'V-
anil thini
, r-ovcreig"'
nii.in. hi-r:
Suthei-
.i„l hitchu. -'
saiil Willi
after us, : :
ivy her oti li
ler ahortly-
uow, au<>ili"i
i^tic remark ,
,a if {»Uy i«
^^■ailer3 wii^
iiforuied very
..vin;; l>«en '^
ents statioue'l
casious, wl'' •
learin^ or arriving in port, this munici m
would trout the piMML>ii),'or< to somo popular
uir. Onu day, as the vuasel, the Niagara,
was approaching port he went forward to
the wheoliiuuat, where Capt Sutherland
stood, bringing the steamer to the wharf,
and commenced playing some lively air.
The Captain appeared annoyed, and said to
him, in not very complimentary language :
" I say there, stop blowing that horn of
yours, you land lubber, and boar a haud in
hauling in the slaoic of that bow line." The
poor performer was frighU-ned out of his
wita, and made direct for the cabin to hilo
his uiortifRatioii at the abrupt termination
of his favourite melody.
TIIK STRAMER MACNKT.
Capt Sutherland's groat di'.-<ira was t«
<<ail a stcamnr of bis own, and it was not
long before his ambition was fully
gratitiad. VN'ith the assistance of his friends
he went to Scotland, aiut contracted with
n Clyde firm to model and supply ma-
terials for au iron steamer for the ser-
vice ol the lake. The British Oovora-
mont took a large nroportioii of the stock,
with the view ^ < iig her in the event of
war with the Stains, but otherwise not to
have snv control over the vessel. -lie was
modoli j4 oil the Clyde, and afterwards put
toffether at Niagara by James and Xoil
Currie, the latter of whom bow residei in
this city (1893). She was called the
Magnet, was a great succ^se, and is still as
j^ood as over, a now holler and a new
(lecii haying been supplied. ('apt. Sataur-
land commanded her for many yours,
but he was killed with nnnv others on
March l*i, 1857, at that dreadful railway
horror in crossing the Desjardins Canal
ou their way from To;o:ito to Hn.m-
il on. The writer was at the Grand
Trunk depot when the train left, nnd
aaw many acquaintances there on their
departure, including Capt. Sutherland.
The news of the disaster received shortly
aftar filled all Toronto with Uismay, at-
tended as it was with many most painful
cireumatancea. Capt. Sutherland and Mr.
Zimmerinan we're together on the samo
seat, aitd were b tti mstantly killed, and
many others Capt. Henry Twohy, well
known in Toronto, bad a narrow e^icape ;
he want down to see Capt. Sctherland off,
and he coodented to accompany Sutherland
to HamiltoQ, aod aeto&Uy toolc his scat
beside him for that objeefc, wImb suddenly
he said : " On reflection, I will postpone
my trip, as I have sonethiDg to do at hooM."
So he shook hands with bis friends, and
bad only just time to leave the train.
Twohy afterwards told the writer that
as ho sat with Satherland talking, a
feeling came over him that he should not
leave Toronto then. He said it looked like
a presentiment of evil. Of course, the
death of a man so well and favour-
ably l:»>«-»n as Captain Sutherland,
particularly in the sudden and unexpected
manner in which it occurred, would cauis
J;reat sorrow, and deep, heartfelt sympathy
or hia wife and family.
RATKS AND l)|TR!t— STORMS.
The Commissioners appointed by the Lieu-
tenant-(fOvurnor under Act of Parliament to
superintend the completion of (iull fblanl
Light House, advertised in the Cobour^',
Kingston and Toronto newspapers in June
for tcndert for this purpose. The.io are
the conditions under which proposals tiy
contract were to he given in :
1st. — Ihe plaiLs and specifications are alone
to be the rule » * 'naking proposal.si.
2d. — Contractors an make at tiieir own
expense all bo its, skews, wharfs and
machinery cf wliatsoever kind *'hat may
be reiiuirr t for cntiiplatir!.' Uie work,
also to au. .tin upon tlir o«n re^iion.si-
bility, all risk, injury or damai^e of every
kind, sort or dusc ;iti<>n that may oc-
cur to the V;;ka from the comiiunice
mcnt to d.ijir civapletion.
3d. — Those Wiio '.,'ive 'i proposals are re-
quired to tiiid rompetont security ii<i
the proper and due pcrforniaiicu of 'h'.
contract.
t^ The editors of theCobourg .'^tnr,K'mgi-
ton CVi/'uJ/di. a/('< (/»':♦:'/«', and Pan-'o/ New^•
pM.purs, are n;((U03ted to give the above tv \
insertions in (lieir respective papers at their
earliest opportunities.
The Coljour;; Ular of August 2nd, ISIJT,
uoDes the arrival there on Friday, July
2Sth, of tlie new sitoamhoat Sir Kohcrt I'eel
from Oswego on her first trip up tiio lake.
The paper remarks concerning this ves.sel
that :
" She is ftltottether of novel con-triio-
tiou, being built for speed, of remarkable
length and narrow in the beam so &s to draw
but littlo water, (only four feet as she lay
at the wharf,) and preicnts the least pos-
sible resistance in her passa e tlirough it"
The paper goes on to say that the vessel
was tastefully fitted up, *' entirely for the
accominouation of passengers, and is in-
tended, we understand, to touch regularly
here on her passage to aud from 0.swe;,'o,
Kingston, tie, every week, on the above-
nan. .':d days. The Honorable Judge Jones,
of Urockville, and a large party of frienda
were on board, who, with her commander.
Captain Bury, formerly in the Kaac India
service, report most favorably of iier sailing
qiulities. They represent her as beini;
wholly free from the disagreeable jar of the
lii».!5
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i ■•■^1
1 :u-
: ! -. i.
il
;l
■! ■■ 'ty
866
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
im
m
engine common to other boats ; and at the
fiime time anticipate from her &' ipe that
6he will prove a great deal faster."
On July 29th tenders were inrited by the
commissioners, Messrs. D. Campbell, Thomas
Reid and Bernard McMahon, from expe-
rienced contractors for the erection of a
I.i);ht House at Presqu 'Isle Point, and it
IS at the same time notified that " good
; nd sufficient security will be required
'or the due performance of the contract."
A storm of great violence swept Lake
()ntario in the early days of August, the
schooner Union, of I'ort Hope, being wholly
wrecked ; her crew succeeded in reaching
land safely. The passengers of the Cobourg,
wlio were also expo ed to the fury of this
terrible storm, published a card of thanks
10 Captain >larpcr iu which they expressed
" their warm admiration of his intrepidity
and able miuiageinent on so trying an oc-
'iision, as well as of their entire confidence
111 the qualities of the boat itself."
The following Order-iu Council, respect-
ing vessels frequenting Toronto harbor, was
issued on September 7th :
IN COUNCIL
IT IS ORDERKD by His Excellency the
I.ieutenant-iJovernor-in-Council, that the
following Schedule of Rates and Regulations
Ik; adopted ; and all persons whom the
]jiemisesmay conceru are required to conform
thsniselvcs thereto.
JOHN BRIKIE,
Clerk Kxecutire Council.
SCHEDULE OF RATES to be joUectod
upon cargoes of vessels coming into the
port of Toronto, ami unladen within the
same, for the purpose of I'aising a tuud for
ilefrayiii^ tht; principiil and intercRt of the
sum of £'2,()0i), granted for the construc-
tion of improvements in the harbor of To-
rcnto, viz : —
Merchaiidi.se, per ton, weight or measure-
ment, per liill of lading 10;1.
I'iofir, p-r l);uT(fil Id.
Pork, do do l!d.
Allies, do do ,'iil
Salt, do do Id.
Siicep hiul pif,'s, each Id.
( ider or apples, ])er barrel Id
Whiskey, ikt barrel .. '2d.
Wood, jier cord .Id.
liorees and horned cattle, each 4d.
All masters of vessels, or persons haviui;
I'hargo thereof, on their arrival at the port
of Toronto, with an intention of landing any
part of thfiir cargo, shall deliver, on demand,
to the Collector ot Customs, or his Deputy,
a manifest uf the merchandise so to fc«
landed, signed by the master of su;;h vessel,
or the person having charge thereof, which
manifest shall be an authority to the said
Collector, or his Deputy, fer receiving from
the captains of the respective vessels the
amount of rates apportioned as above, for
the payment of which the said captains
shall satisfy the Collector or his Deputy, be-
fore the removal of sail articles from
the wharf or pier upon which the same may
be landed.
The abore rates, together with the
regulations relative thereto, to take
etlect from the thirteenth day of Septem-
jl^r, 1S37. and all persons concerned to be
governed thereby, under the penalties im-
posed by the Provincial Statute, 3rd Wil-
liam IV., chapter 3'2
SCHEDULE OF RATES to be collected at
the port of Toronto, for wharfage on articles
landed from on board of vessels or other
crafts lying under, and protected by, the
pier erected for the benefit of the harbor
at Toronto, under authority of an Act of the
Provincial Legislature, pas^^ed iu the third
session of the eleventh Parliament, viz : —
Merchandise, per ton, weight or measure-
ments,as per bill of lading £ 0
Flour, per barrel 0
Pork, do do 0
Ashes, do do 0
Salt do do 0
Lumber, per thousand feet, for
every forty-eikjht hours 0
Double Waggon and Horses 0
Sin ;le Waggon and Horses 0
Horses and Horned Cattle, each. .. U
Cider and Apples, per barrel 0
Whiskey, per barrel 0
Woed, per cord 0
Stone, per toise 0
The above to become payable before
breaking bulk.
Each passenger's baggage, not
exceeding a cart, single horse
load 0
For every steamer touching at the
pior 0
For every schooner touching at
pier 0 '2 ij
For each s ea-ner winterine at the
new works 2 10 0
For each schooner, above 50 tons. . 1 u 0
For each schooner, under 50 tons
and above 10 0 12 6
The above rates to become payable oi;
the i;jth instant ; and all owners oi vesseKs,
or masters thereof, will hold tiieniselves
liable for the settlement of the said dues to
the Collector of the Customs of the port of
Toionto, or some person deputed by liim,
in such manner as he may prescribe, uiuKt
the penalties for non-performivnce, estab-
lUhedby 3rd William IV.,|chap. 32.
The steamers on the lake ceased runniiip;
I for the season of 1837 ou November 'JlUli,
.>
1!
0
2
0
3
0
!)
0
2
2
0
2
()
1
li
1
0
0
2
0
3
0
:\
6
0 8
0
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
867
[ from
is tbe
B, for
ptkin*
by, be-
from
i« may
ih the
> take
jeptem-
l to be
ities im-
Ird Wil-
lected at
I articles
jr other
by, the
e harbor
Vet of the
the third
viz :—
measure-
t 0 •: »i
0 0 -i
0 0 3
0 0 0
. 0 0 '2
r
0 2 0
0 2 f)
■ 0 1 *J
■ 0 1 '»
0 0 '2
0 0
0 0 3
0 7 0
re
not
rae
the
at
the
19. .
tons
0 0 8
0
0
'2
I
'2 b
10
5
0
It
G
.. 0 1-2
payahlc on
,_tB lit vessels,
\A themxclves
: said dues to
f the port of
,uted by him,
escribe, mid»;r
mivnce, estal'-
ap. 3'2.
ciuscd runnin;:
[ovember '26il'.
winter having set in
great severity.
The Experiment,
her first trip from
on Jnly 4th. 1837,
early and with' very
Captain Dick, made
Hamilton to Toronto
where ehe continue .
running under the same commanding offi-
cer for the rest of the season.
The Burlington, which had been built
at Oakville and launched there on June
10th, also made her firsk trip early in
Jnly, under Captain John Gordon, .she
ran daily from Dnodas to Hamilton and
Toronto.
There was another severe storm on the
lake at the end of October. The steamer
Bytown was totally wrecked at Kingston
The Commodore Barrie narrowly escaped
• similar fate, but lost one of her paddles,
while the Cohourg ran ashore on a sand-
bar at Ferris' Point, eigiit miles from
Kingston.
MRS. hoodie's EXPBRIK.VCE.
A sketch of travelling on the lakes in
1833 is given us in the charming volume,
"Roughing it in the Hush," written by that
delic;htful authoress Susanna Moodie just
forty years ago. Mrs. Moodie, describing
the journey of herself and husband from the
lower to the upper province says : — " Our
journey during the first day was performed
partly by coach, partly by steam. It was
nine o'clock in the evening when we landed
at Cornwall and took coach for Prescott.
There we embarked on board a fine new
steamboat William 4th, crowded with Irish
emi(;rantB proceeding to Cobourg and Tor-
onto. At Brockville we took in a party of
ladies, which somewhat relieved the
monotony of the cabin, and I was amused
by listening to their lively prattle and the
little gossip with which they strove to wile
away the tedium of the voyage. The day
was too stormy to go upon deck— thunder
and lightning accompanied with torrents of
rain. Amid the confusion of the elements
1 tried to get a peep at the Lake of the
Thousand Isles ; but the driving storm
hUndcd all objects into one, and I returned
wet and disappointed to my berth. We
passed Kingston at midnight, and lost all
our lady passengers but two. The gale con-
tinued until daybreak, and noise and confu-
sion prevailed all nii;ht. The following day
was wet and ('loomy, the storm had pro-
tracted the length of our voyage for several
hours, and it was midnight when we landed
at Cobourg. "
Mrs. Moodie hat a singuiar mode of ex-
pressing herself when she refers to Lake
Ontario. Instead of speaking of it as it has
just been mentioned, she, referring to a
troablesome passenger says : — " He kept up
such ., racket that we all wished him at the
bottom of ' the Ontario.' " Again she writes :
— " On the 9th September the ateamlMat
William IV. landed us at the then small but
rising town on * the Ontario.' "
It is possible that at the time Mrs. Moodie
wrote, it was customary in some parts of
Upper Canada so to speak of the lake, but
if it wrts, it is strange no other author of
any eminence cotemporary with that gifted
authoress does so.
CHAPTER CCXLII.
The Rebellion ^f IWXt 38 — BvenU •■ tke
liAkeit— Captains Drew and Arnold— The
Capture of the Caroline.
In the early days of Deeember, 1837, oc-
curred at Toronto the first outbreak of the
Canadian rebellion, which was speedily
crushed in that portion of the province.
Thougii such ^ras the case, a number of the
insurgents betook themselves to a small
island, well covered with trees, in the Niagara
river, almost opposite the then v Uage,
now town, of Chippawa, about three miles
above the Falls, called Navy Island.
Here thiy were under the command of
William Lyon Mackenzie and an American
named Van Reunselaer. Their design was
the invasion of Canada by the lake.
Mackenzie had formed what he called a
Provisional (iovernment, and there is no
doubt that he and his followers thought
th y would be able to effect a landing on the
Canadian shore.
It was an absolute necessity though, for
the success of such an enterprise, that these
self-styled " Patriots" should secure the
services of a ri /er steamer. Fortune favors
the brave, it is said In this instance
it c rtainly favored the foolhardy. Im
bedded in the ice, near HutTalo, was
just such a vessel as they required. iSlie
is described as "a little steamer of forty-
six tons, called the Caroline, belonging
to one William Wells, of Bnffalo, and origin-
ally constructed by the man afterwards
known as Commodore V nderbilt." The
own r was only too pleased to hire out
his boat, but he had an eye to possible
loss : so, before the " Patriots" could
obtain possession of the steamer, they were
oblitjed to find a sufficient guarantee to
Wells that he should be protected against
any loss in case his vescel should be cap-
tured or destroyed. After events showed
the prudence of Mr. Wells in adopting
this precaution. The guarantee asked was
forthcoming, and the Caroline plac d under
the command of a resident in Bnffalo,
Gilman Appleby, who had been a sailor
upon the lake.* On December 28th the
steamer reached Navy Island, and imme-
diately began the transport thith<rT frbm
i i
I I
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LANDMi&RKS OF TORONTO.
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th« American side of supplies and munitions
of war, among whicii was included a
■mall cannon. These proceedings at once
became known to the troops on the Caua-
dian shore, who were under the command
of Colonel Macnab. It was deemed im-
portant, saya a trustworthy authority,
*' to know all that could be learned, in view
of a possible attempt to atilize the steamer
to land the fillibusters on the Canadian
shore. Two men were despatched in a
small open boat to watch the Caroliu 's
movements and to report the same to the
Colonel in command. One of these was
Captain Andrew Drew, an officer in the
Royal Navy, who had recently been en-
trusted with the direction of the (Cana-
dian) naval department." The other was
the Deputy Sheriff of the Niagara District,
Alexander McLeod. Regardless of danger,
they proceeded in a small boat round Navy
Island, until they obtained a view of the
river's eastern channel. There they per-
ceived the Caroline at anchor, apparently
laid ap for the night. On their return
journey they were fired at several times
and their boats injured, but they them-
selves escaped unscathed. As soon as they
made their report to Colonel Macnab, it was
decided by him that coute qui coute the
steamer must not only be cap ured but
destroyed, and that this must be effected at
night. On the following day, December
29th, the Caroline continued the proceedings
of the previous day, and the Patriots kept
up a fire of musketry on the Canadian
troops also. Loud murmurs were heard
among the oliicers of the militia at what
they considered the inactivity of Colonel
Macnab, but before the day closed they
became aware that their commanding otiicer
was fully alive to the exigencies ot the situa-
tion. As soon as it was dark preparations be-
gan to be made for the expedition which was
under command of Captain Draw and con-
sisted of seven boats, each one holding eight
men, besides the officer in command. It is
all but impossible to say who the officers
were, each having charge of a boat, no
two Authorities agreeing ou the subject. The
orders given to Captain Drew were short
and peremptory, " to take and destroy the
Caroline wherever he could tind her."
Tho flotilla got away from Chippewa and
reached the Caroline about midnight. When
within a dozen yards of the fated vessel they
were perceived by the sentry, who, in re-
sponse 1 3 his challenge, was told by the
party they were " Friends." The sentmel
then asked for the countersign, and on re-
ceiving the decidedly ambiguous answer
from Captain Drew, " I will give it you
when I get on board," was aware that his visi-
tors meant hostilities. He instantly alarmed
the rest of the crew, but it w as too late.
The Caroline was taken possession of
without, as one historian puts it, "anything
deserving the name o' a serious conflict."
The crew and passengers, thirty-three in
all, were literally driven out at the point of
thssword;and though one or two of the
former showed iight and succeeded in
wounding Lieutenant McCormick and two
more of their assailants, the whole perform-
ancs did not occupy many minutes.
Once the Canadians had possession of
the vessel it was soon decided what to do
with her. She was to be burnt and allowed
to drift as she was burning down the stream
and go over the .. alls. She was set fire to
by Captain Richard Arnold who lived in
Toronto for many years afterwards, and
died there on June 18th, 1884. No living
soul was on board her, and before she
reached the cataract she went to pieces,
only fragments of her going down the
mighty sheet of water. An amusing ac-
count of the Rebellion is given in a parody
on " John Gilpin," published in 1838, W.L.
Mackenzie supplying the place of John
Gilpin. The verses relating to the destruc-
tion are as follows : —
Rennselaer then took th" command
Of those degraded wretches.
For some had neither coat nor hat.
And some not even breech' s.
To Navy Island then they went,
And there made a great splutter —
A constitution printed otf.
And many threats did utter.
Alas ! for Yankee modesty.
It really is quite shocking,
Some ladies made the retuls shirts.
And some, too, sent them stocking.
Of many acts, which by our men
Right gallantly were done,
I've spun my verse to such a length
I can relate but one.
And that the very gallant act
Of Captain Andrew Drew,
Whose name must be immortalized—
Likewise his daring crew.
A Yankee steamer oft had tried
The rebels aid to briog.
This English seaman swore that he
Would not allow the thini;.
The captain and his gallant crew,
Whos»! names I wot not all.
From ijchlosaer cut the steamboat oat.
And sent her o'er the Fall .
Oh then the Yankees stormed outright,
And spoke of reparation.
A p^'choy flsme then rose through this
Tobacco- chewing nation.
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LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
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870
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
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Captain Draw's exploit was rapturously
applauded throughout Uppar Canada, and
in the following April, when the St. George's
Soeiety of Toronto dined together as usual
oD the evening of the 23rd, the toast of the
*' Royal NaTy" was received with great en-
thuBiasm. It was responded to by Captain
Marryatt, the famous novelist, who, after
he had returned thanks for the honor done
to him in couplins; his name with the toast
proposed, gave, as an additional volunteer
toast, " Captain Drew and bis brave
comrades who out out the Caroline." The
gallant Captain's proposal was received with
loud acclamations.
END OF THE REBELLION.
For the next four or five months there were
no naval events of any consequence in con-
nection with the rebellion ; but, on the
29th of May, an occurrence took place in
the upper part of the St. Lawrence, at a
place called Wells' Island, which caused
quite as much exoitemeot as the burning
of the Caroline. It was there that the
British steamboat. Sir Robert Peel, was
seized by an arriiod band of men, between
thirty and forty in number, under a braggart
named William Johnson, who had blackened
their faces' and in other ways disfigured
themselves for that purpose. After plun-
dering the boat and ill-treating the pas-
sengers, among whom were several ladies,
they took the vessel out into the river, set
her on fire, and burned her to the waters'
edge. There were about eighty passengers,
who saved scarcely an article. A Mr.
Holdttch, of Port RoberUon, lost |6,000,
and Captain Bullock, of the Neptune, was
also a heavy loser.
In the following November took place
what is always known as the Hattle
of the Windmill. A number of despera-
does on board the steamer United Skates
and the two schooners Charlotte, of To-
ronto, and Charlotte, of Oswego, attempted
to invade Canada at Prescott. The pro-
ject tailed utterly, and also resulted in
serious loss of life among the invaders.
Ihe notorious Johnson was again to the
fore, he having oommand of one of the
two schooners. In this engagement the
following lake steamer*, which had been
armed in consequence of the rebellion,
played an active part. They were the Ex-
periment, Queen Victoria and Coborrg,
under Captains Dick, Sutherland and cJi-
elengh. Ihe Transit, also, under Captain
Richardson, did good service during the
rebellion in transportiag troops and carrying
despatches.
The liotorious Johnson has been mentioned
more than once already. In the summer of
18S8 he got himself into troable with the
United States authorities on a charge of
piracy, and only narrowly escaped the fate
he so richly deserved ; but, as an Amreioan
paper at the time remarked, "good rope
could be better employed." Johnson was
accused, among other crimes, of having
used United States territory on the St
Lawrence in furtherance of his plans, ho
being a British subject. While a fugitive
from justice, he issued the following procla-
mation : —
" To all whom it may concern.
" I, William Johnson, a natural born
citizen of Upper Canada, certify that I hold
a commission in the Patriot Service of Upper
Canada as Commander-in-Chief of the naval
forces and flotilla. I commanded the ex-
pedition that captured and destroyed the
steamer Sir Robert Peel. My headquarters
was on an island in the St. Lawrence. I
yet hold possession of that station. I act
under orders. The object of my move-
ments is the independence of the Canadas.
" Signed this tenth day of June, in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hun-
dred and thirty-eight.
'• William Johnson."
This boaster introdu-^ed a great deal of
matter that was wholly irrelevant and which
it is unnecessary to reproduce
The end of 1838 saw the end of the rebel-
lion, and matters, both on the lakes and on
land, resumed their normal condition.
CHAPTER CCXLIIL
Complalalns Travellers — The Steansers
Clreat Britain and VletorU — Captain
Thomas Dick and Mr. Ollklson.
Notwithstanding the troubled state of the
province in 1838, the steamboat Sir F. B.
Head, after undergoing extensive repairs,
resumed her usual trips, leaving Peter-
borough for Claverton, Rice Lake, at 8
o'clock, a. m. , and returning from the latter
port at 12 noon, daily.
The owners of the Great Britain, Captain
Whitney, in announcing the arrangements
for the trips for that vessel for 1838, from
Kingston round the lake to Oswego, assure
their intending patrons that " the accommo-
dations on board the Great Britain are not
surpassed by any boat on Lake Ontario, the
gentlemen's and ladies' cabins being fitted
up entirely with roomy and airy staterooms,
with two berths in each." None of tlie
steamboat proprietors were at all modest in
describing the excellences of their various
vessels. It is sad to have to say that this
good opinion was not shared so fully as it
might have been by the public generally.
Complaints about the incivility of ■ervanks,
the bad quality of the meals, wines and
■pirita provided, were both loud and deep.
I- ' t
I
bIK ALAN NAFIER MACNAB, BART.
Op. .S7<l
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LANDMARKS OP TORONTO.
871
though it WM alio pretty generally admitted
that ** tbioge might be worse."
The Queen Victoria steamer h-s been
mentioned aa a veuel added to the lake
fleet in 1837. She was commenced and it
was the intention of Mr Lockhart, her
owner, to have her launched and running in
that summer, but unavoiiable delays arose,
aud it was not until April 3rd, 1838, that
she was laonched, nor until July 12 that her
first trip was accomplished, under command
of Captain Thomas Dick, from Niacara to
Toronto and Hamilton, returning to the first
mentioned place. The Queen Victoria was
built at Niagara by Mr. Gilkison and was
finally wrecked.
Before assuming command of this ship
Captain Dick bad commenced another vessel
on ihe lake, which the British Colonist, Feb.
1, 1838, thus refers to :—
" The steamboat Experiment, Capt Dick,
left this port yesterday for Niagara, where
she is undergoing necessary repairs, and
early in the sprine she will renew her regu-
lar trips between Toronto and Hamilton."
A week or two later a change was made
in the command of this steamer, as it is
learned from the British Colonist, 22nd
March, 1838, that "the steamer Experiment,
Capt. Wheeler, will leave for Burlington
Beach and Wellington Square on Friday
morning, the 16th instant, at 8 o'clock.
The Experiment will for the present, and
until Burlin);ton Bay opens, ply between
Toronto and Burlington Beach and Welling-
ton Square, leaving Toronto every morning
(Sunday excepted) at eight o'clock, and re-
turning from the Beach the same day at
one o'clock p.m., calling at the intermediate
ports."
Po';3ibly owing to the disturbed state of
both the Upp<jr and Lower Provinces, there
were no great changes in or additions to the
lake steamers in 1838. A steamer whicli
was known as the Gore, of 200 tons, was
commenced at Niagara, and she afterwards
plied between Rochester, Cobourg and To-
ronto. The Experiment, Commodore Bar-
rie, Burlington, Britannia, Cnhourg, Wil-
liam IV. and Tiausit all ran,\vitli the excep-
tions that have been mentioned, caused by
the rebellion, as in 1837, and in the Bay of
Qninte steamers there were no alter citions.
The Earl ot Durham, who succeeded Sir
Francis Bond Head as Governor, visited the
Upper Province in July, arriving in Toronto
on bo»rd the Cobourg on July 18th. The
Kteamers Brockville and Kingston were now
under command of Captains Bru&h and Law
less respectively, on their original route
from Kiu;^ston to the head oi the Long
Sault. Captain Whitney relinciuished com-
mand of the Great Britain at the end of this
season and assumed that of the American
steamer United btat^s, which he held until
his death, which occurred from typhus fever
en October 12, 18^1.
The owners of the Queen Victoria appear
to have had unbounded faith in their new
vessel. They advertised her sailings as fol-
lows : —
"Daily Convkyanck— To and from Lkw-
iston, qneenston, niaoaka and toronto.
— The new, splendid, and fast • sailing
steamer, Queen Victoria, Thomas Dick,Coni-
mander. will, for the reniamder of the
season, ply daily between the above plases.
Sunday excepted, leaving Lewiston and
Queenston every morning at eight o'clock
and Niagara at half-past eight o'clock for
Toronto. The boat will return each day
from Toronto to Niagara, Queenston and
Lewiston, leaving Toronto for these plaoee
at two o'clock p.m.
"Passengers by this boat will on Monday
and Thursday arrive in Toronto in time for
the William the Fourth steamer for King-
ston and Prescott, and passengers from To-
ronto for Niagara will arrive in time there
for the Rochester and O.owego steamers. On
arrival at Lewiston railroad cars will leave
for the Falls, and on arrival at Queenston
stages will leave for the Falls, whence the
passengers can proceed next day by the
steamei- Red Jacket from Chippawa to Buf-
falo, or by tue railroad cars for Manchester.
"The Queen Victoria is fitted up in elegant
style, and is otfored to the public as a speedy
aud safe conveyance, having all the accom-
modation that passengers can desire, to
whose comfort every atiention will be paid.
"Niaga-a, 12th July, 1838."
The steamer Burlington resumed her daily
journeys as usual in April of this year. Her
commander was unchanged. The British Col-
onist of April 27th, has this advertisement
respecting her movements.
"DuNDAs, Hamilton and Toronto. —The
steam packet Burlington, John Gordon,
Master, will leave Windsor on Tuesday,
Thursday and Saturday, at nine o'clock
a. m. Leave I'oronto on Monday, Wed-
nesday and Friday, at eleven o'clock a.m.,
touching at Port Hamilton, Majtiaud .s
VVharf, B. B. Canal, Wellington b>quare,
Oakville and Port Credit, on her way up
and down.
"The boat will leave Port Hamilton on
Wednesday, at eleven precisely.
"N.B.— Travellers by this boat to Dundas
will always meet tht> stages for Gait and the
inland country.'
There was no change whatever on Lake
Simcoe in 1838 respectiiif; its solitary steam-
er, as will be seen from this notice taken
from the Colonist of May Ist, IS.'iS :
872
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
(i >
" Lake Simcoi— Stkamboat Notick.—
The Peter Kobinson will leave Holland
LandinK for the Narrows, via Barrie and
Oro, every Monday and Friday, and via
0«orgina and Thoriah every Wednesday.
On return to the Holland L mding will leave
the Narrows every Tuesday and Saturday,
Tia Thoriah and Ueorgina, and via Oro and
Uarrie every Thursday.
"The hour of departure for the Holland
Landing and the Narrows will be eight a. m.
precisely. Wm. Ladghton, Managing
Owner. "
A KKABFOL CALAMITY.
A dreadful steamboat disaster occurred
on Lake Erie on June 16th. The George
Washington, on her passage from Detroit
to liuffalo, when about 33 miles from the
latter city, was discovered to be on fire, and
before she could be run ashore was entirely
consumed, nearly the whole of her passen-
gers perishing in the flames or being drowned.
Over thirty persons perished. They were
chiefly Americans.
The Hamilton, Captain Mills, ran during
the seamen of 1838 between Kingston and
Kiver Trent, leaving former place on Mon-
days, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8 a. m ,
and the latter on Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Saturdays at 2 p. m.
In 1839 the Commodore Barrie, Captain
Patterson, commenced her regular trips on
April 8th, leaving Kingston on Mondays
and Thursdays at 6 p. m. and Toronto on
Wednesdays and Saturdays at the same
hoar, touchine at intermediate ports. On
the Bay of Quiute the Kingston began her
season's wOrk on April i7tb in connection
with the Sir James Kempt between King-
ston and the River Trmt. The sailing ar-
rangements were the same as those of the
year previous for the Hamilton, which in this
year had both her route and her captain
changed. The Hamilton, Captain R. Gaskin,
made four trips a week between Kingston
and Oswego, leaving the first port every
alternate day, beginning with Sunday at 9
a. m. and the latter on the intervening week
days at 8 a. m. and on Sunday at 7 p. ni.
Another Bay of Quinte steamer^ the Albion,
of 200 tons, built at Brockville, was launch
ed this year. iShe had as captain \V. T.
Johnson. She ran from Kingston to Belle-
ville, and sailed from both places on the
same day as her competitor, the Kingston,
but at diiterenW hours.
The Great Britain, Captain Jacob
Herchmer. resumed her regular route from
Kingston to Niagara and Oswego, calling at
a?l intermediato ports. Barly in April the
Commodore Batrrle, William IV and
St. George ran from Kingston to Toronto.
The river steamers Dolpiiin and Brockville.
ran in oonnection with the vessels just men
tioned between Kingston and Dickenson's
Landingldaily, Sundays excepted.
Later in the season the Hamilton, Catkin
Gaskin, again had the route changed. In-
stead of from Kingston to Oswego, in Octo-
ber she began to run and continued to do so
for the remainder of the year between Ro-
chester. Toronto, Port Hope and Hamilton.
The Transit and Queen Victoria, under
the Richardsons, father and son, ran this
season as usual from Toronto to Niagara.
The lamoBs Gildersleeve launched a new
vessel of 250 tons in 1839, at Kingston,
naming her after himself, Henry Gildersleeve.
She commenced her regular trips in the t ol-
lowing season.
In 1840 another steamer appeared on Lake
Simooe, supplanting the Peter Robinson.
She was known as the Simcoe, her managing
owner beinfir the same as that of the former
vessel. She was thus advertised in the
Toronto Patriot :
181*.
LAKK SIMCOE.
SVM.UER AKB4XtiKMENTS.
THE STKAM PACKET
SIHCOK
WILL LEAVE HOLLAND LANDING
For the Narrows,
via Inniafll, Barrie and Oro. Mondays and
Fridays, and via OeorKina, Thorah
and Mara, Wednesdays.
RETCKNINC
WILL LEAVE THE NARROWS
F^r Holland IiandlnK,
via Mara, Thorah and Georf^na, Tuesdays and
:?aturdars, and via Oro, Barrie and
Innisfll, Thursdays.
Wind and weather permitting.
The hour of departure from Holland Landing
and the Narrows will be eight o'clock a.m.
precisely.
/I^Will commence Monday, the 4th May, in
connection with the staf^cs.
WM. LAUGHTON,
Manairing Owner.
Lake Simcoe, April 23, ISiO.
CAPTAIN Richardson's vessels.
The two steamers in which Capt. Richard-
son had such an interest, namely, the Transit
and Queen Victoria, were in this season
commanded as in the one immediately pre
ceding it. They were advertised to ply
during 1840 as follows :^
LAKE ONTARIO.
Toronto, \iaffara, Queentton and LemliloH.
the: stbam packkts
TKANM1' AND QVRKN YI<;T*RIA.
THE 8TJ!'a11KR TltANSIT,
HUGH RICHARDSON. Master, leaves
Toronto daily, at half -past seven o'clock
in the morning, for Niagara, Queeaston and
Lcwiston ; arrives at Lewi»ton at noon.
RETURNING :
Leaves Lewiston daily, at 3 p.m.. touidting at
Queenston and Niagara : arrives at T«ronto at
U p.m.
^^^>''»"
ondays and
4tli May, ia
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
873
THE QVBBW TICT»EIA.
HUGH RICHARDSON, JUNR., MaaUr,
Leaves Lewleton daily, at 7 o'clock in the
moninff. tor Toronto, toucaiiw at Queenston
and Niagara ; arrlTes at Toronto at noon.
RETURNING :
LeaTei Toronto daily at 3 o'clock in the after-
noon, for Niagara, Queenston and Lewiiton ;
arrives at Lewiston at 6 p. m.
By the Transit, passengers may nroceed from
Toronto to Niagara Fails and Buffalo, or from
Buffalo to Toronto, wltb ease, in the course of
the day.
t^ No luanffje taken in charge unless
booked and paid/or.
May. 1840.
Captain Dick, formerly commanding the
Experiment and later the Victoria, was
in this year in charge of the Gore,
that vessel with the Britannia. Captain
William Colclough, and the Burlin<;ton,
Captain Robert Kerr, forming a line from
Rochester and intermediate ports via To-
ronto and Hamilton to Niagara. It is
worthy of note that ateamboat advertise-
ments are far more concise now-a-days than
thay were then, lite following advertise-
ment is copied from the Toronto Patriot ;
LAKE 0.\T.4BIO-184a.
yew Line of Low- Pressure Steamers from
BoclitMer to Cobourg, Port. Hope.
Toronto, Hamilton, Niagara,
and Lewinton.
Thb New and Fast Saiunq Stea.mkr
ClORE.
Three Times a Week.
Captaix Thomas Dice.
WILL, until further notice, leave ROCHES-
TER, at Sunset, and the lower Landing
at half past ten, every Monday, Wednesday,
and Friday Evening, for COBOURG ; and wUl
leave Cobourg for PORT HOPE and TORONTO,
every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morn«
ing. at half past 5 o'clock.
Returning, the Gore will leave Toronto for
Rochester.touching at Port Hope and Cobourt;,
every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday ni)<cht at
. o'clock ; and will leave Port Hope at halt' past
1. and Cobourg at half past 5. every Monday,
Wednesday, and Friday morning for Rochescer.
The Shafts and Cranks of this Boat ate of
wrought iron.
Passengers trem New York, by this route,
for Cobourg, Port Hope and Toronto, [by leav-
ing New York on Tuesday. Thursday, or Sun-
day morning, and taking the Railroad from
Albany to Auburn^ will reach Rochearer
in 36 hours— in time for the GORE— and will
arrive at Toronto within 54 hours. Passengers
from Toronto for New York will arrive at
Rochester in time to take the Mail Sttge for
Auburn at half past one p.m., or the Swittsure
line of Stages at six p.m.. and arrive at New
York within 53 hours.
THE BTBAMBR
BKITANNIA.
CAFT. WILUAM COLCLOUaO,
PUes daily. (Sundays excepted,) between To-
ronto and Hamilton,— touching at the inter-
mediate Ports,— in connection with the Gore ;
leaving Toronto at 8 A. M., and Hamilton at I
P. Jd. and meets the steamer
RI;KI.I!II«T0!V.
OAPT. KOBBRT KKRR
at Hamilton about 12 at noon. The Burlington,
having a new low-pressure engine, will leave
Hamilton every afternoon (Sundays excepted),
at 2 o'clock, for Niagara and Lewl8ton,touching
at Grimsby and Port Dalhousle, (near St. Cath-
arines, from which place a carriage will meet
the boat regularly,) and arrive at Lewiston in
the evening.
Returning, she will leave Lewiston at 7
o'clock everv morning, and Niagara at t past
7, for Hamilton, touching at Port Dalnousi*
and Grlmsbf, weather ponniiting, and arrive
at Hamilton about noon.
Cobourg. April 4th, 1840,
N. B.— Luggage, parcels, and packages attha
risk of the owner, unless booked and paid tor.
The proprietor will in no case bold himself re-
sponsible for any loss of or damage to goods of
any description, on board the above Steamers,
occasioned by fire, the dangers of the naviga-
tion,the act of God, or the Queen's enemies.
On April 18th, 1840. a great tire took
place at Kingston, which resulted in ths
entire destruction of the Ottawa and Rideau
wharves, the steamer Cataraqui, the schoon-
er Dora Nelson, besides an immense quan-
tity of goods, including lO.OGO barrela of
flour, pork and potash. The Lake Ontario
Steamboat otiice was also destroyed. The
tire vaa suppose! to have been c used by
sparks from the tunnel of the American
steamer Telegraph. An accident also hap-
pened to the steamer conveying the Gov-
ernor General from Niagara to Toronto,
in the middle of April. She got aground
eight miles above the harbor, and His
Excellency reached Toronto in a jolly
boat after a row of eight miles. He
left Toronto a?ain for Kingston, on Fri-
day, April 24th, on the steamer St. George.
An advertisement appeared in the Toronto
papers throughout June, as well as in
those published at Rochester, of cheap ex-
cursions on July 4tli, by the Gore steamer,
for the benefit of pleasure seekers. This
aroused the wrath of the notorious '• Bill'
Johnson, known to fame as the hero of the
Sir Robert Peel incident, and he, not for the
first time, issued a proclamation, it appeared
undated in the very Hrat days of the month,
and read thus : —
Wm. Johnson. Commodore, etc.. Lake On-
tiirio. Whereas, as public notice ha-s appeared
in a lloch ester daily paper, that the liritish
steamer Gore, Capt. Dick, of Toronto, W. C.
offers to make two pleasure trips from the land-
ing at Carthage on the 4th inst.. the anniversary
of American Independence, and whereas it ia
well known that Dick and the owners of this
boat are violent British Tories and bitter ene-
mies of American Democratic institutions,
but in order to fleece American citizens and
fill their cotters with half dollars at their ex-
pense, they prct«nd to aid in the celebration of
a day they abhor and detest.
The inhabitants of Rochester are therefor*
warned " if they value life." not to patroniea
those excui'sions, and ±iu avoid, not only ** tht
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874
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
danger to be apprehended, but the diHBrace and
dlihonorof countenancing and patronizing a
party who hate Democraoj and who have ex-
ulted and triumphed In the burning of the
Caroline and murder of Ameriean dtisens."
By command of hU Bxcollencr.
Bi.ifjAMiN Lktt, p. C,
On board the flagthlp Rerenge off the Ducks.
Thia same Benjamin Lett was almost
simultaneously with the appearance of this
silly production arrested on a chars^e of at-
tempting the destruction of the steamer
Great Britain.
Early in June about the 5th, just as the
Great Britain was preparing to leave Oswego
on her journey to the Canadian shore, a
man brought on board a small box, contain-
ing three jars of gunpowder packed in wool,
beneath which was concealed a lighted slow
match. This box was placed with other
baggat^e in front of the door of the ladies'
cabin. A few minutes after the boat left the
wharf the explosion took place which
was not so destructive as had been in-
tended, the injury being confined to the
breaking of a few windows in the ladies' cabin
and the blowing up of the skylight above.
The boat put back immediately and the man
who brought the box on board was arrested
together with another man whom the former
announced as the chief instigator to the
riiabolical attempt. This man was "Bill"
Johnson's friend, Benjamin Lett, and l>e was
at once transmitted to Auburn, N. Y. , county
jail, but owing either to extraordinary vigil-
ance on his part, or want of it on the part of
hiscustodians.he made his escape when about
four miles from his destination.
The steamboat owners were very unfor-
tunate in this summer, no fewer than three
of their vessels being disabled in as many
days. The Ontario broke her shaft in as-
cending the rapids from Dickenson's La ding.
The Gore's machinery also broke down on
her journey between Rochester and Cobourg,
the Commodore Banie assisting her into
Port Hope. While disabled the B '^annia
was placed upon her route. The thira accid-
ent occurred to the St. George which broke
her shaft on July 8th wiieu ten miles out
from Oswego on her journey across the lake.
The Britannia again enacted the part of the
Good Samaritan, towing the St. George also
into Port Hope.
Later in the season a slight change was
made in the arrangements, as will be seen by
the following :
NOTICE.
THE STEAMER
COKE.
\17ILL leave TORONTO for KINGSTON, on
»' T Tuesday Evenitig next at 9 o'clock ; and
will leave KINGSTON for TORONTO on
Wednesday Evening, on the arrival of the
steamer from Preaeott Cabin Pataaget Ite*
DoUara and a htUf,
(Mealu extra.)
Deck PasHuge Onr Dollar.
The aORU will leave Toronto tor Rochealtr
on Thursday and Sunday evenings as hereto-
fore.
Toronto. July 7. 1810.
The 32nd Regiment, or rather tho eom-
miuionod officers thereof, dc not appear to
have been enthusiastically fond of boating
at they thus advertise :
FOR SALE.
4 SIX-OARED QIQ— complete in every re-
ouisite— New Yoric built. For partioulats,
apply to the Meaaman of the. S3nd Regiment.
Toronto. July 21. 1840.
This notice appeared in the Patriot for
many suocessive weeks.
MILITIA AT QUEENSTON.
A great public meetiuK of the Canadian
militia and others was held on Queenston
Heights on July 30th, and this was the oc-
casion for an imposing naval display. Tho
meeting itself was convened for the purpose
of raising funds to restore the monument
erected to the memory of General Brock, the
recent destruction of which had been at-
tempted.
Four steamers left Toronto for Niagara
at about half past seven in the morning :
The Transit, Captain Richardson, decorated
with evergreens, reminded one of "The
VV^ood of Birnam," and Malcolm's direction,
" Lot every soklier hew him down a bough
and bear't before him"
seemed to have been fully observed ; this
moving ^rove was relieved by the bright
standards of the National Socie ies, the
colours of Enp;land, Scotland and Ireland
producing, through tL<> leafy screen, an
effect as beautiful as impressive ; The
Queen Victoria, Captain Richardson, Jr.,
also decorated with flags, ensigns and
streamers ; The Gore, Captain Thomas
Dick, bearing aloft a mighty Union Jack,
left the city wharves, the Transit and
Victoria leading by about three miles, the
Gore following in their lee ; The Tra-
veller, Captain Sandom, R. N. waited at
the Garrison wharf for His Excellency ttin
Lieut. Governor, who with his Staff em-
barked as the Gore passed by ; His Excel-
lency being received by a guard of honor of
the 32nd Regiment ; the pair of Colors —
bearing the word "Niapara" —presented
to the uld Incorporated Militia of Upper
Canada by His Most Gracious Majesty
George the Fourth, then Prince Regent,
were placed on board the Traveller, tiie fine
band of the 34th Regiment bein^ also on
board.
THE ABKIVAL AT NIAGARA.
After a delightful passage, the fonr
vessels keeping in sight of each other. Fort
George '.soon rose to view, and while ap-
' J^ipw).
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
875
proaohtng th« month of the Kivar NUgaia,
the paasengart of MMh wera gratimd in
Mting on the right two ttaMnert bearing
rapidly down, aa if from Hamilton, while
on the left a leviathan of the lake waa
fir wing on to the place of aaaembling ; on
the arrival of each veuel at the wharves,
which, with the adjacent banks, were
eeopled with a dense cruwd, it was received
y a Insty shoot of welcome, and a thander-
ing salute froai a Icng eighteen-pounder,
which, remarkably enough, had the day
before been onearthed from ita forgotten
resting place, where it had remained buried
since, perhaps, the battle of Queenston, and
what then, as an engine of destruction,
poured forth its iron hail againnt the
enemies of the gallant Brock, now figured
as the peaceful herald of the hero's fnends.
THB MOVK TO QOUNSTOIf.
After waiting some short time at Niagara,
the eif ht steamers assembled in line, and
started for Queenston in the following order :
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When the grand procession passed Port Nia-
gara (U.S.) scarcely a living being was to
be seen. As the fleet moved upwards, the
sight was animating in the extMme— eight
fine vessel.s streaming with enaiirns, the
Royal Standard of England, in parti-
cular, flying at the mast head ot the
Traveller, all breasting toeether the cata-
ract-fed current of the rushing i iver, the
numbers of brave men on board of ihein,
all united in one common noble purpose,
and the martial strains which floated on the
breeze, all contributed to the efFecc ; the
overhanging banks crowded with persons,
some waiting to |raze as the vessels passed,
others hastening onward to ke^ pace witti
them, adding to the beauty of the scene.
The meeting was duly held, and it was de-
cided to rebuild a new monument. Sad to
say, after all this enthusiasm, that it took
nearly twenty years to do it.
The Toronto yearly regatta took place on
August 1st, the anniversary of the battle of
tii« Nile.
The skiflf match for prizes of f20, $10 and
$5 had fir ^ competitors. The winners were
R. RenardsoB, J. Goodin and John Ircdale.
In tlie race for sailing boats upder two tons
nine were entered. A dispute arose as to
the winner.
Two boats started for the fouroared match;
prize a silver oup valued fflO. They wtie
the Sylph and Water Lily, and the fomu r
won by SIX lengths, time 28 minutes. Tie
amatear skiff match was won by Mr. Angi a
Morrison. The prize waa a silk ensign at d
silver enp.
The day waa fine, and the Transit, under
Captain Richardson's command, was at the
serviee of hundreds of guests, to whom the
ever hospitable sailor was a genial ho^t.
The band of the .12nd Regiment furuiahed
the music.
OITIDBNDS AMD DISASTERS.
This advertisement from the Patriot waa
doubtless most comforting to the individuals
referred to.
NOTICE.
THR stoekholdera of the Steam Boat Cobourg
are hereby notlHed that the Committee have
this day declared a dividend ot two pounds
Currency per Share, payable on or after the
12th Instant, at the offlee ot W. L. Perrin,
Esquire, Toronto.
Byorderof the Committee.
DAVID M. PATERSON.
Secretary.
Toronto, 4th August, 1840.
On October 8th, as the Gildersleeve waa
about leaving Cobourg for flamiltou, her
boil r exploded with considerable force,
sckldng two men severely.
Later in the month ther« was a serious
accident to the steamor William the Fourth,
while on her passage do» n the lake on Oct.
28th. This was caused by a heavy south
sea breaking in the false .sides of the ship
and causing her to take in such large
quantities of water that serious mischief
WM threatened. To save her from smkiug
she was run aground in South Bay, w^here
the mail bags, passengers and captain were
transferred to the Malcolm, an American
vessel, which had come alongside to render
what assistance she cuuld. The Malcolm
then proceeded to Kingston, arrivinij there
with her oixrgo and all on board the same
night in safety.
There was much discontent all through
the two provinces at this period with the
postal a.^'rangementa, and tlie establishment
of a mail line by steamer from Toronto to
Kingston h»A been decided upon. In antici-
pation of this event the following adver-
tisement was is&ued from Montreal : —
POST-OFFICE NOTICE.
TENDERS will be received by the Deputy
Post Master General, at the }>ost Oflice
Montreal, until Noon on Saturday, the .itli
Dec. prox.,for the conveyance of Her Majesty's
Mall, by Stkam-Boat, between Diclcenson's
Landing and Toronto wharf, for a term of ye(ir.s,
coramencinK with the navigation of 1841.
Tlte conditions for the required engagement
are described in a Notice, wljirh may bo ha<l
at the Post Officea of Montreal, Kingston. Co-
bo«irg and Toronto, and at the General Pci'
Offleo, Quebec.
Montreal, iih Nov., 1840.
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873
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
At the end of 1840 the steftmer Cobourg
disappeared from the lake aervice and was
offered for sale, as will be seen from the
following notice : —
FOR SALE.
PUBLIC NOTIGK is hereby giTon, that the
Steam Boat COUOlUtO. wiib KnKlnoN.
Furniture, &c, ftc, as sbo now lies, will bu sold
by Auction (if not preTiously dinpoited of by
piivato sale] on
Monday, the lnt day of Fihrxmry next, at IS
o'clock. at JBroum'a It'harf.
Thf ubovo boat is prupolled by two Low Pros-
Hurc KuKines, of jO horse power each, which are
in Rooa order.
By order of the Committee.
DAVID M. PA'i ERSON.
aecreiary.
Toronto, U. C, 9th Nov., 1810.
Ti>e lauding place known for so iiuiiiy
year!) ns Rees' Wharf, at the foot of Siiuuoc,
tiit'ii Graves street, i oroato, was uuinplciuil
in 184U and was thus advertised:
TO MERCHANTS AND FORWARDERS.
TO LKASK ON KKASONABLK TERMS.
ri'^HB new wharf and other promises recently
1 erected at the foot of Graven street. The
Wharf is well adapted fur tho shipment of Pro-
duce. Lumber. Sec, being but for a short time
during the winter Moaaon obstructed with ico.
Toronto, 29th November. 1840.
Aipong schooners on tiie lake during this
season were the Hero and the Margaret.
Tliey conveyed large quantities of goods
'^'111 Kin£;ston to Toronto, Hamilton and
Niai^ara.
.1 u ji as the year was closing it was an-
nounced by the Kingston Chronicle, of Dec
2ud,that "her Majesty's new steamer, Mino.s.
recently built at Chippawa, has received
her machinery, and proceeded up Lake
Erie a few days since on her trial trip. She
is very strongly built and goes at the rate of
twelve miles an hour."
THK SECOND FRONTENAC
lu 1841 there were yet more additions to
the ateam vessels on Lake Ontario besides
those intended for the Royal Mail Line.
The Frontenac, the second of the name, ap-
peared on Lake Ontario, her route being
from Toronto to Kingston. She was at first
a sort of naval free lance, ana caused much
oonstcrnation to the proprietors of the other
steamer.s on the lakes by the low rate at
which she carried passengers. No resord,
though, exists that the travelling public
were at all distressed at these proceedings
on the part of her owners. On the contrary,
they appear rather to have appreciated the
unusually cheap fares. It is just barely
possible that if similar competition were to
ensue now betwepn our two great railway
companies, with a like result, their patrons
would not add to their perplexities ijy com.
plaints of being charged too little.
The steamer Burlington was burned at the
(Queen's wharf, Toronto, on the morning of
Tuesdaf, March 30th, 1841. Fortunately
DO lives were lott
The Cobourg Star of April 7th, 1841, has
this paragraph : —
"Opksino op NAviOATioir. — Early on
Monday morning [this would be on April
r>th] the well-known bell of the Uore drew
all hands to the wliarf, to greet the first
arrival of the season — a most welcome eveat
truly in the present state of the roads and
after four months winter. The (-ore takes
her old route to and from Rochester and To-
ronto, calling at Cobourg and Port Hope on
her way down for the present twice a week,
viz , Mondays and Thursdays in the morn-
ing, and returning the following evenings.
She is this year commanded by Capt. Kerr,
a gentleman favourably known to the travel-
lin:: public as late captain of the Burliugton
— Capl;. DicU, who formerly sailed the Gore,
having now ciiarge of his own vessel, the To-
ronto."
There were no alterations in either of the
Bay of Quintc steamers for 1841, the
Kingston, Capt. Harrison, and the Albion,
Capt. W. T. Johnson, lunning as before.
The Union, Captain Drummoud, was on
the route between Kingston and Rochester,
leaving each place three times a week.
The Commodore Barrie, Captain Patter-
son, to quote her advertisement for the sea-
son, " plied between the following pori« : —
Prescolt, Kinscston, Oswego, Wellington,
Cobo;irg, Port Hope, Bond Head Harbor,
Port Darlington, Whitby, Toronto, Hamil-
ton, Nia.uni, Lewiston and Quecnstou."
The City of Toronto, of the II. M. Line,
ran from Toronto to Niagara every Monday,
leaving the former place at 8 a.m., and re-
turning from the latter in the afternoon.
The Britannia, Transit, Victoria, and St.
George were also all fully employed during
the 1841 season. Thoy i early all connected
with the steamers of tbe R. M. Line.
The steamer Vulcan, Richard T. Johnson,
appeared on the upper St. Lawrence between
Kingston and Belleville in August, leaving
the former place on Mondays, Wednesdays
and Fridays, and the latter on the alternate
days. She is described by the Kingston
Chronicle as beii j '* a new boat, and a most
desirable conveyance for passengers and
freight."
The Cobourg began to run again somewhat
late in the season, as will be seen from tho
following advertisement, which reads : —
KED17CEO FARES BETWEEN KINOSTOIT AMD
TORONTO.
THE .STEAMBOAT
COBODUS,
LlECT. KT.HSLRY, R. N., COklMANDBR,
Y M7 ILL ply between KinR.ston and Toronto.
vT calling at Cobourg and Port Hope each
way, weather permittlDg, until further notice
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
877
Le«vtnc Kingston every Mondar and Thun-
der flreniiiK ai 7 o'cloclc, and
Toronto, VTury Wednesday and Saturdity,
noon, lit I'J.
Cabin fare between Kinsston and Toronto,
li. Du. from Kingston, or Toronto, to Fort
Hope and i^obourg, 93. Deck faro to alt the
aboTO ports. $1,
Thu Cobourir baa undergono a thorough re-
pair during the last winttir, and un Improve'
menl was made in her boilurn which has con-
siderably increased her speed ; she is now not
Inferior to any bent on LiiUn Ontario, in point of
Bojety. comfort ami roni'cnirnce, »nil it la well
known to be one of the bom sua boats on i he
IaIco. As hIu) will not bo detained w.iiting tor
tlie mail, the above hours will bo piiiicni tlly
attended to. Pasxenxern with thplr baggage
will pleasu be on board bofore the lime ap-
pointed for sailing.
For freight or passage, having superior ac-
commodationa. apply on board or to
W. I* I'KRKIN.
Toronto. August lith, 18tl.
lu 1841 tlie new ateantboat Prince Kdward
was built at (iatdaer Island for the Bay of
Quinto route. She made her trial trip to
Bath and hack ir ^ i eo hours "She is
beautifully finished, .ut hoinx rather crank
in the water il « ill probably be neceasary
to give her falae aides." So aaid onu of the
local papers.
The stciiiiiboat, Prince of Wales, built at
the ninriiii^ railway and intended for the
Iwy, was also launched in thi.s year. She
had the engine of the Sir James Kempt
On August 9th a terrible disaster occurred
on Lake Krie, when the steamboat Erie, an
American vesusel, Captain i'. J. Titus, was
totally destroyed by tiro and nearly two
handred people p irished. Not a paper nor
an article of any kind was saved. There
were between thirty and forty cabin pas-
sengers, of whom ten or twelve were ladies.
la thu steerage were one hundred and forty
passengers, nearly all of whom were German
or >wi«s iiniiiigiunts. it wan a singular.uo-
iacidence that the Erie was burned at
almost the same spot where the Washing-
ton, also an Amorican vessel, experienced a
similar fate in June, 18.'i8, a very little
more than three years previously. It is
Bot pleasant to have *o tecord that instead
•f being the last to leave his ship, Captain
Vitus was one of the very first I Such con-
4«ct is happily as rare in the American
nsercantile marine as in the British.
The Kingston regatta took place under
the patrona',;e of Captain Sandom, R.N,
•n August '29feb. Among the names of the
Rtewards on the occasion are those of Henry
Oildersleeve, Lieut. Harper, B.N., Samuel
H. Harrison, and John Roy, all of whom
were well-known men throughout the entire
pro vines.
The events were five, and consisted of : —
Sailing match, value $48 : Six-oared race,
Four-oared race, $30 ; Skiff race, $20 ;
and a skiff race, opim to all comers, for two
prizes of fltt and $10 each.
it was a sine qua non that all boats wor*
to b« bona tide British built
The day was tine and everything passed
off with great eclat.
The Toronto regatta wait held on August
Slut. There was soaloely any change in
t'.io prograinnio from that of preceding
year.^.
In 184>2 tlie Britannia ran between Ham-
ilton and Toronto, her old route, with Cap-
tain J. (jordon in conitnaitd
COM.M(>l>(>Ri: IIAKKIK, t'ARKWRI.U
The Coinmodora Barrie for u brief period
was on her uccustoinod course, but her day
had all but passed, for on May 4th, when
she had only been running for a few days,
the end came.
'J he Toronto Examinfr ol May 4th, 1842,
roftnrts the closiiiL' cc-no iti her lite thua
briefly : — "We regret to iearn that the
steamer Commodore Barrie, plying between
Kingston and Bidloville.waa run foul of by k
schooner on Siturday night last, and sunk.
The crew and passenger:! were all saved, l>at
the vessel and cargo, (about 500 barrels of
flour), will prove a total loss." The acci-
dent occurred ue%rly oppo.site Prcsqu'lsle,
the Barrie colliding with tiie schooner Can-
ada, going up the river."
The Kliiijslon ihrald also describe."! the
accident, and adds with dignity : — "As tha
matter will probably undergo a jud cial in-
vestigation we al)ataiii from any commonts
on the fact?. The night was cloudy ''
A steatiier built in Canada in this year
plied between BufTalo and Detroit ; she waa
known as the Kent, and called at the inter-
vening potts.
There was at the tin e what a shipping
notice of April 1 1 in that year describui as a
" new line of steamers." Th«y ran four
times a week from Toronto and Hamilton to
Rochester. They w^re the America,
Captain Henry Twohy, and the Gore,
Captain Robert Korr. The former left To-
ronto, calling at Port Hope and Cobourg, at
9 o'clock every Sunday and Wednesday
evenings, and Rochester every Tuesday and
Saturday morni«vs ali^o at 9 o'clock, calling
at Cobourg and Port Hope. The Gore left
Toronto on Tuesdays and Fridays at noon,
and liocliest«r on Mondays and Thursdays
at 9 a m. These steamers also plied be-
tween Toronto and Hamiltou. Patocls aed
luggage were, the notice is careful to add.
" at the risk of the owaers unless booked
and paid for." Mr. E. S. Alport was the
agent in Toronto. Later in the year, in
August, the America and Gore made three
trips a week instead of four, and called also
»t Bond Head, Darlington and O^shawa.
W^ I
m
!
i
I j
i I
i
it !
pi
fi-;
' u
1^.: :
!fe 1
878
LANDMARKS OP TORONTO.
Tha Mine year a steamer known as the St.
David ran from Kingston to Lachino, accom-
plishing the journey in about twenty hours.
The Toronto Ke/{atta, unaer the patron-
age of the Mayor, took place on Sept mber
5th. The presidents were Mr. Hugh Rich-
ardson and the Honorable J. Elmsley, R. N. ,
and among the list of stewards are the
namei of Captains Steele, Stewart and Bald-
win, all of the Royal Navy, also Captains
Oiuk and Culcleugii, of the lake steamers,
There was but one sailing match open to all
boats built upon keels and under ten tons.
There w re seven othur competitions, all
rowing matches. The total amount of the
prizes was only £77 10s currency, a little
more than f'iOO. There was little interest
taken by the public in the proceedings.
The lame steamers i» in 1841 ran from
Toronto to Niagara in connection with the
mail line to Kingston. A steamer that for
many yean did good service on the lake was
commenced this season at Niagara. She
was of 400 tons burthen, was called the
Chief Justice Robinson, was built by .Captain
Ruhardson, formerly of the Canada,and was
for some time commanded by his sou, Hugh
Richardson, jr. Her bow was of peculiar con-
struction, she having an enormous cutwater,
not unlike a double furrowed plough. This
was to enable her to cut through ice the
more readily, and it to a very great extent
accomplished its intended purpose. The
Administrator, of equal tonnage with the
Chief Justice, was built at or nearly the
same time, and her route at first was the
same as that of the latter. The Despatch,
a small vessel of '200 tons, built, it is be-
lieved, at Hamilton, and running between
tliat nort and Toronto, Captain Edward
Harrison, also made lier first appearance in
this year. The VVolIuud, of 300 tons was
also launched in 1812. She had vario^:?
routes, but ran for many years, being final!'
hiiriicd in 185G. A stuanier called the Lady
of the Lake, which was afterwards changed
into the Queen City, was lauuchel in 1S43,
She was tiie property of tlie Americ.in Steam-
boat Company and her route was at first
from Toronto to Niagara She was looked
npon as a crack vessel and great things wore
expected of her.
SCTIIKKLANDS NEW STKAMKB.
When the navigation opened in 184;) there
was yet another new steamer known tirst as
tiie Commerce, afterwards as the Eclipse,
Cuptiiin James Sutherland. Her route was
Hamilton and Toronto. All the Canadian
steamers carried goods and passengers for
the United States, in couneution with a
New York lino of vessels plying between
Oswego and New Yoik, wlioio announce-
ment Oi sailings fur 1843 reads thus : —
OSWEGO LINE OF LAKE BOATS
THE Proprietors of this Line desire to inform
the Pabllc that their DAIL.Y LINK OP
LAKR BOATS will run between NRW YORK
and OSWUOO. direct {withoMt trana ahipmemt
at Albany or Troy), as haretofors, during the
Season of 1843.
THE STEAMBOATS
ST. LAWKBNCE. ONBIDA AND EXPRRSB
Run in our Line (exclusively), giving us
superior facilities for transporking Property to
and from the different places on
LAKE ONTARIO AND RIVEB .ST. LAWRENC*.
Connected wit h the Line are
TEN BlIBSTANriAL SCHOONERS.
Plying between OSWKUO and the various
I'orts on
LAKE ERIE AND THE UPPER LAKES.
The agents of this line were : In Kingston,
J. H. Greer ; in I'oronto, George Urquhart,
who resided on Yonge street, and in Hamil-
ton, Messrs. Gunn k Hrowne. The Gora,
Admiral, An^eri a and Chief Justice all re-
sumed tlieir usual course in this se -son, the
Transit and the Queen Victoria also, so
that, considering the population of Upper
Canada at this tiir.e, the means of trans-
portation from place to place can not be
deemed to have been inadequate. The
Eclipse was one of the steamers that ran in
connection with the Royal mail line, as also
did the Chief Justice. It is somewhat
amusing to note how very complacently the
owners of the steamboats describe their
.various crafts. The advertisement issued
respecting; the sailings of the Eclipse just
mentioned is a case in point. She is described
as the
ROYAL MAIL STEAMER
ECLIPSE.
CAPTAIN JAMES SUTHERLAND.
THIS now and last sailing steamer will, nntil
further notice, leave Mumilton for Toronto
at 7 o'clock a.m., and returning, will leave To-
ronto at 3 o'clock p.m., touching at the inter-
mediate ports. TUo above boiit has been built,
expressly for this route, and oJFors superior
aei'oinmodation to the iravolling piiblie.
Iluiulltou and Rochester iiteamboat UfUce,
Toronto, 3lHt July, 1843.
The reason the Eclipse received that name
instead of the Commerce was on account of
the fact that on her trial trip from Niagara
to Toronto she accomplished the distance in
less time tlian the l.ady of the Lake, then
looked upon as the s\viftcst vessel. Her
name was ttiereupou changed to Eclipse, A\e
having "eclipsed" anything then upon the
lake.
The Brockville, Captain Maxwell, was
between Kingston and Dickinson's Landing;
the Prince of Wales, Crysler, and Prince
Edward, W, T. Johnson, were on the llay
of Quints ; the Union, still under Captain
i^urns, was on her old loute, while in con*
tmimm
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
879
nflction with the lake iteamen tlie Pilot,
Robert Uilpin, and ttio Bytown, Sugbred,
left Kingston for Montreal everjr Tuesday
and Thurniiay respectively.
The events of the season of 1844 do not
call for any very extended comment.
From Kingston^ran the steamer Pilot for
Montreal direct, advertised thus : — This
well known, favorite low pressure boat will
resame her reeular trips on the opening of
navigation, leaving; Kingston as usual every
Tuesday at 2 p. m , and Montreal every
Tharsday at 6 p.m.
The owners bsg to intimate that some im-
provement has been made in her boiler, by
which they expect her speed will be very
materially irereaaed ; also other improve-
ments to the boat in gen> ral, thereby adding
to her comfort and convenience. H. & S.
Jones.
Capt. Router succeeded \V. T. Johnson in
command of the Prince Edward on the Hay
of Quinte.
A rLKASANT ARRANOEMRNT.
It was widely advertised that the new and
fast sailing steam packet Prince Edward
(Captain Bonter) *' will commence running
on the Bay of Quint* on Monday next, and
continue during the ensuinjc season as fol-
lows : — Will leare Belleville for Kingston
every Monday, Wednesday and Friday
avening, at 6 <>'cloek, touching »t the inter-
mediate places on her way down.
" And will I'lave Greer's wharf, KinG;ston,
for Belleville and the River Trent every
Tuesduy and Thursday eveniucr, at six, and
every Saturday avening at four, touching at
the intermediate places. N.H.— Passages
free for reverend gentlemen ot all denonii-
nations."
This was very pleasant for the " reverend
gentlemen. '
On April 14th a propeller, afterwards
known as the London, containing an engine
ot 25 horse povpr, w».s launched at Cobourg.
Sliti was the p operty of Mr. Baker, of that
town, and w%s intended for the carrying
trade from there to Montreal
The steamers Favorite, Britannia and Rob
l^oy, forwarding steamers under Captains
Jones, Maxwell and Dickinson, received
and forwarded goods, produce and
passengers from Montreal to Kingston and
vice versa, by the Rideau canal and River
St. Lawrence It goes without saying, that
the agens for these steamers, both in Kings-
ton and Montreal unite in describin^r them
" as being all of the first class and fitted up
in a style equal to any on the route." Such
may have been the case certainly, but it is
somewhat disquieting to find travellers who
tell a somawhat different tale. For instance
Bonnycastle in his book of travels, referriner
to this period, makes loud complaints al>out
the absence of comfort experienced and em-
phatically pronounces "the charge for wine
shameful, seven shillings and sixpence a
bottle and stuff of the most i.iforior qual
ity." Tha charge may have been true hut
the gallant major should have renicmbcied
that he oould hasdly expect as mucli com-
fort on a river s' earner as at the Royal En-
gineers' mess.
The old Traveller disappeared thia year.
Thij is the last ever heard of her : —
" Steamboat for sale at Kingston dock
yard. To be sold tiy auction, at Kingston
dock yard, on Tuesday, the 28th of the
present month. Her Majesty's staam vessel
Traveller, with her engines and boilers cmb-
plete." The advertisement proceads far-
ther to describe the steamer as "afine, fast-
going vessel of 1^2 tons, wit 'a a first -rata
engine of 90 horse power, ia parfbct con-
dition She is now riding at the moorings
in Navy Bay, off the dock yard, had a
thorough caulking in August last, when she
was housed over ; her hold and decks have
been well aired with heated stoves daring
the winter m^ ths. She may be examined,
and also her machinery, ev> ry day previous
to the sale, (Sundays excepted), within the
working hours
"A deposit of 25 per cent, to be made at
time of purchase, the remainder of the pur-
chase money to be paid before tho ship is
removed, which is to be done within one
month of the sale, at the sole expense and
cost of the pur-.-hasf<r." J as. Linton, Auc-
tioneer.
In 1844 was widely advertised the
DAILY LINK
BETWKBN BUFFALO AND NIAQARA
FALLS.
The fast sailinK. low praasura staamboat,
EMER/ r.T».
CAPT. VANALLKN,
WILL leave BulTalo every day for Chippawa
and Port Robinson, at 9 o'clock a.m.. I and
returninK will Irave Fort Robinson at 12 o'clock
noon, and the railroad dock. Ulilppawa, at IS
u'( jck. p.m., except on Sundars, when she wUl
leave ButlMo at the same hour for (Chippawa
only, and returning will leave Chippawa at 4
o'clock p.m.
By this route passenKors leaving BuiTalo at 9
o'clock a.m. will have an opportnnliT of view
ins; Navy Island, Niagara Falls and >o splen-
rtia scenery of Niagara river, anu arrive at
Queenston in time for ihe boats proceeding to
Toronto, Oswego, Roohester, Kingston and
I Montreal Returning will arrive in time for
' tha eastern ears and tJie boats going wast on
Lake Krie. Passengers leavmg Toronto in the
morning and taking ihe cars at Queanston and
tlia Kmerald at ChTppavra ^will reach BufTato
Ixi'ore 5 o'clock in the afternoon. Cars also
le.tvo Queenston in ttau erening after tha ar-
rival af the steamer that leaves Toroata at ii
p. n.
J IIP ISU.
m4
"Wpfppp^F
■^^•FWi
^w»ww»mpnpw
880
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
II 1
The Admiral left Hamiltoa for Oswego
every Tuesday and Saturday at 2 p.m. She
called at Oakville, Port Credit, Toronto,
and Port Hope both going and returning.
The Amaricau and Gore were on the route
between Toronto and Rochester.
THI CRUISEK CHEBOKKK.
Dorinc th< latter end of 1843 was com-
laeooed at Kingston a vessel of 700 tons
burthen which, when launched the follow-
ing year, received the name of the Cherokee
She was built under the direct superintend-
ence of Mr. Tucker, the naval constructor,
sent out to Kingston from England by the
Imperial Government. She was commanded
by Captain Davis, R. N. Her chief officer wai
Lieutenant Riccalton, while Dr. Pierce was
her surgeon. Her nrmament consisted of
six and nine pounder guns, eighteen in all.
P.he cruised between Kingston, Toronto,
Hamilton and Niagara. On her trips from
Kingston to Toronto and ba«k again Captain
Thomas Dick almost invariably piloted her.
His fee for this service was five pounds each
way, but he thought himself well compen-
8at<;d by the good time he had aboard with
the officers, and he used to distribute his
pilot fees among the men. After sailing
about Lake Ontario for some years the
Cherokee was taken to Halifax, and after
being lightened up was sold to Captain
Ga'skin. who was assisted in his purchase
by E. M. Yenwood. late of Kingston, then
roimectod with the Bank of Montreal.
Captain Gfinkin ran her as mail boat be-
tween Halifax and Bt. John's.
Another vessel named the Mohawk, also a
gunboat, but of very much umaller dimen-
sions, being only of 150 tons burden, was
built at Kingston about the same time aa
ttie Cherokee. She cruised on Lakes Erie
and Huron, Her first commander was
Lieutenant Tysscn, P.N. He was succeed*
ed by Lieutenant Herbert The Mohawk
was broken up in the early " fifties."
The Fronteuac, Captain Ives, plied from
Kingston to Toronto and vice versa.
1 he Charlotte, Bytovn iiid Caledonia ran
from Kin<;ston to Montreal as heretofore, as
did also a line of propellers.
The next season the Eclipse, Captain
Gordon, ran between Toronto and Welling-
ton Square for part of the time, and for the
latter portion of che year extended her
journeys to Hamilton. The America con-
tinned her (dd route from Toronto to
Rochester. The Queen Victoria, Admiral,
Transit and Chief Justice ran in connection
with each other, and also in connection with
the R. M. steamers from Toronto to Niagara
and the head of the lake. The Forester, a
small steamer of about 250 tons, was launch-
ed in the spring of 1845, and made her trial
trip on Rice Lake on April I5th. On the
16th of the following September she began
under Captain L. L Weller to run regular-
ly from Peterborough to Gore Landing.
The Gore disappeared this seasen from
Lake Ontario. Under the command of
Captain James Dick she was taken through
the Welland canal, from thence to Lake
Huron.
She was the first steam vessel belonging
to the mercantile marine that plied upon
Lake Huron and the Giiorgian Bay.
There were no material alterations made
either in the steamboats themselves or ia
their commanders for the season of 1846.
The Despatch, previously mentioned, ran
from Toronto to Hamilton, Captain Edward
Harrison being her captain. But if there
was little alteration in the vessels sailing
from one port to the other, there was a verj
great deal of change in the farea, ruinous
competition being the order of the day be-
tween, the rival owners. The Toronto Olob4
of May 13th thus refers to the subject in an
article headed
** THE STEAMBOAT MONOPOLISTS."
It thus writes :— " The high fares which the
owners of steamboats in this province have
levied on the public, and which we concttved
it our duty to animadvert pointedly upon
last year, are now producing their legitimate
fruits. The glitterin : prize has produced
strong competition between two classes of
proprietors who have hitherto not disturbed
each other. If the fares had continued rea-
sonable, such as not to put narrow limits on
the natural advantages this province enjoys
for travelling, this might never have oc-
curred. But unreasonably hi'ih fares have
produced a revulsion to the ether extremity.
Captain Richardson reduced the fare to
Kingston to $3, a fair price which might
have satisfied the public, and afforded
an ample remuneration to the proprietors,
but the opposite party was not contented
and now the passage, as we are informed,
may be mads for the ruinously low price of
$1, and between Toronto iiud Hamilton for
one shilling, or anything " The paper, after
sa:ne general remarks ou tlie subject, con-
cludes its article i y assuring the steamboat
proprietors that any attempt to revert to
the former high fares will only provoke new
and more determined opposition, adding, in
a somewhat lofty tone of patronage, " Cap-
tain Richardson's line, as far aswe can learn,
is best entitled to support."
A pleasure steamor, known as the Island
Queen, Captain H. Ives, ran from Kingston
to Wolf (^ Island, calling at Garden Island
daily. She made four trips each way. Her
season extended from May Isc to November
Ist, on the Bay of Quiute.
■WPPiP»i^i^PP!P^WWP^T^wwiW^P»w'
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
881
The City of Kingston, Captain VV. C.
Lawless, made three trips a week btween
Kingston and BeileTille, calling at the usual
•topping places.
A very important meeting, Mr. T. (libba
Ridout presiding, was held at Toronto on
December 28th, "for the purpose of
establishins; a line of freight propellers
between Toronto and Oswego." Mr. George
Brown, the well-known Canadian states-
man, attended and spoke in support of the
project. Mr. Brown also referred to the
injury done to the country by the exorbi-
teat steamboat fares which he said "shackled
business, confined knowledge, and were felt
M a grievous burthen by the whole of the
community." The meeting cam* to an end
■fter passing various n solutions relative to
vho water traffic.
Trade was exceedingly quiet and times
dull when the seabon of 1847 opened, so it
is not at all lurprising to learn that there
were great complain t» from the owners of
lake and river steamers of the scarcity of
passengers and the absence and smallnesa of
freights. The steamers America, Admiral,
EcfipM, Despatch and Chief Justice all were
on their accostooied routes. In addition to
these was a steamer called the Telegraph,
Captain Maaoo, plying between Toronto aud
Hamilton.
The Britith Canadian, published at To-
ronto, August 14th, in the same year
contains the following interesting no-
tice : " Marriage. On August 6th, by
the Reverend J. Barclay, M.A., at St.
Andrew's church, Toronto, Captain T. Dick,
steamer Chief Justice Robinson, to Joanna,
only daughter of the late John Carfrae,
Esquire."
This year was marked by the fearful
mortality caused amont; the efnifraats from
the United Kingdom to the Canadas by
typhus fever, or, as it was more generally
called, emigrant fever. No record exists as
to the number of those who died from
itt) effects, but it is generally believed
to have exceeded one thousand souls.
Two new vessels, that afterwards became
great popular favorites on the lakes, were
launched in the early summer of 1847. They
were the Passport and the Magnet. The
first of these was the property of the Hon-
orable John flaniilton. The Kingston
Chronicle of June 12th remarks in a casnal
manner, as if new steamboats were as plenti-
ful as blackberries, "We have heard that a
trial trip has been made of the Hon. John
Hamilton's new iron steamboat the ^.'asspert,
and that she proves to be, as was antici-
pated, the fattest boat on these waters. '
The second of these vessels, the Magnet,
was launched at Niagara. Mr. Gunu, of
Hamilton, was a very large shareholder. He,
in company with the president of the
Hamilton Board of Trade and several of the
merchants of that city, were present at her
launch on July .Srd. IThe materials of which
the Magnet was iuilt were imported from
£ngland. The vessel was a great credit to
the Niagara Dock Company, as well as to
Captain Sutherland, under whose direction
she was built. It goes without saying thi^t
the owners of the Magnet considered their
vessel "the best on the continent," but they
were, for Canadian steamboat owners of tho
day, fairly modest. They only advertised
her at first as "the finest vessel on Lake
Ontario."
These two steamers fulfilled, indeed more
than fulfilled, all expectations indulged in
concerning them by their owners. More
than forty-six years later, iu 1893, they are
both fttill on the route from Toronto to
Montreal, and are likely to long continue
there.
An accident occurred to the Transit
steamer, formerly owned by Captain Richard-
son, in July. While on a journey up
the St. Lawrence she struck a sunken rock,
which sunk her in shoal water. She
was raised and towed down between
barges to the Marine railway, Kingston, but
the fastenings giving way as she lay near the
wharf, she went down in deep water and be-
came a total wreck.
A well-known sailing vessel, the Scotland,
was built at Toronto and launched there in
May of Una year. Thomas Brunskill, of
Toronto, was her owner, butkhe did not be-
gin to make regular journeys until the fol-
lowing year. Navigation appears to have
had an early start in 1848, as the £olipse
resumed her trips from Hamilton to Toronto
on March loth, All the other lake steamers
b<;gan their journeys at the end of the same
ir.onth or very early in the following April.
STRANGK, THOUGH TRUK.
A correspondent of one of the Toronto
newspiipers, dating from Quceiiston, March
;K)th, 1848, relates : "This morning has wit-
nessed an unprecedented spectacle, long to
bo remembered in cuiincction with the Fall^.
Suddenly the waterfall retired to a consiit-
erablv extent , towards the centre, so that
the table rock was left dry sufficiently to en-
able those who had the good fortune to be in
the vicinity to go as far across tho river
above as to be directly < ver the tremendous
fall. This feat was accomplished by ladies
and others. Several bayonets, muskets, etc.,
wero picked op. The water has since re-
turned to neariy its osnal level. The can. ^
of theoccurrence is attributed to the acca-
mnlation of ice at the ingress to the river from
Lake Erie, dosiug for a time the ialot."
'"{rj
^mm^^^^^
882
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
iu :.
Of stebmers on the upper St. Lawrenc*, run-
ning in connection with the Hamilton, i'o-
ronto aud Kingiitou boats, the Empire, Cap-
tain Bonter, ran from the River Trent to
Monlreal and vice veraa, all through the
season, leaving Montreal on Mondays and
the i;ay of Quiote on Thursdays. The
steAiners Britisli Empire and British Queen
plied from Prescott to Montreal so long as
the river was open for navigation.
An accident attended with the most
lamentable loss of life occurred on Lake Erie
t.arly in May to the Cummsrce, a propeller
plying on that lake. The following extract
from a private letter written
by a lady residing near Dunn-
ville gives a very good account
of the circumstances. It is dated Port Mait-
land, May 9th, 1848, and reads as fol-
lows : —
" I fear my letter will almost be tco late,
I'ut this most melancholy accident on the
lake has so occupied all our alicnlion that
1 could not write before. You have proba-
bly seen full particulars of ft in the papers,
but as it occurred wiUiiu two miles of us I
will mention it again.
" The Despatch steamer, on her way to
ISuffalo, ran into the Commerce propeller,
bound for Port Stanley with a detachment
of the 23rd Regiment on board. She sank in
fifteen minutes, and forty men, women and
children were lost.
"The assistant surgeon had left a wife
and child in Kingston He was lost. The
other three ofiicers were saved but lost
everything they had. One of them said he
had just drawn three months' pay in ad-
vance. Henry went to see tliem today.
They were all taken on board the Mmos (the
Government steamer). We just now saw
them leaving in the Earl Cathcart. The
ensign (Sir Henry Chamberlain) and a few
men are to remain here to attend to the
melancholy duty of burying any of the poor
fellows rhose bodies may be cashed on
shore. They are bound for London. The
re;;imental plate, wine, stores, etc., a<-e all
lost, and a very large sum of money. About
seventy men are saved. The moat of them
were without clothes. They have been
partly supplied from Dunnville and this
neighborhood, and we all sent them all the
bedding and blankets we could spare. A
poor little fellow, son of the commiuary in
Montreal, waa going up with them for a
pleasure trip an i he was lost. You may
suppose it banished everything else from
our minds. ''
CHAPTER CCXLIV.
The Trade ef (he Lake Sllll Ceatlaaee U
Expaad— Tke Mali Steaasera mn* •tker
Matters.
With the spring of 1849 the ▼arions
steamships that were running in the previous
season between the lake ports resumed their
journeys. I he line from Toronto to Roch-
ester ran as in the season preceding, and
consisted of the same vessels There was a
slight change on the Niagara line, though,
the advertisement issued from the steam-
boat office, 22 Front street, Toronto, an-
nouncing that
THR STEANBR CITT OF TOBONTO.
IK PLACE OF THE STEAMER
CHIEF JUSTICE ROBINSON,
WT'ILL. until further notice, leave Toronto
TV (or Niagara. Queenston and Lewiston,
every Morninfr. (Sundays excepted), at half-
past seven o'clock, comme:)CinK on Monday,
April Ist. returning, will leave Lewiston at one
o'clock, P.M.
This arrangement only lasted a very short
time.
The Ad'niral, Eclipse and other steamers
all continued on their respective routes.
As an instance of the time it hen took
for a journey from T ronto to Ottawa, it
may be mtntiuned that, with hard work, it
might be accontplished in 48 hours ; that is,
from Toronto to Kingston in twenty, and
from the latter town to Ottawa in twenty-
eieht hours. The fo lowing advertisement
will show how tedious was the journey.
Under date Kingston, June 5th, 1849, Mac-
pherson & Crane thus advertise :
THE LOW PRESSURE STEAMER
BK4YBB,
CAPTAIN BELL,
WILL ply, during the Season, between
Kingston and Bytown, and vice versa,
twice a-week. as follows— leaving Kiiig->ton
every Tuesday and Priday Morning, at Nine
o'clock, and Bytown every Wednesday and
Saturday Evening, after the arrival of the
Phoenix from Grenvibe, afTording to Western
Travellers the most iiiterestinc: and comfort-
able route to or from the Caledonii. Spring",
downwards:
Will leave Kingston at 9 A.M.
Kingston Mills
Upper Bi ewer's
Joaei' Falls
Isthmus
Oliver's Ferry
Smith's Falls
Kilmarnoek
Morrickville
Burritt's Kapids
Beckett's Laitdins
Long Island
10
1P.M.
3 '•
0 "
9 "
10 "
12 Midnight.
2 A.M.
5 '•
B ••
9
And arrive at Bytown at 12 o'clock, noon.
The season of 1849 witnessed a terrible
accident to many of the paeeengers on the
steamer Passport, while on her journey from
Montreal to Kingston. It ie thns de^'cribed
by the Oiobe of Jaly Tst in that year : —
We regret to announce that a most fright-
ful accident occir.rred t < the steamer Pass-
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
■tlaaei t*
1114 •th«r
la Tarions
lie previous
umed their
) to Roch-
jiling, »n(i
here was a
19, though,
the Bteam-
DFonto, an-
«OWTO.
[ER
»SON,
MT« Toronto
d LewistoB.
«d). at half-
on Monday,
wiston at ono
i a very short
her steamers
e routes,
n hen took
Ottawa, it
liard work, it
jurs ; that is,
twenty, and
I in twenty-
advertisement
the journey,
[h, 1849, Mac-
e :
bamer
L'son, between
ind vice versa,
,'lng Kingston
pninB. ai Nine
fednesdny and
larrival of the
kg to Western
and comfort-
mi I Spring"'
at 9 A.M.
10 "
1P.M.
3 "
6 "
9 '•
10 '■
12 Mirtnight.
2 A.M.
5 •'
9 "
lo'clock. noon,
^•d a terrible
lengers on the
Ir joarnev from
%bns described
Lt year : —
la most fripht-
liteamer t'ass-
port on Thursday evening, on her trip up
from Montreal to Kingston. We have as
yet received no accurate account of the la-
mentable aS'air, except what we have been
enabled tu glean from passengers who reach-
ed here last evening, but we believe that
tho foll':wing narrative will be found sub-
stantially correct : —
It appears that the chief engineer of the
Pasapoi'l has recently been appointed to a
better situation, and his successor not
having been appointed, the boat on the
night in question was in charge of the
■eoond engineer. Unfortunately at t.he time
of the accident the second engineer had re-
tired to Ins berth, leaving an inferior ofBccr
in command — ha being, %a afterwai'ds ap-
peared, an illiterats person, unable to read
or write.
About 9 o'clock p.m. the Passport was off
Lancaster (16 miles below Cornwall), the
under dock being loaded with steerage paa-
■enaers — when the boat took the ground.
Orders were given to stop the engine and
back out ; it appears that to do this, from
the peculiar construction of the engine, the
engineer should have opened one co^k and
shut another. He opened the first, but it ia
said neglected to shut the other. The steam
in consequence rushed from the cylinder,
through the hot-well, in among the steerage
passengers — and the scene which followed
may be imagined. The shriek wiiich broke
from the unhappy sufferers we are assured
was frightful and was heard several miles
off. The utmost consternation struck all on
board, the character of the accident being
for some time unknown ; four persons jump-
ed overboarl, of whom two were saved, but
it is feared the other two were drowned.
Capt. Bowen and his oiHcers were most
energetic, and the simple nature of the dis-
aster having been ascertained and confidence
somewhat restored, every exertion wus made
to relieve the sufferers. A stirgeon came
off from Lancaster to their assistance, and
the scalded passengers having been brought
on deck, it was found that 44 were severely
injured. We are told that the scene during
the night was horrible in the extreme; the
cabin was strewed with men, women and
children suffering the most frightful agony,
an 1 the shrieks of the dying rang through-
out the night. After some delay the boat
proceeded to Cornwall, by which time nine
of the sufferers had expired. A coroner's
inquest was held by Dr AlcDonald and Mr.
Dickson, and evidence taken — but we learn
that no verdict was rendered, the enquiry
having been adjourned.
The sufferers in this unfortunate affair
were all immigrants. About twenty of
them were left behind at Cornwall, and the
up to Kingston,
additional dealha
remainder were brought
We understand that four
have resulted since the cot oner's inquest sat,
and that many others are very seriously in-
jured.
The following correspondence has taken
place between Capt. Bowen and the cabin
passengers who were on board the Passport
at the lime of the accident, and from what
we know of Capt. Boweu's assiduity as a
commander, and hia kindness to his pas-
sengers, we are satisfied that he deserves
all that is said of his conduct on this la-
mentable occasion : —
" On Board the Steamer Pa-tsport, \
'• June 28, 1849. /
" Captain Bowen,
'*Dear Sir,— We, the undersigned passen-
gers on board the steamer Passport, feel it
our duty to record our sense of the prompt
and able manner in which you succeeded in
allaying the fears of the passengers as well
as in averting, as far as possible, the danger
to which we were exposed on the evening of
the fatal disaster, which occurred on the
27th insl, on our journey from Montreal to
Kingston. We feel satisfied that the
lamentable occurrence was not in nny way
attributable to a want of due vigilance on
yeur part, as commander of the steamer,
aad we have much pleasure in tendering to
yourself, as well as to Mr. Howard and other
officers of the ship, our heartfelt thanks for
their kind attention to the unfortunate
sufferers on this melancholy occasion
"A. Logie, Francis Lee, Wm. H. Lee,
R. L. Lee, Julia Kirchoffer, Margaret
Blews, Frances Lamb, Jemima Cleland,
Lucy Alcorn, Anne Alcorn, Jane Huttou,
James Gullier, James Gmllier, jr., James
Hutton, Wm. SV. Woodcock, John Come,
Timothy Lamb, Thomas Yerman, G. H.
Cutlini, G. Powell, Frederick A. Ball, H,
D. Black, Wm. Heighton, A. W. Clelland.
A Baird, B. Cosgtovi, Samuel Alcorn."
(reply.)
"Steamer Passport, June 28, 1849.
"Major Loqie,—
"Dear Sir,— I beg to return our sincere
thanks fur the very handsome testimonial,
which yourself and fellow-passengers now
on board the steamer Passport, have so
kindly offered as a testimony of the
conduct of myself, Mr. Howard, and
othtrs, otlicers of the ship, on the
evening of the fatal disaster which
occurred on the 27th inst., on the steamer's
passage from Montreal to Kingston, and to
assure you that we shall ever enterta.n a
high sense of the kind consideration shown
to us upon that melancholy occasion by the
whole of the cabin i)aBaen<{ers.
" I also beg to thank ycu, sir, for the
^■•!-;'.
^••^^mm^
•wm
f^mie^r^
mmmm
mum,
884
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
very bandeoine manner in which you were
pleased to enclose the said testimonial.
" I have the honor to be, Sir,
"Your very obliged humble servant,
(Signed) " " VfM. BOWEN."
The following additional particulars arc
from the Kingston Argus ; —
On hearing of the unfortunate affair, the
owners of the koat immediately telegraphed
to Cornwall to have all necessary medical
•id supplied, and attendance given to the
sufferers
Below we give a list of the killed'acd in-
jured.— The two first on the list were young
women who jumped ov-erboard on the tirat
alarm and were drowned.
Drowned — Jane Roony, Hannah Forsyth.
Dead — Mary and Janu Brown, .Mrs. Glass-
ner and two children, Christina Ham hart
and one child, James Ferguson, Mrs. Boyd,
son and daughter, Mrs. Garvin and
daughter, Jane Calton.
Injured severely — Thomas Bridle, Hugh
Halton and wife, J. Fer&;uson, Arthur O'Con-
nor, John Brown, Thomas Gordon, P. Sul-
livan, Ann Hickey, Peggy Cummins, Ana
Brown, Robert Ross and wife, C. Knox.
Slightly— Catharine iMullin, Mrs. Small,
Wm, Cook, two Canadians, Huirh Mont-
gomery, Wm. Hannah.
TINNINO'S CIGAR BOAT.
A very peculiar vessel plied at this time
OR the bay between Toronto and the Island
opposite, known as the "Cigar Boat," from
tfao peculiar nature of its construction. The
hull consisted of three hollow cylinders,
bolted well together and pointed at ekch
•ad like a cigar. She w.is a steam side
wheel vessel, the property of Mr. R. Tin"
ning, the wharfinger.
She was anything I ut a success and in the
spring of IS50, owing to the floods that had
occurred both at the east and west of the
city, whereby the Don and Humber bridges
were swept away, Mr. Tinning leased the
vosssl, her machinery having been removed,
to the Toronto City Council, for use as a
pontoon brid'^e over the Don until the bridge
was repaired. Of course all the upper por-
tion of the vessel had been taken away ait
well as her machinery. The very
first night she was moored at
tk« Dor. the ferrymen who, when
ah« RMived found, like Othello, " their occu-
o<>.tion gone, " sank her, and she had, of
iwuitie, to be raised. Nevertheless, she was
'i^»>m placed in position, and guarded each
night by special watchmen to prevent
fnrthf r outrage. When the bridge was re-
paired, the old "Cigar," or what was left
of her, was not used for any other pur-
pose, but laid by, ana was eventually
broken up.
On March 20, 1850, the Toronto Examiner
announces that the steamers .America and
Eclipse have taken " their usual places on
the lake, ' the former plying between To-
ronto and Rochester, and the latter
between 'loronto and Wellicgton Square.
The same paper also refers to a
new line of steamers, consisting of the
Passport, New Era and Comet, that was
to be established on Lake Ontario and tlie
River St. Lawrence in the season then en-
suing. They were to run from Hamilton to
Toronto, thence to Montreal, touching at all
intermediate ports, in thirty three hours,
without transhipment. The steamer City
of Toronto was now wholly the property of
Thomas Dick. That enterprising mariner
had, during the winter of 1849-50, at con-
siderable expense furnished hor with new
boilers and iron paddles, refitted and put
her in such a state of good general repair
that she almost resembled a new boat. The
Toronto, in the early days of 1850, took the
place of the Chief Justice for a .)hort time
on the Niagara route, so as to allow the lat-
ter to receive some necessary repairs after
her winter work, which she had performed
without intcrmissioQ in rough and smooth
weather. A little later the Chief Justice
resumed her usual course. As soon as ever
Burlington Bay was free from ice in 1850 —
that was about April 1st — the steamer
Rochester, Captain John Masson, ran from
Browne's whatf for Lewiston and interme-
diate ports, meeting the steamers at Lewis-
ten running in connection with the Oswego
and Syracuse Railroad.
The "Horse Boat" has been fully des-
cribed in the " Landmarks," but the sub-
joined advertisement relating to that old
institution on Toronto Bay will prove in-
teresting to many readers ; it is headed
thus : —
CHEAP PLEASURE.
THAT Safe and Convenient Horso Boat, the
PENINSULA PACKET, will leave Mr.
Maitland's Wharf, foot of Church street, every
day at 10 o'clock, a.m.. VI, 2 4 and 6 p.m., for
the Peninsula Hotel. Hecurning at 11 a.m., 1,
3, 5 and 7 p.m. precisely.
Pare to and from, 7Jd Family Season Tickets
%i each. .Swings nnd Merry-go-round, etc., for
the amusement of Children. Dinners. Lunches,
Teas, etc., to be had at the shortest notice.
Good Pasture for Horses and other cattle,
which oan be conveyed over by the first boat—
noc later.
Toronto, 18.M). L. J. PRIVAT.
'J'errible floods, the result of two days' suc-
cessive rain, occurred on April 3rd. They were
attended by great destruction of property
throughout the entire province, especially
at Toronto. The Don bridge on the King-
ston road was completely carried away,
comii unication from iho east with Toronto
was for a time entirely cut off, aiid the east-
' I
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
I"^"""!
88r>
miner
» ftad
Ml on
n To-
latter
quare.
to a
>£ the
lat was
md the
len en-
ilton to
g at all
hours,
er City
)erty of
mariner
at oon-
ith new
and put
il repair
at. The
took thft
:)ort time
V the lat-
airs after
(erformed
id emooth
,f Justice
an as erer
in 1850—
B steamer
I ran from
. interme-
at Lewis-
he Oswego
fully des-
the sub-
that old
prove in-
is headed
ioBoat. vhe
leave Mr.
treet, everr
6 p.m., ler
11 a.m.. 1.
lion Ticltcte
iid. etc.. for
rs, Lunches,
notice,
ther cattle,
first boat—
PRIVAT.
o days' sue-
They were
property
especially
the h-ing-
Iried away,
lith Toronte
ud the east-
){
>
n3
O
o
;-y;;;r-.' V*
»'
H
irs
r. i!
i • :V
9'
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
M:::
»m audi delayed for about two days. The
bridge at the Credit was also greatly dam-
aged, the mail fer two days having to be
oarried over in a aeow. The awing bridge
at the mouth ot the Humber was carried
away,' as was also that over the .Mimico
oreek. la addition to the great destruction
of property, unfortunately loss of life had
to he added, more than one person being
carried away by the floods and drowned.
In the closing days of April the Toronto
Examiner reports a meeting held in King-
ston of the varioua steamboat owners on
Lake Ontario under this tieadiiig : —
" THE STKAMBUAT CONVENTION.
"A convention of the principal steamboat
IV'op'ioiors on both sides of the lake was
held at Kingston last week.
" 'Ihe agreement they came tu was this :
That through line should pay to the owner of
lake boats |1 on each cabin passenger and
half a dollar on each deck passenger brought
by them, the through line, from Montreal
to Hamilton.
" Mr. Bethune was to receive the amount
el. the fares for all pa-isengers carried from
Tttrouto to Lewiston that the through line
Drought to the former place from b«:low, no
matter in what boats they had their pas-
" The ra' ^ were to be the same as when
thft oprtoa kion ceased in the preceding
MMon."
^lui. withstanding this agreement there was
iBmethini; of an opposition, though it was
jiat sufficiently powerful to have any efifect
■upon the rates of passage. The freight
ttaar^ers that ran from Montreal to Toronto
and Hamilton, which included the Ottawa,
!Si-itaunia, England, Scotland, Ireland,
iiibernia, Western Miller, Free Trader and
Qommeroa, were all abls to carry from
nrenty to thirty cabin, besides a large
xumber of steerage, passengers. Depending
aB>they did upon freight for remuneration
siay were able to carry these passengers at
'•ry low rates. The agreement therefore
;ftat the other steamboat proprietors had
dSLfiered into was just what the owners of
:ixe. steam freight ships wished for. Several
Kii^ooners, amoni; them the Western Miller
iamd tiovernor, chartered by Mr. Dawson, of
I£alifax, N. S., ran in the season of 1850 bs-
:aMen Toronto and Halifax. They took
Sucadian and brought back West Indian
jpiaduce and Nova Scotiau fish. Another
abooner owubd by Mr. Thompson Smith
WHS engaged on the same enterprise.
AVhilc ascending Lake Ontario on April
^Bhd the propelb r St. Lawrence was struck
^lightning and veiy seriously injured
Sbppily no lives were sacrificed. The
lUngstea Whig of the same date has a short
paragraph announcing the ** first boat
of the ihroogh line, the Comet, Cap-
tain I'aylor, leaves Kingston for
Toronto and Hamilton at twelve o'clock
noon to-day This is the first boat
of the new line, and will be followed in due
succession by the New Era and Passport as
soon as they can be got ready."
The American line of steamers from
Oswego to Toronto, Kingston and intermed-
iate ports, consisted throughout 1850 of four
vessels, the Cataract, Day State, Ontario and
Northerner. 'I he Niagara, also an Ameri-
can vessel, made bi-weekly trips from To-
ronto to Oswego and vice versa.
The Admiral had new boilers put in during
the spring, and in June was put on the Nia-
gara route ad a morning boat from Toronto
to Lewistou. On June 7 the Governor-
General accompanied by seventy members of
both houses of the Legislature, about eighty
Government clerks and some dignitaries and
reporters, started from Toronto in the Chief
Justice for the Welland Canal, tor the pur-
pose of visiting the Public Works there pro-
gressing. The steamer returned to Toronto
the following day. A sad disaster, accom-
panied by awful loss of life occurred on Lake
Erie on June 17th, the steamer Griffith, with
passengers for Buffalo, being burned to the
water s edge. The number of deaths ex-
ceeded 250 souls. A new vessel named the
Highlander, atterwards one of ttie through
line from Montreal to Toronto, was built
and completed in July. She was described
by the press of the time as " a splendid
boat. " The Sovereign for a very brief period
in 1850 formed one of the R. M. line from
Toronto to Kingston, but in the end of May
was placed on the Niagara route and re-
mained thereupon during the rest of the
season.
On Lakes Simcoe and Huron there was also
what was known as the Koyal Mail Line of
Steamers. On the former the Morning ran
from Holland Landing to Orillia, from
thence passengers were conveyed by stage to
Sturgeoa Hay, which port the steamer Gore
left each wee.; for the Sault Ste. Marie,
caiiiag at all the intermediate ports.
The new steamer Mazeppa, Captain
William Donaldson, was in the very begin
uing of the season of 1851 announced to
commence running on or before the 15th day
of April, between Toronto and St. Cathar
ine4, leaving Toronto at 7 a. m , and return-
ing leave St. Catharines at 1:30 p.m.
Passengers who left Toronto by this route
arrived in .St. Catharines in time tu take the
line of stages (meeting the Emerald, tor
Buffalo) passed through a beautiful tract
of country, conspicious in which was the
Welland Canal, with its many splendid
LAXDMARKR OF TORONTO.
8S7
jautiful tract
888
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
■iM
docks, and also a viaw of Niagara Falls from
the British side of the rivor.
For freight or passage the captain was to
bo applied to.
SY8TKM OP SIONALLINO.
It Will be seen by the following corres-
pondence that a system of signals for the
coiirenionce o! the public attending the
wharves of Toronto by which the uncer-
ta nty as to which wharf vessels entering
the harbor would touch at, was remor^d : —
To the Editor of the Patriot.
Sir,— L this morntnK. sni^Bested to Captain
Richardson, our active Harbor blaster, the
convenience it would afford to the citiiinDii gen-
•rally as well as to the carters and c<^men. it a
signal were carried bj all steamerH entering the
part of Toronto during the day, dusiKnatinc the
whiirf at which ther Intend to put up.
To which suKffestion I received from Capta:n
Kichardson the enclosed reply which you will
oblige me pubiishingin tke Patriot.
Yours etc..
JNO. U. BOWES.
Toronto 8th May, 1851.
Habbour Master's Offiox, )
Hay 8, 1851. /
Worshipful Sir.— Reflecting upon your sug-
geatlon of this nnorning regardint; signals, it
struck me that they could not bu too simple.
All vessels possess a Union Jack, or ought to.
and thereupon I consulted with Capt. Suther-
land of the Magnet and Me agreed upon the fol-
lowing, to designate Wharfs, witii something
like the following announcement, if your Wor-
ship should see fit.
All vessels arriving at the Port of Toronto in
the day time, and desirous of protection froni
the anthority of the Corporation, will designate
the Wharf they intend to stop at by the follow-
ing signals :
Ver Oorrie's Wharf, Union Jack at Bowsprit
end.
For Browne's Wharf, Union Jack at Mast-
head.
For Maiiland's Wb irf. Union Jack at Staff-aft.
yor Tinning's Wharf, Union Jack in Fore-
rigging.
For HelUweH's Wharf. Union Jack over
Wheel house (land side.)
Vessels not finding room as expected at the
wharf designated, will change their signal to
that of any other wharf, where they wi^h to
seek a berth.
I have the honor to be.
Worshipful Sir,
Your most obed't servant.
HUGH RICHARDSON,
Harbor Mastkr.
Port of Toronto.
John G. Bowes, Esq., Maror.
There were but few changes in the early
part of 1851 in the vessels plying upon On-
tario or the St. Lawrence. The steamer
Comet met with an accident on April 21st,
whereby not only was the vessel rendered a
total wreck, but three lives were also sacri
ficed. While lying at one of the wharves in
Oswego her boiler exploded, and in addition
to those killed, many others were dread-
fully injured. Running on the !St. Law-
isnce from Kingston to Montreal in connec-
tion with the steamers on the upper lakst
were the Cotnmsrce, Western Miller and
Scotland, all steamers under the command
respectively of Captains Purdy, Cochrane
and Marshall. There were no alterations
on either Lakes .Sinicoe and Huron in tbo
sailing arrangements which had obtained ia
1850.
The Highlander, which has been mention-
ed as having been built in the summer of
185C with the Champion, also a new boat,
and the May Flower, formed a lino which
began its career on August 26th. It was
widely advertised thus :
NEW THROUUH LI.VB.
Toreato, Hamilton, Niacara
KulTalo Direct.
Palls aad
The New and Magniliccnt Upper Cabin
ijteamors
CHAMPION Capt. Marshall
HIOHLANDKR *' StkaRNB
MAYFLOWER " Paterson
Will run as follows, riis,:—
KPWAKUa.
FROM MONTREAL:
Highlander Champion Mayflower
luesdays Thursclays Fridays
At 'i o'clock p.m., and Lachine on the arrival of
the 5 pm. Trains.
FROM OGDENSBUROH.
Wednesdays Fridays .. Saturdays
At 2 o'clock p.m., or on the arrival of the Ex-
press Train.
FROM KINGSTON :
Wednesdays .... Krid.iys .. .. Saturdays
At 8 o'clock, p.m.. arriving at Toronto and Ham-
ilton early the next day.
nOWNWAKDS.
FROM LEWISTON.
Champion May Flower, .. .. Highlandsr,
Mondays .. .. Wednesdays .. .. Saturdays.
8} a.m.
FROM TORONTO:
Do., Do.. Do., Noon.
FROM KINGSTON.
Tuesdays Thursdays, .. Sundays, i a.m.
FROM OGDENSBURGH:
Do.. Do., Do., 10 a.m.
And are intended to arrive in Montreal the
same Evenines, in time for the Quebec
Boats, at 7 o'clock,
IN addition to the above named ports, the
boats will call at the other Important Lake
and River Ports. tST After the 20th day of
September, the Boats will discontinue calling
at Lewiston, and make Hamilton the port or
departure at 7) o'oluck. on the mornings of
.Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
I'he establishmenr of this Line will enable the
rterchants of Canada West to remain through-
our. the business day in Montreal, and to reach
their homes almost as early as if they had gone
by the Mail Line at noon, and connecting, as
the boats will do, with the up and down Ex-
press Trains at Ogdensburgh, they will afford
direct conveyance for passengers and freight
bi;:tween the Canadian ports and the Eastern
Stites.
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
lakM
: and
mand
hraa«
in tb«
led i*
nkion-
ner of
boat,
which
It waa
I* aad
iablB
^RSHAIX
KARNB
1TKR80M
[ayflower
Friday*
arriTal ol
.tttrdays
I the Ex-
[urdaya
and Ham-
Igblandar,
Saturdays.
Do., Noon.
»ya.4a.m.
)o., 10 a.m.
ntreal the
Quebec
portB. the
rtant Late
~Oth day of
lue oallinx
he port ol
lornlnga of
[ enable tha
in through-
id to reach
ly had gone
,necting. as
down Ks-
•wili afford
Ind freight
■he Eattera
It ii deemed unnecessary to dwell upon the
advantage! of Urflt-claHS iteamerci paHniiig direct
frc u the head of Lake Ontario to Montreal,
and vice versa, over thooe Lines tliai involve a
transliipmcnt (on the downward trip) ai an iiu-
soaaonable hour In the morning.
In compliance with a generally exproKsed
wish, on '.he part of the public, a separate
charge will be made for nieaU.
A9'Tbe Line will bn commenced by the
JIIGHLASDER. leaving Montreal on Tuks-
PAY. the L'Gth instant, the ClIAMI'IOS, on
Thukhday. the 28th. and the MA V FU>\VER
will be out next month.
For Freight or Passage apply to the Captains
onboard, or at the NRW THKOUCiH UNK
OFFICK, No, 30t McOill Street, or for Champion
a'<d May Flower, to Macphcri4on. Crane & Co..
Montreal ; Macpherson & Crane, . cscott,
Kingston and Hamilton.
Highlander, to Hooker & Holt on, Montreal,
Prescott and Kingston.
AGENTS.
CHAMPION AND MAY FLOWER.
Ogdenabargh C. A. Starke & Co.
Toronto K. M. Carruthers.
Hamilton Macpherson & Crane.
HIGHLANDKK.
Ogdensburgh G. A. Starke & Co.
Toronto E. Pridham.
Hamilton M. W. & E. Browne.
The new steamer. City ot Hamilton, Cap-
tain Harrison, left Hamilton daily at) 7 a.m.,
called at the intermediate ports and left
Toronto again on her return trip at a quar-
ter past two in tha afternoon.
A terrible accident occurred near Kinj;?-
ton on Thursday, August 14th. A party of
thirty-five persons, ail well-known residents
of Kingston, started from there on a pie-nic
to the foot of Lonir Island in a yacht, and on
their return the boat was capsized and nine-
teen of their number were drowned.
The Maple Leaf, Captain Wilkinson, made
occasional trips throughout the summer
from Toronto to Brockville direct, without
transhipment at Kingston, also between
Toronto, Hamilton an i intermediate ports
In October Captain Duncan McBride as-
sumed command of tlie City of Hamilton,
the vessel remaining on her usual route.
'Ihe Niagara Chronicle of ,)anuary 1st,
1S.52, commenting on the difficulties of
couimunicatiou from one part of the pro-
vince to the other, throughout the winter,
«ays, " 'I he fctcamer Chief •lustice still con-
tuiutis her trips hence to Toronto, but the
weather not infrequently interferes with her
regularity, besides which the ice in Toronto
l>ay for tome days past has prevented her
from reaching any ot tb« wharves. On
Monday she was run into the slip at this
port ; next morning the ice had3mad« so
fast she had to cut — a work of no little dif-
ficulty and labor, and her owner, Mr. Hern,
deserves no little credit for his exertions in
keeping open a communication of so much
public importance.'
Upon the opening of navigation in 1853
the Niagara route to the United States was
thus advertised :
QUIOKK8T ROUTE, TWO nOATB DAILY.
for Now York. Koston and the Wentern States,
via Luwiston and Niagara Fails 1
THE MAIL 8TRAMKRS
CHIEF JUSTICE ROBINSON
AND
CITY OF TORONTO
will, until further notice, leave Toronto daUy
at half-past 7 a.m.. and half-piwit 2 p. m.. con-
necting at Buffalo with the express trains goiac
East, also with the State Line Railroad ana
steamers going \V«k.
KKTinNINO,
leaves Lewiston for Tor nto at a quarter to t
a.ni., and 1 p.m., connecting with the through
steamers at Toronto to Montreal.
Passengers for the west from Toronto were
notified that
THE bTEAMBR CITY OF HAMILTON.
CAPTAIN JOHN GORDON.
"tiriLL leave Toronto for Hamilton every day
Tv at two o'clock p.m.. (Sundays excepted)
calling at Port Credit. Oakville. Uronte and
Wellington Square, weatber permitting.
Will litave Hamilton for Toronto, every
morning (Sundays excepted) at seven o'clock.
calling (weather permitting! at Wellington
Square, Bronte. Oakville and Port Credit.
Toronto, April '£ird, 1862.
The Princess Royal made each Friday
trips from Toronto to Hamilton and rice
versa, leaving the former place at 3 p.B.
and the latter at 8 a m.
Besides the Niagara line to New York
there was yet another by Rochester, whieh
was by no means ba-;kward in letting the
public know the advantages it could offer ;
tlie arrangements for 1852 were advertieed
as follows : —
DAILY LINK OF STEAMERS TO
ROCHESTER.
NEW AND
MOST EXI'EDlTIOUS
NEW YORK.
ROUTE TO
Throuifh from Toronto to New York in SS
hours; from New York to Toronto
in 2i hours.
TBS STEAMER " AMEKICA,''
CAPT. McBRIDE.
WILL leave Toronto for Rochester direct,
every Monday, Wednesday andFRiDAT
evening at 8 o'clock.
Will leave Rochester for Toronto, direct,
every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
morning at 9 o'clock:.
Passengers for New York by thi.s conveyance,
may tak the morning express train of cars
from Uorhester at 10 minutes after 8. and ar«
rive at Ni;w York about 10 o'clock same even-
ing, or take a steamer at Albany and arrive at
New York during the night. Passengers
loavins New York by the express train at §
o'clock p. m. will arrive at Uochester the fol-
lowinR morning in ample time for the steamers
I ' .' '•%
890
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
H
I '
.■'/ ' ■■■
' „ j
>•;
'<e,
«
H
U
H
a>
D
U
a
Bi
U
:^
•<
u
H
■fi
I .■ f
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
891
Ainerioaand Admiral. Thos* by thn America
will reaub Toronto in 24 hours from Nnw York.
The srramer Admiral Uaves Toronto (or
Rochester every Tuesday, I'huridajr and Hatur-
day morning ai half-past 10 o'clock ; and loavoa
Rochester (or Toronto every Monday. Wednes-
day and Friday mornlnff at 9 o'clock. catllnK at
OoDourK and other Intermediate portt.weainer
permitting.
Paasenffors by the above steamers can pnr-
chase tickets, at the o(Hce. or frnni the Pur-
sers «n hoard, for the Cam to Albany, New
York or Uooton : and also, (or the Rti>amboats
from Albany to New York. State Itoonis on
the Hudson River boats, cr.n be secured by ap-
plication to the Pursers of the Admiral
•r America,
Fare by Railroad, Rochester to New
YorK »7 10
Far3 by Railroad and Utver Steamers,
Rochester to New York |j 00
Fare by Railroad, Rochester to Now
York. 110 10
PassenKcrs from Hamilton, by leaving nn
Monday and Friday afternoon, at three o'clock,
in the Mail Steamers Princess Royal and Pass-
pon. will arrive in Toronto la time to take the
America for Rochester and arrive in New York
in 31 hours.
Between Toronto and Port Dalhouaie for
St. Catharines there was daily communica-
tion, notified widely under this heading :
SI, Catharines and Toront*.
STEAMER " MAZEPPA "
W. Donaldson, Master
ITTILL commence her regular trips on TUES-
W DAY, the 27th Inst.
Leave St. Catharines every Morning at half-
past six o'clock. (Sundays exceptrd.)
Returninr leayea Toronto at 2 P. M.
Passengers taking the Masepjta will reach
Toronto in time to take the boats for Rochester,
Kingston, Montreal and Hamilton.
A third route from Canada to the United
States was from Hamilton.where the steamer
Rochester, upon the opening of navigation,
resumed her trips to Lewiston, leaving Ham-
ilton at 7 a.m.; returning, left Lewiston at
1 p.m., conne ting with tlie United States
express and mail line of steamers to Ogdens-
burg, touching at all the intermediate ports.
In addition to all these various means of
transit thero were the six steamers forming
the through line from the head of the lake
to ttie lower Province and all parts of the
United States. It was described in a busi-
ness like way, thus :
THROUGH LINE.
FROM HAMILTON TO MONTREAL IN 33 HOURS.
Calling at Niagara, Queenston. Lewiston Cape
Vincent. Brockville, Prescott, Ogdensburgh
and other Ports on the St Lawrence.
THIS MAGNIFICENT LINE, composed of
Now, Powerful and Fast Steamers, titled up
in the mo3C modern and elcRant style, with
Upper and Lower Saloons. State Rooms, etc.
WILL LEAVE HAMILTON
Evert Morning, (Sundays excepted.) at seven
o'clock, as follows, commencing Monday next,
Wlh Instant :—
Mai'LK Lcak. Capt. Wilkinson, every Monday
Akarian, '• ColclcuBh, " Tuesday
New ItKA, " Maxwell. *• Wcd'jday
C'hamimon " Marshall. " Thursday
HioMLANDKR " Htcnrn^, " Friday
Mayklowkk, •' Patterson, " Saiiirduy
They will leave LewiHton and QiiecMiston
about half part "wo P. M , and arrive at Mon-
treal ab^ut Four P. .M., making the paBsaga
from the Niagara River to Montreal In about
twenty tlve hours.
UPWARDS: WILL LEAVE MONTREAL
KvERT Afternoon (Sundays excer ted) at Four
o'clock.
For Toronto and Hamilton direct, cnllinp
at Odffensburgh, t'rescott, tirnckvdle,
Kingston. Vobouru, Port Hope,
Darlington, etc.
Between Toronto, Lewiston, Cape Vin-
cent, Brockville and Ogdensburgh, there waa
a daily service of steamers. At the com-
mencement of the season these wore the
Northrvner and Hay State, each of 1,000
tons burthen. They connected with the
steamers British Queen, British Empire and
,leuny Lind at Ogdensburgh for Montreal.
Later in the season the Northerner was dis-
phcod by the New York, Captain R. B.
Chapman, the Bay State remaining under
command of Captain J. H. Ledyard.
The steamer Lady of the Lake, Captain
Seymour, made two trips oa'^h way daily,
between Kingston and Cape Vincent.
Tlicre was also a lino of freight steamers
between Toronto and Montreal, consisting
of the Britannia, Comet, Dawn, Free Trader,
Ottawa, Ontario end Western Miller. They
made each of them one trip weekly.
A law suit instituted by the owners of tho
steamer Magnet against those of the Maple
Leaf terminated on October 2.3rd, after oc-
cupying the court the whole of that dajr, the
evidence being so conflicting, in a verdict
for the plaiutilT with <!amages of $2,400.
On the sarne date expired in Toronto tho
commander of the Maple Leaf, Captain Neil
Wilkinson.
It was notified early in November that
THE STEAMER MAZEPPA.
WII 'j RUN the remainder of the Season as
follows, commencing on MONDAY, the
8th instant :—
Leaves St. Catharines evsry Monday, Wed-
nesday and Friday Morning, at Eight o'clock,
a. m.
Returning, leaves Toronto on every Tuesday,
Thursday and Saturday Morning, at Nine
o'clock.
Toronto. Nov. 4th, 1852.
Nearly at the close of the season a new
steamer, the Novelty, Captain Bonter, bega«
to make daily journeys to and from Kings-
ton and the Bay of Quinte.
The " independent through line steamer,"
as such siie was described, the Ocean Wave,
1 I
t. *
n
m
:l' •» II
! V
;4
892
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
;r *'
Allison ^^'ri<;ht, commander, ran during the
season once a, vtc^k from liamilton to Mont-
r«al, 'z-tving the first place each Tiicsday at
1 o'clock a. in , calling ut the interinediatts
ports between tliero and Toronto. She cou ,
tinned her journey eastxrard from Helliwell's
wharf at 7 a.m., and called at Wiiitby,
OiiiawA, Port Darlington, Bonii Head, Port
Hope, Cobourg, Kin.ston and intermediate
porta on the Kiver 8t Lawrence, runainp;
throu^rh the whole of the rapids, and arriv-
ed at Moutreal on Wednesday evenini;.
Returning ahe loft Montreal on Thursday
at noon, and, after making the same stop-
pages, arrived at Hamilton on Saturday
cveniniT. j
On Thursday, November 11th, a terrible
storm swept over the lake I'he wind blew
a perfect hurricane, which did not abate
until the evening of the 13tli. i he etl'ecU
wore most nalamitous. The sciiooner Albion
w<*s driven ashore on the Island opposite
Toronto. Nearly all her cargo was lost.
Serious as the matter was, yet it provokes a
smile to read iu a report of tiie disaster that
" the sugar was much melted." It would
have been very strange had it not been so.
The brig Erberts, of Chatham, was also
driven aground on. the bar, close to the
Queen's wharf, Toronto. An American
vessel, the Niobi e, of ^ackett's Harbor, was
also ashore at the same place, and narrowly
escaped beinc; a total wreck. As it was, the
dama(;e done to her was very great.
The Queen of the West, a new steamer,
commanded by Captain Harrison, began her
daily journeys to and from Hamilton and
Toronto on November 15th. She v as I hen
the largest British steamer on ihn lukes.
'ihe engines and boilers were supplied by
Gartahore, of Dundas. The hull of the
Queen was built at Oswego, and siie was
taken to Hamilton to have her boilers put
in. Her total length of wacl was 214 feot,
and her breadth of beam 56 feet over all.
Another noticeable vessel, the Peerlesa.
was in course r^ coniitruction in t!te autumn
of 1852. She was an iron ateaine' , built at
Dumbarton, Scotland, and was for the lake
route between Toronto and Queenston Her
builders warranted her to run 21 miles an
hour.
Navigation remained open until very late
in 1852, the schooner Eliza White arriving
in Toronto on December 15th, while the
Queen of the West was still tunning from
Toronto to Hamilton. It fini.lly ceased
about a week later.
The City of Hamilton, Admiral and
America all laid up for the winter about the
22nd.
The Mazcppa commenced on December
23rd to run between Toronto and Welling-
ton Square, and she continued on the course
throughout the whole of the winter. Tho
Chief Justice, Capt \Vikler, left the Queen's
wharf, Toronto, daily all through the winter
of 1852 and 1853 for I^wiston. The im-
ports at the port of Toronto for 1852
amounted in value to $2,557,268 48.
In 1853 the through line from Hamilton
to Montreal of the previous year was not
continued, its projectors having lost
money .
The American express line of steamers'
programme for the season extended from
June 1st to September 30th. Their rout*
was from O^deiisburgh co Lewiston, callin:;
at intermediate ports.
The Princess Royal and the Admiral
formed ihe daily lino between Toronto and
Rochester. The tirst of these two vessels
supplanted tne America, sold for $10,000
and sent to the l^ay of Quint* as a tow-
boat. The Cape Vincent Railway Company,
through Messrs. Mcl'herson & Crane, pur-
chased the MayQowcr, Champion and High-
lander, and under the name of the latter
firm ran ttieni as a daily line from Hamilton
to Cape Vincent, calling at all iuiermediats
ports.
The City of Hamilton and Queen of the
West ran as in 1852 from Hamilto.i to To-
ronto an i vice versa
Tne City of Toronto disappeared this .
year, being converted into a towbnat
The Chief Justice laid up to re fit after her
winter's work, on May 1st, and her place
was taken by the new iron steamboat Peer-
less, Captain Dick.
Among the freight steamers the Britan-
nia, Lord Elgin and St. Lawrence, the pro
perty of Mrs. Itrcwn, of Hamilton, ran
from there to Montreal. The Scotland,
Western Miller and Ottawa, owned by
Messrs. McPherson & Crane, took the same
route. The England, Ontario, Ilibernia aud
Free Trader, owned I y Messrs. Hooker &
Holton, were also on this route, as also were
the Dawn an i Protection, besides a third
VCS8 1, all the property of Messrs H. Jones
& Co., of Montreal. These were all the
freight s earners between the head of tiie
lake anil Montreal. In addition to these
the Muntmorenci ran from Hamilton to
Quebec, the Reindeer from the latter place to
Port Stanley, and the propoUor Brantford
from St. ("atharines to 5flontreal.
QUINN's new bTEAMKB
Among the new projects for the season
was John Quinn's steamer, the Citizen, built
to run between Toronto and the Island.
Quinu was a very popular man and had
previously been Kteward on board the Maple
Leaf and City of Hamilton. The achooner
Jenny Lind, Robert McCleau, master, car-
I I
T.\NI)MAR\S (»K TORONTO.
8f)3
kc cour««
er. The
, Queen's
te wii>t8f
The im-
for 1»52
i.
Hamilton
waa not
ring lost
steamers'
ided irom
n«ir rouM
;on, caUin4
e Admiral
'oronto and
,^0 vessels
;or $10,000
as n. to'*'*
y Company,
Crane, pur-
aand High-
the latter
,m Hamilton
iuxermediat*
Jueen of tho
iUo.i to To-
ppeared this ,
wboat
fit after her
d her p'ao*
amboat I'eer-
•s the Uritan-
rence, the pro
lamvHon, ran
L'he Scotland,
a, owned by
took the same
, llibernia and
I'rs. Hooker *
,e. as also were
jsiaes a third
sssrs H. Jones
were all t^h*
o htad of the
lition to these
Hamil'-on to
latter place to
llor Brantford
real.
.MER
for the season
tie Citizen, built
Ihe Island.
man and had
loard the Maple
The Bchooii«r
lU, master, car
re
H
><
C
894
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
ritd freight from Toronto, Hcending the
Welland Canal to Dunnville throughout the
■cason of 1853. The Mazeppa, Captain
Donaldson, resumed her course between
Toronto and St. Catharines.
Another sailing vessel, described as the
Brigantine Sophia, Captain John McGregor,
carried freight and a few passengers from
Toronto to Owen Sound.
Charles Thompson, steamship owner, of
Toronto, adrertisei on April 20th, 1853, as
follows :
The Subscriber having purchased the New
Fast Loto Pressure Steamboat
" KAMtOLAH."
HAS to announce that she will leave Dun-
villeon J»fOiVj9^F, Snd MAY nfxt, tor
tbe Sault de St. Marie and Sturgeon Bay. in
order to comnsence the usual trips, on the Old
Northern Route, between the above ports,
under the command of Gapt. Alkx. Mc-
Orkoor. and will stop at the fifteen different
ports on her upward trip, between Dunville
and the SauU de St. Marie.
For FitBiOHT or Passaee apply on board, or
to the owner, Church Street, Toronto.
The Ocean Wave, Captain A. Wright,
made occasional trips throughout this sea-
son frotA Toronto to Ogdensburgh.
In the latter end of April a change oc-
earred in the command of the Chief .lustice,
Captain W. Milloy replacing Captain
Wilder. The fast-sailing schooner Defi-
ance, Captain Mooclie, ran t%\ice a week
throughout the season of 1853, between To-
ronto and Niagara. Robert Maitland,
Chnrch street wharf, was the principal
owner.
Quinn's new steamer, the Citizen, made
her first tripa to and from Toronto and the
Island on Thursday, May I9th. The return
fare was only eight cents.
On Lake Simcoe in the season now spoken
of, the steamer Morning, Captain Charles
Bell, ran from Bradford Landing to
Barrie in connection with the stages running
from the former place to Toronto.
OCEAN WAV* BURNED.
One of the most melancholy disasters that
over occurred on Lake Ontario took place
on the morning of April 30th when the
steamer Ocean Wave was destroyed by fire,
when she wns about twenty-thrse miles west
•f Kingston and two from the Ducks.
The vessel was well provided with both
boats and buckets, but it was found im-
possible to obtain the former for the use
•f the passengers, as the fire in the I rief
space ot twenty minutes had consume i the
•abin. This oast&strophe re lulred
in the loss of twenty-eight lives,
fiiteen of these bein? members of the crew.
The schooner Emblem, Captain Be yea,
•f Rronte, and the Georgina, Captain lien-
AoraoD, of Port Do,?'' rendered the pas-
sengers of the ill-starred vessel every
possible assistance. The former convayioff
those rescued to Kingston.
On Friday, May 6th, the new steamer Citi-
zen left Brown's wharf, Toronto, at half-
past three o'clock, passed through ■she exfct-
ern channel recently fcrmed th' )ugh tho
peninsula, proceeded to the rivet- Hunib:!:-
and returned to Terouto in the evesing.
Only the day previously one of tbe local
papers pronounced this '('eat ' to be impos-
sible."
On May 5th Captain Gaskin, in eoia-
mand of the Cherokee, an ocean-goi&(
three-masted sailing vessel, left Toronto
direct fcr Liverpool, where she arrived in
safety on the 16th of the following month.
A tore and aft schooner known as th*
Jchn Hiseman was launched at the marine
shipyarr^, Kingston, on May 10th. She was
of 310 tons burthen, the property of Mr. \V.
Myers, and intended for the ti^nber trade.
The Toronto Leader of May 20th remarks
that " a first-class schooner called tho
Admiral was launched at Port Hope on tho
11th inst. She is of about 140 tons mea-
surement." This vessel was intended for
the timber trade. On June 1st the coroner's
jury which sa: to investigate the Ocean
Wave disaster and the deaths caused thereby
returned a verdict of what really meant
"accidental death." The captain wa<i ex-
onerated, as we>'e all his officers, in fac% do
one was to blame. The Toronto Leader —
and other papers concurred in its remarks
— very justly observed that "the public will
hardly be satisQcd to be told in effect that
in this nelancholy case no one is to be
blamed." The steamer Victoria, L. J.
Privat, commenced her regular trips be-
tween Maitland's wharf, Toronto, F,nd the
hotel on the peninsula on June 3rd This
note is appended to her advertisement :
" No connection with any other boat or
racing.'"
On Friday, Juno 10th, in the early morn-
ing, thf* steamer Admiral met with a similar
fate as had a few weeks earlier befallen the
Ocean Wave. While lying at the foot of
Browne's wharf, Toronto, she was burnt to
the water's edge ; happily no lives were lost.
The cause of the tire was supposed to be
purely accidental.
The Peerless, Captain Dick, which was
launched on January 6th, be;;ati early in
June to make daily trips to Niagara and
return.
ANOTHER -STKAMER BITRNED.
On Saturday, July 9th, yet another steam-
er tell a victim to tire, the Queen of the
West being entirely destroyed whi e lying
at her moorings in Hamilton Bay. The
losi of this fine vessel was locked unnn both
LAXDMAT^KS OF TORONTO.
SD,-
isel every
conveying
lamer Citi-
,, »t h»lf-
•ihe o^fct-
,1 HuniVsi-
tUe local
be impoi-
Ln, in eom-
ocean-goibf
.ft Toronto
arrived in
ring month.
,wn M *'«•
the marino
;h. She wft«
by of Mr. VV.
iber trade.
20th remorkt
called th«
Hope on the
40 tone mea-
intcnded for
; the coroner'*
te the Ocean
■aused thereby
really meant
iptain was ex-
Bra, in fac^ no
onto Leader —
n its remarks
the public will
■^ in effect that
one is to bo
jtoria, L. J-
ilar trips be-
jnto, end the
ine 3rd This
advertisement :
other boat or
tie early morn-
with a similar
,er befallen the
at the foot of
e was burnt to
lives were lost,
upp^sed to be
,ck, which was
be>^au early in
o Niagara and
ITRNED
, another steam-
Queen of the
hi e lying
ed
ton Bay.
lokei urvon
The
botk
1
ri
m
-'i
r
i
I
a
I!..,
i!;
89G
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
in f'amilton and Toronto as a public calam-
ity and much sympathy waa felt for Captain
Marrison, who was the largest shareholder
in the vessel, losing, besides, everything in
tho shape of wearing appr.rel ami
personal property that he hac' on board.
The Queen w«8 insured for only $28,000,
her value being quits double that sum.
T>' o new steamers to run between Hamil-
ton, Toront*) and Oswego were commenced
this summer at Niagara, They were for the
Canadian (t. W. R. , and were t) be 288 feet
lot<rr and the cost of their hulls was to be
$(i3,000 each.
IMying between tho Bay of Quinto and
Montreal, in 185.'?, was the St. Elmo, a
steamer intended more especially for the
freight trade, but carrying '. few passengers.
Cr-ptain Crysler, formerly /naster of thi
Prince cf Wales, command' ■.p-, Slie also
made occasi(jnal trips to Ca. •. nt and
Ogdensburgh.
In August it was announccn ^ the
Toronto Dally CoJoniM that
THE FINE. NEW. AND FAST-SAILING
STEAMKK
ftiEOKUR iMOFFATT OF CHATHAM,
Capt. W. O. Patton.
HAS now commenced runnini; between
Chatham ar.d Montreal.
The Oeorf/r Moffatt was built at Chatham
expressly for tho Western trade She has larsje
and hatulsome accommodatiou for passengers,
with safe and ample stowage for freight ; is
otrong built, and propelled by a powerful
engine.
'Iho Moffatt will ply recnlsrly between hct,
native Port and Montreal, toiichin;^ at any'
point down or upwards where she may have
passcnRers or freiglit offered ■ r to deliver, re-
moving thereby an irnpediniont to intercourse
with tiie West, heretofore seriously felt.
Apply to
WILLIAM M. GOURIE.
Yonge Street Wharf,
Toronto, 30th August. 1833
The steamer George Moffatt only remain-
ed on this route for a brief period
Tho navigation opened in 18.')4 early in
April, There were several changes. The
May Flower, that in ISo.S belonged to the
t ape Vincent line, was purchased
by Stark, Hall & Co, of Ogdenshurgh, to
form in connection with the Boston, a
freight line between Ogdenshurgh, Toronto
ftnd Hamilton.
The Highlander and Champion formed a
tlaily connection between loronto and Cape
Vincent.
The \\ elland (2nd), Captain Donaldson,
built at St. Catharines early in 18o.'i, ran
from that port to Toronto iii place of the
Mazeppa, which made a daily trip from
Toronto to Whitby. The Welland was 184
feet long and 22 feet wide, " her speed was
to equal that of any boat on the lake"— of
•ouree 1
Tho Peerless commenced on June 5th t«
make two trips between Toronto and Nia-
gara diiily, leaving the tirst place at 6 a.in.
and 12:,'{0 p, m.
On La;.es Simcoe and Huron the Moiiiing
and Kaloolah ran as in 1852.
On June 10th the Highlander, Captain
Mcliride, until now on the Cape VincenI
line, ! 'gan to make daily trips from Hamil-
ton to Toronto and return. She called at all
intermediate ports Captain Mcliride was
a most obliging man. If any passenger re-
sidin : on tlie lake siiore between the Credit
and Oakville was on his vessel, he would
always, when opposite their residence, sound
the steam wliistic so that a conveyance
ini;;ht bu sent by their families to m«et
them
Amon ,' sailing vessels on the lake trading
between the various ports were the bartjue
Northerner, owned by Messrs Ooodeham
& Worts of Toronto, the Curolitie and tho
.\lert, the two latter schooners also balong-
ing to the same port.
i h ■ Brilaniii I, Ranger, England, (ieorge
.Moffatt and Hibernia, with several others,
formed a litie of freight steamers plying as
heretofore from Montreal to Kingston, To-
ronto anci Hamilton.
THE KAMOtTS ZIMMEKMA.Nf,
On May tith was launched at Niagara the
steamer Zimmerman, Captain James Dick.
This vessel was built by Oliver I' Macklem,
of Cliippawa, and she was bound to complete
til disc nee betwee" Ni.igara and Toronto
under two hours. She received her name
out ot comi)li i;ent to Mr. Zimmerman, the
famous tinaiicier and railway magnate of the
early"liftie3," who met such a fearful death
a few years later in the Desjardins Canal
accident
Mr. Macklem was constructing at the
same time another steamer called the CI f-
loii, of similar diintnsions o the Zimmer-
man, to run from Niagara to Buffalo.
A famous trading schooner, known an the
Accommodation, ran from 'oronto to God
ericli on Lake Huron. Colin Munro was
in 1851 her master.
Tlie follo\'. ing is the list of vessels,
with tlieir captains, which formed the
through freight line from Hamilton to
Monti eal duriti the season of 1854 : — Otta-
wa, Captain McGiath ; Britannia, Captain
Beatty ; England, Captain Hannah ; lli-
beinia, Captain .Vlowac ; Ontario Captain
Stoker ; St. I,Awrei;ce, Captain Savage,
with the Free Trader, Lord Elgin and Garts-
hore, untler Captains >ioore, Bruce and
Herd respectively. In November another
<h»nL:e w.is made in the route of tl'.e <i;.-h-
lander, likewise iu fair captain, Robert
Kerr succeeding Captain .^uluBride.
June 5th t«
;o and Nia-
ce at 6 a. in.
ihe Motuing
er, Captain
ape Vincent
from Hainil-
called at all
Icliride was
)aasenger re-
n the Credit
q1, he would
.deuce, sound
conveyance
1133 to inael
lake trading
~e thu barque
J Coode liam
line and the
\ also balong-
;laud, (ieorge
everal others,
■rs plying »»
KiuK»ton, To-
,MAN.
a Niagara the
1 James Dick.
r Macklem,
nd to complete
and Toronto
ed her name
nmernian, the
Kagiiais of the
fearful death
jardina Canal
icting at the
illed the CI f
the Zimmer-
|];uffalo.
known aa tbe
Ironto to God
In Munro was
3t of vessels,
formed the
Hamilton to
1854 :— Otta
iknni*, Captain
Hannah ; Hi-
Itario Captain
Iptain Savage,
Ij^in and Garts-
fe, Bruce and
jmber another
or tl'.e li^'h-
Lptain, Robert
Uu JtcBiide.
J' •>
CAPVMS THOMAS DU'K.
(op. SDC)
I 'f
'1%
;» •':
, I
l^)»!i
h' n,
!•:■!
f:i
, ; '^ 1 4fM
. : ^4-\f
im
I '
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
897
She then made two trips a week from Toronto
lo Rochester, calling at all intermediate ports.
The Chief Juntice and Queen City also ran
durine the winter season of 1853 between
Hamilton and Toronto and vice versa. A
deplorable accident occurred on Lake Huron
on November 28th to the steamboat Bruce
Mines, on hor passage from Goderich to the
Bruce and Welling^ n mines. She was
totally wrecked f'ff Cape Huron. During a
heavy gale which prevailed on the i ight of
November 27th she sprang a leak, which so
gained on her that on the morning of the 28tli
it was discovere<l she was sinking, the captain
and crew having barely time to take to the
boats and get clear of her before she ft under-
ed. One man, the carpenter, wks actually
dragged down by the sinking vessel and
drowned without the possibility of being
rescued. Both steamer and cargo were a
total loss, but thev were fully insured.
On December 2Sch arrived at Queen's
wharf, Toronto, the steamer St. Nicholas
from St. Catharines, the schooner James
Hunter with damaged wheat from Niagara,
and the schooner Detianc* with wood from
the same port. This shows to whac a Ute
da e navigation remained open.
aOOD-BYB QUKKS CITY.
On Monday, January 22, 1855, at 9:30 p,
m., the steamer Queen City, formerly Lady
of the Lake, lying at the Queen's wharf, J o-
ronto, was discovered to be on fire. She had
been employed throughout the winter in
making daily journeys from Toronto to
Wellington Square and when the fire broke
ouc the vessel was lying with her head to
the west, ready to start on the following
morning. The captain and crew were on
board, but were wholly unable to'arrest the
profrefs of the lla i es. Captain Thomas
Dick cut her away from the wharf and she,
swinging round its corner, went clear of all
the shipping. The Chief Justice and the
Welland, which were lying alongside, had
ropes attached to the burning vessel and
succeeded in dragging her out into the bay.
H«re the (/hief and the VV'elland kept her in
tow and thus prevented her drifting in and
endangering the safety of the other vessels.
Half an hour after the fire originated the
Queen lay a helpless trunk upon the waters,
and at 11 o'clock hardly a particle of her
woodwork was visible. When the Quean first
came upon the lake in 1840 she was con-
sidered the fastest boat afloat ; at her demise
ihe was looked upon "as the very slowest boat
oo the lake." The steamer Welland, Cap-
t&m Donaldson, took her plauo imme-
diately.
Commencing January 8th, 1855, the Chief
Justice began to run for the winter, from
the Queen's wharf Toronto, to Niagara.
On the morning of February 7th, the
steamer Chief Justice, in en«leavo:ing to
make the Humber harbor, the weather being
thick, hazy and snowy, it being impossible
to see a hundred yards ahead of the vessel,
kept too far up the lake > nd grounded at
Van Evory's Point, about one hundred and
fifty yards from the shore. The mate
immediately left for Toronto to consult
Captain Dick. Two days later the 1 oronto
Fatiiot annoMncea : — ''The steamer Chief
Justice is olf and all right and will leave ou
hor regular trips to-morrow at 8:.'S0 a. ni.
for Lewiston. ' The steamers Zimmerman
and Welland went alongside of her on thu
morning of the 9th, shifted her cargo on to
the Welland, then all three boats b eking
off together, the Chief came oil' at once with-
out any trouble and without suifering any
damage.
On .March 14th the Maple Leaf, Captain
Robert Kerr, commenced the season between
Toronto and Rochester. > he left the former
port each Wednesday and Saturday.
Throughout the season of 1855, the £u-
ropa, a new steamer, ran from Hamilton to
Niagara, and the Welland, as in the preced-
ing year. The Peerless and the Zimmeinian
formed the Toronto and Niagara line.
In a great storm which occurred on Lake
Ontario on April 18th, in tins year, the
schooner Defiance, Captain Corkin, was lost
with all on board. The steam tug Porcu-
pine, on .May 19lh, was burned to the
water's edge on the river St. Lawrence,
near Prescott, but happily no lives were
lost.
The steamers Champion and May Flower
formed the Cape Vincent line. The Cliiof
Justice was commanded by Captain Mur-
dock, a new man among the list of captains,
and ran, as previously, from Toronto to
Hamilton. The Highlander and Maple
Leaf formed the line that ran from Toronto
to Rochester, and there was no change in
their commanders.
On July IGth, in connection with the
Great Western Railway, the steamers Cana
da and America, Captains C. E. \NiHoughby
and J. Masson, commenced running daily
between Hamilton, Toronto and Oswego.
These two steamers hod both been built
by the railway company.
A three-masted sailing vessel, called the
City of Toronto, was launched at Toronto ac
the close of the summer. She w.is an ocean-
goine vessel, and arrived in Liverpool after
a safe and prosperous voyage ou
October 4th, 1855, Unhappily, her
life w. 8 a very brief one, as
she was lost in the Suaits of Bello Isle un
August 17th, 1857. Her first voyage wai
dccomplislied in just twenty-four days.
'i
n
m
i
11
■ > ■ \i\
i
tl.l
■.i-l-
898
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
On Lake Siincoc.in tins yeur,the Morning
continued to ply under *hc siinie cavitain.
The Kaloululi, Oxt'orJ and Muzeppa ran
fron Colliu:wood to O.^on .Sound and inter-
mediate ported. An American steamer,
known as the Keystone State, ran in con-
nection witii tlie Nortiiern liailway each
Thursday froinCollin^wood to Chicayo.
Tile Oxford just mentioned ran aground
in Lal;B Huron during the autumn and be-
came a total wrecli.
During tlie winter of 1855 and '56 there
was, as usual, little movement of any vessels,
either steam or sailing, on the lakes Upon
the re-opening of the harbors in 1850, the
followi. steamers began to ply : — The
Pcerle . between Toronto and Hamilton ;
the Cnief Justice, between Toronto and
Presqu' Isle ; the Mayflower and Champion,
between Toronto and Cape Vincent ; the
steamers Canada ;ind America, from Hamil-
ton, forming a ssparato lino for both freiLjht
and passengers between that city, Cape Vin-
cent, Brockviile and Ogdensburgii.
J here was also the
AMERICAN MAIL LINE,
consisting of tliu Cataract, Bay State,
Northern and Niagara Their route was
from Niag.ira to Toronto, 11 jcliester, Oswego
and Ogdensburgh.
.3:45 o'clock, p.m., for Prescott and Ogdens-
burgii and intermediate porta.
Tlie river steamers connected at Ogdens-
burgii witli the American Express Line of
m 111 steamers — Cataract, Bay .State, North-
trncr, and Niagara— connecting at Brockviile
with the Grand Trunk Pi^ailway, where pas-
sengers could embark on one of the above-
named boats, (Hiect for Cape Vincent, Nia-
gara Falls, ilamilton and ButTalo.
They ran through to loronto in 20 hours,
an 1 to Niagara Falls and Hamilton iii 24
hours.
Also lonneoted at Ogdensburgh with the
United States mail line of steamers— On-
tario, Cataract and Niagara — for Alexandria
Bay, Clayion, Kiug.iton, Sackott'a Harbor,
Oswego, Rochester and Lewiston.
Tlicse lines of atea.nners connected at Nia-
gara and Lewiston witli the Kriu & Ontario
Railroad, Lewiston & Buffalo I lull road.
Great Western Railway, Michigan Ceiiiial
Railroad, Michigan Southern Railroaci, and
Lake Shore Railroad, and steamers from
Buffalo — for all ports west.
Passenifcrs had the privilege of stopping
over at Niagara Falls or any other place of
interest on the route.
1 ho Europa plied between Toronto and
Oswego, and the Boston formed a through
"^^-^
THE STEAMEU ElTRfPA.
Besides these lines there was in addition
the American Express Line of river steam-
ers, described ab being from Montrea', " the
shortest and quickest route to all western
ports, Niagara Falls, and Bufl'alo.'"
This line comprised the flrat-class river
steamers Jenny Lind, capt, L. Moody ;
Montreal, Capt. J. Laflamme ; British
Queen, Capt. A. Cameron.
One of the above river steamers left Mon-
treal (Sundays excepted), at 12 o'clock, noon,
from the Canal Basin, and Lachiiie on the
arrival of the cars which left Montreal at
freight and passage line between Montreal,
Kingston, Toronto and Hamilton; calling at
Cobourg, Port Hope, and other North Shore
ports. Captain James Gibson was in com>
mand, and John Macpherson & Co., Ca al
Wharf, Montreal, were agents.
Between Montreal, Kingston, Bellevilk'
and River Trent the steamer St. Helen, C.
B. Crysler, master, left Montreal every
Thursday at 2 p.m. The agent was J. A.
Glassford, Watson's Buildings, ChivaI
I'asin.
Other freight steamers between Hamil-
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
800
jre of stopping
other place of
ton, Toronto and Montreal were the
Ranger, I'awn, Protection and Oahawa,
boloiiging to If, & I. Jones, of Mori-
treal. Ileaides these, there were th •
Western Miller, Scotland, George MofTatt
and Colonist, of Holcoinb & Henderson's
Line, also of Montreal, and the Free Trader,
Hibernia, Lord Elgin and I'lesoott of the
same place, the property of Hooker.
Jac(iues & Co. There were, in
addition, the Huron and Rowmanvillo
on the same route. Ilelweeii Toronto,
Kingston and Montreal were also the City
of Hamilton, Kentucky and Willy Niokol,
of \\ ilson Ikown's Line. All these vessels
were principally freight steamers, but if
they could obtain passengers they were quitK
willing to carry them.
In addition to these veascls Jones fc Co.,
of Montreal, ran from that port to King-
ston, Picton, Belleville r.nd Trenton The
new upper cabin steamer Trenton, Captain
DeWitt, left the Canal wharf for the above
and intermediate ports each Tuesday at one
o'clock. N. M. Bockus, of the Canal wharf,
was the agent.
The person just named was also the agent
for that steamer which had such a very
short life on the lakes, namely, the Monarch.
She I an from Montreal to Kingston, To-
ronto, Hamilton and North Shore ports,
being described as 'the new and powerful
steamer Mons-rch," under Captain A. Sin-
clair. She left the Canal wharf for the
above ports on Thursdays at six o'clock
Jones & Co. occasionally ran a freight
steamer direct from Montreal to Chicat^o.
They thus advertise one of these ventures
on September 12th : — " Steamer for Jhi-
cago, calling at ports on the Welland Cunal,
Port Stanley, Amherstburg, Windsor, De-
troit, and Port Sarnia. 'I he new low-pres
sure propeller \\ hitby, Lepine, master, will
leave the Canal basin for the abave ports,
on or about Thursday, the 18th inst. , at six
o'clock. For freight or pas.sage apply to
H. Jones & Co., Wellington street."
Two large schooners each of 400 tons
burthen, were built and launched this year
at Ottawa. They were called the Alliance
and Joshua Beard, and were intended to be
used as colliers.
A new steamer called the
KINU OF ALGIERS
vaa launched at Toronto on April 17ch.
She was the property of Mr McCord, of
that oity. Her length was 131 feet over all,
and her breadth nearly 30 feet. She was in-
tended for use as a tow boat.
An advertisement, dated May 12, appeared
in the Toronto and Kingston papers in the
same month, inviting tenders for the re-
moval cf the wrecks of the steamer Queen
City and the schooner Royal Tar, which
were impeding the navigation of Toronto
harbor It was signed by ihigli Richanlson,
harbor master, of Toronto. The schooner
had been wrecked in the early part of tht
yi-ar.
March 12th, 18r>7, is a date long and .sadly
remembered by many iainilics throughout
Canada, as there occurred on that <lay the
lamentable ra Iway Occident by which so
many (jeople lost their lives at the Desjar-
diiis Canal, near Hamilton it would be
foreign to the scope of this narrative to
more than refer to this sad event, as the
railways of iho province are only indirectly
connected with its marine, but it may be
mentioned that two prominent owners of lake
ves'iels perished and another well-known
owner narrowly escaped with his life. Those
who were killed were Mr. Samuel Zimmer-
man, of Niagara Falls, after whom one of
the best known steamers on Ontario was
called. The second was Captain Sutherland,
whose name has so many times been men-
tioned in connection with the various ves-
sels. Captain Sutherland was buried at
Hamilton on March 16th, and Mr. Zimmer-
man at Niagara on the same date.
Another victim was Edward Du£Seld,
who had been for some time an officer on
board the Europa. The late Mr. Thomas
C Street was the prominent shipowner
who, though injured, was happily pre-
served. He was a near relative of the
Macltlem family, of Chippewa, liko himself
extcn ively interested in the shipping of th«
lakes.
On .May 22nd, 1857, the Toronto Colomit
writes : — " Buffalo harbor is still entirely
closed with ice, and not likely to be cleared
for several days."
With the opening of the season in 1857
the steamers Passport, Captain Harbo tie ;
Banshee, Captain Howard ; Champion,
Captain Sinclair ; and New Era as a spare
boat, formed the through line between Hamil-
ton, Toronto and Montreal. The Peerless
and Zimmerman were again upon their old
route. The Welland also resumed her jour-
neys as in 1856, while the ^ Me Leaf and
Highlander were on the 1 ■ ,,omToron:o
to Rochester and intermediaco ports.
The steamers New York and Northerner
plied from Lewiston to Toronto, thence to
Cape Vincent, calling at Port Hope and
C bourg, and from there to Urockville and
Ogdensb :rgh. Another line between To-
ronto. Rochester, Oswego and Ogdeiisburgh
consisted of the Bay State, Niagara, On-
tario and Cataract. A small vessel called
the Rochester made daily trips from King-
ston to Capo Vincent, and vice versa.
The Kaloolah made her usual trips
■ ' i
:>m
i'ii
U03
LAN DM AUKS OF TORONTO.
■ii ■'
M%
^■l:
tlirou^houl the suasoii to tho 8ault Hi*.
Marie, but ovoii tlieu it waa a vary long and
tedious journey from ToruiKo to the " Soo. '
Oti Lake Siniuoo the J. C Morrison niii<le
daily tripsi. The frei^'iit stcainerg from
Montreal to Toronto and Hamilton were
grratlv augmented. 'i hoso were divided
into three lines, uxuluMive of aes'crul indo-
Imndunt lines. Hooker, Jacciued k Co.'s
ioals were tlio Wellington, Avon, Ottawa,
Free Trader, Knglau I, St. Lawrence, Hiber-
nia and I'rcscott.
Their steiimers rau with more or less
recularity from Montreal to I'rescott, Kin^^s-
ton. No. th Shore ports, Toronto and IlamiU
ton.
'J'hey also had what they described as
" Hooker, JiKiues & C o'fi through line of
■teamurs for Lake Erie, Windsor and Chat-
liam." These steamers left on Saturdays at
six p. ra., callinc at St. Catharines, ports on
Weliand Canal, Tort Dover, Port IJurweil
and I'ort Stanley.
Jones, lilack & Co's. vessels were the
Wliitby, Oshawa, Ranger, Protection and
Dawn
Their steamers ran to Hrockville, King-
ston, North Shore porta, Toronto and
Hamilton. They also in this year as in the
previous one occasionally ran a steamer for
Chicago, calling at .St. Catharines, Thorold'
Port Colborne, Port Dover, I'ort llurwell,
Port Stanley, Amherstburg, Windsor, Port
Sarnia, and at Goderich if sullicient freight
offered.
licnderson & Holuomb owned the George
MotTatt, Reindeer, Colonist, lirantford,
West.rn Miller, Uritannia, Scotland and
Huron.
They designated theirs as a " through
line' to Prescott, Kingstoii, North Shore
ports, Toronto and Hamilton, and adver-
tise'1 that they had most superior accom-
modation for passengers.
Another of this firm's so-callc I " through
lines'' was to Windsor, .-Xmlierstburg and
Detroit, calling at Port Stanley, Port Dover,
Port liurwoll, and ports on the Welland
Canal; and taking freight for Chatham,
Sarnia and Goderich.
Of steamers belonging to independent
owners, and who Mere a law unto them-
selves, were the Kovvmanville, Captain
Perry ; the Malakoff, Captain T.te ; tne
Inkernian, Captain Mackintosh : and the
Oliver Cromwt-ll, Captain Kidd.
On April 4th the Toronto papers an-
nounced the death at Niagara on the dav
previous of Captain Colcleugh, late com-
manding the Arabian . He was in his 50ch
year, and had made many friends al.' through
tin; province.
The vessels of the through line between
Hamilton and Montreal connected through-
out the season of 18.17 at L'ulxiuri; with the
Maple Leaf for U )chu3tcr, and iit Kingston
with tho liay of t^uinto steamers, ami with
tho Rochester, already mentioned as run-
iiiug to C'apu Vincent.
A re.'alia muj hold in Toronto harbor an
Queen's IJirthlay, May '24th. The events
announced were a yacht race for the
Queen's cup, valued at £15 cuirency
or $(iO, ami two rowing matoiius. F
tho Queen's cup five yaulits entered
the Queen, Odprey, Wave, Cygnet,
and Rivet. After a spirited contest, in
which loine handsome sailing was sliown,
the race was won by tho Wave, she coining
in in galUnt style three ininutcd ahead of
all her eoinpetitnrs. Severa entries had
been made for the rowine matches, bu' at
the time appointed there were but one or
two appearances, consequently, greatly to
the disappointment of the public, no race
took place.
A UEPlOKAHLE EVKNT.
On Mity 29ch the boiler of the propeller
Inkorman, of Kingston, exploded while
tiiat vessel was bucking out from Up-
ton & Ikown'a wharf, loroiito Her
entire crew were eitiier killed instantly
or dreadfully wounded. Thsre waa
but one passenger on board, a young lad'
named Eliza MctJill ; she too, was dread full
injured. After tiie explosion the only poi-
tion of the Inkerman presenting anything
like its original appearance was that part
lying forward from the oliice where the
bocks and papers of the vessel were kept, to
her bow, u distanje of some twenty feet.
The vessel was, in fact, an absolute wreck
and only a small portion of the cargo was
ever recovered.
Yet another fearful disaster occurred on
the St. La>vrence river at a point called
Carvugo when the Montreal steamer, with
over 400 passengers, was burnt to the water's
edge and about 200 of those on board, chief-
ly Scotch emigrants, were drowned.
1 he Free Trader propeller, belonging to
Hooker & Co., of Montreal, was also wreck-
ed at about the same time.
The steamer J. C. Morrieon, plying on
Lake Simcoe, was totally des royed by lire
at Bell Ewart, on August 5th. Nothing
was saved e.\cept the cish box aud somo ac-
count books.
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
9()1
CHAl'TKR CCNLV.
THE ROYAL MAIL LlNE-1840 TO 57-
How thr ('ttiiiiiiiiiy >ra« ForiiM'tl iiiid ivlicre
Kolaliit' Mi<-iimcr» niid ibrlr laplulii*—
Ucll Uciui-iiiliercd OlllrluU.
In 1S4(> u joint stock cuinpmy was formed
at Niii!,'arii, cullud thu Niai'.wa Hai'binii' and
Dock Company, aud uuder their auapiucs
^•veral now ve^sola wure Ijuilt, out of wliiuli
was formed llie " Koyiil Mail Line of
Stvumers ' 'I lieao began to run as boon as
navigation opened in the followin;^ yeai,
b'.'ing widely ad vertisL'il uud«r thu heading ; —
UUVAL MAIL >rEAMKHS.
LAKE ONTAKIO ANO UIVEK ST, I.AWKENCE.
The pui lie arc informe 1 that the follow-
lowing aru the arraiigomunts for this suasou :
LAKE ONTARIO.
BKTWEES KINGSTON AND TORONTO.
St. (ieorge, C a{)t. 'Twidiy ; Niaj^ara, Capt.
Sutlierlaud ; i ity of loronco, Capt. Dick
FJiOM KINGSTON.
At half-past 7 o'clock evening, Sunday
a id i hursday, the St. George.
At 8 o'clock evening, Tuesday and Friday,
the Niagara.
At S o'clock evening, Wednesday and Sat-
urday, the City of Toronto, and arrive at
I oronto early next day. 'I'he above steameis
await the arrival of the Montreal mail at
Kingston.
FROM TOHONTO.
At 12 o'clock noon, Monday and Thursday,
the Niagara.
.\l 1*2 o'clock noon, Tuesday and Friday,
ll'.o City of Toronto.
At 12 o'clock noon, Wednesday and Sat-
urday, the St. (ieorge, and arrive at Kings-
ton early next morning. 'J'ho above boats
call at Coboutg and I'ort Hope each way.
And the City of Toronto will leave Tor-
onto for Niagara and Lewiston every Mon-
day morning at 8 o'clock, and return to
Toronto in the afternoon.
UTVKR ST. LAWRENCE.
Ijutweeu Kingsston and Uickiusou's Land-
IIU'.
liUocKViLLE, Capt. Maxwell.
From Kinizston at 9 o'clock morning -
Sunday, Wednesday aud Friday.
From Dickinson's Landi'c at 4 o'clot'.;
inoniinj,', (or on the arrival of . the mail
fioiu .Montreal)— luesday, Thursday and
Saturday.
11 UILDERSLEEVE. Capt Rowpn.
From Kingston at 9 o'clock morning —
Tut-sday, Thursday aud Saturday.
From Dickinson's Landing at 4 o'clock
morning, (or on the arrival of the mail from
-Montreal)— Wednesday, Friday aud Sun-
day.
H (iiLDERSLEEVK, Capt. Roweu
From Kingston at 9 o'clock morning—
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
l''rom Dickiii.suu's Landing at 4 o'clock
ni rni<ig, (nr ou the arrival of the mail
from Montreal) — Wfduesday, Friday and
Sunday.
From arrangements which have lioo i
made with the Upper Canada Stage and
Steamboat Company of Montreal, passen-
gers between .Montreal and Kingsiou arrive
at those places on the afternoon of the
second day.
i he above boats call atCiananoque, Urock.
ville, .Maitland, Frescott, Ogdeusburgh, Ma-
tilda and Willi insburgh each way.
Raggage and parcels at the risk of the
owner, unless booked aud settled for a*
freight.
Luke and River Steamboat Oliice, 'k
Kingston, Ist May, 1841. /
Of tiicse steamers the .M (ieorge has often
b en mentioned and fully described. The
Niagara belonged to the Honorable John
Hamilton >he was built at Niagara and
was of 475 tons burthen. On her trial trip
from Niagaia to Kingston she accomplished
the distance in 16 hours, a remarkably liigh
rate of speed.
THE CITY OF TORONTO
was built at the same place, and was of some-
what large;- dimensions than the former ves-
sel, huvui); 500 ions burthen.
For the season of 1842 another new steamer
of 5UU tons, also built at Niagara, named
the Princess Ro\ al, supplanted the St.
George, Captain Colcleugh being in charge.
On the Niagara Captain Elmsley displaced
Captain Sutherland, and the City of To-
ronto was commanded aa formerly. There
were no other changes, and the steamers
ran as in 1841, connecting with the Rrock-
ville and Gildersleeve at Kingston for
Diokinson s Landing.
In 1843 the .Niagara had become the
Sovereign, remaining uuder her former cap
tain, and there were no other alieralioiis,
excepting that the steamers connected at
Kingston for the first time with vessels run-
ning direct to Montreal. Their adv«rtisis-
nieut ran thus : —
MONTREAL DIRECT.
The New Low Fressure Steam boats,
CIL\11L0TTE AND BYTOWN,
Will leave Kingston for Montreal, des-
cending all the Rapids of the St L;iwrenco ;
and iMontreal for Kingston, calliug at ail
the intermediate ports.
These boats being strongly built, expressly
for the navigation of ihe River .'St. Lawrence,
and having low-pressure engines, all'ord a de-
I
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LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
■irable conveyance to peracnR wishing a
safe, comi'ortable and speedy passage.
-•■'pply to the captains on board, or to
Maui'Herson & Crank.
Kingston, July 4th, 184.'}.
Ill the next year, 1S44, the I'oyal Mail
Steamers icconimenced their trips early in
May, inert" being no alterations what:'ver
))etween Tcro-iio and KinLrston, either in the j
vessels or their commanders, but a third j
steamer, known as the ("aledonia, was added |
to those running between Kingston and i
Montreal. Three of the.'te steamers also
began to run in 1844: between Kingston :.nd
Coteau du Lac, namely, the Highlander,
Captuin Stearns ; the Canada, (2iid) C»p-
tain Lawless, and the Gilderslceve, Captain
IJowen. The latter the year previously had
run with the Brockville from Kin slon to
Dickinso'.i's Landing. The Canada above
mentioned was a large vessel of 450 tons
bur hen, built at Prescott. Her master.
Captain Lawless, had previously been in
con-.tnand of the Kingston.
The Highlander, built at Coteau du Lac
iu 1841 or i84"2, was a very much smaller
vessel. Captain Stearns, who commanded
her, was her first master.
There was also a forwarding liiM of
■teamers between Kingston and Mon-
treal, consisting of the Favorite, Iki-
tannia and Rob R y, under Captains
Jone4, Maxwell and Dickinson respectively.
On iluly 1st the Koyal Mail Line reduced
their fares in consequence tf the opposition
they experienced from the Frontenac, ('2nd)
Captain Ives, Cabin was $3, decK $1 50
on thj latter ; whereupon the mail steamers
made their fares $2 and 50 ccntB for each
class respectively. The original fares had
been S3 50 and $1 50.
The next season, 1845, saw a good many
changes in the Royal Alail Line, Captains
W. and Henry Twohy superseding Captains
Elmsley Aiid Cololeugh on the Sovereign and
Princess Hoyal respectively.
In 1S46 there was no change in the ves-
sels comprising the mail line between To-
ronto and Kin ston. They remained as
they werfi the season previously, and the
changes in. nhe steamers connecting with
tlieni at Toronto and Kingston were very
■light
Running; in coimectiou with the R. M.
steamers between Toronto and Niagara, as
r/eil as between the former port and Hamil-
ton, were the steam rs Chief Justice Robin-
son and Eclipse, aad excellent accommoda-
t! u they afforded toe public
.he following year, 1847, the same
steamers were employed in the Royal Mail
service as in ^846, but the newateamei Masf-
aet was added to the Hat.
These continued to ply in 1848, and in
connection with them, briween Montre I and
Kini^ston, were the i'assport, Hijhiander,
Canada. (2ud) and Henry tJildersleeve, com-
manded by Captains Bowen, Stearns, Law-
less and Maxwall respectivelv.
Xext year, under the heading "Telegraph
Line, Fares Reduceil,'' the steamers of the
Royal Mail Li le are thus advertised for the
season : —
DAILY LIN'E OF ori'OSITIOX STKAMERS.
From Kingston to Montreal.
I'he fast-sailing steamers Fashion, Captain
Wells ; Lord Kl;,'in, Capt. Farlinger,
in connection with the Royal Mail Steam-
ers Sovereign and Princess Royal, leave
Kingston every morning (Monciays excepted)
for Montreal, at a quarter past six o'clock,
and go through same day.
Passengers by this line will arrive at Mon-
treal in tliirly-iwo hours from Toronto.
The steamers Sovereign and Princess
Royal leave Toronto for Kingston every
day (Sundays excepted) »t twelve o'clrck
noon.
Cabin passage — Toronto to Montreal, (meals
included,) £1 0 0.
Deck passage — Toronto to Montreal, (with
out meals,) £0 5 0.
Royal Mail Office, \
Toronto, .hine '2Gth, 1849. /
Tlie riTer steamers were the same as in
1848.
In 1850 there were again changes in the
R. M. line, it couMistiiig once more of
three steamers from Toronto to Kingston,
namely, the Princess Royiil under her for-
mer captain, the Mai-net, Captain James
Sutherland, and the City of Toronto, also
under her old master. For a very short
time in the beginning of the season the
Sovereign, Captain Neil Wilkinson, formed
one of the line to Kingston. Tiiis was while
the City of Toronto was employed elsewhere.
In 1851 the Passport displaced the Sov-
ereign, Captain Henry Twohy being in
command of her, there being no change in
the other steamers.
In 1852, though there were few changes
on the lake steamers, the vessels indeed with
their commanders remaining the same, there
were many minor alterations The arrange-
ments for the season were as follows : —
LAKK ONTARIO.
1'he steamer Magnet, Captain J Suther-
land.
'J'he steamer Princess Royal, Captain J.
Diok,
J h>5 steamer Passport, Captain H. Twohy.
nOWNWARDS.
Magnet- On Mondays and Thursdays,
leaving Hamilton at 7'i a.m., and Toronto at
ai to 1 D. m.. for Kini'ston.
"-p
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
903
•ame M in
tew chan.ees
Is indeed with
he same, there
The ivnange-
oUows ;—
Royal — Oil Tuesdays and Fri-
1 orouto to Kin^'ston, at a ^ to
Princess
days from
1 p.m.
Passport — On Wednesdays and Saturdays,
from I oronto to Kiup;8ton, at a ^ to 1 p.m.,
arrivinc at Kingston next morning, in time
for the river mail boat, which readies Mon-
treal early same evaning.
Calling at intermediate port?, (weather
pormilting. )
fI'\VARl>3.
Passport — On Mouiirsia and Thursdays,
from Kingston to Toronto and Hamilton,
at 3 p. n<., on the arrival of Me river boat,
arriviiif at Toronto early next morning,
and let ■ n thervjfor Hamilton at 8 a.m., and
return from Hamilton to Toronto at a p.m.
on 1 ueattays and Fri'iays.
Maijnet — On Tuesdays and Fridays, from
Kingston to Toronto and Hamilton at 3
p m on the arrival of the river 1 oat, ar
riving at Toronto early next morning, and
leave liieru for Hamilton at 8 a.m.
daily, leaving everv veek day at noon, and
on Saturdays at 10^ o'clock, arriving at
Kingston at 2 p.m. the next day.
DowNWAHus — From Kingston to Mon-
treal, daily, at 5^ am., arriving at Mon-
treal tlie same evening.
Calling at(yOteau du Lac, CornwaU, Dick-
inson s Landing, East \Villiam»bu;g, Wejt
Williamsburg, Matilda, I'rescott, Maitland,
Brock ville and Oananoque.
rCoyal Mail Steim Packut Office, \
Front street, Toronto, May, 1852. /
^laiiy as were the alterations in the
smaller details of the R M. Line in 1852,
they were small as compared with those
effected in IS.'jS.
This season saw four steamers on the
lake, and also four on the river, instead of
three, as in the preceding season. Those oa
the former waters were the Arabian, Cap-
tain Colcleugli ; the Maple Leaf, Captain
.Te.mes Dick ; the Maguet and Passport, com-
uiamled us in 1852.
THE STKAMER ARABrAIT.
Princess Royal — On Wednesdays and
Saturdays, from Kint;ston to Toronto and
Hamilton, at 3 p.m., on the arrival of the
river boat, arriving at Toronto early next
morning ; and leave there for Hamilton at 8
a.m., and return from Hamilton to I oronto
at li p.m., on Mondays and I nursdays.
niVER ST. LAWRKNCK.
The steamer Ottawa, Caplaiu I'utnani.
The steamer Lord Elgin, Captain Far-
ling.jr.
ThesieamerSt. Lawronce, Captain Howar'.
Upwards — From Montreal to Kingston
Of the river s^eame^8 connecting with
them at Kingston, the New Era was added
to the three already upon the route from
there to Montreal.
Tiie next season, that of 18j4, sawchaujes
again, the R. M. Line once more consisting
of but three steamers, their louie being di-
rect from Hamilton to Kingston.
The three steameira were the Magnet,
Arabian and Passport, the two former still
under their old coniinaiiders, wiiile the Ust
was under Captain Harbottle, in place of
Captain Twoliy, the former remuiumg
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LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
in command of her for many subsequent
years.
That if now (1S03) thirty-nine years a^o.
and Captain Harboltle in a green old ago,
is still living, while one of iiis sons, like his
father I cfore liini, worthily to himself and
with credit to h s principals, ooinmanda a
Jake steamer.
No changes occurred in the vessels or
their captains in the season of 1855, but in
lRr>6 there were very many.
The boats ran through from
lIAMII.TdS TO i-KESCOTT
direct, and there were four packets as there
•wer3 in 18.J.S.
It was described as the quickest and most
direct route from Hamilton to Toronto, Dar-
lington, Port Hope, Cobourg, Kingston and
Montreal.
The following were the arrangements of
this line for the season : — The River Line,
composed of the Banshee, Capt. Howard ;
New Era, Capu P. <». Chrysler ; St. Law-
rence, Capt. Maxwell ; Ottawa, Capt. Kel-
]ey, left ilie canal basin, Montreal, (laily, at
nine o'cloLk a. m. , and Lachine on the arrival
of the twelve o'clock (noon) train from Mon-
treal (except Sundays, when they left on the
arrival of the nine o'clock train), calling at
all intermediate ports, arriving in Kingston
early on the following day, where they met
the f.ake Ontario steawiera Kingston, Capt.
iinmilton; Passport, Capt. Harbottle ;
Arabian, Capt. Sclater ; Magnet, Capt.
Twohy, for Cobourg, Port Hope, Toronto
and Hamilton, connecting at Hamilton with
the Great Western Railway for London,
Chatham, Windsor, Detroit, Chicago, Mil-
wiukrc, and all ports on Lake .Michigan ;
and at Lewiston for Niagara Falls, ButTalo,
and all ports on Lake Erie. Passengers
taking the evening tr in of the 'Jrand Trunk
Kaih^ ay met the steamers at Coteau Land-
ing;, thereby avoiding hotel expenses at
Brockville. 'I"he lake steamers also con-
nected at I'rockville with the morning ex-
press train, and was the only direct line tor
Kingston, Cobourg, Port Hope, Darlington,
iind Toronto. 'Jo tourists this line afTorded
a most comfortable, pleasant and fxpeditious
conveyance, the steamers being fitted up
with elegimtly furnished saloons and state
rooms, passing through the beautiful sccnerv
cf the Lake of the Th.iusand Islands and all
the rapids of the St. Lawrence by daylight.
In 1857 there were yet more changes, the
line leing advertised as being '* the only
line without transhipment," and being made
up of the following tirst-cla.ss steamers,
vii : -Kingston (iron), Captain Kelly ; Bun-
sliec, Captain Howard ; Passport (iron),
Captain Harbottle ; New Era, Captain
Maxwell ; Chumpion, Captain Sinclair ;
Magnet (iron), Captain Twohy — built ex-
pressly for lake and liver navigation, com-
modious, staunch, and well found with every
requirement for safety, and fitted and fur-
nished with every modern convenience and
comfort.
One ot these steamers left the canal basin,
Montreal, every day (except Sundays) at 9
a.m., and Lachine on the iirrival of the noon
train from Montreal, for Hamilton and in-
termediate ports, direct, without tranship-
ment, connecting as follows :— At Hamilton,
with the « Jreat Western Railway for Lon-
don, Chatham, Windsor, Detroit, Chicago,
(.ialena, St. laul. Milwaukee- etc. ; at To-
ronto, with t' • Northern Railroad for
Mackinaw, (ireen Bay, and all ports on
Lake Michigan ; at Niagn- vith the Erie
& tjntario Railroad for ? .»ra Falls, Buf-
falo, Cleveland, Toledo, L lumbua, Cincin
nati, etc.
To families moving west the advantaLes
were unequalled, the steamers running
through without transhipment din ct to tl:a
railway depots at Toronto and Hamilton.
The Royal Mail Line had now lost its
cistinctive character, the bulk ot the mails
being at this time carried by the railways,
but it is impos.sible to conclude this descrip-
tion of the line without a brief reference
to some of its leading officials and ship
owners.
Among the former no one claims, and
claims more worthily, a place, than the
SECRETARY AND TREASUBEH
for no less than fourteen years — Mr. G. B.
Holland.
Mr. Geo. B. Holland was born at Montreal
on the Sth of March, 181G, and was the
oldest representatiTf of the Holland family
who settled in the city of Hull, Yorkshire,
England, some time durint' the sixteenth
century. His father, Mr. Ralph B. Holland,
was born in Hull, Yorkshire, in 1764, and
his mother, Miss Reylanco, a descendant of
the De I'rendergasb family, was born at
(.lonmel. County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1780.
Many of Mr. liolland's ancestors were en-
gaged in shii ping and soire held high rank
in the Royal Navy. The father of Mr. Hol-
land was brought up to no profession, hav-
ing on his coming of age ample
means. Ho was, however, induced to
engage iii speculation and lost
thereby most of his fortune. Throut.'h tlie
inducnce of his friend. Col. O'Neil, of th"?
14th Light Dragoons, ho obtained a super-
numerary official position in the same legi-
ment, with rank and pay of major, and saw
service in Ireland during the disturbed .state
of the country after the rebellion of 1798,
On the breaking out of the war of 1SI2 with
the United States, Mr. Holland, senior, ex-
—built ex-
ation, com-
I with overy
;ed anil fur-
enieiicc and
canal basin,
indays) at 9
of the noon
Iton and in-
ut tranship-
it Hamilton,
vny for Lcn-
oit, Chicago,
3tc. ; at To-
Railroad for
ill pons on
rith the Erie
•a Falls, Buf-
nbuB, Cincin
e advantages
lera running
c'lirf ct to the
Hamilton,
now lost its
of the mails
the railways,
3 this descrip-
rief reference
als and ship
8 claims, and
I than the
UBEK
—Mr.
G. B.
at Montreal
and was the
oUand family
ill, Yorkshire,
che sixteenth
>h B. Holland,
in 1764, and
descendant of
was born at
land, in 1780.
itora were cn-
eld high rank
ir of Mr. Hol-
fession, hav-
acre ample
induced to
and lost
Through the
I'Neil, of th-j
nsil a sup»"i-
he same ri'gi-
lajor, and saw
isturbed state
lion of \~9^*
r of 1812 with
id, senior, ex-
op. IHJl
(TKORIJK lUTHTON HOI. I. AM)
Kuriiiei'ly Socrotaiy Royal Mail Line o! Sieaniers.
>'<'•' pji. itii,'), !Ki(
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LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
905
changed into the 19th Light Dragoons,
which regiment was under onlera fi r Can-
ada Tlie headquarters of tliis regiment
were stationud at Montreal. On peace being
proclaimed he left the servico and settled
tliere in 1820. He then, with his family,
went to the United States, lu 182S here-
turned to Canada and took ill at Port
Hope and died at bisson-in-law'a house, the
late Dr. Hutchison. The family then settled
in ^'ork, row Toronto. Mr (Jeo. H. Hol-
land, the subject of this notice, was educated
at Peterboro, Ont., under tiio late Rev.
Samuel Armour, rector of Cavan, with the
view of following the profession of medicine.
On the breaking out of thn Mackenzie re-
bellion in 18!}7« Mr. Holland went to To-
ronto and joined the First Incorporated
Df goons, and was about three years in
that i-erviceaa Acting Quarter- Master.
In 1841 he wasappointed purserof the Royal
Mail Steamer Sovereign, under command,
first, of Capcain Sutherland, and then of the
Honorab e Captain Elmpley.
In 1843 he was appointed secretary and
treasurer of the Mail Line owned by
Donald Bethune, Andrew Heron and
Captain Thomas Dick, all now deceased.
In 1857 he embarked in the hardware busi-
ness, in 1866 Mr. Holland was appointed
superintendent of the London and Lanca-
shire Insurance Company and the Phoenix
Lite of Hartford, and in 1870 1 ecame
manager of the Ontario Branch Agency of
the Equitable Life. In 1880 he assumed
the management of the Unicn Mutual Life
of Portland, Maine, and in 1884 was as-
sistant manager of the Etna Life. In
September, 1887, he took the responsible
post of special agent to the Canada Life
of Toronto, and held the same position until
his death in 1889.
Mr. Holland married in 184.3 Miss Cowan,
only dangliterof the late Alex. Couan, senr ,
of Pittsburgh. County of Fron enac, Ont.,
grand-niece of the late (. apt David, of
the Royal Navy. Mr. and Mrs. Holland had
bix daughters and threu sons born to them.
The eldest and youngest of the latter died .
CAPTAIN WILLIAM OOKDOK,
Of he captains ami other otficers who
sailed on the steamers of tiie R. M. Line, or
on those directly connected with them, the
following reminiscences may possibly be read
with interest : —
There were in the fleet several old salts,
originals in their way, brought up as regu-
lar seamen, having navigated nearly all
quarters of the globe in sailing vessels.
One in particular, Capt. \Vm. Gordon, a
brotl-er-in-law of Capt. Thos. Dick, was a
noted sailor of the old school, and had all
the feelings and prejudices of hia clatis
against any innovation of established rules
of all sailing crafts, and had a most
thorough contempt of steam as a means of
propelling power, which he said was a hum-
bug, •' a delusion and a snare." Mr.
Bethune was at the time Capt. (>ordon made
his appearance in Toronto I utiding at
Niagara the steamer Admiral, and ar-
rangements were made that Gordon should
command her. In fitting it out he had
the steamer rigged as much like a soa-goinGC
sailing craft as possible, two masts, large
main and foresail, foretopsail, square sail,
jib and flying jib, and a four-pound car-
ronade mounted on the bow. The vessel
was painted black, with a narrow streak
of white around above her gaar<ls. All
the Royal Mail steamers on the lake when
built were rigged in the same way. The
City of Toronto and Princess had three
masts, I'ut after a time this rigging waa
found in the way and caused accidents, so
they were changed, and reduced to only one
mast and jib, and soon Gordon had the mor-
tihcation of seeing his tavoiite rigging
removed. He said " the owners were «
■et of lubbers, for what did they know about
it, and who ever heard of a ship without
masts !" Capt. Gordon was one of the
finest and best hearted men possible, and
a g.eat favorite with the travelling public.
Hu had always a funny story to relat*.
He was very partial to his cabin waiter, a
colored man, known as Harney, well ad-
vanced m years and most faithfuL Ha
trusted him with the key of the locker,
and when he a^ked his friends into the
cabin, to taste some particularly flne bran-
dy, Harney a'w.\ys attended to their wants.
One day he told Harney to bring on soma
biscuits, a morsel of old cheese, and " the
trimmings." The captain looked at tlie
bottle, and said "Harney, hows this?
\N here is the brandy I left yesterday ?
Who has been drinking it ?" Old Harney
quietly replied, *' I don t know, Sar, 'spect
it must 1 e either you or me. ' The Captain
then said : " Look here, you old black ras-
cal, I don't want your asaistance in drink-
ing my own brandy, and if this occurs again
1 will stop your grog, so now take a horn,
and put the rest away." " Thank you.
Captain," said Harney, " I won't take no
more till you give ine leave." Poor Capt.
Gordon ! During the cholera of 1849 both
I e and his excellent wife were carried otF.
In appearance he was a fine-looking man,
about six feet in height, well built, per-
haps rather too coipu'ent. He was every
inch a sailor, and in listening to his yarna
one would be reminded of that splendid
character portrayed by Dii kens in his " Doin*
bey & Son," (,'aptain Cuttle,
ill
• [inn
U ■
' I
w
!
us ■
m 3
■1
1.1. :<
i J
111 '
(
306
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Some of Captain Gordon's anecdotes re-
auired quite as much verification as Captain
Cuttle's quotations. It would liave been as
Interesting as amusing to attempt the tastr.
When they were found the searcher might
very reasonably " make a note of it."
Captain Henry and William Twohy,
Capt. Thon. Dici{ and C'apt. Jan. Dick, Capt.
Taylor and Capt Neil Wilkinson, were all
thorou((h seamen and gentlemen. Henry
Twohy was perhaps a man possessed of more
general information, at least he had the
faculty of amusing his passengers on almost
all subjects. He was well read and in-
formed. Capi. Colcleugh. of the Prin-
cess, and late of the Arabian, was another
eccentric man. Although not bred to the
sea, he was a most careful and painstaking
ofHcer. He prided himself on his skill in
brinsiing in his steamers to the wharf with-
out even •' scratcliing the paint," but it was
a long process. He was a great snuff-
taker, and on occasions when he had
completed anything he thought clever the
snufT-box was frequently used. He was
a man highly educated, and a most popular
and agreeable companion.
SOME TKUSTKD CAl'TAINS.
One of Mr. Bethune's most trusted and
faithful ofhcers, and a great favorite (who
■hall be nameless), one time committed the
great mistake of starting from Toronto to
an American port an hour before the ad-
vertised time. It was supposed that he
had been indulging too freely that morn-
ing, (which was moal unusual), as he was
practically a total abstainer, and although
the mate and engineer remonscrated with
the captain, it had no efl'ect. Tlie consequence
was that lie left his purser ashore and
others of the crew, and whiit was worse,
an Englishman and his wife, who intended
to go with the steamer on their way to
England, and who had sent the nurse and
children, including a young infant, to the
boat in advance, discovered, when too late,
that *^he steamer had left. One can imagine
their feelings on learning the facts. Mr.
Bethune, the proprietor, on being told the
Etate of affairs, got ready another steamer
which was in port, and started in pursuit
of the lunaway, overtook her, and trans-
ferred the crew and passengers. Fortu-
nately the boat arrived at her port in time,
and no itarm came of the affair. The captain
was susp nded for the trip, but on return
i»^ to loronto was reinstated, and snch
was the confidence reposed in him from his
general unexceptionable conduct that his
own promise was deemed a sufficient guaran-
tee that the offence would not occur again,
»nd <t never did.
Both the public and the owners of the
steamboats were fortunate in obtainins the
services on the different routes of men who
were both popular with the former and who
efficiently discharged their duties towards
the latter.
There are few of those who travelled in
days now long since gone by who have not
a pleasant recollection of the captains re-
ferred to, and also others thus affectionately
written of by one who knew many of them
most intimately :
" Capt. Ralph Jones, steamer William IV.;
Capt John Cowan, steamer William IV.,
chief officer old Frontenac, built in 1816-17 ;
Capt. Edward Harrison, steamer Queen of
the West ; Capt. Thos. Miller, steamer
Union ; Capt. Harbottle, steamers Passport
and Ci.icora ; Capt. Chas. Perry, steamers
Highlander, Bowmanville and HerMaje&ty ;
Capt. Duncan McBrido, steamers Admiral
and Princess Royal ; Capt. Duncan Sinclair,
steamers Passport, Algerian and Bavarian ;
Capt. Arch. Sinclair, steamer Monarch :
Capt. Thos. Leach, steamers Chief Justice,
Arabian and Chicora ; C apt. Chas. Char-
michael, steamer Kingston, burnt, captain
and some of the crew and passengers
lost ; (apt. Duncan Milloy, steamers Zim-
merman and City of Toronto ; Capt. Wm.
A. Milloy, steamer City of Toronto ; Capt.
Hon J no. Elmsley, steamer Sovereign ;
Capt. George Schufield, steamer Maple
Leaf.
" And the captains on the river steamers
were equally popular men, in fact all the
captains in the fleet were justly so. One
captain in particular is well worthy of
notice, (apt. Robt. Kerr. He was one
of Mr. Bethune's first, and one of his most
faithful, officers, and one of the pioneers
on the Rochester route, a man of very
few words, a.h\ ays at his post, and punctu-
ality was deemed by him of great import-
ance. In appearance he was, as compared
with M ost men, a giant ; his height was
about six feet five inches, and built in
proportion, in fact, a splendid specimen of
a man. His strcn;;th was immense, and
yet he was one of the most quiet and in-
offensive men possible, a strict discipli
narian on duty, and would allow no undue
familiarity from his chief otfacer or crew,
courteous and polite to his passengers, which
rendered him a great favorite with all
who knew his real worth. His son, Robt.
Kerr, jr., a most promising and rising man,
and the pride of the old captain, wap all
through the American civil war when quite
a youth, and now holds some good position
of trust in one of the chief railways.
" Some captains, although good rseanien,
are not expert in bringing a steamer to
the wharf. It requires a particular sort of
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
907
jbtaininsr the
of men who
mer and who
ties towards
travelled in
rho have not
captains re-
fifl'uctionately
lany ot them
William XV.;
Villiam IV.,
tin 1816-17 ;
nor Queen of
Her, steamer
lers Passport
ry, steamers
Her Majesty ;
lers Admiral
lean Sinclair,
nd Bavarian ;
ir Monarch :
hief Justice,
Chas. Char-
irnt, captain
1 passengers
teanrers Zim-
Capt. \Vm.
ronto ; C'apt.
■ Sovereign ;
amer Maple
ver steamers
fact all the
tly so. One
worthy of
le was one
of his most
llie pioneers
man of very
and punctu-
reat import-
as compared
height was
iind built in
specimen of
nmensc, and
uiet and in-
ict discipli
w no undue
er or crew,
nt{ers, which
ite with all
s sou, Robt.
d rising man,
ain, wap all
r when quite
ood position
ays.
ood cseauieii,
stfamer to
ioular sort of
knack, with firm, good nerves. A clumsy man,
which was th ' exception rather than the rule
in Bethune's fleet, would run great danger
in breaking fenders and lines and damaging
the sides of the vessel, injuring the wharf,
and running into other vessels. The most
expert captain at i his duty was the much-
respected and popular commander, John
Gordon, who was master of several
steamers on the Hamilton route extend-
ing over many years. His last steamer,
the ( ity of Hamilton, was a swift
boat, and it was a sight well worth
witnessing to see him bring the vessel
to the wharf. He would come in full
speed within about two boat lengths of the
wharf, and when one would fear by ap-
pei^rances that he would dash into it, he
would ring the bell to stop, then a turn
or two of the wheel to reverse, aud he
would lay her close alongside as quietly as
a skiff coming in, without (in calm weather)
using a line or injuring the paint. Many
others were v( ry expert. Those not wish-
ing to run the risk of approaching too
swiftly would use their spring lines, which
only made a difference of a few minutes,
but of course much depended on the
weather, and how the vessel was laden.
Capt. John Gordon, \\hea the writer had
the pleasure years ago cf his intimate
acquaintance, was a sterling good man. In
appearance ha was about five feet ten inches,
a model in build, and a most courteous
man, and in strength herculean. He was
highly connected sociallv. His brother, a
captain in one of the Highland regiments,
tras stationed here. Ca|)t. John Gordon's
boat was famous for the splendid table he
kept, known well in those days by the
travelling public. He gave up sailing many
years ago, aud at last accounts had turned
hi3 attention to farming near Guelph, and
was prosperous and happy."
In concluding this account of the Royal
Mail Line a reference must be made to some
of the pursers, engineers and stewards of the
fleet. Among some of the bes known of these
were :
PURSERS
Isaac Stanton, subsequently in the Gov-
ernment at Ottawa, dead.
Duncan McBride, subsequently (Japtain,
dead.
John Berry, dead.
(ieorge Schofield. subsequently Captain,
killed, being run over by railroad engine at
Rochester.
Thomas Miller, subsequently Captain,
dead.
Thomas Leach, subsequently Captain.
He died in Toronto in the early d ys of 1893,
a man whom to know was to eatocni.
Chas. Carmichael, subsequently Captain,
drowned at burning of steamer Kingston.
Isaac Cowin, resided in Toronto for many
years.
Anthony Hawke, dead.
Edward Hawke, residing at New York.
Geo. M. Hawke, resides at Toronto.
Geo. B. Holland, subsequently Secretary
and Treasurer of the hne, since deceased
Josias Bray, and
William Schofield, of Waikerton and To-
ronto respectively.
KNGINEERS.
Mr. McBride, J no. Torrance, John Voung,
Geo. Monro, Alex. Starke, David Smith and
J no. Boxall.
STEWARDS.
William Whitlaw, a farmer near (Juelph,
and a man of influence.
John Quinn, subsequently a butcher in St.
Lawrence .Market, and Sergt, -Major in the
Royal Grenadiers, now dead.
John Smitli was an alderman of the city ;
now dead.
Dennis Hurley, subsequently proprietor
of Terrapin saloon.
Wm. Hrennan, became a well-to-do farmer
at Frenchman's Bay.
James Smith, now sole owner of the
Walker House.
The mortality amongst our steamboat uiea
has been great.
None of the owners alive in 1840 now
survive, and very few, if any, of the cap-
lains or other officers, but it is more tliau
fifty years ago, and vte know that in this,
as in all other things, the Latin proverb
Ttmptis edax rerum is but too true.
CHAPTER~CCXLVL
storms nnd Shipwrecks — Cireat Dewtriie-
tiuii ol Life aud Froperty— Tbe C'oninter-
ciiU DUtre.t't in 1M57.
A terrible storm swept over the laUes on
October 21st, resulting in great damage to the
shipping and lamentable loss of life On
October 22nd two men arrived it Poii t
Sauble, almost naked, and their feet badly
frozen, who informed the people of the neii^h-
borhood that they were firemen on board of
the R iiideer, aud that they were the sole
survivors of the entire crew— she ha\ iiig
been wrecked the previous eV' nin<,'. Tiiey
stated that all day a most terrific galo u'.w
from S. S. W., suddenly shifting to all points
of the compass, with a tren"^ndous sea run-
ning. The steamer kept up pretty well all
the forenoon, but in the afternoon she ship-
ped a heavy sea which extingiiishe.i the
fires, and the captain had no recourse left
but to set the helm up and make for
the beach. For severul hours in the evening
the hurr.cane and suow storm increased
H-:^
,1 I
908
LANDMARKS (JF TOF.ONTO.
If 1 f
in fury, audit was utterly iinposail>le to sec
or to do iiiiy tliitiL'. Thoso on board could
only wait wiiii anxiety the fate vi hiuli they
knew awaited tiicni. At i<:n<;lli KomewliRrc
aliout midnight, tlic steamer ^itrucK, and al-
most instanliy tlin sea broke over lier, and
washed the whole crew into tiio lake, where
21 of them found watery fjraves. I he two
miin who escaped were firemen, and they
stated that they were utterly unalilo to re-
late how and in what manner iliey wore
saved. Tlie first they knew after she struck
was when they found themselves on the
roc y beach Next day the steamer was
nearly all broken to pieces, and her tim'ncr
and cargo were strewn along the shore for
miles.
The Reindeer was a side-wheel steamer,
known by sailors as a " Polly wog.' She
was owned by Holcomi> & Henderson, of
Montreal, and sailed from Chicasto on the
i(Uh inst., with 1.3,000 bushelB of wheat, Gl
barrels of tallow and some tlour, for 8t.
Joseph, where she was to take on some tlour,
and then start for Kingston. Site had a crew
•f 21 men and two passencers. Tlie cap-
iain's name was Geo. I'atterson, a Scotch-
man, who belonged to Kingston He was
much respected by all who knew him. The
name of the stewai d was James Henry, and
that of the purser, Charles Bradford, ot To-
rovto. The steamer was eight or ten years
old, and ".ras valued at about twenty thou-
•and dollars. The curgo was owned by
Reiiaud & Frere, of Montreal. Both vessel
and cargo were insured.
The latterdaya of ISoThixilbeonmarkeu by
great financial distress throuorhout the Pro-
vinces ot Canada, both IJppir and Lower.
Mercantile houses supposed tc be as solvent
" as the bank " had toppled over, bringing
with them in their fall yet smaller houses,
who, having unexpected pressure put upon
them to settle their accounts while their
credit was impaired, cculd no longer meet
their liabilities. The imports for 1850
amomited to $l,68.'i,959, but in 1857 they
only rc'ched $1,325,880, a decrease of more
than $.300,000, and in the exports the de-
crease exceeded $137,000. The prospects
theiefore for tj-ade during 1858 were any-
thing but rffcAssuring. '/ he Toronto Lender
of Apiil 2nd, 1858, ;n ref#rring to the ship-
ping trade, more especially in the Upper
Province, says :— "It is matter of regret
that in the outset we must speak of the
prospects of this branch of our trade as
much darker than usual. The present s»a-
Boii of navigation opens before
business men have recovered from
the prostration of the late commercial
crisis. ' After some more general remarks,
•etting forth how confidence among business
men had 1)e3n shal^en, if not wholly di<i'
placeil, the Leader ad s, " This displace-
ment iwxH. of course, caused that lack of
energy antl business-like preparati' n whinh
marks the present spring. Ot the three
forwarding, or freight lines, usually running
bet^^ een til s port and Kingston, Montreal
and other parts of tlie St. Lawrence, tho
boats of two of the companies are in the
hands of assignees and none of them are, we
believe, fitting out for traifio." After
further lamentations over the poor prospects
for the season the article concludes.
The American line of steamers thatin 1857
were plying I etween Ogdensburgh, [^ewiston
and Toronto, were in 1858 all in thehandsof
tlie licjuidators. \\ hat was known as the
Royal .Mail line cotr prised the steamers
Kingston, Cliampion, Banshee, New Era and
Passport. They wer ■ under the command
ofCaptains Kelley,Sinclair,Howard, C rysler
and Harbottle respectively. Ives &Co.'s line
of freight steamers was the only one that
had weathered the storm. They were on
their usual route, but one steamer among
them, the Dawn, had been withdrawn.
The Peerless was on the Niagara :oute
from Toronto throughout 1858, while the
Zinimernian had been transferred to that be-
tween Toronto and tiamilton. Through
communication between Montreal and Lake
Huron was ensured by the American Line of
steamers, running in connection with the
Northern Railway ot Canada, from Toronto
to Colling wood. These vessels, four in
number, were the Montgomery, Hunter,
Evergreen City and Outanagon. They ran
from Collingwood to (Chicago daily. They
were 879, 681, 024 and 000 tons respectively;
their commanders being Captains Nicholson,
Dickson, i'all and Wilkins.
Two schooners, named respectively the
Alliance, Captain S. S. Hamilton, and the
Union, sailed in June from Toronto for
Halifax direct. They carrie<l on their out-
ward voyage cargoes of wheat and flour, and
on their return journey to Toront3 were
laden with sugar. The speculation appears
to have been a successful one, as other crips
were undertaken to the same ports.
'I he following steamers plied on the route
between Montreal, Cornwnll and Port Cov-
ington, during the navigable season of
1858 :— Steamer Fashion, Captain C B.
DoWitt ; steamer Star, Captain Allan
McDonald. Upwards — Steamer Fashion
left .Montreal on the afternoons of Tuesday
anil Friday, and steamer Star on the after-
noons of Monday and Thursday, calling at
Lachine. Downwards — Steamer Fashion
left Dundee on the mornings of Monday and
Thursday, and steatier Star on the morn-
ings of Wednesday and Saturday, calling at
LAN I MARKS OF TORONTO.
909
Lancaster, St. Anicet. I'ort Lewis. Cotcau
Landing, Valley Held, Lower Coteiiu und
I'eauharnuis.
Laier, in 1858, the Zimmerman, Captain
Masson, re-umed iier former route from To-
ronto to Niagara Falls.
'1 bo steamers Zimmerman and Peerless,
Captains I). Milloy and K. I'utterworth,
had ihoir routes slightly altered for the sea-
son of 1859. The former made two trips
each way daily from Toronto to Lewiston
and vice versa, while the Utter also made
two journeys between the same ports, but
extended her trip to I'ort Dalhousie.
On .\iay 19th William llright ollered for
sale the hull of the ferry steamboat Transit,
then lying at Toronto, This said hull was,
so the advertisement states, intended for
the Island ferry. Its dimensions were 120
feet by 18 feet, with a depth in tho hold of
five feet six inches.
Commencinj; on July 26th, tho Royal
Mail steamer Rescue, so she was de-
scribed by her captain, Thomas Dick,
left Collinp;wood with the mail for the Reil
River, callins:; at Fort William, Sault Ste.
Marie, Bruce Mines and intermediate ports.
She also called "at Michipoeoten Island
with passengers if required." The Plou.h-
boy was another steamer on the same route.
She also Mas decsoribe as the Royal Mail
steamer.
THE PROrEi.LKU n.\NSIIEE,
which must not, though, be confounded
with the Royal Mail steamer of tiie
same name, was wrecked in the St. Law-
rence on .Septe'i ber 14th. It is scaicely
to be credited, but it is true never-
theless, that in descending the river at
night the steamer was actually left in the
sole charge of a man named Finnigan, who
was at the helm. Ho went to sleep, and
the steamer beinc: left to her own guidance,
ran ashore on Whiskey Island, on the
American side of the river, about five miles
below Alexander I'ay. She struck a sunken
rock, and in 20 minutes sank. Her captain's
name was .McCrea. The accounts of the
disaster do not contain any mention of what
the owners of the steamer had to say to him
afterwards. It is, though, not probable that
they were very complimentary in their
remarks.
On October 13th Rrock's monument
was iniiugurated at Qneenst n by Sir
Fenwick Willian-s, of Kars. The Peer-
less and the Zimmertnan steamers acted for
the nonce as troop ships They conveyed
great numbers of the militia who were pre-
sent from Toronto and Hamilton.
Tlio Koyal Mail through line for 1859 com-
prised tho following five steamers, namely,
the Passport, Champion, New Era, Banshee
nnd Kingston. This was oxa'tly as in 1858,
the only change being that ( aptain .-niith
on the Champion supplanted Captain Sin-
clair. Later in tho sea.soii Captain Alton
assumed command of tht New Era, vice
Captain Chrysler. One o'. tho royal mail
steamers left the Custom .touse "harf, To-
ronto, every morning at 8 o'clock, in con-
nection with the expresi trains for Niagara
Falls, IjuITuI' , New York and Boston.
On the bay, Toronto, tho steamer Firefly,
in ad'iition to her daily trips to and from
the I.sland, made every Tueslay and Friday
moonlight cxcursiong round the bay. An anl-
vertisement of the time says " for the ac-
commodation of dancers there will bo music
on board. Fare only one York shilling."
On November 7th, the Britannia, pro-
peller, was, while lying at Anglin's wharf,
Kingston, destroyed by fire, and what little
tho (lames spared was engulfed by the
waters of the lake. She was fully insured.
Her owners were .Messrs. Holcomb, Cowan
& Co., of .N'ontreal.
Tho Zimmerman, Captain D. Milloy, re-
commenced her usual trips from Toronto to
Niagara on April 9th, immediately on the
opening of the harbor in 1800.
Thero was no change in the vessels known
as the Royal Mail Lii o. They were five
in number, as in 1859. In connection with
them tho steamers Northerner, Captain Kil-
by, and Nev/ York, Captain Van Clivo, left
Tinning's wharf, Toronto, on alternate
days for Cape Vincent, Rrockvillo and Ojr-
ilensburgli, connecting at the first port with
the steamer for Kingston and at Ogdens-
burgh with those for Monti'ecil and t^uebec.
Captain Robert Moodie, on May Glli, an-
nounced that tho Firetly '.' ould on the day
following resume her regular trips to the
Islnnd from Toronto her first trip of tho
season had been made on tho previous Good
Friday, April G''i.
A new steamer, the .T. nny Lind, appeared
on the route from Toronto to Montreal. She
was chartered by the Royal Mail Lino.
Another wi/il known American river steamer
was the HiifTalo.
During th'- clo=o of 18r>9, and prior to the
opening of navigation in ISG', ulibrli had
been made to have the ciiarges on freight
and mineral.s entering Toronto harbor re-
duced. I he lesult wen that when tho har-
bor re-opened the following notice appeared|j
Harbor Co.mmissionkk's QpFirK,
': oronto, Mareh '22, 1 800.
Copy of a rcsolutio?) of the Harbor Cnm-
missioneri; appointed ihi.s day.
.Moved by Mr. Wort;!, seconded by Mr.
Harris, that from the connnencemcnt of the
season of 1860 the following changes bo made
in the tariii' :
rwrnf
910
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
I'liut twelve nii'i haif centH per ton of 'i,0()0
Iba. bo eltiirged on uU iiieruhandise, anil
all uneaumoiattid urtiuleii brought, in by
weight.
That the ciiargei on coal bo reduced from
twunty-five cents to twelve and halt conla
pur ton of 2,000 lbs.
(Signed,) J.G. Ciiewktt, Chairman,
Toronto Harbor Commiasiunora.
On April Uth the steamer liowmanville
left Kiugatou for Toronto and Hamilton,
being thu rirat steamer of the season to p&ta
from east to west.
What migiit have proved a very serious
accident occurred to the steamer Bay State
on the morning of Wednesday, May 9th.
During a douse fog on her way- up from
Montreal to Toronto, on passing throui^h
the eastern gap in the Island oppu.Hitc the
city, ahe ran asnore, and despite all the
efforts made by the captains of the Zimmer-
man and Hercules, could nOb for a long
time be floated. A number of passengers
were on Ijoard who were conveyed across
to Toronto from the Island in small boats.
Not until May 12th were tlie efforts to Hoat
the Bay 8tate su^cossfui. Wlun this was
done she was happily found to be uninjured,
and slie steamed into Toronto i ay looking
none the worse for her accident.
In anticipation of the visit to Canada of
H. R. H. the Prince of Wales, the Royal
Canadian Yacht Club, at a meeting lield ou
May 21st, came to a deterniinution to get up
a grand regatta in Toronto, to be held when
the Prince paid his expected visit.
'I he Prince arrived in Toronto from Co-
bourg by che steamer Kingston on Septem-
ber 7th. A temporary wharf was erected
directly opposite tlie landing place at tiie
foot of ilohn street. Aim.ug tUe lliousands
who welcomed him were the members of the
K. C. Y. Club. Ic had been the intijution
that the yachts should meet the Prince's
vessel at the liarbor mouth, bearing down
in line, the Commodore leading, each yacht
tacking or wearing as the steamer Kingston
passed, and dipping her ensign, but this
plan was found, owing to tlie absence of
wind, to be impracticable, and tl:e yachts
were ordered to move in line opposite the
landing place. As the Kingston entered
this lino the cro.'-s trees were manned, ensigns
were dipped, and tliret; hearty cheers given
in honor ot the illustrious visitor. The
members of the club were all in uniform,
and H. K. H. is said to have expressed him-
self as hiahly ratified with t!ie reception
thev aiforded him.
One of the most lamentable accidents that
ever happened on tiio lakes occurred on
September 8tli to the Lady Elgin on Lake
Huron. Slie collided, or was run into
rather, by the schooner Augusta, and sank
in twenty minutes in th ee hundi'cd feet
of water. She had a parl> of three .'uindred
excursionists, fifty ordinary passengers,
andacro.vof thirty-five officers and men.
Of these only ninety-eii;ht were saved,
among the lost being Mr. Herbert ingrntn,
proprietor of the London ItliMtrated S'f.w.i,
and a great number of Canadians. This
news arriving in Toronto, in the midst of
the rejoicings conse<|uent upon the visit
of the Prince of Wales, saddened many
a heart and darkened many an otherv\ise
joyous liouseiiold
'I he regatta arranged for the Prince's
visit took place from tlie harbor, Toronto,
on 'iuesday, September Uth. The Prince
having signified his intention of being
present at the start, and at the same time
recelvini; an address from the clul<, it
was ilccided tiiat the boats should be
moored in line in front of the amphitheatre,
where the address was to be presented ;
tiie members of the club there assembled
in uniform on the platform for the purpose
of greeting the Prince. On his arrival, ac-
companied by the Mayor and several mem-
bers of the corporation of Toronto, he was
received with hearty clieers. The commo-
dore of the club, Lieut. Colonel Durie, then
advanced and read the addiess, to which
the Prince replied in suitable terms. The
start of the yachts then tooK place. The
race, which was over an unusually long
course, extending outside from the harbor
mouth to Mimico, a dead heat of several
miles, and from thence round the light
house point to a buoy outside the sland,
near the gap. The Rivet was the winning
ssel, that being the thi:d match she won
in that season, being equally fortunate at
the Cobourg and Kingston recjattas. The
Prince left Toronto by r^al, not by water,
on the following day.
During the latter portion of September
severe storms visited Liike Erie, and a great
many vessels were wholly orpartially w recked.
Among these were
THK SCIIOOSKR CHAMPIO.V,
of Oakville, the brig Ocean, of Chatham,
the Antelope, of Morpeth, and tlui
J. 3. Scott, of Port But Well. The captains
of the Ocean and the Antelope both i)erished
and many other lives were also sacrificed.
'The steamer Morning, Captain Isaac May,
was on her u^^ual loute on Lake Simcoo
througliout the entire season.
The Rescue, ot which Captain ThoinHS
Dick was managing director, ran from C'ol-
lingwood to tlie Sault Ste. Marie and in-
termediate ports. She was a very po])ular
ves.sel with tourists and was well fitted up
and managed.
mm
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
911
.^ nolher vessel on Lake Huron, r.no pre-
viously intMitioneil, the I'lou hboy, this
year v as uuder cuiniiiuiid of Captain I).
W. McLean. She wiks cliartcred by, if not
the actual proporty of, the Grout Northern
Railway and curried the mail for the uortli-
west, as did tlio Rescue aho.
The first vess'-l to leave Toronto harbor in
the sprine of 1861, with merchandise, was
theDteamer Co(}uctte, U. H Ctiiaholin, maa-
tor She sailed March 29, and carried
10,000 bushels of wlieat, consigned by llaga-
mau Hi, Co., of Toronto, to Mr. Hagaman,
of Oswego.
Th') trips of the Zimmerman !•> Niagara
were commenced on April '2Srd.
'J"he vessels of the Royal Miiil Line, or. aa
it was afterwards called, the "Through
Line," were the Magnet, Now Era, Kings-
ton, (^iiampion, lianihee and Passport.
Thay ran, as heretofore, from Haniilcon to
Montreal.
A serious accident occurred to the George
Moffatt, propeller. She ran ashore while
passing down the Long Sault rapids, on
April 21st, narrowly escaping total ship-
wreck.
There was no change on Lake Simcoe, the
Morning still continuing nt her work, ana
with the addition of the Clifton, W. H,
Smith master, the steamers on Lake Huron
were the s ime as in ISfiO.
The freight steamers between Hamilton
and Montreal remained much the same as
in the immediately preceding season. 1'hey
numbered among them the Avon, Huron,
Colonist, WcUinirton and West. The steamer
Boivmanville, Captain Smith, of the Beaver
Line, also carried both freight and passen-
gers from Toronto to Montreal.
Un May 10th there was launched at the
Nottawasaga River a large tailing vessel,
afterwards known as the Queen of the North,
Captain A. Martin Sne was the property of
Messrs A. M. Smith and G. H. NN yatt, of
Toronto : was built by John Potter, of Oak-
ville, and was intended to ply with
grain between the upper lakes and Mon-
treal.
Another launch took place on the follow-
ing day. May 11th. .a new steamer for
Lake Simcoe, intended to replace the J. C.
Morrison, burnt some time previouuly, wa»
launched at Orillia. She was a pretty ves-
sel, 1.51 feet long, 24 feet wide and 7 feet 8
inches deep. Her engines were supplied by
the well-kno^n engineers, Gartahore, of
Duudas, her builder bein.' Hugh Chisholm.
She, at her launch was christened the Emily
May, out of compliment to the eldest
daughter of her owner and master, Isaac
May. Miss Worthington, of Toronto, gave
the vessel her name.
Early in May Robert Moo die, captain of
the Fire Fly, advcrlise.'* from I oronto, ' The
Fire Fly has coininencd her trips to the
Island, where our citi/.enn ctn got a mouth-
ful of fresti air. She i-tarts at 11am. and
every hour afterwards." I'herc is a very
great contrast between Toronto Island
ill 1861 and the 8ame place thirty years
later.
KAREWKI.L THR rKKR!,E.Sa.
About the end of May thnre disappeared
from Canadian waters one of the most
popular steamers that had ever sailed
thereon, the Peorless. She w.as purchased
from the liank of Upper Canada bv J. T.
Wright, of New York, for $;«> 000. She
left Tor(jnto on May 10th, umler CJaptain
Robert Kerr. Upon reuchint; Montreal it
was found neceswary to diKinadt licr to enable
her to pass under the Victoria Hridire.
This was accordingly done, and on May
27th she arrived in Quebec. Hut W right's
troub OS were not nearly over. Before ha
could ttikc her away from Quebec much had
to be done. It was ascertained that under
recent liritisli laws the vessel could not sail
for a foreign port without an Imperial clear-
anco. This, she being owned by an Ameri-
can, the proper officer at Quebec could not
5ranl. Wright then applied to the Ameri-
:;an con.sul at Quebec fur a "sailing letter."
This also was declined on the ground that
the Pecrlosis might be intended for the use
of the Confederate States, the American
civil war having just broken out. Wright
tben was obliged to give heavy bond<i that
the vessel would not be used for warlike
purposes, and was eventually allowed to
clear her, on condition that she was placed
under command of Captain McCarthy, who
was a Nova Scotian by birth, but a natu
ralized American citizen. Eventually the
Peei less formed one of the Burnside expe-
dition and was wrecked off Cape Hatteras.
Her owner, .1. T. Wright, received no less
than $100,000 compensation for her loss, ba
sides $6,000 for her hire.
At Hamilton, on May 29th, was launched
at Cook's wharf the steam tug Hero. She
was built by A. Lavallee, of Hamilton, and
was owned by him in conjunction with
Messrs. Barr and Maxwell, of the same city.
.Misses Lavallee and Barr both assisted
in naming this steamer.
Tenders were invited in all the provincial
papers, in May and June, for the erection
of a lighthouse and also a house for the
keeper, at the Queen's wharf, Toronto.
Quantities and spfcificatiuns were to be
obtained from Kivas Tully, architect, To-
lonto. The notice was signed by " Hugh
Richardson, Harbor Master,"
On July 1 1th the steamer Bowman ville
yn
^•f^^mm
m
fili ■ : ■•
m
m
H
I
■Is ; .'
ft ^i :
012
LANDMARKS OV TOKONTO
carriod n Hil»u nuinh>M' of uxcuriiioiitHt.s from
'I'o.drito and otiiui- pirts bilwuen that oily
anil Kiny-itdii to (juubei;, to mm and iii.s[)i;ct
thu
(JUK \T KASTl'.KN STKAMSIIII',
then junt tiriivud from ICnglaiul When
il i.H burnu in miml lliiil tliii vudsol
was no luss tiiaii (i.'>l) feet in lon;,'tli,
and lliKt siio was wide and deep in
proportion, it is liuli; to be won-
I'jrc'd lit thiit great niuubers of people
availed tlicmsclvei of the advantages oll'ere I
by the proprintorn of the l>o .\ nianville.
On July 'Jliiii, on thu return journey, so
pleased \\ere tlie pasjon;,'eri at the attention
p.iid to tiieni by Captain ^mvth tiie mastntr
of til vessel anil his biibordinates, that the
gentlemen among them presented him witli
un adilre-3, accompanied by a silver cup
and salvor, 'i'liis aiidress was signed on be-
half of the o hers by T. D. Harris and S.
li. Fairbanks. The ladies of thu piirty, not
to bo behind " their brothers and their
cousins and ^iieir uncles," also as :od Captain
Smyth's acceptance of a piece of music and
also a meerschaum pipe.
On July lUth there arrived in Toronto,
from the (Channel Islands, under command
of the gallant Colonel Maulevorer, of Crimean
fame, tiie IJOth Canbridgeshire regiment.
The steamers I'assport and lianshce conveyed
the entire reginjent, and it is worthy of note
without the slitrhtos mishap, from (Quebec
to Tor >nto. This was by .'lo means a small
undertaking.
A now steamer is in the middle of July
thus announce>l : —
'MMPOKIANT NOTICE.
The splendid steamer
BAY OK yriNTB
Will leave the Custom House wharf to-day,
at 11 o'clock, a. m . for Kinuston and inter-
mediate ports. Fares reduced. Apply al
Mail Line office Toronto.
July 16th, 180L"
A yacht race took place in Toronto harbor
on September 7tli. between the following
yachts : I he Wide Awai<e. Da t, Rivet,
Cygnet, Water Lily, Irene and Arrow.
The Wide Awake was tiue to her name.
She distanced all her competitors by seven
minutes.
In view of the unsettled state of aflairs
in the neighboring republic, and the very
tall talk indulged n by certain American
politicians, a meeting was, on December
27tli. held; of a number of sailors and
meti connected with navigation who were
willing to serve on the lakes should their
services be required. This meeting was
called by K. Arnold, of steamer Caroline
fame, and was held at G H. Wyatt's otHce,
Toronto, the result being that a large num-
ber of men were enrolled, and what was
known a^ the .Naval and I'ilot lirigadu of
'loroiito formed.
Tlie Australian arrived at Quebi-u in th«
end of December tvith 40 oflicji's and S.'l.'i
noncummissionL'd i>')ic<M's and men belong-
ing to tlio First Tuttalion Rillo iJrigad-' ;
M veil ollicers and 'io4 men of the Koyal
Artillery.
Tlio I'ersia arrived a few ilays later
with 4 ollicers and IIS men of tlie Royal
lOngineers, and 'M ollicers and !S'2it men of
tlie IGth Re iment, under tlio cuiuiuaiid of
Colonel I'eacock.
riie Niagara also brought '27 ollicers and
.'i,')!) men belonging !o the Royal Artillery.
Owing to the comparatively mild winter
ot 18U1, navigation opened early in the
spriiu' of 1802 The Royal Mail Line of
st aiiiers commenced their trips between
Hamilton and Kingston on April 2i)th, and
as soon as the canals on the St. Lawrence
opdiied extended them to Montreal. The
steamers were the same as in thu year
previous.
The steamers Northerner and New York,
of the .■\morican line, had been sold to the
Federal Uovcrnment for the purp')ses ot the
fratricidal war then rngiiig in the United
States. So in the early part of the season
this line did not run
On the morniug of April 7th the Zimmer-
man nuulc her tirst trip of the season from
'J'oronto to Niagara, Lewiston and Qu«ens-
ton. Upon her arrival there, by the kind-
i ness of Major Grange, the Royal Canadian
I Ride liand went on board and accompanied
the boat to Lewiston and back, discoursing
some of their choicest music.
On April 29th the fine steamers Ontario,
Capta n l<}stes, and Cataract, Captain Led-
yard, of the Lake Ontario Steamboat Com-
])any. commenced their regular trips, form-
ing a weekly hue from Toronto to Ogdens-
burgh.
On the Royal Mail Line, Captain Swales
succt^eded Captain Ho vard iu command of
the ilanshee.
There wa ' a most eflieient
thuou(;h fkekjht service
from Hamilton to Montreal din!' tl<
whole of this season, Messrs ^,
Tracy & Co's. propellers Huroi um,
Colonist, Avon, St. Lawrence an uwwa,
forming a daily line from and to tii^ ')rti
just named, calling at Oswe.o, OgdensL.urgh
and Kingston.
A banjue of 400 tons burthen was launched
from th-^ shipbuilding yard of M ssrs.
Muir lii^o., Tort Dalhousie, on June
7th. She was called the Adra;ice, and
w as christened by the wife of Captain D.
Muir.
LANDMAUKS OF TOIlONiO.
9ir)
,t wa«
adu of
Swale H
iiauu of
tki
3,
auU,
uawa,
; orts
pusuurgh
launched
M ssrs.
June
|iee, and
)tain D.
Alt iiitereiitiiiif yacht ruco took place on
Septi'inliur 8th fruiii 'iorutito harbor, lor the
rriiici! ot Wales chaiiipio i cup, olTcrcd by
the Uoyal Canadian Vaclit (..'lub. It had
buun anaiigvd previously that tii>j cour.^e
khould extend from Toronto to I'urt i >aU
h lUMie and bac V, a total di.s ancu of abi)Ut
Beventy nulea, thuH atlordin : a good oppor-
tunity of dovelopin;^' tlic sudini; pL'wer.i of
the crafts unteied. Tliu cup was won
by the Gorilla, her tiino boin^ 0 hourii,
4U minutes '25 seconds. The Uivet
followed her in thirty mi lUtes, and the
lireeze, thouich tiiird, was more than two
hours bohini. This was the secouii year
a Cobourg yacht had carried otT this cup,
the Wide A^\ake, of the same place, having
secured the trophy in ISUI.
A very violent storui prevailed at tlie
eastern end of Lake Ontario ou the night
of November '2nd. Many vessels were
wrecked, accompanied by great loss of life.
The propeller liay State, Captain Marshal ,
btilon ing to the Northern Transportation
Conipa y. was lost ou her journey from Os-
wego with all on board, the othcers and crew
numbering eighteen persons.
On Lake Erie the storm was no less dis-
astrous. As the propeller Howard was on
lier way from Dunnville to BuiTalo, having
ill tow Bi.\ scows, whe:i near Point Abino,
owini; to the violence of the storm, the
scows broke loose and «vero totally wrecked,
uo less than sixteen of their crews perishing
in the waves.
Navigation closed for the season about
November ITth, about tl.e same time as in
the two years preceding.
On March 5th, 1803, expired at Hem-
mingford, Canada East, at the age of sixty-
seven ye»j:s, Mr. Alexander \Valker, for
many years matti of the Ciiief Justice Rob-
inson and subse(^ueutly iighthousn keeper of
Toronto harbor
The Collin J wood Enterprise, in its issue
of April 11th, says : " Lapiain T. Dick has
taken tlie contract for carrying the mails
from Collingwood to Siult Ste. Marie this
season He will hare a boat ou in the
course of a few days."
The Zimmerman's trips began this year
OD April 17th. Her command was still in
till, hands of Captain Milloy.
On April 15ch Messrs. Chaffey, of Brook-
ville, launched a second large propeller from
their building yard. A l^^ige crowd assem-
bled to witness the vessel, which was called
the Brock ville, glide from the stocks into
the wat , ot the St Lawrence. This firm
also rail during 1863 another propeller
called the Bris ol, besides the steamers Wel-
luii^'con and Boston.
The ^:eat event of the season, in connec-
tion uith the siii;>pinu of Kingston, was the
launching from that port, on April '21st,
of the barcjue Robert (iiukin, at the .Muiiiio
liailway Shipyard This ves.sel was com-
nienced in the ])reviuui OetoWtr, and cunt-
pleiod early in April folloh« ing. Her dinieii-
bioiis were l.'tO feet keel and 4le[)ta ») Imlil
11 tect (i inches. Slie was built exptesaly
for tlio grain trade and had a carrying capa-
city of '20, ()()() bu.sheU. She wa.s "trcu-
nailed" fastened tiirougliout, l>(;ing with one
exception the only ves.-.el on the lakes at tliai
lime that wa.s so f steiicd.
Navigation on La \e Ontario opened early
this season (181)3) on March '2lkli, there
bciii.' two arrivals at the port of Toioiilo.
One of these wa4 the aciiooiier Indian W.-iid,
from I'ort Dulhonsie >t ith 4^0 barroU ot
plaster on board. 'J he other was also a
schooner from I'ort Credit carrying tiiirty-
five cords of words.
Tne "Royal .Mail steamer Plougliboy," so
the advertisome t for the >eason cle.scribed
her, resume! her retcular trips from L'olling-
wood to Sault Ste. Marie o i May '20th.
She was under command of T. F. I'ark.
The Emily May, on Lake Simcoo, began
her journeys from Bell Mwart to Orillia on
April 30tli. She was still under the same
command and ownerc^hip, that of Isaac Alay.
Tlie steamer Clifton, \V . H. -milh, mas-
ter, commenced running in connectio i with
the Northern Railway from Toronto, on
May '2nd, between Collingwood and Owen
Sound.
Mr. Shickluna launched the propeller
America from his yard at St. Catharines on
the afternoon of Wednesday, April '29th.
The vessel was owned by Messrs. !Morri- &
Neelon, and the engine and boiler wore
built by Mr. G. F. Oil, all of St. Cuth-
aiiues.
THE DISASTROUS WAR
that was in 1803 raging so fiercely be-
tween the Federal and Conii derate
States of America had a most baneful
iiiliuencc on the trade of the lakes.
"There is that," says the Rochester Union
of May 2nd, 1803, "which leads mo to tlie
belief that the ste 'met s which ply to and
from this port ou Lake Ontario the coniing
season will bo few indeed. The American
Sti-ambcat Company cannot find much to
encourage the running of their large and ex-
cellent boats, and as parlies on the .'alanlic
are seeking these boats for those waters,
we need not be surprised to hear at any time
that they hare been withdrawn, even if tiiey
are put in commission on Mon ay next as
an ounced. As for a boat to run across the
lake to the north shore pores, the ])rospect8
are by no means flattering. A large and ex-
pensive boat cauuot be maintained, and
Pi
,^M
914
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
• ]
email ones adapted to such a route (»re not
easily to be I'.ad. It must be a t^ood sta
beat to get a licenst. to carry pajsengerss
across t.be broadest part oT Lake Ontario.
SiK'h a boat has not yet been found ("apt.
^uh iti<^id ha; had the suljject undo • considur-
aUOii all wint'rr, but with no conclusion as
yet. The uei'au;^cmont of the currency pn:s
a (|uictus iirion the trade vvitn Canada, hence
there is little for a steamer to do on this
route. C'a[)tain 8. would be willing to run
a boat, without profit, to acconunodatc tlie
pulilic, and l;eep the route open this season
in the hope .)t future proHt when trade shall
resume its accust)ined ciiaiineia. Thus far
there i« nothing that indicates that a steanior
w ill be put on the route to the Noi th Shcre
thi.s seasoti, thout'h the subject is still under
considcatiou. The Catuuiian business doiie
iiy water will be conducted Isy sail craft
in *he absence of slea'iiers. The primitive
method, in vogue half a century a^o, will bo
revived, indeed it has been ab'eady.
SNchuoners are carrying both freijiht and pas-
senfi^cTs toiind from this port.'
A few days later the same subject is again
referred to by the Rochester Democrat,
which says: "On Saturday eveniui: t)ie
Schooner Morgan sailed from Chirlotte to
Toro'^to with a car_'o of seventy rive boxes
of trees The schooners .lohn N\'esley,
Mary Adelaide an i Petrel, sailed on
Friday evening for Canadian ports with
cargoes of miscellaneous merchandise. Not-
withstanding the high price of exchange and
coin, there seems to becjuite a trade spring-
ing up with Caiiada, and in the absence of
any steamer directly across the lake, this
trade is carried on with schooners."
When the steadier Bowmanville was en-
tering Hamilton on May Sth the mp.te of
that vessel, Nathaniel Montgomery, fell
overboard and was drowned. He belonged
to Toronto and was unmanned. He was a
most popular officer, and greatly liked by
everyone.
On May 10th died at his rcsideiw^c. Clover
Hill, Toronto, after a long and severe ill
oe.ss. Captain Klmsley. The deceiisied gen-
tleman was a member of th'; Legislative
Council of Upper Canada before the union.
He was formerly in the Hoyal Navy, and as
has lieen s en fo'* some time commanded
a steamer on the lakes.
The Toronto (ilohe, in referrin,' to Captain
Ehiisley's ileath, says " Hs was liked by
everyone for his kindness of heart, sincerity
and candor."
Under the name of th" American Express
Line, "one of those magnitii^^nt steamers,''
Bo runs the advertisement, "TSay St-ite and
C'ataraet," lea^'es Toronto " every .Monday,
Wednesday bnd Friday, for Montreal and
Quebec," calling at Rochester, O-iwefo,
Sackett's Harbor. Kingston. iJrockvi'lIe,
Ogdensburg, etc., connecting with the new
river steamers Montreal and Caistor.
Not only were the "fares at lowest rates,''
but m'iral)ile dictu "American money was
taken at par.' Considering that gold at
that particular time was in the United
States at a premium of 150, and that
"American money' consisted for the most
f art of "greenbacks." these terms must be
considered princely in their liberality.
DKSKKTKKS HiOM KINCJSTON.
Tite following iimusing account of two de-
sertions from tlic garrison atlvin.ston by
the aid of the steamer Cataract is taken
from the Rochester Jh morrnt, published in
tlpril : —
A MiLIT.VUY LmPORTATION FllO.M KlNOS-
TON, C. \V. — NovKL Moi»K OF Dkskktion. —
A passenger i y the stea.iier Cataract,
which arrived at ('ha'lotte last evening,
relates the following interesting occurreiie(!
as tian.spiring during the passage from
Kingston to Sacketc's Harbor. Th.e i)oat
arrived at the former port at 5 o'clock on
Tuesday morning, where the captain found
upon the wharf awaiting shipment an ob-
long box 'oearing the following marks : —
With care
A.MEKicAN Glass Co ,
Pearl street.
New York.
From
\Vm. Hunter <fe Co., -.
Napanee. I
Payment on delivery. J
J he box was taken aboard without sus-
picion, and the Cataract proceeded to
Sackett's Harbor. While the boat lay
at the wharf, the engineer approaclied the
box and pulled out a wisp of hay for the
purpose of wiping his hands. What Avas
his astonishment, a moment afterwards, to
beho d one side of the box fall to the deck,
and t4V(» of Her Britannic Majesty's soldiers
hastily emerge therefrom, spring to their
feet, and bouna up tile embankment. 1 here
tiiey lialted and began their toilet. Seveial
of the boat hands followed, with a view
of requesting explanations and coUe, ting
freight charges, but, apparently fearing
a recapture, the soldiers took to their h.iels.
Upon examininj; the box, a stock was
discovered, marked on the inside
as follows . " Wm. Cassons, 4th Battery,
10th Brigade, Hoyal Artillery Station.
Market Battery, Kingston." The plan of
escapeprovedas successful as it was no vol aii<l
iiiL'enious ; but its disclosure will <.loul.t-
less |)revent its rei)etition with impunity.
As for the sergeant — one of tiie refuL'ee.i
is a sergeant — it lie ia recaptured, we pre-
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
915
)-<we£ro»
ckville,
the new
t rates,'
ley waa
gold at
: LFnited
lid that
;he most
must be
■y-
f two de-
ston by
is taken
blished in
w Kisos-
KKTION.—
Cataract,
, evening,
)ccuirpn<.'i;
jane from
The l>oat
o'clock on
itAin iouiid
nit an ob
arks : —
w York.
diet that the stripes \viU be taken from
off hit arms and placed vpon his back.
We advise him to make for Rochester and
go into the heavy artillery.
On Jnnc 22nd the American Express Lino
announcea a chanc;e in its arrangements, as
follows : —
"CHANOK OV TIME.
"Through to Montreal in 36 hours. Amer-
ican money taken at par.
"On and after Monday, June 22nd, the
splendid lake steamers Ontario, Captain
J. B. Este» ; Hay State, Captain J. B. Mot-
lev ; Cataract, Cap'.aiii .J. H, Ledyard ;
with the new and '<!legant rirer steamers
Alexandra, Captain J. N. Backus,
and the fast steamer Montreal, compris-
ing the American Express Line, will leave
Toronto daily for Lewiston, Rocheitcr, Os-
we[;o, Kingston, Brockville, Ogdensburgli,
Montreal and Quebec, passing the Thour.and
Islands and Rapids of the St. Lawrence by
daylight."
The notice, after (;iving information as to
tickets and rates of freicht, modestly con-
•jludes : " This route offers to the business
man and pleusure-seeker attractions not
surpassed in this or any other country."
Under the heading "WaterExcursion.s and
Picnics, ' the owners of the steamer Hero,
of roronto, adv'.tise July 9th that they
are prepared to take parties of any number
under eighty on excursions or picnics, not
as might be supposed to the Island or to
Victoria Park, i ut " to any place at very
reasonable tei '118." The final paragraph of
the notice, though, does not suggest the
idea that the advertisers expect their words
to be taken too li erally, for they say :
" Try the lake breize and the cool spots
about the Humber."
On Thursday, August 6th, the steamer
Ploughboy. under command of Captain
McLean, left CoUingwood as usual for tlio
Sault Ste. .\;ari«. She reached her destina-
tion "afely, and staited on her icturn
purney on the 10th. About niidniglit on
the same data she broke iier engines, w hicli
in a tew seconds i ecanie absolutely useless.
Captain McLean, finding the boat disabled,
sen'u off a boat ijuickly to try and find a
tug to render him assistance. Tlic acci-
dent occurred oflf Barrie Island, about 45
miles above Little Current. In thn boat
despatched by the captain were the purser
and mate of the Plout'liboy and three other
hands. While in thtir op«n craft a terrible
storm burst upon the lake. .After butl'eting
with wind and water for nine liours four of
the boats' crew perished, only Duncan Mc-
Lean, the mate, 8urvivin<'. .N'eantime the
fianscngers on the Ploutrhboy were unre-
ieved ; nor was it until Thursday, August
20th, that after experiencing great dangers
and not a little privation the Plnugi boy
and her passengers wera by the steamer
Nicolet, owner Mr. G. H. Wyait, of To-
ronto, towed into CoUingwood. The
steamer Rescue took the place of the Plough-
boy for the remainder of the season.
A- AS ! TH" 7IMMEKMAH.
Few calamities created more regret in
Toronto than the burning of the steamer
Zimmerman at Niagara on the early morn-
ing of August 21, 1^63. The fire was first
disco 'ered by the watchman between the
smoke stacks under the main deck. The
alarm was quickly civen and all hands were
soon on deck, every effort being made, but
unavailingly, to suppress the fire. Mr. Sin-
clair, the second mate of the Tes^sl, in a
vain endearor to rescue some of his per-
sonal property, fell a victim to the fiam<f3.
Patrick Lawles.s, while endeavoring to
escape from the burning vessel to the wharf,
he having till the la.^t moment worked
courageously at the pumps, became en-
reloped in smoke and fire and was burned to
.leath.
With *.hese two sad exceptions, the
whole of the rest of the crew escaped
with very slight injuries, but they h st all
their property that was on the Ttisel.
Nothing could be done to save even a por-
tion of the famous Zimmerman. She was
doomed to entire d'Stnction The c'osing
scene in her life is thus ably depicted by an
eye witness : —
'* The firemen at this time
copious streams on the burning vessel, which
had not the slightest effect in checking the
progress of the fiames, which v^ ere spreading
with fearful rapidity in every direction, and
lighting up the sky for miles around. I he
attempt to scuttle the vessel proved futile
owing to the dense heat, and although the
firemen continued their efforts till a late
hour in the mornini;, the vessel was burned
to the water's edge before the fire vas en-
tirely subdued. I'etween four and five
o'clock, the steam rushing into the cap of
the wiiisEle, caused it to give forth a
dull, melancholy scream, as it sounding the
requiem of the vessel. '
The Zimmerman was the exclusive proper-
ty of Captain Milkiy, and was Oidy insured
for $12,000. It is said that but a few day-)
previously an offer made to her owner to
purchase her for 8.35,000 wan refused. Be
that as it may, Captain Milloy's loss was a
very heavy one.
An accident occurred to the Passport in
passing the C otcau du Lac on the morning
of September 17. *.die ran for about t«o
miles further and was then beached. There
were about sixty passengers on hoard, none
were playing
m^
li 1
wmmmmmmm
!
1 ,
j I
i !
! I
i :
■ I
9IG
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
of whom received any injury. The vessel
was 8ubse(juently got off, not muoh the worse
for her adventure.
The steamer Rochester ran throughout the
season of 18G3 from Cobourt^ to Rochester,
calling at Port Hope and Colborne. The
fare, includini; meals, was only $2 50. The
following notice appeared on October 24th,
in reference to a new freight vessel : —
"The Osprky. — The new steamer Osproy
pasiied up yesterday morning, with a cargo
of freight for Hamilton. I he Osprey is
fittf^d with the engines of the Jenny Lind,
a steamer that prematurely cl sed her ca-
reer, but was noted for great speed and
power. She can stow away 5,000 barrels of
&our, which is a freight capacity surpassing
by considerable that of any other craft < t
present navigating the lake The new
■teamer is also provided with an upper
cabin saloon and staterooms, fitted up in
a style of comfort and elegance rivalling
the passenger accommodatio s of the line
boats. Parties from the United states
have made urgent applications for her pur-
chase, but it seems that the o\^neri> have
concluded that the most profitable disposi-
tion of their investment is to retain the
steamer in the traffic of Ihe St. Lawrence
and Lake Oatailo. '
Another accident occurrf'd to the Pass-
port on November 1st. The Toronto G/ohe
thus refers to it >u its impr>"3sion of Tues-
day, November 3r.l : " 1 he sfeamcr Pass-
port sunk in Kingston harbor on Sunday
evening. She was upward bound withover
100 tons of freight on board."
On November 5th the propeller Her Ma-
jesty, built for Captain Perry, was launched
from the yard of Mr. Si ickluna, of St.
Catharines. Her dimensions were 185 feet
long by .SO feet wide. 1 1 er depth was twelve
feet six inches. She was at the time one
of the largest vessels of her kind on the
lake.
There was much rou.h weather on the
lakes at the close of October and early
in November, though happily the season
closed without serious destruction either of
life or property.
Mr. l). S. GiMersleeve, of Kingston, died
very suddenly on March 9th. '1 he Kings-
ton Aeww, speaking of his death, describes
him as " a wealthy steamboat owner, an
active lawyer, and a man of much business
energy and enterprise."
\lr. Henry J. >mith, the Deputy Harbor
aMaster at I oronto, also died in that citv on
March 27 th.
On March 31st the St. Catharines Journal,
under the heading " The first vtssel,' an-
nounces " On '! hursdttv last," this would
be on March 24th, " the nondescript craft
Sunshine came over from Toronto to Dal-
housie and returned with a load of cement.
She has the honor of beins the first vessel to
clear from port in 1864. May she long
shine."
The new fast-going steamer Rochester.
Captain W. T. (ireenwood, ran from Port
Hope to Rochester in the season of 18(54,
commencing April 4th. .'"he connected with
the <T T. R. and the steamers of the
R. M. Line.
On April II the Toronto I/ai/;/ Leader
says, in a short article, that " Navigation
may be said ta b- fairly opened, Messrs.
Miller & Good, of this city, being engaged
in loading the folhjwing vessels with grain :
Paragon, Newcastle, Flying B'ish and the
Two Brothers. "
Burlington l^ay \va« clear of ice on April
9th, the first arrival i. I the leason.the brigan-
tiae Cambria, cominj; into port there on that
date.
Messrs. Donaldson & Andrews launched
f om their yard at St. Catharnes, on April
7ch, says the Journal, published in that
town, " one of the tanest vessels in appear-
ance, at least, now adoat on these inland
lakes, and she is apparently as strons; and
staunch as she is beautiful. ' I he Anglo
Saxon, for such was the name bestowed
upon the vessel by Miss Anna Donaldson,
daughter of one of her luilders, glided off
the ways smoothly and swiftly. She was
commanded by Captain Thomas Neil, who
was also a part owner, and was intended for
the timber trade.
The steamer Ottawa, one of the freight
propellers on the lakes, has often been re-
ferred to. She was launched from the
marine railway shipyard on April 9tli,
where she had been undergoing extensive
repairs. Thd Kingston N^ews remarks :
" She will be ready to leave, as iiuleeil
will most of the propellers, in a few days. '
I he Hamilton Times, of April 9th, con-
tains this notice in referei ce to a mariner
who has frequently been mentioned : " We
learn that our esteemed fellow townsman,
Captain '1 homas Harbottle, has resigiisd
the command of the Passport, of the through
line of steamers, he having purchased a I. rge
and powerful tugboat, the VV. K. Muir,
now ying at Detroit, of which he will him-
self take the command this season. His in-
tention is to initiate a new branch of marine
business on this lake, namely : the carrying
of freight in barges towed by steamer.
Captain Harbottle has been well and favor
ably known as captain of tfie Passport,
and we wish him much success in his uew
undertakin.'. '
THK STEAMER RACINE,
formerly the City of Toronto, of the Koyal
' \*
LAxVDMARKS OF TORONTO.
917
to to Dal-
of cement.
at vessel to
y she long
Rochester.
from l*ort
»n of 1864,
nected with
lers of the
al/y Leader
' Jsavigation
ed, Messrs.
ing engaged
with grain :
ish and the
ice on April
,n,thc brigan-
there on that
)W3 launched
les, on April
ahed in that
els in appear-
these inland
a strontt and
' 1 h«5 Anglo
ime bestowed
ta Donaldson,
?rs, glided off
Iftly. '^he was
las Neil, who
intended for
,f the freight
)ften been re-
led from the
n April 9th,
oing extensive
:(f.s remarks :
;^e, as indeed
n a few days.'
pril 9th, con-
to a mariner
itioned : " ^^ «
ow townsman,
has resigned
of the through
rchasedal. rge
K. Muir,
h he will him-
|!ason. His in-
anch of marine
: the carrying
by steamer.
reW and t'avur
the Passport,
ssa in his i.ew
o, of the l^>ya^
W
Mail Line, was rebuilt, in Detroit in 1863.
She wai sold m 1864, and |icr name changed
to the Algotna, she beini; sent to Lake Su-
perior, pl>ing from Coilingwood to Fore
William. Her captain was D. Maclean.
She made her first trip on April 28th.
The steamer Empress left Kingston for
Toronto on April I4th, for the purpose of
taking he route between that town and
Niagara in place of the Zimmerman. Cap-
tain Chrysler was in command.
The Royal Mail Line in 1864 consisted of
the steamers Kinsr^ton, Captain Howard ;
Passport, Captain Kelley ; Map net, Cap-
tain Fairijrieve ; Banshee, Captain Swales ;
the Champion and the new steamer Grecian,
Captain C. Hamilton, of Kingston. These
st amers, rum ing from Montreal to Hamil-
ton, were the only vessels which ran the
north channel of the rapids, the most pic-
turesque one on the way to Montreal.
The steamer Grecian had been built on
the Clyde and brought out to C anada in the
autumn of 1863 and there put together. Her
projectors expected her to prove the fastest
boat on Lake Ontario.
The steamers on the R. M. Line were
all thoroughly renovated this season and
placed in a condition to ensure comfort a^d
lafety to the passenc^ers.
i he Toronto Daily Leader of April 18th,
in commenting upon the facilities this line
ofTered to the travelling public, says :
" Such privileges cannot be overestimated
by the public, who will find the Royal Mail
Line an exceed inely safe and pleasing one
to travel by east or west. The commanders
have I een selected from amongst the most
gentlemanly and thorough seamen to be
found on our lakes, the better to secure the
confidence of the public."
Messrs Chafley & Co., of Toronto, were
agents for the followinii: fn iuht boats :
Whitiy, Captain McMillan ; Ranger, Cap-
tain Leslie ; Propeller Magnet, Captain
Malcornson ; the Mtrritt, Captain ^mith ;
the I'ristol, Brockville and Cantin. i he
latter was a new boat, bwilt I y Mr. Cantin
for Mr. J. D. Black, of Montreal. The
Merritt was the largest propeller that had
been built in (anada up to 1864. Her
capacity was 35,000 bushels of grain, or
7,500 barrels. I^he was three masted and
barque rigged.
Jacques. Tracy & Co.'s freight line of
Montreal consisted of the steamer-i Huron,
Captain Taylor ; Colonist, Captain Moat ;
Indicn, Captain Vaughan ; vSt. Lawrence,
Captain Rea ; the OttaM a. Captain John-
son, and the Avon, Captain .^'mith. These
vessels fcmed a daily line from Montreal
to H.itnilto , oariying both freight and p^s-
eengers.
Messrs. Henderson 8l Co. sncc&eded to the
old established business of Holcomb &
Cowan, of Toronto and Montreal. Their
vessels were the Brantford, West, Osprey,
G. Moifatt and a new propeller owned by
Captain Peiry called Her Majesty. This
vessel was commanded by Captain Handside.
She had cabin accommodation for ninety
passengers and freight capacity for 6,500
barrels of ilonr.
The propeller America ran from Montreal
to St. Catharines, calling at Tironto on her
upward trip.
On the (ireorgian Bay the Clifton ^^ as on
her old route, commanded as in previous
seasons.
1 he Grand I'runk Railway chartered ei!.ht
steamers to run in connection witli their
road from Sarnia to C hicaeo, and the Great
Western had six steamers also on the same
route.
A NKW STEAMER.
On April 20th Captain Nlilioy's new
steamer, the City of i oronto, was success-
fully launched at Niagara. The timl ers of
the unfortunate Zimmerman had scarcely
become cold when Captain M illoy, with i he
earnestness and determination for which he
was so famous, began making preparations
to replace her. 1 o assist him in this design
he called to his aid the services of Mr.
Shickluna, of St. Catharines, the well-
known sbip-buil<'er. 1 he keel for the new
steamer was laid on October 20th, 1863.
and exactly that day six months the vessel
itself was launched. Mus Robertson,
daughter of Mr. Donald Roiertson, of
Queenston Heights, named the new vessel,
the usual bottle of wina being I token upon
her bows. The dimensions of the C ity of
Toronto were : length of keel 202 feet, 219
feet overall ; width of 1 eam, 27 teet ; depth
of hold, 11 feet 6 inches ; draught, 7 feet 6
inches, and 600 tons burden.
The Royal Mail Line began their regular
trips for the season on April 29th. The
first to leave was the Banshee.
'1 he American Steamboat Company ar-
rangements for the lake and St. Lawrence
for 1864 were as follows : The Ontario and
Viay State at titst formed a triweekly line.
Early in June they were joined by the
Cataract and Lord Elgin, a regular daily
line being then established. Their route
was from Oswego to Toronto and frem To-
ronto to Montreal, connecting with the river
steamers at Ogdensburg
1 he new City of Toronto cotnmenced her
journeys from Toronto to Lewiston on July
26th. The vessel was a great success.
I he Empress, which up to this time had
been on this route, was reir.oved to that
from Rochester to Cobourg. She collided
iiU
Am
'''^p!i
Ik! I'M
ii||p(r
m
Mr'
P^
up.,
i';-
V
%'
1-
■ '
I'l
j
(.1 ■!
h' '
m
If I
it|i!
It
?
feHi
!lU
918
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
near the " Ducks" witit the Banahee on
August fith. Fortunately no lives were
lost but great damage was caused both
ateameri.
A new vessel built at St. Catharinen,
known as the Silver Spray, Captain Donald-
■on, commenced running on Slonday, .July
25th, between Toronto and Port Dalhousie,
connecting with trains for St. Catharines
and Buffalo. .Slie returned to Toronto from
Port Dalhousie every evening at 8 o'clock.
Terrible disasters occurred on the upper
lakes in November, whicij resulted in the
loss of fifty lives and the destruction of
property valued at more than one million
dollars.
Navigation closed pretty generally about
the mid<ile of November, the steamers of the
Royal Mail Line having all concluded their
trips by November 20th.
CHAPTER CCXLVIL
Cloomy Anllclpatlons for the Sprlnz Trade
--The ft'im Arrival of (lie Season.
The Toronto Globe of March 28th, 1865,
has this paragraph : —
" Navigation Opkn'. — 1 here is a good deal
of activity among the vessels now in our har-
bor. Refitting, painting, and repair ng
are to be seen on all sides, and several have
already arrived here from oth»»" ports, and
three or four cleared to-day and last night.
One. the Mary Grover, has arrived from
here at Oswego, laden with wheat. Others
ar spreading sail and soon the whole fleet
will be in motion for the season as usual
A steam tug has been employed over near
the Island all day removing some obstruc-
tions in the new channel between the Island
and the eastern peninsula."
"The prospect in marine matters," so says
the <!/ol>e of March 29th, " for 1865 were
not very brisk, owing to the amall overplus
of produce requiring shipment."
The steamer City of Toronto commenced
her trips from Toronto to Lewiston on April
3rd. Her hours and places of departure
were the same as in the season of 1864.
The first arrival of the season in Toronto
harbor was the Highland Chief from French-
man s Hay, laden with 44 cords of wood.
The following notice appeared in the
Kingston Whig of .April I'ith : —
" R'lYAL Mail Line. — 1 he steamer Gre-
cian, of the Roal Mail Line, makes a trip on
Tuesday to Toronto, with a load of barrack
•tores, from the Military Stores' Depart-
ment at Kingston. She will ^ the first of
the line to make a start. It is not expected
that the lii e will commence running until a
few days before the 1st ot May, by which
time the new steamer Spartan will be ready
to take her place."
The schooner Eureka, having been placed
at the disposal of the Volunteer iNaval
Brigade at Toronto, she was taken out by
them under the command of Captain Mc-
Master for the fiist time on April 14th.
TTo T' ronto Globe, speaking of the brigade,
says they were well drilled, and doubtless
at the call of duty would be " ready, ayij
ready."
TWO NEW REVKVdE CtTTTERS
were at this time in course of construction
for the American Government service on
Lake Ontario. They were built at Willianis
burgh and at Baltimore. Owing to the
great amount of smuggling that had been
going on throughout the War of Secession
this course was absolutely necessary.
Ti e Royal Mail Line began ch«ir trips
from Hamilton to Montreal on May 4th. The
fleet consisted of the Champion, Passport,
Grecian, Majirnet and Kingston ; later in the
season the Spartan.
The Rochester was on her old route from
Cob( urg to Rochester ; the Silver Spray, be-
tween Joronto and Port Dalhousie, while
the American Express Line had their three
steamers, the Ontario, Bay State and Cata-
ract plying as in 186.3-64.
On Lake Huron the Algoma, Captain
Leach, made her first trip for the season on
May 9th.
The new steamer !^partan, of the Royal
Mail Line, p.rrived in Toronto for the first
time on May 24th. The Globe of the follow-
ing day thus describes her : " The splendid
new steamer Spartan was in our harbour to-
day and yesterday, and was visited by a
large number of our citizens. She is really
a most beautiful vessel, fitted up in cabin
and saloon in the most gorgeous manner,
with all the elegant finish of the tasteful ar-
tisan. Her machinery is of the most power-
ful and perfect kind, without the appendage
of the u:;ly walking beam so frequei t on our
lakes. She was built on the Clyde and
brought out in sections and put together in
.Montreal."
Trade on the lakes thronghout ISC') ap-
pears to have been at a very low ebb. Week
after week, from the opening of navigation,
the same complaint of dulness arose. On
June 20th the Globe writes despondingly :
" In marine afTairs we have been waitinsj to
chronicle some activity, but must again re-
vert to the same old report of dulness that
we gave some tiiiie ago." The paper then,
after a few general remarks, expresses the
hope that this state of inactivity will soon
be dispelled, and somewhat more cheerfully
winds up its otherwise most lugubrious com-
ments by saying that it hears : " The new
steamer Corinthian is expected upsocn. She
is said t3 I e a marvel of beauty and one ( f
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
919
been placed
iteer N a^al
ien out by
laptain Mc-
April 14th.
the brigade,
d doubtlesa
' ready, fty>>
TF,R.S
conairaction
i service oa
at Willian;a
>wing to the
lat, had been
of Secession
ssiary.
n their trips
VIay4th. The
on. Passport,
; later in the
Id route from
irer Spray, be-
housie, while
d their three
ate and Cata-
roma, Captain
th« season on
of the Royal
p for the first
.of the foUow-
The splendid
ur harbour to-
▼isited by a
She is really
up in cabin
reous manner,
the tasteful ar-
e most power-
the appendoi?e
requei t on our
Clyde and
ut togeihcr in
the finest of the many beautiful boats which
adorn our lake bhipping."
Only two days later, on June 22nd, the
(llohe returns to the subject and states em-
phatically " tl:c business of the lake will not
p;iy the larye number of vessels in want of
«;mployine -X this season." 'I'his time the
Ulohe has iio consolatory remarks to offer.
The steam r Bay of Quinte broke her shaft
about June 24tli, and was towed from " Tlie
Hay" to Kingston for repairs. During her
temporary absence from her route her owner,
Mr. Gildersleeve, chartered the R. M steamer
llansheu to supply her place.
On June 24lh appeared for the first lime
on the lake what her advertisemout des-
cribes as
" I'he magnificent new upper cabin ateel-
platcd
Stkam kr
CORiN 1 HIAN,
Ckyslkk, Master.
Until Further Notiv;e
Will Leave I'ort Hop*,
\\'eather Permitting,
Every Morning,
(Sundays excepted,) at 10 o'clock, after the
arrival of trains from east, west and north,
For Charlotte Direct,
arrivir g t lere daily in time to connect at
Roche.'. 'er with afternoon trains on the N.
Y. vJen.rai and N. V. and Erip Railroads to
all points east, west and south."
The CoFiiitiiiau called at Cobourg and
Colborne, both going and returning. Her
commandpi', Captaia Crysler, had form-
erly been in charije of one of tlie Ray of
Quinte steamers.
With the advent of the Cor .ithian the
Rochester, hitherto on the route taken
by the latter, was taken olF, ;ind aftjr
thorough repair placed upon the Bay of
Quinte.
A new sailing vessel, known as the Jaccjues
de MoUvy, arrived in Toronto, under com-
mand of Captain D. M. Tucker, on July
23th. She was described at the time as
being one of the finest vessels that had ever
entered Toronto harbor. She was 148 feet
loii;; and was of (JOO tons burthen. She was
built at Liverpool by her owiieis, Messrs.
Nyrian & Purdow, of that city, and was
the tirsl of the Templar line of packets to
run from Liverpool to the north-western
lakes.
The (7A)6e of July 27th thus refers to an
all-but-lorg(jtten incident, that of the
TI.NY STEAMEIl RU'PLK,
■iometime running between Toronto and
the Island : " The miniature little stea ner,
the Hippie, with her jaunty rig and oblig-
ing i oy captain, runs half-hourly between
the city and the Island, and is well patron-
ized by our citizens and the young folki
desirous of enjoyincr a sail."
On August '.i.*2ndJohn Walsh, captaia of
the steam ferry boat Piincess of Wales, ad-
verli-es that his steamer will leave Tinning's
wharf, Toron* J, for the Island, every day at
noon, and every h Wf hour afterwards tlirougii-
out the day until 7 p.m.
The Spartan, of the R. M. Line, met with
a very serious accident by running aground
in the St. Lawrence, near Caughnawaga, on
August 27. Fortunately no lives were lost.
The vessel was eventually repaired and re-
sumed her usual route
The propeller Brockville, belonging to
CliafTcy & Co , of Kingston, and trading
from .Montreal to Toronto and Milwaukee,
was wrecked on November 8th at Big Point,
Sable Lake, Michigan. Two lives were
lost, besides 2,400 barreM of Hour For-
tunately for her owners tlie vessel was fully
in.sured.
For some years the steam communicaiion
between CoUingwood and the Sault Sie.
Marie was limited to one boat a week, and
although the service as performed by the
Algoma in 18G4 and '6.5 was punctually and
efficiently done, business sufficiently de-
veloped itselt to justify additional provi-
sions.
In 1866 the Northern Railway Company
completed arrangements securing a double
service during that seaso' — steani>'rs leaving
','ollingwood fur the Sault twice a week in-
stead of only once. The second steamer
wa- known as the Wolverine, and her
rout' was the same as that of the Al-
goma.
Owing to an unu'^ually protracted vvinter,
the various ports on the lake were not fro*
from ice as early us was generally thu case.
\avij,'alion opered nearly a fortniitht later
than usual, thi; City of Toronto n«t
resuMiing her trips until quite the middle of
April.
The Montreal passenger line con.sisted of
the stcamera Spartan, (ireci'tn, Kin^jstou,
I'a.-isport, Magnet, Champion and Hansiiee.
Tlieir commanding officers were Ca}Uaius
Howard, Hamilton, Dunlop, Keliy, Fair-
grieve, Sinclair and Farrell.
Tiie American boats ran the same -xi in
18(j."), leaving Toronto in the morning for
Lewiston ; from thence toOg<len burgh, whera
they connected with the boats for
Montreal. Of the freii^ht steamers Jacques,
Tracy & Co. s line was the same as in 1 864 and
1865. Among u w freight vessels the Bris-
tol was under the managtmeut of Chaffey
& Co. TKe steamers Perseverance and En-
terprise, *,he property of tlie Welland Rail-
way, ran between I'ort Dalhousio, Oswego
and Kingston. The Whitby, belougiug to
¥ t 'I
' r-H
B!iis
■i\V
Ks
11/ 1
ti'. I
■nf^i-r^w^pp'
fi'
r
i^
920
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
MesarB. Henderson k Co., ran between
Montreal and Toronto and HMniiton and
▼ice versa.
A NEW PROPELLER.
On April 18th was launched at St. Cath-
arines the new propeller City of London,
intended to run from Port Stanley to Mont-
real. The vessel waa named by Miss
Taylor, of London, and the launch was de
olared one of the most successful that had
ever occurred in St. Catharines.
The extreme length of the ve -Bel over all
was 145 feet, beam 26 feet 8 inches, with
11 feet 6 inches depth of hold, and 450 tons
measurement. I he St. Catharines Journal,
Id a hi^'hly flattering notice of this steamer,
concludes its remarks thu« : " There is ex-
cellent accommodation for steerage as well
as cabin passengers, ro that the wantn and
pursea of all classes can be accommodated.
The City will be commanded by Captain
Pollock, a safe and reliable and skilful man,
and having a large interest in the craft him-
self, he will spare no pains to do everything
in his power to secure the comfort and safety
of passengers under his care."
On April 13th, under the heading " Prin-
cess of Wales Steamer,'' the Toronto Leader
has this notice : " The undersigned takes
this opportunity of returning thanks to the
citizens of Toronto for the very liberal sup-
port h: received last summer in running to
the Island, and respectfully intimates that
he will resume his usu d trips on or about
the 10th May.
"John Walsh,
"Captain."
The steamer Biy of Quinte arrived at
fiellevillt on the evening of April 2l8t from
Kingston She commenced her regular trips
on the same route for that season on the 23rd
of the same month.
Messrs. Chaffey & Co. advertised on April
23 that " The A 1 propeller Merritt will
leave Toronto for Halifax ou Saturday, the
28th inst. For freight apply to E. Chaffey
& Co , Bank of Toronto Buildings, Welling-
ton street, Toronto."
The Emily May made hei first trip for
the aeason of 1866 on Lake Simcoe on May
14. She left Bell Ewart for Orillia every
morning on the arrival of the mail train
from Toronto, " calling at all points of in-
terest," at least so advertised her master,
Isaac May.
Not until April 28th was there much ac-
tivity on the lake. On that date the Leader
of 1'oronto puhliflhed this paragraph : —
" The lake steamers have begun to movo.
The ste^imer Reindeer and propeller Brant-
ford arrived here from Kingston to-lay.
The propeller St. Lawrence is expected up
to-night or on Sunday morning. The pro-
Saller Indian left St. Catharinea to-day for
[amilton to load peas and flour for Mon*
treal. The Huron and the Ottawa »re ex
paoted up un Tuesday, May Ist."
RtlHOaRS OF WARS.
On May 1st the London (England) cor-
respondent of the Chicago Tribune writes
thus to his paper : " The fiigaies Liffey,
(20,) and Galatea, (26 ;) the corvettes Jaaon,
(21,) and Satellite, (21 ;) the sloop Petrel,
(21,) and the gunboat Rainbow, have re-
ceived orders to prepare for sea with the
utmost despatoii. Their destination is said
to be the Gulf and River St. Lawrence,
where their pressnc* may be necessary in
view of the complications that are likely to
grow out of the lapst of the reciprocity
treaty and the fisheries question."
This was just prior to the Fenian troubles
of 1866, which culminated in the butle of
Ridge way just a month later.
On April 28th another fine vessel was
launched from Shickluna's shipyard, St.
Catharines, making the total number of
twenty-six schooners and steamers built
there in five years. This vessel was a fine
piece of uaval architecture, measuring 143
feet over all, 26 feet beam, 1 1 feet hold and
460 tons burthen. She received the name
of " Hessie Barwick," (alliteration here
"lent its artful aid") out of cbmpliment
to the daughter of Mr. J. H. Barwick, agent
for the Bank of Upper Canada at St. Cath-
arines. Captain William Carridice had com-
mand of the new vessel.
Not until May 6th was the river clear
of ice in the vicinity of Lewiston. On
that day Captain Milloy, of the City of
Toronto, reported that he had been able to
pass down without obstruction from this
cause
On May 22 a new vessel of 120 tons bur-
then was launched at Toronto al the Rolhng
Mills wharf. Her length was 80 fee , depth
6 feet, and l<readth 20 feet. She only drew
about 18 inches of watur ; was scow-built,
and wire instead of rope-rigged. She was
intended to ply from Toronto to ports un
the opposite side of the lake. She was
owned by Captain Woodhouse, who
also commanded her, and her cost was
$2,5/)0.
A new ferry boat from Torouto to the
Islan I was placed on the bay in June.
It was advertised thns :—
"Island Ferry. Steamer Bouquet. Season
tickets for sale at the following places :
Messrs. W. k J. Strachan, Front street ;
Saulter's wood yard ; Church street wiiarf ;
R. W. Parkinson, Esq., eorner of Yonge
and King streets, and from
board. Toronto, June 1,
Sal'lter, Maa4.cr."
the captain on
1866. Ja.mu
|"»'fai»w"!i!«,'-v
-<-~T
LANI'MARKS OF TORONTO
921
^^'/b r,m «c~-.^^t;
^ -^4 ?
THE FERBT BOAT BOUQVR?..
Early on the morning of June 1st the City
of Toronto left her moorings for Port Col-
borne, having on board the " Queen's Own"
of Toronto, who were suddenly called to
arms for the purpoie of defending the pro-
vince against a raid made upon it from United
States territory by the Fenian despera-
does.
On June 5th one hundred and twenty
sailors from H M. 8. Aurora arrived
in 'Toronto by Grand Trunk Railway from
Quebec A portion of them took possession
•f the steamer Magnet, wtiich, by order of the
Qovemment, was being fi>ted up as an armed
eruiser. The rest of them went on lor duty
at Windsor. On the following day those of
their comrades who had at first joined the
Magnet were also ordered to Windsor, a re-
port that a Fenian raid was there antici-
pated from Chicago being the cause of this
•hange.
VOLUNTHK RATAL BRIGADE.
During the Fenian troubles of 1866 the
naval bri^rade (volunteer) was formed, as has
been mentioned, for service uu the laKcs,
snder Captain McMaster. When the actual
invasion took place they were at once called
out for active duty and loyally responded to
the call. After the excitement caused by the
invasion had subsided, the following letter
from tha Majur-General commanding the
troops waa received by Captain McMasler :
Asaistaut Adjutant-General's Office, \
Toronto, June 10, 1866. /
Sir, — I am directed by Major-General Na-
pier, C. li, commanding li. M. forces and
volunteers in Canada \Nestto express to you
his thanks for the efficient services ren-
dered by the naval brieade under your com
inftud, particularly 'ecently, when required
to take charge of and convert the steamer
Rescue into a gunboat, -in discharging her
cargo and getting the necessary armament
on board in a very short time and in a highly
creditable manner, and when relieved from
the charge of the Rescue in performing
similar good services when placed ia charga
of the steamer Magnet. And the Major<
General will not fail to avail himself of the
ser\ ices of the naval brigade afloat should
an opportunity occur, and will have great
pleasure in bringing before the notice of Uia
Excellency the Governor General the im-
portant and valuable services which thaj
have rendered.
1 have the honor to be, sir,
Your obedient servant,
William S. 13orie,
LiieuU-Lol. A. A. G. M.
Captain McMaster,
Commanding Naval Eri<;ade, Toronto.
This is certainly very pleasing, but it ia,
to say the least of it, somewhat embarr^sing
to be told, as the Toronto Leader of July
20th tells its readers, under the head-
ing " Naval Brigade, ' " that this body
of well-drilled young men are now dis-
banded. Ill-usage on the part of the Gov-
ernment is given as the cause " It ia
to be feared the Naval Brigade expected too
much.
The Toronto Daily Leader, of August 16tha
contains this paragraph : —
" THE gunboat heron.
The gunboat Heron, iukended for senriee att
Lake Ontario, arrived here (Toronto) yeata^
day. She is a trim little craft and carriaa t«9
112 1b. Armstrong guns The Heronleft aft
II a,m. for I'ori Dalhousie, and was 8aluta4
by the guns at the artilluiy lat racks."
:t|
,i I'
922
LiANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
ft' - ■ :
At thii time the Govarnmont had ready
for river and lake service the gunboats lirito-
mart, Cherub, Rescue, Michigan, St. An-
drew, Royal and Heron, all heavily armed
and manned by sailors from the Royal
Navy.
The rowing club regat a of the Toronto
club took place on August 2.3rd ana was
largely patronized, the steamer Rutheaay
Castle,having on board the band of the 17th
Regiment, conveying spectators.
There were six events, consisting of the
fishermen's, boys', two-oared, sculling, double
scull and championship races.
These were won by the Silver Arrow, the
No Name, Wanderer, Queen, Lady Jane,
and Mr. Thomas Tinning secured the cham-
pionship.
The steamer Rothesay Castle, just tr.ea-
1
Hamilton to Toronto. She was then subsi-
dized by the New Rrunswick Government
and journeyed on the (iulf She was burned
at Shediac in March, 1874.
After this she was re-built, brought to To-
ronto and called the Southern Belle. On
August 17th, 1875, while coming up the lake
she ran on the boiler of the Monarch, wh cli
lies outside the Island, and was wrecked. She
was restored and again ran from Toronto to
Hamilton.
A rather serious accident occurred to the
City of Toronto while on her passage ou
August 9th from Niagara to Toronto. She
had ahead wind and heavy sea to contend
w ith, and in her endeavor to sum ount the
difiiculties that beset her path, she broke
her shaft and reached Toronto in a disabled
condition. She was off her route for exactly
THE STEAMEK ROTHESAY CASTLE.
tioued, was intended to run on the route
from Hamilton to Toronto. The Toronto
papers of August 25th thus refer to her : —
" This fine ;steanier made her first trip
yesterday, between this city and Hamilton.
Previous to starting for the " Ambitions
city" a trial trip was made iu order to satisfy
theGovernment Inspector that her machinery
was all light,
"Capt. De Horsey, of the Royal Navy, and
a number of other gentlemen were on board,
all of whom spoke in the highest terms of
the vessel. She will, during the remainder
of the season, run between Toronto and Ham-
ilton, and no doubt becnine popuhir before
long The low fare and h ;r superior accom-
modations will insure hur a large share of
public patronage."
1 he Rot'iesay Castle was built on the
Clyde about 1804, and was intended to be
used as a blockade runner, but by 6he time
she reached this country the " war was
over and all things were righted," so she
could not be put to her intended purpose.
She then came into (he possession of Charles
Heron and Thomas Leach in 1866, and ran
on the Niagara rivur, opposing the steamer
City of Toronto. Afterwards she run from
a fortnight, her place being taken iu the
meantime by the Osprey.
This steamer had been built iu 1864 at
Sorel ; was a side-wheeied, upper-cabin
vessel, her dimensions being 175x45x11
feet 6 inches. She contained the machinery
of the famous Jenny Lind, well known
in her tune as one of the fastest steamers ou
the lakes.
The Osprey was built at the time of the
American Wur of Secession, and was in-
tended to be used as an armed cruiser, but
no sale could be ciTectt'd for that purpose,
so her owner brought her back to the St.
Lawrence, when she was chartered by Capl.
Frank Patterson for two years and ran from
Hamilton to ^loniie;il.
THE OSI'KKV'S KND.
In 1867 she was purchased by JEueni
Mackay for the purpose of trading to Hali-
fax. One trip was made, but it tuuned out
most unprofitable and was never repeated.
She then ran from llainilton to .Niontrualuntil
1875 or 1876 with variable success, then Uid
up for two years and in the end perisiu'd
by fire. Capt. Daniel Taylor comniauded
her for manv years.
On August 'IS h a su])per was held ia To
f^mm
in subai-
rerument
bS burned
ht to To-
Bile. Ou
■) the lake
;h, wh ch
;ked. She
oruato to
red to the
iss'gc ou
11 to. She
0 contend
1 ouut the
ihe broke
Li disabled
[or eiLactly
tea lu
tht
in 1864 at
,pper-eabin
175x45 X 11
luacliiiiery
■ell liuowu
|ileatiiers ou
Itime of the
id was iu-
;ruiser, but
it purpose,
J to the St.
led by Capl.
\\il ran from
by iiiluea*
jg to Hali-
Ituuued out
repe<ated.
autrualuntil
^ then I lid
id perisiied
Icouuuauded
Lheli iu To
LANDMARKS OF TOUONTO.
923
ronto at which ooinplimentary addresses
were presented to Captain McMaster and
Lieutenant McGregor, of the late Volunteer
N>val Brigide. At the same time an
epergne in frosted silver and glass was pre-
sented to the formergentlemauanda "Henry"
rifle to the latter.
Ou September 6th there was launched at
Oakville a sailing vessel known as the
" Smith and Post," described by the Marine
Inspector as being ' ' one of tlie finest vessels
on the lakes " She was of 300 tons bur-
then, her length, breadth and depth of hold
being respectively 118, 26 ami 9 feet 6
inches. Her builder was John Potter, of
Oakville, and her owners were Captain
William Wilson of the same place, who also
commanded her, and Thomson Smith, of
Toronto.
she came under Captain Hall's management
ana control. iMuull.y ttie Uobl) vf&m
Btninded at Victo.ia Park, and there re-
miliar (1894).
During November storm* Bwept over the
province, and one of the worst o'^L'iirri'd
on November 13th, when the Caspian
■ohocner wa« lost and many other vecseli
belonging to Hamilton, Torouto, Port Hop*
and K'lugJitou were either dismaiited or
seriously damaged. The loss of life wae
not MO greiit !\.t might hare bepn expe<?ted.
Two men were lost with the Ca«ni:\ii.
The steamers of the self-styled Royal Mail
Line h id been remarkably free from acci-
dent all through the season, as indeed had
all the steamers on the lake. Nevertheless,
owing to the Fenian raid the English gun-
boats ou tiie lakes and other causes, the
season of Ibtiti had been one of the mod'. m« u
THE TUG ROBB.
I'here was a tug on Torouto Bay during
1866 and subsequent years named the Kobb,
which did good service for many years. She
received her name after the man who sailed
h«r, W. T. Robb, who resided at DuuuviUe,
where thii vessel had been built early in
the " sixties " by Geor^^e Hardisou, of the
same place.
She was the property of Senator McCal-
lum, who caused her to t e built with the view
of using her to tow timber on Lake Erie.
1 he Senator subsequently sold her to
Captain William Hall, who used her for
towint,' rafts on the lake from 'i orouto to
Preacott Shortly after Hall purchased the
Bteaiiicr he added another deck to her and
chan;;ed the position of the wheel house.
Jhe Robb was used during the Fenian
troubles to convey troops from one part
of ihe frontier to another. Tliis was before
orable in the records of inland navigatijn
since 1837. it closed quietly en>ju;;h, though
there were not a few who feared that the
following year would see fresh cause for
anxiety, Fortunately these gloomy antici-
pations were never realized.
A NKW DEPAHTCBK.
The first composite steamer built upon the
lakes was constructed iu 1866 iu Hamilton,
and was named Acadia. She measuj-ed I40x
i 40x12 feet, and had through her peculiar
build very great carrying capacity.
In 1882 forty feet was added to her length,
and she became a general trader un the lakes.
For the most of her time she has been com-
manded by captains of the nam > of Malcolm-
sou and has been very profitable to her
ONvu?rs. iSlie id now (1S'J4) tlif property
of i\w Muckiiy'w of Ilaiuiltou, uad ruus
I from To:ou.o to Moutreal,
'
W::
:;|
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J
|.ilf
■rm
m
s
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ii
n
024
LANDMARKS OK TORONTO.
i
r :'
i ■ i
nr
LANDM \RKS OF TORONTO.
925
Th« Kin.iton Whig of April 3rd, 18(i7>
eoutained this notice : —
The (JUNDOATS. — The gunboat Hercules,
which has wintered in Navy Tiay, moMod to
the dockyard wharf, alongside the gunboat
Royal, is being fitted out by her crew of sea-
men from the Royal Navy for the opening
of navication, when she will be stationed
either off Kin^jaton or I'rcscott. During the
winter she was well repaireJ, having leoeived
new paddle boxes, &c She cannot I e ex-
pected to be able to move from her present
quarters for two weeks at least to come. The
Royal, which was stationed last summer off
Cornwall, is not being fitted out this year as
a gunboat, the GoTcrnment having no further
requirement for her on the naval service. She
has been handed over to her proper owners,
and will leave for Montreal as soon as it is
possible to pass througii the canals. The
Hercules is now the only Canadian gunboat
stationed b low the Welland Canal, but the
Imperial gunboat Heron will constantly
cruise between the upper end of the lake Mid
Prescott.
The following were the officers in charge
of the English gunboats : Heron, Lieutenant
Solly ; Bricomart, Lieutenant AUington ;
Cherub, Lieutenant Huntley The Provin-
cial gunboats were manned from the Aurora,
as follows : Prince Alfred, Lieutenant Dou-
plass, 3 officers, 1 surgeon, 2 engineers and
64 men. Rescue, Lieut. Fairlie, 2 officers,
2 engineers and 48 men. Hercules, Lieut.
Ifooper, 2 officers, 1 surgeon, 2 engineers and
60 men.
These boats had been in ch irge of Mr. G.
H. Wyatt, the Government agent, since
navigation closed in the preceding au-
tumn.
CHAPTER CCXLVIIL
THE NIAGARA STEAMERS, 1874-78.
AuOld Intlltntlon Threatened -Formidable
Opposition— The Newt'omer >Vlns.
The Niagara route was, as usual, taken by
the City of Toronto, under Captain .lames
Dick, in 1874, she making her tirsl trip on
April 20lh. There was no change either in
1875 until late in the season, when the City
was joined by the Southern Belle. In 1876
the City and the Belle tornicd a joint line on
the route, but again in 1877 the former had
the road to herself.
In 1878 though, a " change cam •■ o'er the
spirit of the scene" and ihe City found her-
self confronted with a really formidable op-
ponent, namely the Chicora which had been
runnin|{ on the upper lakes for some years
previously. This vessel had been built in
1864 in Liverpool, at least so it is slated, but
it is far more probable that it was in Birken-
head, which is exactly opposite the former
port and is famous for its ship
building industry and for little
else. She was intended for blockade
running, but "the best laid plans of mice
and men gang aft aglee." Before she could
make her way to the waters of the Southern
Atlantic the Confederate Stttes of America
had ceased to exist, and the star spangled
banner once more floated triumphantly in
every State from the St. Lawrence to the
Gulf of Mexico.
The Chicora was an iron vessel, her capa
city being 518 tons, and she was valued at
?43,000.
The City was in this season joined by the
Rothesay, a sidewheel steamer of
528 tons burthen, biilt by Olive, of St.
Job I, New Brunswick, at the same place.
These two steamers ran in opposition to
the Chicora and continued to do so until the
close of the season of 1880. In the year 1882
the City was destroyed by fire at Port Dal-
housie. The Rothesay went upon another
route and the Chicora had the traffic, or
rather the daily traffic, all to herself. The
further history of th« Niagara line is fally
told elsewhere.
The Nlasara NavlKstlon Co. — Its Tcssels
and Their Captains— 187S to 1893.
The Niagara Navigation Company began
business in 1878, establishing a line of
steamers to run between Toronto, Niagara-
ontha-Lake and L wiston.
Their first vessel was the Chicora, which
was already well known on the upper lakes,
and whose name was during the first North-
west rebellion prominently before the public
in connection with the transport of C lonol,
now Lord, VVolseiey's Red River expedition.
The Chicora was a large steel side-wheel
steamer, her length being two hundred and
thirty feet and her breadth fifty-two feet ;
her earl.er history is given in another por-
tion of these pages.
The first officer placed in command
of this popular vessel was Captain
Thomas Harbottle, who for so many
years was in comtnand of the Passport, of
the Royal Mail Lin^ It is almost needless
to say that a better selection cuu d not have
been made. Captain Harbottle having al-
ways been a most popular man, besides a
clever and experienced sailor.
Succeeding Captain Harbottle came Cap
tain T. Leach, after him Captai^n J. Mc-
Corquodale, then Captain J. McGiffin. Fol-
lowing the latter came Captain VV. H.
Soltnes, and on the appointment of this
gentleman to another ship Captain JamM
Harbottle, a son of the vessel's first master,
assumed the command, at the beginning of
the seaso:i of 1893.
li:'!|
Is
ftiti
f. WDMAi: <S OK TOIIONTO.
tni' i>'i
W
WiiiimwfitiiiJBniw
t
LAnuMATiKS OP TORONTO.
0'2"
The Chicora continued linglehaniieil for
just ten yearff, until 1H88, wheu ihe Cibola
was planed upon the lamu route, and
at the same time a small steamer known
as the Ongiara, formerly the Queen Oity,
which ran on Toronto harbour, was put upon
the Niagara Hiver, plying from Miagaraon-
the-Lake to Lawiston on the American side.
She connected with the stiamers plying from
'Poronto.
The Ciliola is » paddle steamship of the
following dimentiioRs : — Extreme length over
deck '26U tt; depth of hold, 11 ft. 6 in.;
breadth ot beam, 28 ft. 6 in. ; with over all,
52 ft.; draught of water 6 ft. 6 ins. .'"he is
built throughout of Dalzell steel which is the
best known to»hiphuilder», the plates being
tent out from Scotland by the Dalzell Co.,
each being u arranted and having the manu-
facturer's trad- mark stamped thereon.
Her Miodel, which is specially designed for
stability and speed, is the work of Mr. R.
Morton, of Glasgow, the designer of some
of the fastest steamers en the Clyde.
The deck is laid with 3^ inch pine, sup-
plied by the Rathbnn Company, and is a
fine piece of work. The hull is divided into
five compartments by water tight bulk-
heads. The construction of the ' vessel
was commenced on May 24, 1887, in the
shipyard of the Rathbun Company, De-
seronto, the work of erecting the hull being
entrusted to Mr. VV. C. W hite, shipbuilder,
Montreal. The work progressed very ra-
pidly and on 1 uesday, Nov. Ist, of the
same year, the fine vessel was successfully
launched, receiving her name from Miss Con-
stance Cumberland.
The engines are the work of Messrs. Ran-
kin, Blackmore & Co., of Greenock, Scot-
land, who make a specialty of fast paddle
engines for the celebrated Clyde passenger
steamers. 1 hey are of the direct acting
diagonal compound type, having two cylin-
ders 47 inches and 85 inches in diameter, the
stroke being 5 feet 6 inches.
The saloon is finished in solid mahogany
and with the ladies' cabin prebenta a liand-
soine appearance.
Electric lights are used throughout, in
the stokeholes, in the engine rooms, fore-
castle, etc. The dining room and main
saloon have three rows of lights down the
centre of each, encircled with cut glass and
opalescent globes. Above the main stair-
way hangs a chandelier of pierced brass
with jewelled openings and containing
clusters of lights.
Her first commandant was Captain Mc-
Corquodale from the Chicora, after him was
Captain Mc(iitfin, and at the present time
Captain W. H. Solines is in command.
Captain McGifGn having been transferred
to the latest addition to the company's fleet,
theChippvwa.
The various individuals and firms engaged
in building the Cibola were as follows : —
Designer, Robert Morton, Glasgow : steel
hull, Dalzell Co., Dalzell, Scotland; marine
engines, Rankin, lUackmore & Co., Green-
ock ; erection of hull, W. White k Co.,
Montreal ; erectior of woodwork, Rathbun
Company, Dnseronto ; mahogany and deco-
rarion, Wm. Wright & Co., Detroit; electric
lights, Edison Co , New York.
Of the Chippewa, which made her first
trip on July 26 in the present year (ISO.'i),
it is all but impossible to speak too h ghly.
.She, like the Cibola, is little less tl an •
floating palace, her appointments, macliinerj
and general finish as nearly as possible ap-
proaching perfection.
ijhe was successfully launched at Hamil-
ton on Tuesday, May 2nd, and received her
name from Miss Gertrude Foy, and Miss
Phyllis Hendrie.
Ihe Chippewa is 311 ft. over all with a
total breadth of 67 ft., and a depth of 13
ft. 6 in. She is a side wheel vessel on the
plan of the Hudson River steamers; her
■aloon is 192 ft. long and there are four large
state rooms in birch, oak and mahogany.
This splendid ship was built by Mr.
William Hendrie, of the Hamilton Bridge
Company, it being his daughter irho
officiated at the launch and naming of the
vessel.
Every one in Canada knows both where
the town of Chippawa is, and why it
is so called, but the steamer just described
takes its name not from that town, but from
a famous man-of-war on the lake in 1812,
called after the Indian chieftain.
Every one, though, may not be quite at
familiar with the names of the two other
steamers just spoken of, so a tew words of
explanation may be here given : —
When the Spaniards', about 1580, follow-
ing the lead of tbeir great compatriot.Chris-
topher Columbus, created settlements upon
the southern portions of what in now the
United States, son e enterprising adven-
turers took home to Spain the Indian Chief
who at the time ruled over the country
from Florida to the Mississippi, then called
'« CHICORA," the "land of Flowers."
The king created the chief "Don Francesco
de Chicora," and gave to him and to his
introducers a royal grant of all the country
that bordered on the Gulf ot Mexico. Arm-
ed with this they returned to America
and extended their enterprises across
the Mississippi, Reaching the plains they
found the buifalo and therefore called this
new province which was added to their do-
main, "Cibola, ' the "Land of the tuffalo."
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LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
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Wh.it. then, could be
Chi<ora calleil for a
tli.il the naiuo of the
should be given hor ?
tiJippily littitiff names,
larly appiopi iato to tlio boats, and
niiKli to be -"vishcd that Cibola.
bettor when the
new .sL-'tor tliiui
«isti.'f i> mviiioe
Apart from the
they are siiigu-
l is
the
buffalo,' Chicora, "the pretty flower;''
and C.)ippeiva, "the ohii ftain." may long
coniiiiue a successful career uiwn tiieir
route between Toronto and Lewiston,
■workirp in the interest of the Niagar.-i.
Ri^e^ Line.
The presin*: president <>i the Xi;'gara
K.I vigiUi(vn Company is Sir Frank Smith,
the vici'-presidi-nt being Mr. llarlow Cum-
J.eihnd, Mr. U. II. Melb'iiie is auditor,
and the ever courteous srcretar,\" Juid man-
ager is Mr. ,l(»lin Foy. Their oii'ice.s aro
at 54 King street east. T )ronto.
The ("ibila was burnt while lying in
port !>t Lewiston, .Tuly IStli, 18115. I'n-
jiappi'v one life avsis loNt, that of . iie
third "ngineer. William U.ammond, who
•was biirnt to death.
CHAPTER CCXLIX.
NIAGARA FALLS LINE 1883 TO 1893.
A Pnpniar Trsscl— OpiMiMlllon Is tlie Soul
©•' Trndo— A Trii.c KfTocloil.
The
1S83,
being
jected
tion.
-Viiigara Falls Tine, founded in
Mr. A. W. llei)1iuin, of Picton,
the principal j)ioinolei', was pro-
for til'
Iiurpose Oi .securing n yov-
it any r.'te, of botli the fri ight
find pnssengi'r traffic between Toronto,
St.' Catharines and Niagara Falls, hence
ihe name given to tiie tind 'rtaking.
Their fir.st and only ves .el for some
years was the Fmpress ot Inilia. This
Bteanier is a very great ),ivf)urit(> with
travellers upon Lake On arin and .iNc
with excnrsionists. She '.as side wheel?,
19 one hnnilred ;ind eigii'y feel long over
all ; has a breadth <•. forty-eight feet
and a depth of upwards of eleven feet.
She IS «d 'to.'} tons becthen, and was
built in 1870 by .Liinieson, of Mill Pdiit.
She had a new boiler in 18S4, was re-
built in 18.S(), and again had most ex-
tensive rei\".irs made to her in 18!)1. Her
present conunander is Captain (J. O'I'.rien,
and her previous masters have been
Cuptains Collier, Hodgins and Van Dusen.
Until 18N8 the Kmpress, for so she is
always called for brevity's sake, was en-
tirely uuopiKised on her route, but in
that year "a change eaine o'er the
spirit <•! tti.- .«crne," for when tiie scjison
opined the proiirietms of the steamer
four.d they were to have a rival to eoti,-
pcte with who wished also to si-.are the
risks .uid also the iirofits tu be gained
fn.iu the lake trade.
The opiKising vessel was the Lakeside,
owned by the Lakeside Navigation Com-
pany, which had j/reviously been running
on Lake Erie, and was under command
of Captaiii Wigle.
The Lakeside is a propeller and liaa
been used chiefly for excursions. She
was built by liane, of Windsor, in 1888,
Ler capacity being 2G7 tons.
The Empress and the Lakeside contin-
ued on the ^^■une route until 1892, when
a new company was formed, who not
only chartered the Lakeside, but built
a. new steamer of their own called the
Garden City ; so in 1802, be+ween To-
ronto and Dalhousie, there were no le.«ia
than three steamers rnnniug, namely,
the Kmpress, the Lakeside and the Gar-
den City.
Till' name of the shipping company run-
ning the last two of these steamers was
the " St. Catharines, Grimsby and To-
ronto Navigation Company."
The G.'irden City was built nt Toronto
in 18J2, by the Doty Company, in tl-.eir
y-.rd at the foor of ISathurst street. She
was intended by her owners, as has just
been nu-ntioiieil, to ply from Toronto to
St. Catharines, and she did so for the
remainder of that year.
At the time of her launch she was
Fpokeii of being " likidy to prove one of
tlie handsomest and most commodious
steamlK>ais jilying on I-ake Ontario."
Her length over all was 180 feet, hei
beam being 25 and her width over guards
■44 l.'et, while her depth was 11 feet anil
she drew six feet of water. No iron what-
ever was used in her construction. She
was of steel from stem to stern.
Her decks were of British Columbia
iKiuglas jiine, imported expressly by the
builders, the l>oty Company.
Tlie Garden Citv commenced running
on the lake on .June 20th, 1892.
Mr. John Ihioth is the engineer for these
vessels, having been previously in (he
employ of the Cl' tham Navigation Com-
pany, where he served his artieles.
Messrs. N. J. Wigle and A. W. Hepburn
are the .ioint managers, and Mr. Smith,
of Milloy's wliarf, is agiMit in TornMin.
In 189;< the <vwners of the vai'iotis
steamers consulted together, and it was
decided unatiimously that it would Iv
better for the public, better for the
steamers, and jKissibly even better for
the pockets of the shareholders in the
various vessels, that this reckless op|Mi-
sition sliouhl rease, so a tentative prn-
IMisal of amalgamation for at any rat-
the present season was made and entereil
into which jnissibly may be fully earrieil
out, and the hciats form the fleet of one
Company at a future date. Nous vermns.
mffmm^m'
mi^miim^mmmrmmmfr^
r.AXD.MARKS OF Tf)ROXT().
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lidc contin-
1892, when
1, who not
hut built
called the
it-.vecii 'I'o-
ere no less
g, namely,
id the Gar-
nipany niu-
i-nniers wns
)y and Tf>-
at Toronto
iiv, in tl'.i'ir
(*"tiret. Sli.'
as has jusi
Toronto to
so for the
ch she was
irovo one of
eonunodionH
Ontario."
80 feet, he I
over snanl.-
11 feet anil
() iron what-
uctiou. tslie
rn.
li Columbia
?sHly by the
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932
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
CHAIMER CCL
HAMILTON STEAMBOAT CO. '87-'93
A Nodeat BeiElunlnK -An KnlerprinliiK and
ProsrcHHlve Policy,
The Hamilton Steamboat Company was
founded in 1887 by several enterprising
business men of th^t city with the view of
developing 1 oth the freight and passenger
traffic between the " Ambitious " and the
*' Queen " cities of the west.
'I heir first venture was on the most
modest scale. They contented themselver.
by running a bmall steamer built by Simp-
son, of Toronto, known as the Mazeppa,
from Hamilton to Burlington Beach. This
steamer has been on the same route ever
since, and is under command of Captain
Lundy.
In the following year, 1888, business was
commenced in earnest and tiie well-known
and capacious at ainer Macassa be^;ar her
daily journeys from Hamilton to Toronto
and v.ce versa.
The Macassa isa steel vessel bu' It on the
Clyde in 1888 by Hamilton & Co., of Glas-
f(ow, and on her completion brought out
here. Her engines are of 600 indicated
horse pov/er, and were made and s applied by
Kemp, the well-known mechanicil engineer
of (Glasgow.
Her length over all is 155 feet, her width
24 feet and her depth II feet 6 inches.
She was brought out to this country by
Captain Hardy, who commanded her for the
first season she ran upon the lake.
Since then, with a short interval, she
has been under command of Caplaio
William Zeeland, a grandson of one of tlie
best known of the early commanders of lake
vessels, Captain Edward Zeeland, whose
name has lepeatedly been mentioned in this
history.
In her first season the Macassa proved a
great success, not only financially, but also
as a seaworthy and auicl; sailing vessel.
Emboldened by this success her owners
decided to bring out another vessel, and a
larger one, and with this end in view the
Modjeska was placed upon the stocks.
She, like the Macassa, was also built on
the Clyde, though by another firm, Messrs.
Napier, Shanks & Hell, of (ilasgow, whose
fame as ship builders is known throughout
the world. She was constructed in her
entirety of steel and fitted with watertight
compaiimeutB. H''r length is 185 feit, her
beam .S ) feet and liur depth 11 feet 6
inches.
Me.^srs. Dunsmuir .and Jackson, eni;ineers
of (ilasgow, supplied her engines, which are
of uo less than 1,800 indicated horse power.
The first commanding officer of the Mod-
jeska was Captain Malcolmson, who safely
brought her across the Atlantic from
the Old Country. He remained in comma d
that season. Since then she has been under
charge of Captain Adam Middleton Sharp, of
Burlington.
The chief engineer for both the Macassa
and Modjeska, and the man who had most
to do with the selection of their powerful
eni;ines and machinery is Mr. James Smea-
ton, in \\ hoin the steamboat company's
riianager and directors deservedly place the
■nost unreserved confidence. Mr. Smeaton,
after serving his articles as engineer'e
)upii in England, was some years
in the employ of the Allan line, being at the
time he entered the service of the Hamilton
Steamboat Company engineer on board the
Norwegian.
He is a direct descendant of John Smeaton,
the famous engineer who designed and built
the Eddystone Lighthouse in the English
Channel. 0' r'nis Smeaton it is recorded
that he " fo: a large portion of his life was
in constant attendance on Parliament,
which in difficult or important engineering
schemes invariably demanded, and aim 'Si
always followed, his advice. ' Substitute
"HamiltonSteamboatCompany'for "I'urlia-
meat ' in that sentence and it is an apt de-
scription of John Smealon's dcsoendani,
James Smeaton's, relation with Uis em-
ployers.
.Mr. M. Leggatt is acting president of
the Hamilton Steamboat C mpany,the presi-
dent, Mr. T. B. CiriHiths, having died in
August (189.1). Mr. J. B. Griffiths is tho
managing direcior, and Mr. Fergus Arm-
strong, assistant manager. Mr. G. T.
Tuckett is t e secretary and treasurer. The
officers of the company are in Hamilton,
witti a branch in Toronto At the pre.sent
time (189li) each of the company's steaintT.s
make (luring tlie season two trips daily be-
tween Hamilton and Toronto, and vice
versa, with the {.rospect, in the futuf!,
of more frequent journeys with an increased
lleet of steamers.
CHAPIER CCLI.
Tlie tienernl lllstnrr of the Lake Sliiiipiiig
<'oiitiiiucd — Tlie <«iiiiltoats — Htrniii>)n:ii
Kaciug.
Almost the first notice relating to the lake
shipping in 1867 emanated from Captain
Thomas Dick, of the Queen's Motel, Toronto,
on April 10th. He advertised as for sale
"the fine tug steamer Reindeer, now lyiii:^
in Toronto harbor.'
Only a few days later, though, on .Mon-
day, April 15th, the City of Toroiuo recom-
Lnke Slilpping
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
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LANDiMAl^KS OF TOUOXTD.
LANDMARKS OF TOI.ONTO.
g3»
L>'
, -?
! '
inencod her re. ular daily Iripa frotn Toronto
for Luwistoii and Niagara.
Nuviijaiion opened on tlie ]>ay of (^uiiito
about April tiOtli, tho steainrr of the .same
name resutniiig there licr regular trips. Tho
steamers Rochester and ilruee in this season
ran tor the first time aa a daily line from
I elleviUe to Oswego.
On Wednesday, April 24th, the Heron
;;-anlioat left I Oroiito harbor for her tirst
cruise. She had been entirely refitted diirini;
the winter. .Mr. L'urran, of 'i'oronto, went
with her a.s [lilot.
On Lake Huron the Algoma resuii ed her
ln\)i on May l.st and on the same day tlie
Ida linrton did likewise on Lake Simcoe,
running between Harrie, Orillia and W'ash-
a o, in connection with the Nor: hern lliU
wiiy from Toionto.
The Koyal Mail steamers recommenecd
tiieir through journey.s trom Montreal to
llandlton on April 2',)th. The vessels em-
ployed were tho same as iu the year
previous.
Ain(jn<.'' the freight steanjnrs and propellers
between Montreal and Hamilton were the
Ontario, Oeorgian, Indian, Huron, liristcd,
Ottawa and Avon. Tliese were all steamers.
Ainoug the propellers were the Magnet,
N'ortli, St. Lawrence and Her Majesty.
Tiie Corinthian made no change in her
.sailing arrangements for this season. She
ran as usual between I'ort Hope and Ro-
thester. The Osprey also pli d as hereto-
fore.
On May 17th the Toronto Globe published
the announcement that on and after the
tollowing .Monday, May 20th, the steamer
Rothesay Castle would commence making
regular journeys between Toronto and
Niagara, making two trips each way dailj'.
CoinpUints were made that when the
Rothesay Castle appeared on the Niagara
route, raoing took place between that vessel
and the City of Toronto. This was soon
put a stop to. The Toronto (i/dIjc remarked
at the time, in reference to what must be
confessed was a most reprehensible practice :
" We are glad to learn from Captain .Milloy
that no further raoing will take place on ttic
part of the steamer City of '1 oronto', be-
tween this city and adjacent ports. Captain
Milloy deserves the thanks of the people in
at onee putting a stop to a system of things
which could be productive of no good. He
would liave deserved more had he
never given any countenance to the thing
at all."
On May 2-4th the rowing matches of the
Toroii',0 Rowing Club took place on the
bay. The lirst race, for which there were
three ■ ntries, was won by Richard I'inning
in his skill', the Orlando. The course lay
from the club boat around a buoy as-
chored o(F the northern elevator aad
back.
In the boys' race which followed, and
which was over tho samo course, only three
boys entered, only two put in an appfar-
aiicp, and one of these two broke dowa
almost immediately, giving J. B. McMurn.b
an easy victory.
I he last event was a double scull race,
dist nee two miles. Only two crews en-
tered—those of tho Lady Jane and S y
Jioots -the former, composed of H. Tinning
and (iodfrey Donnelly, won. The racei
passed otF very successfully.
The America ran from .\lontreal to Kings-
ton, ! oronto and Roches er, carrying iiotb
freight and passengers.
The 15ou([uet and the I'rincosa of \VaL»»
formed the 'sland ferry from Toronto to
what in later years has come to be known a(
Centre Island. A Toronto paper, speaking
of this spot, says " the crowds that daily
vusit it are eviilently bent on making it
the grand summer retreat this season."
JOSKIMI DENNIS' DEATH.
The Ti r. nto papers of June 19th contam
the announctment of the death at Button-
wood, ^\ eston, on June 17kh, of Mr. Josepli
Dennis. Of him the Toronto Olohe of June
lOtti thus speaks :-
" Our recently deceased friend, Mr. Jose; h
Dennis, was brought up in tl o dock-yard to
a thorough knowledge of shipbuilding, w ich
occupation, however, t e soon exchangeil for
a more congenial one— that of sailing. Own-
ing a vessel on the lake at thf outbreak of the
American war in 1812, he placed t imself and
his vessel at the disposal of the Government,
and was attached to the Provincial Marine,
[n one of t' e actions on Lake Ontario he
lost his vessel, was captured and retained a
])risoner in tlie iiands of the enemy for some
fifteen mont s. He subsequently command-
ed, we believe, the first steamer on the wa«
ters of Lake Ontario, the Princess Charlotte,
which plied, as regularly aa could be expect-
ed from a steamer of 50 years back, between
the Bay of Quiiite, Kingston, and Pres.'ott.
For the last si.\ und tl irty years .Mr Deniiii.
liad retired from active pursuits retaininjj
till within tlie last year remarkable \-igour,
which, however, lie taxed but little, except-
ing to indulge his taste in lishing, of which
I e was an enthusiastic disciple. A man of
genial and happy temperament, of unben ling
integrilv, of simple tastes and mi>ti odioal
habits, iio was a typo of man fast passing
out of this country,"
It \i as rumoured throughout L'pper Can-
ada in .iune t: at on tt o follo\> ing July Isc,
when tho Royal Proclamation annouui in?
the Confederation of the Provinces as th»
il
u
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936
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Dumiiiion of Canada was to be madt, that
iht' new Oominion would be presented with
the three gun-boats then upon ihe lakes,
the Huron, Cherub and Hritomart, by the
Imperial Government. Up to that Jato the
Canadian Government hul paid the cost of
keepint; these vessels in repair, the other
expenses being borne by the Home (Jovern-
ment. Such being tlie conditions, it is not
ao very surprising; that Canadians were not
exactly enthusiastic over the proposed
gift. So far aa thoy were concerned, the
olTer was about on a par with that made by
one man to another to supply a large party
of tourists with drauj^ht ale. Tlie former
was quite willing to supj)ly the people with
glasses to drink from, if the latter svouldfill
them with ale.
Ti e propeller Magnet was totally wrecked
while descending the St. Lawrence on
Auf;u3t 15th. The following account, copied
from a Montreal paper of the time, fully
describes the accident : —
rilOrEI.I.EU MACJNET LOST.
" Tiifc lot' of this fine freight steamer,
owned by Captain F. Patterson aii.l John
Proctor, Esq., of this city, i as been an
aounced by telecraph. She was on her pas-
sage from Hamilton to Montreal, with a full
cargo of wheat and flour, and, when about
twelve miles bslow Kiutfston, in tiie St.
Lawrence river, on Tuesday night, she was
struck while roundintr the point of an island
by the American steamer Bay State, and sank
in less than five minutes. Both bo«ts wore
running at their regular speed, and though
all the pr^prT lights w«re displayed, the
watches do riotseem to have 8e«n thorn dis-
tinctly rounihng the point until too late to
pre»-«nt a collision. Captnin Patterson was
in the saloon of ois boat conversing with his
passengers, ot whom he had a few on board,
including a couple of ladies, and rushed out
to the deck but a moment before the collision
took place. The bows of the Bay State pene-
trated the side of the Magnet ivbaft the en-
gine, almost cuiting her to tiie centre. The
Magnet immediately began to sink, and a
•cene indescribable occurred. While the
crew were working hard to launcii thesmdl
boats, the ladies took to the masf, but r.he
gentlemen passengers showed courage. The
iHiats were successfully set aHoat and the
passeng rs and crew taken aboard, only in
time to see t o Magnet plunge head first
down to the bottom. She now lies in 60 feet
of water, with her topmast lour feet above
the level. Nothing on board but life was
saved. The lay State, which was only
iligiitly injured in the bow. remained along-
siije. offering all the assistance in the power
of ber officers, who throughout acted most
kindly to the shipwrecked persons. The
boats of the Magnet, containing each a por-
tion of the crew, were towed up to Kings-
ton by the Bay State.
"The collision cannot be attributed tn
carelessness, and was entirely the result of
accident. The Magnet was insured for
§8,000 in the Phn;nix, Western of Canada,
and the British America Assurance Com-
panies, which amount will not cover the
loss. Her cargo, consisting of 5,000 bushels
of wheat, a (juantity of Hour and general
freight, shipped at Hamilton, was insured.
It will be impossible to raise the boat, but
there are hopes of raising the boilers and en-
gines to the surface."
Captain James Saulter, a man well-
known on Lake Ontario, and until his death
owner of the Island steamer Bouejuet, died
in Toronto on August 21th. He was greatly
respected, and on the news of his deatli be-
coming known the Hags of the vessels in
harbor were placed at half-mast and remained
so until after the funeral.
The American Express Lino ran a daily
boat from Toronto to Lcwiston, Oswego,
Kingston, Prescott and intermediate ports,
connecting with the steamers to.- Montreal
and the New York Central Railroad for all
parts in the United States. The steamers
employed were the same as in the year
previous, namely, the Ontario, I!ay State
and Cataract.
The steamer City of Toronto in 1868 re
sumed her daily journeys from 'loronto to
Nirgara on April l.'{. The steamers of the
Royal Mail Line began their work on .Mav
1st. For a short period the Rothesay
Castle was on the route from Pi rt Hope to
Rochester ; later she ran from Toronto to
Hamilton.
Tiie Princess of Wales made her fitai
pleasure trip of the season from Toronto to
the Island on April 10th, carrying a very
large number of passengers. The Bouquet,
also began at the same time the usual oppo-
sition traffic.
Referring to the subject of the traffic
between Toronto and the Island the Glohi
of .May 5th thus wrote : —
"rUH ISLAND FERRY.
" We understand that a project is on
foot in the Council to lease the privilege of
cariying passengers to the Island The
city has full power in this direction, and
it is felt that they might justly exercise it,
while the result will be a better control
over those to whom the privilege ia giTeii.
Some ta:k exists of giving the exclusive
privilege to some intimate friends ot cer-
tain memliers of the Council without tender
We trust such favoritism will not be at-
temjited. Undoubtedly the oidy just pin
will be to let it out by lender."
LANDMARKS OF T()IU)X!0.
937
The propeller Dominion, used solely as
li III ;>;iit steamer from Moiilruvl to Si.
CiiUiai iiios, Toron; .» and tliu head of ilie
lake, was Imilt in tbi<i yeai at St. (.'alli*
ariiies by Sliicklunafor S. Ntuloii. Her ca-
pacity was .'570 tons, and siie afleiwaiils
proved a most useful vessel.
Aiiotiier vessel, known a: first as tha
H;i?,'i;igs, wis bi'.ilt in 1808 at Montreal by
Cant 111. Her ownars were Messrs Close
and otiiers, and her capacily was USD tons.
She had various routes on the lakes, and
was re liuiltin 1876. She was again altoied
and reoairod in 1890, when her name was
chanj^ed to the Kurydice. Since then slie
has run from Toronto to various points on
the lake.
The Norseman, a side wheel steamer ol
4'i'i tons, was built at Montreal in 1808 by
Cantin, Gildersleeve, of Kingston, was
her ovner After running from Toronto to
Rochester for many seasons, she was re-
built in 1891, and her na.jje changed to
North King.
I he steamer Rochester /an th s season from
Toronto to Oswego, calling at all iutiT-
mcdiatc ports.
On Lake Huron there were few, if any,
changta ; indeed the season of 1808 differed
but slightly from that of its immediate pre-
decessor. The vessels employed, the routes
tiiey took, and the otiicers commanding
tiiem, were very nearly (he same, and hap-
pily there were no serious accidents either
on the lakes or river.
Tiii; season of 1868 had been a very quiet
one. and its successor was quite as much
so. The Royal Mail vessels ran aa usual
from Toronto to Montreal. The City of To-
ronto wa?, as she had been for so many
season.*, on the Niagari^ route, and the usual
steamers plied from Toronto to Hamilton,
Rocliester and Port Dalhousic.
On Lake Ontario there were the two
routes, via Sarnia and Cellingwood, to the
north-west ; but the latter was in those
days an unknown land to the vast major-
ity, even of Canadians, and had as yet re-
ceived no attention from Europeaa emi-
grants.
Tlieie were very few vessels adiled to the
lake fleot in 1869, and matters generally were
iu a must ({uiescent state.
The City of Toronto began her work for
the season of 1870 between Toronto and
Lewiston on April 20th. She was, as here-
tofore, commanded by Captain Milloy.
ON LAKE SUl'KRIOR.
The following were the arrangements for
1870 made by the various trading lines of
steamt;is either departing from, or calling
»t, Toronto : —
Tlic Lake Superior Royal Mail Line, from
Collingwood to Fort William, consistetl of
the Ali:oma, Captain J. li, Symes, owned
by Messrs. !•]. .\i. ( arruthers, and the Chi-
3ora, t'aptain .MoLoaii, owned by Mossrs.
Milloy & Co. Tliesu vessels ran ever\ week
from port to port, callinc at Owen Sound,
.•^ault .^te. Marie, Micliiiiicotcn and iii:erni«i-
diate ports. They carried p;issengera and
merchandise
The Canadian Navigation Company's Royal
Mail tliruiigli line continued as heretofore
to ran from Montreal to Hamilton, calling, of
course, at all intermediate ports.
The following steamers composed the liue :
S])artan, Captain Kelly ; Kingston, Captain
Faiiel ; Passport. Captain Sinclair ;
Athenian, Captain Morley : Corinthian, Cap-
tain iJunlop ; Champion, Captain Car-
niichael ; Ban-hee, Captain Bailey ; Union,
Captain Fairgrieve ; Abyssinian, Captain
Ivstes, and Magnet, Captain Simpson.
One of these steamers left Toronto every
morning at half-i)nBt ten, and called at
Charlotte, Oswego, Clayton, Alexandria
i'a}-. Kingston, Prescott, Cornwall and Mon-
treal, and there connected with the Rich-
llieu Company's steamers for IJuebeo.
Kverv afternoon at two o'clock one ot the
above s'.eaincrs, either the Abyssinian or
At eniaii, left Toronto for Prescott, calling
at Port Hope, Cobourg and Kiii:;stoii, where
they connected with the river steamers for
Montreal.
Tlie propeller Bruno, Capta'n Gaskin, ran
during t he season between Montreal and the
ports on the eastern shoro of Lake Huron,
calling at Kingston and Toronto for freight
for Goderich, Kincardine, Port Elgin, Inver-
liuron and Southampton.
The ! oronto Daily Leader of Thursday,
May r)th, curtly announces, under the head-
ing of " The Island," that " the steamer
Princess of Wa'es will run to the point of
the Island on Saturday at 1 p. m "
On Lake Simcoo the Emily May, Isaac
May comin-viuling, comnieuced her usual
summer trips on May '2nd, leaving liell
Ewait for Orillia on the arrival of the morn-
ing train from 1 oronto
The Island ferry steamer Bouquet, Cap-
tain William Parkinson, began making her
half hourly trips to the Islmd on May '21st.
Her proprietor, in advertising the sailing
arrangements for the season, tells the public
that " the steamer ha« been finished in
a tasteful style and in such a manner as to
ensure comfort combined with safety to per-
sons wishing to visit this favorite place of
resort. ' They add in a postcript that •' th«
ii'ost liberal arrangements will be made with
excursion and picnic parties. '
The annual meeting of the Toronto Row-
ing Club was held on May "Jnd, .\ngU8 Mor-
iill
i ^!
■A
m
^'f^i
938
LANDMARKS OF TOROMO.
riaoD, M. P , beinj; alecled priifident, and
\V. M. Davidson secretary and treasurer.
Amon^ the members of the committee were
John Oil)))! Miduutand Hunry O'lirien.
Oil June lat tlie Kric and Niagara rail-
way was opened throughout for the suniinor
scaaon, conntctiny with IJulFulo by the new
iroa .steamer Ivanhoo, and with 'I oronto liy
the stearnur City of Toronto. It was adver-
tised in tlio daily papers as possessing "un-
rivalled attractions for excursion, tisliingand
picnic parties."
A MOMENTOIS ISSUE.
On June 8th the I'oronto l)(uly Leader,
in a leading article headed " Tin; Island,"
asks tlie very pertinent ([uestion, " What
shall be done to preserve the Island from
decay ? Shall anything be done ?" I'ro-
ceediuK to answer its own question, it relates
how a trip round the Island, through the
western i?ap and back to the harbor,
through the eastern gap, had been
made the day preTimisly bv the gen-
tlemen composini; the Harbor Trust
and others, their object in doing so
beint! to nee what steps could be
taken to guard against the encroachments
of the lake After discussing variou- reui' -
dies, the writer of the article concludes with
those carofuUy thoucht-out words : " There
are practical men who are favorable to the
construction of a crib work at the gap
which would catch the debris which is con-
tinually washing down from Ashbridge's
Bay, and which helps to make up the
vacuum which has been made at the eastern
entrance. It seems to us that there is
much force in this suggestion; and that it
is worthy the consideration of the Harbor
Trust. We do not presume to olTer any-
thing like a dogmatic opinion in such a mat-
ter ; but we think it is worth enquiring
into, for the protection of the harbor is worth
no littl* expenditure, if it can be saved
without detriment to the sanitary advantages
which hare accrued from the opening of the
tap"
DKATH OF CAPTAIN RICHARDSON".
Captain Hugh Richardson, for so many
years connected with the lake steamers, and
at the time of his death Harbor Master at
Toronto, expired in that city on August
2nd, in his 87th year. He had been born in
London, England, in 1784, and was the
second son of Thomas Itichardson a West
Indian merchant. Leaving school at four-
teen years of age, he went to sea, and in
1810 both he and his brother were ciplured
in the Enulish channel by a French priva-
teer,and he was a prisoner in France for many
years. After his release ho returned to
En. land and emigrated to Canada in 1S'21.
He was appointed a Harbor Commissioner
in 18.17, and Harbor Master "f the port ©(
Toronto in 1852 He was always both en-
ergeti ' and courteous in the discliargc of
his various public duties, and his death,
though far from unexpected, caused very
general regret.
The Toronto Rowing Club races were held
on August 1,'Jth, \( itli the following results :
In the Fishermen's race, for which there
were tw ) entries, the Charm won by five
lengths, in IS minutes and 30 seconds.
In the competition for double scull out-
rigged boats three entries were nade, and
ttie winning boat was the Storm, rowed by
Borry andJ. IJurnan, the former familiarly
known as " I. lack Rob."
The race for double-sculled in rigged
boats was Mon by the Scapegrace, manned
as was tiie preceding winner, tlie Storm.
In the race for the "Championship of the
Ray" two boats came to the starting point,
namely, the Skylark, T. Lowden, and tlie
Wind, R Rerry, (Rlack Rob.) The ia; er,
after a very spirited race, was victorious,
and every one was ready to admit that he
was a remarkable oarsman and well deserved
to hold the po'jition of "Champion of Toronto
Ray. '
On November 12th the various vessels in
Toronto port all had tiieir flags at half-mast
in respect to the memory of Captain Diigald
Gray, who was for many years a pop-
ular lake captain and was on that day in-
terred.
Captain Symes, of the steamer Algoma,
was a great favorite with the travelling
public on the upper lakes, and no less popu-
lar with the residents on Lakes Huron and
Superior. At the close of the season of 1S70
these marked the occasion by presenting
Captain Symes with a purse contaiiung
§200 as a token of appreciation of his kind-
ness, courtesy and attention to their com-
forts.
Tile Montreal II( raid published the fol-
lowinp statement in the latter eiul of No-
vember ; —
" LAKE OXTABIO STEAMERS.
*' The on y American steamers which have
been running on LaUe Ontario during the
past season are those of the Northern Tr.ins-
portation Company, which has just slopped
payment. If this company cannot make an
arrangement with its creditors so as to go
on as usual next season the lake will be
wholly in the hands of the Canucks, so far
as steam vessels are concerned. Such is
probaiily another elfect of a tariff which
makes every thing artificially dear, ari'l
having already killed the American coan
fleet, is now destroying the lake trade.
The t;aiiadian pnipricti^rs have not for some
lime had nuicli to boast of in the way uf
m.
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
030
B port. «(
both en-
:harj;i' of
is death,
ised very
were held
J results ;
ich there
111 by five
iiuls.
scull out-
rade, and
rowed by
familiarly
iu litrged
:e, muiuied
Storm,
ship of the
tint; point,
I, and the
rhe ia! er,
victorious,
it that he
ill deserved
of Toronto
I vessels in
t half-mast
:ain Du£;tild
irs ft pop-
lat day in-
r Algoma,
travelling
less popu-
uron and
ison of 1H70
presenting
containing
his kmd-
their com-
Hi
the fol-
;nd of Xo-
which have
urinp the
ern Trins-
ust slopped
ot make an
as to go
ke will be
eks, so far
S\ich is
irift' which
lear, an''.
loan oi'ean
ake trade.
ot for some
the way of
profits ; hut Ihoy have kept iitloat, and some
of thorn — the Inland Canadian Navi^'a-
tion ('ompany amon^' them — are reported
to have this year done a better and more
profitable business than in precedint; sea-
sons, though the company lias alway i paid
dividends. The N'ortiern Transportation
line ran from ()i,'do!isburg to all the
American lake porta, and from Oswfgn to
New York. its liabilities are 5!4()0,0()0,
and its assets in steamers, i^c. , are valued at
|1,'J0().()00. It is represented that the
stoppage of the company, in spite of the
low rat< 3 at which it had been carrying,
was ipiite unexpected. Referring again
to ihc Canadian inland Com|)any, we are
happy to learn that their vessels are now
safely honied for the winter, the Corin-
thian having arrived here yesterday morn-
ing. .\s the season has ^one by without
aecident. the company saves bomc §10,000
in iii.-uiance, aa they liave this season b en
their own in.surcrs, e.xcept against Hre. In
order to avoid mariiio risks, they have
already plankeil the iron bottom of the
Passport, 80 as to prevent the extreme
dancrer of touching mcks, which is ex-
perienced by iron ships in channels like
th( se of the .'^t. Lawrence. The Corinthian
and the Spartan, which is also here, aro to
go to Mr. Cantin's yard, there to be treated
in the same manner as tlie Passport, so
that they will be brought up to the char-
acter of composite ships, and such accidents
as that of Split Rook last year will not, it is
believed, occur again."
The season of 1870 had been remarkably
free from accidents to the steaii:erB, cither
on the lakes or the St. Lawrence, and this
to a great degree comp nsat d for the
very moderate amount both of passenger and
goods traffic that had taken place.
There were not many changes in 1871.
The City of Toronto, always the first to re-
sume her work, began running on April
llUh b tween Toronto, Niagara and Lewis-
ton.
'I he Canadian Naviga: ion Compnny'sRcyal
Mail through line commenced between To-
ronto and Montreal with the Passport, Caii-
tain Sinclair, on the 21st April, and she was
tollowed in due succession by the Kingston.
Captain Farrell, and the other steamers be-
longing to tbe line. The Express Ftcamers,
as they were called, of this lino ran between
Ogdeiisburgh and Toronto, callinc; on the
up trip at Alexandria I'ay, Clayton, Kings-
ton, Oswego aad Chailotte, and on the down
trip at I'owmanville, Port Hope, Cobourg,
Kingston anil Gananoque.
The first steamer north was the Wnutiuno,
Captain P M. Campbell. Slw ran in con-
nection with the Northern Railway from
Toronto from Collingwood to the Sault St.
Marie.
On the upper lakes ona differencH in the
arrangeiiienls made was that Captain Svnies
gave up the coitunaiid of the Algoina, as-
suming that of the .Manitoba. The f^ake
Superior Itoyal Mail Line consisted of the
Chicora, Captain McCregor ; the Cumber
land, Captain Pollock ; besides the new
steamer just mer.tioned.
The Algoma, now under pommiind of
Captain Pollock, was also describ^-d as a
" Royal Mail steamer, ' but she appmi to
have run on her own account in opposition to
her former consort, Iho Chicora.
These four vessels, in connection witii the
Northern Railway fr'tii Toronto, form > i a
route direct from l.i>iii'beo and .Montreal to
Uruce .Mines, the Sault Si. .Maiie, Port
William and Dulutli, and for all points in
Red River country and Duluth.
Not only was the l;n\u|uet annorneed to
resume her trips for the season from Toronto
to the Island on .May '24th, but she was
joined by a new steamer, th:* Perry, Cap-
tain Tiiomas Lundy, these two vessels
making the journey four limes an hour.
These boats were both under the same
management.
The Princess of Wales was, as in previo g
years, upon the same route. On May '24th,
the first day of the season, no less than
five thousand people cro.«sed from To-
ronto to the Island by the aid of these
■teamcrs.
During the summer of 1871 the California
was constructsd by Messrs. IJutters & Co.,
the merchants of Montreal being her
owners. For some years she was commanded
by Capt. Wm. Leslie.
'in 1880 Mr. Samuel Crangle and W. A.
Geddes, of Toronto, {lurchased her. She
traded on the lake for s' me time. She was
considerably len.thened in 1882, and ran
from Chicago to Montreal most suc-
cessfully, Capt. John 1 rowel being her com-
manding oliic«r.
Like so many other vessels of her kind, "ho
was lost in the turbulent waters of Lake
Michigan vn October, 18S7. No blame was
iuiimtod to Captain Trowel.
C.4rT.\IN' :\1IL1.0Y RKTIRK'i
The season of 1871 was not niiiked by
any incidents ot great importai ce. Navi-
gation closed rather early, and reopered
somewhat latT than u.'^ual, the City of Fo-
ronto not rfsuming her journ ys from
Toronto to Niagara in 1872 until April
ISth.
The Koyal Mail Line, as it still calleil it-
self, from Toronto to Montreal, lie::an its
season's work early in .\ ay. There were
no additions to their lleetof steamers, though
1: ' I
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WEBSTIR.N.Y. MSSO
( 7 1«) •72-4503
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IP**ipW!^"«!^^^
940
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
they had all bee i rc-titted and re decora t« J
during the winter.
A ehaii>.'o v/m m.-idc this year in the com-
mand of the City of Toronto. Captain Donald-
son Bupersediiig (J ptain Milloy, who had
for so many years sailed the vessel.
On Lake Huron tliure were two lines of
steamers connoLling with Toronto ; one ran
from Sarnia in ooniiection with the U. T. R.,
the steamers huiti^ the Manitoba and Arca-
dia. I'he otiior line sailed from CoUinj;-
wood and consisted of thu Cumberland, Chi-
cora. Franc s Smith and Algoma. I hey ran
to all ports on the lake, carrying both freight
and passengers.
Of the propellers or freight boats running
between Montreal and Hamilton the prin-
> ipal vosseU were the Dominion, which ran
to St. Catharines ; the Dromedary, Mary
\V ard, America, St. Lawrence, Dalhousie
and East.
On Lake Sinicoe the Kmily May continued
to run in connection with Northern Railway
trains from Toronto via I'ell Ewart to Orillia.
The annual mee;iug of the Toronto Row-
ing Club was held on May 7th, when Mr.
Angus Morrison was appointed president
and \N . M Davidson secretary.
Tl»e sttunier.s forming the ferry between
Toronto and the Island were, as in the
year previously, the Bouquet and Princess
of Wales.
Tlie following notice of the death of a
Canadian, who was in H. M. naviil service,
appeared in the Toronto Daily O'lohe of April
5th, 1872:—
" Drowned at sea in the Atlantic Ocean,
130 miles west of the coast of Portugal,
on the morning of Friday, March 8th,
William Adams Jukes, R. N., sub-lieu-
teiiuiit in charge of cadets on board of
H M. steam frigate Ariadne, and eldest
son of Dr. A. Jukes, of St. (yatharinas,
Ontario, in (h« heroic effort to save the
life of a seaman who had fallen over-
board from the main top cross trees in a
gale of wind. Brave and self devoted to
the last, he perished in the performance of
thu iiighest duty of humanity, in the 23rd
year of his age, and died a true sailor.
" Greater love hath no man than this
that a man lay down his life for his friend."
Young Jukes had passed his early days
on the shores of Lake Ontario, and was
famous for his love of the water and aquatic
sports.
The regatta of the Toronto Rowing Club
took place on Saturday, August lOt):
The committees of tne club had spared no
pains to afford accommodation to competi-
tors, as well as spectators. Mr. Oeorge
Hawthorne adopted an excellent plan for
Luoyiug the course, that of having barrels.
with good hi^'h flags tuffs placed through them,
the barrels beiug on lloats of planks placed
crosswise. The steamer Norseman, with
the Queen's Own band on board, was char-
tered by the club for the use of its members
and their friends, while tugs J. S. Clarke
and the Ontario rendered good service, the
former in clearing the track, and the latter
as judges' boat, i he bay was as usual
crowded by small boats, but the progress
of the competing boats was not so much im-
peded as in former years. At 11:15 Mr. T.
S. i'irchall started
THE YACHT KAOK.
This was one of the best contested and
most inteiesting races that ever took place
from Toronto harbor, and the following ac
count from one of the daily papers of the
time will probably prove interesting to
readers.
Five yachts were entered for those
of the first-class and there were four
starters : —
"The Gorilla left Cobourg in time to reach
Toronto for the start, but light ann batfiing
winds kept her back, and she arrived here
late in the day.
"The Ina,6ri'de, Ripple, and Brunette got
away in the following order :
'The Brunette led off, closely followed by
the Ina, which crossed the line a few lengths
behind bcr, and the run to the F.levator buoy
was very interesting. The Brunette held her
position, the Ini hanging on to her quarter,
while the Oriole came after them in magnifi-
cent style, every sail filling, and dashing the
spray from her i ows, while the Ripple was
astern and evidently out-sailed, on account
of the (ompivralively liuht win , which
favored the yachts with the greatest spread
of canvas. The Elevator buoy was
rounded in the following order : Bru-
nette, Ina and Oriole. As the Brunette
jibed around, the Ina came sweeping along
and jibed over, ^md as the yachts were not a
length apart the sight was a very pretty one
'I he Oriole followed in close order, and wel'
together they sped aw%y down the bay tc
the Marsh buoy. This was au interesting
stretch, the yachts all being able to lay their
course directly for the buoy. The Ina en-
deavored to go to windward of the Hrunette ;
but found that this would not do and boru
away to iier leeward, and as the wind fresh
ened the Ina evidently was picking up and
passing her. Tlio Oriole, however, 'showed
her heels' to both the sloop yachts on this
run, as 8h<) passed down the bay in fine style,
and reached the buoy abo<-t a length ahead
of the Ina. The Marsh buoy was rounded
in the following order : Oriole, Ina, and Bru-
nette. The run to the starting buoy was a
pretty sight, the ina gradually drawing
W^mm
mm
LANDxMARKS OF TORONTO.
(Ml
Brunette got
Alicail of the Oriole, while the Brunette was
making good time astern. Neither yaulit
was able to make the buoy, and the Jna
tacked across the bows of the Oriole, and
passed the b' oy firct ; the Brunette slipped
past the Oriole, owing to her moving in
stays more tapidly tiian the heavy schooners,
and was second past the buoy, the Oiiolu bo-
in;; third. The Ina pointeii for the Mimico
Point buoy, and with mainsail, top-sail,
stay sail, and iib and top sail set, she bowled
alun^ with a long lead out of the bay, the
Brunette following second, and the Oriole
coming aft(;r at a rattling pace 'I he Ina
greatly increased her lead on the run up
to .Mimico Point and rounded the buoy
seven minutes ahead of the llrunette, which
was second, with the Oriole oh se boiiind
her. Off the light hou.se all the yacht > were
becalmed for some little time, until at
last a breeze ai:swrred tlie prayers of the
yaclitsmun, and the Mimico Point buoy
was rounded as follov\s : — Brunette, Ina and
Oriole The Ina and Oriole rounded the
buoy at the same moment— and as the Oriole
swunL' around and covered up the Ina with
her gr^at spread of canvas, the latter
lost headway and drifted down upon the
buoy, thuslosiug several minutes in getting
•leaf and away. The Brunette pointed tor
the home buoy, and the Oriole made excel-
lent time after her, while the Ina brought up
the rear. The Gorilla came into the harbor
just before the Oriole, and at this time the
sight was a beautiful one. Four of the finest
yachts in the Dominion were running free,
within short distance of each other, with all
sail set, and they presented a sitjht which
delighted every yachtsman. The Oriole
gained on the Gorilla and .Brunette also, pass-
ing down the bay, giviug her owners a great
deal of pie sure. The winning buoy was
passed in the following order : — lirunette
l&t. Oriole 2nd, and Ina third. As the Ina
rounded past the winning buoy her crew
Lave three hearty cheers for tho vic-
torious Brunette, which weie returned with
a will by those on board of the latter yacht.
"The Brunette,modelled by P. McGieban,
of New York, the modeller of the Ina,
was of 35 feet keel and 14 feet beam
The time consumed in sailing the race
was : —
HS MIN. SEC.
Brunette 4 56 46
Oriole 4 56 48
laa 4 59 20
"It will be seen that whenthetime allowed
for the difTereuce in the tonnage of the Or*
iole and Ina is calculated, the latter boat wan
in reality second.
"The second-class prize of $150 for yachts
of the second-class was won by the Water
Kelpie, of Hamilton. Time, 4h. 5min.
I6sec. : Kate, O ikvillo, 2nd, time, 4h 7min.
lUsec. ; Waiulcrer, 3id, Toronto, no time
tak n. In the third-class race, for a cup
and money, value S30, the John A., owned
by J. Clen ining. Toronto, was the winner.
I ime, 4h. 27inin .33se(:; Spray, ((•> o. SVard'
Toronto) 4h .S3nun 28sec. The time of the
Snowdrop is not given, so it is to be pre-
sumed she came in very much astern '
In the Rowing Club competition the first
event was for double-sculled outriggers, the
prize oiFcred being one of $50.
Two boats started, the Quebec, of Mon-
treal, manned by G. C. Tyer and J. B.
(iruvi stroke ; and the Lachine, of .Mon-
treal, K. D. lioswell aud J. Phillips, strok*.
The result was a " walk over" for tb«
Quebec, the Lachine becoming disabled
very early in the race.
In the Fishermen's race, the boats Jenny
and Lady Janj contested for the pri/.e of
§2.). It was won by the former, the time
ueing seventeen minutes thirty seconds, juat
one minute and ten seconds lesu than that of
the Lady liane.
In the double sculled in -rigged race, thrc*
boats entered, namely, the Dolly Vardon,
the Nona Such and the Dignity. The race
was won ly the first boat, fifty seconds
ahead of the Non Such.
The championship of Cntario, for the belt
and $25, was a walk over for Mr. E. D.
Loswell in the Blonde.
One of the pleasant incidents of the
connected with the regatt* wai
presentation of a diamond ring by
members of the Rowing Club to Mr \V
Davidson, for eight years the secretary, at
the Queen's Hotel, at an entertainment got
up for the purpose. Colonel Shaw, (U. 8.
Consul), presided, and Major Arthurs, Q. O.
R. , with about fifty other gentlemen, wero
present, including the members of the Mon*
treul crew and Mr. .'Ohn F. Gibson, of the
Quebec Yacht Club. After the toaata
of " The Queen, " " The President of the
United States," " Our Visitors from
Other Clubs," had been given and responded
to, Mr A. £. Smith made the presentation,
which Mr. Davidson acknowledged iv ap-
propriate terms.
During this season the Norseman, a new
addition to the steamers on the lake, ran
from Toronto to Rochester.
All the vessels of the through lino to Mon-
treal also called there, these vessels, or
some of them, also formed a daily line from
Hamilton to Toronto.
A lamentable accident
steamer Kingston in the
and she became a total wreck in the
of the St. Lawrence.
day
the
the
M.
occurred to the
autumn of 1872,
waten
1
ti
MXi
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\ if, pVAJ^fPL'ipilll^i'JJlipi ,. !Pf_ upili JfW^M W'tPVW
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imi^iMi II i..|^^i«i!|piiwn«.| U ii,,iijj|^i A^i^lUipiJl
•M
LANDMARKS OF TOHOXTO.
c
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
013
a.
c
During the season of 1872 a screw
sleumur, wliich has attained great popu-
larity, and ileaeivedly so, the Ocean,
a voHsel of 350 tons burden, was built
at I'ort D.illiousie. Her Icnitth over
all was 14) feet, her breadth 27 fo t, with
a (loplh ot hold of 11 feet G inches. Her
ti.8i route was from Montreal to Chicago,
anil she continued there until 1882, her com-
manding officer bein^ Captain MuMau^h.
>ho then went to Lake (superior to carry
rails for the C. P. R., and continued at that
worn until 1886, when she was placed upon
the route between St. Catharines, Toronto
and Montreal. For a short time she re-
turned to Lake Superior, but in 1888 again
canit' back to Toronto and resumed her oid
route.
In 1890 siie wm sold to Mr. W. A.
Ucddeu, of Toronto, and placed upon the
route between Hamilton, Toronto and Mon-
treal. Her present capuin (1893) is Hiram
Vaughan. John P. Towers previously com-
manded iier. Thii vessel was built by An-
drews for Sylveat«r Neelon, of (St. Catb«
arines.
In lock 5, of the Welland Canal, John
Simpson, the well known ship-builder, con-
structed in 1872, for the Lake and River
Stea:nship Company, the well-known freight
steamer Lake Michigan. Ab;)Ut the same
time were also built the two sister steamers,
Lake Ontario aa 1 Lake Erie. They were
all of the same or nearly tiie same dimen-
sions, nun-.ely, 140x37x12 fuet, and were en-
ga;;ed in the general trade of the lakes.
The .'.ake Eric was lost near (Jreen Bay,
Lake Michigan, in 1882, and the l^ke On-
tario was burned in 1890 at Clayton.
The Columbia wa:. built in 1872 by Robert-
son, of Hamilton, for Butters &Co., of Mon-
treal. She traded upon the great lakes.
She was of similar dimensions to the Lake
Michigan and sister ships and was a very
groat success.
When Messrs. But ers& Co. ceased busi
ness, this vessel reverted to the Merchants'
Hank, who sold her to Mr. Fairgrieve, of
Haunlton. Captain James Malco.mson was
in coinmaad of her for several years. Her
e id was a very sad one. She was wrecked,
and a great numbei of her crew perished on
Lake Mich gan in the year 1884.
The season opened in 1873 on April I7th,
the Toronto making her first trip to Niagara
on tnat date.
The steamers belonging to the Royal Mail
Line did not begin their trips until tbe early
part of May. A new steamer, known as the
Etjyptian, built during the autumn and win-
ter of the preceding year, was launched and
added to their fieet, while the Kingston,
which, as has been already related, had
been wrecked the previous autumn, had been
entirely rebuilt and re- appeared as the Ba-
varian.
Three of the fre ght boat lines running
from Montreal to Toronto and Hainilton
amalgamated this season and formed what
was known as the Merchants' Ont irio Line.
Their fleet consisted of eleven propellers,
tiiree of ihem new.
'I'Ue firms forming this line were Messrs.
Jacques, the Merchants' and the Western
E.\ press
Direct freight as well as passenger service
between Montreal and the Western States
was secured by the lake and river steam-
ship line cousisTing of eleven vesseU.
'J'heir route was from Montreal to Chicago
direct.
On the upper lakes there waa no change
in the steamers that ran from CoUingwood.
The Waubuno, a vessel previously men-
tioned, and which hud i eeu on Lake
Huron for some little time, also ran
from CoUingwood for the Sault Ste. Marie,
Parry Sound and Penetanguishene. She
was commanded by Captain Campbell and
ran on her o>vn account.
THE FKEIiiHT STKAMEKS.
From Sarnia, in connection Nvith the G.
T. R., the ste mers Manitoba, (%f£erward8
the Carmona), and City of Montreal formed
a line from Montreal to Fort (iarry, or,
as it was just being called, Winnipeg.
The history of the Manitoba
be found later on, when she
pears us the Carmona.
The other vessel the City of
treal, was built in Chatham iu
and was a vessel of 220 tons burden,
ske continued to ply upon Lake Huron
until 1876, when at the close of that
season she was taken m Toronto. Her
route from '77 to '78 was between To-
ronto, Kingston and Oswego. In 1879
she ran from Cleveland to Port Stanley,
being in these years under the command of
the late Captain Thomas Lea.:b. For a very
short time in 1878 she had run from Col
lingwood to Chicago under Captain Par-
sons, but this was a mere interlude in her
history. Donald Milloy was concerned with
Captain Leach in the management and owner-
ship of this vessel. About 1880 she was
turned into a steam barge, and very shortly
afterwaids was totally wrecke I.
Between Toronto and Rochester the
Norseman made daily journeys, while the
Silver Spray, under Captain James Dick,
was on the route from the former city to
Port Dalhousie.
Captain Mo« aucoeeded Isaac May in the
command of the Emily May on Lake Simcoe,
will
ap-
Mon-
1873,
-.■/'■'■r ■■»' -f •,■■,'» '^.^'T
944
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
and in the ateamem runnint; from Toronto
to tho Jslmnd there were n > chanftes.
A very aad accident occurred to the
yacht Sphinx at the end of August. As
■he waa returning to Toronto, while off
the Humber, a sudden aquali atrurk imd
capsized her. Three out of four oi those
who were on board of her, all young
men, residenta in Toronto, were drowned.
Only one escaped.
A famoua lake vessel, known as the Persia,
was placed on the lakes in 1873. She was
built by Simpaon, of St. Catharines, for
James Morris, of the same place, and ran
from St. Catharines to Montreal on the "up
trip," calling at Toronto. Her cemmander
waa Captain John H. Scott, one of the most
efliuient, and at the same time most popu-
lar, captains on the lake. It waa said of
the liite Earl Russell that he considered
himself capable of driving a four-in hand,
* commanding the Channel Heet,' or gov-
erning the country at any time. Captain
Scott might not be as versatile an indi-
vidual as Karl Russell considered him^eif
to be, but he could tell a ;,'ood story— pre
serve tho best of discipline among his crcM' —
do his duty to his employers, and i e cour
teous and attentive to his passengers at all
times.
LAKK KIMCOE STEAMERS.
In 1874 the Norseman wa< as usual on the
route from Toronto to Rochester.
A new steamer, known as the Clj'de, dtp-
tain EUie, plied from Torouto to Port Dal-
housie, and waa also used occasionally for
excursions to other place.
On Lake Simcoc the Lady of the Lakes,
Captain Moe, supplanted the Emily May.
It seems strange that in such a compara-
tively short period as forty years thtre
should have been such a number of steamers
on Lake simcoe. There had been no less
than sfiven, namely, the Heaver, Simcoe,
Peter Robinson, Morning, J. C. Morrison,
Emily May, and last of all the one just men-
tioned. No less than seven, where the work
was of the very lightest.
In connection with the G. T. R at Sarnia
from Toronto were the steamers Ontario and
Manitoba
On tiie Island route, that is, on Toronto
bay. plied the Piincess of Wales and the
lk)U(iuet, while another ferry steamer, called
tho I'erry, " ran wild, ' that is, was at the
service of any one who would hire her.
The first steamer of the season of 187o
arrived in Hamilton April 28. She was the
Dromedary, of the Lake and River steamship
Line, loaded with flour.
In 1875 Powers, of Kingston, built for
John Proctor, of Hamilton, the well-known
steamer Cuba. She was the largest carrier
of her day and had a good trade on the
lakes. In 1877 CapUin CrangU and VV. A
(•eddea, of Toronto, purchaaed her and em-
ployed her as a trader between Toronto and
Ogdenaburgii, forming a route in connection
with the Northern Railway between Chicago
and the New England Statea via Colling-
wood. For five years everything wenk
"merry aa a marriage bell," until the
United States Government by putting what
certainly seems to be a forced interpret*-
tion upon the Washington 'I'rcaty, put a
stop to what haa proved for ttie Cuba's
owners a very profitable enterprise. Shs
then ran from Chicago to Montvjjl, and
continued upon that route until 1892.
in 1893 she w^is placed on the route from
Hamilton to .Montreal, where she still r«-
mains. Her commanding officers have been
Captains Crangle and Ewart.
Another new vessel appeared on the upper
lakes V ith the opening of the navigation in
1873— tho Celtic — built by Archibald Ro-
bertson, of Hamilton, in 1874. Her length
was one hundrt^d and forty feet, her breadth
tiiirty -seven, and her depth twelve feet
Her route was on the upper lakes. She was
first commanded by Captain Taylor and af-
terwards by William Cavors. Whilst
en;;aved in carrying freight on Lake
Erie ahe came into collision with an
American vessel, and waa totally wrecked
in May, 1892
The W. Seymour, A. M. Macgre^or, maa-
ter, also left Collingwood for the Sault Ste.
Marie every Thursday.
Tho Waubuno also ran from Collin^wcod,
proceeding to Parry Sound and Penetan-
guishene. The Silver Spray ran from the
same place to Owen Sound and also ii ade a
weekly trip to French River.
The Grand Trunk Railway's Sarnia line
in tliia year consisted of three vessels, the
Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec They ran
to Fort WiH;arT>. Duluth and Fort Garry.
The Windsor and Lake Superior Lin •,
Georgo Campbell, Windsor ; Sylvester
Neelon, M. P. P., St Catliarincs ;
J. C. Graham, St. Catharines, pro-
prietors, consisted of the new steamers
Asia and Sovereign, forming a weekly
line between Windsor and Duluth.
The steamers Sovereign and Asia left Wind-
sor on alternate Thursdays, at 10 a m.,
calling at Sarnia and (weather permitting)
all Lake Huron ports, for Kruce Mines,Sault
Stc. .Marie and north shore porta on Lake
Superior, Silver Islet, Prince Arthur's Laud-
ing, and Fort William, making close con-
nections with the Dawson route, and at Du-
luth connecting with the N. P. R. R. and
ateamera on Red River for Fort Garry.
From Collingwood, what was called the
ifp
^^•m^^fm'
'^%'
LANl)^rARKS;OF TORONTO.
air.
le on the
md VV. A
er and em-
uronto and
couuection
•n Chicago
a CoUiiift-
hing went
until tbe
ittinK what
interpre ta-
lly, put a
i,tie Cuba'a
prise. She
ttvjal, and
intil 1892.
route from
le still re-
I have been
n the upper
kvi>(atiou in
liibald Ro-
Her length
her breadth
welve feet
I. She was
lor and af-
rs. Whilst
on Lake
1 with an
lly wrecked
I
recor, mas-
SauU Ste.
ollin,2WGod,
Peuetan-
froiu the
also iiade a
Sarnia line
resdcls, the
They ran
t tiariy.
•erior Lin ■,
Sylvester
athariues ;
incs, pro-
steamers
a weekly
Duluth.
left Wind-
10 a in.,
permitting)
^ines,8ault
ts on Lake
lur's Laud-
close con-
and at Du-
R. R. and
Jarry.
called the
r
?!
I
m
ei
s
m
■ c,
H,"WT!W/»i J'J" ' .'■•,»' '
"▼»
f?W"^F'rT«rr"r7fjii;r7j^^
9M
LANDMARKS 01 TOKONTO.
Lake Superior Line, or, the Pioncor Route,
consisted ut' the aidu wheel steaniurs Frances
Sniiih, Cumburland and Chicora. Uuu uf
the s earners of thiH line left CollinKWood
every Tuesday and Frittuy for Fort William
and interniediaie ports.
SKCUNU KOTIIKSAY CASTLK
The new Rothesay Castle made her trial
trip on May l.'Uh, iior route being from
Toronto to Nia ura. She was one hundred
and ninety-live tuet long by twenty-four
wide, and was licensed to carry seven
hundred passengers.
A small steamer called the Watertown
made daily trips from Toronto to the Hum-
ber, while the Island ferry steamers were
the same as in previoud years.
The Pictun ran on tha Port Dalhousie
route throughout the entire season, and t e
Norseman to Rochester.
lu 1876 some of the lines were enlarged,
and some vessels that bad previously been
run on the various routes independently
amalgamated with other established lines.
There was, in fact, a decided move in th«
direction, not of diminishing the steamers,
but of minimizing the competition.
The Empress of India, a steamer built at
Mill Point, made her first appearance this
season, being chiefly used for e.xcursions
from Toronto to various places on the lake.
The changes on the upper lakes were Tery
slight, excepting such as have juat been re-
ferred to
The steamers plying to the Island from
Toronto were the Princess of \Vales,Bouquet
and Watertown, though the latter aleo ran
to the Humber. Civic holiday came in To-
ronto on Monday, August 14th, and
among the amusements provided was one
of a decidedly unique character. Perhaps
it would be as well to uive the advertise-
ment as it appeared at the time announcing
the attraction : —
" Civic Holiday. Tne most Novel and
Pleasant Excursion of the Season, on Mon-
day, August 14th. The schooner John
Bentley, the largest vessel on Lake On-
tario, will inake a grand excursion to Nia
gara, under sail, and in tow of the steamer
W. T. Robb. Will leave the Canada
Southern Dock, foot of York street, at
8.30 a m. Returning, will leave Niagara
at 4 p ni., arriving in Toronto about 7 p.m.
F >re for the round trip 50 cents. Children
half-price. Accommodation will be very
complete In the evening a moonlittht ex-
cursion.
" The Baud of the Toronto Musicians'As-
sociation is engaged for tne occasion."
History is mute about this excursion,
but there were dark rumors afloat in To-
ro.tto on the morning of August 15th that
some of the excursionists, while they had
found their trip decidedly " novel," had
grave doubts as to its buin;; " pleasant. '
lint probably these reports came from those
who could not get tickets !
liut the owners of the furry steamers
Watertown and Bouquet did not mean " the
scliooner ilohn Bentley," even if aided by
the steamer W. T. Robb, to have all the
fun to themselves, for they in an adver-
tisement which, though but of forty words,
occ.ipibd nearly half a column of the i>aperB
of the day, announce on August 14th : —
" (jirand Display of Fireworks to-night
on the west point of the Is and. Steamers
Watertown and Bouquet every half hour
from Hamilton's and Canada Southern
Wharves to see the Fireworks Be sure and
take your ticket by the above steamc s."
On Aui^ust 9th an accident happened
to the water-works in Hamilton, and the
city's supply of water was for a brief
period interrupted. A few days later a
I'oronto paper cruelly remarks : —
" The Hamilton corporation refuse to pay
for the lager beer consumed during the break
m the water supply on Wednesday."
Burlington Bay all around the Hamil-
tonians, and yet " not a drop to drink. "
On August 10th the Koyal Mail steamers
were unable to run the Lachine rapids on
account of the amoke from the bush fires
Ihis was an occurrenoe all but unprece-
dented from such a cause.
THE rillLADBLPIIIA REGATTA.
Toronto came prominently to the front
at the International Regatta held at Phila-
delphia in this, the centennial year of the
Independence of the United States. Hanlau
was the victor in the rowing match against
all comers. Ou his return to Toronto the
plucky and victorious oarsoian was honored
with a public reception.
The CoUingwood Line in 1877 was slightly
altered, the City of Owen Sound, a new
steamer, appearing on the route. The other
two vessels were, as in 1876, the Frances
Smith and the Cumberland.
The Silver Spray and the W. Seymour
ran as in the preceding season, and the
Southern Belle and Waubuno plied from
CoUingwood to Sault Ste. Marie, Parry
Sound and Penetanguishene.
The North-west Transportation Company
consisted of the steamers Asia, Ontario aiid
Quebec. The name of the company is suth
cient to indicate the route of their ves-
sels.
The Norseman had a rival on the Roches-
ter route this season, as the City of Mon-
treal also made bi-weekly trips from Toronto
to Rochester and Oswego.
The Toronto ferry ateainers were the
mmmmmmm
mm
mift^i^^mrm^'
•^^"^^
||jH""'| im'
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
947
ihey liad
)vel," Imd
pletkaunt.''
from thoM
' sleainers
kieftD '* the
aided by
,ve all the
an adver-
irty words,
the jmpers
1 4th : —
18 to-night
Sleauiera
r half hour
1 Southern
Be sure and
eame b."
it happened
n, ana ^^^
for a brief
lays later a
refuse to pay
02 the break
lay-"
the Hamil-
) drink. "
lail steamers
le rapids on
i bush fires
but unprece-
to
lid
lATTA.
the front
at Phila-
year of the
Hanlau
natch against
Toronto the
was honored
was slightly
>und, a new
The other
the Frances
VV. Seymour
on, and the
plied from
Marie, Farry
lion Company
^, Ontario aud
npanv is suth
of their vea-
n the Roches-
City of Mon-
from Toronto
ers were
tho
Princess of ^Vales to the Island ; the Bou(|U«t
to the same place ; the Watertown to tho
Humber and Mimico. The Empress of India
also made constant excursions on the hikes.
The following advertisements will show how
keen the couip«tition for traffic was at the
period referred to. 'Ihey run thus : —
"Picnic Parties and Passengers Attention !
The >t earner Princess of Wales will leave
Mowat's wharf daily at 10.30 and 11. 30 a.m.,
until further notice. Pure air. JoUN
Walsh, Master, Sec. and Trcas."
" Empress of India, M umber, 25c ;
Monday and Frid <y, 10 3U, 2 and
4 ; Tuesday, 10 30, 2, 4 and 6 Oakvillc,
60c ; Wednesday, 0 and 2 o'clock; Saturday,
8 and 2 o'clock. Hamilton and Burlington
Beach, 50c. ; Thursday, 8 a.m. ; returning
leaves at 4 p m. sharp. See posters. Fami-
ly tickets for sale Friday — Moonlight Ex-
eursion at 8 p. m. Baud in attendance. C,
J. MCUAIO, Manager."
Among tha season's specialtiei were the
excursions to Niagara. 'These were thus an-
nounced : —
" 50 Cent Excursions to Niagara, every
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday After-
noon. Quickest Time. Two Trips Daily
between Toronto and Buffalo. Southern
Belle leaves York street wharf for Niagara
at 7.15 a. m. and 3.15 p m., connecting with
Canada Southern for the west, als > at Bridge
and Buffalo for the east, allowing 4 hours
in Buffalo, and returning same day. Return
tickets at reduced rates to N iagara, Niagara
Falls and Buffalo."
The Sarnia line was precisely the same
as in 1876, there being no alteration of any
kind.
Early in January, 1878, Mr. Har-
bor Master Carr, of Toronto, in
his report to the Harbor Commission,
says:— "It is to be hoped that the
corporation will proceed with the building of
the contemplated Trunk or Receiving Sewer
along the front of the citv, asa recrptacle for
all the pr-sent sewage nuisance running
into the different slips and polluting tlia
waters of our harbor, also leaving considera-
ble deposits of filth, which the Harbor Trust
have to dredge out. Should this very im-
portant work be carried out, the waters of
our hari or will become purified by the cur-
rents which arecontinu lusly passing between
the western and eastern channels, affording
our citizens the opportunity of enjoying
healthful recreation on the water of our
beautiful bay. '
THE COMPETING COMPANIES.
The North-west Transportation Co (Ltd.)
consisted this season of five steamers, one of
which left Sarnia every Tuesday and. Friday
at 10 p. m. and Windsor every Friday at 9
a.m. carrying the Canadian mails, in con
neotion with the (Irand Trunk, Great Western
and Canada Southern Railways. Tiiesa
tirst-class and powerful stea lers left
Sarnia at 10 pni., and (Soderich,
Kincardine and Southampton the fol-
lowing morning for Bruce Mines.
St. Joseph's Island, Sault Ste. Marie,
Silver Islet, Fort William and Duluth,
making close connections with Northern Pa-
cific Railway and Kitson's Red River
steamers for Fort (iarry.
Those vessels were the Quebec, Manitoba,
Ontario, Asia and Sovereign.
The Collingwood steamers were the City
of Winnipeg, City of Owen Sound, and our
old friend the Frances Smith ; also the
Northern Belle, Northern Queen and Wau-
buuo.
From Toronto to Ogdensburgh the
steaipers Armenia and Cuba ran on alter-
nate days. They were chiefly for freight,
but carried also a great number of passen-
gers.
A new steamer, the Oswego Bollo, ran
this year from Toronto to Rochester and
Oswego. She left Yonge street wharf every
Tuesday and Friday at 8 p. m.
The Empress of India was this year in the
hands of a firm styling themselves, not alto-
gether inappropriately either, their vessel
being an "Empress,'* the Imperial Naviga-
tion Company. They organized excursions
to Burlington Beach andJHamilton, Miinico
Grove, Whitby, Oshawa and Bowmanvillo,
Brant House and to Oakvi'.lo.
From Toronto to Victoria Park, the new
summer resort on the eastern side of the
city, the steamer F. B. Maxwell made daily
journeys. This steamer was onl,. launched
this season.
I he Watertown ran to Mimico : the
Transit, St. Jean Baptiste, (this vessel after-
wards became the Sadie), Golden City, Ju-
liette and Bouquet to the Island opposite
to Toronto
The Princess of Wales was also still upon
the waters of Toronto Bay, and continued
there until 18S2L In 1883 she met with an
accident and was sunk near the Queen's
wharf. She was raised, taken to Oakville
and re-built. As tho Generel Wolseley she
re-appeared on the upper lakes in 1885,
and a little later was burnt at Fire
Island.
Tho Picton was on her usual route to Port
Dalhousie, under Captain McCuaig.
In connection with the Grtat Western
Railway between Port Stanley and Cleve-
land, after 8th May, the fast upper cabin
side wheel steamer Saginaw left Port Scan-
ley ou Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday of
each week, on arrival of the train leaving
,a
, ■'- •'■•,iifli',«i^'!;*rj^'P'
■, , .-v
r
948
LAN l>M ARKS OF TORONTO.
Toronto at 12 u5 p.in ; Hamilton 2 55 p.m ,
ftod London 6.35 p ni. retched CUveUnd
early the following morning, making con-
naolions there with traini for PittitbHrg,
Dayton, Columbui, Newarli, ('incinnati and
other points in the State of Ohio ; return-
in^i left Cleveland at 9 p m. on Monday,
Wednesday, and Friday of each week, ar-
riving at Fort Stanley early next morning,
and made connection with all points reached
by the Great Western Railway system.
The great race between Ro:: and Hanlan
for the sculling championship took place at
Rothesay, N. B., on July .^Ist, Hanlan being
the victor. Mr. Sheriff Harding acted as
■tarter, and at three minutes pa^t five
o'clock put the warning question to the
men, but Rosa being not quite ready it was
ft second or so before the word " Go" Mas
gircn. Both men, amid the wildest enlhu-
oiasm, struck the water simultaneously. It
was diflScult for on-lookcrs to tell if any
advantatre had been secured by either
during the 6rst four strokes. It is, however,
generally conceded, on the testimony of those
who were favored with a lateral view, that
Ross had just a little the advantage at first.
This is reasonable, for the stroke which he
pulled was considembly faster than Uan-
lan's, and was favorable to a tcritic pace for a
short distance —much faster than is likely to
be made by llanlan's long sweep. The men
were wide apart, and hat heightened the
difficulty of coming to an accurate opinion
upon the start ; but no dilHculty was experi-
enced in belting that Hanlan was, while
pulling with his utmost ease, drawing slowly
but surely away from his opponent When
half a mile had b«en traversed bv Ross pull-
ing a fiery stroke of 37 and Hanlan a great
sweep of 32, the latter had a length s day-
If^bt to the good. WithoHt any increase of
effort this advantage was at a mile doubled,
and to the most i.norant it was clear that,
bar accident, Hanlan had already won.
Ross was pulling a stroke that must have
been wrenching him to pieces, while the
little one in blue was gliding along ap
parently as easy as if a rolling on the road
The pace was, however, tn mcndous, and
Ross kept forcing bin self to ihe utmost,
while Hanlan contented himself with main-
taining Ills advantage. No change that was
appreciable took place in the position of the
contestants when a mile and a quarter had
been traversed. Then, however, a change
came over the aspect of atlairs, for as Ross
was pullin.' home his stroke, he was seen
to go headlong over into the water. Imme-
diately there was a great shout of alarm,
and (apt. Ross, father of the oarsman, di-
rected the tug's head towards Wallace,
btruggliug iu the water and supporting him-
self by clinging to his upset boat. No delay
took place in fishing out the poor lellow
who, wrapped in a groat coat, was soon
ensconced in a warm engine room. Kvery one
felt great Hympathy for the unforiuuute
oarsman, those who had been har<le.>t on
him for his actions before the start being
atf genuinely ?orry at his mishap as
those who were his warmest sup|)orters
throughout.
Meantime Hanlan, after seeing that Ross
was safe, went over the course, turnin;; the
stake boat, it is said, in 17 min. 17 sec,
though onother time made it 13 inin. 55
sec, which would be a full minute almost
faster than the fastest time on record over
dead water. The champion pulled back at
his leisure, finishing in 37 niin. (>3 sea,
official time, private timing, however, giv-
ing him credit for having done the five miles
in 36m 589. Thus ended what, look at it
in every way we can, was the most disap-
pointing and unfortunate race ever rowed,
the Renforth race not excepted.
On August 2nd Hanlan and his friends
left in the ateamer City of Portland for Port-
land, Maine. A very large crowd gathered
to see the champion off, and lie was loudly
cheered as the ateamer left tho wharf.
Messrs. Davis and Ward, on behalf of
the Hanlan Club, published a card returning
thanks to the citizens of St. John for their
kind treatment, ete., and in conclusion
said : — " Of the gallant Newbrunswicker,
Wallace Ross, who has been unfortunate
in this contest, tbey feel that they cannot
speak too highly. He has proved himself
a first-class oarsman, and they hope that
his friends will not be slow to appruoiate
the splendid eKort he made in their behalf
yesterday, whicti produced ^^ hat was un-
questionably the grandest aquatic contest
that ever took place on any water, in atiy
couutry, in any age."
On Toronto l>ay, on the evening of August
1st, the final heat for the gold medal, in
the Post office regatta, was contested, the
entries being Messrs. Newell, Riddell, and
Thompson. At the start, however, the I wo
latter only contended, and Thompson won
the race by over five lengths.
VERY KEEN COMPETITION.
Competition was very keen on the Niagara
line this season, and it is evident the best
of feeling did not exist between the owniri
of the rival steamers. Witness the follow-
ing advertisement dated August 5th : —
" Toronto, Niagara and Buffalo Steam-
boat Line. The publ c are warned thbt
spent cliocks of the steamers City of To-
ronto and Rothesay, of this line, collected
and issued by the steamer Chiuora, will nut
be accepted for passage on either of the
ry
ffm
p^^^i«i| mi*i aiPi
vtPPWIpv'
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
941
V
NotUlay
poor ti'llow
^, Every one
unfonuuate
harde.-t oa
J itart bfiiijt
iniahap »•
t ■upiwrlers
Inn thftc Row
turning; the
nin. n »L'c.,
J 15 mill 00
ninute almott
^ reconl over
pulleil back at
mill, '''•i sea,
bowfvur, giv-
e the tive miles
lat, look at »t
ho most disap-
ce ever rowed,
ed. . ,
ml hU tneuda
)rtland for I'ort-
crowd (tathered
, he was loudly
iJiQ wharf.
(1, oa behalf ot
a card retuniiu(?
John for their
J in conclusion
({ewbrunswicker,
jeen unfortunate
.at they cannot
proved himaelt
they h<>P«^ *''*''
3W to appreciate
le in their behalt
vhat wa» un-
, aquatic contest
ly water, m any
itening of August
e gold medal, in
aa conteattd, the
■^Bll, Riddell. anu
however, the '.wo
Thompson won
Pis.
■ETITION
,enon the Niagara
evident the beat
tweentbe ownt"
itness thefollow-
Lugust 5th : —
d Bufifalo Steam-
Lre warned ihut
mers City of To-
hia line, collected
' Chicora. will w^
oo either of the
•teamera of thia line l'ni«engert goin^
over by the Chicora on Saturday last were
furniahed witli aucii by the Chicora, and
were consequently deceived, aa these checks
were refuted by this line. U. Milloy,
Agent."
A fine account of this lino is given else-
where, but this niatter may properly be re-
ferred to among general information respect-
ing the traffic on the lakes.
ifanlan was not allowed to " re8t on his
oara victorious" long. In May lie is again
in England, contesting with the famous
Kngliah oarainan, Hawdon, the champion-
ihip of the Tyiie. The race took place on
May 5th, the result l>eing, as one paper put
it, that Haulan " won as he liked."
There were few alterations either on Lake
Ontario or the upper lakes in the Rea-
son of 1879 Moat of them were of minor
importunce*
i'he City of Toronto no longer opposed
the Chicora, but ran in oonjunckiou with
her, the Rothesay being independently on
the samu route, (namely, from Toronto to
Miagara,} " a law unto herself."
To Lome Park ran the Empress and Ar-
menia from Toronto, under the mana<;e
■nent of Mr. McCuaii;.
On the Toronto and Ogdensburg line of
steamers there waa no alteration whatever
excepting that their proprietors say the
" accomir.odation waa all that could be
desired " and they certainly were very well
patro nizef"..
The '.iieat Western Railway's steamer
8a)!;iiiaw, from Port Stanley to C levelaud,
was replaced by the City of Montreal, there
being no other change except in the stea-
mer.
The Norseman, Oswego I'elle, Picton,
Southern Belle and the whole of the Toronto
ferry steamers mentioned in the preceding
year were on their respective routes.
On Lake Simcoe the steamer Lady of the
Lakes " her daily stage < f duty ran " as
heretofore.
On Dominion Day 1879 a grand regatta
took place at Lome Park and by special
arrangement the Qovernor (.ieneral's medal
was secured, and in addition prizes wrre
given to the value of three hundred dollars.
Ihe following was the programme : —
1st— Single Scull Race — Two miles with a
turn ; to be rowed in 18-feet inrigged lap-
streak boats. Open to all. Prize, massive
•olid silver me.'al.
2n(l— Ladies' Race — Half-mile straight-
away ; 10 be rowed in 18-feet inrigyed I p-
Btreak boats Open to all. Prize, hand-
some gold ring.
Hrd -Single Scull Race— Two miles with a
turn ; to be rowbd in 18-feet in ringed lap-
streak boats. Open to ftmatenrs only.
Prize, massive silver medal.
4th— Double Scull Race— Two mile^ with
a turn; to be rowed in 2.3-feet inrig^'eii lap-
streak boats. Open to all. Prizes, two
handsome kulid silver inedaU
3th— Single Scull liace— Three miles with
a turn, in beat and best boats. Prize, Ciov
srnor-Generai's modal.
dth— Tub Race— 100 yards. Prize, solfti
silver medal.
Hanlaii proved victorious in his encoun cr
with the lynesider, and on the date in July
of his arrival in Toronto becoming known,
it Mas decided to give him a public racep>
tion and the follcwini; advertisement appeared
in all the Toronto papers in reference to the
project : —
HANLAN RECEPTION.
TUK CHAMPION' BCULI.iCR OK t'AXADA, UNITED
STATEM ANU KNOI.A.VI),
Will arrive home
ON TUESDAY. I UK 15X11 INST..
about Ave o'clock, r< ni.
The Chicora hat been chartered to bring Han-
Ian home, at an hour which will be deflnltelT'
lettlud on Monday murning. Return tickets
will be itsued and for sale on Monday at one
o'< locL at 91 each, for the benefit of the Home-
stead Fund. A iiumbor of steamers hare been
chartered to meet the Chii-ora on the Lake.
It aviiiii the dociiA ac fool of Yonge. Church and
York tireett at three o'clock. The fare has
ticen fixed at :2jc for adultt and lat for children.
The Opera Company now playing at the Horti-
cultural Uaniens will give an en.eriainment,
commeiiciiit; at 8 o'clock sharp.
An AddivsH will be presented bj I he Mayor
about nii.e o'clock, to which the Chtaipion will
reply.
'Jhe Champion wi.l also appear with hif; boat,
in full racing cottume.
Tickets will be sold at AOc— no reserved seat*.
Tickets can bo secured at Nordheimcra'.Suck-
linga and leadinK hoi els.
A. R. BOS WELL.
Chairman Reception Committee.
R. W. SUTHKHLAND.
Hon. Secretary.
The steamers Filgate (a new vessel).
Maxwell, Empre.ss of India and St. Jean
liaptisto were chartered to leave their
respective wharves at .'^:30 p.m.. on the 15th
to meet the Chicoia with K'iward Hanlan
and his party on board. The " Champion "
arrived in due course and the reception
accorded him was in accordance with tiie
programme and as hearty and enthuaiias.ic
as the most e.xacting soul or ambitious spirit
might desire.
The bilgate, just mentioned, was anew,
iron, side wheel steamer of two hundred and
forty-one tons burthen, built by White of
Montreidin 1879- She remaimd in Toronto
a short time and is now employed (189.'i) on
the River St. Lawrence from .Montreal
A steamer known as the Kincardine ran
during the early autumnal days of 1879
•^1
m
it
an
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
tnm Toronto to Lome I'ark. She wm
iBtSar the conuiuinil of Capt UlMichard.
U. R.H. tlie I'rinceM Luui^o, au ompanied
by tb« Marquia of Lorne, vuited Toronto io
tb« early part of September. The Toronto
Rrjwiiig' (Jhil) had a regatta in honor of the
«Tia«, at which the vice-regal party were
present ou board the Filgate. The follow
iof were the eiitriee :
b'int Race— Four-oaied shelle— ■
Ike Peterborough ( rew— A. J. Belcher,
•Croke ; O. C. Rogere, 2nd ; N. B Rogirs,
JM, W. I'. Shaw, bow. Colors— Scarlet
md Black.
Lctiiiilor Crew— H. Lamb, itroke ; H
HeLare, 2; H. Clark, 3; J. Ma kenzie, boM.
Colore— Dark Blue and White.
.Argonaut Crew— O. Gait, stroke ; T. P.
JSalt, 2;J VV. Hogg. 3; R. McKay, bo v.
Celors- Dark and Liftht Blue.
Toronto Crew — J. O'Hara, stroke ; VV. O.
Beaa, 2; D. \V. Shaw, 3; W. F. D.mipaugh,
bow. Colore— Light Bl He and White
Second race— Single ikifrc, 17 feet and
TUider—
£. Hart, Toronto ; H. Ball, Chatham ; R.
Carter. Toronto ; W. Gooding, (ioderich ;
JL MaKay, Toronto ; G. F. Oakley, Toronto ;
Su. T. Clifton, Toronto.
Third Race— Double eouUs —
B> Mackenzie, P. Ball. Colors— Light
Sue and White.
H. Best, T. Finnigan.
K Blevins, W. Robinson
1. P. Gait, G. Gait. Colors^Dark and
Ittght Blue.
5'ourth Race— Single sc<^21e —
.B. Roach, J. Phillips, Toronto ; J. Laing,
jfToBtreal ; VV. Reordau, Hamilton ; VV. F.
3tej>paugh, Toronto ; R. Lambe, Toronto ;
■SL Jarvis, Hamilton ; G. F. Oakley, To-
THE OFFICIAL LIHT.
Vtr. J £ Robertson acted as referee, Mr.
Sl.Creweas judge at the turn, Mr. J. R.
3hy as starter, and Mr. J. K. Ellis as time-
itB»|>er. The club rooms were handsomely
uiil ^roiusely decorated for the occasion,
imui the hillis,rd table set out with a pro-
lUicn of cups, including the four to be con-
'Sa.'Tcd for, all of which were alike. Among
ite ciecorations the sereral i idrcsses (o
liaulan were prominently displayed.
The following accident occurred on Octo-
Je« 2hd : — The propeller Dromedary, bound
■Kth, struck a rock at HBmey's Bend at two
af<aiock, sinking five minutes afterwards in
«k£mn feet of water . She was bound from
Sbntreal to De roit with two hundred tons
flC'pig iron and a miscellaneous cargo, con-
■»;iiug of sugar, etc. At the time of strik-
iiig she was drawing eight feet four inches
abrvard . The rock was a projection from
tlie west bank. The captain, F. B. Twit-
chell, was in charge at the time, and loudly
censured the canal authoritiCH for leaving
such an obstruction exposed. He succeed-^d
in running the propeller to the bank, so as
not to impede niivi;;ation. The vessel was
owned by the .Merchants' Bank of Mon-
treal.
The formation of a naval reserve force in
Canada for the protection nf the Canadiaa
mercantile marine was mooted in the early
part of 1880, whereupon a loronto paper of
the day has the following very Rtraightfor-
\tard remarks, it says : — " Tliia suggestion,"
that is to create a naval reserve, " is not
one likely to be adopted, .ilthough in the
event of war between Kngland and Russia,
I ho North American squadron would be
withdrawn, and the (.'anadian mercantile
marine, which is the fifth in importance in
the world, would be at the mercy of Russian
cruisers. But the truth is that Canada could
not afford to go to the expense of support-
ing a naval force, nor, so far as Canada her-
telf is concerned, is there any need of such
a force. There would not be the re-
motest danger of any foreign power
interferint! with Canada it Canada were a
nat on by herself ai:d minded lier own busi-
ness. The only danger to which this coun-
try is exposed is on account of England,
which may involve Canada in the conse-
quences of a bloody war without a days
notice. It is probably fair to say that Kng-
land must b prepared to abide by the con
sequences of her own acts, and that in ev nt
of her becoming involved in war with a naval
power, if she desires to retain Canada as a
colony she must be ready to defend it."
Upon the opening of the season of 188U
the Collinewood line for. ports on ths
Georgian Bay, comprised the steamers
Northern Queen, Northern Belle, Mani-
tnulin and later the Emerald
From Sarnia sailed the Manitoba. Quebec,
and Ontario for ports on Lake Superior,
an 1 from Collingwood, also for the same
ports ran ... Frances Smith, City of Owen
Sound and City of Winnipeg.
The Southern Belle ran from Toronto
to Hamilton, the Picton to Port Dalhousic,
the City of Montreal upon excursions to .-ind
from the various ports on Lake Ontario.
The Island ferry steamers were the St.
Jean Baptiste, Princess, Prowett I'eyer,
Ada Alice. The Prince Arthur and Max-
well ran to Victoria and Lome parks re-
spectively.
On Queen's birthday Armour's steam
y <cht the Luella was launched at Toronto.
A full description of her is given elsewhere
The Maxwell also ran from the Church
street wharf, Toronto, to Lome park twice
LANI'MAKKS OF TOHONTO.
9»1
F. » Twit-
ami loudly
for lottvinn
le 8ucceeil-d
bftltk, BO MS
B vtMel was
ik of Mon-
irvo forc« in
ho CanadiaB
in the early
)nto pftpor of
f utraightfor-
it •u.'goslion,
arvJ, " is not
oush in the
I and Russia,
m would be
m mercantile
importance in
roy of Russian
Canada could
s« of support
M Canada her-
r need of such
t be the re-
orelKD power
Canada were a
her own busi-
hich this coun-
nt of England ,
in the conse-
[itbout a days
I say that Ens;-
idfi by the con
»d that in ev nt
far with a naval
in Canada as a
lefend it."
season of 188U
ports on the
the steamers
Belle, Mani-
nitoba. Quebec,
,ake Superior,
for the same
City of Owen
from Toronto
•ort Dalhousie,
.cursions to and
ke Ontario.
were the St.
Prowett r.eyer,
,hur and Ma>-
orne parka re-
rmour's steam
led at Toronto.
jlven elsewhere
6m the Church
Irne park iwi<=«
daily, and Hf^ured prominently as an excur-
•ion steamer on th«! sum • ur ovenini/s.
The ap[froacliiiij; rauc for the " Cliuin-
piouahip " in thu auulliiiK world, between
I'rickott, the Australian, uiid lianiun, the
Canaiiiiiii, excited at thi8 timu a j^renl dual
uf iht«reiit All l<!ii|;lish correHpoiulfut
under the signature "Tyiieaider,' hci^ the
fullowinjj interoatiii^ if suuiowhak lun^tliy
lemarks : —
Nkwoastlk on Tyxb, June 7 —It has
heeu a long time since I taut penned you a
letier about aquatic interesits in KiigUiul,
and my present venture will be confined ex-
clusively to the great fortlicoiiiing race be-
tween Trickett and Hanlan. As you have
Ijecn already adviaed, the friends of Trickett,
residing in London, have made a match
with the friends of Hanlan, for these two
world-wide known scullers to contend for
tiie world's championship on November 15th
next, on the Tiiaine.4. The meeting to draw
up articles and make arrangoments was
very harmonious, and everylhiuK passed otT
without the least hitch or disigreemeiit.
1 hos.' who lepresented Trickett woregentle-
inen in every sense of the word, and only
soujjht fair conditions for their favorite.
Col Shaw, on "xil'.n's behalf, endeavored
to so at range matters as to insure a fair
race without fear or favor from any source.
At his M.g'}{estion arrangements were made
securing deserved and fair benefits from two
interests most benefitted by the meeting of
two great o rainen, viz., the railroads and
steamboat owners. I am p eased to bo able
to state that every consideration was shown
th se who plaunid this just " triimte,' and
a handsome return may be expected from
this source, on the day of the race I need
not advise you that tHia meeting bol' ecu
Trickett and Hanlan will be the event in
the rowini; annals of the year — if not of the
century. Con ing together as they will-
each with a brilliant record as a " prince of
^cullers " — and each a " champion ' of un-
aubtcd merits, the banks of old Father
(hames will be lined with excited thousands
^witness the anticipated battle between
fleetest scullers of the presen"; day.
n. Wdy the lovers of keen aquatic
contests are ta in.' frre over this meet-
ing. It comes oCT late in the year,
bat Trickett has a long journey to make
by n-a er— and needs a long prcparati u
after he arrives in England. Moreover, he
is in business, and it will take him some
little time to ilan to get away. His friends
advised me that he would likely leave for
this country about the first of July. The
ti ip over will occupy nearly six weeks.
This will bring it to the middle of Au<|ust
before he arrives, and the time spent in be-
coming acclimated will not b« too long ^
the data fixed for the race. I diicloae ,m«
scrret when I state that Tnckett's frieoii*
have etery confidence in his ability to rat.
)|ui-.li your Canadian champion J'hey cl.vai
that I'll is a rowing wonder— a giant at tlM
our. S bV'iing six feet live inches in lua
stockings, with long le^s and ai nis, %iii '-m
splendid physiijue, iinittd with .reax
strength an I endurance, as well as wtib
groat skill wltli tiio sculls, they regard in<
cliuncos as rxceediiiKly aar* in the fort.^
comiiiK event. They spoke of Hanlan at a.
small man — but I reinindud them of th<; /*■
mark made by the ferryman at l>ult<ii«„
near Pittsburg, viz. ; " That the more cloT>bfl»
ho takes olT the bigger he gets," and rru^
geated that when ha measured speed w '.it/
their "six foot sixer," thu little man mighr.
look the larger of the two. It is a curiow
fact that the Triokett-Hanlan race hate
aroused the rowiuu iteiests here front
long ftlumber. The v.. ories of Hanlan la«.
year took all the lifp out of rowing on Eny
lish waters. Here it is the first, alono, tJ\at
excites enthu.«i s. i KUiutt, d'?''ualcd, wat
j dead dog ; a,... even
THE ATrt.Ml'T OF UOYD ELLIOTT
to row a big race ovit r U>3t trophy— or w
see which should tr\ ior it again — was of little
account. The siiadow of iianlan fell aero*
their fame, and ovorsh t'.owed them alio
getlicr. Ilut now that tha promisa of a
ineetiai; between tha two rowine woudiire
is held out, the average KnsTixhman it
alive with interest over the promised treat
Nor will the circle of uninterested onea
be small ! It will he as wide aa the
poles, literally. And this loads ma agait
to refer to the honor Hantan's career
has won for hi.s own Dominion of Canada
He has advertised it more extensively th«jc
Canadians really appreciate, and anyone wb«
may have a nose that is inclined to tvxf
up, in a kind of scorn, over the "Hanlaa
fever" — should just reflect upon the fact
that he has been the best advertising: agtMU
Canada ever had. Besides, if ever a citizen
of Canada, by honest endeavor, de«ci v«i
\> ell of his own, this sculler is aertainly ouc
of them. Before this reaches your readert
the race between I oyd and Hanlan will have
been rowed I have already put myself ob
record in reference to it, and at this writing
am not clear that the course of Hanlan m
rowing him so soon ufter hi.« Wash^ngtos
races is a wise one. Too long a strain
weakens, and to be in constant training for
many vceks means a greater drain upon
pliysical force than is prudent to chan««.
B yd is a great sculler, and, in my humble
opinion, Hanlan will have a very large job
on hand to defeat him. Still, as a former
'1%
I. ■ .'^ 1
■i
'Mil
^"^'W^W'"' '« .,' '.■■''•j.w ij ^m^mm^^ p " "'I'^ijipppPiPipiii?
052
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
tatter gives my views upon this point, I need
not tiere repeat them, ^iore anon.
TYNKSIDER.
CHAPIEK CCL'I
lew StemnerH— raptMlUN «n the liXke and
•lker« >Vho Were Prominent In the
Mhipplns Worlil— Conclndlns KeniHrk!!.
latere navigation opened m 1882, very
early in llie season, a deputation from To-
ronto »vaited on Sir Hector Langevin in
Ottawa, on March 25th, for the purpose
of drawinr; the Ministers attention to the
damage done to tlie Island opposite that city
by the ravat^ea of storms which had a short
rtme previously taken place.
This deputation.consistingof Messrs. Piatt,
Hay, (iinley, \Villiam Gooderham and Eras-
tus Wiinan, pointed out the peril in which
this important section was placed, and natu-
rally desired to know what were the Govern-
ment's intentions in the matter.
Sir Hector informed ihein that the Gov-
•rnment had only just reeeivod the report of
Captain Eads, the celebrated engineer, but
Mat tiie matter should receive most careful
•onsideration, as the Ministry were fully
alive to the exigencies cf the situation.
On March 30th the Toronto Mail has this
kkconic, but emphatic, paragraph : — " There
will be trouble on this bay if a tug is not
soon in commission Vessels were detained
two day.s for want of one. Wnat's the mat-
ter, Frank ?"
On April 6th a new far y steamer was
launched in Toronto for the Island service,
thus described by the papers of the day : —
" J,AUNCH OF A KERRY STEAMER
"At half-past four yesterday afternoon
Mr. John Clendinning's new Jsland lerry-
boat wa« successfully launched from the
stocks, foot of Berkeley street. Although
the afternoon was cold and disagreeable a
number of ladies pu in an appearance to
witness the launch. A bottle of wine was
placed m the hands of little Georgio West-
man, a grandson of Mr. George Williams,
the EspUinade eoastable, who, breaking it
•ver her bow, christened her " Canada."
Mr. George Cleak, the builder, then gave
the word to cut the lines, and aw. y she
■lipped broadside on into her futute iiome
with a Union Jack flying from each ru ^.der -
post, while a cheer went up from the spec-
tators present.''
On April 8 h the Island ferties began their
Journeys to and from Toronto. The Mail
iooularly reniarks : — " The Luella m^Je her
lirst journey yesterday, and Captain Turner
i« happy."
Among the vaiious stcamcts plying on
Toronto bay at this time were the Luella,
Jean Baptiste and Prowett Beyer, under
Mr. Turner's management. Of these the
first is in 1893 the property of the Toronto
Ferry Company, the second has become the
Sa.lie, and belon<;s to the same company.
I he third steamer, built in Bulfalo, and
called after a citizen residing there, was dis-
posed of some years since, and is not now
upon the lakes. Another steamer, which
was also on the bay until about 18S4, was
the tieneva. She iias been sold to the
United States. The Queen City, as is told
elsewhere, became the Ongiara, and is on
the Niagara river. The .\lascotte was pur-
chased l)y the Toronto Ferry Company, and
the Imperial has gone to the upper lakes.
Among the steamers controlled by A. J.
Tymon since 1882 have been the Arlington,
Jessie McEdwards, Kathleen. Gertrude and
Island Queen, all of which w ere purchased
by the Toronto Ferry Company, and were
described in another place. Besides those
there were from 1883 to 1885 running from
Toronto to V^ictoria Park the Ontario and
Gipsy. 1 he former of these v\ as burnt and
the latter is no>v in Kingston. The
Mazeppa, built by Melancthon Simpson at
Toronto in 1884, after running on the bay
and also between Toronto and Lome Park,
became one of the .«teamers belonging to
the Hamilton Steamboat Company, and
now runs on Burlington Bay. The Annie
Craig ran for so ne time until 1885 season
exoursions from Toronto to the Ilumber
THK SKMI-CENTENMAI..
At the semi-centennial celebration of To-
ronto's incorporation on June 30th a
tableau called " Naming the Harbor '
was exhibited. J'his tableau represented
the naming of Toronto harbour, and
nneasured thirty-five feet by nine. Half
the car was taken up by a sand hank,
surmounted by a stockade shown in profile ;
tlie whole affair was made of canvas, but
naintcd to represent the different objects to
be called to mind. The logs w ere pointed,
and stood about six feet high. On the sand
bank outside the palisades was left a n irrow
platform alonu' which, with measured stepj
and slow, guards were pacing. Insid ■ the
stockade was a small log house, constructed
of canvas, and in front of the stockade, one
on either side, were a couple of cannon
From the sand bank there was a .Icep
descent into the other hal' ot the car, which
was covered with canvas painted to re-
present water. About the centre a boat
was let in, as if sunk to the proper
depth in water Standing in the boat was
an officer holding aloft the Union Jack, and
giving to Toronto harliour the name it has
ever since so proudly borne.
On August 3rd, 1885, one of the most dis
astrous fiies that ever occurred in Toronto
m.) .
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
953
broke out about on* o'clock in the morn-
inii- Practically the whole of the nhipping
and boat-hcusea on the Esplanade, from
Scott to Princess street, were injured or
destroyed, the to al damage being esti-
mated at more than $300,000. So fierce and
lurid were the flames that in describing the
scene a local ne\rspaper of the time says : —
" The whole Island Has lighted up so effec-
tively by the blaze that the small print of a
newspap r could hare been read without
difficulty at any point between Hanlan's and
the Wiman Baths."
Amoui; the vessels injured or totally des-
troyed Mere the Mazeppa — afterwards re-
built— the Annie (Jraig, Ontario and
Theresa, formerly the West. 'ihese last
three ^^ ere totally deatruyed. The schooner
Annie Mulvey, the yachts Minden, Vero-
nica, Sprite and Maple Leaf also fell vic-
tims to the flames. The schooners Mary
Ann and Madeline were very badly in-
jured.
Unhappily life was also sacrificed, a
night-watchman named Henry Worts being
burnt to death.
The Southern Belle continued on the rout«
from Toronto to Hamilton throughout the
season of 1885, and was only finally with-
drawn from service on the la es in 1891.
Among other steamers was the Garnet,
runniug from Toronto to Victoria Par^ ;
the Hastings which made excursions to
various points on the lakn from Toronto,
AS the Rupert also did. The first of these
vessels went from Toronto to Kingston, nnd
in 1800 disappeared. The second is now
runuiug on the river at Quebec.
C.\NOE CLDB RAOES.
In the eariy summer of 188.3 a sailing race
for canoes and skiffs came off in Toronto
harbor on May 24th, under the manage-
ment of the Toronto Canoe Club. The
coarse was around the Island, goinj out at
the eastern nap, and returnin:; by the
western channel. The start was made off
the Royal Can^dian Yacht Club wharf, foot
of Lome street The prizes were (l)a$20
aneroid barometer, the gift of Commodore
Neil ion : (2) a Waterbury watch ; (3) a
eanp hammook ; and (4) a hunting knife.
The eanoea were liinited to 14 feet lenj^th
by SS ittches Want ; the skiffs w ere allowed
16 feet by 42 inches beam, and must be the
property of, and s.ailed by, member!: of some
regularly organized boat, yacht, or canoe
club. Following are the entries und rcsul
•f the race :—
Co:ninodore Ncilson's Pearl canoe Boreas
(centre-board) 1
Pearl canoe Isabel (centre-board) 2
Mr. Nicho son's Princess canoe (centre-
board) , 3
>' -. Morse's skiff Troad (keel) 4
Mr. Norman B. Dick s skiS (centre-
board) 0
The race was announced for 11 a.m., and
the start was made by 1 1. 10. The Boreaa
came out with a new 95-feet racing sail,
ud she showed i s power by taking the
lead at the start and keeping it all through.
The boats started u ith a light i orth west-
e<-ly breeze, which died away, and they
got pretty well bunched at the eastern gap.
A breeze then sprang up from the south-
w estward. Mr. Dick's s iff, which had 200
pounds of ballast aboard, was n)aking a
good second to the Boreas, when the mast-
step was carried away, and she had to retire
from the race. The Isabel was third, but
some of the gear came loose, and she had
to lufi up and lower sail till it was put
right, enabling both the Princess and the
Troad to pass her. She settled down to
work again, and succeeded in overhauling
them both and coming in second. Tha
Boreas got home a long way ahead, and the
others arrived in the order above noted*
with not a great deal of space between
ttiem, after getting in the doldrums for
teveral minutes off the Union Station.
Everything went off >\ ell, and the occasion
was a rery pleasant one.
As Mr. Neilson did not wish to carry
off a prize that he himself had offered, he
handed the barometer to the Isabel, and
too; the second prize instead. The race
was also for the T. C. C. Challenge Cup, last
held by the Isabel, which passed to th«
Boreas.
When the boating season opened in 1884
those who attended the spring races of tho
Argonamt Rowirj Club on Saturday after-
noon, June 21, experienced a most delightful
time. The weather was beautiful and the
ro.ving was keen and exciting. Tha scene
on the balcony was a brilliant one. The
ladies were charmingly dressed and a num-
ber of the gentlemen were conspicuous by
their boating costumes. On every side werj
to be seen the pretty bine and white colon
of the Argonauts.
The raeing was well managed by the
veteran preeident, Henry O'Brien, and the
captain, Ollie Murphy, assisted by P. D.
Ross, A. O. Thompson and James Hegg,
the other three members of the senior four.
Seven fours tnrned out., and six heata were
rowed, The course was a straight half
mile to the east, the finish being opposite
the club house From the b^eony »o4
roof there was a clear view of the conrMb
No time was '/tept.
First heat— White, J. Pearson, bow ; t,
Scott, 2; A. J. Boyd, 3; J. McLnrea,
stroke. Blue— - N. P. Dewar, bow; D.
m^. h^^fim^^m^
3
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LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
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ANDllKW IIKRON, A WELL-KNOWN STEAMUOAT MAN. (>[i. 955
mppiPiiP
LANDMi^RKS OF TORONTO.
966
Simpson, 2 ; A. B Cameron, 3 ; A. M< rphy,
ritroke. The whites won in good style.
Second heat — White— R. I'aldwin, bow ;
R. \V. Y. Paldwin, 2 : W. R. H. Moffatt,
3 ; A. D. Lanfi'muir, stroke. Blua — J. H.
Rogern, bow ; A. H. O'I'rien, 2; \V, Lang-
nmu", 3 : L. H. Whittemore, stroke. Blu«
was ti.'a lucky color this time.
Third Heat — \Vhit«— L. Davidson, bow;
E. J. Bristol, 2 : G. Dunstan, 3 ; H. F.
Wyatt, stroke. Blue — H. R. Houlton, Ijow ;
P. D. Hughes, 2 ; J. S. Bell, 3 ; A. U. Mo
Lean, stroke. Again the blues crossed the
winning line first.
Fourth Heat— White— G. F. Burton, bow;
W. L. E. Marsh, 2 ; G. W. Grote, 3; E. Hea-
ton. stroke. Blue, winners of first heat
Victory once more crowned ihe cerulean
colors. The Wi ites fouled McLaren's crew
early in the race, but both boats straight-
ened out and resumed. Nearing home the
bow of the Blues shipped his oar, I ut this
mishap was instantly righted, and the boat
sped home to rictory.
Fifth heat, winners of second heat, winners
of third h at. This heat v as well and
closely contested, W hitttmore's four only
beating MuL un's by a length.
Sixth heat, winners of four h heat, win-
ners of fifth heat.
This was the last and deciding heat of the
day and consequently more interest cen-
tered in it than in any of the preceding;.
Each crew had already rowed over the
course twice, and they started for the third
time with determination stamped upon
their I rows. But Whittemore's four lacked
the stayinc: power of McLaren's ard they
gave out, McLaren's winning easily, being
loudly cheered as they rowed into the club
house.
TEE STBAMEK ROSEDALE.
Among the freight s eamers upon the
lakes is the well-known vesRel Rosedale,
built in Sunderland, Encland, in 1888, by
the Sund' rland Shipbuilding Co., her own-
era bein^ Joha H. O. Hagarty, Capt. Saml.
Cranirle and that well-known wharfinger,
Mr. W. A. (Jeddes, of Toronto.
&he was the first vessel to take a cargo
througli horn A.ontroal to Chicago without
trans-shipment. Her length was 180 feet,
her width 36 feet and the very great depth
of 24 ft, while her carrying capacity was
43,000 bushels. She was lens;theiied in
1891, an addition of 73 feet being made to
her. She is now able to carry no less than
60,000 bushels and is employed in the grain
trade between Duluth and Kingston, Capt.
James Ewart being her master .
In 18S9 the line between Montreal. To-
ronto and Chicago consis ed of ttie Cuba
alternating with tlio steamers Alma Munro
and Acadia. They left the canal wharF,
yontreal, every 'Tuesday at 10 a.m , calling
en route to Chicago at Kingston, Turunto,
Cleveland, and Uetroit.
The steamer Ocean, running from N'ontreal
to Hamilton, has been fully described in an-
other portion of the Marine lli-tory ; through-
out the season of 1893 she carried great
numbers of excursionists to the W orld's
Fair, ( hicago, from the Lower Province to
Hamilton, where they completed their
journey by tail.
Running from Collin. wood, calling at
Owen Sound from the Sault Ste. Marie, are
in 1893 the steamers Atlantic, Baltic, Pacific
and Northern Belle. The latter has been
many years on this route The former are all
comparatively noM' vessels.
Among othnr able men connected with the
steamers was Andrew Heron, who was born
in a log cabin on Duke street, on St. An-
drew's Day, 18('0, His early years were
spent in the old town of Niagara, where he
heard the roar of the guns the day that
Brock fell at Queenston Heights. He fol-
lowed the remains of the General to a tomb
in the bastion of Fort George. The night
the Americans attacked and burned Newark
he was roused from his slumbers and had to
flee to the woods. At ihe close of the war
ot 1812 he returned to his father's residence,
near Hogg's Hollow, where he continued to
reside for many years. In the rebellion of
1837 he carried a musket as a loyalist, and
saw Lount imd Matthews taken in irons to
the jail. After the rebellion he became an
active business man, and was a pioneer io
the steamboat business on the great lakes.
He died April 21st, 1888.
Among other notabilities who still sur-
vive are Captains James I^ick, Thomas Har-
bottie and Sinclair. These all commanded
steamers more than forty years since, and
the latter remains in active service to tke
present time (1893).
Among the events of 1893 was the arrival
in Toronto harbor early in June of the Spa-
nish Cararels en route to the World's Fair at
CTiieago. These vessels were supposed to re-
present, and probably fairly well did so, the
ships with which Cliriatopher Columbus dis-
covered the new world . They remainevl in
Toronto for three days and were visit d by
great numbers of visitors.
In concluding this portion of the
history of the Canadian Marine hearty
acknowledgement of the assistance re-
ceived by the loan of books, doon-
ments, etc,and in the giving of oral informa-
tion, is tendered to Mr. R. linuinir, Mr.
James Herson, Mr. W. A. Geddes and Mr.
F. Armstrong, of Toronto. Also to Vr. A,
Milloy, of Montreal, and to .Mr. W. Helii-
, I ?jJ
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LANDMARKS Ol' TOKONIO.
well, of Highland Creek. It is possible that
things V hioh some of our readers may deem
iiiportant have been omitted, but if this is
■o it has beeu by accident and not by design
CHAIMER CCLIII.
LORNE AND VICTORIA PARKS.
The Vnrioas Sleainrrs ou ihe KouIck— Tticir
Ke»peellvc CoiDiniiiKlcrs 1HH7-I»tt(.
On the lake route from Toronto to Lome
Park, began to ply in 18S8 the steamer
Greyhound. She is a double decked screw
steamer of '219 tons hnrtheii, and was built
at Hamilton in 1887 by Mulancthon Simp-
son, ."er length is 133 feel, her width 21
feet and her depth ot hold 10 feet 6 inches,
Her engine was supplied by A essrs.
Beckett Sc Co., of Hamilton.
Thia vessel ever since her construction has
been on the Lome and Grin sby I'ark
routes, principally the former. For one sea-
son or rather a portion of it she was on the
latter.
Her command for a me little time was en
trusted to the late Captain Donaldson.
He was succeeded by her present popular
muter. Captain William iioyce. She
is registered to carry 478 passenge s
She is the properly of Mr. Gooderham, of
Wellington street, Toronto, and for the
season of 1893 was chartered by the Lome
Park Navigation Company.
On the Victoria Park route the steamer
Chicoutiini, built in 18K'!, began to ply in
1887. I^er first commanding oliicer was
Captain Parkinson, now of the (Jarmona.
Since be left she has for the past three
years been under charge of Captain Tiiomas
•leanings. Before comirg to Toronto the
Chicoutimi plied on Lake Huron
The second steamer running from Toronto
to Victoria Park is the J. \V. Steinhoff. She
was built in 1876 at Chatham, and ran on
the upper lakes until she was to a great
extent destroyed by fire in 1881. She was
then rebuilt and again resumed her jour-
neys on the same waters until 1889, when
she was brought to Toronto. For the stasou
of 1890 stie ran from that city to Victoria
Park In 1891, to use a technical expression,
she "ran v- ild,' that is, took trips here, there
and everywhere, having no settled
route, and in 1892 and also in 1893 has
again been running from Toronto to Vic-
toria Park.
She is the property of Alderman Thomas
Daviea, of Toronto, and is ably commanded
by Captain MurchisoTi. When she tirst
came to Toronto she was under Captain
Zeeland, now of t'le Hamilton line. As an
excursion steamer i<he lias always been iu
great request.
CHAPTKPv CCLIV.
TORONTO FERRY CC. I89ag3.
Its Kl«e >ind ProKrew*— It* Vnrlou* Vessels
— <|Mlel l«eraIne»H.
The Toroni!) Ferry Company was reg a-
tered as a joiiiL stoc . company ou February
27th, IS'JO, tlio object in view being tlie
conveyance to and from the Toronto Island
of its sum-i:er residents and daily visitors.
In 1890 the company purchased the
ateamers, hitherto on the same route, owned
by the Doty Ferry Company, and two
years later they also bought up the vessela
belong ng to the Island Park Ferry Com-
pany.
Their present fleet of vessels is twelve iu
number. Eleven of these Ijeloag to the
company, and the twelfth, the John
Hantan, is chartered by them for their ser-
vice.
Of the steamers belonging to the com-
pany none are of great age, the oldest of
them having been built as recently us 1876.
Tiieir names are the. Jessie L. McKd wards, Ar-
lington, Luella, Canadian. Sadie, Kathleen,
('ercrude, Mascotte, Island Queen, May-
flower and Primrose.
I iie various routes pursued by these ves-
sels arc : From Yonge street wharf to Han-
Ian s Point and Island Park ; from Brock
street wharf to the same places, and also
trom tho wharves at Duileiin and George
streets. The service is practically con-
tmuous from 7 a. m. to 11 p.m. every day
throughout the season, which extends from
April to October inclusive, and there is a
limited service on > undays.
The Jessie L. McEdwards is a one deck
screw steamer, built in 1876, at St. Cath-
arines, by Melanclhon Simpson, of the same
place. Her length is 65 feet, and her breadth
is nearly 12 feet 6 inches. She has one higli
pressure engine of 15 horse power, by Doty,
of Toronto ; has a tonnage ot nearly twenty-
one and a half tons and is licensed to carry
116 passengers.
The Arlington, also a one deck screw
steamer, was built at Harwood, in the
township of Hamilton, Northumberland
County, in 1878, and re-built by George
Dickson in 1880. Her dimensions are al-
lost the same as those of the Jessie L. McEd-
wards, but her engine is ot 25 horse power,
and is by William Hamilton, of Peterboro.
She is of rather more than 23 tons bur-
then, and she is licensed for only 100 pas-
sengers.
The Lnella is a somewhat larger vessel
than the two former, though her engine by
Doty is of .only 24 horse power. She is
of nearly 38 tons burthen and carries 122 pas-
sengers. She is looked upon as the hand-
^^^wpfp
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
9r>n
190-93.
iu» V«9*elt
was re^; a-
u February
being tlie
tnto island
viaitora.
based the
lUte, owned
, and two
the vessels
"erry Com-
i twelve iu
>ag to the
the John
r their ser-
the corn-
oldest of
tly ua 1876.
dwards.Ar-
, Kathleen,
leen, May-
' these ves-
larf to Han-
trom Brock
s, and also
\m\ George
ically coo-
every day
Ktends from
i there is a
a one deck
St. Cath-
of the aamc
her breadth
lasone higli
r, by Doty,
tfly twenly-
led to carry
leek screw
d, in the
lumberland
by George
ions are al-
ie L.McEd-
orae power,
Peterboro.
toDB bur-
ly 100 paa-
rt^er vessel
r engine by
r. She is
-iea 122 paa-
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LANDMAI5KS OF TORONTO.
■omett boat on the bay, and is a great favor-
ite with the Islund revidentB. The owners
of this little vessel may well be proud of her,
forshehaau " rcuord " for the numbrrs of
people she has sared from drowning. Some
yean ago the City Council present' d I'.er
captain with a set of noluurs an a pub-
lic recognition of her servlccti in that respect.
The ( aniidiau, unlike any of the precediii>!
voBseltt, is a two-decked, double ende 1 piul-
dle steamer. She was built iu 1882 by John
Alexander (lindinning, of Toronto. iSiie
u 122 feet long and is within a fraction of 19
feet wide. Her one low oresaure engine by
Inglis & iiunter, of Toronto, is of \'i\) horse
power. Her burthen is 230 tons and she
carries 340 passengers.
The Sadie, though carrying a greater num-
ber of passengers than the last stcamrr, name-
ly. 377. ia only 112 feet long, but is just
over 35 feet wide. She is a double decked
paddle vessel, and was built by James An-
drew, of Oakvdle, in 1885. Hor engine, by
Doty, of Toronto, is of 50 horse power, and
her burthen ia 154 tons.
The Kathleen, two-decked screw steamer,
built iu 1886 by (>eorge Dickson, of Toronto,
ia 84 feet long by 18 feet wide, carries one
high pressure engine of 35 horse power by
Nagleft; Weed, of BuflFalo, U. S. A. she
takes 200 passengers and is ot nearly 110
tons burthen.
Ihe Gertrude, similarly constructed tu
the last vessel in 1886, by George Clean,
at Toronto, ia 75 feet in length with a
breadth of beam of 16^ feet. Her engine
of horse power ia by John King, of
Oswego She is of nearly 76 ions capacity
and accommodates 147 people.
The MascotteiSingle-decked screw steamer,
was liuilt in Toronto in 1886, by William
E. Redway She is 70 feet long and very
nearly 14 feet in width. Her high pressure
engine is of 15 horse power, by the John
Doty Engine Company, of Toronto. Her bur-
then is very nearly 49 tons and her license
is for 128 passengers.
The Island Queen, a similar ves el to the
Mascotte, was built by Joseph Duval at
Porr Dalhousie. She is 73 feet in length and
as nearly as possible 14 feet wide. Her
engine, precisely the same as that of the
Mascotte, is by Beckett & Co. of Hamilton.
She accommodates 148 passengers, and
is of 23^ tons capacity.
The two remaining vessels, namely, the
Mayflower and Primrose, are sister ships,
and are not only justly prized by their
ownerSfbut greatly appreciated by the g neral
public, Their appointtnants are as nearly
as it is possible for them to be per-
fection and every reasonalde convenience is
afforded their patrons. Their framework
is of steel, their length just exceeds 140
feet and their breadth 28 feet. They are
two-decked, double-bowed paddle nteamera,
and were built in Toronto in IS'.K) by the
Duty Engine Conipa y. They each possess
two diagonal direct acting 29 horse power
condensing engines i y the same company
a» built the steamers. Their tonnage ia
189.40, and they ate permitted to carry 900
excurdiunista.
Hoth these steamers are lightetl through-
out by electricity, and when loaded with
pleasure-seekers at night present a gay and
uni(]ue appearance. Tiiey are universally
considered tiie finest ferry steamers to be
found between Hudson's Bay and the Gulf
of A^cxico. One pleasing tiling in connec-
tion with them is that almost daily throu.h-
out the season hundreds of the inmates of
the ciiaritable institutions of the < ity are
provided with free excursions upon them by
their proprietors
The John Hanlan, chartered by the Ferry
Coiiipany, ia a screw steamer, built by
Abbey, of Port Dalhousie, in 1844, and haa
a burthen of but 53 tons She is very popu-
lar with the younger generation.
The president of the Toronto Ferry
Company in 1893 is Mr. E. B. Osier,
with Mr. William llendrie, who is well
known in the shipping world, as vice-
president. Mr. VV. A. Esson is manager,
whilst Mr. R. A. Smitli is secretary and
treasurer.
'1 1 e company's ofBce and Poard roem is
at 18 Kin^j; street west, Toronto, There
is no better evidence of liow well they do
what they undertake to do than the act
that no one ever hears anything about them
or their atfairs.
CHAPTER CCLV.
ROYAL CANADIAN YACHT CLUB.
lis Ulse anil I'ro'jri'H* muU Hi»tory From
1850 to 1893.
The society from which the present Royal
Canadian Yacht Club has sprung was at
first a boat club founded in 1850. Little, if
anything, was done during that season or
in the next, but in 1852 tnix society pub-
lished its rules and regulations, and changed
the name from Boat L lub to that of the To-
ronto Yacht Club
Prominent among these were* .Messrs.
W illiam Armstrong, C.E., John Arnold,
Charles Heath, I homas Shorties, .'^. B.
Harniau (late City Treanurer); .since de-
ceased. Dr. Hodder, Major Magrath, and
Capt. Fellows.
The first meetings of the original pro-
moters of the club were held iu the office of
Captain Fello \s, commission mere! (.ali on
Pfplfpfll^^^^
mj^rf^mf'^W^mm'wr^mwFW
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
!Kil
MUM "JF^ij
ixcaeds 140
They are
le Ht«ainerp,
S*.K) by til*
e>iL'l\ posnesB
turae puwar
no uMinpsuy
tonnage ii
to carry 900
by th« Ferry
ir. built hj
844, and haa
is very popu-
n.
routo Ferry
fi. B. Osier,
who ii well
Id, as vice-
is manager,
ecretary and
oard roem is
)nto. Ther«
rell they do
lan the act
about them
HT CLUB-
li»tory From
tresent Royal
unt; was at
Little, if
at season or
society pub-
and changed
at of iho To-
original pro
the office of
nercl (.ali on
'■>ii;\!tvf
.|i< ,i»ii 'm'9 T
062
LANDMARKS OF TOUONTO.
Meliiulii street. There, apatcil on flour
barrels, thn clu • scheme was projuuted anil
wa< further matured at later conclaves
held in a room over John Steel's saloon,
which stood iionrly opposite the present
Academy of Music on King street. The first
liuilding used by the club was owned
by Messra. (izowski and Macphcr.soii and
sirind wluro the Union Station now stands
The first club house proper waii ervcted on a
scow and whs moored just west of what was
known as Roes' wiiarf. Thin house was
occupied ly the clu ' until 1R58 when it was
found s I seriously damaged by muskruts
and heavy \^eathcr that it had to be
abandoned. 'J'he club then purchased the
M recking steamer Provincial, \> hich was
fitted upas a club hou«e and moored between
Tinning's and Rees' wharves, opposite
the Union Station, i his was found to be a
when a social union was effected with th'
Toronto Club, the R.C V.C. still retaining
their water club house and their individual
ity lis yachtsmen, in 4880, finding that they
were I uin^ crowded out of an anchorage for
tlieir yachta. the club sold their water pre-
mises to the (irand Trunk and having ob-
tained a suitable site on the isla d erected
their present club house. A city land-
ing and boat house were secured at the foot
of Lome street and the steam yacht Esper-
anza was purchased to convey the members
of thn club to and fro In 1889 tli* Royal Cana-
dian Yacht Club and the Toronto Yacht Clu <
(the latter of which had been in existence
since 1880), cfTected an amalgamation. Tne
I^orne street landing was disposed of and the
new organization retained the club house of
theToroi.toclnb as their town headquarters
and lauding place.
FIB^T CLUB HOUSE.
very unsatisfactory reating-place, however,
aa the vessel frequently contrived to t;et
adrift. "Often," said Mr. William Arm
strongifwho has' kindly furnished sketches
of these two floating habitations, " was I
called up in the middle of the night with the
information that she had broken loose, and
then I had to go down and put m the rest of
the night getting her fast again. This ship
was occupied until 1869, when the club
acquired a water lot west of R ea' wharf
where they erected a commodious club
house and substantial wharf, During the
autumn of 1873 the club en aged for
use during the winter months the premises
now known as Club Chambers. In 1874 the
property on King street adjoining the old
Montreal House was purchased aa a town
elnb houae. Heie they remained till 1877
In 1854 the members of this club petition
ed Her Majesty the Queen that they might
be allowkd to assume the titl« of Royal 'i'o'
ronto Yacht Club.
At the time this petition was presented it
was not only thought to be presumptuous,
but was greatly ridiculed by many, and
prophesies were freely '- bulged in that Her
Majesty would withhold hor consent. It
was not ao, though, for early in Auguat the
following letter waa received by the aecre-
tary of the club : —
GovKRNMENT Hoi.'SE, Quebec, An((U't4. 1854.
SiK,— I am commanded by the Governor-
General to inform rou that His ExcelleDcj has
received a despatch from Her Majeaty's Secre-
tary of State for the Colonies stating that he
has laid before the Queen the petition of Ike
membera of the Canadian Yacht Club, prayinr
that Her Maicsty would be pleased to permit
them to assu.iie the style of " Kojal," and that
^^^^
«Tr"T*'
w^
.ii|iiv |« «jf".9u^ujipi^^i|i(|^iifvi^pwini
LANDMARKS OF TOUOMO.
00.1
ted with th'
;ill rcUining
ir individual
ing that tiiay
biichorage fir
ir water pre-
d liaving ob-
ila d ervoted
V city land-
ed at the foot
yacht Esper-
th« mambert
M Royal Cana-
to Yacht Clu.
1 in exiatence
.niation. The
tsed of and the
club house of
t headquarters
«r
, AURU 1 4. 185*.
the Governor-
Kxcelleucy has
tIajesty'B Secre-
"atatini; that he
petition of tke
\t Club, prayin*
eaeed to permit
toyai."and that
Her Majofliy was graciously ploaicd to comply
with thi!ir (iriijur.
I have thohnnor tobn, iSIr,
Your inoHt oboiiioni norvant,
(dlgnod^ Auo. T. IUmiltom.
Mllilarr Sccn-tiiry.
John Rttrtck, Ksq.,
Secretary C.Y.C,,
Toronto. C.VV.
'1 he next two or three years passed quietly
by in the Club's history, notliin);; occurring
to disturb the nienil>ors in " the oven tonur
of their way."
During the season of 1858 what is desuriboil
ai " a ({rand yacht race " took placu in To-
ronto harbor on Saturday, iTuly lOtli. The
competing vessels wero the (}aiiiula, I'rinia
Donna, Rivet, Son (iuU and Wave. The
last-named started with the others, but re-
turned almost at once, strong weather bav-
in:; set in. Only one yacht went over tint
course, the heavy weather havint; prevontc-d
buoys being laid off Mimico Point. Owing
to this cause the result was tUsputed. The
prize was (i|cup valued a*; £20 currency, or$S'.),
twenty-four necinds less than the Wave,
whi.^li uiinio in set'ond.
Tli«:ro wora other races on the Saturday
for yiichts and open boatM. That for the
former claH.-* of ves.selM was u^^in won by the
('oral, more than Iwoiity minuccH uheud of
all coinpoiitors. The pri/.u was TiioU. In
th<! open boat rnco for i'>i) the Flirt won, one
iniiiutc! anil nine seconds uliuad of her com-
potitors. tlio I'oerlcss, Sa^inuM and Luck-
now
In 18.")!), DM .Inly n')th, two cups g'xren by
the comnioiluro of the club were contnndfii
for on u course round a buoy at the far end
of Toronto harboi', liipn outside the island,
*l<nililiii;r the hurbor liuoys wharf, r()nniliu){
n l>uoy outride (Mindinning's in tlio lake,
anil hunii! to tlie inouriiiKs, mailing i side the
buoys at the (jupi n's wliarf. 'I'lui competinn
yaclits were tlic I'riina Donna, S Munru ;
(he ^N'andercr, C K. Ilomain ; the Canada,
S. Sherwood ; and Water Lily, Cuptaih
Durie. 1 huse were for the iir^t cup. For
E?
'lt\t:l OT fi *.■ 1/ 8 8/ C ■ *L-L;
STEAMER I'ROVINCIAL.
A Mcond regatta took place at Toronto on
Friday and Saturday, October ist and 2ii(l.
Two prizes were offered, the first of $240,
to be competed for by tirst-class yachts ; the
other of $60 for vessels of inferior capacity.
There were five entries, for the lirat prize,
namely,- the Wanderer, the Coral, an Ameri-
can yacht, owned by Mr. J. Oades, of
French Creek, New York ; the B. He, of
Kincston, the property of 0. L Gilder-
sleeve ; the Sea Ciull, of Hamilton ; and the
Canada, like the Wanderer, a Toronto ves-
sel. For the second rdwje there were five
entries also, namely, the Fairy, Fleda,
Cygnet, Wave and Prima Donna.
The first race was won by the Coral, sh«
beating all competitors bv three minutes
and seventeen seconds. The se ond was
carried off by the Prima Donna, her time
being one hour.fifty- four minutes and twenty
seconds, that being eight minutes and
the second the yachts entered were the
f torm Que'.u, Chas Grasett ; Wave, T. J.
Robertson ; Saginaw, Messrs. Cambie ; and
the Crinoline, J. Boulton The Wandenr
and Wave were the winning yachts respec-
tively. It is satisfactory to learn that "ab
the close the members of the club dined to-
gether." It i» to be hoped that the even-
ing's amusement bore the morning's reflec-
tion.
I he club made no very great progress nor
did anfrthing very remarK able for tiie next
few years They held regattas with more
or less regularity and kept themselves to-
getlier, tut did not achieve any great popu- ,
larity or create any intense sensation.
In 1860 though the club showed that it
was not remarkably active, it was anything
but inoriljund. That was the year in which
H. U. H , the Prince of W ales, paid hit
memorable visit to Canada. Of those who
r
\i^V
m^
904
LANUMARivS Of TORONTO.
m-i
welcomed him on that; occasion, th re are
noi many remaining. It is mort- than a gen-
eration since, and while many have sought
" fresh fields and pastures new," yet more
have joined the ranks of the great and mute
majority. A Toronto writer speaking of
this period, very aptly remarks that
" When one comes to thini< of it, this was
a somewhat momentous period in the world's
history. J he Franco- Austrian war had just
fire was being kindled ^bich, with the elec-
tion of Lincoln in November, burst into a
blaze, which nearly consumed the heart of
a great people. These were truly stirring
times.
The Prince arrived in Toronto by the
steamer City of Kingston, of the Canadian
Naviitation Company's line, now known as
I the Richelieu & Ontario Mavigutiou Com-
I pany, on September 7th, and was most
THE ORIOLB.
terminated with the battles of Magenta and
Solferino, and (iarilmldi, headiug the
Sicilian revolt, had commenced that victorious
march which brought about the birtli uf a
new nation — Italia Una. The Chinese war
•t as at its height, and the combined fleets of
France and England lay in the Pehtaue,
while the tro(^ roused the m audarins of
Fekin, and came baok with an indemnity of
8.(J00,000 taels. In the United States that
heartily and enthubiastically welcomed !>>
the entire populace.
A regatta was urranqed to take place on
September 11th, and ii was intended that
the Prince should attend it, cominc
there from the railway station on his return
from Collingwoid, where he had been foi
a short visit.
He duly arrived and was received in a
vast amphitheatre which had in it;? ceutrv
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
965
w ith the elee-
ir, burst into a
d the heart of
truly stirring
orouko by the
f the Canadian
low known as
avigution Com-
Lud was most
Illy welcomed liy
Ito take place on
Is intended that
[nd it, comiiic
lion on his return
lie had been for
las received in a
liad in its ceutiv
'.hu royal pavilion witii an elevated platform
al the buck f(U' tlie more pro.iiiueut of the
Piincti's entertainers.
I he cotnniudore of the club, Lieutenant
t/olunel Durie, the sometime commanding
ulficrr of the (Queen's Own Rifles, us soon as
tlie Prince was seated presented him with
ill: address on behalf of the club, to which
11 R.H. briefly replied.
On occasions such as these all royal ad-
dresses are uf the same citaracter and the
replies made by their recipients are of the
bame stereotyped nature, so it is unneces-
sary to re-produce either the one or the
other.
The following is an excerpt from "a
oliapter from the log-book of the yacht
Oriole' : —
"Tliere was, unfortunately, some delay,
and in the meantime the ruin canie down, so
that the Prince was compelled to seek
iiliclter, which, however, he soon abandoned,
s.iyiu^', ' 1 must see the start. '
"Wliile ut the end of the wliarf an incident;
ucijurred which waj often afterwards recalled;
with a laugh A kindly individual bustled'
r.p to His Royal Highness, saying, 'Take,
my umbrella, sir, at tliu same time presijni-'
iiig a shabby but prodigious L'ingham. Xlie
i'rincelaushingly declined the oiler, and took
shelter on tlie railway piatf'irm.
"Th lloet, with wet sails flapping in the
strong wind, presenred a verv stirring pic-
ture. A heavy sea from the south-west
came tumbling through between the then
distant island an 1 the mainland, and the
larger boats strained and tug;,'ed at their
moorings like dogs at the leash, wliile the
foam llickcd waves broke over tlieir bows,
drenching their ore\s, who in tlieir oilies
looked the reverse of amateurs.
"What a flood of memories the old names
recall ! The old Rivet still serviceable, was
then in her youtii an i was sailed by E. and
S lilake. The Canada, 2') tons, the largest
tliouah not the fastest of the fleet, was then
the property of i.'.ilerman 8herwood. The
Sea (hill, sailed by J. H. .Maingay. of Ham-
illoii, and the Arrow, by Mr. Wallace, of
Coliourg, were about the size of the Rivet —
17 tons— while Ccmniodorc Diuie's Water
Lily and J. T. Robertson's l)ar. were two or
three tons smaller.
"Of the second class — 10 tons and under —
there were : Prim i Donna, J. Ilamilion,
Toronto ; Expert, Mr Delany, Cobourg
(llaiice, G. Oliver, Cobour;.', and I'hantom,
J. H I'crry, Wliitby. These yachts were
all of about 10 tons burthen, while the
snialler of three or four tons, sailing in the
sai.ic fla.is were Surge, .1. Metcalf, Hamil
tun ; Mariner, Mr. Stinson, Hauiilton, and
Fairy, T. IJi.by, of Toronto.
' Kl
K c. Y. r i.Ai.>rH.
1^
'v'
' '>
jH
■
'■ i.
m
m
'. ■
m^
1
s
960
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
"The race was to Mimico, and necessi-
tated a long beat against a iieavy sea. Only
a few manage! to ^et over the course, and
all suffered more or less. Canada ran
agroun I ; Water Lily and Dart lost bob and
forestays, and Prima Donna Cc.rried away
her psak halyard, so of the first class only
two went over the course, Rivet being about
15 minutes ahead of Arrow. Gl ace won in
the secoD'' class."
I'he I'rince, owing to his many engage-
ments, was able to do no more than witness
the start.
At a meeting held on March 4th, 1861, in
the club house, which was in the hull of the
steamer Provincial, moored to the Esplan-
ade, opposite where the Union Station now
stands, Mr. Secretary Armstrong read a
letter from Mr. William Cuoper, yachting
editor of Bell's Life, better known under
the nom de plume of " Vinderdecken,'" who
had previously been in correspondence with
the club, as to the propriety of asking the
Prince of Wales to give a cup in com-
memoration of his visit to Toronto 'i he
matter was taken up and a coiiimittee
appointed to petition his Royal
Highness, and this whs in due form sent
through the authorized channel.
About six months afterwards a reply was
received from (ien. Bruce — who was related
to the Earl of Elgin, and much intei ested in
Canada — to the effect that the Prince had
pleasure in complying with the request, and
a cup would, in due time.be forwarded. This
was, of course, a sourceof much jubilation, and
though the valuable present was not receiv-
ed until 1863, provision was at once made
for its free entry through the customs, and
rules were made as to its custody. In re-
cognition of the valuable services of "Van-
derdecken" he was elected an honorary mem-
ber of the club.
The Daily yewa, of London, England, pub-
lished August 17^'h, 1861, thus speaks of the
Prince of Wales' Cup, presented to the
club :—*' The challenge .cup presented by
His Rcyal Highness the Prince of Wales to
this club is about one of the handsomest
things of the kind thit has yet been made.
It consists of a vase in frosted silver, partly
burnished, and will be competed for in Sep
tember next. I wo principal medallions in
low relief illustrate an incident in the life of
Columbus, in which the great discoverer
quells his mutinous oailors, and the cession
of a tract of land (afterwards
called Pennsylvania) to Wil iam Penn,
Two tiraceful female figures form the handles;
the cover of the cup is surmounted by a
6gurr of Britannia. The base is of ebony
bearing two shields engraved witii the
badge of the Prince and the inscription.
The manufacturers are Messrs Hunt and
Roskell, of l.i6 New Bond street, silver-
smiths to the Queen and royal family."
The first race in 1861 was spoken of by
the Toronto papers of the time as not being
a very spirited affair, in consequence of the
very light wind that prevailed duriue the day.
Seven yachts started from wiiere they
were moored opposite the Club House.
Eight had been entered, but one, the i'han-
torn, of Whitby, failed to put in !>n appear-
ance. These were the names of the compet-
ing yachts : The Wide Awake, Dart, Rivet,
Irene, Arrow, Cygnet and Water Lily.
The race was won by the Wide AwaUc,
a small boat of four tons burthen, built
on the Genesee river and owned by
Mr. J. Elliott of Cobourg The
following concise description of the
day's proceedines from the Toronto Weekly
Leader of St-ptember 13th, 1861, leaves one
under the impression that on this occasion
at any rate '° the place to spend a happy
day " was not in Toronto witnessing the R,
C. y. C. regatta. "There was nothing
worthy of notice m the sailing of the
yachts ; the wind gave no opportunity for
displaying those nice points of seamanship
connected with a well-contested race, and
the whole affair passed off very tamely."
In 1862 the race took place on September
8th from Toronto for the Prince of V\ ales'
cup. It had been arranged previously that
the course should extend from Tor< nto to
Port Dalhousie and back, a total distance of
about seventy miles, thus affording a good
opportunity of developing the sailing powers
of the crafts entered. These were seven,
namely, the Gorilla, the property of Mr.
Standloy, of Cobourg ; Rivet, Captain
Elmsley, Toronto ; Breeze, Dr. Hodier, Tor-
onto ; G.ance, Mr. G. Hav ke, Toronto ; Wide
Awake, Mr. Elliott, Cobourg, and the
Arrow, Mr. Wa lace, Cobourg The cup
was won by the Gorilla, her time being 6
hours, 46 minutes 25 seconds. The Rivet
fi'Uowed her in thirty minutes, and the
Breeze, though third, was more than two
hours behind. This was the second year u
Cobourg yacht had carried off this cup, the
\\ ide Awake, of the same place, having
secured the trophy in 1861.
In the years 63 and '64 Mr. B. Standley 8
yacht, the Gorilla, proved the winner ; in
1865 there was no race, and in 1866 and '67
Mr. E. Beakes' Ripper was the conquering
vessel.
In 1868 the Gerakline, E. M. Kodder,wai
successfu', and in 1869 the Mosquito, ov.iad
by Mr. E. M. Copeland. came in winner.
Since 1854 the club had steadily increased
in the number of its members and its ves
sels, aud in 1869 and 1870 bu It a large and
rs Hunt and
tieet, ailver-
iamily."
pokAD of by
as not boins;
[uence of the
uriugtheday.
I witere they
Club House,
lie, the I'han-
in liH appear-
of the compet
, Dart, Rivet,
,ier Lily.
Wide AwaUo.
Duithen, built
d owned by
»boar<? The
tion of the
oronto Weekly
861, leaves one
a this occasion
ipend a happy
tnessing the K.
B was nothing
sailing of the
tpportuuity for
of seamanship
iested race, and
jry tamly."
36 on September
rince of" NN ales'
previously that
rom Tor. nto to
total distance of
affordine a good
le sailing powers
ise were seven,
)roperty of Mr.
Rivet, Captain
)r. Hod ler, Tor-
Toronto ; Wide
outg, and the
lourg The cup
ler tinie being 6
ids. The Rivet
inutes, and the
I more than two
he second y«iar u
off tliis cup, the
place, having
Ir. R. Staudley 8
the winner ; in
in 1866 and '67
a the conquering
. M. H odder, wai
Mosquito, owned
me in winner,
iteadily increased
^rs and its ves
bult a large and
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
967
commodious club house, nearly opposite the
Parliament buildings, on Front St., Toronto.
The olficers for 1870-71 were as follows —
Commodore— Dr. E. M. Hodder ; Vice-
Committee of Management— Massra. O. M.
Hawke, B. Harmau and D. M. Defoa ; ol
Sailing;— Messrs. Wm. Armstrong, H. L.
Hime and S. F. Holcomb ; of Finance—
THE
I'oinmodora— Mr. B. R. Clarkson ; Captain
—Mr J. 11. G Hairgarty ; Secretary— Nir.
A. R lio we 1 : Treasurer— Mr. Wm. Hope;
7ELMA.
Messrs. John Macnab and James E Robert-
son. Auditor— Mr. C. Heath. The officera
for the year were ex-oHicio members for all
^m
mm
S .
* :
■•■flp^fp
"P"
968
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
committees The life members were Messrs.
Robert Denisou, V. S. Holoomb, Tlioioaa
Shortis, G. M. Hawke, F. H. Eccies, H. L.
Hime, E. G. Leigh, li. R Clarkson and
H. G. A. Allen, and the honorary members
Messrs. Dr. Rac, Capt. Stupart, R.N. ;
\Vm. Cooper, of London ; J. Ettrick and
\Vm. Armstrong. The patrons of the club
were H K IL the Prince of Wales, hi< Ex-
cellency the (iovernor-General, his Honor
the Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario and
Vi&count Bury.
LIST OF YAtillTS.
The follow ins; is a list of the yachts, with
th ir owners and tonnage : —
Tons.
K. M. Hodder.... 28
.H. U. Clartcson.. )1
.J. H.G. Hagarty 15
..U. Elrasley 16
..H Wall. N. Y.. 4(54
. M. n. Clarkson.. 7i
..A. U, Allan lo
.. Geo. Eadie 15
.. s. H idder, Eng. 28
. H. Moffat 0
. J. S. Dugmore...
. Oiipt. Gifford....
...J. E. TurnbuU....
. . . F. W. Barron ....
..Sir H. Parker....
..K. M. Copeland.. .
.Capt. Du.niore. ..
.K. Courncen ti
.Col. Shaw 4
. Mohon
the following yachts
28
6
6
12
Oeraldlne schr . . .
Glance ctutcr.
Kestrel schr . . .
Rivet cutter.
Mystic schr.. .
Wirte-a-wakc sloop. .
Mona cutter..
Ilia cutter .
Fawn cutter. ,
Stella cutter..
Merlin schr .. .
Gorilla sloop
Petrel sloop ,
Donna del Lago . . sloop .
Zephyr dandy
Mosquito sloop . .
Vanguard sloop . .
Rapid sloop . .
Annis slonp..
Xooya . . .
For the race of 1870
started, namely, Gorilla, [Ua, Geraldine,
Kestrel, Glance and i^tella. The Gorilla
came in first, followed closely by the Ida,
but, accor ing to the rules of the R.C. Y.C ,
the Ida being a smaller vessel than the
Gorilla, should be allowed 9^ minutes' time,
Bo that she really won the race.
In 1871 the race was abortive, though
several yachts started.
In 1872 Captain (lifford's yacht the
Gorilla, of Cobourg, was a^aiu afloat, having
bee'i completely rebuilt and presented a re-
markably neat appearance. I he schooner
yacht GeraUlinc was disposed of in 1872 to
Mr. C. H. Sampson, who entirely refitted
her
A cot respondent of the Globe writiui:
from 8t. Catharines under date June 28,
1872, make!t some very severe strictures on
the H. C. Y. C. After giving niany cases of
neglect on the part of the club's > flicers lie
jjoes on to say, "I was informed that the
(Jonunodore wanted to sell his yacht, und
the only officer owning a yacht besides him
w;i8 Ciiptaiii <^jitTord of Cobourg." After a
few mure caustic criticisms on the club iind
all coni).!(!ted tiierewitii ho brings his letter
loan end thus, ''The present officers had
belter resij,'ii and give way for better men.
• * • The Royal Canadian Yacht Club is a
disgrace and a shame to the name of yacht
club. This is hard language I i-now but I
only speak the truth and it is high time it
was spoken."
This hard hitting epistle was published
in the Toronto Globe July 1, 1872.
Since 1 73 the lace has been won by Mr.
\V. C. Campbell's Oriole twice, by Mr. J.
Leys' yacht of the same name three i imes.
Between the victories though of the former
and the latter Oriole, in 1876 Mr. G. U.
VVyatt with his yacht Brunette carried off
the prize.
In 1880 Mr. A. R. Boswell was successful
with the Madcap ; it must be confessed
it is hard to connect .Mr. I'oswell with
any "madcap" enterprise, though in this
case it was so, and "facts are stubborn
things.''
In I8SI tiiere was no race, and in 1882 Mr.
McGaw with his lovely little craft the
Cygnet came in t^ inner.
Then for the next ten year^ came the re-
markable series of Gooderham victories, Mr.
VV. G. Gooderhum with the Aileen winnmg
the race for three successive years.
'i hen from 1886 until 1890, both years in-
clusive Mr. G. Gooderham with the Oriole—
tha yacht in which all '1 orontouians take
an interest — was the victor.
In 1891 the Vreda, Mr. A. R. Boswell's
new yacht, won the cup only to have it
wrested from her in the year 1892 l<y the
Oriole, this being the sixth victory for the
latter.
In 1893 Mr. Norman Dick's yacht the
Zelma, won the race after a very spirited
contest .
The Zelina was designed by Fife and built
by Stanton of Picton, the same builder who
turned cut the well known yachts Irene and
Kelpie. Her lenjilh overall slightly exceeds
tifty-tive feet, with a widtii of ten feet seven
inch' s, and'a draught of eight feet eieht
inches. When she was launched it was said
of her that " every detail ot her construction
gave evidence of careful supervision and
honest workmanship, and it is doubtful if
she could have been better put together even
on the t lyde."
During the season of 1893 the Zelma start-
ed in every race tor which she was eli ible
and finished with an unbroken record of
tirst places, notwithstanding that in many
cases she had to compete with boats of
double her own tonn.age .
In addition to association and club prizes
slie won in 1803 tiie Queen's cup at Hamil-
ton, the Lansduvvne at Toronto, and the
Prince of Wales' cup also.
A list of the winn< rs of the cup is i^iven
since its institution.
hi Club ifl a
ime of yacht
[ !• now but I
high time it
was successful
, be confessed
I '08 well with
thougli in this
I arc stubborn
o came the re-
11 victories, Mr.
Aileen wiunmg
years.
, both years in-
rith the Oriole-
■ontouians take
ck's yacht the
a very spirited
:oronto, and tlie
the cup is i.;iveQ
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
969
I.l4t of Rnres for the Prince of fV^ales' €iip.
D'te.
1861.
1868.
1863.
1801.
Winner.
Owner.
Wiae Awake . iC. Elliott . . . .
Gorilla "j I
Gorilla |- R. Stand ley.
Gorilla j I
Course.
lSG5.|Norace
l866.lRlpple V
I VUXBluke....
1867. Ripple /
1868.
Geraldino. ..
Mosquito
I870»l
1871 . 1 Abortive race.
E.M.Hodder
E. M. Cope
land
l8:2.|GorUla..
1873. {Lady Standley
1874. 'Oriole ~i
l875.;Oriole j
1876.iBrunette
C. CUfford..
B. I'.. Clark-
son
1877.
1878.
Oriole .
Oriole .
1879. Oriole,
1880. Madcap.
1881. iNo entries.
1882. Cygnet
Miniico, etc.,
and return.
Pi. Ualhousin
and return.
Vt. Dalhousle
ana return.
Pt. Dalhousle
and return.
Pt. Credit and
return.
Pt. Dalhousle
and return.
Pt. Dalhonsie
and return.
Mimico. Scar-
boro', etc.
Niagara.
Niagara and
return.
Niagara.
Niagara.
W.G. Camp- Niagara
bell, etal..
G. H. Wyatt
J. Ley«, et al
A, R. BoS'
well
1833. Aileen
i
1881. Aileen
I
1885.! Aileen
i
1886.|Oriole. ^
1887.'oriole
1888.|Oriole
i
1889. Oriole
1890., Oriole
I
1S91. Vreda
T. McGaw..
W.GGooder
ham, et al,
1892. Oriole
IS93. Zcimiu...
G. Gooder-
hain
A. R. Bos-
well, ot al.
G. Ooodcr'
ham
K. a Oicl£..
Mimico, lake
buoy, Vic-
toria park.
Llghth'se, lake
buoy. Vic-
toria park.
Llghth'se, lake
buoy, Vic-
toria park.
Light h'se, lake
buoy, Vic-
toria park.
Pt. Credit, Vic-
toria park.
Mimico, lake
buoy, Vic-
toria Parle.
Mimico, lake
buoy. Vic-
toria Park.
Mimico, lake
buoy, Vic-
toria Park.
Miniico, lake
buoy, Vic
toria Park.
Mimico, lake
buoy, Vic-
toria Park,
Exhibilion.
lake buoy
Vic. Park.
Exhibition,
take buoy.
Vie. Park.
Exh i b 1 1 i o n,
lake buoy
Vie. Park.
Exhlbi tion.
lake buoy
Vie. Park.
Exhibition,
lake buoy,
Vic. Park.
Do.
Do.
Of other matters in connection with the
club may be mentioned the sailing match of
1875, which on a 32 mile course six yachts
competed. The course was throu.h the
eastern gap to Mimico and back. Durinj{
the race (/olonel Shaw and Captain Lee, who
were on board the Ina, were swept over-
board, the yacht Dauntless went out of her
course to assist them, succeeding happily in
hrr e£forts. I'he race was won by the
Cuthbert, but the result was protested
on the ground that the Dauntless had the
privilege of deviating from her course where
life was concerned.
The prizes in this match consisted of the
"Champion" flag and $200 for the first
place and $75 for the second arrival.
In 1893 the following vessels comprised
THE CLUB FLEET.
Name ov Yacht.
First Class,
Aggie
Aileen
Cornier
Cutter.
Cutter.
Cutter.
Cricket iCutter.
Dlaah Cutler.
lolanthe.
i:loop.
Cor.
Lekoth.
40,61
56.90
42,07
34.36
37,66
37,S3
04.05
38,«S
' 39.17
f 74.75 V
1 63.52 r
42,37
44.29
35.21
47.69
40.76
?9.92
Lady Evelyn Schooner. .
Ijaura iSloop
Lenora | V awl
Norma .Cutter ....
Oriole Schooner. .
Papoose Cutter ....
Verve iCutter ....
Vision .Sloop
Vreda Cutter ....
Whiatlcwing [Cutter
Zelma Cutter —
.'W Foot Class. I
Cyprus iCutter —
Eiina Cutter ....
Vedette iLugger . .
Wona Cutter . . . ,
So Foot Clfias. !
Ariel ,Cutter.. .
Urenda Sloop
Ednrx .Sloop
Hilda Sloop
Kelpie Cutter ...
CEnone jSloop . . .
Volante Sloop ....
Wawa Lugger . .
i'l Foot Class I
Caprice Sloop —
Erchless Cutter .. .
Freida Sloop ....
Gwendoline Lugger..
Imogeno
Irene . . Sloop ....
Kathleen Sloop ....
I ixio Yawl ....
Recriiit Lugger...
Woo8 Sloop ....
Artful Gilliatt Yawl ....
Thistledown ••^:^ Lugger.^. _______
Slciff Class— MnoTia, Miss Marion, Ole Oirt,
Ripple. Unensy. Vioia.
Steam Fae/'/.s— EspiTRTiza, Clropatra, Abe-
una, l.shkoodah, Alexandra, Flori^'^ant, Sonn^
tag. Rosiimond, Naiad, Zephyr, Viola.
32.8
2a 75
29.91
27,52
24.46
22.96
21.13
22.69
24.98
24.06
23.53
2L61
20.45
20. 2S
19.40
17.29
19.60
19.19
18.59
80.72
U'M
I
II
i
';;:! i
m 1
II
970
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
0!
Uio.4: 'H-^M-
:«"-. s
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
»71
Tbe RC.Y.(7. became incorporated on
March 4cli, 1868, by an Act passed by the
Ontario Legislature, and on the following
July 10th received an Admiralty warrant
to thia etfect :—
tlythe ComviiH^ionemfor Executina the O^lce
of Lord Iliyh Admiral of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain, and Irel i nd,
etc
Whereas we deem it expedient that vessels
tMlonglng to the Royal Canadian Yacht Club
■hall be permit te>l to wear tuo Blue Ensign of
Her Majesty's fleet with a Crown in the fly.
We do by virtue of the power and authority
vested in us hereby warrant and auihuri/.e the
Blue Ensign ot Her Majesty's fleet, with a
Crown tn the fly, to be worn on board the re-
spective vessels belonging to i he Uoyal Cana-
dian Yacht Club accordingly.
Given undcrour hands and the seal of the
office of Admiralty, this tenth day of July. 1878.
(S;gned) A. W. A. HOOD.
GILFORD.
By command of their Lordships,
(Signed) THOS. WOLLEY.
The club toolc possession of their new
premises on the Island, opposite Toronto,
immediately after the annual meeting on
May 14th, 1881 Great satisfaci ion was ex-
pressed by the members at the accom-
modation provided and at the tiiorough
manner in whicli the worit had been carried
out.
CHAPTER CCLVI
CANADIAN PACIFIC STEAMERS.
Tke Cvllliigwood and Lake {Superior Hue—
Its Inimediate muccesior.
The steamers City of U innipeff, City of
Owen Sound nnd Frances Smith, have been
often mentioned and their route described,
as have also the Algoma and the Manitoba.
These various steamers formed the line that
carried passengers from the provinces
of Quebec and Ontario to the interior of the
north w^st district via Collingwood.
On the completion of the Canadian I'acific
railway, that company formed a line of
their own consisting of the steamers Algoma,
Alberta and Athabasca. The Manitoba had
her name changed to the C armona, and, at
is properly detailed in its place, now runs on
the route from Toronto to Rochester.
The vessels City of Winnipes;, Owen
Sound and Frances Smith ar > now no longer
afloat.
Of the Algoma it is unnecessary to say
anything. She was first of all c lied the City
•f Toronto, forming one of the R M. line
from Toronto to Kingston. She afterwards
became the Racine and finally the Algoma
The Alberta and Athabasca are both
screw propelled steel vessels built for the
C. P. R. in 1883, by Aiiten & Co., of
Ol sgow; each of them is ot 1,440 tons
Imrthen. Thay are lignted by electricity
and tiave all the mo»t recent improvements
They begun their regular worlk for the
C.P.R in 1884
In the middle of November, 1885, the
Algoma was wrecked in a fearful storm
which swept over Lake Superior, and many
lives were lost. The following account was
published at the time of the wreck :
"On the night of the disaster the wind,
which on board the vetael seemed only a
fairly strong breeze, was actually a moder-
ate gale, and was forcing the vessel along at
tlte rate of sixteen instead of fourteen miles
an hour. When, as Capt. Moore and his
officers supposed, t ey were some
fifteen miles from Isle Royale, Capt. Moor*
decided to turn his vessel and get out into
the open lake. The blinding snowatorm
then raging prevented them fmm seeing how
near they were to the fatal spot. The orders
were being obeyed and the vesacl had nearly
come round when suddenly
THK STGRN STRUCK ON A ROOK,
the steering apparatus was smashed, ana the
Algoma was helpless and at the mercy v". tiie
wind and waves within sixty feet of land.
Nothine tliat human ingenuity could devise
could then avail to save the vessel, and the
captain and oHicers, who wer* all on duty,
applied themselves to save tiie lives of
passengers and crew. No boat could live in
that sea, and all attempts to get out a life-
line were useless. The sea washed over the
vessel, and, in fact, soon smashed the small
boats to pieces as if they had been eggshells.
All this time the Al>!oma was pounding on
the rocks with all the force of a heavy sea,
now raising her hull out of the water and
then forcing her down as with a steam ham-
mer blow of hundreds of tons' force. In the
me mtime the passengers had been ordered
to gather in the bow of the vessel, and.wlien
the position of things changed, were brought
aft, but not without having their numbers
much diminished. All who obeyed the cap-
tain's orders were saved. A life line was
strung along from the main rigging to the
stern, and loch officers and men did all in
their power to save the lives of tho passengers.
Thii is proved beyond the pos!<ibility of a
cavil or doubt by the affidavits of those who
were sa"ed.
"It is only necessary to add that the tirsi of-
ficer, after Captain Moore was seriously hurt,
finally got all those who were still left down
from the spar deck to the main deck aft,
where they were comparatively safe, till
morning broke. Some idea of the terrible
nature of the storm which broke upon the
vessel in the early morning may be gathered
from the fact that the fishermen on Isile
II
i->
Ih
972
LANDMARKS 01 TOnONTO.
Royale, whore those who were saved from
ihe wreck took shelter, had their deep seu
nets washed ashore durinc; that night, an
occurrence uuprcceaented in the knowledge
or memory of the oldest amon^; them."
The Campana, a propeller of 1,287 tons,
built iu Ulasj;ow in 187:i, took the place of
the Algoma for sonic time, being chartered
by the C. P. R. in 1889, though the Poison
Company built at Owen Sound a yet larger
steamer for theC. P. K. than either of the
two just described. She was known
as the Manitoba, being the second
steamer of that name. 8he w&i of steel
throughout, of 1,U'20 tons capacity, fitted
with electric lights and the latest improved
steam engines, and was valued as a quarter
million of dollars.
The C. P. R. has also a steamer at King-
ston nou, known as the Orion, formerly as
the Isa^ic May. She was l^uilt in 1872 bv
Andrews, of Wetland, and re-i)uilt in 1891,
wlinn her name was changed from Isa^c May
to the one she now bears. She is a pro-
peller of 490 tons burthen.
i he ('. P. R has at Montreal a small tug
propeller of 50 tons, known as the Siskrivet.
During the last North-west rebellion the
Allierta ad Athabasca were employed by the
Dominion Government on transports for the
conveyance of the militia to and from the
disturbed districts.
As the 8«ainers of the C. P. R. ai ? the
largest ve ^eis ailoat on the Canadian lakes,
so is it claimed for them tliat they are also
the best appointed. They are at any rate
largely patronized by the general public.
CHAPTER CCLYII.
THE ROCHESTER ROUTE- 1889-'93-
The Steniu»lii|) t'arniona — llor Previous
History— 4ppru|»riately .\aiiie<l.
'I he Cdrmona is a double-decked side-
wheel steamer of 590 tons capacity. Her
length is 175 x 45 x 11.6
She was originally known as the Mani
toba, and was built at Thorold in 1871 by
Melaucthon Simpson, who, like his brotiier
John, was a well-known sliipbuilder.
She first formed o e of the well-known
Realty Line, running from Samia on the
Upper Lakes Afterwards her name was
changed to Carmona, and in conjunction
with the Cambria formed a local line from
Owen ."^ound to the Sault Ste. Marie in
connection wi^h the C. P. R
In the autumn of 1890 the Carniona was
tran furred to Toronto and in the following
season, that of 1891, she ran to Lome and
(irimsby Parka.
In 1892 ami 1893 she ran from Toronto to
Rochester daily, making occasional trips
with excursionists to the Thousand Isles.
Her commander is Captain William Parkin-
son. She was previously under Captains
Black and La France and her principal en-
gineer is the well-known Frank W'hite.
The boat s famous for the regularity of
her journeys and for the attention that is
paid by those on board of her to all who
travel by her means from Toronto to
Rochester.
She is elegantly lit ed throughout,
lighted with electricity, and the attractions
she offers are greatly appreciated by the
travelling public.
A few words as to her name will probably
be of some interest, ('armona is a town in
Spain in the Province of Seville,and wasevcn so
far back as the time of the Rom?) us, noted for
its beauty, and was, owing to the excellence
of Its arrangements, a favorite place of resi-
dence. Well, as the iinnient Carmona was,
through its beauties, favored by its patrons
BO is the steamer of the same name on the
C/anadian lakes, and for similar reasons.
The office:) of this popular steamship are
at 9 Front street east, Toronto. She is
owned by the Canada Lake Superior Tran-
sit Company.
CHAPTER CCLVIII.
THE OTTAWA STEAMERS 1864 93
Their HiMory— The Earlier %>HHels— Well
Known nii«l Rc»pecled Oflicials.
The history of the earlier steamers plyinc
on the Ottawa river between Montreal and
what is now the capital of the Dominion is
very obscure, and it has been found all but
impossible to ascertain their names and
owners with any degree of accuracy.
In other portions of the history of the
Canadian Marine, reference has occasionally
been made to steamers known to have run
to Otta^* a from Kingston and other ports,
though until about 1850 the traffic was most
inconsiderable.
In 1856 the Ottawa River Mail Steamers
ran from Montreal to Ottawa City (B^to'^n)
daily, Sundays excepted. They were the
Lady Simpson (Capt. H, W. Shepherd),
fr'-'n Lachine to Carillon, and the Plirpiiix,
from (^renviile to Ottawa City. They went
through I y daylight.
This was spoken of as the cheapest, be.sl
and most convenient route. I'lirties loiu'in,'
Montreal by tlie 7 a.m. train (for Lachine),
from the depot in Honaventure street.
reached Ottawa City the same evening. I lie
steamers stopped to deliver mrdls at all th*^
principal places along the ri>' r, including
Point Aux Anglais, for the accommodation
of the inhabitants of the County of T»o
Mounted II 8
ii '
throughout,
the attrnctions
ciated by the
s will probably
la is a town in
.andwasevcnsn
mans, noted for
I the excellence
e place of resi-
i Carmona was,
by Its patrons
ne name on the
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
973
Return tickets were issued to tourists and
pleasure parties on a liberal scale.
Freight for this lino had to be delivered
at the Bonaventure street depot by 6 p.m.,
to ensure its regular despatch the following
day.
The steamers comprising! the Ottawa
River Navigation Company's fleet in ISOH
are the Empress, Sovereign, Maude, Prince
of Wales and Princess.
The tirst two are passenger vessels, the
others are what are called mark t boats and
THE STEAM
In 1864 the present Ottaw.i River Navi-
gation Company was incorporated and since
then there has been throus;hout the summer
months a service between Montreal and
Ottawa which the most exacting person
could do nothing but praise.
i^revious to 1864 the following steamers
formed the linc, namely, the Queen Victoria,
Prince of Wales, Plicenix, Atlas and Lady
Simpson Of these vessels the Prince of
\Y ales is still upon the river.
ER KM PRESS.
are largely patronized by farmers, country
dealers, lumbermen and others residing on
the route between the two cities, who send
what they produce down the river to
Montreal, and on the return journey bring
with them or have sent to their homes
goods which thev require but could
not produce. A modern \t riter, speaking of
the 3cene presen^ed on the Montreal wharf
when these boats are unloadint;, says : " On
certain days of the week \\ hen market ia
THE STEAMER SCVEBEIUN.
In the summer there is no more favorite
tour for residents m the Lower and Mari-
time I'rovinces than that from Quebec to
Ottawa by the St. Lawrence and Ottawa
Rivers A party of tourists can leave the
iormer city at five o'clock in the evening of
one day and reach the latter at
six o'clock in the evening of
llie next, accomplishing the whole
journey, with the exception of u very siiort
instance between Montreal and Lachine by
water.
held in Montreal, it is a'l interesting sight
to see these boats unloading at their wliarves,
the variety of stock and the gathering of all
sorts and descriptions of people making up a
lively scene."
The Empress, C'aptain A. Bowie, is an iron
side wheel vessel ot 410 ions. S e was built
at Montreal in I87r> and was formerly known
as tne Peerless. She vas rebuilt in 1886
and besides being able to accommodate near-
ly eight hundred passengers is considered
one of the fastest rive:' steaniuis afloat.
■^
i;-U
'■:!!?
•r 1 6 ,1
^Iljllfpllpvil 1 1 HI
mm
■VTI
l*«"
"»jn"
974
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
The Sovereign.Captain William Shepherd,
ii also a siuo wheel steamer, constructed of
■teel throughout, and is of three hundred
and tliree tons burthen. She was built by
White, of Montreal, in 1S89, on the model
of the boats which ply on the Hudson river
between New York and Albany She can
accommodate rather more than seven hun-
dred passengers, her state rooms, saloon
and dining rooms being furnished most com-
fortably, and finished in natural woods.
Her commanding! otficer is Captain Shep-
herd, who is at once the oldest and most
experienced captain naviga'ing the Ottawa
river. He has been in command of steamers
thereon for upwards of forty years.
His first vessel was the Lady Simpson,
which he commanded for many years with
credit to himself and his employers, besides
being most popular with the passeng rs car-
ried. The Lady Simpson was succeedt d by
the Prince of Wales in 1860, and she by the
Sovereign in 1889.
A correspon ent, referring; to Cap-
tain Shepherd's services, thus pleasantly
■peaks of him : — " During the period
of nearly half a century in which Capt.
Shepherd has had cominaiid of these vessels,
their reputation as favorite steamers, well
and successfully navigated, has been fully
maintained."
The Prince of Wales « as built by Cantin,
of Montreal, early in 1860, is of 3,044 tons
burthen, and I as since she was tirst put
upon the river been in constant use.
The Princess, of nearly the same
tonnage as the former steamer, was
built at Carillon in 187*2, and has ren-
dered her owners moat efficient service.
The Maude was built by Cantin, of Mon-
treal, in 1869, has a capacity of one liun-
dred and seventy-two tons, and is in use by
the company as a tug.
The officers of the Ottawa River Naviga-
tion Company are as follows : — Presi eut,
llr. R. W. Shepherd ; vice-president, Mr.
J. Gibb ; wretaryand manager, Mr. R. W.
Shepherd, j mior. All these gentlemen are
thorou;:hiy conversant with all the details
appertaining to their business.
CHAPTER CCLIX.
THE R- & O. COMPANY.
The Famous Lake ('ompany— Souie Xotable
Steamers — A Favorite Koule — 1857 - 75.
1H7.1 9i
A separate ciiapter has already been d^-
▼oted to the history of tiie Royal A^ail Line.,
which as a mail line, ceased to exist about
1857, and its story has b en fully told else- !
where. It was succeed d by the Canadian
Navigation Company and the latter still
continued to designate their vessels as
"Royal Mail Steamers," at I ast that was
the term applied to those plying between
Hamilton, Toronto and Montreal.
In 1875 a great change was effected
thou.;li, for the Canadian Navigation Com-
pany in that year amalgamated with the
Richelieu Navigation Company, of .Vontrral,
and under the style of the Richelieu and
Ontario Navigation Comp ny have con-
tinued their business ever since.
'1 his is one of the largest lines of inland
passenger and freight steamers combined
that is to be found either in Canada ur the
United States, the " R. and 0. '' boing almost
as much of a household word ou this side of
the Atlantic OS the "P. andO." i> on the
ether.
The steamers belonging to tho Canadian
company when its amalgamation took place
with the Richelieu, were as follows : — '1 he
Passport, Magnet, KingstoK, Champion,
Grecian, Spartan, Corsican atd Bo
hemian. All of these vessels have been
spoken of previously, and after
e giiteen years have elapsed, four of them
are still upon their o d route, and likely to
continue there yet for many years.
When the " Richelieu " company ab-
forVed the " Canadian " company. Sir
Hugh Allan, of the famous line of ocean
steamships, was its chairman, so it is almost
needless to say it had been most efficiently
managed. It had many routes, each of
which will be described later.
The entire number of different routes the
company now covers is as follows : To-
ronto and Montreal, and between
the latter cicy and Quebec. From
Montreal to Saguenay forms un-
otlier route in connection with the steamers
plying from Quebec to Saguenuy Then
there are the ferrys from Montreal to
Longueuil and St. Helen's Island and from
Hochelaga to Boucherville. Besides these
there are the various market boats, of whicli
the names and routes will be given in due
course.
The principal route is of course that
between Toronto and Montreal, and it is but
fitting that the first to be described should
be
THB MONTREAL ROUTE.
Ihe vessels upon this course in 1875 have
already been mentioned. Of those then in ex-
istence the Kingston was wrecked, was sub-
sequeutly ; rebuilt and called the
Algerian and is on the route now.
The Champion was a wooden vessel,
became unseaworthy about 1880 and
w.s broken up. The Grecian was wrecked
in 1870, on Split Rook, above the Cascade
Rapids in the St. Lau rence. She had on
O." U on the
^W.
^^
I iuiiii|iPm^^^ipp
.p<n I
^fHHiaiii^i
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
975
hoard at the timo a hattery of linyA ArtiU
Icry umlfr cvoamaiiil of Captain, now Majnr,
(.ionoial Sandom, all of whom with their
france. Her route was between Hamilton
and Montreal, making a weekly jouraey
from and to each port.
'■B'SC^I
•i«S^
THE STL UKK AHA KIAK.
cquipoieiita were saved. The steiiuitr itaell,
tl ough, b« iime a total loss.
Among ibe other vessels the Passport and
The ui..>.r thtee vessels on the Montreal
route are the Corsican, Spartan and Al-
gerian. The firat of tliese was built in 1870
Magnet »r« the oldest ; they have been in
constant service since 1847i aud all particu-
lars eoncerniug them havs been given else-
THE STEAMER PASSPORT.
in Gilbert's shipyard at Mon'rsal, is of 478
tons burthen, had new boilers put in in 1891
and her engines "compounded " in 1892.
THE STKAMKR MAGNET.
where. Jn 1893 the former steamer was
under the command of Captain A. J. Craipr,
and the latter under that of Captain Z. La-
The Spartan is a much older vessel than
the one just named. She was built by the
same tirm in 1864, and at the same place.
\
' if'i-
tfcl
S
■Vi
: ;
81
IJ-
M« I
r—rn
LAND.M.MtKS OF TOHUNTO.
977
(I
She hilt a capacity of only twenty two toiiH
leva tiiao the Coriican, and lier enKincii were
likewiM " compounded ' a year euiliur than
the Cortican'a.
The Algerian, the Kingf^ton'ft succenaor,
hu9 iilready been de.scrib«* I. She ii of tlie
■aiUL- tonnage as the Spartan.
the Montieal and Quehcr, and iire command
ed by Captains L. If Koy and ]<oti<>rt
NeUou. 'I hey are "furuiiihed with ;ill ttie
lataatmodernimprovoinents, are unsurpassed
for speed, comfiMt ard safely, ' and form tiu
only dir«'o daily water rout Li-lweeo Mon-
treal and (Jnebec.
,-■1 '/.■;"'•'-•'" ■■
THE STEAM KR Sl'ARTAK.
These steamers all connect with the
Hamilton Steamboat Company's vessels and
those also of the Niai^ara line.
On tho downward journey to Montreal
tlie following ports are called at, namely,
Darlinj;ton, Port Hope, Cobourg. Kincston,
Clayton, Round lalund. Thousand Isla d
Park, Alexandria iSay, lirockville, Prescoit,
Cornwall and Cotcau Landing. There is a
Captain Roy's steamer is tho smallest of
the two, but she is nevotholess u nia^nitlcnt
vessel. She wa» built in ISliO, as so many
more steamers liave been, by Uilbeit, of
Montreal, is of five hundred and nineteen
tons capjicity and can comfortably acoomniu-
date nearly two hundred uabiii passengers.
^ he had new boilers in 1S91 and is lighted
ihroughout by electricity. She is a side-
^U
- ,. ^-i-i.—. I
THE STEAMER MONTPKAIi.
slight variation in the upward journey as
the steamers call at the ports on the Bay of
Quinte.
'he next route in importance to that just
deao.'ihed is thatjof the Lower St. Lawrence,
or the
QUEBEC ROUTE.
Two steamers ply daily on the river be-
tween Montreal and Quebec beloncring to R.
and 0. They are most appropriately naioed
wheel iron steamer with compound en-
gines.
The Quebec is not quite so old a steamer
as ihe Montreal, having only been launched
in 1865. She was built by l.,e Mas at
Sorel, and is an iron side-wheel vessel of
seven hundred and fifty tons capaeity, and
is valued by her ownt-rs at no leas tl an
$Sr),()0O. She can accommodate nearly tliree
hundred passengers, and is a most popular
U
ifP^pHQMa
978
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
vessel. She had a new deck in 1877, and
w.is eatirely overl.iiuled and extensively re-
pai cd in 1891.
THE SAGTESAY ROUTE. «
The steamers plying on this route are the
^V.rolinaand Canada, between Montreal and
the Saguenay River, and the steamer
SftKuenay, between Quebec and the river.
travel that have been described is the daily
I line througl)out the siimraor season from
Kingston known as tlie
KINGSTON AND MONTREAL LINE.
This in 189.') consisted of the atcamera
Columbian and I'oheinian, which were titted
out expressly for this service. They left
Kingston daily, calling at all intermediate
)-^
«*■■ ■ : r"
■?s;.*».!i-— 'T
ii.' _ "' -....■ ~ " ' ' i"?
The two former vessels are under the com-
mand ol Captains Bernier and Btirruf respec-
tively.
The Canada was built at Sorel in 1S7>^ by
White, is of five hundred and seventy tons
and IS an iron side-wheel steamer.
1 he Saguenay was built by Rrunet of
Quebec, iu 1868, was formerly known as
the Union, is a side-wheel steamer, ^4ith a
THE STEA.MER QUI-.UEa
ports between there and Montreal, and con-
nected at that port with either the steamers
for Quebec or the Kiver Saguenay. Speak-
ing of the journey by water from Hamilton
at the head of Lake Ontario to thn
River Saguenay, it has been fitly de.<icribcd
as " one of the longest lines of inland water
communication on the continent, and which
for grandeur and variety of scenery cannot
p\^jijjf »jCAN£u7
Wi
V^'l
THE STEAMER CAROLINA.
capacity of seren hundred a/id twenty tons. | be surpaasod, if equalled, in the whole
Her name was chant^ed to that she now wo;ld '
bears in 1892. j The Bohemian was built many years &<;o
The Carolina made her first appearance in I by Cant' i, of Montreal, but was entirely re
1893, having been purcha&<)d from a United built in 189'2. She is a sido-wtied stuanici-
Stales firm. | of three hiindred and eighty tons, aiul ii
Supplementary to the various routes of | under the command of Captain ;\. J. iJak.r
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
979
il is the daily
seasou from
IL LINE.
the Btcamert
ich were fitted
:e. Tliey left
1 int«rmediate
Th« Columhian, a ve-ael of wliich her
proprietors are justly proud, is a twin screw
steamer, built at Chester, P»., U.S. A , in
1892. She it constructed of steel, her bot-
tom being sheathed with wood, and her
capacity is four hundred and eighty-eight
tons, t^he is commanded by Captain George
Batten.
'3t<>4!^ik.
The vessel itself is a side wheel steamer
of five hundreil and twenty- tive tons burthen,
built by Wliito. of S. rei, iu 1870, aud
tliough now, at the close of the season of
1893, in her twenty fourth year of service,
may, through the fact that she is au iron
vessel, be expected to last for many years
longer.
^!^v^;>
THK STEAMKR CANADA.
ontreal, and con-
her the steamers
.guenay. Speak-
r from' Hauiillon
Ontario to th«
jn fitly described
of inland water
inent, and which
scenery cannot
gvJ^^iJ
d, in the whole
. many years »'.;o
ut was entirely re-
ide-wiiei'l stoam«i-
lity tons, and i»
plain A. J. iiakor.
These steamrrs are only employed in bhe
height of the season. 'I here is yet one other
branch of R. ft O. 'a businesa of which no-
thing haa been said, that is their
l^AMODS MARKKT BOATS.
These are the Trois Rivieres, Captain St.
Louis ; Cha.mbly, Captain Franche Mon-
tague ; Berthier, Captain Boubher ; Terre-
bonne, Caotain Laforce ; and the L' prairie,
Captain CourcoUes.
1 he Str. Chambly's route ia from Mon-
treal to Chambly through the Rieheliea
river. She is an iron aide wheel steamer,
built by \Vhite, of Sorel, in 1871, and has a
capacity of two hundred tons.
The l!erthier runs between Montreal and
Three Rivers, calling at intermediate porta.
She is also an iron aide wheel vessel, ami
was built by the same fiim and at the same
place a.s the Chambly, iu 1870. She has a
THE STKAMKR 9AGUENAY.
The first of th^se steamer ■■■ has been chiefly
employed throughout ber career in carrying
dcYoiees on pilfrrimugca to St. Aane de
Beaupre, some diatauce lower down the
riTor from Quebec
capacity of four hundred and twenty-four
tcna.
The fourth .itoamer of this group, the
I erro bouue, runs from Montreal to Tcrre-
boupe, Boucherville and all intermediate
l-V^i
■TT-WTW?!"
980
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
ports. She is an irsn veaael of only one
hundred and ninety tons, »nJ built by the
same firm as the three steamers already
named.
the steamers belonging to the R. & O. sh«
is a side- wheel vessel.
In addition to the vessels that have been
described there are the various
THE STEAMKR OOLDMBIAIT.
The Laprairie runs from Montreal to La-
prairi*. This vessel was built by (Jantin,
MONTREAL FERRTS.
To Longueuil and Hochelaga there plys the
THE STEAMER BOHKIIAN.
of ?.'ontreaI, in 1867, and she haa now a I Longueuil, of fonr hundrsd and ten tons,
cap> oity of four liuiuhed and forty-three | built by Lamont, of Montreal, in 1884, aud
V- " x_
THE TEAMER TROIS RIVIF.UES.
tons, she havinjj been lengthened and re- j cominiinded by Captain Jodvin.
built iu 1.S93. Like the great majoiity ofj To Longueuil only runs the Island Queen,
he R. & O. »h»
I that have b«en
ioua
.ftTS.
aga there plys tha
i and ten toni,
treat, in 1884, and
/ \^ ■ x.
odvin.
i the Island Queen,
! I" '
i ■'. r *
ssm^^BOumAJm
»-i -
► •rlwjafc.
I I
ill
(-
Al.i;\AM>!:il Mll.l.dV.
Mr. Milloy wii"* 'tcfii in Kiulyi'o, Afjivlesliiic.
ci^ilit voars later -in IS.SO. At tlio ii','i' of IS vci
Scotland, ill IS'22. and came to Caiiaila
ir.«, on Maicli ITtii, iS40, Mr. MilldV
cTitfred the .Mont real otiice of the Koyal .Mail Lino of KteaiiuTs and iias continued his t;ini
iieet ion with the coiniiany in all its chanj^es (see pp. !(lt|, !)7-l, iKSl i since. He is now
(Deieinlier 1S!».")) tiie traiiie iiiaiiaj,'er of the K. & (). N. Co., which eoiii|)aiiy is the iiiu'iil
successor of t lie I!. .M. L. Seep. !IS|. ' op. (ISI
^'-.
MPP
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Ml
ana caiuc to VMwh
, IS-K., Mr. Mill")
as oontiiuica his o.m
lie is now
, \\w liiH''»l
I since.
)nii);iii> '^
m Dcrew steamer of ono humlrod and two
tons, built by Davis, of Kingston, in
1887. To 'St Helen's Islund tiiu
l.'ultivateur. Captain liubella, tnako.s
daily journeys. 8tie was built in 1857 by
Freshet, of Sorel, was extensively repaired
in 1881, and was coinuletely refitted in 1888.
Her biirilicn U just tliree hundred tons.
The Hoclielaga forms ilto ferry from
Hochelaga : she is a composite steamer of
three hundred and eighty one Ions, and was
built in Sorel in 188G.
There is little left now to tell re;;ardin^
the R. & O., excepting to refer to some of
their
MOKE I'ROMINKNT OFFICIAI.».
On the Montreal line from Toronto, Cap-
tain Sinclair can b(jast of many years' faith-
ful and meritorious service. Ho is respected
and honored by liis cmph)yera, loyally
revered by his subordinated, and ;,'roatly
likeU Ly tlie travelling public. Captain Roy
of the Montreal is also another veteran who
has everyone's liking and respect. Pursers
UranKe and Henry Kotner of the ^parlun
and Magn't are also widely known, as also is
Kngiueer Wadsworth on the Al ertan.
Most appropriately, as many will think,
the iiead otlices of the R & U. are in St.
I'aul street, Montreal, not such a very great
distance from the spot where once lived the
pioneer of lake navigation, La Salle. A
marble tablet placed on the house which
now occupies tlio southwest corner of St,
I'aul and St. Peter streets locords that
HKRK J.IVKU
llENK RuliKUT CVVAMKB
SiKUU UK LA SaLLK,
1G68.
The president of the U. & O. is Mr. iV. K.
Connolly ; vice-president, Mr. W in. Wsin-
Wright ; the general manager, Mr. Julian
Chabot ; the trallic manager, Mr. .MexanKcr
Milhiy, and the secretary and Ircasu.er,
Mr II. Ijomdon.
Th»Jr princtpal oiiices are 228 St. Paul
giroel, Montreal, and 2 King street east,
Toronto.
llufore concludiiii; this article it will per-
lia[j.-i prove interesting to many of those
wiiu may read it it a letter from ".An Old
Quebccker" on the .speed of the old R. M.
line is givei'. In Montreal and Quebec that
liua was often spoken of as the '* Tot ranee
Line," as in Toronto it was not infreciuently
referred to ps "U. R. Holland's Company.'"
llie contents of th • letter are as follows : —
KICIIELIKU CO. S RUNNINd TIME.
" As the running time of the above boats
haii been discussed iu your columns, allow
me to give the time of the old " .Mail Liive "
known as the lorrance boats.
"This information I have before me,recci\ -
ed lately from an old and well-know steam
boat owner and ai,ent in Quebec. He says ;
As to the speed of the "John Munn " and
'■ (Quebec," I can .speak positively as wo had
for live years a deadly contest between the
" (jueheo" and the " .Montreal " (this was
the first " Montreal "),but we boat her every
trip, and often arrived in Quebec at 3 a. ii.
after having left Montreal at 6 p m., on her
way down calling at Sorel, Port St. Franci.>f,
I hree Rivers and Ratiscan, and upward at
Montreal (as the tide suitedj, : t II:;';!) to 4:5ll
a.m., having left Quebec at d p m. The
time : "Quebec " from Montreal to Jtorel, 2
Ihours, 25 minutes : " John Munn, ' 2 hours.
10 minutes down : 2 hour.<, 50 minutea up.
"The Aiiii'trougs (captains) disputed this
time of the 'John Munn's," and Captain
Charles Armstrong (so long and favorably
known to the Harbor Commissioners here)
was invited to go on board an<l tine her,
which he did, and reported to Messrs, 'I or-
ranee and .\Iolson that the above time, 2. IG
down and 2 50 up, was correct.
"It must be noticed that these davs they
called at Pi rt ,"^t. Francis, which none of the
R. & O. N. Co. 's boats do now.
"Above I liave said the tirst 'Montreal,'
there have been three of the same name on
the route,
" i ho first was lost in a snow.storrn on
November 2y. 185.'{, the second was Inuned
off Cap Rouu'e, the third is the R & U. N.
Co's boat, and has made herself, like tiiis
city, a good name. Long mays he keep it
up." And so say all of us.
CHAPTER CCLX.I
Taltiilaleil Stulciiieiits of VarloiiH Vetitelis
freui tb',H lutlte Present Time,
The following tabulated statemen ,.s of the
various vestels running ori 1 ake Ontario
have been compiled from the nio.sl reliable
sources that couUl be referred to. Where
ever possible tlie o^vners of the vessuU have
them.selves been referred to, in otiiti- cases
reference has been made to the tapcaius or
some of the men who were employed upon
them when in service Of course in every
case this has not been practicable or possible
so wherever there has been no possibility of
giving the various detaiU with any api)roacti
to accuracy rhese have not been in.>-erted.
Of course there are some omsisious but
that is a matter that 'hile we regret it,
lh<jro is no possibility of avoiding
■m
W-;.;V..'(
"TW
IW?
^Wl^
M2
LANDMARKS OP TORONTO.
Name of Vesskl.
Frontenac
Griffin
Gladwin
Charlotte
Victory
Boston
Brunswick
Enterprise
Charity
Ontario
Speedy
Mohawk, l&t
Mississ ga
Duke of Kent
Caldwell
Onondaga
York
Chippaw»y
Mohawk, 2nd
Sophia
Simcoe
Toronto Yacht
(xenessee . . . .
I'eggy
Prince Ed ivard
M ary Ann
Skinner's Sloop
Lady Washington
Elizabeth
Gov. Simcoe
'Accommodation
Bella Gore
Lord Nelson
Royal George >
Prince Regent I
Moira ^
Simcoe
Seneca ;
Princess Charlotte
Hunter
Lady Prevost
Gloucester
Wolfe
Detroit \
Little Belt /
Star
Cheswell
Magnet
Montreal
St. Lawrence
Dove
Reindeer
•Car of Commeree
Kingston Packet
Perseverance
Where Built.
King&ton
Cayuga Creek..
Not known. . . .
II
Detroit ;.
Niagara.
Carleton I
Navy Point . . . .
>i ii
Year.
1678
1679
1766
1766
1766
1766
1767
1769
1770
1779
about 1776
Unknown {Unknown
Niagara. ..
Kingston.
Kingston .
Kingston ..
Kingston .
Unknown
Stt>ne Mills
Unknown ,
Unknown ,
Four-Mile Creek ,
Mississaga Ft
Mississagu Pt. . . ,
Montraal
York
N iagara
Gun boats
built
at
Kingston
Kingston
Kingston ,
Kingston .
Kingston .
York ....
11
Montreal.
Kingston .
1792
1794
1794
Unknown
J 797
1799
about 1790
II
1801
Unknown
Unknown
1797
1808
1808
1809
1809
1811
Tons
10
about 150
Unknown
II
II
II
70
Unknown
II
II
(I
80
400
80
Unknown
i<
II
•I
II
II
1812
1812
1812
1812
1812
1813
1813
1813
1813
1814
1814
1814
1815
1815
1816
I
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
26 guns
22 guns
20 guns
12 guns
4 j.un8
Gun
boats
14 guns
24 guns
19 guns
3 guns
Gun
boats
100 guns
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
70 tons
Remarks.
Wrecked.
'* LaSalles ship.
/Lake Erie vessels.
Wrecked.
Wrecked.
Gunboats.
Wrecked.
Wrecked.
Wrecked.
Wrecked.
Broken up.
Wrecked.
Broken up
Wrecked
Broken up
Broken up
Broken up
Broken up
Broken up
Broken up
Broken up
Broken up
Broken up
Broken up
Lost in action
Lost in action
Lost in action
All broken up in
a few years after
peace was con-
cluded in 1815
Wrecked
The whole of tho vessels given in preceding tab'es were sailing craft, with the excep-
tions of the Accommodation and Car of Commerce, both marked with an asterisk.
■PWP^^^,. Ijuj^il., ..,j,.^jj_ ..^.
-nr-
Kemauks.
^rfoked.
•• LaSalles ship.
Lake Erie veasoU
Vrecked.
V recked.
Gunboats.
Wrecked.
Wrecked.
Wrecked.
Wrecked.
Broken up.
Wrecked.
Broken up
Wrecked
Broken up
Broken up
Broken up
Broken up
Broken up
Broken up
Broken up
Broken up
Broken up
Broken up
^ost in action
jOBt in action
Lost in action
All broken up in
a few years after
peace was con-
cluded in 1815
Wrecked
raft, with the excep-
an asterisk.
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
983
Name of Vesskl
Frontenac *
Malshan X
Kingston X
Burlington X
Charwell X
Cliamplain X
Confience$
Walk-iu-the- Water
Kingston X
Queen Charlotte . . .
Wood Duck $
Red RoTer X
Britannia:
Jane X
Willing Maid t ...
Asp X
May Flower +
Ualhousie
John Watkins +
Lady Sarah X
The Brothers +
Richmond +
Queenston
('aroliue
(Canada
Martha Ogden
Toronto
Niagara
Alciope
Canadian X =
George IV. X
George (canning X
Sir James Kempt.
Great iiritaiu
Iroquois
John By
William IV
Transit
Hritannia
C'obourg
Kingston (1st)
Brockville
Commodore Banie.
St. Georac
Enterprise
Union
Peter Robinson . . . .
Traveller
Bylown
Hamilton , . .
>ir Robert Peel
^ueen Victoria. . ..
Where Built.
Tinkle's Point . . ,
Montreal
at
Kingston
Buffalo
Sttckett's Harbor.
Krnestown
Yeau.
/
Probably York
York,
I Kingston,
j and
-' Niagara.
Prescott
York
York
York
York
Queenston
Kingston
River Rouge . . . .
Sackett's Harbor.
York
Brockvilie
Niagara
York
Y^ork
York
Bath
Prescott
PreEcott
King.ston
Gananoque
Oakville
Kingston
Cobourg
Kingston
Brockville
Kingston
K i ngston. ... . . .
Kingston
Oakville
Lake Simcoe . . . .
Niagara
Kingston
Hamilton
hrockville
Nia<jara
1816
1816
1816
1816
1816
1818
about
1819
1815
to
1819
1819
1819
1819
1820
1820
1824
1825
1820
1826
1824
1825
1828
1828
1828
1828
1829
1830
18.31
18:^2
1832
1832
18.33
1833
18.33
1833
18.34
1834
1834
1834
18.34
1835
18.37
Tons.
700
Unknown
Armed
Cruisers
Lnknown
246
150
Various
120
350
93
100
100
100
350
75
250
120
200
400
450
70
80
80
200
700
100
100
450
350
200
500
200
.350
275
400
20i
150
150
350
150
3)»
350
200
Remarks.
Burnt
Broke up.
Withdrawn
after two
year's service.
American vessel.
Broken up.
Schooners.
Schooners.
Broken up.
Schooner.
Schooner,
Schooner.
Wrecked
Wrecked.
American vessel.
Broken up.
Withdrswn.
Wrecked.
Tow boat.
Wrecked.
Broken up.
low boat.
Broken up.
Wrecked in 1844.
f'roken up.
Changed to barque.
I token up.
Tow boat.
Wreciced.
Burned in 18,38.
Wrecked.
* This was the first steamer built in Canadian waters to ply upon tiie lakes. Her
route was from Prescott to York thence to the head of the lake from there to Niagara
+ The first steamer to ply on Lake Erie ; she was always under Amerisan colors.
X 1 lie vessels .larked thus in the foregoing as well as in all succeeding tables were
sailing vessels.
i^
^■Ilii
mmmmm
mi
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Name of Vesskl
Experiment,
liurliiigton. .
Gore
iSimcoe
Highlander (Ist)
<iiltieisleeve
Citj- of Toronto
Albion ,
Minos
Sovereign
Fronteiiac (2nd)
Vulcan
Canada (2iid)
Prince Edward
Princess Royal
Prince of Wales
America (1st)
C. .'. Robinson
Despatch
WfUand (1st)
Queen 0/ity
Eclipse
London +
Admiral
Cherokee
Mohawk
Forester
Island Queen
<.;ity of Kingston
Passport
Magnet
Scotland +
Empire
British Empire
British Queen
Beaver
The Clear Boat
New Era 1
Comet ji
Peninsula Packet
Ottawa .^
Brit:innia
England
Scotland
ireland
Jlibernia
Weslprn Miller
Free Trader
C^ommerce
Morning
Mazeppa
Highlander (2nd) . . ^. . .
Champion
Mayflower
City of Hamilton
Maple Leaf
Araitian
Lady of the Lake
Novelty
Oakville
Niaga a
Lake Sim'^oe . .
Coteuu du Lac.
Kingston
Toronto
Brock ville
Chippawa
Niagara
Kingston
Prescott
Gardner
Niagara
Kingston
Niagara.. . , . ..
Niagara
Hamilton
St. Catharines.
Niagara
Niagara
('obourg
Niagara
Kingston
Rice Lake.
Kingston. .
Niagara . . .
Niagara. . . .
Toronto . . .
.Montreal . .
Montreal . .
Montreal ..
iKintjston . .
Toronto . . .
Not known .
Toronto.
jLake Simcoe. . ,
I St. Catharines.
.Montreal
.Montreal
[Not known. . ..
I Hamilton
1 Kingston
[Niagara
Niaijara
iKincrston
ab
18.37
18.38
18.39
1840
1839
1840
1840
1840
1841
II
1842
1840
1842
1842
1843
1843
1845
1843
1847
1847
1847
't '47
1847
1847
1848
1849
1849
1849
1849
1849
1853
]»50
1850
1850
1851
18,->1
1851
1851
1852
I
150
150
200
150
300
250
5o;)
200
250
475
200
150
450
150
500
200
30')
400
2iD
300
450
400
150
400
700
150
250
70
400
400
150
Tonnage
not
known.
200
ab't.ioO
ab't 300
Fieight
V asels,
though in
Kemakks.
Burned.
Broken up.
Broken up.
Tow boat.
Tow boat.
(jrovernment Teasel.
Broken np.
Broken up
low boat.
I ow boat
Tow boat.
Burned.
Burned.
Changed toschooaer
Ferry steamer.
River steamers
between Rvr Trent
and Montreal
Kingsio , to By town
Brok'en up
U' recked 1851
Horse b't Tor. ferry
some cases
also carried
paasen ers
Propellers. 'Wrecked
150
200
250
.350
300
250
400
350
450
150
Burned
Burned .
■■^■n m>w."^ ^ ^;pwp^^"WP^^«l^^^^^(fB
mmmmmmimfmm'''t
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
985
Kemakks.
^erry steamer.
River steanKTs
Between Rvr Trent
and Montreal
Kingsio i toBytowB
Brokten up
Wrecked 1851
Horse b'tTor. ferrj
Name of Vkssel.
Ocean Wave
Queon of the West.
I'eerleas
Lord Elgin
Dawn
Protection
Citizen
Kaloolah
Cherokee J
Victoria
St. Elmo
Geo. Mofffttt
VVelland (2nd)
Kanger
Zimmerman
St Lawrence
Gartshore
St. Nicholas
Europa
Canada
America
City of TcontoJ . . .
Jenny Liud
Montreal
Coloniat
Prescott
Hamilton
Kaitucky
Willy Nickol
AllianceJ
Joshua BeardJ
Kini; of Algiers
Banshee
J. C. Morrison ,
Wellington
Avon
Whitby
Reind<!er
Branttord .»...
Huron , ..,.,,
Bowmanrille
Malakoflf..
Inkerman
Oliver Cromwell . .,,
AUianceJ
Union
Rescue
Firefly
Jenny Lind
Ploughboy
Queen of the NorthJ .
Emily May
Hero
Bay of Quinte
Advance:]:
America
Osprey
Her Majesty
Whkkb Bvilt.
Oswego
Dumbarton
Montreal .
Toronto . ,
Collingwood . . .
Toronto
Toronto
Niontreal
Chatham
St. CatlMirines.
}
Yeau
Tons.
Niagara
St. Catharines. ,
Hamilton
(Niagara
' Niagara
Toronto
Montreal
Montreal
;}
Oshawa
Oshawa
Toronto
Montreal
Lake Simcoe.
1852
1852
1853
185.3
1853
1853
1853
1853
1853
1854
1854
1854
1854
1854
18S5
1855
1855
Bowman ville.
Toronto.
Toronto
Toronto . ,
Montreal,
Nottawaaapa. .
Orillia
Hamilton
B. of Quinte . .
I*t. Dalhousie..
St. Catharines.
Montreal
St. Catharines.
18r)6
1856
18r)6
abt 1856
1856
abt 1855
abt 18,55
abt L«fe5
IS.IS
1857-8
1861
1861
1861
1861
1862
1862
1863
1863
700
400
Freight
Vessels
propellers.
300
356'
a50
300
Ft. Prop.
500
Freight
Propellers.
600
700
700
400
About .350
About 300
Freight
Vessels
Propellers.
400
400
150
4r)0
160
Freight
vessels
propellers
400
Freight
vessels
propellers
450
Remarks.
Burned.
Wrecked.
Wrecked.
Toronto Ferry.
On Upper Lakea.
Ocean vessel
Toronto Feny.
Burned.
} RuiltbyG.W.R.
Ocaan VM. Wreoka4
500
250
400
400
300
300
A tow V)oal
Burned
Wrecked
Wrecked
f Traders I etweea
Ulalitax <hToroBt«
On upper lakea
Island ferry
Second of nam*
Lake Huron
Grain ve
Steam tag
Pr pelUr
Propeller
Propeller
II
UJj
I
986
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Hauh or Vessel.
WnERi BriLT.
Year
Tons
Rkmabks.
Aaglv 3»E«n
St. Catharines, . .
Clyde
1864
1864
1863
1862
and
1863
1864
1864
1864
1864
1864
1864
1864
1864
1864
1865
1866
1866
1864
1866
about 1863
1866
1S64
1887
1893
1876
1888
1892
1884
1888
1889
1869
1868
1868
ab't '65
1872
1872
1872
1872
200
400
All
freight
propellers
350
400
350
450
350
450
469
Gunboat
400
300
800
518
739
850
353
267
425
99
563
601
370
286
422
450
350
.375
.375
375
Raoia*
Rebuilt 1863. for-
Grecian
merly the City of
Toronto, then called
Algoma in 1884.
Wrecked.
Magnet ")
Bristol 1
Indian )■
Brockville i
Merritt J
Cautin .
M ntreal
Niagara
St. Catharines. . .
Montreal
Kingston
Toronto
Toronto
Port Dalhousie . .
Port' Dalhousie . .
St. Catharines. .
St. Catharines. ..
England
Glasgow
England
Oakville
Dunnvillo
Hamilton.
Liverpool
Deseronto
Hamilton
Mill Point
Windsor
Toronto
Toronto. .......
The largest propel-
ler in Canada at
date of launch.
I'.urned Port Dal*
housie.
City of Toronto (2)
Silver Spray
Spartan
Corinthian
Ripple
Princess of Wales
Toronto Bay.
Burned 1886.
Wolverine
Lake Huron.
Perseverance
Freight Propellers.
Freight Propellers.
Freight Propellers.
Enterprise
City of London
Bessie Harwick +
Bouquet
Toronto Ferry.
R. N.
Huron
Rothsav Castle
Burned 1874.
Hritomart \
Cherub
Gunboats R. N.
Rescue
On Lak^ and Rivor
St. Andrew
Royal
service.
Smith and Post, t ."
W. T. Robb
Ta<?.
Acadia
Ist comnosit atp.
Niagara Steamers,
Chicora.
Cibola
Chippewa
Aiagara Falls Line.
Empress of India
Lakeside
Garden City
Hamilton Line.
Mazcppa
Hamilton Ferry.
Macassa
Clyde
Modieska
Clyde
Lake ^teamer.i Continued
Dominion
St. Catharines. . .
Montreal
Montreal
Montreal
Port Dalhousie , ,
Port Dalhousie . .
Port Dilhoiisie . .
Port Dalhousie . . i
Hastings
Ch'ng'd to Kiirydica
Ch'gd to North King
Norseman
Abyssinian
Waubuno
On IjIlIv^ TTiimn
Oeean
Lake Michig»n
Lake Ontario
Wrecked ISR"
Lake Erie
Burned 1890.
mVHPl
^PH^^"
LANDMARKS OF JOKOiNTO.
987
iKMABKS.
lit 1863, tot-
• the City ol
ito, then called
na in 1884.
iked.
largest propel-
in Canada At
of launch,
led Port Dal-
ii«.
)nto Bay.
ned 1886.
• Huron,
ight Propeller*,
ight Propellers,
ight Propellers.
•onto Ferry.
N.
rned 1874.
nbo%ts R. N.
Lake and River
vice.
comnosit 3tr.
.milton Ferry.
,'ng'd to Eurydica
I'gd to North King
LAke Huron
recked 1882.
irned 1890.
Name ok Vesskl.
Columbia
Egyptian,
City of Montreal. . . .
I'ersia
Lady of the Lakes, . .
Cuba
('eltic
Ontario
W. Seymour
Perry
Asia
Sovereign
Rothesay Castl«), 2nd
Watertown
City of Owen Sound .
Francis Smith
Cutr.))«rland
Ontario
Quebec
City of Winnipeg ....
Northern Belle
Northern Queen
F. B. Maxwell ,
Picton
Filgate
St. Jenn Baptiste. . . .
Kincardine
I'rowett Beyer
Ada Alice
Prince Arthur
Kosedale
Alma Munro
Atlantic
baltic
Pacific
C. P. titeamers .
Alcoma
Alberta
Athabasca
Campana
Manitoba (2)
Orion
Lome and Victoria
BotUe :
Greyhound
Chiooutimi
J. W. Steiniiofif
Toronto Ferry Co. :
Jessie McEdwards
Arlingt n
Luella
Ciinadian
Sadie
iinthleen
(Jsrtrudj
Mascotte
Island Queon
Mayflower
Primrose
VViiKHE Built.
Hamilton
Montreal ,,
Cliatham
!St. Catharines. .
Lake Simcue. , , .
(Kingston ,
I Hamilton ,
iLake Huron. , , . .
Tons
Rkmauks
Windsor.
Niagara
Kingston
Owen Sound. ,
Lake Huron. ,
Luke Huron. ,
.Marina City.
Murine City.
Marine City.
Marine City.
Montreal .
Toronto
Pt. Dalhouaie.
Sunderland. ..
Pt. Dalliousie. .
Owen Sound . . .
Owen ^ound. . .
Owen Sound . .
Descb'd. elsewh're
Glasgow
Owen Sound
Wellan l
Park
Hamilton.
Quebec. . .
Chatham .
St. Catharines.
Harwood
Toronto .
Oakville
Toronto .
Port Dalhousie. .
Toronto
1872
i87:i
is7;i
1873
1875
1875
about 1874
1875
18()4
1877
1875
It
1874
1876
il875
1875
about 1870
1879
1868
1*888
1873
1882
1867
1883
1883
1883
1873
1889
1872
1887
1881
1876
1876
1878
1879
1882
1S85
1886
1886
1886
1889
1890
1890
380
.350
220
392
500
about 450
175
598
300
290
290
240
27
16
• ■ • •
772
580
.391
640
524
1440
1440
1287
1620
490
219
110
21 A
33
38
230
154
110
66
49
44|
189
189
Wrecked 1884.
.Sold to U.S.
Wrecked 1881.
Lake Simcoe str.
Wrecked
1 Upper Like
) steamers.
Toronto Ferry.
Lake Superior route
Toronto Ferry
^ Lake Huron
J BteMmers.
■^ Upper Lake
J steamers.
On upper lakes.
Excur.:.ion steatner.
UantoPt DalhosBis
season.
Only on lake one
Toronto ferry.
Upper lakM.
Wrecked
Rebuilt 1891
Rebuilt 1881
Rebuilt 1880
■'■f
>?
mfmnj^^^m
988
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Namk or Vesskl.
WiiRRK Built.
YlAR.
Tons.
Kkmakks.
John Hanlan
Port Dalhousie. .
Thorold
1884
1871
1875
1889
1860
1872
1869
1847
1847
1870
1864
1S5.J
186-0
1865
1870
1868
1892
1892
1875
1871
1871
1871
1867
1SS4
1887
1S75
1886
S3
COO
■
410
303
344
340
172
478
452
456
519
750
570
720
488
380
525
200
424
190
443
410
102
300
.381
Jiaclieslttr linule.
(Jarmona ...
Formerly Manitob*
Ottawa lliv r fiitenmers.
Qneen Victoria
I'hoenix
Atlas
Lady Simpson
I'JmjJress
iSovereiijn
Montreal
Montreal
Montreal
Montreal
Monti ral
Montreal
Montreal
Carillon
Broken up.
Broken up.
Broken up.
Broken up.
Formerly Peerleas,
I'rinte of Wales
1* incoss
Maude
J'iclielku <fc Ontario Co.
(Jiiampion
Grecian
1 Montreal
See R. M. Line..
See R. M. Lino..
See R. M. Lino. .
See R. M. Line .
Brokbn up 1880.
Wrecksd 1870.
I'aBsport
See preceding
Tables.
Corsioan
Montreal
Montreal
Montreal
Spartan
Aloferian
Montreal
Quebec
(Carolina
Montreal
Mo itreal
United Scatos . . .
Sore'
River steamer.
River at amer.
Purchased 1893.
Canada
Biver steamer.
Sagnenay
Columbian
(Quebec
Chester, U. S. A .
Montreal
Sorel
River steamer.
liohemian
Rebuilt 1892
^Voia Ri\'it'rc3 . . .
Chambley
Berthier
Sorel
Sorel
Terre Bonne
Sorel
La Prairie
Longueuil
Island Queen
Cultivateur
Montreal
Montreal
Kingston
Sorel
Hochelaga
Sorel
In thn precedin .' tables every care has been taken to obtain the information given
from reli<(ble sources. In some instancAS t-he same vessel is described twice under differ-
ent namos, owing to diflerent causes, a steamer occasionuUy changing her name.
The Hastings, built in 1875, is a cane iu point.
In the short tables following, the various vessels named are those which, belonging to
different private owners, have no settled routes, the tugs, of course, excep''ed, but
ply on Lakes Ontario or Huron as they can secure freight or passengers, or are chartered
by trail in ir companies.
The three G.T. R. steamers are now (1893) laid up, but there is no doubt will in but a
short time begin running again, possibly under a totally different management It is
impossible to conclude this history of the steamers without making special acknow-
ledgment of the kindness .shown and the assistance afforded to us by Mr. \V. A.
Geddcs, wharfinger, of Toronto. But for his aid it would have been all but impossible
to compile these tables witli any degree of accuracy.
Mr. Kenny, of the Western Assurance Company, Toronto, also afforded most valu-
able aid by lending us lists of vessels plying to and from that port who effected insurances
in different companies carrying on business iu the Dominion. It is not to be umlerstood
from this that only stciim propelled vessels insured, but all mention of sailing vessels, with
rare exceptions, has been avoided in this history since stearae:3 were introduced.
EMAKK9.
irly Manitoba
n up.
ID up.
in np.
ID up.
orly PeerlMfc
en up 1880.
jked 1870.
preceding
es.
ir 3teani«.r.
sr 81 amer.
jhofioil 1893.
9r Bteamer.
Br steamer.
uilt 1892
formation given
ce under oiflfer-
;»ing her name.
ch, belongini to
excep''ed, but
or are chartered
ubt will in bnt a
lagement It is
special acknow-
^y Mr. W. A.
11 but impossible
brded most valu-
ffected insurances
to be unilcrstood
ling vessels, with
educed.
LANDMA'IKS OV TORONTO.
Namr of Vesskl.
Supplenimtari/.
A, P.. Cook
Ada Alice
\V. J. lymon
Wherk Rrii.T.
I'ort Uobinson . .
I'ort I)a'liousic
Toronto
Port lloliiuson.
ii.'vmilioii
I'icton
Chatham
Alert
Anihian
Armeni i
Armtiiiia
Cambriii Owen Sound. , . .
Canida Hainiltoii
C. H. Meiiitt Cliaihivm
Dominion 'St. Catharines. . .
Burydice ! Nioiitroal
Kiiterprise St. Catharines, . .
Frank .lacknian jPiufTalo ,
(too. I •oU'.'l'is j'rhotold .
Huron Sariiia
International |.'>itrnia
Lansdownu 'Detroit
L. Snick luiia St. Catharines.
L. Shickluna St Catharines.
Niagara jSt Catharines . ,
Ongiiira IToronto
Relianco ' Deaeronto
Watertown .... I Kingston
Wales 'Sarnia
Year.
188.")
1H(W
1802
1 880
1 S{)2
IS7<i
1S7.S
1S77
1S7'2
KS8:i
ISC.H
18(18
18U4
1808
iSSO
1875
m'l
1870
1878
1875
1885
1881
1804
1881
Tons.
P.emarks.
24
u;
2:17
49
7110
Pi7
.-)!).•{
4<»4
.*?!»2
120
;t7()
:i80
uio
26
42
1,2.')0
1,000
1.90)
.304
:v>
509
94
265
176
311
r.,akn tu.'.
L(il;e and river tu •.
pc.inierly W. M.
.Mderson.
Tug.
Freight propeller.
Fri'ight ])r<)pi?ll('r.
Freight propeller.
Burned 92, rep. 93
Propeller pass and
freight.
Freight propeller.
Formerly Hustings.
He-built 1881.
Freight propeller
Rebuilt 1881.
Toronto tU;i.
O. T. R.
(i. T. R.
G. T. R.
Freight propeller.
Vug.
Form'ly Qu en City
Freight propeller.
CONCLUDING RI.MARKS.
A brief preference to an episode in Canadian history, not wholly unconnected with
the maritime history of the Dominion, may be licre mentioned.
On the second Egyptian war occurring an expeditionary force to ascend the Nile
formed part of Lor I Wolseluy's plan of campaign. The gallant peer and soldier, bearing
his own Canadian experiinces in mind, decided on employing a body of Canadian boat-
men, and, as will be learned from the following rep)rt, they did their work well and gal-
lantly.
in his despatch at the close of the campaign to the Secretary of War, London, Lord
Woheley says : —
" The Dominion of Canada supplied us with a most u.seful body of boatmen, under the
command of Brevet. Lieut. -Colonel F. C. Denison, C. .M.C, of the (Canadian militia '['heir
skill in the management of boats in diflicult and dangerous water.^ was of the utmost use
to us in our long ascent of the Nile Men and ofKoers showed a high military and
patriotic spirit, making light of diffleultios and working wi'th that energy and determina-
tion which hAve always characterized her Majesty's (/anadian forces."
i'A
Vt
i
".V,'!T
ir-ij
I
i^J
d
I
i: H
1:1
I
I, i
l-'J
■ *
! J
,-v
i
H
■'
!
I
990
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO-
t::'5 ifl
H-.i-,
!i',
i'Ti'
CHAPTEK rCLXI.
YORK'S ASSESSMENT ROLLS-
TbP Knrly Rnlls— The Parochial Ofncials—
11% ho TI1P.V Were and Wli«rc Tbey t'uiue
I'roiii— Ciirloslltrs In Ike .tccuuiits.
'J'he first assessment roll where the town
of York is referrei to is dated Februcary,
1798, and comprises not only the town but
also the townships of York, Vanghan and
Markham. In was duly pr pared and for-
warded to the Lieutenant Governor, being
sianed "Errors excepted," by " Thoiuis
Ridout, Clerk of the Peace, Home District,"
It is impossible to say how much refers to
the town and how much to the townships,
but the total amount estimated for the
home district to produce from one hundred
and twenty-seven ratepayers was only £25
168 3tl currency, equivalent to glOIi 25. The
assessors were Thomas Barry and (ieorge
Playtjr, and the "magistrates approving "
John Small and William Willcocks
The collector appears to have bten Mr.
Samuel Heron
In the following year tlia number of those
assessed was twe hundred and twenty-four,
the rata being estimated to produce £75 8 0
currency (§301 6')). 1 hcmas StoyoU suc-
ceeded Thomas IJirry as tissessor, the name
of U illiam Jarvis \vu3 adde*'. to the approv-
ing magistrates, end Aichibald Cameron
was collector.
In 18Q'J the taxpayers had increased to
two liundred and hfty-four, the rate nrocUic-
ing £81 5 6 ($325 10). John Ashbtidge and
Eiisha Bema.r. were the assf ssors ; the ap-
proving magistrates, with the exception of
Willccnks, were tho some as in the ye<ir
previous, but the collector was Jacob tierch-
raer — a very lively time he must iiavo had of
it — and the treasu er was Mr. William
Allan
lu 1801, though the population of York is
given aeparateiy, its assessment is not; it
was joined for ratine; purposes with Yor'c
township, Etobicoke and Scarboro, the ttdal
population bring only six hundred and
seventy-eight. Of this number there were
one hundred and ninety- two ratepayers,
whose paj'mt'nls in the agoregatu were
£97 Gi <id (S.^89 3 )). li.it if the population
and income were gninll, the nuniLer of oflico
holders w^s by no means limited, tiiougii it
must be admitt d tlsat , v ith the possible
exccptioti of tlie eolloctors, the work was all
done without any remuneration.
Tiie following is a complete list of the
oflSoials : —
Town (J'.crk — Eli "laytcr.
.fir^essor^ — Jamos I'liiyter and Simon Mc>
Nabb.
Collector — John Camerou.
Overseers of the highways — Elisha Ben-
nard, Robert Lang, J. Ashbridge, John
Piayter, Ben. Davis, John Wilson, D. VV.
Kendrick, \Vm. Jones nad William Cor-
nell.
Eli and John Piayter were brothers. A
son of the latter lias for many yaa"3 filled
most ably the post of secretary to the York
Pioneers. James Piayter was another mem-
ber of the same f nmily.
J. Ashbridge was the man who bestowed
his name on the small bay to the east of To-
ronto harbor
D, VV. Kondrick was Duke Kendrick, one
of several brothers. One of them resided
for some years in a small wooden cottage on
Bloor street, nearly opposite University
avpnue,
William Cornell was a Scarboro' man,
who emigrated to this country about 1780.
He is described wrongfully elsewiiere aa
William Cornwall : he lived all his life in
Scarboro', and his grandchildren and great-
grandchildren still live in the same place,
if no: in the actual house occupied by their
ancestor.
■J'he Pound <eeper3 were— Alex. Gallc-way,
John Davis, Jas. Everson, AndVew Thom-
son and W. Jones.
There was probably some small fee e x-
p:*cted by these latter officials; thati3,if they
could get it.
The iownwardens were — Jacob Herch-
mer and Duncan Cameron.
It will be sefin, therefore, that for 192
ratepa.yei'3 there were no less than twenty
officials, a tolerably large number. It can-
not be said that matters are much improved
in that respect a hundred years or nearly so,
later. Indeed in some respects they are worse,
for offices that were honorary then are now
remunerative to their incumbents.
Among items tliat are of interest in the
accounts is the following entry : ''December
8tli, 1800, paid two constables for going up
to the Humber to apprehend the rioters,
£1 5 0." These rioters were probably some
lumberers who ha<l engaged in a drunken
(juarrel with the fishermen of the neighbor-
I iiood.
Again there is this entry : " Paid John
Lyons for two wolves' scalps as per Mr. Kug-
gles" certificate, £2, Jan. 17th, 1801.' On
March 17tli in tlie same year there is a siinilar
entry of i'O for two wolves' scalps to
William Peck and four to John Burk.
William Willcocks, J P , gave tho certifi-
cate in these cases. Either the collector of
taxes was very lax in the performance of
h's duties, or the taxpayers were leter-
mined not to part with their money, for on
the credit side ot the acoounls of tiie Hume
1 •'.-»-«.•
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
991
Jacob Herch-
District fcr 1801 is this entry :— "N.B.— No
money baa been received from the collector
appointed from April, 1798, to April,
1799."
So a» to show as nearly as possible the
amount of cash received in proportion to the
amount of rate levied the following accounts
from 17D8 to April Ist, 1802, are given : —
2 ■ I
'^2
a
«
CC
u
e
"5
.a
n
I
O ?L>
'««
CO
«
'&'as&
i
Feb. ..
Jujy ..
April ..
May. ..
e o o o
i2
1797 98
1799
1800
1801
**-*-*-♦
'*
=rt
=rt
o
o
c
.a
o
a
A
■d
a
t«
M
a
t4
g>
o
o 3
» 2
.a
3
J4
O
n
c
o
H
C
(3
■^
c
u
o
M
u
O
><
<M
O
a
o
•a
13
a
o
^t
o
o
O
«.*
bi
C 2
5 s
o -
5 3 £-§' ;^
c
These figures, to borrow ;» hackneyed
phrase, ' ' afford food for reflection. "
Of rfttes levied in May, or up to that
period in 1801, only fifty-two and a half per
cent, had been paid, a twelve month later,
and so far as the accounts are given in tho
four years immediately following this period,
very little change for the better took place.
This was in a threat measure due, not
probably from any disinclination on the
part of the inhabitants of York ninety
years since to " render unto Caesar the
things that 'are Caesar's," but from ab-
solute inability to rind the nbcssary cash.
T»xes could not be paid in kiud and the
supply of ready money for many long years
after this period was exceedingly limited. A
sou of a resident in Markham in 1794, indeed
born there in that year, related shortly
before his death, which occurred about
twenty years since, how a New England
pedlar came through Markham in 1805 and
created quite a sensation, not only by pay-
in.; ready cash for what he required from
the farmers, but by being able to take pro-
duce from them instead of cash for their
purchases from him. This sama enterpris-
ing American gave one of the boys four
pence in coppers. I hat boy told when he had
reached old age bow proud he was and how
envied by his companions at being the
possessor of such great wealth. And stranga
as it may appear to the inhabitants of To-
ronto in 1891), probably not a few of the
older inh'abitants of Markhar . in 1800
thought four pence "a great deal of money."
Tempora miUantur et non mutamur in illU.
As might be expected when the taxes
came in so badly, the few paid public ser-
vants that the districtboasted of in those days
got their money equally badly. On March
9th, 1802, occurs this entry, " Paid Daniel
Tiers hi.t salary as court keeper, up to the
1st April, five quarters at £8 per annum,
;ClO,"and all through the accounts are en-
iries showing how creditors had to be p'tid
cash in instalments on bills that were already
overdue.
There were great changes in the personnel
of the " Parish and town officers for the
Home District for the year 1802."
The Town Clerk for that year was Eli
Playter, his daughter married Charles Deni-
son, who died in the " twenties." Shu «jib-
scquently married John Scarlett, and died
at Runimede, Toronto Junction, about 1848.
Her husband survived her nearly twenty
years.
Duncan Cameron and Samuel Heron were
assessors. The first became some years later
the colonel of the 1st regiment of North
York Militia and commanded it during the
rebellion of 1837 and 1838. Samuel Heron
resided in a log built house on Duke strtet,
Toronto— or York rather — and was fatiier
of the well-known Andrew Heron, recently
deceased.
George Playter, a relation of Eli, who .has
just been spoken of, was collector.
There were no less than eight path-
masters' , these were John Ashbridge, John
Playter, Jacob Delong, Lawrenc; Johnson,
Thomas Hill, Joseph Ketchum, Andrew
Thomson and Elisha Heinau
The first named of these gave his name
to Ashbridge's i^ay, east of Toronto. His
son died in this city at an advanced age in
October, 189.3. Jacob Delong does not ap
pear to liave remained long in Ada vicinity;
his name soon disappears. Lawrence John-
son was a Scarboro man, where many of his
descendants are still to be found Very
little is known of Thomas hill, excepting
that he was a farmer near Toronto. Joseph
Ketchum was either a cousin or uncle of the
celebralcd Jesse Ketchum. Andrew Thorn-
sou was the eldest of three brothers, who
992
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
came to Canada about 1873 or & very little
earlier, a-ad settled in Markham and Scar-
boro. Later ihey were joined by a cousin,
Hugh Ciristopher Thomson, and
their descendants in and near To-
ronto now uumbei many hundreds.
llu<;h CJ. Thomson, a former secretary
to the Board of Agriculture, was one of this
family, so is Rev. C E Thomson, of Toronto
Junction, also E. \V. Thomson, a well
known newspaper man and pleasing writer,
once ot Toronto, now of Boston, U. S. A.
That IS quite sutiicient to Let people know
what family Andrew Thomson belonged ii),
and though other members of the family
will have lo be referred to, ib will be un-
ueces.sary to furnish our readers with any
further biographical remarks. Elisha
Beman was a, miller and general store keep-
er, and was also a very enterprising man.
The poundkeepers were Robert Hender-
eoA, Thomas Smith, John Dennis, James
Evisson and William Jones, v/hile the town
Wiinlons « ere the weli-kuowu John Biekie
and Joseph WiUoooks
The amount estimated to be produced trom
thu rate levied in 1802 upon the town of
York and the Townships of York, Scar^ oro
and Etobicoke was £178 2s tid [§712 50) the
total number of people assessed being 172.
The inhabitants numbered 748. The pro-
portion therefore of ratepayers to popula-
tion was almost 4.50
The abstract of the accounts for the years
1802 and 180l{ present nothing very striking.
Tiiere is a i)avment to Alexander \V()od,E.^(|
of £5 173 6d for '* his account as per voucher
incluiliiig certificate for five wolves' heads.''
But there is a footnotis appended to the
ab.^lract from 1802 to thi.s oticct, : *' There
appears due to the High Constable twoyenrs'
salrvry or £4 • currency." The accounts for
180.'} are like those of 1802, signed 1'.
Ridout, Clerk of the Peace. Home District.
There were i\ great number of new nanie.s
in the list of ottloials foi 1803. Many of the
old naincif reiiaiued certainly, buc the new-
comers were numerous. The i'own IJlerk
waa William Bond, a nursery gar-
den proprietor, whose residence
was on the oorner of Ontario and Duchess
streets, Y(jtk. In the t?aze«e of 1801, Mr.
Bond advertised that he wanted to part with
hi.s property, ijive it away in fact, but per-
haps it will bo as well if the advertisement
itself is quoted; it runs thus : "To be
given away, that beautitully situated lot,
number one, fronting on Ontario and
Duchess stieets," he then proeeeds to de
scribe the many excellences of this ])ro-
jierty, and then with an assurance liiat
even the renowned Sam. Weller might iiavo
euvied, adds his •' conditions," these were
that the person or persons accepting the
present should " purchase not less than two
thousand apple trees at three shillings. New
York currency, each ; after which will be
added, as a further present, about one
hundred apple, thirty peach, and fourteen
cherry trees, besides wild plums, wild
cherries, English gooseberries, white and
rid currants, etc."
Whether Mr. Bond ever realized $750 for
his property is unknown. Upon that point
history is silent. He had departed therefrom
though a few years later. Among other
new comers were Ephraim I'ayson. John
McBeath, IJavid Thomson, Thomas Hamil-
ton, John Kendrii k and some others.
Among th( so JrVi, McBeth, for evidently
the spelling is in tault in the manuscript
quoted from, was a farmer Ijv •> ■ m 'Joronto
township, it is believed, uea^ ..'Uge street.
David I homson was Ano. w's brother.
Thomas Hamilton was an inHuential trades-
man or storekeeper in the town of York.
His name is found among those who signed
the address of welcome to Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor Uoro w en he returned to this country
in 1815 John Kendrick was one of three
brothers, John. Joseph and Duke. John
was drowned while on his pas age from Os-
wego to Sandy ( reek in December, 1805.
To revert once more to the abstract of ac-
counts for tlie various years. In that issue
for tlio puiiod from April 1st, 1802, to March
31st, 1703, are these entries : " June 28th,
1802, a woU'.s scalp certified by J. Wilson,
Esq., taUou in part of assessment £L"
A little lattr, on January 11, 1803, comes
the foUowing enigmatical ei.try : — " Paid
Captain !*'arl for taking < own Mary Diy,
four days, ditto for provisions furnished by
him to tako her from Kingston : o Lower
C anadii, £2.0.0. Paid William Hunter his
account for keeping the said Mary Dav,
£10."
Captain Earl commanded the well-known
sailing vessel, the I oroiito Vach';, but who
was Mary Day and why had the ratepayers
of the town oi York to be at such great ex-
pen- o on h'.r iielialf '
On March 3ist, 1803, three wolves' scalps
arepaidforat rlie usual rate of £ I each,
and there are several other entries of similar
p.yments. Some iij'ht is I'.rown on the
cost of wriiinj/ ma erials early i:) the cen-
tury, for on December 2tit,li. \H(Vi^ cumes
this ci'tvy, "L,)r the Chief Justice at the
Court of Oyer : —
2 quires lai^e foolscap paper tt 43. . 8 0
100 best yellinv strin..' ijuills. 1'2 b '
But there is a inarL.'inal noto explaining
that the shillings were York cut lei oy, so
the actual sum would be not twenty shil-
lines, but twelve shillings aad six ijcnce,
-r ~
"TifTTT
n
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
993
currency, or $2 50. Nevertheless foolaiup
paper at 50 cents a quire, and quill pens at
$1 50 per hundred is rather "ste<;p/'
On June 29th, 1804, comes this entry. It
needs neither note nor comment i eyoud this,
that the articles paid for remained near the
present Court fat, Toronto, on the
site occupied by the warehouvea of
RowssU & Hutchifion, for nearly thirty years
after their erectioa, if not a little longer. It
reads thus: " Cash paid for making pillory
and stocks £7."
No less than £10 appears in the accounts
for 1804 as having been expended on wolves'
scalps, but, as not a feiv people yet living
both in and near Toronto know, it was many
a long year later before these scourges to
the farmer were exterminated in tliis dis-
trict.
The year 1804 is the last in which these
accounts arc given item by item ; after that
date a new system of i ookke ping was in-
troduced,so we pass to the other matters.
As the year 1804 was the last, (as men-
tioned in a former article) in which the ac-
counts of the Home District were set forth
each payment in a separate item, so is it t)ie
first in which the olficials acting for the town
are named separately from those acting for
the Home District.
In the year now spoken of Eli Playter
was the town clerk of York, Joseph Sliep-
pard and Daniel Cozens were the assessors;
Colin Drunimoiid was collector ; Thomas
Hamilton and Eliphalot Hale, pathmasters ;
John Fisk, poundkeeper ; and Alexanvier
\\ ood, esquire, town warden.
In tli« next year both assessors and col-
lectors were changed, but they are people
we have met with before, as were the "over-
.neers of highways and fencevie^ ers." no
Ic.nger pathmasters be it noted ; Uideon
Orton as poundkeeper, and Joseph Hunt as
townwarden, make their appearance for tl.o
ilrst time.
In 18U0 John Detlor's name appears as
one of tne assessors, Isaac Collumlies as the
poundkeeper and Duncan Caiucron and
Robert liendersuu as churchwarden and
townwarden respectively.
There were some changes, as a matter of
course, iu 1807i the town oflicials being as
follows :
Assessors — Thomas Stoyell and Thomas
Humberston'.
Collector — John Ashbridge.
Overseers of Highways and Feuctviewers
— Parker Mills and I'arshall T'lrry.
Townwarden, William Allai:, Esq.
Poundkeeper, Lewis Bright.
Alter 1807 the names of the otliciuls are
no loiigLT given with the accounts.
0'. thcsa various otlico-bea.-ers Mr. Joseph
Sheppard resided in or near Yorkville on
Yonge street. He was very highly resspeuted
and for the time very well off; he con-
tributed largely towards the erection of a
church at York Mills. He must not, though,
be confounded with Harvey Shepard, the
well-known foundryman. Not only are they
of entirely different families but the names
are spelled differently. Mr. Joseph Sheppard's
colleague, Daniel Cozens, was the son of
Captain Daniel Cozens, an otHcer who fouglit
on the Royalist side iu the revolutionary
war which had as its results the indepen-
dence of the United States of America. Tlie
Cozens family Jaim that their ancesior
built the rirst house ever erected in York.
But the Shaws also as.serb that this
honor belongs to their great grand-
father. Major General .~haw, and
as Captain Co/ens' grant of land in York
bears date July 20, 1790, and the Shaws. to
say nothmg of the (■ivins' and otiiei well
known tamilies, were here in 1794, the claim
of the Cozens' at first sij^ht does not appear
to be a very cood one.
Of Colin Drummond there is very little
known; it has already beeu told who Tliomaa
Handlton was, but Eliphalet Hale needs to
be spoken of. He was the man who opened
up y'ongu street from Queen street to where
Bloor street now i^. In 1800 that portion
of York was no5 know;i as Yonge street, but
as •' the road to Yonge street" the latter
commencing there and running northwards
to I'enetanguishene. Hale died on ."Septem-
ber 17th, 1807, being at the time Higli Con-
stable of the Home District.
.lohn Fisk, tlie poundkeeper for 1804, was
a farmer near York. His name soon dit.ap-
pears from tlie list of olMce holders. John
Fisk came to an untimely end. Ho with
many others was on board tiie schooner
Speedy, which with all her crew and i a.s-
3 ngers was lost some years later during a
storm on Lake Ontario. Alexander 'A ood s
name is sufticient, he has been described ovor
and over again. Not to know Mr. Wood iu
1804 was to be yourself unknown.
Mr. Joseph Hunt was an early resident iu
York and one of the first pew holders in St.
James' cluucli.
John Detloi- who was in ofiiee in 1806, re-
mained in York some little time h UL'er and
then removed to Kingston. Isaac C'oliunibes
w s a famous cutler and gunniaker residing
on Caroline street (now Sh rbourne) York.
He and his residi nee have buen fully des-
cribed in other pages of the "Landmarks"
so it is not necessary to give him more than
this passing notice.
Of the later named among the public min,
Thomas Stoyell is mentioned a.< i eingin ofiii-e
in 18u7, but this most probably isa miatuLtior
m
■ ii
■ ;
';?
'•■■ li
i' ' i
t ; 1 r
I J ■
■K <■
n
I
m
Hi
H
I ni,ipii|«!,^i^»i?ppifr
■«■■
«MHP
994
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Thomas Stoyles, who had held the same
ortice previously. There was, though, a Doc-
tor Stoyell iu York at the period and it may
have been him.
Thomas Uumberstone, the colleague of
Thomas Stoyell, liveu on Yonge street,
near Hog{{'a Hollow, and served through-
out the war of 1812 as a lieutenant in the
militia. He received the war medal granted
to the Canadian forces as well as the Im-
perial troops for the war of 1812 Mr.
Humberstone was one of the earliest mem-
bers of the Society of York Pioneers, and
remained among that body until the time of
his d atli.
Parker Mills was a farmer on tho Don,
to the west of where Broadview avenue now
runs.
l^arshall Terry was both a farmer and
a mill owner, also residing on the banks
of ihe Don. He served throughout the
War of Independence as a soldier in
Butler's Rangers and on the conclusion of
peace settled in Upper Canada. As has
previously been related, he was accidentally
drowned in 1809. He left a very large fam-
ily of sons and daughters, the last of whom
only died in 1875. His widow married
William Cornell, whom she also survived.
She died early in the "fifties" at a very
great age, leaving children, grand-children,
«nd great-grandchildren.
William Allan, Esq., the town warden,
was the \« ell-known occupant in later years
of Moss Park, and father of Senator G. W.
Allan. He was one of the most prominent
public nien in Vork until its incorporation
as a city in 1834 under the name of Toronto.
After then, though, he took tin active share
in the management of the 13.ank of Upper
Canada, and was also most useful during the
troubles of 18.'i7 ; he took no very promi
nent part in public affairs. His name
is attached to the capitulation of York iu
1813, he being at the time major in the
York militia He married Miss Gamble,
daughter of Dr. Gamble, of the Queen's
Rangers. This lady was a sister of the
three brothers, John, William and Clarke
Gamble, also of Mrs. J^irchall and Mrs.
McCaulay. Mr. Allan died in 18.33.
The last person to bo mentioned is Lewis
Bright. He was a well-Known man and as
highly reupected as he was well-known.
The two streets in the eastern portion of the
city, Lewis and Bright streets, are called
after him. One of his sons resided for a
great number of years on the north side of
Queen street west, near Bathurst street, and
his grandchildren and greatgrandchildren
•till reside in the city.
The following return, showing the culti-
vated and uncultivated parts of Toronto,
with particulars of the houses, cattle, etc. ,
will prove of some little interest. It is
headed : "Abstract of the Home District for
the Year commencing 7th March, 1803."
pibsjusn suosMd /o "©.v
s3snoi(3.iOis
.-4
adoifs ,siunipj,3jj[ [ **
suujnvj; j ^
Slim 1 S
Wl pSUlVfUOO SUOIJVf) 1
S3aoicl-9uif ivuoiijppy
t
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flufunoo ui S39noji
11)01 VMOj; { S
1 ">
U-nof Wl tasnoji *-
S9U0 s 1 :
/o j,ivd 2ouo})ippy |
li3U0)S
UlVd 3UO 'sfjiui JSJUf)
N
dn puv uv3tl 3U0 'suiais
a
SUV3/1 U710J Of oaif
'3}ffV3 p3uuoy Bunoji
s
scnoo yo}tj\f
S8
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pVV SJV3H Utio/ 'USXQ
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8J.V311 33J,y) pDliV ii3S.lOJl
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•4
p3fnAi}}n
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pvvj
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p3)v.)})ltijun /o
?3.W
V
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i
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M
u
•
O
f
o
e
£
^
^^MPP^np^Pi^^aqr
-v
8, cattle, etc.,
iterest. It i»
me District for
rch, 1803."
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
90S
n~i
H 1
ns
W I
oy
Id 1804 the form of the return is lome-
what altered and aa will be leen there ia a
•light increaee in the amount of the rates: —
Jl
s
a
s
'r »» »rm
S
2
«
. ll
o
I
S
e
•o
«t p9utofuoa auojfoo
S
8
aujanvx
«o
w
94
nijtng JO ox
s
S
8
pruaoy Ounolt /o 'O^
8
«
3
smoQ /o 'o/i
&
8
s
uaxojo 'ojf
C
£;
1
89SMH /o 'OX
:ji
8
899noy9.to)s
M
•o
m
»doy» juvyoufjf
00
00
»*
fljtuunvs
9^
M
«o
sauoisutvd tauotftppv
: : : 1
sauofs jnvd i—»Jt*Fl
fH
rt
»^
S90VJJ aut^f jvuoiftppr
S
9^
g
IU)unoj uj
t-
0»
s?
vmox «* fisnofj
S
s
spyj ucnoi
CO
^1
p9)vatunov/i
Si
1.9U 1-20.864
p9tt>iiii2no
r^
ri 1
1
1
ijTownot York..
•
3
The retuma for 1807-8-9 are atill more
tended, being as follows : —
ex*
Amount
of rate
at Id
in the §L.
1 -
'' 00
1
1 s
<<<
•0 —
Si ®
Si !;
li
e
e
2?
suo% tyOp fo ai98a9A
r*
M r*
S9\qvx puvtms
M M
ints
8
8 8
UTO/I Mto /o 9ujms
et
s ->
unoj
0} Otnt '9]nVO P9UMH
SS
•» r»
smoo yonir
s
a §
J»iO
pun sdvaO. xnof 'vaxQ
s
3 S
MAO
pun 8J,V9ll 99U1if '89SM>ff
8
R S
BUrnA 9MV7 'BUOtJlVfS
M
s9snoy9M}s
p4
M 09
adoys ,»ptm(0A9jf[
«
00 00
mm ««» 1
1-
^^ p^
i
890 Djd
■9J,J^ JDUOtlfPpr
3
ii 8
n9U0t8
•oait Mpun '9uivjjf
8
s s
siovjd
■'•*.Vf ivuoittppv
8
3 3
I19U0.8
•oan.i' uaquijjj ouvnbs
a
S S;
s9onjd
■3UU jtmoyjippy
m
S t5
lt3UOi8
9U0 'Mqwtx suvnbf!
«
sOcj punoff
2
el S
s;o7 uaiox
s s
p9jva})jnou/i
i
1898' 626100.210
18 9' 764 92.697
p9iva})jno
CO
•-•
to
J.V9X
i
M
fl
1
t >
-■At
^ipi
M
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't I
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ir
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lit
Wi
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
These ligures are so iiewhat diffioult to
understand a d as rngarda the caltivated and
■ncaltivatcd ureas it is worae than uttcleas
to attempt any explanation.
What is the precise meaning of "homes
in town" and " houses in country ' when the
figures are only given in re ference to the
town of York is equally perplexing, but the
rest of the statistics given are inteHigible
enough and tell their own tale.
The num er of persons assessed in the
years 1804-5 is not given. In 1806 there were
175, but this included the township of York
in 1807. For the town of York only 113.
The numbers are not given for 1808, but in
1809 they are returned as 111.
In 1810 the following particulars are taken
from the abstract : —
No. of persons as-
sessed 121
Acres cuUivaied. 96:2
" uncuUlvated.90,236
Houses 110
Gristmills 8
'J he total valuation
0
11
4
Saw mills
Merchants' shop^
Store houses ....
Yesselsof 8 tons
and upwards...
was £20,938, 63, Od.
and the "sum to be collected with the mem-
bers' wages added thereto" was £92 17s, 5^d
I'he accounts for 1810 are signed on July
13th, 1810, by Thomas G. Ridout, Deputy
Clerk of the Peace, acting no doubt for his
father, Mr. Thomas Ridout. This is the
only instance where they are so signed.
The amount of \uluation made March 4th,
1812, was £33,506, 12s. Od., and the rate
amounted to £146, lis. 9d. , the number of
people assessed being 128. A fe.v months
later the war between the United States and
Great Hritain broke out, and possibly owing
to that circumstance there are no accounts
whatever for the year 1813.
There ia no room for doubt as to the
disastrous cSects of the hostilities upon
the town of York. Not only had
the ratepayers decreased to 116, but the
valuation had gone Ciown also to £31,884
12s. Od., a decrease of more than £1,GW.
To allow Iho growth of York from
1S2() to tiie ypar preceding its incorporation
!is a city the figures are given for 1820, '25,
30 and" 1833.
42
^
"**
r
1.
0
•0
"=1
•3
§
s
^x
^
t^
?5
^
—
_— .
1820
232
148 ..
..
IS-.i.i
■Mi
233 ..
1830
173
460 4
io
1833
777
636 4'26'
a'
3 C
26 4
48 4
09; 3
100
s:d
II
21
33
37
7
4
10
38
R, U
I £
132 2S842
£ s d
12c 17 0
.l4U»):i79 H 2
. 6;)7;)127:! 15 4
. 198487 40K H 3
It is to be regretted that the number of
ratepayers is not given after 1820, but tiM
probable number in 1833 would b« about
450.
What are described as saw mills were very
probably also timber yards where the tim-
ber was also sawed into boards and scantling
for builders' purposes.
The rate for "members' wages "varied,
sometimes it was only the twenty secondth
of a penny in the £, at other times one-
ninth.
As is mentioned in the article on
York's population there were several
iron foundries in York tn 1828. but
in the general return these are all
classed under the heading of " merchants'
shop."
A very fragmentary return of the trials at
the Home District sessions for 1830 shows
that there were indicted throughout the year
thirty-eight jrisoners for the following
offences : —
Assault and battery 29
Petit (sic) larceny 8
Nuisance 1
Total , .38
There is this plaintive note to the re-
turn : —
••N.B.— The Clerk of the Peace has no
documents by which to ascertain constables',
police and witnesses' fees."
In concluding these reminiscences one
more comparison may be made, and that i.s
between the rateable value of York in 1833
and Toronto in 1893, sixty years later : —
Year. Rateable Value. Amount Produced
1833 $.393,948
1893 $150,766,035
The taxation in 1833 was as
possible equal to twentj'-six cents per head
of the population ; in 1893 it exceed.s fifteen
duUars, taking Toronto's prejent population
as in rouad figures 170,000 souls.
$1,6.33 65
$2,601,882 00
nearly
CHAPTER CCLXII.
THE TOWN OF YORK.
Population ICf'
with Ollirr lit-
It<t RUe and ProKress— lis
(urns From I79:t to I8M,
teremins nutn.
There arc no earlier parliamentary returns
relating to the jwpulation of York, (now Tor-
onto)than those prepared in the year ISOO for
tho Home district.which comprised the ti>\vn-
ships of King, Markham, Vaughan, Whit-
church, (the population of all these places
being given separately) with, grouped t.i
w^.
'«!«",!':>■
LANDMARKS OF TORONIO.
997
820, but th«
luld b« about
Mils were very
here the tim-
I and scantling
ragoa " varied,
leuty-aecondth
her timea one-
e article on
were several
tn 1828, but
ihese are all
of "merchaiita
a of the trials at
for 1830 shows
mghout the year
the following
'29
8
\\\ 1
38
note to the re-
he Peace has no
srtain constables',
jminiscences one
nade, and that is
of York in 1833
years later : —
Amount Fiodused
$1,633 65
$2,601,882 00
as as nearly as
ix cents ppr head
; it exceeds fifteen
ireient populaliou
) souls.
CLXII.
F YORK.
■4, wltU Oilier In-
liamentary returns
of Y..rk,{nnw Tot-
intheyear lH00f<ir
oinprisedtheinwn-
Vaughan, ^^l'lt•
,f all these places
with, grouped to
gother, those siiown in the following re-
turn : —
Townships
York
Ktobicoke
Scarborough. .
and
Town of York.
)
451
■
Child'n 1
1
2
Females
298
^
719
A foot note is appended to this return
statin.' : —
" This return was imperfect, the Town
Clerk not having distinguished the chil-
dren, ihere appear, however, in it 278
men. '
The returns from 1801 to 1809 both years
inclusire are not quite as full as might be
wished. For instance, in 1801 the popula-
tion of the town of York is given separately,
but in the two following years it is
" lumped " with adjacent townships. In
1804 it is again by itself and one is able
to judge o tiic pio^'ress the town was mak-
ing. '
It is hard to account for the decrease in
the number oif the women and boys in 18 )7
as compared with 18 )5, but it cannot be
gainsaid ; there are the figures to tell their
own tale.
The returns were as follows : —
»:
e
1801
1302
1803
1804
Township.
Town of York
York, town and town-
ship, and the Town-
ship of Etobicoke..
York, SoarborouKh,
Ktobicoke and Towii
of York
'Town of York only..
ISOoDitto
1807!Ditto '
ISOOlDitto
130
220
320
149
ICA
195
Ch'ld-n.i
1
s
i
^
ff
CO
a
O
a
!^
■*
^
^
66
lis
206
104
130
99
162
72
150
211
121
108
91
137
^
62 336
111 659
231 968
82' 156
8l| 173
911 448
8;i; 577
The whole of these returns are signed by
Thomas Ridout, Clerk of the Peace, the last
one, that of 1809, being dated " York, 19th
September, 1809."
The next returns issued were in 1817 and
the signature appears as Clerk of the Peace
of S. Haward, There is a slight variation
in the form of ihe return also, men, women
and children of both sexea being divided ac-
eording to age.
The returns from 1817 to 1820 are alike
in form. ,
0* o
Children
1
•
■«
s^'s^
.-1
.
5^^
<s
Tovmship,
^1
8
1.
1
Head
males
Fema
187
1
150
V. ■
1
Town of York....
1817
335
196I53]
368
Town of York ....
1818
399 {2251624
243
191
1058
Town of York....
1819
110
2t>4:704
248
222
1174
Town of York....
^18JOl437 13051712
260
238
1240
These figures call for but little comment,,
though it is somewhat singular that, while,
there is a slight decrease in the " heads of
families'' as compared with the preceding,
year, there is a net increase of sixty -six in-
habitants.
The returns for the next thre^ years were
prepared with great care and much more
attention to detail They are thus given: —
Heads
Children iLo'iiera
of
in Kach
and
1
Fam'l's
Township
Serv'ts.
•«
.1
ti
♦-1
s!^
-a
■e
S'-S
^
s
•;
b
£'5
y,
«
e
M
u
(
?
2
12
C
«5
a
^
^
^
1
s
1,1.
S
^
1
S
T'n of York
1821
291 209
13
11 '292
271
238! 171
15M
T'n of Yo! k
1822
387 254
1
3 219
271
SJ 85
1338
T'n of York
1823
237 189
39
46 223
251)
205 141
1330
The figures contained in these last three
years are somewhat perplexing. Comparing
1821 with its imni diate prcd>!C(^s.9or there is
a phenomenal increase of no less than three
hundred and nineteen souls. The next year,
though, 1822, tells a widely ditlerent tale,
when, though the head^ of families increase,
the males by niui.'tysix and the females by
forty-five, tlie net decrease of the year
retches two hundred ai>d twenty-three
people. Readers may possibly lie able to
find a soluti in for the contradictions and
inc )nsistencie8 that these fin;ui'es present,
but the tables themselves give no explana-
tion nor suggest any.
The following letter from Mr. S. Heward
accompanied these accounts in 1823.
(Copy.)
Ofllce of the Clerk of the Peace,
York, 4 th AuKUst,, 1823.
Sir.— I have the honor to transmit 10 you ta
be laid before bis Kxcellcncy. the Lieutenant'
W
Sit
u
mmmmmr^mmmm
^Pia^a
WMIP*
■■■■IWi
1
LANDMARKS OF TOWmiQ.
OoTcrnor. »ii abatrkot from the Mraral Town
Clark*' returns. o( inhabitaoU kow rasiding in
tba HoiDft Distriot, raeeiTwi by ma batwaan
tha 4th Fabruarjr and 31tt Jnlj inelaiire.
I hare tha bonor to be air. your moat obadieat
aarrant,
(diffnod), S. Hbward.
Clark Peace. Home Dlatrlet.
To Major HiUlar. Secretary to hto Ekcellency.
the Uautenaat-Oorarnar.
It ia "aaventy years ago," yat tha wife of
Major HiUiar, to whom this latter was »d-
draasad, is atill alira atid well, though fast
•|>proaehing tha and of har tenth decade of
eziatoBoa. Sha was the siatar of Colooal
Jamaa Girina, whose property was in the
weet and of the city, and of whom much has
bean already written. It is not at any time
altogatliar eomme U/aut to refer to a lady's
M;e even so gnardadly as has just been done,
hilt as population returns are being discus-
sed, poasibly it will be excused by those
who may notice it
Major Hitlier died in India more than
fifty years ago.
From 1824 to 1833, the latter being tha
last year of York's axiatence under that
name, tha form of the returns was the same
as in ue from 1817 to 1820. With only one
exception they exhibit a steady increase in
the town's population
Toumship.
Town of York. Mil
1825
IKS
1827
li£S
18»
18W
1831
1^38
1 •
578
528
560
513
691
1237
1837
1833120661 1772
118
430
458
517
465
808 624
880
807
1300
Children.
'
«e
tt
-
•-<
^
p^^
1
9
*«*
9
V
*%»
V
«
g
g
1
s
S
916
335
334
1685
958
307
412
1677
1018
323
378
1719
1030
377
410
1817
1156
617
462
2235
1332
688
493
2511
1672
560
389
2860
M64
1105
800
3969
3367
1126
1023
3505
3828
1189
1077
6094
Accompanying the return for 1829 is an
additional document, showing the manufae-
toriea and ship yards then in existence in
the Town of York. Among the former is the
paper mill of Eastwood and Spinner, situ-
ated " on the River Don, three miles from
York." F. R. Dutcher's "v upola furnace
•r iron foundry," was sit«*ted, though, in
the " Town of iork." Tha precise locality
is not given, but it was on the east side of
Yonge street, about eighty or one hundred
yar£ from its junatton with King street.
In addition to bis iron foundry Mr. Dntohar
had a plovgh and east steal axe manufac-
tory.
But this gentleman was net allowed to
have all the trade to himself, the well known
Harvey Shepard having no less than three
separate eat tbiishmenta where he carried on
precisely tha sams class ot trade as Dutchar.
8hepara's factories were on tha west side of
the street named after him, connecting
Adelaide and Richmond streets.
There was yet another faetory some few
miles from Toronto, desoribed in the return
aa a "carding machine and falling mill."
and rather ragnely deaeribed as situated in
the "Townahip of York, River Humber."
This mill was owned by Mr. John Scarlett
and was of stone, standing on the west bank
of the river, where the latter iia crossed by
the road leading from Dundee atreet to the
Village of Weston, long known aa Scarlett's
road, and which at one time formed the
northern boundary of Scarleet'a racecourse.
Mr. Scarlett had his office in York, where
he also had a limber yard.
Two sailing vessels were built at York (the
same document just quotei from tells us) in
1828, one of thirty<«even and the other of
sixty-four tons, but who eonstrueted them
and at what particular locality we are left
to conjecture.
Mr. S. Howard, as Clerk of the Peaoe,
signed the returns from 1824 nnlil 1828.
After the latter year Simon Washburn signs
until 1834. The laat return relating to tha
Town of York waa aigned by the depnty
clerk, Mr. William Hepburn; it is dated 13th
January, 1834. The next following it is
dated, "office of the Clerk of the Feace, city
of Toronto, 2nd June, 1834.
(Si.;ned)
S. Washburn,
Clerk Peace, H.D."
with the following foot note, "Sent in tri-
plicate to Colonel Rowan, this 2nd June,
1834, W.H " The initials are those of Mr.
Hepburn.
That is almost sixty years since. Mr.
Hepburn's daughter only paased away, five
years since, but descendants of his to the
fourth generation are yet in the city, as
there are also worthy repi eaentatives of
both Simon Washburn and Colonel Kowan.
So aa to render this paper complete for
purposes of comparison, a census table from
1834 to 1892 is appended :
Year. Popu'aticn, IncreoM. Decrease.
1834, under 9,000
1841 15,000 6,000
1851 30,735 15,738
1861 44,821 14,086
1871 56,092 11,271
1881 86,416 30,323
■»■»»
LANDMARKS OF TORONfO.
Ir. Datfllwr
a manafftc-
ftUowed to
wellknnwB
than thr««
t carried on
M Dutchar.
irast iida of
conneciinK
p iome faw
in tba ratorn
ilhnK mill."
M aituaiad in
r Humbar."
lohn Scarlatt
ha weat banlc
ia eresaad by
■traat to the
M Scarlekta
formed the
,'a racacoaraa.
York, where
tat York (the
m tella ua) in
the other o!
itrueted them
r we are left
«f the Peace,
U until 1828.
raahbnrn aignii
relating to the
iv the deputy
it ia dated I3th
following it i>
(ha I'eaee, city
Washbcbn,
L Peace, H.D."
'S«nt in tri-
his 2nd Jane,
,re thoae of Mr.
n tinea. Mr.
aed away five
of hia to the
n the city, aa
esentatirea of
:olonel Rowan.
r complete for
laaa table from
foM. Decrease.
lob ......
36 ......
186
1
123
PopuleUion. Incretue, Decrease.
105,211 18.796
181,2*^0 76,009
188.914 7.694
169,099 18 915
* Semicentennial year,
t Dominion cenaua.
1 Police oenaua.
Year.
*1884
tl891
:i891
1892
CHAPTER CCLXIII.
THE EARLY SESSIONS.
The Flrat Daya af the CeMtarjr— The Grand
Inqucat-VrlTalaiiaaad Yexallaaa Chargea
—The Home Dtatrlet Hchoal.
'1 be adminiatratiou of juatice in the town
ef York in the earlier daya of the preaent
ceucury preaenta a marked con traat bet wean
that which obtaina in thecity of Toronto now.
Nowadaya trifling chargea of theft, aasault,
druukenneaa, etc., are diaposed of by the
atipendiary magistrate with advantage not
only to the community (;enei ally but alao to
that of both prosecutora and defendants. In
thoae daya , though, all audi caaea were heard
at what waa known aa the General Quarter
Sessions, and it ia from the minute book of
those sessiona that it ia now propoaed to
^ive some extracts which may prove of some
little general intereat to our readers.
The General Quarter Sesaioua for the year
1810 were opened at York on Tuesday,
April loth, being, aa the opening words of
the record atates, *' the fiftieth year of the
reign of our Sovereign Lord George the
Third ;" before Alexander Wood, Esquire,
who waa chairman, and Duncan Cameron
and Donald McLean, Eaqui. is, whu were
his associates.
What ia described aa the Grand Inquest,
that ia, the Grand Jury, consisted of twenty
members, their foreman being Charles
W illcocks, and among hia col-
leagues werO'John Jordan, Lewis Bright,
Thomas Stoyell, Jordan Post, senior, and
Jordan Post, junior, Caleb Humphrey, Pat-
rick Hartney and John Playter. All of
tltese names are well known in the early
annala of York. At this day 'a sitting of tn«
court two iudictnii uts were preferred both
for assault and batteiy against two separ-
ate defendants. In one case the grand in-
quest found "no bill" and the said defen-
dant Avas accordingly acquitted (sic)."
The other case, though, appears to have
been a very pretty family quarrel, the pro-
secutor and detendants being closely relat-
ed. However, both sides appear to have
thought it well not to wash their
dirty linen altogether in pub-
lic, for the defendants pleadet guilty
and were fined each one shilling and bound
over to keep the peace towards the proaeoa
tor in the aum of £20.
At the aame aitting waa "read a petition
from the inhabitants of Etobicoke reapecting
the ferry at the moutb of the River Huirber,
on ac. ount of the high charges at aaid ferry,
and it was ordered by the court to aummon
Jamea Crawford, keeper of the aaid ferry, to
attend the court to-morrow at 10 o'clock,
which waa accordingly done.'' On the fol-
lowing day Jamea Crawford attended aa he
was ordered but the caae waa adjourned
until April 13th.
On April 12th, John Thorn, Nicholaa
Klinkenbrumer, John Williama and
Jamea Baker were indicted " for a nuiaance."
What this nuisance was we are not specifi-
cally informed, but at any rate they pleaded
"not guilty." Nevertheless, the jury took
a different view of the matter, and convicted
them, the sentence of the court being that
the defendanta "be committed to the Home
Diatrict jail for the space of fourteen daya,
and there to remain until they remove all
tbeir thinga out of the Yellow Uouae."
Jamea Crawford, the fenyman at the
Humbar, attended, according to ordera, the
aitting of the court on the 13ch inst It was
then and there decreed that the old ferry
rates were too high, " and that less rates
would support a ferry very well."
The old rates were accordingly aboliahed
and theae subatituted in their place ' ' and
ordered to be taken and no more" : —
a. d.
1 0
1 3
5
2i
A
]
I
2h
for I he
April I6th,
" continued
Single horse, carriage and driver . . .
Double horse, carriage and driver. .
Every horse and rider
Every horse \\ ithout rider
Every horned cattle
Every sheep
Every hoj;
Every foot passenger
The appointment of constables
Town of York took place on
when Beojamio Cozena was
fro'ii the last year " as High Constable
and ten others appointed to act
under him. The only noticeable
name besides that of Cozens is that
cf Alexander Leage.
'ihe court adjourned on April 21st until
May 5th, following.
When the adjourned sessions were opened
on the date mentioned, there were many
complaints made to the justices there
assembled that statute laVior \^as being
avoided, no less than fi\e persons appearing
" to show cause why they had not performed
their statute duty for 1809. " Many excuses
were made ; eventually all the cases wcsre
adjourned until the I2th instant, when it
was ordered "that Darcy Loulton be sum
i^
.■ i
m
jii't 'I
I! J
W
if? ? ■.
Pi -I
Mi
1:^
r
1000
LANDMARKS OF TOROATO.
I
moued to attend th* eonrt" Mr. Boalton
WM I'athmaster, and th« dafendanU had
Jrctty ({eneraliy agreed in their tale, that
e, Mr. Boulton, had nerer warned them to
attend their dutiee. However that may
have been, when the 12th instant arrived
Mr. Boulton gave an explanation which
apparently satisfied the magistrate and the
natter dropped.
The court met again on May 19th only to
adjourn until July 7th, when the minutes
record, " the April sessions were thus closed
and the court adjourned." Thomas Ridout
signs the record as Clerk of the Peace for the
Home District.
The court onoe more assembled on July
10th, the justices present being \Vm. iMIan,
Duncan Cameron, William Graham, Donald
McLean and Archibald Thomson, esquires.
There were no cases of any importance for
trial, but on July 13th, " Hugh Carfrae
presented his account for puttLig up the jail
pickete, amounting to £60 15s. Od. (|243 00),
which passed the sessions. '
Ou September let when the sessions were
held, there was the usual plentiful crop of
eomplainu about statute labour not being
Serformed. This appears to have been a
uty very greatly disliked.
Upon application made by Colonel
Givins to be allowed to do so it was order-
ed "that he be allowed to perform his sta-
tute labor for this year and the last upon the
road leadincpast his house to the Humber."
That would be on Dundas'street, from where
Ossington avenue now begins.
At the <neeting of the sessions on Oc-
tober 9th the names of two new magistrates
appear ; they were Richard Beasley and
l^ancnel Smith. The former is described
ia a York paper of this date as being " of
Barton " ; the latter was the well known
Samuel Smith, who resided on the eastern
banks of the Don. At this same meeting it
was ordered " that directions be sent to the
pathmaster for the west part of the Town-
ship of York, on the Humber, to warn Mr.
Shaw and Mr. Givins to work their statute
labor on the Humber road."
The court met again on Saturday, October
20th, Mr. WillianT Allan being the only
magistrate present, whereupon Mr. Ridout
cravely records:— "By reason of no ether
magistrates attending, the court adjourned
till' Saturday, 3rd November next." The
court duly met on the date named, when
the minutes inform ns:— "There being
aothing to do the ceurt adjourned for the
Michaelmas tern." There are no further
minutes for the year 1810, so it ia to be
presumed th^re were no more sessions hc^ld
in that year after those that have just been
aientioned were concluded.
But 1811 WHS yet very young when the
first sessions were held, and it is interesting
to note that this is the first time the minutes
eontein any intimation as to where the
meetings took place. It is mentioned that
they "were holden at the Government build-
ings in the town of York."
At these sessions, opened on January 8th,
Thomas Ridout, Esquire, appeared and
" took and subscribed the oaths prescribed
by law as a Magistrate." Mr. Ridout was
subsequently unanimously chosen chairman
of this augi St body,
At this same meeting was read the Lieu-
tenant-Governor's commission to Stephen
Howard, appointing him Clerk of the Peace
for the home district.
It is amusing to note the precision with
which every trifling detail was recorded in
those early days. Mr. Howard " took the
oath prescribed by law." This ia all very
well for a man like the clerk of the peace,
but it provokes a smil:^ when you read the
same ihing about someone who had just
been appointed a pound keeper or constable.
Mr. Thomas Kidout's rtsignation of the
ofSce ot registrar for the County of York
was presen ed at this meeting, " where-
upon," the minutes gravely inform us, " the
justices represented to his Excellency the
Lieutenant-Governor of the vacancy, pray-
ing that he would be pleased to fill it by
some fitting person as the law directed. "
The sessions adjourned until April 9th
following.
But a special session had to be held
more than a month earlier than the date
named at the time of adjournment. This
was held at the house of Duncan Cameron,
Esquire, in the town of York, on Friday,
Mirch Ist, at 10 o'clock a.m., there being
present besides Mr. C'ameroa and Mr. J,
Ridout, John Small, another new name
added to the list of the "great unpaid."
The clerk called the attentior of the jus-
tices to, and read,a letter from, .dr. Beasley,
of I'arton, complaining that two of the path-
masters in the township of Trafalgar had
paid no attention to the orders of the court
transmitted to them. The conrt ordered
tbat these defaulters be summoned to attend
a special Session of the Peace " to be holden
at the house lately occupied by William
Willcocks, Esquire," on AJarch 15th follow-
ing, to show cause why they had not com
plied with these orders.
The following extract from the minutes of
March 1st, throws a strange light and any-
thing I ut a pleasing one, upon the state of
society in Canada at the date referred to.
That slavery existed in the English colonies
for many years later than 1811 is well
known, but that it was actually in existence
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
1001
in the Town 6f York, now the City of To-
ronto but little more than eightj years
■ifloe will prove a surpriie to not a few of
those who Mill read this sketch. The ex
tract reads thus : — " William Jarvis, of
the Town of York, Esquire, infotmed the
court that a negro boy and girl, his s'aves,
had the erening before been comiiiitted to
piison for having stolen gold and silver out
of his desk in his dwelling house, and
escaped from their said master, and prayed
that the court would order that
the said prisoners be brought
before said court for examination.'
The prisoners were brought up according-
ly, when it was ordered that "he said negro
boy named Henry, commonly ct>!<«d Prince,
be recommitted to prison and there safely
kept till delivered according to law and that
the gir! do return to her said master."
The depositions taken in court respecting
this matter were from William Jarvis, Wil-
liam D. Forest, Doctor James Ulennan and
Isaac CotamlM.
When the ordinary meeting of the
sessions assembled on April 9th, Mr. Samuel
Smith took his seat as a magistrate for the
first time. The grand inquest consisted of
twenty-one members, among them being
these subsequently well-known names :
Stilwell Wilson. John ricarlett, Samuel
Heron, Samuel Mercer, Joseph Sbeppard,
Patrick Hartnty, John Deuison, Joseph
Cawthra and George Duggan
The cases for trial were most insign Scant,
being chiefly for assault and battery, with
as a matter of course complaints by the score
against nearly every one liable tu perform
statute labor for ne. lecting their duties.
The pathmasters in those far away times
mudt have had anything but a bed of roses
First they had to wbru the occupiers of
land that so much work was required from
them, then they had to get the work done
if they could, and as they generally could
not, they then had to bring the delinquents
before the Court of Quarter Sessions. Tut
even then their troubles were not over, for
the court generally took a lenient view of
the matter, possibly as every < ne of the
magistrates were liable for statute labor
themselves, "a fellow feeling made them
wondrous kind " and those brought before
them were generally 1st off if they promised
to do the work.
What constituted an assault in those
days ? It would be very interesting to have
that question answered, for pcetty nearly
every one seems to have been summoned
before the Magistrates sooner or later fbr
that offence. At these very sessions George
T. Deni&on was summoned to appear for this
crime, the prosecutor being one William
.\!attice. The Grand Inquest, though, re-
turned " no bill " and the minutes proceed
to say "the «aid George Deuison 'vas accord-
ingly acquitted. " ' There are many yet ii
Toronto who refxcrbcr this gentleman.
They will not require to be told that tt;e
comments he probably made on the conduct
of William Mattice in proeeeuting him on
a groundltH charge made up ly their vig-
or and heartiness for anything that they
might luck in politeness or elegance of lan-
guage.
Hut Mr. Deuison was not alone, for Dun-
can Cameron, Etquire, (actually one of the
justices) was indicted for the same offence,
and " pleading guilty, was Hned|^one ; shill'
ing, which he paid to the sheriff in court."
They were intensely loyal in those days,
though, for the Grand Inquest " fro.-n in-
formation reos ved " made a presentment
against Jesse Updegraff for — it causes ■■
pain to have to chronicle such a piece of
history — " having d d the king and used
other disrespectful language in the house
of John McBride, on Yongo street."
Jei'e was ordered to be brought
before the court on July Qth, following.
A minute of April 10th records the ap-
pointment of Duncan Cameron as Registrar
of Deeds for the county of York, vice Hidout
resigned.
Among the constables appointed at these
sessions for the town uf York, appears the
name of Jesse Ketcbum. Few men saw
greater changes in Toronto than he did in
his four score years c f life. And it may
also be said that very||few mm .spent a
long life with such complete unselfishness aa
he did.
At the meeting of the sessions called for
April 29th there were three magistrates
present, who, though, immediately ad-
journed until the following May 4th, there
being as the minutes quaintly record,
"nothing'particular before the zourt."
When the Magistrates assembled on the
date fixed among more trivial matters
there was " laid before the court an esti-
mate of the expense attending the repair of
floor of the jail, which vas approved and re-
commended that the chairman doap{.lyto his
Excellency the Lieut. -Governor that he v. ill
be pleased to direct that the spike nallii be
furnished from the King's stores, as there
are not any of the description required to
be purchased at York."
The court at this rame meeting also order-
ed that the ansessment of rateable property
in the Home District remain at one penny ia
thepound, which was the sirnie as in Irhe yew
preceding. The next meeting was on May
ISth, when there was no business before tht
court, which accordingly adjourned fbr »
m
■: i.ir
MXB
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
■•, I
WMk. WiMa Umt ni«( ■gaia on May S6lh,
tiMj »ppelatod Mr. WUIiMi Knott,
k««per of tho HottM of Corraotien, for
tbo HooM Dittriot. With tho oiooption
•( tbe oTor rocurring oomplaint* »bont iho
Bon-p«rfoniiMie« or ill-p«rforin»no« of th«
■l»CuU labor, nothing f nrthor tnn»ir«d at
thoM MMiona worthy of notice. Thoy ad-
journod en Jnno 1 1th, not to mMt again
nntil July 9th. The latter date waa that
npon whieli Jeaat Updegraff waa */o have
been brought before the eourt for hia dialoyal
ezpreaaiona reapeotiog hia Moat Graoioua
iMajeatT George the Third, but when thia
auguatbodyaaaeinbled their minutea record :
" the bench warrant iaaued to take the aaid
Updegraff waa raturned, aa he could not
be found. " And he never waa found, and
very probably no one waa one bit the worae
•wing to the faot that he eaoaped.
There were aeveral paltry caaea ot araault
•od battery for trial at thia date but notb-
Ids whatever of any general intereat The
■aJary of the keeper of the Houae et Cor-
leetion waa fixed at £10 currency per an-
nua, (|40). Thia waa very amall certainly
but probably the dutiea ware equally light
and aa Mr. Knott waa alao keeper of the
jail, he w.*a not ao very badly off.
"Hie court did not meet ajrain until Octo-
ber 8, the Magiatratea preaant being Mesara.
Thonua Ridout, Donald McLean, , William
Allan, Duncan Cameron, Richard Beasley,
Samuel Smith, Richard Uatt and William
Applegarth, the two laat being new names.
William Warren Baldwin Eaq. Juittor
Judge of the Home Diatrict l'ourt,applied at
theae aeaaiona to be allowed to open the
Diatrict Court in the Upper Houae which
waa granted. The "Upper Houae ' referred
to meant the chamber occupied by the
Legialative Counoil now-a-daya aa the Sen-
ate. There waa nothing of intereat in the
proceedinga of any of the meetiiiga ef the
Seaaiona until December 9th, when, before
the' magiatratea then aaacmbled, the clerk
read tbist letter :
SHBRirr's Officb, York, 1th Doc.. 1811.
Bin.— I beg leave to state to you that the
wrlsoners in the cells of the jail of the Home
DUtrict suffer much from cold and damp, there
betng no method of communicating heat from
the chimnies, nor any bedsteads to raise the
atraw from the floors, which lie nearly, if not
altogether, on the ground. I have to request
that you will represent these matters to your
brother magistrates, and suggest that a small
■tove in the lobby of each range of orlla, a rough
bedatead fur each cell, together with somo ruga
«r blankets, will add much to tho comfort of the
unhappy prisoners confined, and, it is to be
hoped will remove the grievance complained
•( to. sir.
Your most obedient bumble servant,
(Signed) John Bbikie, Sherifll
Thomas Ridout, Esq..
Chairm&D Q. S. IToma Diatrint.
When tUa eommanioation from tka
Sheriff waa read it naturally oauaed a good
deal of diaeuaalon and it waa eventually
ordered:— "That the treasurer do procure
two aoiall mettle (aic) atovea and pipes— and
to fnrniah auch bedsteada, blanketa or ruga,
aa nuy ba found aeoeaaary for the pria-
onera "
At the aeaaiona which aaiemblad on
December 28th the following people applied
for and were granted permiasion to open
taverna in ttra town of York, viz.:
William Smith, Junior, John Evana
Joaeph B. Abbot, 8eth Cook, Andrew
O'Keiffe, John Jordan, Joaeph Hunt,
Oaboma Cox and Thomaa Hamilton.
Tha faot that stoves were ordered for the
jail baa been mentioned already. They were
ao ordered on December 9th, but on February
18th, more than two montha later, though
the atovea were there, there waa no fuel tor
them. On the date juat named Mr. Thomaa
Kidout, in hia capacity aa ohairman of the
Quarter Sesaions, signified to the court thai
the keeper of the Home Diatrict jail "prayed
that the court would grant him firewood for
the two atovea lately erected for the uae of
the criminala in the lobby of the cella. "
Eight corda of wood were then ordered to be
purchased " for the uae of the aaid atovea
thia winter."
i ha question of atatute labor was again
to the fore at the aeaaiona held on April
18th, 1812, when among the many other
notices in relation to the aame subject it waa
ordered, to quote the exact worda of the
minute book :— " That Thomaa Ridout,
Esquire, do perform the whole of hia atatute
labor of thia year on Duke atreet opposite
to hia premises, or on any part of Duke
street whereby he may be moat benefitted."
How very accommodating ? But ao long aa
the atatute labor was performed and per-
formed properly, it mattered not a jot
whether Mr. Ridout ex< cuted hia ahare »[,
Duke atreet or anywhere elae. The roadn
required ao much to be done to them, and
with all the statute labor, so little good was
efifected in their state, that ao long aa each
occupier tulfiUed hia dutiea, whether in one
place or another, it wcs sufficient.
Benjamin Cozens had for seme time been
performing the duties of high constable, but
at these sessions Charles Baynes ^ a
pointed to succeed him in that of^' e
town of York. Among the ilea
appointed at the same i the
name of Jonathan Caiwthra figures piou-
oualy. But a glimpseX^aSorded us b> nese
minutes of the preparawVj that were then
being made all through Uppx Canada for
the impending war with the United States
of America Many of those who bad been
iLAl^DMARKS OF TORONTO.
1003
>D from tka
r MUMd A good
WM •vcntuatly
r«r do procure
and pipoi— »nd
ankata or rugi,
for tho prU-
MMmbUd on
people applied
jiaioii to open
[ York, viz. :
John Evana
Cook, Andrew
Joaepli Hunt,
milton.
ordered for the
dy. They were
>ut on February
■ later, though
waa no fuel tor
ed Mr. Thontaa
sbairman of the
the court that
ict jail "prayed
lim firewood for
1 for the use of
of the cells."
n ordered to be
the aaid stoves
abor wuB again
IS held on April
le many other
I subject it waa
words of the
imaa Ridouk,
|e of his statute
street opposite
part of Duke
t benetitted."
But so long aa
med and per-
d not a jot
his share )i.
The roadK
to them, and
little good was
long as each
hether in one
nt.
me time been
onstable, but
,ynes s ai
off' •
it
I the
res -picu-
ua b> nese
It were then
Canada for
Inited States
lio bad been
appointed U acrve aa •outablcs were az-
oused, on the grom.d of their " being volun-
teers for the flank oompanies." Among
those so excused were these :— Seth Cook,
William Shaw, Robert Moore, Jonathan
Cawthra, and several others, both in York
and in the township of the same name.
When the court assembled on April 30th
they had to consider a complaint made by
Andrew MoOlashan, of the township of York,
that " Ihomas Mercer, senior, of Yonge
street, had shut up the public highway
or road near to his dwollini; house
called Yonge street" The magistrates
ordered Mercer to appear on the 9tl> of the
following month to show cause why he had
so acted. He duly appeared before the
bench, who appear to have shirked adjudi-
cating in the matter, for they ordered the
compTainanta *' to apply for redress to the
surveyor of roads aa the law direuti."
A case of assault and battery preferred by
one Philip ( oady against James McNabb,
at the sessions holden on July 14th, is
worth referring to, as it was brought to an
end tventually in a manner never anticipated
by either prosecutor or defendant. When
the case was called on it was stated that the
defendant waa then "on actual service
with the flank companies at Niagara."
The hearing waa accordingly adjourned
until a later date, but before that
date arrived Mr. McNabb had fallen
in battle and passed away forever
from the cognizance of earihly courts and
ma^istniteiL
it is strange that at the sessions which
assembled on October 22nd, no notice what-
ever WAS taken of the battle that had just
been fought at Queenston, where the Presi-
dent and CJomraander-io-Chief . (ieneral Sir
Isaac Brook, had fallen with the words
*' push on the York volunteers " on his
lips ; such thou/h is the oaae.
A guard for the district jail was ordered
at this moetiaa, but the court decided to
defer to a future time the question of " the
propriety of furnishmg firewood and candles
for the said guard." But eventually it waa
decided that they might " with propriety "
be furnished, not only with fuel, but also
with light.
On January 12th, 1813, an assault case
was heard against three defendants named
Hudson. One Simeon Morton waa evidence
for the defence, and after the jury hud
returned into oourt with a verdict of not
guilty, be and one of the iuiy found them-
selves in a very "tight place." The stoiy
is both inter> sting and amusing and is thus
told ill t* ' minutes : — " As soon as the jury
had givL.i in their verdict, Mr. Baldwin,
attorney for the prosecution, moved that
Samuel Jackson, one of the above named
jury, be taken into custody on an affidavit
then made in court by John Bagell, crier ol
•aid oourt, for the foUowing'.reasons. to wit :
When said jury were going from the court
house to the room prepared for them to
retire to oinsider on their verdict, one
Simeon Morton, defendant's witness, ajcost-
ed said juror, one Samuel ilacksou, in tL«<se
words, to wit — ' Mind your eye,' to which
said Jackson replied, ' Never fear.' *'
Upon hearing this charge the court order-
ed that these two men should enter into
reoog .izances themselves in £50 and two
sureties in £25 each to appear and answer
for the alleged misdemeanor on January
16th, which happened to be the following
Saturday. When that day arrived it is
solemnly chronicled that : — " The court ex-
amined the parties accused of a contempt of
this court on the 12th instant, and hu'nbly
pleading ignorance of anything nieanl, they
were discharged from thrir recognizanue.''
When the magistrates assembled on
January 25th, which they did pursuant
to adjournment, no less a person
than Mr. Quetton St. George was hailed
before them lo show cause why he had failed
to assume the duties of collector for the
town of York, to which office he had been
duly appointed. Mr. St. George's answer
was a very ingenious one, namely — that he
had received no official notification of the
fact that he bad been so appointed, until he
waa called upon to answer the charge of
neglecting his duties. Such a re><ly would
be orediiable even now to a certain illus-
trious statesman, whose replies to awkward
questions are as mystifying aa they are
lengthy. I^ut in the case of Mr. St. George
the court went straight to the point, decid-
ing then and there that the excuse waa
insufficient, and enquiring if he was willing
to do his duty. Hearing he was not, they
straightway fined him two pounds " for
such refusal, ' and then proceeded to "name
and appoint Stephen Jarvia, Eiq. , aa a fit-
ting person to serve as collector for the town
of York." The court then adjourned sine
d;e.
A special session was held at tho offices of
the ( lerk of the Peace on February 1.3th,
before Messis. Ridout, Allan McLean ud
Alexander Wood, this being the latter
gentleman's first appearance as a magistrate,
when th« cin rn^an " laid before the court
the affidavit of George Taylor Denii^on
against Lewis Stiles, a petit constable of the
town of York, for refusing to obey the orders
of Alexander W ood, Esq., one of the magis-
trates above named, in a press warrant to
press horses and sleighs to convey his
Majesty's troops from this to the bead of
' ''^1
1004
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
V.' i\
the la'^e and Fort George, when to him
directefl "
" The said Lewis Stilns," cb« micut.es go
on to say, " having been nent for, appeared
and 3aid that he had formerly been
:mnoaed upon by Amaaa Stubbins,
one of the petit constables of York,
before this year, and supposed
" that when said Stubbins handed him the
presH warrant, that he meant to impose the
daiy on him as he hud done before, but that
he was at all times nilling to do his duty as
consiable/'
The court having matuiely weighed and
considered Lewis Stiles' offence and defence
came to the conclusion : — " That taking into
consideration this excuse and hi* appearance
of penitence, direct that he be dismi^ed."
He was dismissed accordingly.
The following extract from the miDutef^
relating to the jail, its keeper and its OC'
cupants, is given just as it is recorded : — "It
is ordered tiiat William Knots, the gaoler,
1)0 allowed for the lait year ending the 10th
Apiil, 1813, the sum of sixty-two pounds
ten shillings provincial currency for his
■alary in consequence of his additional
trouble in having so many prisonirs in his
custody, but it is not to be a presi lent for
the amount of salary in future. " The words
"prisonirs" instead of "prisoners" and
•* ^resident " instead of " precedent" are so
written in the original.
On April 27th the minutes coutain this
brief and painful notice : "N. B. — In conse-
quence of the enemy having pouesaion of
the town of York the court could not meet
on the 27th April." No meetings were held
indeed imtil June, when on the 10th of that
month a special sessions was called for the
purpose of hearing complaints that were
made a^'ai:ist John Jordan for refusing to
have soldiers billetted upon him, and also
against Nathaniel Hastings for purchasing
military stores. The former was fined ^10
and the latter $i'}, or lo be committed to
the Home District jail for ihe space of two
months. Jordan paid the fine, but Hastings
preferred to go to jail, and was accommo-
dated acooriting to his desire.
A petition was presented to th* court at
their meeting ou July 17th, from James
Crawford, for remuneration for ferrying sol-
diers and prisoners across the River H umber,
and asking for an allowance for the same.
Tlie court wtra of opinion that the prayer
of the petition oould not be granted, it be-
ing for the ferrying of soldiers, prisoners of
war, eta This means in all likelihood that
the court considered this was a charge
racher upon the Imperial than upon the
local exchequer.
In conuentioa with the war of 1812, it
may be here mentioned that on July 24th,
1813, a communication was received from
Secretary Edward MacMahon, addr>:ised to
Mr. William Allan, aa treasurer of the
Home District, directing that : — "A certain
sum of money received from Mennonites and
Tankers amounting to £710 15 0 (^,843)—
is completely without the control of the
magistrates." It was cCirected that this
money, which had been paid as
finea for exemptiona from mili-
tary service by these sectariu
should 'forthwith be paid into the hands of
the Acting Receiver-General." By a later
minute it is learned that thia direction was
duly fulfilled, as were similar auma received
from the aame sources at subsequent periods.
On September 18th, in thia aame year, at
a special session, ihe court took into con-
sideration the "assizing and fixing" the price
of bread in th4 town of York. At that time
fine wheaten flout was .< two dollars a
barrel. The court made this order, namely,
"That for fifteen uayd from the date here-
of every lo<vf of fine wheaten bread, weigh-
ing fou. pounda, ahall be aold at one shilling
and eight pence, New York currency." i hat
means that the price of a four pound loaf
waa as nearly as possible twenty and a half
centa. A very trying matter it must
have been for everyone, especially those
who had large families and small means.
On the same date a resolution waa unani-
mously adopted by the court to thia atfeot,
"that the Clerk of the Peace do write to
the president through his secretary, for his
honor's information, the decayed state of
the Don bridge, aubm^ttins to hia honor the
necessity of a new bi?dge over the said
river, to prevent accidents and delay in the
communication." After passing thia resolu-
tion the court adjourned sine die.
The court met again on October I2th and
sat de die in diem until the 19th iust. , but
beyond the usual trivial matters there was
no business before them of more than ordin-
ary interest. They met again on January
11th, 1814, when sc/eral defen-
dants appeared to answer to the
charge of not lenr'iing their horses and
sleighs -..'hen impressed for (Government
service iSome wore fined, and others, hav-
ing a good defence, w ere acquitted, while
others were admonished not to let such a
thing occur again. At the meeting of the
sessions, held on March 19th, a letter was
read from Lieut. Thomas Taylor, Fort
Major at York, the contents of which were
as foUews :
York, 9th March, 1814.
Sin,— A military guard beluK reqnired to do
duty at the jail for the security of priaontrs
there conflnud, Colonel Stewart has directed
tue to hpprize you of the inefllcient state or
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
that on July 24th,
M raceiTeii from
hon, addr*3iied to
treasurer of the
ihat : — "A certain
n Mennonites and
0 15 0 (?2,843)—
le control of the
irected that this
been paid as
from mili-
theie sectaries
into the bands of
iral." By a later
his direction was
ilar sums received
ubsequent periods,
this same year, at
rt tooic into con-
id fixing" the price
>rk. At that time
'.i two dollars a
this order, namely,
om the date here-
btcn bread, weigh-
sold at one shilling
•k currency." Ihat
% four pound loaf
wenty and a half
matter it must
especially those
i small means.
ilution was unani-
irt to this alTeot,
lace do write to
secretary, for his
decayed state of
z to his honor the
over the said
and delay in the
>a8siDg this resoiu-
me die.
October 12th and
19th lust., but
latters there was
more than ordin-
again on January
sc«reral defen-
auswer to the
:heir horses and
for (Government
and others, hav-
acqaitted, while
at to let nuch a
meeting of the
Hh, a letter was
las Taylor, Fort
ts ot whieh were
gth March, 18U.
InK required to do
iirity of prisoners
wart has direcicd
netflcient state of
that p'ace. The out«ide gate as wMl -x^ most of
the inner doors being withoat fa8r<<ninKS
renders the securing the prisoners more diffi-
cult and indeed more cioubtful than
It they wore provided with locks and
keys. This circumstance has been reported to
the gaoler fur aomo time, but, no measures hav-
ing beentatcen to repair tbeci, the commanding
otncer considered it as incumbent on him to
direct the same to be mentioned to you.
I have, etc.,
(Signed) Tbomab Taylor,
Fort Major.
This letter caused a considerable amount
of diKcuEsion, and the decision finally arrived
at was this : " That as the jail was taken
possession of by the military, and is still in
their poitsessioa, which excludes the magis-
trates fr6m any authority, or access to it at
present — and unless a proportion of the jail
is given up to be at their disposal, with free
access to it, they do not conceive that thsy
have any rij;ht to expend any monies in
making the necessary repairs."
The proceedings of the sessions held on
April 25th, 1814, are of the greatest interest.
No less than six magistrates were present
As soon as i he court was opened Colonel
Stewart, commanding officer at this station,
(York)^atten<led and produced a letter to
him from C. Foster, the military secretary,
to the President, General Drummond, who
was also commander-in-chief of his Majesty's
forces in Canada, dated Kingston, April 13th,
1814, and also a proclamation of the Fresi-
dent's declaring martial law to be in force
throu hout the province of Upper Canada,
as far a^ relates to the procuring of provi-
sions :md forage for the same forces. And
whereas it is requested in said letter,
that prior to the patting of the said
law in force the magistrates should affix a
fair and equitable price to each article of
produce, provision and forage, at which the
same should be sold and delivered. The
CbUrt thereupon decided at once to issue a
list of prices for the articles named above,
which was ?s follows : —
Article. Delivered. At Farm,
£ 8. d, £ 6. d.
Flour, per barrel,... 3 10 0 3 0 0
Wheat, per bushel ... 100 100
Peas, per bushel 7 6 6 3
Barlev, per bu&hel ... 76 6 .^
Rye, per bushel 7 6 6 3
Oats, per bushel 5 0 3 9
Hay, per ton 5 00 3 15 0
Straw, per ton 3 0 0
Beasts on foot, per cwt 2 5 0
Slaughtered, per lb . . 7^
Pork, salted, per bbl 7 10 0
Pork, carcases "h
Viutton, per lb 9
Veal, per lb 8
Butter, per lb 1 S
Hread, 4 lb. loaf 1 6
1 hese prices were ordered to be posted in
a conspicuous place, and the Clerk of the
Peace was ordered to at once send a copy of
them to the President's secretary, which
was accordin({ly done.
On A pril 30th at the sittings of the court
a rather serious matter was brought before
the magistrates, an information being laid
by Captain D..niel \V«4hbourn,of the Incor-
porated Militia to this effect: — " That one
Charles Ward, a private in His Majesty's
19lh Regiment of Light Dragoons had
used threats against his life, and the
said Ward being then a prisoner
in court. Ordered that Captain Washbourn
do prove the charge against the said Ward."
Witnesses were then brought forward to
prove that Ward had spoken to the following
effect, Duncan McCrimmon testifying that :
"The prisoner Charles Ward, at the house
of William Smith, innkeeper, last evening,
used threats against Captain Wnshbourn to
wit : 'that if ever he was in action with th«
eneniy when he could get a chance to kill
Captain Washbourn he would do it, for h*
was ad d rascal, and many other expres*
sions to the same effect and meaning. ' " Other
witnesses were called who testified to th«
same effect, the result being that Ward
was convicted. It is amazing to leu rn that
the only punishment inflicted upon
Charles \Sara was that he was bound over
in merely nominal recognizances to keep
the peace towards all his \J ajesty's subjects,
and especially towards Captain Washbourn.
A greater miscarriage of justice it is almost
impossiblefto conceive. Had Ward been tried
by court martial, as he ought properly to
bave been, his sentence would have been a
very severe one.
At the Sessions which assembled on June
14th Mr. William Jarvis took his seat as a
Magistrate for the first time. At those
which met on July 12th Messrs. William
Chewitt and Samuel Ridout were also added
to the bench.
There was nothing of any moment from
this date until the sessions which assem-
bled on .April 11th 181.'), if we except the
fact that one prisoner convicted of larceny
was ordered to stand in the pillory for the
■pace of one hour.
At the opening of the 'sessions in April,
the commission being opened an^^ read, th*
following proclamation was read —
"Oyez, Oyez, Oyez. You, David Hill,
late of the township of York in the Home
District, laborer, by virtue of his Majesty 3
writ of exe^eat issued a;;ain8t you, you are
demanded to come forth and appear to
answer to a bill of indictment found against
yciu for High .Treason, otherwise a judg-
ment of outlawry will he \\%d aguinst you."
. f|i
1006
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Samuel Jackson wai likewiac proclaitned for
aaimilar offence."
On April 22nd the Mafl^trates took into
copiideration the rctrulatione for a market
in the town of York and^unanimouily agreed
to the following rulea:
lat — That a market house having
been erected, the aame rhall be the
place . where bntcherb' meat, butter,
eggs, poultry, fiah and vegetablea ahall
be exposed for sale. 2ad— That every
day in the week, excepting Sunday,
■hati be market day. Srd^Thal no person
ahall sell any of the above articUs on said
market days excepting in the market place
between the hours of 6 a. m. and 4 p. m.
under a penalty of fifteen shillings.
There were a crreat many other regula-
tions, and Benjamin Cozens waa appointed
clerk of tha m&rkei to see them duly carried
into efTeot.
On July 22nd an affidavit was made by
Thomas Hamilton, deputy collector of the
town of York, that the following persona,
namely, Leonard Kellog?, Samuel Brush,
Henry Carswell and Wil iam Collins, all
citizens of the United States of i^merica had
ofiered for sale in the town of York, goods
and wares, etc, as hawkers and peddlers
This waa hu offence against the law, and
summonses were issued against the four
persons named above . They duly appeared,
and Kellogc practically pleading guilty was
fined £25, and to remain in custody of the
sheriff until the line was paid. Carswell waa
also convicted and similarly fined. Brush
and Carswell were acquitted.
There was nothing of any importance at
any ot the various sessions held until that
which assembled on^pril 27th, 1816, when
Jonathan Cawthra appeared for the court
and informed the magistrates ihat he pre-
ferred paying the fine to performin.' his
duties as town clerk of York, an office tc
which he had been appointed. He waa ac
cordingly fined two pounds currency and
cocts, which fine was, the minutes record,
" piid to tlie treasurer in court and costs to
clerk." Jordan I'osl, jr., was then ap-
pointed town clerk in plaeo of Jonathan
Cawthra, and duly notified thereof.
Tiie famous Home District (Jrammar
school and its affairs occupied much of the
time of thesu sessions, a minute of the 27th
instant recordincr as follows : —
■• On consideration of the petition
ol the Honorable and Reverend Doctor
John Stiaclian D. D., teacher of
the District Public schooh and the
documeutti accompanying, ordered that out
of \:he funds of the district unappropriated,
the sum of £200 be immediately placed at
the disposal uf the Hunoiablo and ilevercnd
Dr.Strachan for the purpose of aiding In the
building of the achool houae for the Home Dia-
trict in the lota appropriated for that pur-
poae by the Govemment,and that the further
aum of £200 be appropriated for the same
purpose out of the funds to come into the
handa of the district treasurer for the uses of
the district in the year 1817. Also that the
aum of sixty pounda be paid to the said
Honorable and Reverend Dr, John Strachan
aa a remuneration for monies advanced by
him for rent of variona roona for the achool
purpoaes, and that until a achoolhouse ahall
be erected, the rent of a achool room be paid
out of the diatriot funda and that the treas-
urer be hereby authorised to pay the above
aumj.
Ordered "that the chairman be instructed
to acquaint Dr. Stracham with the above
resolution. "
At the sessions «.^a«mbled on October 16th,
1816, a pi iaoner convicted of petit larceny
was aentenced to one month'a imprisonment
and at the expiration ot that period to be
whipped in public, receiving thirty nine
lashes (''forty stripes save one") and then be
discharged. Among the new names added
to the commission of the peace at this period
are those of Stephen Jarvis, George Playter,
Grant Powell and William Chewett.
In the next year when the court met on
April 17th the Grand Jury presented a bill
of indictmeut against Allan Napier McNubb
for sending a challenge to Robert Nicholl
to fight a duel. Mr. McNabb was ordered
to enter into recognizances to answer the
charge at the next court of Oyer and Termi-
ner.
These reminiscensea may fitly conclude
v/ith the following amusing account of a
charge preferred against one William
Ostvum at the sessions which mot at York
on the 17th May, 1817.
"William Ostrum, a citizen of the United
States, now of Pickering, waa brought be-
fore the court by a warrant signed by Wil-
liam Allan, Esq. , for drawing a picture with
the representation ot a lyon (sic) with a
crown, and an eagle hovering over him, with
the crown in his beak, chastizing (sic) the
lyon (sic) in derision of the Government of
this Province.
"Ordered that William Ostrum for pjb-
li»liing ,. seditious libel be leforred to the
Comniis.sioners under the Alien Act. Also
that John Majors,of the townsiiip of rioUer-
ing, farmer, who it appears to the cuurt
was present and proii.pted the sM
Ostrum to draw tlie picture above nanieJ,
sliall enter into his recognizance forthwith
for his pood behavior, for twelve months
from tlie date hereof, himself in the; sum of
£100 and pledges in the si:n» of £')0 eduli,
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
1007
Q80 of aiding in the
>e for the Home Dis-
tted for that pur-
,nd that the further
ted for the aame
to come into the
lurer for the uses of
117. Also that the
paid to the taid
Dr, John Strachan
Dnies advanced by
lons for the school
ftschoolhouse shall
ichool room be paid
md that the treas-
l to pay the above
irman be instructed
a with the above
ed on October 16th,
d of petit larceny
nth's imprisonment
that period to be
ieiving thirty nine
e one") and then be
new names added
peace at tl.is period
iris, George Playter,
m Chewett.
the court met on
ry presented a bill
ail Napier McNabb
to Robert NichoU
Nabb was ordered
Ices to answer the
of Oyer and Termi'
ay fitly conclude
Ibing account of a
st one William
hich mot at York
^zen of the United
was brought be-
^ni signed by VVil'
ring a picture with
llyon (sic) with a
ring over him, witli
:ha8tizing (sic) the
^e (Jovcrnmeuc of
Ostrum for pab-
leferreu to the
Alien Act. Also
jwnsiiip of Ficiier-
lars to the court
liipted the saiJ
JLure above named,
Inizance foithwith
^r twelve months
self in the suin uf
siMii of i'oO each.
and that the parties do pay all OMti, which
they done as follows : Reoogniiancej, John
Majors £100, Abram Lessee £50. Condi-
tions ; that John Majors be of good beharier
towards all his Majesty's liege subjecta for
one year from the date hereof. "
The minutes after this present little
matter for comment What is of general in-
terest has been spoken of in previous article*
in the Landmarks.
CHAPTER CCLXIV.
THE WOOD GORRE8PONDENOE.'
Mr. Wood and tke Rarlv York Kesldenis—
Dr. Strachan's tajrlnc* aad •plBlent— Ab
" OIBcer and a GeBllensan"— An Acreslle.
Mr. Alexander Wood, to whom the fol-
lowing letters on business polities and vari-
ous other matters were written, was a well-
known citizen of York in the early years of
the present century. His residence and
Elace of business was on the north side of
line street, near Frederick street, not far
from the first brick houM ever built in
Toronto— that building now occupied by the
Uanada Company.
Mr. ^\ cod had a very large acquaintance
and was greatly respected by men of all
shades of political and religioue opinion.
A« will be seen, the letters cover a long and
eventful period in the history of the upp«>-
province. The first is in French, and was
written by Mr. Quetton St. George on a
purely business matter, ihoueh there is a
touch of humor in the sentence, "Je le
prondrai aveo plaisir vu que les sauvages
m'en demendant a tout moment." The letter
runs thus :—
•' Windham, 7, 8, 1801.
" Monsieur, —
"Si vous avez encore de cett* flanelle
blanche, je vous prie m'en enveyer 24 on 30
verges, cu si vous voulez m'envoyer le
restant dc la piec^.. Je le prendrai avee
plaisir vu que les sauvages m'en demendant
a tout moment,
"Envoyez moi, aussi, 10 a 12 verges ratinne
blanc, bleuc ou brun. la couleur ni faira rien :
qui ce soit de la meilieur marche que vous
aurez dans le cas, on vous en auriez pas. Je
vous serai inliniment oblige de m'en acheter
cetve (juant:.te chez un de nos voisons"
"Je ne compte pis aller a York avant le 15
Novembre, vu que je vais parti pour aller
loin dans les terres. J'ai, kc,
"QOSTTON Sf GeOBOC''
"Alexandek Wood, Es<i."
Mr. St (jeorge in his letter ordered at least
24 yards of white flannel and ten or twelve
yards ratteen, and told Mr. Wood he could
not be in York until the November follow-
ing, hii letter being written in August.
The next letter in the series is brief
business- Ilk*. It is from Colonel Givina,
and reads thus : —
" Garrison, Jan. 13th, 1802.
" Dear Sim —Plea** to make cut my
aceount with you, as I with to see how w •
*tand. Years, J. Givins."
From th* dat* ot Colonel Givin*' l*tt*r in
1802 unUl April 7th, 1806, coTcn a period
of more than four yearsr daring which time
Mr. Wood'* correspondenc* was very larg*,
but a* all, or nearly all. of ths Utters r*f*r
to privat* family matters and pes**** bat
littl* g*n*ral interest they are not qaotad.
Mr. Wood wa* a great friend of Dr.
Strachan, the first Anglican Bishop of To>
ronto, who in 1806 wa* a schoolma*t*r and
clergyman at Cornwall. He also transacted
a good deal of business for him. Under dat*
" Cornwall, April 7th, 1806,*' Dr. Strachan
thus writes ; —
" My Dear Sir — I received both your
favore per Messrs. Cust and Sherwood. I
have no letters from Scotland for some time
and I seldom s*t much new*. My mother
finds too much labor from her advanced a«*
in writing long letters. One of yours from
Mrs. Paterson, in point of intelligence, con-
tains more than a dozen of mine. * • »
Mr. Wood had evidently asked Dr. Strach-
an to send him *ome of his sermons to read,
for after referring to other matters the doe-
tor thus proceeds :
" In regard to the perusal of my sermons,
the only objections I can have is that I
seldom have more than one copy, of which
the writing is very indififerent and
full of corrections. I commonly writ*
my sermon on the Saturday and preach
it on Sunday and as my ideas rush
rapidly forward my hand is unable ta
write them quick enough, which occasions
my slipping out words, and this, added to
my closeness of writing, would make it diffi-
cult for anyone to read them but myself "
" I may get two or three copies out, how-
ever, or if you promise me a good sub-
scription, I may publish a volume. I write
always from my own reflections, and seldom
have any other book on the table but the
Bible, when composing them. I am not
afraid, therefore, of being called a pla>i;iarist,
and that I believe is the principal merit
which my sermons possess, and it is a merit
of a very doubtful kind. I laid down two
rules for myself when I began to preach,
which I have rigidly observed : First, never
to preach any sermon but my own ; second,
never to preach the same sermon to the
same congregation a second time, during the
first seven vears at least. The first rule
makes me think for myself, the second is an
antidote to laziness. 1 have now abeat tw*
i: ■■ il
U i
i I
T^tTT^^
1U08
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
haadred lermons in manuscript, all written
by my own hand. > I slialt show you a dozen
or two of thft beat.wlien you come to see me.
" The bill .you tent ine cainc safe. Tiie
House have done wonders this year, and
evinced a spirit of eaterprise and - improve-
ment, from which we may au ^ur favorably
in their subsequent deliberations. 'I'he bill
they have passed for purchasing th^ articles
necessary ito > illustrate a course of experi-
mental philosophy certainly does them in-
finite credit, and will be of threat advantage
to the youth of the province. No kind of
studies enlarge the mind so much as investi-
gations into the works of nature, for the
farther we advance, and ttie more accurate
our deductions, the more we are convinced
of the perfection of that Being who created
the whole.
" I was going to continue my examination
of Thompson's Castle of Indolence, but
could not lay my hand upon the place in my
commonplace book, where I had marked
th« stanza at which I had stopped, but I
shall resume it in my next.
I find au agricultural and commercial
society instituted in your city I do not
comprehend their object very clearly by
their resolutions, as they do not go sutfici-
ently into detail. The advantages to be de-
rived from such socieJes, when conducted
with spiiit and liberality, are great ; every-
thing depends on the strength of the Friends
and activity "of the members I regret
Burns, but his death was to be exp^cicd.
He was a man, as far as 1 could jud;;e, of an
excellent heart, and most unquestionably of
great medical knowledge and general infor-
mation. When lie was here last autuniu I
never expected to see him again. Ho was
then mucli reduced, so weak as not to be
able to dress himself or to bow his body
towards the ground. If yoa have Beattie's
poems and will send me tlie perusal of them
1 shall enga.;e to send you two or three
stanza s of the Minstrel Continued. 1 hope
your party work ceases as the spring ad-
vances. I am, my dear sir,
" Always Yours Sincerely,
"John Strachan."
In the foregoing letter the Burns referred
to was Ur. David Burns, at one time a naval
surgeon, afterwartls C'jrk of the Crown for
Upper ("anada, being the first holder of that
utUce. He was also one of the Masters in
Chancery. There was an obituary notice of
Mr. Burns in the Gazette and Oracle, pub-
liahed on February 15th, 1806, from which
the following short extract i" riven :
" He thought and acted but foi tublio good ;
His reasoiiinK pure, liis mind all maaly liKht,
Made day ot that which else appeared as night;
In him iiistri^ction aimed at this Ki'f^at end :
Our fates to soften and our lives amend,"
Dr. Alexander Burns, of the Queen's
Rangers, was of another family, though he
is sometimes mistaken for David Burns.
The next letter in the series is also from
Dr. Strachan. His remarks on himself and
his political proclivities are most interesting,
especially read as they are now by tho light
of later events. I'he letter is dated
"Cornwall, June 13, 18))6.
"Mt Dkar Sir,— Our friend, Mr. Auldjo,
delivered me your favor in person, and I am
glad to tind that you have had no return of
your enemy, the a;;ue, this spring. J must
confess that I a'n under a sort of ' eegiikge-
ment to pay you a visit, and I should
perform it with the greatest pi asure
•rtcre you anywhere but at Yv>rk, which
of all' places. I .am told, is at pro-
sent the most disagreeable in the pro-
vince. Were it possible for me to remain
in your hospitable mansion without once
stirring out, 1 believe I should endeavor to
see you this fall, but as that cannot be done,
I am afraid that I must put it off till a Gover-
nor makes a peace between your parties. You
will naturally say that I have no connexion
with either ; very true, but 1 should not be
at York threfe days without giving ofl'ence.
But you will say, what need I care ? Why
very little, but as T l'o to enjoy myself, it
might tend to interrupt this enjoyment. The
lake is another barrier ; T am always sick,
and altho' I am not afraid ot r'.eath, I cannot
relish a fit of sea sickness Whether I shall
shut: myself up at home, pursue some literary
scheme or travel through the couiitiy, I
have not determined, nor have I takim an
oathnot to visit York.tho'I do not think that
I should reap' the same satisfaction that I
would do were I visiting you alone. But to
have done with this.
"Dr. Mo.Aulay wrote me that you were to
remit me fifty pounds sterling on his accouiit,
but before I liad notice of tiiis, 1 had drawn
upon tiie doctor for thirty pounds cur enoy.
I will thank you tlierefore to send mc no nioie
than the remainder of the fifty poumis
sterling, after deducting ihirty poumiB
currency, which you will remit to the doctor
himself, who may iiave bt'en put to incon-
venience periiaps in paying my bill, as lie
had made this arraiiL'ement. I send you
my salary bills and cortifici'.tes to get signed.
1 will thank you to get them done at the
time, as I sliall be in want of money soon,
ior 1 have some payments to make evrly
next month. I am always giving you a
great deal of trou j1« without any reuumer-
atiou.
"We have heard of so many different Go?-
ernors that it is impossible to say who siiall
come with certainty till lie make his ap-
pearance. I am glad to think, however,
^^
"^h^^'l^' I
^mmmmmmmmm
na, of ih« Queen's
er family, though he
for David Burns.
i Bttries is also from
larks on himself and
1 are most interesting,
are now by the light
tter is dated
tLL, June 13, 181)6.
r friend, Mr. Auldjo,
r in person, and I am
ive had no return of
this spring. T mutt
r a sort of efij^age-
visit, and I should
greatest pi asiire
)ut at. York, which
told, is at pre-
eeable in the pro-
le for me to remain
unsion without once
[ should endeavor to
that cannot be done,
put it off till a Gover-
seu your parties. You
I have no connexion
, but 1 should not be
hout giving offence,
need I care ? Why
p to enjoy myself, it
this enjoyment. The
; 1 am always sick,
lid of f'.eath, I cannot
«s Whether I shall
pursue some literary
ugh the counliy, I
or have I tak«n an
I do not think that
satisfaction that I
you alone. But to
me that you were to
rling on his acoouiit,
f this, 1 had drawn
ty pounds cur ency.
e to send me no moi e
the fifty pouuiis
ng !hirty poumis
1 remit to the doctor
been put to incoii-
ymg my bill, as he
ment. I send you
lici'.tes to get signed.
them done at tbs
ant of money soon,
nts to make early
A'ays giving you a
hout any renuiner-
many different Gof-
le to say who shall
1 he make his ap-
o think, hoMever,
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
1609'
that it !■ likely to be a civil governor. The
union of the civil and military department*
is seldom beneficial to any country — par-
ticularly to a .colony. In a new country
like this there are co many improvements to
be made and so ^^a!ly useful regulations to be
adopted, aa'call for the whole attention of the
Governor. The disadvantage is that our
Governors are commonly more anxious for
the improvement of their purses than of the
Province, and this is the case in all colonies,
liecause certain fees are commonly annexed
to their olBoe and they are careful to exact
them. The Bishop, it is said, returns, but
what he has done 1 have not learned. It is
reported that he has procured a sum of
money to build a palace. The death of Mr.
Pitt would derange his measures, for the
new Ministry, it is probable, would not be so
propitious. He wished to place his Cathe-
dral at Quebec upon the same footing with
those of England, a measure which might
have given dignity to our estn' ashment, and
would have consequently been of use. He
desired also, I believe, to procure some in-
crease to our salaries, in which you may be
sure we cordially wished him success. I
find a chance of i<dndin.g this, and shall con-
clude by telling you ttint I still think myself
your debtor for a letter on Thompson, which
I wi 1 discharge in a few days.
'« I a!r
" My Dear Sir,
" Always Yours Sincerely,
"JOHN' Strachan.''
There is in the Kittor end of 1806 a very
brief note tc Mr. Wood from J. Cameron,
which tells its oaii tale : —
It \'
ORK, 1806
"Deaf. Sir, —If you can communicate
any particulars of tlie early life of the late
Mr. Elmsley I will thank you most particu-
larly, as in thi^ week s Gazette 1 propose
giving a short sketch of it.
" I am yours, etc.,
•' J. Ca.merok.
"A. Wood, Esq;
"Wednesday morning."
Wood acted in many different capa-
as is evidenced ijy ihe f .llowing
Mr,
cities,
letter
" York, 17th June, 1806
"Sir. — Acreeable to the desire of Mr.
Robert Nichols, as expressed in his letter of
theSrdinst, 1 endoae you Mr. Russell s
set of exchange of this date for ei^ht hun-
dred and forcy-three pounds, fifteen shillings,
sterling (equal to £937 lOs Od Halifax cur-
rency), which 1 have endorsed over to
Parker, (Jerrard, Ogilvy & Co., for his ac-
count, which sum is in payment to Mr.
Nii'hols foi five hundred barrels of flour
futnished for the service of the Govera.
ment.
" I am, SWu, Your Most Obdt. Servt.,
"John McPiIll,
" Agent for Purchaser.
"Alex. Wood, Esq., York "
The next Istter to Mr. Wood is of an en-
tirely different nature, being from Dr.
Thorn, an army surgeon then stationed in
Niagara, but who had formerly been in
York.
"Fort George, 5th October, 1806
"Dear Wood, — I am extremely sorry to
find you are like to have a relapse of your
former disease. From the symptoms you
now describe and what formerly took place
durini; my attendance, I have no doubt in
saying it is owing to a fullness of the vessels
of the brain and which will be removed by
blood letting and cathartics applied im-
mediately. However, in order to prevent a
recurrence of the disease I would advise you
to have a seton put into your neck and con-
tinued for some montiis, upon healing of
whic 1 it will be necessary to get your head
sliaved and in future wear a wig. This
last to you who value your hair will seem
hard, but I hope you regard health, the
greatest of blessings, more than'app^arance.
As it will be necessary for you to apply 10
one of the medical men to put
in practice the remedies I have
mentioned to you. if thei • oninion
does not coincide wi^S mine, I shall ho
happy to hear from them and will explain
to them more fully than 1 can to yon, my
op iiion of the seat of the disease, in order
to preve .t a relapse I would advise you to
Uhe a*good deal of exercise, leave off reading
in bed and induce everything that obliges
you for any long period to have your head
lie on your neck a.s in luriliiig. Your stove —
have it removed fron) so near your desk. As
1 know you can always pass your evening';?
in society pleasantly I should advise you to
cultivate it, and to eater into every amuse-
ment you possibly can.
"Elphinstone has got a company in the
Cape regiment; of course, we will lose him.
I look forward to pass a dreary, dull winter
here. Everything seems to run contro (.sic. )
"llememberme to .Mrs. Powell and family,
and wishing you a speedy recovery, believe
me to be, yours sincerely, N. Thom.
"A. Wood, Esq."
The next two letters relate to a contro-
versy Mr. Wood had with Lieut. }>ullock,
of the 41st Regiment, who sonie year-s later
was Adjutant General of Militia tor Uppar
Canada .Mr. SVood had written the gal-
lant soldier on Septemiier 17th, 1806, and
juit four weeks lattr received the following
reply : —
■il;i'?
' i i
}
.1 f ■■;',
1010
LANDMi^RKS OF TORONTO.
" Chippawa, 13tL October. 1806
"Sn.— I raceived youn ti the 17th ult,
with my account for the houao I rented in
York. CoMidermg the very gt'eat expense
•nd trouble; I wae at, and the improyemente
made by me on the premiaei, I really did
euppoee that some abatement would have
been made in the rent. However, 1 enclose
yon a set of bills on M«s«rs. Greenwood ft
Cox, London, for £26 Is 4d sterling. The
balance, which is £8 10a 3d Halifax, 1 will
thank you to pay to Mr Quetton St George.
I have given him an order on you to that
effect. I will trouble you to give Mr. Sher-
riff Willcocks a receipt for me for the rent
I have given him full power to dispose of the
crop I left in the garden, or anything else
left by me on the premises.
" I cannot help remarking the advantage
you took of my absence, in makinc so very
an oxtraordinary charge against me, to my
son, for glass, k«ys, etc., etc. This is not
using me well, or doing justice between man
and man ; I assure you I did not expect
such treatment from you I can with truth
assert that during the time 1 lived in the
house I expended upon it, and the premises,
much more than the amount of i he rent,
besi >es my own fatigue and trouble, and I
an» confident that no other person would
have made the frivolous charges that you
have, some of which are erroneous, particu-
larly the keys to the parlor doora, none of
which I received. As to the panes of glass,
I should suppose you have chait^ed every
one that had the least crack in it, there
being only two wanting when I left the
house, and there were several cracked when
I hrst went into it, which I have no doubt
but you will recollect.
" I am. Sir, Your Most Obedient Servant,
" Richard Bullock.
♦•Alex. Wood, Esq "
Mr. Bullock, as will be seen by his letter,
wan quite willing to insult Mr. Wood and
ask him for a loan in the same breath.
Mr. Wood s reply to the foregoing any-
thing but courteous communication was
botli dignified and businesslike, and was as
follows : —
" NrAiiARA, 29th October, 1806
" Lieut. Bullock, 4l8t Regiment.
" Sir,— Iwasnot alittle surprised on perus-
ing your strange epistle of the 13th current
received by me at York on Sunday morning,
and which I should Imve answered ere now
had I not made up my mind to cross the
lake.
"Your illiberal and unjust remarks I might
paa.s over in silence, satisfied in my own
mind that you will on mature deliberation
find yourself mistaken or misinformed,
knowing also that my name and character
are well known in these provinces, so that I
dread no impatation from the hasty formed
opinion of a stranger, but I think it my duty
to you as well as myself to repreMnt things
at they really are, and cava yoa to judge
of them as yen think beal
' 'On my arrival from Lower Canada I was
told that you had gone to Niagara and t'lat
Capt Taland was in your houM, this
though not exactly agreeable to the strict
terms of a lease, I did not find fault with,nor
did I at any time aak Capt. T. by what
authority he accepted the pramisea, nor did
Capt. T. think it necessary to mention to
me that he had left.
" Your son kept the keys of the houaa till
a day or two before he left York, when, if
he has represented the thing correctly, he
will inform yoa that I did net receive the
premises till ha want with me in parson. \Yu
inspected the house and 1 believe ha will do
me the justice to say that I did not count a
single pane of glass that it will not be neces-
sary to replace with a new one, and that
more than six or eight cracked ones were
overlooked. With respect to the keys, you
are under a mistake and which may be clear-
ed up by applying, to Mr. Stuart, from
whom 1 received them in a bunch, and if
you please to consult your memory it will
recur to you that on meeting you opposite
to the Ball alley I returned with yon to
town where the keys were, and we looked
at the house to>;ether. The keys I then left
with you, and I believe every key belong-
ing to the house except the outside door of
the cellar.
'* When you took possession of the property
I explained the situation in which it is held
and the impossibility of making any re-
pairs or allowing for any improvements. I
certainly deviated a little on your represent
ing the uncomfortable state of the rooms
from smoky chimney, and for my pains I
am to have the honor of paying for the ex-
pense of altering them. '1 his and other
pleasant things will certainly be an induce
mcnt for ine to accommodate strangers in
future, particularly when the only iidvan
tfige 1 am to reap is trouMe and insult.
"Your bills I how return, not finding it
convenient to furnish money for them. Pro-
bably some of your friends on this side will
discount them, or you may find it convenient
to draw up a set for the exact amount of the
rent, say eighteen pounds sterling.
" I expect to be here some days.
' I air, Sir,
Your Most Obt Servant,
"Alexander Wood."
Towards the close of the year, in Novem
ber, Mr. Wood received auotlier communi-
cation ironi Dr. Strachan, whic>^ deals with
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
1011
OTlnoM, ao th»l i
the hMty forin*d
think it my duty
» r«pr«MOt thing*
kv« yon tojudga
WW Cftnad* I wm
Ni»g«n and t')«t
ear houee, tbie
>le to the etrict
ind fault with,nor
apt. T. by what
pramiMa, nor did
r to mention to
■ of the honae till
ft York, when, if
hing correctly, he
net receive the
me in person. Wh
believe he will do
I did not count a
will not be neces-
w one^ and that
acked ones were
to the keys, you
rhich may be clear-
Mr. Stuwt, from
a bnneh, and if
ir memory it will
ting you opposite
ned with you to
and w« looked
ie keys I then left
very key belong-
le outside door of
ion of the property
lin which it is held
making any re-
limprovements. I
)ii your represent
Ite of the rooma
for my pains I
^ying for the ex-
'I'his and other
lily be an induce-
late strangers in
ihe only iidvan
le and insult.
In, not finding it
sy for them. Pro-
on this side will
find it convenient
lact amount of the
iterling.
le days.
iNDER Wood."
■ year, in Novem
iotlier communi-
Ivhic'' deals with
a good many different matters ; among
others, Mr. Wood's health is referred to It
will be observed that the Doctor of Divinity
luid the Doctor of Medicine previously
quoted agree as to the treatment iNir. Wood
should receive.
Doctor ,Strachans expression, "cuts you
otf from tiie converse of the dead," used in
referring to Mr. Wood's health, is both
original, and striking from its originality.
The acrostic on Mr. Wood s name is amus-
ini;, but that is about all that can be said
for it.
" Cornwall, Nov. 26Lh, 1806.
"My Deal- Friend,—
"I have been alarmed by accounts of your
bad health, but I hope you are better.
Oapc. McDonnell tells me you had gone to
Niai;;ara. It appears to mu that a seton in
your nflck might effect a cure. Mr. Pat«r-
son, who was very bad with a si'nilar com-
plaint, finds himself much recovered since
he had an is ue I wish I was near you to
entertain you in these long eveni igs, when
your health cuts you off from the converse
of the dead.
•'Mr. Mitchell has sent me Ik-attie's poems
as you desirea him. I shall in the course of
the winter attempt a few stanzas in continu-
ation, but I despair of coming near the
original. It will be their foil, or 1 Ue Nebu-
chadnezzar's image, clay feet t > a golden
head. The doctor's sou was a most amiable
youth, but the productions of his which the
fond father has published by no means
equal the praise bestowed upon them. I
saw this 'Life' soon after it was written by
the Doctor, and as far as I can remember
the pieces written by his son were more
numerous. A few copies only were struck
off for particular friends. Montague, the
second son, with whom I was in the habit of
the strictest intiiracy for several years, had
a copy, of which I had the perusal.
•'1 send you my bills and certificates in case
another opportunity should not off. r. Our
half-pay officers have been obliged to send
an express to make so i e returns to the
Governor. The enclosed letter to a Mr.
Mitchell, who lives at Mr. Hamilton's, I
will thank you to forward as soon as possi-
ble. It contains a couple of let-
ters of recommendation, which may
be of great use to him, as
he intends going to Jamaica. I hope they
will reach him before he sets off :
Arise, O Iitt)e throb of life.
Laying prei^sed with ru- hless woe ;
Kiicourag'u moet the baletul strife,
'Xult CO ward the threaten'd blow,
And sweet content shall dump thy foe;
Never can the daring mind
Dettirim; reason's purest light,
Kvils in life's journey find
ReaUtless to its growing might.
With ardent hope it soars on high
O'er all these evils to the sky ;
O, may such hope to thee be Kiven,
Diseased tho' thou be, thy thoughta shall
re«)t in Heaven.
"As I have seme facility in making lines, I
stopped to make an acrostic on your name
for 3'our entertainment, but it hindered me
nearly an hour, and 1 had only allowed
quarter of that, but the letters are perverse,
tha X plagueJ me much, and then there is an
odd letter. Behold what difficulties I had
to surmount before I was able to make this
mixture of sense and nonsenec, but if they
please you a moment I shall be satisfied I
wrote you by Mr. Chewett, who has been
some time in York; apropos I send you a
bill of his on Mr Wyat, which I hope will
be paid when due if I find anybody here
wishing to send up money to York I may
draw upon you for the amount of my
salaryjl and Chewett's bill, taking care to
remember the income tax and two per cent,
discount besides, which I find from experi-
ence to be the price in Montreal, but of
this I shall advertise you by the December
mail. It is not certain that any person can
be found indebted in York. The man waits
and I must conclude. I hope you are
better. I am, my dear friend,
"Yours Sincerely,
"John Strachax.'
Mr. Wood received a furthir letter from
Dr. Strachan early in 1807, and it is the
only one in the correspondence dated in that
year, though from internal evidence con-
taine I in subsequent letters it is evident
that the doctor wrote others, which have,
unhappily, not been preserved.
The first portions of this letter require no
comment ; they explain themselves. In the
passages referring to Mr. Mitchell the Mr.
H. mentioned was Mr. I amilton, of Niagara.
Every reader oi Canadian history will know
who is :neant by " this turbulent judge ' in
the concluding sentences of Dr. Strachan's
letter, and everyont.: will agree with his con-
clusion that a judge should be " a peace-
maker, a composer oi difficulties "
" CoRXWAT.L, 29i;h Janua y, 1807.
" My Dear Friend,— I received your
excellent letter of the 17th last with a mix-
ture of I egret that we are not nearer, for it
appears to me that our svntinients agree
almost upon everything ; certainly upon all
the topics that ws have happjned to touch
upon, Vou will admit that your situation
is in point of society much superior
to mine when I tell you that
there is nobody here that I can with
ny propr ety de ominate my f lend.
Neither t .eir manner^ nor acquir meuts,
however good thei may be in other respects,
can admit 3f it. Yet such is the stren>{tb
I
1012
LANDMARKS OF TORUATO.
of my spirits that I bear up against it, and
seldom alluw myself to think seriously about
it. When I feel my spirits ^.'Sttiug low I dy
to study, and after an iiour oi- two applica-
tion I feel recovered.
"Y. u will tix me with indolence when I
tell you that I'xuept spending a little tiiou>;ht
(as yet to no purp 'Si I have dons uo.h ng to
m^ int nd 'd schems I will not give it up,
1 hough I may be some time before I I egin
to write, as I wish lo have maturely weigh-
ed the materials. I had been seriously em
pi )yed on a prose busines > ( f which I shall
g.ve you an account hereaft r ; and 1 have
« l>egun to write a bagatele, the geuiral out-
liu ! of which 1 shall draw in my next, in
order to ease my th nx^hts, before I com-
mence the continiatiou of the Minstrel.
You see I communicate my schemes to you
M to a brother. The truth is, tHat were it
not for these pursuits 1 should
get low spirited aud perhaps dis-
gusted with my double labor. '1 h -
time, however, whic i I have to bestow
upon those matter:^ in exceedingly circum
serine. 1. I meet with a vast number of
interruptions from people connected with
my boys, and lately I have been much occu-
pied with the distresiies of one or two fami-
lies in this village.
"I am glad yon have sent my letter on to
Mr. Mitchell. I hope be received it before
he left Mr. H. His situation was very dis-
agreeable there and he wanted energy, or
was afraid to resiaX bad treatment. It
astonishes me that a man of so much sense
as his would allow his children to bo ruined
through a ridiculous compassion ; as for the
lady, I do not wonder. Those who know not
the value of a thmg cannot appreciate their
misfortune in its loss. The pride of both these
people i.s i,, legitimate eubjecc of ri licule
and by attending le^s to ceremony than they
deemed necessary, I lost some of my popu-
larity at Queenstoc 1 must confess, that
with the siucerest desiie to please, and to
pay every deference and respect that is, or
appears to me, justly due, I am apt to be a
little refractory to assumers, and feel dis-
posed to nettle them a little, when it can be
done without trouble or rudeness.
"I begin to fear chat I must remain here
and to give up all thoughts of going home,
for, in the first place, I do not see that ever
I shall be in a condition to go with a genteel
independency, aud without this I will never
go, unless on a vi$iit — besides, after an ab-
sence of teu or twenty years, one finds his
friends much altered ; they hare not the
same warmth of afifection. Their
opinions and sentiments are strange-
ly di6fereut. Not that they are in
rsality mure changed than wc are ourselves.
but we perceive it more. We chunge very
much in the course of a few years ; it is in-
deed by decrees so very imperceptible thit
we do not often observe them, but the alter-
ation is not the less certain You will ob-
serve that I say nothing of the havoc which
death has made among our friends, and how
few of them remain in the places where we
left them. Those considerations may aflford
us a kind of negative consolation, because
they may discover to us that we should not
increase our happiness by going home so
much as we commonly think.
"Dr. McAulay tells me that he has desired
you to remit me twenty pounds. I hope his
notice came in time to enable you to send
the whole by the post His son John, with
Mrs. Elmsley, arrived safe in England.
They wete, it seems, in some danger.
On the banks of Newfoundland
two suspicious vessels appeared, but
after hovering about them for s ime time
they made o£r. When near the British
coast a vessel came towards them, and they
prepared for action. Poor Mrs . Elmsley was
put into the hold, and all was ready, when
thft supposed enemy hoisted English colors
"The fame of your election extends to this
remote part of the province, it seems to
have equalled Westminster. If this tur-
bulent judge proceed in the manner he has
been doing, the peace and harmony of the
pr ivince will be destroyed. His conduct
astonishes me the more as his situation
points him out a paace-maker, the com-
poser of difficulties. I question much
whether a British judge be eligible to sit in
the House. To whom in case of legal diffi-
culties shall tile Houses apply for advice if
the jud.;e3 become parties? You see we en-
ter a little into your politics. In truth the
discontent which this man may very easily
raise will render the situation of every re-
spectable man in the province much less
acrreeable. I am, my dear friend,
"Yours Faithfully,
" JoHx Strachan.
"Alex. Wood, Esq."
The letters from Dr. Strachan dated
January 11th and February 3rd, 1808,
possess very great interest as giving sound
insight into the state of feeling which ex-
iste t iu Canada prior to the breaking out of
the war of 1812
"CoRNWAU,, 11 January, 1808.
"Dear Sir, — lu my last, I irouuled you
with business and you find me now inquir-
ing whetheritbe done;so that you seldom see
my pot hooks without some additional call
upon your good temper. Well, a good tem-
per is better than good nature, because
the former commonly proceeds from a good
judgment and strong reason, the latter is
imrmif^'^fmimm
We chiiasja very
w years ; it is iu-
nipercepcible thit
lem, but the alter-
n You will ob-
[ the havoc which
i- friends, and how
places where wo
rations may aflford
isolation, because
iiat we should not
' going home so
nk.
that he has desired
lounds. I hope his
ible vou to send
lis son John, with
safe in England.
in some daai^er.
Newfoundland
appeared, but
sm for sime time
near the British
rds them, and they
r Mrs . Elmsley was
11 was ready, nhon
ited English colors
tion exteuda to this
vince. It seems to
ster. If this tur
the manner he has
nd harmony of the
red. His conduct
e as his situation
e-maker, the com-
I question much
be eligible to sit in
n case of legal diffi-
,pply for advice if
You see we en-
itics. In truth the
may very easily
iation of every re-
Drovince much less
\r friend,
iully.
OIIX Strachan.
Strachan dated
|)ruary 3rd, 1808,
as giving sound
feeling which ex-
he brcdkiug out of
1 January, 1808,
St, I irouuled you
d me now inqiiir-
that you sildom see
:ne additional call
Well.a good tem-
d nature, because
ceeds froni a good
180Q, the latter is
LAIS' DM ARKS OF TORONTO.
101 S
cr>iiiinonly constitutional. Y^'our inoQ'ensive
(^'ood sort of folks have no feeling; they are
not angry when insulted because they do
not know that tliey have been iusulted.
They are not agitated by a disappointment,
because they can hardly elevate their minds
to a state of expectation.
"We are plagued with rumours of war. To-
day it's declared, to-morrow wo have peace;
however, a short time must determine us
one way or the other. Nothing can be more
despicable than the conduct of the American
Government, They are quarrelling with the
only free (lovernment on earth, although
they must be sure that were England to fall,
they must become a province of France.
What a monstrous coalition will democracy
and despotism make. After this the most op-
posite things may be reconciled. Our Mili-
tia have behaved well everywhere ; here
we have one hundred and two choice men,
'J'he whole i attalion offered their services.
Our neighbors will not find it so very easy a
matter to conquer us as they suppos d. I be
lieve I sent you in a former letter some
account of Buonaparte's confession in three
books, and the arguments of each book.
BUONAPARTE S SOLOIJyUV BEFORE CONFESSION
Devout Caprera surely must bo riglit,
His glowing words my throbbing soul affright ;
AIhs! my nuni'raus crimes begin to rise
Jn hideous hues before my swimming eyes.
.\rrayed in splendid robes, the sil y crowd
Tliiiik mighty kin ;s possess the sovereign good.
Hue little know they of tlio raging fires
That tear my breast and nourish fli>rce desires :
And what proceeds from all my cruel wars?
A place which solid happiness debars.
Can growing power levvard the cancerous care
That turns the troubi'd mind to blank despair
On racks I lie, all hopes of pleasuro give,
The beams of joy avoid a monarch's ihrone;
No bosom friend attends, no social joys-
Revenge or anxious tear my time employs.
Why stand I doubting? Yes. I must confess
To Pius' tender care my dismal case ;
The Father's gentle remedies may cure
Tho parching flames my spirit can't endure.
''I believe 1 shall change the measur ■■ and
write the whole over again.
"Yours, My Dear Sir, Ever,
" John Strachan '
An allusion is made to Napoleon's having
consulted the Pope in the lines —
" I must confess
To Pius' tender care my dismal case."
Succeeding Dr. Strachai's epistle of Jan.
11th is another from the same writer
dated February 3rd. jThe circumstances
ttlluded to in the ode to Jefferson, which is
contained therein are now very ancient his
tory, but it is none the less interesting to
read how these matters were viewed by one
who ike Strachan was a keen observer of
men and things in general.
" Cornwall, 3 Feb. 1808.
"My Deab Friend:—! have been favored
with your two agreeable letters, the last ol
which, dated the l^tiicamnvery opportunely.
My sending t'ne Tower of .Attorney without
executing it was indeed very foolish, but
when will poets be wise ? I now send you
another with all its appendages and one tc
sign John Robinson's indentures for ine, ii
you will take the trouble. I um sorry the
young man appears shy. Hi.« situation is not
the most eligible on the whole, but it was the
best I could get for hiin at the time.
"The sound of war appears to blow over a
little but as politics in prose are not worth
sending I will mount my Pegasus in the
manner of Peter Pindar.
To Mr. Jefferson .—
Oh. Great Philosopher, a Rhymer prays
A moment's notice of his rn.-ii.; lays.
Thy glorious acts atl'ord him matter
For some harmonious cheerful little odes
And Patriot zeal his tee nin; noddle goads
To sing thy praises great and not to flatter
A sage so deep condemns the butter'd style ;
For sturdy troth alone regales tnine oar;
Thy mind by science lifted mnny a mi e
Looks at poor mortasl from a higher spttere.
Thar follow Brydon perch'd on ilCtna's top
Laugh'dat the cloud-i and vapors far below
AVhich make the poor bicilian.s sigh and mope
And give them burning puins and dismal woe.
If Urydon feit Mi* spirits turn so gay
What must you daily feel so near the sky }
Come down t^iigncious Jefferson, I say
W'ltti mortals <inl»' spend a single day.
They, din to ku. w the wonders you behold'
Above the vajiois t'lick that dim their sight.
They, burrowint;, live lilie moles deprived of
light.
In pity come, state mysteries unfold.
'Tis true they sent some delegates to see
What things were doing in t lie upper sky ;
Hut when they bended at your Worship's knee
Thi! lustre dazzled almost every eye.
A few are pla jed behind a darkened screen
Because their nosoi, faith, are rather keen
And should thoy smell and see at once.
The state of affairs could ne'er go well.
This precious truth I therefore will advance
That Congressmen should neither see nop
smell ;
For, reader, if they have too sharp an eye
Some spot or blemish these hang dogs might
spy.
Which ICings and Presidents would fain con-
ceal ;
Or if a pointer's nose they should possess
It might th(! fumes of vile corruption tr.ice—
A smell which Patriots neve;' wish to feel.
C). Jefferson, thou art the people's man ;
Thy fame I chant as wcU's 1 can
To thee our prudent VV ashii.gton must yield.
And fl(^kle Adams. hafHed.quit tlie field.
These epithets thy modesty allovv.s
In public, but among sniected friends.
Where converse with a sweeter freedom flows,
Our Adam's fame some praing fav'rite sends;
With shrugs and nods another hiimoly thinks
Washington's glory has some dirty chinks.
"Behold my prologue to Ode upon Ode or a
Peep at Washington Palace. Y'ou will be
ready to say when you arrive at the end of
it. ' ! his is paying me for my trouble with ac
old song.' Well, I send you the deed you
a
( w
■n
•■• t ■
■ *. ■
.'ii
I; i '
! 1
!.
' ' '' ill
1014
LANDMARKS OP TORONTO.
mentioned in your last. Mr. Torrand charges
only ten shillings, which I have paid him,
"Yours, My Dear Friend, Always,
'* John Stbachan."
'•Alex. Wood, Esq."
" My certificates arrived safe, and I wrote
Dr. McAulay saying that I was someihing
in his debt."
The following letter also from Dr. Strachan
is of later date and may be given without
comment :
" Cornwall, 16th June, 1808.
"My Dear Sir, — 1 have been looking for
letters from you for some time, but in vain,
I now enclose you some papers — the iirat is
my school certificate, and for that sum I
liave drawn upon you in favor of Capt. Mc-
Lean, who wants to send money to
York. I have also sent you my Sterling
bill If you do not use it you can burn the
bill and send bask the certificates. There is
now ten pounds due you on account of John
Robinson. I wisii you to add two or three
pounds, as you conueive necessary, to get him
a summer dress, which he says the residue of
my first allowance of ten pounds is not suf-
ficient to procure It seems also thai it is
usual for clerks wheu beginning the stud .
of their profession to pay £5 into the Law
Society. Ihis 1 wish also to be paid, as I
would not wish him to be behind his com-
peers. And if you keep my Sterling bill, I
shall desire you to pay £9 or £10 to the Re-
ceiver General or Inspector-General on ac-
count of (.'apt. Anderson, the collector here,
but of thi^ last I shall speak again after
hearing from j'ou. The money you will have
paid out on account of J. RoV)in80u will be
about £17 or £18, which will bo about the
sum you would have to send me on account
of Dr. McAulay at the vacation which ap-
proaches. I was going to send you a couple
of acrostic on Buonaparte, buu they shall till
my next, when I shall have less, I hope, to
■ay about money matters. Mrs. Strachan
joins me in ' est respects.
" I am, My Dear Sir,
"Yours Sincerely.
'John Strachan."
Just three months elapse and again does
Dr Strachan favor his correspondent with a
letter, wherein a great deal of information
is given in very few words. It is unfortu-
nate that the examination papers mentioned
in the worthy divine's P. 8. cannot be
found.
"Cornwall, Sept. 1.3. 1808.
" My Dear Sir, — Mr. Cameron delivered
your letter and the money from Mr.Chewett,
for which I am much obliged to you, indeed
I am always giving you trouble. I just have
* letter from Aberdeen dated in the end of
May. Trade appears to be very dull there
at present, but the chance of aflTuirs on the
continent will open again the usual sources
of commercial intercouise. There has never
been any time so auspicious as the present
for crushini; the power of the Corsican ;
the Spaniards are r brave people, and ap-
pear unanim lus in the contest. The con-
duct of the French (government in this last
transaction has been so very infamous that
none can be d ceived in future One effect
of it 1 am glad to see; those newspapers n
England which were always preaching up
peace are now breathing nothing but war.
" Wt have had no cases of much import
ance here except ihat regarding the cutting
of masts, in which the material points are
reserved for description above One thief
we had who chose to make too free with his
neighbors' butter. He was banished the
province.
"1 have be n to Montreal. Poo Mr.
Auldjo is much changed in appearance since
I saw him last winter. They are just pre
paring to put up Nelson's monument ; they
found much difficulty in getting a place for
it. (jeneral Crai^ declined giving them the
place they re'|uested of him. At length
they determined to place it at the head of
the new market place. A great number of
Aberdeen ships have come to Quebec this
year for timber, but our fir
is so much inferior to that which
they get from Norway and Russia that
they will not return if the Baltic is opened.
I hear nothing of the Aberdeen views Did
you look for them this year ? Mrs. Straciiau
joins me in best respects. I am, my dear
sir,
" Youis Most Cordially,
" John Strachan.
"I enclose a few pieces written for the
examination, which may afTord you somj
moments' entertainment,"
" Alex. Wood, Esq "
'The next of Dr. Strachan's comniuni
cations to Mr. Wood is of considerable
length, and, perhaps, the most interesting in
the collection. Mention is made in it for the
first time of the doctor's increasing family.
"Cornwall, 26th Sept , 1808.
"My Dbar Sir, — Your obliging favor,
enclosing the draft for the road money,
arrived safe, and 1 hope it will be put to a
good use. Public affairs begin to wear a
more favorable aspect than they have done
since the commencement of the revolucioniiry
war, and I think there is a fair prospect of »
successful ispue.
" I have been looking for my apparalu-s
as a signal for the beginning of a severe
course of study, but I am under some appre-
hensions now, it is so late, whether it will
be sent out this year J have frequently in-
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
1015
of affairs on the
he usual sources
There has never
[S as the present
>f tha Corsican ;
people, and ap-
itest. The con-
nment in this last
ry infamous thai
ture One effuct
«• newspapers n
oys preaching up
othing but war.
es of much import
irding the cutting
jkterittl points are
above One thief
e too free with his
was banished the
intreal. Poo Mr.
n appearance since
:hey are just pre
monument ; they
jetting a place for
.ed giving them the
him. At length
it at the head of
A great number of
le to Quebec this
but our fir
to that which
y and Russia that
he Baltic is opened,
erdeen views Did
jar? Mrs. Stracliau
I. 1 am, my dear
Cordially,
John Strachan.
•63 written for the
y afford you som.:
I "
Itrachan'i comniuni
is of considerable
„ most interesting in
[is made in it for the
lincreasing family.
1 26th Sept , 1808.
Lur obliging favor,
(r the road money,
it will be put to a
Is begin to wear a
Ihan they have done
1 of the revolutionury
a fair prospect of »
for my apparatus
finning of a severe
J under some apprfe-
^ate, whether it will
have frequently in-
tended,but have never seriously triad, to make
a few stanzas like the Minstrel. I hare not,
howerar, given up the plan, and perhaps I
may surprise you with a sheet of them some
time soon. I have bean reading some of tha
political pamphlets written during tlia last
year, and notwithstanding the great char-
autar some of them had attained I was very
much disappointed, taring's pamphlet, so
much celebrated by Lord Cirenville, after a
careful reading, did not appear to me de-
serving of so gr'.at a character ; it assumed
a question which! could not have eranted,
and which experience has since proved to be
false, and upon this almost all his reasoning
is founded. He asserts that the Berlin de-
cree was only a municipal regulation, and
th> rafore ought not to have been opposed by
the Orders in Council because they operate
against noutrals. Now it always appeared
to me that the Berlin decree was ganeral,
not municipal, and it has since appeared to
be so, for even the A mericans are not pro-
tected from its operations. It is evi-
dent, tliereforu, that as much of Baring's
reasoning against tha Orders in Coun-
cil as is founded upon the supposition of tha
Berlin decree being only an internal regula-
lion falls to the ground because this assump-
tion is false. I do not think Ills reasoning
more conclusire as it respects our neighbours,
wiiom he says we have treated always vith
a species of enmity, bee use he has not maiie
out his case. Theie are, however, soma
detached parts of the pamphlet well done,
and were we to read thetn separately we
should form a higher opinion of ti.e writer.
But, considered us u whole, as a performance
of powerful and logical reasoning, it appears
to me exceedingly deficient and only cal-
culated to dispirit those who are not able to
detect its sophistry. Tliis pamphlet is so
very much celebrated that you will excuse
my seizing hold of it to help to fill a letter.
There is another pamphlet entitled
Britain without Coiiimcrce, which a so
excited great attention, and which I read
with much pleasure, but not with convic-
tion. The reasoning is too abstruse for
comman readers. t-Ie has recourse to the
principles of the economist, and certainly
shows much ingenuity in their application ;
but by carryino; his principles too far he
renders that position which he might have
proved suspicious. He endeavors to sl.«.v
that all the foreign commerce of Britain is
of no real advantage to her. Hail he assarted
that Great Britain could maintain her inde-
pendence although all her foreign commerce
were annihilated, I think he mi^ht have
succeeded in his proof ; but when ho adds
that this commerce produces no accession
of strength he is without bottom. Behold
• Icktaron politic! ! I did not go to ua tha
Bishop. I had some little milters which
drew ine aa far as Montreal, but I h»d no
business worth extending my journey to
Quebec. His Lordship has obtained
som t additions to tha salaries of some of my
brethren, which I think are judicious as
they produce a sort of gradation. .Nir. G.
8. h s an additional hundred. Dr. Moun-
tain, when I was in .Montreal, wanted to
condole with me, bacause I had got nothing,
but I stopped him by saying that I was
very well off already, and perhaps better
than any of my brethren, while God grantu.l
ma good health. Mrs. Strachan joins me in
atfactionata regards, and I remain as aver,
" My Dear Friend,
" Yours Sincerely,
"John Strachan.
" I was favored with yours of the 10th
contain ng my account, and I am glad to
lind tha balance on my side— it is not often
tha case in my dealings witli your brethren.
This letter is long enough already. I see
that I must mention my boy, »ho is a Tery
good fellow and more uittposed to Inugh
than to cry. I seldom thin ; of mentioning
him in my letters, though I make a good
nurse."
The next letter in the series presents
Doctor Strachan in an entirely different
light. He therein discourses most learnedly
upon roads and road-making.
"Cornwall, I3th Oct., 1808
"My Drar Sir,--I was favorad with your
agreeable letter of the 3rd. and embrace this
opportunity to say that your drafts for
the 200 road money came regularly to hand,
were immediately turned into cash, and are
now going into operation. We are en-
deavoring to maka a land communication
between this and the lower province. Un-
luckily there are two roads which rival each
other, and in some degree divide the >lis-
trict. One of these passes through the back
settlement leaving the river a little way,
about seven miles, above Cornwall, and not
meeting it again till you reach .Mclntyre's.
In this distance it is frequently 1-1 miles from
the water communication. It occurred to me
on being appointed a commissioner, that
hcwever {.ood and necessary this road might
be for the -eitlements through wh ch it
passed, it c uld nut be so gen rally u eful as
a roa I along the fron\ To rebut this, how-
ever, it was said that no road could be made
along the front, the bottom was so b'd. In
order to ascer ain th ; fact I was at the pains
to explore b 'th lines of road. I rode alo '^
the front from Cornwall to McGee'p, ami
found the bottom good, being for the most
part a mixture >t clay and sand, which can
easily be transformed inta a good road. I
i
'ft'
m
' i ' ■ j
f ^h
m
;'')]
•f'i*
1,
!
1010
LANDMAIIKS OV TOKONTO.
thru croMflil to the otiior liiiu of road, 14
iiiilen l>Auk, Aiui rctuniid >iy it. Thero I
fotiDtl the load rnthor drier tlmii thu front,
beoAUM it hail bc4ii buttiT opouod, hut in
their anxiety to liave it dry tliey liuve taliuu
it along ntony ridg< ■ all tlio wiiy, and it up-
penrs to mc much mora (lillioull to cUar
awaf thfse stonos ihau to dituh and turn-
pike the front. You see I am oatertnining
you with roikdii.
" I am niuuli pieaHcd with the character
you give of Mr KuhscII— it ia generous and
no dsubt dosfrvud. 1 munt confess having
been in some degree propos.suisod against
him, on account ut hin seiziiii; upon ho many
officers during the time ot his pruuidcncy.
" 1 holiovu 1 mentioned in my last, that
tiiton reading over your account in which I
find a small balance in my favor I thought
you had committed a niistalce against your-
self, and that I was ten pounds in your
debt, but I at length perceived N. Y. at
one sum and Hal. at the other, I am just
sitting down to write my letters for Scot-
land. My son is a dnc child, gets fat and
continues (;ood natured. His uiotlier joins
me in kind regards. 1 am,
** My Dear Friend,
"Yours Sincerol}",
"Jons Stra(;han.
"P.S. — Mrs. Valentine requests me to beg
that you will have the iioodi ess t > write in
any of your letters to nio the state of the
late Mr. Uray's atfairs and i ow thev pro-
ceed iu setllini; tho claims As ahe is in-
terested a detail ot matters would g've her
satisfaction. J. s "
The Mr. Cray mentioned in the t*. 8. was
Solicitor-General lor the province. He had
been lost with many others in the schooner
Speedy, which on Novitmber 4th, 1 804, sank
during a great storm on Lake Ontario with
all on board.
There is only one more letter in the col-
lection of Mr. Wood's correspondence, from
which the foregoing have been taken, and
that deals more with matters of private than
of general interest. Shortly after it; was
written Dr. Strachan removed to Y'ork,
where, for nearly sixty years longer, he was
a leading spirit
"Cornwall, Deo. 6, 1808.
" My Dear Sir, — I had resolved before
this time to have entertained you with a
part r f my continual ion of lieattic s .Minstrel,
but I now write, and tiiat work is not begun.
Of all my projects this has met with the
greatest number of delays and I have no
prospect of commencing it soon. When I
was last in .Montreal the printer consulted
me about printing a book on aritiimctic, and
requesting me to point out which I thought
the best. As I ha : drawn up a system of
my own, 1 told him I uoidd not ailopt any
tliAt hi) could print in my hcIiooI, but that if
ho wished tor one hotter iidaptod for the
business of this country, I would send him
mine to print, and I should take acnnsidrr-
altle number of copies, without demanding
anything for the copyright, lie gladly ao-
oeptod this proposal, and on my return
homo I began to prepare my manuscript,
but I lost part of it by a foolish accident,
and the remainder did not please mo, so
that I have been for three weeks employed
in arranging and composing a new work.
The rules and definitions would not take me
long, but tho great number of examples with
their calculations (tables of ditTurent kinds
are more tedious than I had imagined) or
my indolence might hare pre< ailed upon me
to have declined tho undertaking. I need
hardly mention that tho time I can spare is
Tory limited. I shu!' cp.tainly make an at-
tempt to continue the Minstrel when this
work IS put to i)res8, which I think \«ill
take place about the beginning of Ful ruary.
" 1 shall send you the plan of my
Arithmetic in my next. I am yet poudering
upon some part of it, and 1 shall trans-
ndt a copy the moment I receive any from
tho printer.
" I have written all this to exculpate mo
froMi the accusation of indolence, which i
seldom deserve and which 1 am not ambi
tious to attain, but v hich my frequent
promises to begin the Minstrel justly exposft
me to without this apology.
"I send you a parcel of papers as usual for
which you will gel the needful done. I have
also sent a sot of bills drawn in your favor,
which, if you do not want, you can burn. I
have drawn also in your favor upon Mr.
Cliewett for .£'200, cf whicii I advise him. I
have not received many letters from .Aber-
deen this year.andhave been disappointed of
some books that 1 looked for from thai
quarter, but disappointment will happen.
"It would seem that tho embargo of our
neighbours, which has proved so beneficial
to this province, will be continued. This
nation (American) is cutting a most despica
ble figure, and if the Spaniards succeed they
will nnd their situation exceedingly dis-
agreeable ; the good sense ot the people,
however, is Ixginning to ralh;, and may per-
haps, soon force their rulers < o give up their
prejudices and their obstinacy. My little
son grows, and is very good humored. Mrs.
Strachan thinks him a paragon, and I think
him well enough. She joins me in kind re-
gards. I am
"My Dear Sir,
" Yours Most Sincerely,
'• John Strachai*. '
In the first portion of the letters addressed
LANDMARKS OF TOKONTD.
1017
Mr,
oat Sincerely,
John Stbachai*. '
the letters adJreased
to Mr. Wooil wera CfitiuiuinicntidiiH from
II on chiefly in tliu higher r>«iikH *>f life in the
early colonial il'iyn, liiit in i'4 tiVKlcitt from
the two folliiw iii}{ opintloii addriHscd to Mr.
Wood ami indited hy »"criiiiU" named
Solomon ileVH, wlio uppoari to inixo been
no onc'M enemy excupi his own, the genii.t
lias liy im mcknii iMicome extinct even in tliiH
in ilr. "ii rlr period. The tir.->t letter, bearing
date 3rd June, i\. I). 1808, runs at follows :
*• T9Mnii' OK TIIR LiVINd,
'* 4lli day of Interment,
" York Prison.
"SiK, — Hoping you'l (sic) ixciise my f reat
lilierty in addrcHHing you these few lines,
bui as an unfortunate prisoner wishing; to
inform yuu i^ my being itcrsuaded of your
humnni! disposition k you well know the
alloM (iiii-o of a person in my situation. I
wrote to Mrs. Marian to obtain some cover-
ing 3l some other things. She in conser^uence
got some things ready to send me & a mali-
otous person by the name of Henry Hale
called upon her ft told her a fallshood (sic)
that I told him that I lost $40 troo (sic)
intoxication, of the money that was stolen
on a bed at her house. I'll pledge my exist-
ence that I never spoke to him in my life or
even know him if ho was shewn to me. If,
sir, as a Magistrate, you can put a stop to
such malicious proccedingM will render ser-
vice to an unfortunate prisoner. I wish tu
hare two witnesses brought io trial in my
behalf, the one resides at Barrett's Tavern,
his nnmo is Kuton, he ia a joiner by trade,
the other resides here.hia name is Hatchellor,
he was listening to the discourse when
Boukcr was wanting a certain sum of me to
lett (sic) mo go. Wishing you'l render me
all the services in your power with due
esteem I have the
" Honor of remain your obedn.
" Humhlo servant
"S. Hkys.
"Alexander Wood, V,Si\."
Matters seem to have gone hardly with
Mr. lleys, for we hear no more of him until
November 30th, 1809, a year and five
mouths latei, he having, according to his
own statement, been in jail.
It is to be hoped that Mr. Heys' strong
point as a schoolmaster was not either Eng-
lish grammar or spelline. The sentence, "I
have taken too, this year and will take
every year more or less as the emoluments of
my income will permit," is about ax delicious
a specimen of English " as she is spoke " that
can be well imagined.
The letter is given rerbatim et literatim.
and if it does not particularly interest it may
possibly, if not probably, amuse a good
many.
** Sib,— Hoping you'l not be offended with
my liberty n addresNing you these lines. I
titke upon ino to return yuu thanks for the
kiiul aii:twcr of my letter, that I received at
your store yesterday, your goodness towards
me I sliall never forget, you wish to be in-
formed where I am at board, i have tieen
boarding in Mr. Jacob (.'orners since the day
1 was I pleased from prison the first day of
this present innntli, & I at>siire you Sir lean
produce a C'ercilicate from him as well as the
whole iieighlxtrliorid of my brhaviour, such
as sobriety and liwiustry, since I iiave been
amongst tiiem I li vo not even tasted
spirituous li<|Uors, alltho there
is a tavern ngiit at hand. I
pledge mys If sir, to you that I moan to be
steady in my situation I have a tract of
land allowed mo with my .school House
which I shall have Cultivated to thf best
advantage the ensuing spring. I commence
my school on Monday next as the Chimney
is but just finished. I iiavn no other way
Sir to repay the benevolent favours that
were bestowed on me when in pri.son from a
gentleman of Distinction of Yoik, but by
teaching a few poor children at my school.
I have tak( o too this year k will take every
year more or less as tlie emoluments of my
Income will permit. I am sorry Sir to in-
f jrm you that there is a number of Demo-
crats has been wishing to Injure me in this
neighbourhood. Doctor Stoyles has hemi
tell ng the people here not to employ me
but they Dont mind him. I was in town
yesterday to see him upon that head, it is
merely Sir because I once spoke in his
House against Jud^e 1 horpe if I hear any
mure of his insinuations I tthall ac-
quaint the Attorney (ieneraL You may
rely upon it ^ if you will allways hear that
my beliavour will be worthy your attention
as well as a Dutifnll subject remain your
obed servt. "S. Heys.
"A. Wiods, Esq. •
About all that can bo said of this precious
production is that it is to be hoped Mr.
Heys' subsequent behavior was better than
his grtiminar.
Once more docs Solomon Heys figure as
one of Mr. Wood's correspondents, and hia
letter dated April 10th, 1810, will well re-
pay perusal. Mr. Heys appears to have
iiad a great objection to "Democrats." It
will be news to the representatives now re-
tiding in and near I oronto of Messrs.
Humberstone and Sheppard to learn that
their grandfathers were such notorious
characters. However, we have it on
the authority of Solomon Heys
ttiat such was the case, and as
"he was beloved in his neighborhood"
it must, perforce, be believed. . las, another
idol shattered, the characters of Thomai
!■: i
ih
1018
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
V*;;
i ! ■•'
II III'
Huoibcntone and Sheppard gone, all other
testimony to the contrary, notwithstand-
ing.
'* YoNOE Street, April 1st, 1810,
"Sir, — Hoping tliese few lines will find you
enjoyitig good healtii. at the same time
w ishin^ to Iiiform yuu that I have Com-
menced a new quarter. I had a great
ScutHe with a ft-w Democrats down the
sfreet, Messrs Ilumlierson, Siiepperd &,
Co. ,troo the Moans of Tom Stoyles. Inn-
keeper of York, they wanted to vote me
out, but I gciiiul the Day. I am beloved in
my neighborhood. 1 shall plant 2 aores in
potatoes this spring. I am agoing with my
Enrnings to Erect a Small Ilouse to keep
School in 18 by 18, a frame building Cost
about Sixty Dollars & whan Circumstances
rrmits I will kecj) a Circuln,fing li rary.
am very much altached to this neighbor-
hood. If, Sir, you .should have any Old
Ltritish or Caledoinan Magazines, Geo-
grapuys or newspapers, I sliould thank you
for some. With K'jteeiii rt-main,
•'Your Obed Servant,
"SOLO.MON HeYS.
"Alexander Wood, Esq."
Messrs. Humbarson in above letter should
read Messrs. Humberstoue.
A brief business communication oomeFj
next from Colonel Short of H. M. Imperial
forces, who had been suddenly ordered from
Y'ork ♦;■!• Niagara.
" Ni.\r,ARA, 13 April, '13.
"Dear Sir, — Will you excuaemy oinittir^
in the hurry of leaving York giving you a
drafi for your account. I find there is a
balance due on Mr. Crooks' account which I
now iend. I hops Mr. Hamilton v/ill give
it you in a short time as I have written him
on the subject.
" 1 am, Sir,
•' Y'r very Obcd' S rvant,
•' W. C. t^lIORT, Lt -Col.
"A. Wood. Esq"
There i3 one letter in this coirespondence
from Colonel Smith, administrator of the
province from June 1817, until Augu.st 1818,
and again from March until June 18*20. It
is on a purely business matter and is as
follows :
AMHKRSTHrROU, Oct. ISth, 1801.
"Dear Sir,—
You herewith have an order on Mr.
Dunlop for £24 lOs 4d, whicli, with the
imount of my order on Dr. ISurns, will, 1
■Selieve, make the sum you cliarge me with,
i received your lett: r inclosing i.iy account
with you, just as we were on the move from
Kingston, otherwise it should have been
answered from that place. As Mr I'uiiis
promised me that my account with liiia
should be paid in .lune last, I hope the
order on him in your favour tvill be paid
and that this mode of adjusting the account
between us may be perfectly satisfacto y,
"And believe me, dear sir,
"Yours truly,
"S. Smith."
There are some letters in this correspond-
ence written by various parties to Mr. Wood
respecting the disastrous emigration
scheme of the Earl of Selkirk, The first is
from Mr. Alexandei- McUoney, who was
the Hrst sheriff of the home district. He
also represented the constituency of Glen-
garry in the Provincial Parliament and was
elected to the speaker's chair. At a subse-
quent period he was called to the Upptr
Mouse.
The Eatl of Selkirk wished him to
undertake tht office of superintendent
of the settlemei^t or Kildonan on the Red
River. This offer he declined but afterwards
accepted the superintendence of the i'.aliloon
settlers on Lake St. Clair. He died in 1842.
At the date of writing this letter Mr.
McUoncil was in England. It reads thus :
" London, 28th Nov., 181 1.
"My Dear Sir, —Until I see Lord Selkirk,
it is out of my power to fix the period of my
I leturn. I have lately received a letter from
him, in answer to one anuouncins: my arri-
val, informing me that be would soon be
here. I thitiiv the packet and plan v\ Inch
you mention have come to hand, t ough 1
cannot positively say until I see .his Loril-
ship. Nothing would give me greater plea-
sure than our being enabled to leave this
place in company, and uidess yoi^r aiiairs
require your presence in Quebec or Mon-
treal, you will find the passage via New
York more expeditious and :nuch cheaper.
"You say ' 1 trust no vew catastrophe has
happened in Judge Powell's family '.o ilave
occajioned the unpleasant sensations you
notice.' Thty were all in good health and
spirits. The judge was at Niagara cu his re-
turn from the western circuit. I do not
recollect my having experienced the sensa-
tions you mention. The passage from New
York was certainly a boisterous one — a
continued pale on the banks of Newfoiind-
liiiul, the main-yard snapped in the slings
with as much ease as you would I'reik a
raddisii. i'ortunately, it happened about
noon. For ten days we scudded with close
vessel fore and luizzoi topsails, the topgal-
lant masts of loih lowered on deck. The
sea was so high that we could not rig a new
main-yard, although a spare one was ready.
We had a tine ship and a most excellent
captain, the Pacific, Capt. Stanton. My
sensations on Lake Ontario were other than
those on ti.e Atlantic. Governor (jorc had
tne kindneaa to order the Gbucester for my
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
1019
r will be paid
iig the account
saiisfacto y.
!ai' sir,
ira truly,
"S. Smith. "
ills correspond-
ian to Mr. Wood
IS emigration
k. The first i«
ine\l, who waa
e district. He
ituency of Gleu-
liament and was
ir. At a subae-
id to the Upper
wished him to
superintendent
an on the Red
i but afterwards
;eof the I'.aliioon
He died in 184-2.
this lettsr Mr.
It reads tlius :
;th Nov., Ibll.
see Lord Selkirk,
the period of my
ived a letter froiu
)uncin2 my arri-
would soon bu
and plan whicli
hand, t ough 1
I see his Lord-
1 me greater plea-
3d to leave this
'S3 yoi\r atia^rs
Quebec or Mou-
passage via New
:nuch cheaper,
catastrophe has
family '.o have
sensations you
good health and
Nla<;ara en his re-
rcuit. 1 do not
.euced the setisa-
lassage from New
)oisterou3 or.e — a
Us of Newfoiind-
led in the slings
would brcik a
happened about
;udded with close
isails, the topj;al-
d on deck. The
luld not riK a new
re one was ready,
a most excellent
It. Stanton. -My
) wera other than
overnor Ijore had
!l>ui;e3ter for my
acoommodatinn to Kingston, but previous
to the day of sailing, the Duke of Manciies-
ter returne 1 via Matchedash from an ex-
cursion around Lake Huron, and requested
this vessel. The Governor sent me ii mes-
sage stating the case, saying that he could
not refuse the Duke and offering me the
Toronto. This vessel being confessedly
rotten, I had great difficulty to prevail on
Mrs. McDonell to content to embark in her.
It was Hobson's choice, that or none. I
went to the garriso i and the Governor told
me, that as he would be in the Gloucester
himself, be would direct the master to keep
company with the Toronto. On my return
to town I informed Mrs. McDonell of this.
H^r reply was 'What assistance can they
give in a dark and stormy night ? We
sailed on the I3th October, and at 11 o'clock
at night encounter d a furious gale, ^^'e
dared not show a rac; of sail, indeed
Capt. Fish said that if we did
we would go to the bottom in less than half
an hour, the vessel making water fast,and the
lee pump worked. We wei<e in this predica-
ment all night and eagerly looking for the
Gloucester's liglit,but in vain. At the dawn,
the Charity Shoah were close to our lee ; we
then to our inexpressible joy saw the Glouces-
ter about four ii.i cs astern of us, set thn wing
r>i the foresail to clear the shoals, and most
fortunately she answered her helm Ti e
Gloucester,seeing us thus safe, made sail and
was soon out of sight. We got to K'ngston
about 2 pm. the same day. Willinj>ly would
I have compounded for the sacrifice of my
own life; but the prospec of seeing; my wife
and children perish before mv ■ vjs was a
ur.-adful thought. May that Lord who pro-
tected us make me truly thankful, and may
you never experience the scnsaciona which
at tiiat period tortured. Dear Sir,
" Your Sincere Friend.
" Am; . MoDoNELL.
"A. Wood, Eso "
There are no mor? Ifttt is respecting the
.Selkirk settteme^ts util 1810, « h' n there
is one from Mr. Archibald McDonell, of
Newmarket. There •'.•ere so many men of
this name who filled public offices in the
early years of the century, that it is impos-
sible to aay with accuracy who this gentle-
man was.
"Newmarket, Jan 10th, 181G.
"Sir,— I have been informed by one of
our deserters, who left Di'mmond's Island
about two months ago, and lives now with
.Mr. Robertson, ihiit (ieorge Campbell is
gone to Detroit I therefor*! wi.-li Capt.
Livintrston to undertake the journey witli-
out me, but he wants me to accompany him,
»l least as far as Nottawasajja, where lie
exp: cts to get some information respoclin^
Campbell. We have everything ready for
our journey, and are for setting out to-
morrow morning.
" I in the meantime send enclosed a letter
for the Earl of Selkirk, which I request you
to deliver him on his arrival. It contains
the butstance of what I could collect from
the settlers.
"I remain, Sir, Your Humble Servant,
"Archd. McDonell."
1 here are two other communications re-
lating to the same matter, one to John
Murphy, in care of .Mr. Wood, and the
other to the Earl of Selkirk, himself, from >l.
Leys. They tell their own story, and are
as follows : —
"Montreal, 19th Dec. 1816.
"Ms. John Murphy,
" S-R, — I am instructed by the Countess
of Selkirk to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter to her of the 9th instint, and
she desires me phrtioularly to notice to you
that slie feels greatly pleased at the pros-
pect your return to Fort William aflords
fier of Wilting t) his Lordship, having com-
munications of importance to transmit For
this purpose it will be necessary, and her
Ladyship especially desires that you will
remain at York until her despatch for his
Lordship shall reach you.
" She farther wishei you to let her know
the object of your late expedition, the in-
structions you acted upon, and the manner
executed, who the prisoner is, and what
has been done with him.
"The post houi. being at hand,! have only
time to say that I shall be glad to hear of
your success and that your services will en-
title you to tiie approbation of the Earl of
Selkirk and all others under whom you act.
'I am, sir, witn best wishes for your
prosperity,
" Your Most Obedient Humble Servant,
"Henry Forrest."
York, 22 June, 1818.
" My Lo.s.d,— I had the Honor to receive
your Lordship's letter of the iOth inst. ! he
affidavits of the deserters and others from
the Red River Settlement taken by Mr.
Wood in 181G, with oiher papers respecting
your Lordship's affaiis, was left by Mr.
Wood in a sealed packet, which I have this
day put into the hands of Mr. G. Ridout aa
your Lordsh'p directs.
" 1 have the llono. to be,
" My Lord, Vour Lordship's
"Most obd't and very humble Serv't,
" John Leys
"The Earl of Selkirk, Montreal."
There are several interesting letters trora
ditlVrcnt members of the .Macaulay amily lo
•Mr. Wood. In that dated April'inu, 18ltt,
the Mts. I'axton spoken ot in the '*3t para-
1(120
LANDMARKS OF TORONKv.
h J 1
Wt Si''!
r?
giikpli was the widow of Ccptain Paxton,
oomin.aiider of tha achoonei- Speedy, which,
with all on board, was lost on Lake Ontario
October 7th, 1804.
"K7NOSTON, April 2nd, 1316.
"My Di:AR Sir -I had the pleasure cf
hearing from you by Capt. Fraaer, eutlosing
the rent from Mr. S., for which accept ny
best ihauks. I am in hopes tLat it may be
in my power to pay a visit to York soon,
« ith either B. or Mary, who are desirous to
gee it and our friends there, particularly
Mr. .\fc(iiir3 family. I have heard rather
more favorable accuimts of his health than
formerly, which ^ivos me much satisfaction.
"I'ropertv continues to rise here, at least
does not fall. I trust tliat many will be
disaj^pointed in the re;iioval of th« seat of
(iovi?rnment. If they are, many sad couuten-
anoes will be seuii umaiinys" old svtore,
adjoining P. 'Liniiths, rented tl a other day
for ,€130 per aKini.i.^. ; that property i=i now
Mr. Sewai t's (sheritV. )
'■ In giving to otliors wo learn that the
Hou e did i.ot forgot to niaUe a better pro-
vision for members than formerly. This maj
be butfp.ir.
"If you should see Mr. Montizambert
will you say that I had a letter from Mrs.
M. enclosing, one for himself, which 1 keep
lest it should miss him V They were all well.
" The l!i8l;op is to pay a visit to us early
in the summer: ho goes to England via New
York. The ladies expect to leave Quebec in
June. All the property is to be sold, which
includes the bishop's valuai le library. If
Dr. Strachan is not apprized of this, you can
mention it ; probably he would wish to pur-
chase some ot the books ; and to the doctor
and Mrs. S. remember us kindly.
" We have beard of the late ti.arriajjo at
York. Our parson tukcs another partner, it
is saiil. in May or Juu".
"Mr. Robertson, the proprietor of the house
I now live in, wishes to take possession of it
soon on account of .•iendiuL'; his daughter to
school. I have some •no.spect of getting »
part of Mr. Patton's .•-mall house This is
in evRiy respect very uiii'omfortable, but at
pre/sent I havo not any alternative.
" Believe me t > be.
Yours very truly.
J AS. Macaitlat.
" Alex, Wood, Etq , York."
'I Vie nexttwo letters ri ust be read together,
that of the lator date explaining tlie first.
"Kingston, 16th February, 1816.
" Mv Dkar Sjb,— The enclosed mtmorial
was enclosed to me by my father, but I left
York before its arrival, and it was in conse-
'jiience returned He is just now detplj*
fiigaged in otUcial dutien, and requests me
t« forward it to you, a good opportunity of-
fering by .Major Kirhy, and begs you will
be xo good as to lay it before the Council,
and do tlso best yon can to secure a lot for
him at this place, as the fifth of an acre will
ensure a saving of two hundred pounds.
" A number of people are about to set off
to York, and you will get the news of the
day much bettor from them than I can de-
tail it. In iac;t littlo is to be heard jus
now and less looked for.
" Tha family is quite well, and only in-
commoded by a prospect of being turned out
of this house.
" All ioin in best regards to you and wish
you to convey the same to our friends the
McG ill's.
" In the greatest haste, believe me yours
sincerely, "J. S. M/tfADLAY.
"Alex. Wood, Esq."
"Kingston, March 5th, 1816.
I " My Dkar Sir, — James wrote you a few
I lines v.'hich I intended to go by Major
i Kirby, but he had just left the hotel before
I arrived. The letter was given to Mr.
Nepiield, and he assured mc it had been de-
livered. If so, I think there mu.sh soon be
an answer to the memorial which was en-
closed, .lames weuld have presented it had
he i;ot to York before his departure. The
house I now occupy has been purchased by
Mr. Robertson, who intends to reside in
town on account of his children, and I have
in vain searchea for another, nor do I see a
prospect of getting a house of any descrip-
tion. In expectation of the seat of Govern-
nnnt being removed, property is
rising here daily. 1 met a per-
son from Quebec, who intends to
carry on a tobacco establishment; for L/Qni-
mings' store and wharf £200 is demanded,
for a corner lot about the centre of the town,
without a house, £1,000. If I remain here
some small building of my own will bemri,
comfortable than this very uncomfortable
state of suspense, and as I had dr.ring the
war considerable duty with the militia, and
still continue to have, I cannot think llie
applying for a viwn lot any way unreason
able.
" Barns is still at his place. He has beei.
detained en account of a violent infl;iminii-
tion of the oye, but has a prospect of pm
cecding to Quebec in a few days.
" You will hear that Sir Gordon Drum
mond has dissolved the House of Assembly,
and it is probable you will see his speech
before this reaches you. I underslund that
tlie House at York manages matters in a
more satisfactory manner, to the advantage
of all concerned.
"When afavor;>ble opportunity offers, you
w ill oblige me by giving Mr. Scarlett a hint
about the wocd. Mr. Irvine tells me tlio
[ begs you will
ore the Council,
) secure a lot tor
h of an acre will
red pounds,
e about to set off
the news of the
,1 than I can de-
o be heard jus
ircll, and only in-
btiing turned out
) to you and wish
o our friends the
believe me yours
. s. Mm;aulay.
[arch 5th, 1816.
s wrote you a few
to go by Major
t the hotel before
^as given to Mr.
ne it had been de-
ere mush soon be
al which was en-
ire presented it had
8 departure. The
leen purchased by
tends to reside in
lildren, and I have
her, nor do I sec a
ae of any descrip-
the seat of Govern-
sd, property »•
1 met » per
who intends to
lishment; for «-/Un\-
t'iOO is demanded,
J centre of the town,
If I remain here
ly own will be mn-
very uncomfortable
I had dr.ring the
ith the militia, wi'l
cannot think Ui>'
any way anreascii
lace. H« has ben.
a violent inflamina
a prospect of pv"
ew days.
Sir Gordon Drum
House of Assembly,
will see his speech
I understand ihat
ages matters in »
ier^ to the advantage
lortunity offers, you
I'Mr. Scarlett a hint
'irvine tells me tho
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
1021
Indians have now sleighs for carrying it off,
and those fellows always cut down the best
ot t o younc: trees. As I si ill anticipate a
resi.dence at York I am anxious to save that
(les'jription of timber and of course the other
also.
" Major (Tle£»g is cominct out a? (Jen.
Wilson's aide-de-campibut we liavenot heard
whether the General comes to this or re-
mains in the Lower I'rovinca.
"Major-Gen. Younjj; is dead Sir George,
they say, 'is in bad health.
" We liave not any particular news at this
place. 1 send this by Mr. Monti/.ambert; he
13 this far on his way '.o York on public
business.
" I remain, my dear sir. yours very truly,
"J.\9. M.it'AULAY.
" My kind remembrances to my friends
with you.
" Alex. Wood, Esq."
The Mr. Scarlett mentioned above was
John Scarlett of the Humber. " Sir
George. " refers to Sir (Jeorge Yonge, alter
V. honi Yonge street is named.
The l?.-t in the series is from the late Sir
.lolrn iieverley Robinson. His anxiety to
see his own proofs is not to be wondered at,
considering the way in which, in those now
far awav oays, "copy" was dealt with "oy
t'lie T" inters.
" OcTOHEU 20, 1829.
"My I)e.\r sii;, — I Bt...l you the copy of
my charge which tlie Grand Jury rerjueste 1.
I will thank you (in whatever paper it may
be inserted) to see that ut the top it is
stated ' Published at the request of the
Jury :' because I have no desire to figure in
our newspapers upon my own mention
" Will you also be so good as to let me (if
you call) have the proof sheet to examine,
licyause these printers make terrible trash
of vny thing ; and at Niagara the Grand
Jury gave my charge to honest Andrew
Heroiv to publish, wlio made barliarous
work oi :t. It is too bad to be made respon-
sible for what one dues not say. I am, my
dear sir,
" Very Sinrerely Yours,
" .Jo»\ B. Koni.vsoN.
"Alexander Wood, Km].'
To this i? appended the following note
from .\)r. Wooi liimself to the printer :
"Sir, — T'lie (Jran.l Jury for the Home
District Autumn Assize.-i particularly request
that you will insert in your wiiicly circ ulat-
ing journal the very excellent and coinpro-
hensive charge delivered to them by his
Honor the Ciiiet Justice.
" 1 have the honor to be. Sir.
"Your Obedient Servant,
" Alexandek \\ ood
"Mr. John Cary, printer."
CHAPTER, CCLXV.
A £CRAP OF HISTORY.
Tbe Fight nt Brnver »:iiu Tlii> Pnrt
Takeit III it by Col. l'ii/,»il>lii»ii— >lr«. se-
cortl's Daring I'.xpluic.
The story oi the litfht at Beaver Dam is
an interesting one for Canadians. What
Col. Fitzgibbon did makes a bright r*g« '"
I audKhau history. Few, if any accounts of
I the event are given in extenso by Cana Han
writers. Thi.s article from an old maga/,ine
gives some i.iteresting details : —
As soon as (ieneral "Vincent had, by his
rt'inforceineuts, and the successful issue of
the niyht attack at Stoney Creek, been re-
lieved from the embairassing situation in
which he had been placed, ha actively re-
commenced oU'enoive measures, placini,' the
right divJF'.on of hi.s little force under the
commana of Lieutenant-Colonel iiisshopp,
who pushed forward detachments, and took
up two positions, commatniing the cross-
roads at the Ten-mile Creek and the Beaver
Dam. It was arrangetl, by preoncerted
signals, that their stations could readily sup-
port each other. Dearborn, finding that
these manncuvres ha I very materially cir-
cumscribed the range of his troops, who were
now < ompelled to live on their own resour-
ces, determined to check further encroach-
ments on his ease and despatched Lieut. -Col.
Uoersilcr with a detachment of nearly seven
hnnilred men, from Foit (Jeorge, to attack
and disperse that poition of Col. Ihsshopp's
command which had taken up their position in
a stone iiouse near the Peaver Dam. This ile-
taciiment consisted of thirty men of the one-
hundred and-fourth, and Wire in oommun
ication with a party of Indians, who, under
the conin»and of Clapt. Kerr, and .about two
hundred strong, occupied the woods. Col.
Boersller in this inarch came unexpectedly
on this body of Jndians, who, lining the
wood, tlieir numbers partially concealed by
the cover, immsdiately attacked him. The
thirty men of the 104th soon camo to the
assistance of Captain Kerr, and a warm
skirmish ensueil, which liad lasted for about
two hour-, when Col Hoer.stler, dreading
an ambuscade, commenced a letreat towards
Lundy's Lane, but was inime.liately attacked
from the woods by a small body of about
l^^ enty militia, under t ol. Thomas Clark,
who, accidentally passing, had been attract-
ed by the firing. Col. Boerstler now began
to tliink that matters looked serious, but
instead of retreating as fast as he could ha
sent for reinforcenienLs to Fort (Icorge, six-
teren miles distant. While waiting
for Vj arrival of these, and
making good his position, Lieutenant
FitzgibboD, of the 94th, arrived un tlie fi&!d
M!i'H
f s!
1022
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
(if we may apply tliat expreBSion to a beech-
wood), and atter reconnoitring and hearing
that t'cinforcemcnts had been sent for, this
officer determined on tho bold step of sum-
moning tii6 / mericans to surrender.* This
proposal, doubtltas very much to Lieat.
l."'itzgi'ubon'a surprise. Col. Boerstler —
seeing no prospect of escapint;
or saving his wounded, who \^ ere by this
time pretty numerous — consented to, and
terms of cupilulation were forthwith agreed
on. Just as these were beinc drawn up
Major do Haren. who had been sent for by
Lieut. Fi*zgibbon, arrived, bringing with
liim about two hundred and twenty men.
Tliis body came up in lime to secure theprit-
onersi, but not butiicit'iitly so to save Col.
Boerstler the disgrace of liaving surrendered
to a body which, witli the two hundred In-
dians, did not half equal thatundcr liis com-
mand.
Capitulation of Col. Boerstler and five
hundred and forty one American troops.
Particulars of the capitulation made between
Capt. McDowell, < n tlie part of Lieut. -Col.
Boerstler, of the United States army, and
Mafjor de Haren, of his Britannic Majesty's
Canadian regiment, on the part of Lieut. -Cul.
Bisshopp, commaiuling the iulvance of ';hc
British ; respecting tiie force under the com-
mand of Lieut. -Col. lioersller
Article I. — That Lieut. -Col. Toerstler, and
the force under his command, shall surrender
prisoners of war.
Article IL — That the officers shall retain
their arms, horses and baggage.
Article 111. — That the noncommissioned
officers and soldiers shall lay down their
arms at the head of the British column, and
shall become prisoners of war.
Article IV. — Ihat the militia and volun-
teers, with Lieut Col. Boerstler, shall be
permitted to return to the United States on
paroles.
Andkew McDowell,
Capt. of the U. S Light Artillery.
Acceded to and signed,
P C. HOKKSTLKR,
Lieut, -Col. Comn auiting Detachment United
States Arn y.
P. V. DE H.^RKN,
.Major Cana<iian Regiment.
Reinforcements arrivtd at Queenston, but
returned to Fort George. As soon as Uen.
Dearborn heai d of LJoerstier's critical situa-
t on, he dcspatclu'd C( 1. Christie wit i a
regiment of tlitee hundred men The de-
tachment marched as far us Queenston,
where, hearing of l{oer.<!tler's surrender, Col,
Cbrifctie returned to tiie camp.
•Tlio circuinstiinces coniiii'leil with tlin
ftffMir at the Beaver Dum, \^ litre Col. Fitz-
glbbon (then Lieut. FItzgibbon) (rained so much
praise for tho victory achieved by him over
I ho Americans, wa" owing lo informatioi
which Mrs. tjccord.iho widow of Jamc;i Secord,
Ksq., deceased, formerly of Queenston, who
was woi:ndcu at tlie battle of i hat place (I3tU
Oct. 18i2), obtained from private sources, of tho
intention of tlio Amtriciiii troops to surround
and talso FitZKibbon and party, which con-
sisted at that linio of a dctacrhmc-iit of the 19ili
rei;imcnt, some few militia and a small
body of Indians, to oppose some 5U of mounted
American Dnii^oons. The ditHciilty of reachini,-
Lieut Fitzg.bbon's post is thus related in iMr>.
Secord's own words :— "1 shall commence at tl^s
Battle of Queenston, wliere I was at the time,
and the cannon-balls were flying around meiu
r.vcry direction. I left tho place duiing the
engagement. After the battle I returned to
( Queenston, and then found that my huoband
I had been wounded, my houiiB plundered and
I property desuoyed. It was while the Ameri-
cans had uos.session of tho frontier that I learn -
I ed the plans of the American cuniBiander. and
determined to put the British troops undir
Fitzgitibon in pussossion of them,and it' possible
to save the Uritish troops from capture or
perhaps, total destruction. In doing so. I
found I bhou'.d have great difficulty in getting
throut;h ;he American gua'ds. which were out
ten miles in the country. Determined to per-
severe, however, I le> rnrly in the mormnpr.
walked nineteen mil-s in the month of June,
over a rough and difficult part of the country,
when I camo to a field belonging to a Mr. De-
CMinp, in tho neighbourhood of the Beaver
Dam. By this time daylight had left me. Here f
tound all the Indians (ncaniped ; by mooulighi
the sc ene was terrifying, and to those accustoii -
edto s'ich scenes, might be considered grand.
Uponadvancing to the Indians they ail roae. ami
With .-^oine yells, said 'woman,' which made mo
tremble. I cannot express the awful teeling it
gave me; but I did not lose iny presence of mind.
I was determined to persevere. I went up to
one of the chiefs, made him understand that I
had great news for Capt. Fitzgibbon. and that
he mu'-t let me pa^s the camp, or that he and
his party would be all talcen. The chief at first
objected to let me pass, but finally assented,
after rome hesitation, to go with me and ac-
company me to F'tzgibbon'e station, which was
at the Beaver Uam, when I had an interview
with him. I then told him what I had coifie
for, and what I had heard— that the Americans
intended to make an attack upoti tho troops
under his command, and wou'.d, from their su-
perior ni'inbers, capture them all. Beneflltingby
this information, Capt. Fitzgibbon formed his
planr accordiDgly, and captured about live hun»
dred Auierican infantry, about fifty mounted
dragoons, and a field piece or two was taken
from the enemy. I returned hone next day
exhausted and fatigued. I am now advance.!
in years, and when 1 look back I wonder how I
could have gone through ao much fatigue, with
tho fortitude to accomplish it."
(Certificate.)
I do hereby certify that Mrs. Secord, the wife
of Jame.s Soeoid, K-q , of Chippewa, did, in the
month of June, 1313, walk from my house in the
Village of 8. Davids to Decamp's house i:i
Thoiold, by a circuitous route of ab ut twenty
mile.><, t)i.rtly through tho wo.ids. to acquaiut
mo ihar the enemy intended to attempt by
surprise, to capture a deinchmetit nftho4yth
regiment, then under my command, she having
obtaiiicd such knowledge from good authotity,
iiS the events proved. Mrs. Seccid wa.s a
per.son of . ■'light and delicate frame. ,iiid made
the effort in weaihcr excessively v\arin, and
LANDMARKS OF TOKONTO.
1023
gained so much
■d by him over
0 informatlo'i
t Jamo* Secord,
ittpenston, who
ihat place (l3tU
5 sources, of the
3ps to surround
ly. which con-
,ei)t oE Che 49ih
and a small
i(j 50 of mounted
iilty of reacliinj.'
related in Mr>.
commonce at um
ras at the lime.
ig around n>e in
lace duiing the
J 1 returned lo
at my husbancl
1 plundered and
hiie the Ameri-
tier that I learn-
comaiander. and
iti troop3 under
im.and if possible
:rom capture or
In doing so. 1
Hculty in getting
3, which were out
aermined to per-
in the morninpr,
; month of June,
:tof the cotintry,
zinK to a Mr. De-
)d of the Beaver
lad left me. Here I
ped ; by moouhghL
to those aecustoii -
considered grand.
IS they ail ro=e. anil
ti ' which made, mo
,he awful feelinj? it
presence of mind,
ire. I went up to
understand that I
zgibbon. and that
IP, or that he and
The chief at tirst
finally assented,
» with me and ai-
station, which was
had an interview
what I had come
hat the Americans
' upott the troops
u';d, from their su-
all. Beneflltingby
gibbon formed his
ired about five hun^
lovit fifty mounted
or i«0 was taken
led hone next day
am now advanced
c\i I wonder how I
«uch fatigue, with
X."
Irs. Pecord, the wife
liippewa, did. in the
lorn my house inine
)ecamp'8 house m
lie of ab ui twenty
voodB. to actiuaiut
Ided to attempt by
Ichmeiil of tiie4'Jth
Inmand. she havitia
Jjni good aiuho'ity,
llrs. Seccrd was a
lo fiRine. .u.rt made
Issivfcly warm, and
I dreaded at the tin<a that she must
FUlfer in health in consequences of fatigue and
niixiet}', she having been exposed to dcinger
from tho enemy, through wlioso line of com-
munication she had to pass. The attempt was
made on my detachment by the enemy and
his detachment, consisting of upwards of 500
men, with a field piece, and fifty dragoons were
captured in consequence. I write this certificate
in a moment of much hurry and from metuory,
and it is rhereforc thus brief.
(Signed) James Fitzoibbon,
Formerly Lieutenant in the 49lh Rcgt.
CHAPTER CCLXVI.
AN OLD JARVI3 STREET HOUSE
TUc Residence of the l,ute Colonel Samuel
Peters Jarvls.
Colonel Jarvis was the ekk-st son of j^eo-
retary William Jarvis, of 1"9'2 — 1817, and
his wife Hannah Owen Peters, born at
Newark, (now Niagara,) 15th Nov., 1792,
and was educated at Cornwall by the late
Dr. Strachan, afterwards Bishop of Toronto.
He studied law and practised his profeosion
for many years. At the age of 20 years he
was attached to the 41st regiment and was
piesenTi at the siege of Detroit.
Afterwards he was present at the battle
of Queenstoii Heights, when General Brock
fciid his A. D.C , Col. McDonell, fell, bcint;
one of the pall-bearers at the funeral of the
latrer. Later he was nt the battles of
iStoney Creek and Luudy's Lane.
II'' also during the war commanded the
gua which conveyed General W intield
Scou *s prisoner of war to Niagara
In 1818 he married Mary Boyles Powell,
daughter of the late William Dummer
i'owell. Chief Justice of Upper Canada
and Speaker of the Legislative Council,
by whom he had nine chiidreii, (our sons
and five daughters, three of whom alone are
now living, J*viz. • — Major General Jarvis,
C. M. G., and Mrs. Farrell, widow of the
late Colonel Sidney B. Farrell, Royal
Eiiyineers, in England, and George Murray
oaivis, of the Civil Service in Ottawa.
After the death of his father in 181S,
Colonel J.irvis performed his official duties
a.i Secretary of the Province, Clerk of
the Crown in Chancery and Chief Supur-
iiitendent of Indian Affairs
I»aringtbe rebellion ot 1837-38 Colonel
Jarvis raised the " Queen's Rangers,'' which
were under his immediate command. He
was subsequently commander of all the
troops in garrisoii
Ho was alao present when the steamer
Caroline was "cut out" and sent down
NiagaiH River from Navy Itiknd by Captain
Die.\ anil Allan McNab.
Later lie was Judge Advocate on the
Court Martial assembled to try the .-^mfri-
can prisoner, General Sutherland, who at-
tempted to commit suicide whilst confined
in the old for at Toronto.
Colonel Jarvis died in Toronto on 6th
Sept., 1857.
THE lUZKL BURX I'ROrKRTY,
This property comprised one hundred
acre J, and was an original grant from the
Crown to Secretary William Jarvis. The
consideration was £100, or £1 an ivcre.
When Secretary Jarvis died in 1818 the
property passed into the hands of his eldest
son. Col. Samuel Peters Jarvis. About 182'2
or 182.3' about 50 acres were cleared of the
pine forest, which was the original growth
on this land. In 1824 Mr. Samuel Jarvis
crested tho brick residence shown in the
picture, and laid out some ten acres be-
tween the house and what is now Queen
street (then Lot street) as orchards and
garden. In this house, which was built by
the late Mr. John Ewart, as contractor for
the masonry work, Mr. Jarvis and his
family resided until 1848, when, at the re-
quest of the corporation, the house, which
stood exactly where Jarvis street and Shuter
-street intersect, was pulled down and .Jarvis
street opened out to Bloor street. Jarvis
street of the present day, from Queen street
south to King street, was then called New
street, afterwards named Nelson street, and
finally Jarvis street.
The house was a two-storey brick one,
with verandah, and of substantial build.
All the wood work inside was solid black
walnut, and when the house was di.sin.u.t'ed
the woodwork was Durcliased by the late
Colonel Carthew, who had it len-.oved to
the house he was then building on Yonge
street, near Gallows Hill, and which was
planned of exictly the same dimensions as
Mr. Jarvis' house, in order to suit the wood-
work Colonel Cartiiew's house was totally
destroyed by fire some years afterwards
The outbuildings at Hazel I'.urn were
chiefly built of bric'i. The stable, which
w 8 some distance north of the house, was
standing sonae years ago on the west side of
Jarvis street. The smoke house, also a
1 brick struuture, stood in the rear of the
house, a little to the east, and was a place of
terror to the small boys who freqtiout',;! the
orchards for the purpose of stealing apples,
and who, when ciuight, as wa* freijtieiitly
the casse, were Ic ked up in he smoke
house for several hours as puni.slimeut.
A short distance noitli, and at the west end
of the Urge garden, was a "jry commodious
fowl house and yard, also used as v rabbit
house and warren, where hundr'- s of rab-
1 its were kept. The pictui-e shows the car-
riage house and s nds, and the creek, which
I 'i
1024
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
'kBi
iil0
t i
vjn. *S *^ 1 ' -v
mm m
■^:f
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
1()2"»
JiloweJ about midway betweeu house and
wtablc towards the east, passing through
Motki Park aud auross (Jueeu street. The
root house, a large Uuil liug ot .sulid stuue
nitujoury, i.>s also shown, built iuto the
«iu? ol the hill fauiug the creek, aud
iu which creek, as it came dowu iroui
Daveuport hill through the McGill pro-
perty, was exct'Ueut trout tishiug.
The log cabiu showu at the extreme
rear of the cleared 50 acres wm.s occupied
by the farm mau (Forbesj iiud liin family.
Iu the immediate ueighbourhood ol' the
cabiu was a swamp, where there was
excellent 8uipe shootiug. In tlie torcst
uoi'th of this to Bloor street deer were
pleutiful, and they as well oh the snipe
were frequently bagged by Mr. Jarvis
aud his friends of an evening after dinner.
In this forest was a he.'ivy growth
of hazelnut bushes, from which circum-
etance, no doubt, the place was named
Hazel Burn. During the rebellion ol 1887
many amusing scenes were witnessed at
Uazel Burn. It was suppoeied the rebels
would enter the town through these
woods, aud a guard was kept for sev-
eral days and nights on the grounds.-
On one occasion when tlie guard were
enjoyiug a supper well on in the nigiit
they were alarmed by the report of a
musket discharged by one of the isen-
tries stationed in the neighbourhood of
the stable. When the guard turned out
they found that a sentry had challenged
several times what he thought was a
mau moving towards him iu the dark,
aud receiving uo reply to his challenge,
he had fired and killed a calf that wa^
grazing amoug the trees.
The carriage etaudiug in the yard, as
show^u by the picture, had a history. It
was brought to this couutry by Lady
Sarah Maitlaud, and when she and Sir
Peregrine returned to England it was
purchased by Mr. Jarvis, aud wan iu
coi>;^taut use till as late as 1865, when
IrODi age it became unserviceable. It is
supposed to be still somewhere in To-
routo. Many other remiuiacences of the
old place might be recorded, but they
would be of little interest to any but
those who were acquainted with it in
those days, and who enjoyed its hospi-
tality, which was proverbial. In 1846
there were private theatricals at Hazel
Burn. The names of all those who took
part are familiar :
HAZEL BUItN THEATRICALS.
On Twelfth Night, the Thespians will pei-
form live scenes from Sheridan's Ooinady of
THE RIVALSl
DrantatLi Peroouae.
Vlrs. Malaprop, the aunt ol Lydia
Mifi« Eliza Fitsgeraid
Lydia Languish, a scntiinentnl young
lady Miss Emily Jarvis
Julia Melvillo, the ward ol St. .An-
thony MUs Iivinjf
Lucy, Ljdia'.s maid Miss Jarvis
Sir Antlion.v Absolute, ;i tf sly <dil j;cn-
tleman Mr". All.ed .Sharpo
Sir Lucius O'Triggu-r, an Iri.ili Haronet
Mr. G. Murray JarvL*
Captain Absolute, Sir Anthony's -on,
the lover ol Lydia Mr. Gait
Fanlkland, the. lover ot Julia. ..Mr. Ilcrnard
Hob Acres, a hall-witted country
squire Mr. Irving
Fag Master Charles Jarvis
Pcrlormance to Commence at Half-pant
Seven, JANUAUY, 1846.
chaptkrTjclxvii.
st. james' church.
The Second Ball«lliig-IIow It whs Kiiill
au«l liy IVhoiii— Tlir Orli^lnnl Contrart—
its Filial Dpslrurtion
The first St. James' Church was a wood-
en building, erected on the same site as
where now stands the .stately ecclesins-
iical fane ot the same name.
This first church had-, tu (luote a let-
ter from Archdeacon George O'Kill
.Stuart, " been built and entered into and
u.sed for public worship in 1807." Among
its records are many interesting parti-
culars. On March Is^, 1807, it is record-
ed that " a town meeting was held
agreeably to the act of Legislature at
Gilbert's Tavern, in thn town of York,
when and where the following geutle-»-
men, D'Arcy Boulton, Esq., aud William
AIlan„ Esq., were nominated and ap-
pointed church wardens."
Sextons in 1807 do not appear to have
been highly paid fuiictiouaries, for it is
quaintly recorded that Joseph Hunt re-
ceived "the sum of three pouuds, fifteen
shillings, Halifax currency, in full for
one-quarter's allowauce as clerk and sei-
tou to the church at York, from March
4th, 1807, to the 4th of June, 1807."
In March, 1808, for the first time, "dol-
lars" were referred to in the records.
Up to that date all pecuniary transac-
tions had been recorded iu pounds, shil-
lings and pence, Halifax currency.
The total aew rents received in this old
church from Atarch 4th, 1807, until March
1809, only amount to £73 4s 6d, Halifax
currency, or $292.90.
The first pulpit erected iu St. James',
nhich is now iu Sca.rboro' church, was
built by one Joshua Leach, for in the
records there is an entry recording the
payment to him of £3 78 9d lor $13.55),
"iu part paymeut for a pulpit erected
iu the church." The date is April 4th,
1809.
There was a slight improvement in the
(inJtnces from March, 1809, to March,
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1026
LANDMAKKS OF TOKOXTO.
1810, the amount received being $101.55.
The next account given is for two years
ending March 4th, 1S12. the rccciptw then
being !i;422.50.
Thi« building, after thirty ycarH' use-
was found in 1831 to be no longer service-
able for the wants of the couiuuuiity of
York, or rather the Anglican portion of
the iuhabitnnl.s ui tiuit town, (ind it was
decided to erect a larger /uid more «ub-
Btautial edifice. TeuderH, therefore, Avcre
invited from builders, and the siiecifica-
place. Esquire: William Henry Draper, of
the same place, EHquire ; .lames Grant
Chewett, of the «anie place. EHquire : and
George Dugc.in. of the same plnce. mer-
chant, of the tirst part : .John Kitchey, of
the same place, carpenter and builder,
of the secoiiii part ; .Tesse Ketchum. of
York aforesaid. Ksquire, and Thomas Sil-
verthorn, of the lowaship, Toronto, in the
district aforesaid, yeoman, of the third
part. Will rea.s, iit a public meeting of
_ the parishioacrs of tlic parish of St.
i iTamcB, in the town of York aforesaid, it
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tionfi coatained therein were as set forth
in the following reprint of the original
contract :
" An agreement made and entered into
the twenty-second day of October, in the
year of our Lord, one thousand eight hun-
dred and thirty-one. *
" Between D'Arcy Boulton, junior, of
the town of York, in the Home District,
Bequire ; Robert Stanton, of the same
wa» determined on re-building the Church
of St. .James in the said parish ; and
whereafi, at the said meeting the above-
named D'Arcy Boulton, Robert Stan-
ton, William Henry Draper, .James
Grant Chewett and George Duggan,
were by the (-'aid parishioners ap-
pointed a committee for euperinteiul-
Lng the building of the aaid church,
and were authoriued tc advertise for
LANDMARKS OF lOIlONlO.
1027
and eiitor into a contract or] contrnots for
re-lmilding ttiu said church ;
" And where 18 at a meeting of tlio said
committee a :; ropoaal or tender from the
said John R'tchey waa received for the
erecting uiid building the said church ; and
of the whole of the said work bo bo done
thereto according to the drawin;^3, plans
and specifications made out and now in
the possession of the said committee, for
the sum of seven thousand tour huiulrcd
and twenty-five pounds currency ; and
such proposal and tender were a;ireed to
by the said committee upon tlie terms and
conditions hereinafter inentioneii :
*' And wiiereas the said Jesso Kotchiim
and Thomas Silverthorn have consented
and agreed to become bound as sureties
for the duo fulfilment of tli ■ contract here-
inafter mentioned and of the work to be
perfonued by the said John Ritcliey in re-
building tlie said church ; now these
presents witness, that for carrying
the said agreumont into C'ceoution tlie
said D'Arcy liouhon, Robert Stanton, Wil
liani Henry Draper, James (irant Ciiewelt
ami George Du.'gan, on behalf of themiclvos
and of the p rishioncrs on the one pait ;
and tlie said John Hit hey on the other part,
do hereby mutually oontrac';, declare and
anrree as folio .vs :- ••
" First — The said John Ritcliey uoth cove-
mint and agree with the said D'Arcy l))ul-
ton, Robert Stanton, William Henry Dra
per, James Grant C'hewett and (ieorge Dug-
gan, a id the survivors and survivor of them
and the executors and the a Iminisirator.s of
such survivor, that lie, the said .John liitchey,
in consideration of the sum of seven tliou-
sana four hundred and twenty-five pounds,
hereinafter agreed to be paid to him, shall
and will at the town of York aforesaid, on
such spot as shall be pointed out to him by
the said D'Arcy Boulton. Robert Stanton,
Willi im Henry Draper. James (J rant C'hewett
and George Dugjan, at his own expense
in every respect, erect and build, cover- in
and glaze, paint, plaster, stucco and com-
pletely finish with all necessary scone-work,
bricc work, carpeutery, joinery, iron-
work, plastering, stucco, and in every re-
spect make fit for the use of the said
congregation agreeable to the gpecifica-
tions hereto annexed all and singular the
said church or building mentione I or spe-
cified in the plan hereunto annexed ; the
whole to be completed on or before the first
day4if ftoptembor in the year of our Lord
oue tlkouaand eight hundred and thirty-
three.
" Secondly — That in consideration of the
said sum of seven thousand four hundred ami
Iwentv-five pounds to be piid to the suid
John Ritcliey, as ht^reinaftcr mentioned, he,
tlie said John Ritchev, doth hereby agre» with
the said parlies of the first part, that he will
find and provide every m itorial of every
nature and description of the very best
kind to bo usjd in and about the erection of
the said chu ch at his own proper cost And
charge.
"Thirdly— That ho, the said John Ritchey,
shall and will erect the said church under
the immediate! superintendence of the said
parties hereto of the first part ; or of such
architect for the time being appointed by
them or the survivor of tliem ; and that the
said parties hereto of the first part or such
architect to bo by them appointed shall
have full power an I authority to give di-
rections for and regulate the bringing in
proper materials to be useil in the erec-
tion and completing of the said church ;
and also the mode and manner of per-
;orming the several works in and about the
same, and if they or he shall tliinU ! fit full
power to reject any improper materials ai
'iforesaid of every de3cri{)tioii, and to re(juir«
the said John Ritcher to substitute better
materials in lieu of such as they should think
improper ; and generally to take care that
every part of the work in the erecting the
said churcli be done in a good and workman-
like manner.
"Fourthly — And the saidli'Arcy ISoulton,
Robert Staiuon, William Henry Draper,
James (Irani Chswott and (ieorgo DugL'an,
do hereby agree to and with the said John
Ritcliey, his executors, adminisUators and
assigns in manner following : that ;s to say,
tiial they, the said D'.u'cy Roulton, Robert
Stanton, William ilenry Draper, James
(Jrant (./hewett and George Duggan, as
such committee for the building of the
said church as aforesaid, shall and will
pay unto the s.dd John Ritchey the said
sum of seven thousand four hundre I and
twenty live pounds in manner following;
that is to say, the sum of one thousand
pounds immediately on the signature of
tliese presents ; and when the sum of one
thouaanil pounds has been expended in work
and materials for the said ci)urch. and de-
livered on tlie ground whereon the same
is to be built, to be ascertained either by
tlie parties of tha first part, or certificate
of an arcliitect to be by them appointed as
aforesaid, the residue of the said sum of
seven thou:^and four liundred and twenty-
five pounds, ill manner following : tha" is
to say, the sum of eighty ]jound.s pe:" cen-
tum upon the value ot so much of the said
church as shall at liie end of every month
from anil after the expenditure of the said
one thousand pounds be completed in a
workmauiike manner ; and on the value of
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1028
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
■uch materials as s lall tlion be provided
ftiid delivered over uiui iihuve the value
of tiie said one tlioiH.tiiil pounds, or of the
last monthly valuation, and the residue of
the said sum of seven thousand four hundred
and twenty-five pounds, when the said
building or church shall be completely
finished and delivered over ; provided, al-
ways, nevertheless, that uu sucli payment
hereto of the first part, and tlie said Joiin
Ritchey, that in case tliey, the said parties
hereto of the first part, or the survivors or
survitor of them or the executors or ad-
ministrators of the said survivor should
direct any more work to be performed or
done in and about the said church tlian Ia
contained in the schedule hereunder written
or annexed, then iu such case tbc parties
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as laat aforesaid shall be made to the said
John Ritchey without the consent and
approbation of the said Jesse Ketchum
aud Thomas Silverthorn, first provided m
writing to the said D Arcy Boulton, William
Henry Draper, James Grant Chewetc and
George Duggan.
"Fifthly — And it is hereby declared and
agreed upon by and between the said parties
of the first part or the survirors or
survivor of them, or the executors or ad-
ministrators of the survivor shall or will
pay, or cause to be paid, to the said John
Ritchey, hia executors, administrators or
assigns, so much money as the said extra
work and the materials used therein shall
reasonably be worth, cost or amount to ;
anything before contained to the contrary
LANDMAUKS OF TORONTO.
i0'2y
.he said Jolii)
s said parlies
0 survivora or
oil tors or ad-
luvivor should
portormed or
ihurcli than i*
MUider written
asc tbe parties
e BurviTors or
xecutora or ad-
or shall or will
o the said John
iministrators or
the said extra
ed therein shall
or amount to ;
o the contrary
thereof notwithstanding ; siiliject, never-
tiieless, to this proviso, tlmt such dircctiun
and payment for any auuh oxirii work shall
not bu in any mannerconstraed into a waiving
or breaking of the«e articles of agreement in
iny manner whatsoever.
"Sixthly —And it is hereby oorenan ted and
agreed by cdid between the said parties of the
first part, and the said John Ritchey, that
if any dispute or difTerunco sliould happen
CO arisn between thorn touching tiie said
church hereby agreed to be erected and
built as aforesaid, or touching or con-
cerning other matter or thing whatsoever
relating to the work hereby contracted
to be done, or such additional or extra work,
if any, or touching, or concerning the con-
struction or meaning of these presents ;
then such dispute or diflcrence shall be left
to the determination and award of three
indilfereiit persons, one to be named by the
parties hereto of the first part, or the sur-
vivors or survivor of them, or the executors
ur administrators of such survivor ; another
by the said dohn Ritchey, ids executors, ad-
ministrators or assigns, and the third by
the persons so first chosen, immediately or
within ten days after notice of such dispute
or ditierence ; and if either of the said
parties of the first and second parts shall
by any writing under their or his hand
or hands recjuest the oiher party to refer
any such dispute to arbitration , and to no-
minate any tit person or persons to be ar-
bitrator or arbitrators on their or his part
and behalf, and the party to whom such
lequest shall be made bhall for the space of
ten days after such request shall be made
refuse or neglect so to do, or refuse or
neglect to execute a paper as arbitration
bond, then, and in either such case, it shall
and may be lawful to and for the person
or persons chosen as arbitrator or arbitra-
tors by the party making such reque:jt as
aforesaid by any writing under his or their
hand or hands to choose some person to act
as arbitrator for the party so neglecting
or refusing ; and the persons so chosen
arbitrators as hereinbefore is mentioned
thereupon, and within three d ays after-
wards proceed to choose nu umpire ; and
the major part of such arbitrators or um-
pire shall within one week from the time
of such reference mak« an award in the
matters to be referred to them, with
power, nevertheless, for the said major
part of the said arbitrators and umpire from
time to time to enlarge the time for making
their said award ; fo as the said enlarged
time shall not exceed one calendar month
from ihe time of such arbitration first com-
mencing ; and the uaid award shall be final
and conclusive on all parties thereto, and in
particular if either of the said parties shall
have refused, declined or nckrleuted to be-
come a parly to such rofereiice after such
nature as aforesaid, the (lartiex so refusing
or neglecting shall bo bound and ooncludeil
by uU the proceedings therein, and by the
award to be made therein in the same man-
ner to all intents and purposes as if the
said party had been actually a party to tli«
said reference and joined thfrein ; and for
the further and better enforoiiig the per-
formance and observance of every or any
award so made as aforesaid the reference
or submission for, or in respect of tlio same,
shall from time to time be made a rule of
His Majesty's Court of King's IJench for Up-
per Canada, according to the statute in such
c ise made and provided.
" Seventhly— And it is hereby further
agreed by and between the said
parti 8 of the first and second part,
that the act or deteiminatinn of
the majority of the persons herein-
before named of the first part sliall be con-
sidered and taken as the act of the whole of
the said pirties of the first part.
" Eiglithly— And it is hereby further cove-
nanted and agreed by and between the par-
tir.s of the first and second part hereto that
in building the said church the said party of
the second part shall be at liberty to make
use of all such ground as shall be open and
not in use for graves, but that in no
respect shall be allow any materials or other
things to be placed in or upon any graves or
tombs within the church yarL,'.
" And the said Jesse Ketchum and Thomas
Silverthorn do hereby for themselves, and
for, in and on behalf of their executors aad
administrators, covenant, grant and agree
to and with the said parties of the first part,
and the survivors and survivor of them, and
the executors and adiuiiuslrators of such
survivor in manner folio a ing : that is to say,
tiiat the said John Ritchey shall and will
veil and truly expend in work and materials
for the said church the said sum of one
thousand pounds, so to be an aiiced as
aforesaid ; and further, that he .iliall and
will within the said time above limited for
so doing, well, truly and faithfully build
and in all things complete the said church
according to this !igreement hereinbefore con-
tained, and according to the plans and speci-
fications hereto annexed.
" In witness whereof the parties of thess
presents have hereunto set their nands and
seals the day and year first above written,
and in the second year of his Majesty's
reign .
" Signed, sealed and delivered in ihe pre-
sence of
" John Strachau, S. Washburn, George
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OBODM) KLOUR OF ST. JAMKjS' CAlUliDKAL — 1831-3!>.
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LANDMARKS OP TORONTO.
1031
r^4^^^-
Pufif(an, Joha Ritchey, D. Boulton, jr.,
Robt. Stantoa, Win. H. Draper. T. O
Cbewett, Jess* Ketohutn, Thomas Silver-
thorn."
(The name of Mr. Chewett having been
throu({hout inlcrlined. )
••Dimensions.— The size of the said church
to be (exciu<iivtt of the projection of the
plinth) one hundred and forty feet long
the body of the church by eighty feet wide.
The tower is to project. (beyond the one tiuu
dred and forty feet) nine feet six iu hes by
twenty feet six inches square.
•' Kxcavations— The foundations for uU the
exterior walls to be excavated four feet deep
below the ground line and of suilicient width
tor building the walls. Interior foundations
to be excavated three feet below the ground
line and of suHicient width fur building the
walls.
*' Masonry —Foundations of exterior walls
to be four feet below the grouml line. i he
footings to tho foundation of the towrr to
be four feet ten inches thick, and about ten
inches high, from said footing to ground hue
four feet, six inches thick, and from ground
line to ground tloor line four feet three
inches thick.
*• SiJe walls to have a footing three feet
ten inches thick, and about ten inches high
from said footing to ground line, three feet,
six inches thick — from ;;round line to ground
floor line, three feet four inches tliick.
•• The end walls to be throe teet six inches
thic.i at the footing, and from footin.: to
ground line tlu'ue feet t^^u inches tltick :
from groi'.nd line to ground tloc>r line t o
feer. eleven inches tiiick. i'artly foimed
choir walls to be three feet below tiiei;round
line, and from ground line to ground floor
line four feet high and two feet tiiick. Ten
piera for columns to be built three feet
square from foundation to floor line,
and ten pieri to be built for the
sleeper beams two fe't square from foiuid.i-
tion to flour line ; all these foundation walls
are to he built of good rubb.e vtork of lake
stone to be laid on their natural beds and
well bedded and bonded in good strong
mortar.
■' Walls— The tower walls to be four feet
thick, trom the ground-floorline to the top
of the entablature— hen two sets-ofif to bo
made at the top of tho base of
tiedeutal of six inches i acli ; each
eaving tho thickness of the walls of the
pedeatal three feet thick TIih tower to
rise one foot above the ridge of the roof and
the stone cornico, and bricking course abuve
that, making the whole hi-i;;ht of the tower
•ixty two feet, six inches from tho floor
line.
" Side walls to be thirty-six feet high from
floor line to the eaves, to be three thick op-
posite the piers, and two feet six inches ti«-
tween the piers.
'• End walls to be two feet eight inches
thick opposite the piers, and two feel two
inches thick between the piers.
"(lablc walls to be one foot six inches thick.
The whole of the above walls above the
ground-lino are to be built on the outside
with regular course- Kingston hammered
a'.;one, and the inside with lake stone, all
well bedded and bonded, and kept straight
and plumb.
•° i he iiiside partition walls to be built of
brick, eighteen inches thick the tirst storey
and fourteen inches thi'.k on the se ond
storey.
" Water table— A cut stone water table to
be put all around the building sixteen inches
thick, well weathered down from the face of
wall, well tooled jointed and set
" Windi ws, etc. — The jambs, heads and
sills of all the wit dows to oe out stone.
" The base moulding and cornice of ihe
pedestal of the tower.the recess for the clock,
the door sills and chimneys abuve the roof
all to be of cut stone, well dressed, cat fair
ami square, well set and bedded aud l)onde<l
I into the walls in a proi er manner. All this
cut stone to be Burlintrton stone.
'• \^ ing walls and lardi: i; — Kxcavate for
the wing-walls, for sUpa and landing, four
feet <let'p, the whole of the side of the wing-
walls to be built 111 (h*> same manner as 'he
wall? of the buildings, four feet below the
•;round line, built up witli stoiiu rubble work
to reo^'ive the cteps aiiil laiidi'.igs The
whole of these st>'p.s and landings to tfte live
entrances o \<e of Ivin.-ston cut stone, well
worked, tlie landiiii;s to be laid in regular
courses, well bciliied and jointe<l.
" Flasterin;,'— Tiie whole of tli-; plastering
to be done in good, three coat work, and
the outside walls of the boJy of tiie church
to be furred and lathed, prop>r cornices ;
and entablature to be %« urked and the niche
head of the communion reces.s to be panel-
led; lathing and plastering of ceilings, par-
titions, etc., to be of good, double, narrow-
split pine or cedar latlu.
•' Painting and glazing— .'\11 the painting
necessary for the intideof the church to be
three-coat work ; the glazin:^ to i a dune in
a neat manner, well bedded with black
putty.
"Carpentry — To prepare ;ind fix four tier
of sleeper beams, ten l)y sixteen inelie", to
run lengthwise of tlic church, and to be well
bedded on the stone piers built for that pur-
pose and prepare and tix ground floor wall
plates, two and a half by ei.ht inches,
bedded o i the walls. Trtpare and flx a
good floor of joists, liiree and a half by
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ill!*,WW
f^r^mipm^
TW
1032
LANDMARKS OF TOROMO.
fonriotn iticlu-s, and two faet from centre
to centre, uti<l };aineil down to sleeper- beams,
aud bedded on the wall plate — all to
be well laid and level ; prepare a sufficient
nuinl>er of wood blacks and bond- timbers
for all the openings, wiiore necessary for the
fixing of all the joiners' work, and delivered
to the mason in time to be built iu the
v^alls. Make and fix all the centies for the
inasous. and proper lintels for the apertures
where necessary ; prepare and fix ten pine
posts to be set on the oak tensplets, well
bedded on stone piers, which said
posts are to run up and frame into tiie
principal rafters; prepare and fix a tier of
wal:-plat<>8 for Kullories, six by ten inches,
and to be well bedded on the wall. Prepare
pi uper timbers for the two sides and end
Kallery, and well frame said timbers into
the principal-posts and cocked on to the/
wall-plates, and tilled in with joists framed
two teet from centre to centre.
" The roof to be framed with six pairs of
principals and properly trussed, with Ki.i((
and Queen posts, collar beams, etc., and to
be well framed and secured with iron, suit-
Able to the sise of the building, and to be
covered with one inch and a quarter inch
boards, square jointed, and eighteen inch
good pine shineles, laid four and a half
inches to the weather aud painted with two
coat dark color ; ^ood bold moulding, hori-
zontal and raking cornices ; to prepare and
properly fix to timbers built in for that
purpose, and the parapet to be
of wood properly prepared and fixed; put
two tier of oak beams in the tower, and two
beims in each tier, cocked on to the wall,
plates of oak also framed, at the amtles. A
floor of joists with one and a half inches
rough floor, laid on the top tier of the said
beams. Twelve windows to be made
and fixed in the two sides and west
end of the church, with proper boxed
frames and sunk sills ; two inch
sashes, franked and donelled, to be made in
three heights ; and the top and bottom
sashes to be hum; with iron weights, brass
puUics, and patent linos ; to be eight squares
wide and twelve hich to the springing, ten
by fourteen glass, with circular heads— all
properly wrought and the frames well bedded
in the walls. A circular headed window to
Im made aud fixed in the communion recess
with niullion transom r. il, sunk
and mouled pilaster, prnprr boxed
frame and sunk sill, two
inch sashes properly made twelve squares
high aud nine do. wide, eleven by fifteen
inch class, the top sash in the centre part to
he hung same as the other saslies . The four
windows east end to be twenty four heights,
each ten by twelve >:lass; the upper two
windows to b< circular heads, to be properly
made and single hung— two small windows
to be made and fixed in the tower above the
roof with solid frames bung with butthingee
and fastened with two bolts. Prepare
and fix angle beads to all the windows to
receive the plaster, jambs, as high as the
springing of the arch. An4 prepare aud fix
proper grounds for the plastering where
necessary throughout the buildincr. Pre-
pare and lay a one and a half inch batten
floor, wrought, grooved and toneued and
well nailed throughout the ground
floor. And prepare and ilz
two good substantial staircases to
lead to galleries ; the steps to be twelve in-
ches wide and ris ■ about six and a half inches,
well blocked and framed carriages and done
in a substantial manner. Prepare and fix
one, one and a half inches skirting, ten
inches deep throughout where necessary,
with a good, bold moulding ; frame in and
fix proper beures and risors for the step-
pings in the galleries vhrough-
out ; and prepare and lay a
one and a half inch floor, wrought,
grooved and tongued throughout said gal-
leries, all well nailed and secured. Prepare
and fix stout rabbited door frames Do all
the outside entrances with two-and-a-half-
inch doors, moulded both sides with good
bold moulding and raised panels, finished
with one and a half inch jamb lining and
soffit to correspond with the doors and pro-
Eortionable double faced architraves, and
old band mouldings finished on plinths ;
prepare and fix a good proportionable frontis-
piece to each of the side dot>rs, and a
suitable iron rim'd lock with biass knobs
put on eacii, and to be properly hung with
suitable hinges. The principal entrance
doors to be made folding ; the centre doors
between the tower and centre aisle to be
made folding also, aud the whole of the
inside doors to be two-inch framed panelled
and moulded, jamb linings and soffit
to correspond, and the finishings
all to be the same. The four in
side doors at the east end to have u seven
inch lock on each, and the three doors at the
other end to have a door-spring and handle
on each. Prepare and fix proper ribs for
the centre ecliptic ceiling, and aIso over the
said gallery, twelve inches apart, to re-
ceive the lathing ; frame and fix a stud-
ded partition to form a proper curvu
for the communion recass. Prepare and fix
proper ribs from top of the said partition to
form the niche- head and ribs for the panel-
ling of the same to be got to it True curve
and put up in a proper manner a platform
tu be raised in the said recess, with two
mould steps in front and a floor laid throucrh-
w^
f^W
"^I^^V^^HMIiVMpMI^BIIflP^PMlHpMPMip
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
\<m
it, to be properly
I imftU windows
tower above the
witb butthinges
t>olt8. Prepp.re
Che windows to
as high M the
[ prepare aud fix
>Iasterin({ where
buildinir. Pre-
lialf ineh batten
id toneued and
the ground
I and i'tX
staircases to
s to be twelve in-
and a half inches,
arriages and done
Prepare and fix
es skirting, ten
where necessary,
i(( ; frame in and
ors for the step-
vhrough-
lay a
wrought,
said gal-
Prepare
frame* Do all
two-and-a-half-
leries
and
floor,
lughout
secured.
•t
h
sides with good
1 panelk, finished
jamb lining and
he doors and pro-
i architraveb, and
hed on plinths ;
>ortionable f rontis-
ide doors, and a
rith biass knobs
perly hun^ with
irincipal entrance
the centre doors
intre aisle to be
le whole of the
1 framed panelled
nings and soffit
the finishings
The four in
to have u seven
three doors at the
spring and handle
fix proper ribs for
and »1bo over the
ches apart, to re-
and fix a stud-
a proper curve
Prepare and fix
e said partition to
ribs for the panel-
to it True curve
manner a platform
recess, with two
i floor laid through -
n
FT.
"W?^
sT55P?P^
■ • ^T?»7W?^:5risj71-^7'-Jjg^pJP*T^
1034
LANDMARKS OP TORONTO.
•at Prepare uid fix a pulpit, neatly fram-
ed and panelled and moulded, supported
by Ionic columns with carved capitals
aud moulded basett, and geometrical
•tairoase, moulded liaiidriil, to be titted up
with walnut and tinished in a neat, work-
neanlike manner and well secured. The
readins desk and clerk's ditto to be framed
and panelled with walnut and corres-
pond to the pulpit an>( nnishcd in a neat
mauuer. I'repare and fix iO Ionic column
properly glued up.of sutiicient thickness.aud
well blacked, properly wrought and dimm-
ishcd each t o have proper carved capitals ;
two half ones sides of communion
to have m'>ulded bases ; and prepare uitd put
up two small columns under the end gallery
to lie wrought solid and to be tiuished in tiie
same style as the large ones. Prepare and
fix a moulded plancif r over top of large
ooluii us to be continued round the build-
ing ; and prepare and fix proper bracket-
ing for tne plaster entablature over
the same, and prepare and fix a framed and
panelled plancier round under the gallery
beams ; aod put a proportional entablature
all round the bottom of the gallery front ;
prepare and put up the galbry fronts of
walnut, about two feet nine inches high,
framed, panelled and moulded witli
a neat cornice to be continued round
the side aud end gallc.ie:i ; fit up
the gallery pews to correspond to the
height of the fronts ; the outside framing
and doors next to the aisles to be framed,
panelled and monhled of one ano a quarter
inch walnut; the backs and partitions, etc.,
to be framed an<l panelled of one and a
half inch pine, finished with seat, book-
board, etc , and walnut cappins;». and the
doors to be hung with japauned, projecting
hingei. A platform to be framed for organ-
loft, enclosed with proper doors, etc., with a
lock on each, prepare and fit up the whole of
the lower pews, the outside framing and
doors, etc., next to the aisle to be framed,
panelled and moulded of one and a half
inch walnut, the backs and partitionf, etc.,
to be framed and panelled ot one and a
half inch pine, finished with seat, hook-
boards, etc.. aid walnut cappings ; the
doors to be all well fitted and hung with
japanned, projecting hinges. And all to be
finished in a good and proper manner, and ac-
cording to the true spirit and meaning of
the aforesaid agreement, plans and specifica-
tion*, whether anything shall have been
•mitted, either in the said agreement- or
ipeeifications or plans."
The nan;es of the various parties to the
Gontriot arc all " as familiar as household
words " to old Torontonians. D'Arcy l]oul-
ftaa was son of Judee Boulton, and resided
at the Grange. His widow afterwards gave
the land upon which the Anglican church of
St. George s was built, and of which church
his grandson, the Rev. J. D'Arcy C'ayley, is
now the rector, while his great grandson,
the Hev. Professor Cayley, is one of the
" Dons" at Trinity University.
Robert Stanton was the Queen's printer, a
man whose character was of the highest.
William Henry Draper was the Chief Jus-
tice. His bust in marble now adorns tho
interior of tho buiHing which has succeeded
the one ho assisted to build. James Grant
Chewett was a* prominent Government offi-
cial in the Survryor-Generbl s department,
a son of Lieutenant-Colonel Chewett, of tho
.^rd York Militia. His name, with that of
his father, was appended to the address of
welcome presented to Lieutenant-Governor
Gore when he re-assumed th«) reins of powur
in Uppir Canada after the war of 1812. It
is not necessary to say who George Duggau
wa», he and hi<i doings aie so well known to
every one. Many even of those of tlio
younger generation can remember him. • t
he was somewhat eccentric he was exceed-
ingly kind-hearted, and has left many plea-
sant memories
The next ihree n^mes, those of Johu
Kitchey, Jesse Ketchum and Thomas Silver-
thorn, are all well known The first named
erected tnany of the earlier buildings in
Toronto, and his name is commemorated by
Ritchey's Terrace on Adelaide street. Jesse
Ketchum was Jesse Ketchum, a man ■■oii
yeneriK, to slightly alter the words of the
poet,
" Kach morning saw some t^sk begun,
Kach evening saw it done.'
Thomas Silverthorn was a prominent agri-
culturist, many of whose descendants are
still in the neighborhood of Toronto. He
was an out and out Tory, and a most uu-
coinpromising churchman.
There is little more to add to the fore-
i oing reminiscences ; it is not a history of
the congregation that assembled in >t.
Junies' and their doings that is beinz writ-
ten, but of the building itself and of those
concerned in erecting it. For rather moru
than eight years this, the second St. James',
was in use when the end came.
About 8:30 on January 5th, 1839, a dense
volume of smoke was seen issuing from on(;
of the chimneys of the church. Shortly
after the flames burst through the roui
and quickly spread their devastating
ravages throughout the sacred pile, Tiie
rest of the story will be best told in the
following extract from a private letter writ-
ten at the time describing the occurrence : —
" The appearance was both awful and
sublime us the flames cauirht the oillaia aud
.^..
W^"'
• ,T»'
..■^*.Tw- .■ ■■■ " p i, .mii4i^|p^|||g||| 1 1 1. 1 fi^pnpipipii
w afterwards gave
\nf;lican church of
id of which church
D'Arcy C'ayley, ia
I great grandson,
ey, is one of the
(rsity.
Queen's printer, a
ts of the highnat.
ras the Chief Jus-
e now adorns tho
dich has succeeded
tld. James Grant
t Governtncnl otfl'
erbla department,
el Chewett, of tho
ame, with that uf
to the address of
eutenant Governor
th<j reins of power
e war of 1812. Is
iio George Duggau
: so well itnowii to
of those of tlio
■emeniber him. : i
ic he was exceed-
tas left many pit a-
I, those of Johu
,nd Thomas Silver-
Tim lirst named
rlicr buildintrs in
commemorated by
aide street. Jesse
chum, a man s'u
the words of tlie
netrsk begun,
one.'
s a prominent agri-
e descendants are
I of Toronto, lie
, and a most uu-
i add to the fore-
s not a history of
assembled in >t.
:.liat is beins writ-
itself and of those
For rather moru
second !St. James',
came.
' 5th, 1839, a dense
n issuing from one
church. Shortly
through the roui
their devastating
sacred pile. Tlie
) best told in the
private letter writ-
; the occurrence : —
I botit awful and
2\\t the pillats auJ
t '1
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J..'i' /."■./^■, .. .\ ■.■,.'* .
WILLIAM HKLLIWELL.
(op. 103.').
wm
'^fPPPP^
^1^^
^1^^
wmi^^l^mj.f pi.i^i iwiiiw
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
io:»
(op. 1035.^
the Eallerien. There were but few things
aavctl from the devuuring element, which
vonliiiiied its devastatiug course until it
Ifit the bare walls a sad and frightful spec-
laole cf this grievous calamity.
" All classes of the people vied with each
other to asiiist in saviui; the editicu from
destruction, but their labors were unavail-
ing. The number of spoctatora was im-
nteose. The niiliiia m.tintaincil excellent
order by tiieir admirable management in
keeping the roads open for the supply cf
water. Tlie 1or4 of the or;{an waa deeply
and bitterly denlored. The building wab
insured for $30,000."
The church was at once rc-bnilt, but was
tgaiu destroyed by lire in 1849, and re
tiiaced by the present structure two years
later, re-arising like the fabled FlKunix from
its own ashes.
CHAPTKU CCLXVIII.
A UANADIAN PIONEER.
Kenlalseeaccs er One of Toronlo°» Ohirst
lieiliers - HIm Early llayK, Kdiirallitn anil
Varied Experieuce— Men be llns Known.
William Helliwell, the subject of itus
sketch, was born in 1811, at Todmorden,
Yorkshire, England, and was in the same
year baptised in the Cross Stouc I'arish
Church.
He was the son of Thomas Helliwell, who
married in the early days of the present
century a Miss Lord, from the same county
in England as himself, both the father and
mother of Willibm Helliwell > elou^ed to
families who were dependent for their living
upon the band loom cotton trade. When
power looms came into general use, just as
the French Treaty of 1860 destroyed the
Coventry ribbon trade, so did their intro-
duction ruin the hand workers in the cotton
districts.
When Thoias Helliwell lef^ the old
country, John Fielding, subsequ .-ntly one of
the cotton lords of England, bought his
premises and they afterwards formed a part
of the extensive ptemisos occupied by the
Fieldings
The law of England at the time of the de-
parture of Mr. Helliwell from his birth-
place prohibited the emigration of niauu>
facturers, so it was necessary for him to
leave Bn land without any announctment
of his intention, and this he did, sailing
from Sunderland on the northeastern coast,
his family following him a few weeks later
from Liverpool. Thomas, his eldest son,
' oweve , remained some montiis later than
tiie rest ot the family in order to finally
wind up his tdther's atfairs in England.
When Mr. and Mrs. Helliwell settled in
Canada their family consisted of tive sons,
Thomas, John, Joseph, \\ illium and Charles,
and two d ughters, lietty, afterwards mar
ried to John I'^astwood, and .Mary, who be-
came the wife of Colin .Skinner.
The lirst place in Canada at which '.lie
Heliiwells resided was Lur.dy's Lane. There
they remained four months, when they re-
moved to Johnson's Corner, now Drum-
mondville, for the purpose of keeping a
store.
But before reaching Lundy's Lane ami
a'ter leaving Liverpool ;.h<) tlelliwells had
much to endure and no small amount of
hardship to undergo. 'I bey sailed from
Liverpool in ti e ship Abconu, belonging to
Portland in the State of .\' aine, U. S. A. , in
June, 1818.
Coming out of port the captain of the
si ip and the pi ot disagreed, and through
the neglect of one of them, or possibly of
both, the ship ran aground in the Mer-
sey, and as the '.ido went out was
left nigh and dry. She was at last got off,
but was found to be making water very
quickly. tHer crew were greatly alarmed
and refused to proceed, so that there was
nothing for the captain to do but put back
to Liverpool, which he did, the vessel's
pumps being kept constantly at work.
At Liverpool they remained for three
days to effect repairs, then again set sail for
New York, which after a voyage extending
over six v eeks was at last reached. Here,
however, fresh troubles beset them, as the
captain of the ship failed to fulfil a portion
of his engagements with his passengers. Of
these the whole of them, with one singiu
exception, were einigrantd. It is to be
feared that tlic solitary cabin passenger must
have had anything but a lively time.
Many of the Abcona's passengers, instead
of at once resuming tiieir journey
to their destinations either in
Canada or the Unit»-d States,
remained in New York for the purpose of
taking legal proceedings against the captain,
but the Uelliwells did nothing of tlie kind.
They obtained a small boat from the captain,
into it put them elves and their goods and
soon landed at Fertham Bay, N. Y. From
there they sailed to Albany and from theuoe
to Schenectady. From the latter plaoo
ihey shipped in Durham hoats forOsvtego
and reached that port after a tiresome
journey of several days' duration.
While on ther jourm y troui Schenectady
to Oswego, when even ng approached the
bout halted and was moored fast or the
nigiit, the whole of its occupants camping
on the river bank.
After a very brief re»t at Oswego tlie
I
103(i
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
IIcUiwellH sliippeil for Lcwisttox, which was
■affly rouched aflur a very stormy pas-
tiigi*. At L«wi»toii tliey ware met hy Mr*
Kiuiwuud, who cro8!iod with them to
Vueeiiatou, from whence they went to
Luiidy's Lane. It was Kitting towards the
latter end ot August, and Mr. William
Hclliwell relates how {greatly interested he
won in all he saw, and bow m ell he recol-
le<!t!t the day. One oiroumstanoe he vividly
romi'inberfl, aud that is that there was at
thu time a wild beast exhibition which con-
sisted of one single elephant, and that people
had come from miles around to see it.
More than probably there were soma other
exhibits of a Ikss sensational kind, but the
elephant conpriscd the show's only real at-
traction.
\\ illiam Ilelliwell, as scou ba his father
had got fairly settled in this country, was
sent to a school at Uruinmond Hill,
one and a half miles distant from the Falls
of Niagara, kept by uu American
named Ciisack. The school is still carried
on in 18!).'{, although not in the same build-
ing, and it is almost needless to add Mr.
Helli well's former preceptor has for a lout;
time past been among the large number of
'* men he has known'' in his prolonged and
useful life.
Thomas Helliwt 11 continued to reside at
Lundy's Lane until 1820 when he purchased
(from a man iu Niagara, the representative
of the owner, who was supposed to have
been killed in action at the battle of Chip-
pewa) lot 7> iHt concession Scarboro', and
there removed with tiis entire family.
Mr. Helliwell built o'l the binks of the
Don, near York, in 1820 a brewery and
distillery, and tiicre carried on business un-
til his death in 1825. When that occurred
his widow and sons continued both con-
cerns until 1840, when Mrs. Helliwell re-
tired from all active part in the business.
She died in 1843. Upon her decease the
firm became Thomas Helliwell & liros , and
remained so until 1847, when a dissolution
of partnership took place.
William Helliwell when this took place
bought from the Clercy Reserves lot 8 1st
concesriou Scarboro', situated at the Hi<.h-
land Creek, whcie he has resided ever since.
No sooner, however, was the purchase effect-
ed than Mr. Helliwell found that there were
two people who had an honest claim upon
the estate. These were the late Colonel
K W. Thomson and William Cornell as re-
presentatives of Parshall Tcrrj', who had
been drowned in the Don nianv
years prpviously . E W. Thouioon was a son-
in-law of Parshall Terry and William
Cornell had married his widow. H-iwever,
Mr. Helliwell satisfied himself that the de-
mand made was a just one and it was duly
se tied
.Many of William Helliwell's reminiscences
are most iuterestinu. >Vhen he tirst went
with his father to the Don Valley, wolves,
bears, wildcats, and other species of wild
animals were to be found iu plenty at almost
the very doors of the mill. He can remem-
ber how Indians, I elonging to the Missassaga
tribe, encamped on the banks of the Don so
near its mouth as whore Taylor's pap r mill
is, for the purpose of fishing and hunting,
aa recently as 1831 or 1832.
As a younar man he often drove to Toronto
or York, as it then was named, in early
morning, sometimes accommodating with a
scat beside him in his light waggon
a lad not so very much his junior, who
has since achieved distinction as a teacher
and historian, then a pupil at Dr. Stracban's
sehool, the venerable Henry Scadding.
.\mong notable people whom Mr. Helli-
well has met and conversed with, as they at
various times visited the brewery, were Sir
Usregrine and Lady Sarah Maitland, the
former of whom was Lieutenant Governor
of the province and the latter his wife. The
spot must often have served to remind Lady
Sarah of her English home, Goodwood, the
Duke of Riolri'Ond's residence, as she looked
upon the hills and valleys, then covered
with trees clohed in luxurious foliage,
which were to be seen from the brewery,
while the river in the distance surely yet
noiselessly made its way to the lake be-
yond.
Llesides these, though, at a later dat«,cam«
Sir John Coiborneand his military secretary,
Colonel Rowan, often accompanied on horse-
back by a party of ladies. The Bishop of
Toronto and his sometime pupil and life-
long friend, Sir John Beverley Robinson, uc-
casionally called at the brewery and partook
of a glass of the ale brewed there, as they
chatted to William Helliwell at the door.
Mr. HelliM'ell knew others whose very
:>ames even are almosr forgotten, who were
nevertheless notable in their day. He knew
and well remembers Hugh Christopher
Thomson, of Kingston, who was proprietor
and editor of a newspaper published in that
city sixty years since, besides being a iliem
bcr of the Provincial Parliament for Fron-
tenac. He knew David Thomson and his
wife, of the latter of whom it is recorded on
the tombstone in the Scarboro' churchyard
that ''.She was the Mother of Scarboro'."
Many of the hardships Mrs. Thomson en
dured now nearly a century since, when she
and her husband first went to Siarboro',
have been related by her personally to Mr.
Helliwell. .
He has conversed with William Allan.
/v^-
mmi^
LANDMARKS OF TOHONTO.
\W
0 and it WM duly
ifreU's r«mlnl»c«nc«i
hen h« tirttvent
on Valley, vroWei.
ir epeclee of wild
1 ju plenty •t »lmo»l
11. He o*'> remem-
i,g to the MiMMBag*
mnksofthc Don w
Taylor's p»p r mill
hing and hunting,
$32.
ten drove to Toronto
a named, in early
ommodating with a
hi» light waggon
jh bis junior, who
notion as a teacher
ipil at Dr. Strachan s
lenry Scadding.
le whom Mr. Helli-
ersed with.as they at
De brewery, were Sir
Sarah Maltland, the
Lieutenant Governor
e latter his wife. The
lerved to remind Lady
lonie, Goodwood, the
Bsidence, m she looked
vallevs, then covered
in luxurious foliage,
In from the brewery,
e distance surely yet
way to the lake be-
|gh,at a later date.camft
This military secretary,
accompanied on horse-
ladies. The Bishop ot
letime pupil and life-
Beverley Robinson, oc-
ic brewery and partook
brewed there, as they
elliwell at the door.
iw others whose very
at forgoiten, who were
in their day. He knew
■rs Hugh Christopher
,n, who was proprietor
paper published in that
Ijcsides being a Ifcem
Parliament for Froii
)avid Thomson and his
whom it is recorded on
Scarboro' churchyard
Mother «f Scarboro'."
,ip3 Mrs. Thomson en
century since, when she
T9t went to Siarboio,
her personally to Mr-
with William Allan.
le
who wax Ik Tory among Toriex, and also with
William Lyon Mac enzie, who was the very
reverse, lie was acquainted with men of
such directly op osito opinions ah Dr. Holph
and Chief Justices Draper unci lia crman.
Alexander and Joseph Dixun and George
(iurnett, all bygone I'oronto worthies
(though so lon.j suice that tliey and their
doings are now but a faint memory) were all
well-known to him.
Besides these the three brothers, John,
William and Clarke Gamble, the latter of
whcm II lone .survives, John Henry Dunn,
Thomas Gibbs Ridout, Dr. Widnier, Col.
Fit/.gibbon, William Henry lioulton and
(jcorge Gooderham were among his ac-
<[uaii>tances. They have loni; years ago
joined the great and silent majority and yet
.Mr. Helliwell is still here hale and vigorous.
At the time of the rebellion, in the
year 1837, William Helliwell was gazetted
to a captaincy in the 1st Regiment,
North York Militia, Colonel Cameron being
commanding officer. He is now of all the
officers in the regiment the only survixor.
Mr. Helliwell has been twice married and
has a large family of sons and daughters.
He is famous for his hospitality, for his kind-
heartedness and his never-failing fund of
anecdotes and dry humour. He was ap-
pointed oversrerof fisheries for the County
of York sixteen years ago and still hobls
that position with credit to himself and the
county. It is to be hoped he may bo long
spared in health and s rength to discharge
its duties.
CHAPTER CCLXIX.
AN OLD LOTTERY SOHEME.
The PropesMi lu Bnlse funtlH for the t'oii-
Klrarllon uf the 1oroul«, iiiliucoe and
Burou Kallwny.
In the days of 1849 it was legal to hold
lotteries under an act of the Canadi>tn Parlia-
ment which received the Royal assent in
1849 In England this principle of raising
money had been adopted in oonu' clion with
the art unions, and the idea was imported
to Canada witli the view of raisins; money
for the building of the Northern l^ailway,
or. as it was then known, the Toronto,
fSimcoe and Huron Railway.
One of the old prospectuses ot this scheme
has turned up, and although the proposal to
raise funds in this manner never materialized,
the document is unique and worthy of re-
production.
The gentlemen who were pron.otcrs of the
scheme were all prominent citizens of To-
ronto. The word "tirago" signilios "diaw-
iug," or, in other words, a lottery.
TORONTO SIMCOR AND HUUON
R A I LRO A D UNI ( ) N C O M PA N Y.
r.NIO.V (»K INTKHK>TS
Capital $.'.iKM),iiii(i.
An extensive Canadian H lilroad Union
Tiragn. Founded upon the principles of the
Art Unions of England, specially antliorized
by an Act of the Provincial Parliunient.l'Jtli
Vic, rap. 109, and sauctiun id by the Royal
assent of Her Majeaty in Privy Council.
July .Vi/h, IS.'i'J.
Containing $2,U00,0<M) in stuck, in various
allotments of 5il(X),mKJ— #40,000— $'20,000
S!10,0<M)-?'2.000— .Sl,(MJO aU.
The proceeds to bu applied to construct a
Railroad from Toronto to Lake Huron,
touching at Holland Landing aii«l Barrie.
To be publicly drawn at the City Hall.
Toronto, under the superintendence of
Directors specially authorized by the .Act of
Incorporation, consi.tting of the follow in j
gentlemen, viz :
F. C. Capreol.Hon. Henry Joh.v I'odltoh
M. P., Joii.N HiBBKBT, Robert Eastom
Bf.'R.NS.Ji SKPH CUKRAK MoRRISOM.M. P. P.
Charles Berczv, Joseph Davis Ridoct,
Georue Makrow, Albert Furniss, Ben-
jamin Holmes, M. P. P.
B.VNKERS— COMMERIIAL HaNK, M. D., TO-
BONTO.AND ITS VAKIOL'S BRANCHES IN CANADA.
Every number to be drawn and each num-
ber to have its fate decided in accordanco
with the plan directed 'uy the Act of In-
corporation.
Fourteen days' public notice to be given
previous to day of drawing.
F. C. CAPREOL,
Manager, appointe ( by Board of Directors.
a
c o
J) M
Z B"S
3 SaS
a*- o
= ■3*
o » o
s a c
M-S ■-'
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MtOO
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a t
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£ i
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WIFW
^wijfrrwTr
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1038
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Contributior.s $20 pkoIi ; hah en nnrl quar-
tert ill proportion. Sorip will be ivsueil for
allotmeiils within 40 days after iha (lra<v-
ing, on payment of 12 per cent, thurcon, in
compliancf with the proviaiuns of the Act of
Incorporation.
This grand and important plan is pi^rtlcn-
larly desarvini! of niteiition from every class
of the comnuinity in Canada and v rious
part!) of the Utiitcd States, whether directly
interested in railroads or not. It has been
pinjectod as u ^reat public advantage, that
of opening; a luilway communication across
the I'eninsula to the Far West, in connec-
tion with the lines now tinished from New
York and ISoston to Oswego, thus renderinfi;
the northern route i>y Toronto to the West-
ern States sliorter tliun any utiicr by several
hundred inihs, the diHtanoc across the
peninsulii iicin^ only about 8U miles, thus
avoiding ilie circuitous and dunijerouH route
by Lake Krie and the soutliern siioro of Lake
Huron.
It is presumed that when this line of rail-
way is finished it will be the best paying
•toek in North A mcrica.
Applications for tickets (enclosing remit-
tances) to be addressed, post paid, to
F. C. Caprkoi., .Manager.
Union Tirage Hall, Toronto, Dec. 1st, 1849.
Mr. F. (. Capreol, the manager of
the enterprise, was the projector of
the Northern Railway, an enterprise that
has brought millions of tons of freight and u
myriad of passengers to the city since its
opening.
Toronto, October 8th, 18.')1.
The ceremony of 'turniiif; the first sod"
of the Ontario, Simcoe Sl Huron Railroad
being appointed to take place on Wednes
day next, the 15th inst., in the presence of
his Excellency the (iovernor-General, the
Countess of Elgin, and other distinguished
personages, the civic authorities of the city
of Toronto and the contractors and diiec-
tors of the road have decided upon "inle-
brating that important event ; they ti... i-
fore request the honor of your company at
a procession and other intended ceremonies
on that auspicious occasion.
R. Dkmpsey, A derman.
A. y. Hrow.v
Committee of
Invitation,
Georcsk IUrkow.
CHAPTER CCLXX.
A Ueiuiaiscence of the Old Market Sqnare.
Fiftyseven years ago, on the occasion of
the coronation of Queen Victoria, it was
resolved by several prominent citizens of
Toronto, to have a, public least, during the
day and a general illumination of the town
at night.
Mr. Wm. HcUiwell, ot Highland Creek,
one of the few spixtators left, in talking of
the eve. t says : — The market then was a
square, with the butchers' stalls facing this
square. T>«^' .. was a largo gate or entr nee
on King street. Front street and East and
Wast Market street*, the centre of the
square being occupied by the farmers.
To carry out the celebration, several tables
were placed in this square or court, i he
butchers stalls were vacated, decorated with
evergreens, and converted into booths, where
tea, coffee, etc., were served to the citizens.
The tables were loaded with all kinds of
eatables, beef, mutton, pudding, pies, etc ,
contributed by the people, the most noticea-
ble gift bcin/ a huge plum pudding, fur-
nislied by Chas. Daly, who was *hen clerk
of the Council. This pudding weighed over
a huiulrea pounds, anu was two days in
boiling, and turned out mcst satisfactory.
Tliere was also an entire ox roasted, the
cookinn being done in the basement of
Judge Sherwood's house, which stood then
where the lioa d of Trade building now
stands, on the corner < f Yongc and Front
streets. The Sherwood house had been
pulled down some inontiis b«rtore, and w hat
remained of the basement was used m a
kitchen to roaet the ox. On coronation day
the ox was well cooked and placed on a
sledge, which was drawn by four horses,
gaily decorated, and driven by a prominent
citizen, noted for his loyalty, Nlr. James
thrown, the wharfinger. On arriving at the
Front street entrance of the market the four
gates were simultaneously opened, aud twu
military bands, stationed ou the bal-
conies, overlooking the square, struck up
"The Koast lleef of Old England, ' when
the expectant crowd marched in and the
good things provided were served by Messrs.
Ceorge Percival Ridout, Thomas D. Harris
and other gentlemen of the town. Every
one contributed his mite. The hardware'
stores lent knives, forks and .spoons ; the
crockery stores plates and dishes; beer \«aa
supplied by the Messrs. lielliwell, and it is
creditable to remark, says Mr. Heiliwell,
that although everyone was free to eat and
drink as they pleased ihere was no abuse of
the privilege. In the evening there w ere
fireworks and a general illumination, and
every window in the town and its suburbs
had a light of some kind. The festivities
were kept up to an early hour of the morn-
ing, a day of rejoicing, without accident,
that will be remembeied by many of our
citizens whe are still to the fore.
"fnrr
■I " » ■■
^w»^w^
III WP.pi^lJ^IIHIIBIB^j
LANDMARKS 01'' TORONTO.
io:»
[nation of the town
; Highland Creek,
s left, in talliin>,' of
market then was a
s' italU facing Ihia
•ge gate or entr nee
rcet and East and
the centie of the
I by the farmers,
ition, several tttbl<!»
laro or court. I he
latetl, decorated with
od into booths, where
rved to tlie citizens,
with all kindb of
pudding, pies, etc ,
)le, the most noticoa-
pluin pudding, fur-
ivho was •hen clerk
luddin^ weighed over
was two days in
i most satisfactory,
lire ox roasted, the
in the basement of
le, which stood then
Trade building now
f Yongc and Front
od house had been
tiis bftore, and v hat
aent was used M a
On coronation day
d and placed on a
wn l)y four horses,
riven by a prominent
loyalty, Nlr. James
On arriving at the
)f the market the foui
isly opened, and two
ioned on the bal-
square, struck up
Jld England,' when
narched in and the
ere served by Messrs.
Thomas D. Harris
the town. Every
lite. The hardwuiv
irks and spoons ; Hie
and dishes; beer waa
Helliwell, and it is
says Mr. Kelliwell,
was free to eat and
here was no abuse of
evening there w ere
•al illumination, aiiJ
■own and its suburbs
_ind. The festivities
rly hour of the moru-
without accident,
ed by many of our
o the fore.
it,
CHAPTER CCLX.XI.
OLD NEWSPAPERS.
Tke File* in lUc LIbrnrr ill OiUwa.
There are very fe v comple e tiles of old
newspapers in any of the librnries of the
l>o ninion. The Parliamentary library at
Ottawa ha.s a complete tile of the Quebec
llaziffi , and in the Ontario library there is a
partiiii file of .Montreal papers. The follow-
ing is a list of the newspapers published in
Upoer Canada, now in the newapapor room
of t'iie library at Ottawa :
'1 he Chrigtian lierorder, for one year, from
.March, 1819. to February, 182U.
The ChHreh. a weekly paper devoted to
th>3 Church of England in the provinces of
Up|>er and Lower Canada ; folio volumes .3
(1830) to 17 (1854) ; published at Cobourg
until 1846 and afterwards at Toronto.
The Monthly Review, devoted to the Civil
(Government of Canada, from January to
Ju y, 1841. ijee Hodgins' Life of Dr. Ryer-
son. p. 265
The Kingston Chronicle and Gazelle, from
July, 1840, to June, I84'2 ; 2 volx
The British Co/o/ttW, punlished at Toronto,
l)v Hn^h Scobie from February, 1838, to
iJui.Uitiy, I8o4 Bound in 15 vols. The
iiriit two issues appeared undoi' the 'itle of
" The Scotsman. ' It was afterwards
ctKiiiged to the " British Colonist."
I he Packet, published at By town (C W.)
now Ottawa, by Mr. Harris (1854). Begins
with vol. Ill anl ends with vol. ti
The Ottawa Tribune, published at By-
town (Ottawa). From first issue, July 23,
1854, to April 25, 1862.
The Cnion. published at Ottawa. No. 1
of vol. 2, March 30, 1859, vols. 2, 3, 4,
complete up to March 12, 1862.
Canadian Agriculturist, published at To-
ronto ; vols. 1 to 15, 1849 to 186.1
York Almanae and Royal Calendar of
U. C. for the year 1825 York, 1824.
Toronto Almanac and Royal Cale.idar of
Upper Canada for the year 1839.
A Iieac Iiost Watch.
Mr. Wm. Helliwell, of Highland Creek,
relates an incid nt of nearly seventy years
ago, connected with the story cf a watch
that was lost for fifteen years. Mrs Smith,
tlie wife of old Uncle John Smith, now gone
to his rest, lived at the old homestead on the
east side of the Don, in a house that was
recently torn down. On one occasio.) Mrs.
Smith had to come to the town of York to
transact business and put up at the Sher-
> ourne House, on Kins street east, near
Caroline street (Sherbourne), which was
k'pt by a Mr De Forest. Mrs. S. had
with her many pounds in I'.ank of England
notes, a gold watch and chain, and other
valuables. Durinfr her absence from th«
house the money and valuables wore stolen.
Search ^aa made, but no trace of the pro-
perty could be found. Twelve or fifteen
years afterwards, when Parliament street
was opened, the Helliwell Company, who
wore distillers and geucial dealers, owned
the Dun Mills road Their carts and wag-
gons uded to travel from the city up Parlia-
ment Btree°, part of which was plunked.
The St James' cathedral builder owned
part of the road, and joined with the llelli-
wells and planked part of the road, and the
HoUiwells ttien sold tho debentures at 95
to raise money for that purpose. In open-
ing the road there were many places where
th y dug deep cuttings. One day a teamster
in the employ of Taylor Bros., driving up
the Il>.u) saw a place where. Apparently, a
cow liao 'rn away the earth from the side
of the platik. The man fancied that he saw
a gold watch or cas - lying on the earth He
cr I I not leiLve his '.. irses going up the hill.
L : when he cute back tliat way he got
down from his waggon and picked up a
gold wacc't . which proved to be that \i hich
had \k- -n 'ost fiilaen years before. The notes
were nover found, although a lot of the
jewellery was aflervi'ards discovered.
A Lonu Drive.
Mr. Wm. Helliwell, of Hi£»hland Creek,
states that " on r uding the uccount ( f the
old Coffin buildin;^ on Front street ai;d Mi.
Wellor 8 stages, lui episode in connection
with the latter in brougiit to my mind. It
was the conveyance by Mr. \\ eller of Sir
Poulet Thompson (afte wards Lord Syden
ham, who died in Kingston), the tiovernor-
Oeneral, from Toronto lo Montreal. This
service was performed at a spued almost
equal to that of the railway, being done at
fifteen miles an hour from btart to finish.
Mr. Weller had a sleigh fitttd up with a bed
in it for the accommodation of theUovcrnor-
(>ene: al Weller himself took the box and
reins. For this service he reoeivod §400,
and llie (Jovernor also made him a pre-
sent of a cold watch. Mr. Weller had made
arrangements for the change of iiorses at
short distances all along tiie road, and these
changes were waiting :eady harnessed at
stated places. The horses were kept always
at full speed. Mr. W eller and the (iover-
nor were the only occupants of the sleigh
until the former beca ne so exhausted that
he could no longer hold the reina, when be
took a driver with him, but tic retained hii>
seat on the box to the end of the jouiney."
1
t
!
■fV'fri'i^"^'
1010
LANDMARKS OF TOROiNTO.
CHAPTER CCLXXII.
THE MILITARY TANDZM OLUB.
Tli« Member-'.' XiiniPM— Some rniuouH Sol-
illerH— Woiiilrrrul AllrmplH Ht Foelry—
AmuslUK AIIuhIonm iiuti Kpiuiultcejicet.
Who is there thiit lias not laughed over
the proceedings of the fur-famed Pickwick
Club and the subsequent doings of its
famous members ? But while people hare
lauj^hed, they have at the same time said
to themselves that such ridiculous scenes as
delineated by Dickens could never hare
happened ia real life. Well, possibly some
of them could not, though that is doubtful,
as probably will be conceded by those
readers who peruse the following account of
the three years' proceedings of the once
fam us but now all but forgotten Tandem
Club.
This club was formed as is partly implied by
its name, for the purpose of enjoying sleigh-
iug and encoura^ring and developing the ac-
complishment of tandem driving by its mem-
bers. The latter were for the most part
officers drawn from the various regiments of
infantry stationed in Torcnto, though there
were a few others \\ ho were members of To-
ronto society and not of the liarrison. The
club was organized in 1810, and was com-
posed of the following members ; —
Lieutenant-Colonel Wingfield and Major
Markham (Faugh-a-Hallagh), Captain
Brooke (Erin-go-Bragh). Captain Osborne
Markham (Ursa Minor), Lieut. Dickson
(Nora Creina), all of the 32nd Regiment.
Lieut. -Col. McBean, R.A,, (The Governor),
Capt. Holliday, 93rd Highlanders (the
Cobra), Lieut. Colville, 8oth Regiment
( Hiroudelle), Lieut. Bamford, 73(d Regi-
ment (Tally Ho), Captiin Arthur, A.[D.C.,
(The Age), Lieut. Doaiville, A.D.C.,
(L'inconnu), and Capt. Strachan (The
Rivals) ' The names in brackets are those
by which each members' sleigh was known.
There were no particular rules bind-
ing upon the club excepting that
its m mbers should meet as often
as the sleighing and military duties per-
mitted, and that after each drive the
drivers should di'ie together in the evening.
A new President and Vice President were
named at each successive gathering and
after dinner it was tiie duty of the laiter to
recount in verse the adventures of the club
at their preceding drive, it may have been a
week or perhaps only a few days earlier.
The first drive of the season took place on
Tuesday, December 24th, 1839. The mem-
bers duly dined together at night, but on
this occasion there was no poetry. That
was reserved for a week later' when after
their drive the members dined together under
the Presidency of Captain Arthur, A. 0. C,
with Major iMarkham, 32n I Regiment, a.^
vice-president. The Major thus describes
the previous week's experiences :
The snow was deep, the weather fair.
And brightly shone the sua ;
And every one was ready there
To start at half-past one.
The president appeared anon,
N ot driving his turn out
The cause of which phenomenon
Was subject to much doubt.
What was the cause, I cannot say,
I never could tind out ;
His team was driven on that day
By Norah Creina—** Young Boot."
The next half dozen verses describe the
other drivers and their sleighs, and then in
one verse he thus very modestly refers to
himself :
The last (I'm modest, as you know)
Beats you, 1 think, all hollow ;
I will not further praise it now—
Its name is Faugh a Ballagh.
It is interesting to learn from the gallant
major s poetical narrative that
" During the drive no corpse was made.
And nought occurred particular."
And that at the close they all adjourned at
Osgoode Hall (then used as barracks). The
vice president concluded thus :
Success attend us, and conduce
To make our winter gay.
And may our club the seeds produce
Of many a happy day.
Ol ^ of two things must have happened after
(his meeting — Either military duties were
extremely onerous or there was no sleighing
probably the latter, for the club did not
meet again until January 21st, 1840, when
Lieut. Bamford, 73rd Regiment, presided,
and Lieut. Colville, of the 85th, was in the
vice - chair. Judging from the latter'a
rhymes, the club, at their preceding drive,
must have had " a high old time." Among
other trifling adventures, such as one of the
leaders trying to kick the horse in the
shafts, and finally getting loose and running;
away, another turning round and looking
i:s driver pleasantly in the face and finally
one team — that driven by the vice president
himself— conducting itself thus upon entering
King street: —
And here the Vice's horses seed
Some sight which made them canter.
mt
wm
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
1041
Arthur, A. D. C,
!d 1 Regiment, aa
•r thui describes
iences :
weather fair,
ic sua ;
y there
tne.
1 anon,
out
aomenoa
iloubt.
saunot say,
t;
I that day
Young Boot."
eraes deacrlbt tha
ighs, and then in
nodeatly reters to
s you know)
II hollow ;
8 it now—
Sallagh.
a from the gallant
I that
;orpse was made,
1 particular."
ij all adjourned at
8 barracks). The
11U3 :
conduce
jay.
teeds produce
T-
lave happened after
litary dutiei were
re was no sleij^hing
the club did not
y 21at, 1840. when
egiment, presided,
85th, was in the
from the latter'a
r preceding drive,
Id time." Among
such as one of the
the horse in the
loose and running;
ound and looking
le face and finally
the vice president
thus upon entering
rses seed
,de them canter.
This canter soon a gallop grew,
The driver pulls in vain.
And Marie helps, in hopes that two
Might pull up horsea twain.
Uut useless is the pains they take,
The horses will not stop ;
Across the road tlieir way they make
To visit Rowsell's shop.
Poor Colonel Weill's sleigh was there.
Just in the road it stood ;
Su he must their diversion share.
Or cut in haste his wood.
The Colonel stands, and into he
The furious horsea duh ;
Right seldom do sttectators see
So elegant a smash.
After this slight "incident " in the day's
proceudingd the club had a lunch which we
learn included a du/.en of champagne, (it is
to be hoped the ill used Mr. Rowsell and
Colonel Wells were invited to join in the
festivities,) and then started to return to
ilieir barracks, but the day's fun was not
all over even then, for another team ran
away and eventually brought the sleigh
they were drawing to unuttentble grief
itgainst a lamp post. The end of the drive
w<i3 as is thus rhymingly related : —
Xow wending home, we thought that all
Adveninrcs were past over,
When Major Markham had a fall.
The club's retreat to cover. , )
And so long live our noble Queen
And send her children twenty ;
To flourish on old England's scene.
In constant peace and plenty.
And may we have another time
A drive as rich in frolics.
And laugh, and joke, and spin a rhyme,
To keep oti' melancholies.
When the members again met around the
festive board on February 4th, Captain
Halliday and Colonel \\ ingtield were in the
chair and vice-chair. The latest drive had,
it seems, been a somcwna': uneventful, though
a very merry one ; the colonel, in some-
what halting rhyme and in execrable metre,
related the <luy's doings, and finished thus ;
To Chetah then our thanks let's pay
For the merry drive he led ;
Our thauks are due, we all must say,
And then, I think, all's said.
My tale I've told, and whilst I crave
Pardon and Lrace from you.
Believe me, hearers, fair and brave.
Your humUe servant, \V.
The allusion to " chetah " in the coloiicl'f
verse may not be understood. Captain Hal-
liday's sleigh bore that name, thougl'. it had
first been known as the "Cobra." it can-
not be said that the change was much of an
improvement, as a chetali is quite aa de-
tectable an animal as a cobra is a reptile.
The old rhyming proverb comes to mind in
this connection : " Change the name and not
the letter, you change to worse instead of
better."
The last meet of the season took place on
Feb. 6th, when the president and vice-presi-
dent were Lieut Col. Wingtield and Mc !;ean
respectively. The last told his story at
groat length, after describing the start aiHl
its various incidents, amon>; which were two
upsets, the gallant ^oet finishes hia story
thus : —
^Vhilst we were out nought else went wrong»
The drive, perhaps, was rather long.
For heavy was the sleighing ;
Fnough's as good as any feast,
Wiiic.i, m the present case at least,
is a very good old saying.
The day was fine and mild ; the snow
I'm very much afraid will go,
if it continues thawing.
Tlie driver of the Hiror.delle
Could not turn out (but he was well
Employed with Frazer drawing).
I he extra aide although he knew
That we should miss tlie Inconnu,
Did not appear at all ;
The Rivals and the Age failed too
To meet us at the rendezvous
In front of Osgoode Hall
And we had also to lament
T he absence of the Tow, who went
To London — and I find
Ho travelled in his family sleigh ;
Fred. Mar i; ham, too, has gone away.
But left his sleigh behind.
Soon may he return— his cad,
Whose guiding is by no means bad,
(I own he does not drive w<^ll).
Turned out the sleigh and safely bore
His fair companion to her door.
I've now no more to tell.
And therefore must my poor narration
Draw to its final termination ;
My ample compensation
And most sanguine expectation
Lie in this humble dissertation
Meeting your approbation.
There was no moie sleij^hiug that winter.
I if
n
iW»pi»!|iiW
''mMjif^fim'f
wmmw-
1042
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
80 the club did not meet again until the
following season.
I'uly iiiree members of tliose who formed
the Tandem Club, in 1839-49, were included
in the race of 1840-41 which waa composed
as follows : —
MEMBERS OF THE TANDEM CLUa
DECEMBER. 1810.
OLD MEMBERS.
Lt-Col. Wingflpld. 32nd Koift. . . Erin Go Bragh
Capt. Markkatn " Urse Minor Bruin
Lt. Colville. 83th Lt. Infantry,
A. D. C , Hirondelle
NEW MEMBERS.
Lt. Col. Airey, 3ith Regt The Black Swan
Capt, Hyron, ditto Crede Byron
Lieut, Mutton, ditto The Squire
Lieut. Lani;, dlttj The Forlorn Hope
Lieut. Talbot Le Fidile
C.Roche. Esq.. ditto
Lieut. Inghs, .12nd Regt Mutual
^lajor Alagrath Paddy Whack
James Magrath, Esq Paddy from Cork
Charles Heath, iSsq The Eagloni
W.H. Boulton. Esq Humbue;
The first dinner, or supper rather, took
pla;Ce on Tuesday, January 5th, 1810,
Lieutenant-Colonel Airey, being the presi-
dent and Chaplain Markham, the vice-
president. It will be seen by the poetical
tffusiou of the last named official, that
At two o'clock on ! hursday last,
The last day of the year that's pist,
The rendezrous was Osgoode Hall,
A meet familiar to us all.
At very nearly half past two,
Our punctual Preses came m view.
And having taken up his place,
Led o£f th J Club with coaching grace
The vice president then proceeded to
relate that :—
Thirteen sleighs composed the band.
With D'Arcy Boulton's four-in-hand,
(Heath, by- the- bye's (he riglittul owner,
I beg his pardon, " Pon my honor. ')
WW\ elbows square and ties so neat.
Each driver, now upon his seat,
Successively moves off his sleigh,
And boldly dashes to the fray.
The rest of those who assisted in the day's
proceedinqs are then enumerated and th«
gallant ca[itain proceeded thus : —
The first adventure of the day
W as Boulton jumping from his sleigh,
And madly shouting to his groom,
" The lazy brutes! Oh, take them home!"
His team, altho' they were not slow.
Were not the least inclined to go.
And liaving p it their driver out,
\>'9re sent themselves to right-about
The vest of the day's performances ap-
pear to have been " flat, stale and unprofit-
able," and Captain Markham concluded his
account of the day's doings in these words :
It
• • • •
The day's proceedings being o'er,
I named Le Fidelc as my vice.
And trotted home as cold as ice.
Though little competent, dear knows,
To write in any shape but prose,
I've whipped my powers to their test.
And hope you'll say I've done my best."
There was splendid sleighing all through
January, 1841, and the meets of the club
were very frequent At that held on the
'J,3rd of the month Lieut. Hutton, beintr in
the vice chair, in rhyme rather better than
the average bids his hearers : —
Then list while I tell, how on Friday last
Our club at two, or a little past,
At the Parliament Hou^e collected.
Now the Hope Forlorn at a dangerous rate
Let out our train at the very gate.
Not that he, but his horses selected.
Now flattering tales, I've heard of old.
This Hope to many fair maids has told,
And 1 think it is only my duty.
To tell you this much, that once of yore
This identical Hope threw a lady o'er —
So trust him not, Queen of Beauty.
The Hope passed on, aud not very far
Behind him followed the Erin Go Bragh,
His horses scarce out of an amble.
And V ith bin; sat there, with a snile so
bright.
And with eyes that might darken the sun-
beam's light,
The beauteous Mrs. Campbell.
There was nothing in ihe rest of the
Lieutenant's story to attract attention. He
brought some lengthy versus to an end with
these words : —
" But I'll stop, for I know I've said enough.
To put you all in a mighty huff.
So now we'll drink the fair, —
Those ladies fair who, with many a smile.
Thus help us our bachelor hours to beguile,
And dri e away dull care. "
Ou January 26th, Lieut, inglis of the
32nd Regiment, a Nova Scotian, having
been born in Halifax, was the vice-presi-
dent. He in the first portion of hi.^
story re ates how the club met ami
started on their way and then tells of variou.^
circumstances attending the drive, and of
the following all .but sad catastrophe. He
relates it by no mjans badly, and in much
mmm
LANDMARKS OP TOPwONTO.
ii)4;{
performances ap-
;ale and unprofit-
am couclnded his
in these words :
ling o'er,
'ice,
d as ice.
[ear knows,
lit prose,
} their test,
I done my best."
5hing all through
;ets of the club
hat held on the
Hutton, beintr in
ather better than
irs : —
r on Friday last
>e past,
ic collected.
; a dangerous rate
ery gate.
raes selected.
heard of old,
naids has told,
ny duty,
at once of yore
«r a lady oer—
n of Beauty.
not very far
Erin Go Bragh,
f an amble.
with a smilo so
|b darken the sun-
.mpbell.
ilie rest of the
lact attention. He
sua to an end with
I've said enough,
jty huff,
the fair, —
th many a smile,
|r hours to beguile,
Vll care."
but. inglis of tlie
Scotian, having
the vice-preii-
it portion of his
le club met ami
1 then tells of various
[the drive, and of
catastrophe. He
»dly, and in muoh
better rhyme and metre than the members
of the ulab ^euerally indulged in.
The goodly tnin their rapid course pursued.
Through various streets and lanes in order
good,
And safe returned to honor the repast ;
Set furth and hear the ta e of dangers past.
'Aiidat mirth and smiles, some dance remem-
bered well,
And fondly aska I for news ot dear Fidelc.
Would that his hand still held his leader's
rein.
And spared myself and you this task of pain,
Me to recount the mournful, sad event,
Whilst you, with sorrow moved, the case
lament.
A maiden, slighted in a morning drive,
Like maids nes^lected, mischief did contrive,
Resolved rcvi-ngc, and to herself she said,
I'osaing contemptuousiy her pretty head,
'* If with the club I'm not to show my face,
At least I'll see who's gotten in my place ;
This single harness I'll unsettle quick — "
Then, without mora ado, she gave a kick,
.And started off and quite unshipped the
groom,
A man employed merely to take her homo ;
And then, with devilish purpose madly fired,
By rage, by female jealousy inspired,
She through the streets a living fury ran,
Nor stopped until she found the sought for
Swan ;
Here, with the malice of a fiend possessed,
She aimed a shaft, 'tis said, at a fiiir Wi east,
Hut Cupid, mindful with a godlike care,
No shafts but his should ever enter there,
Quick interposed the neck of .Montreal ;
A bleeding victim she was doomed to fall,
A willing one no doubt ; poor Montreal I
Suffers in beauty's cause, pitie'd by all !
The savage maiden, still quite unappeased.
Dashed on as fancy or as frenzy pleased.
Smashed a new sleigh, and then at length
was caught.
And as such maidens should b:; duly taught.
Ah ! had the Swan been sailing in his place
Who knows what might have happened in
that case 1
The distant club, unconscious, journeyed on,
And tried the mazes of tiie winding Don ;
Essayed to cross over tlie icy plain.
But found it slippery, so came back again.
Would that our slips in life we could recall,
Find ready refuge safe, as then at Osguode
Hall.
Sleighing wis excellent all through Janu-
ary, and the spirits of the members of the
club were as high as the mercury was low,
for after an interval of only three days they
met again on January 29tli, with James
Magrath, Esq. — there are many who re-
member the genial " Jemmy'— in the respon-
sible post of vice-president and poet for the
evening. James wrote poetry like the Duke
of Wellington spoke French— " courageous-
ly." The following somewhat icngtliy pro-
(luctiun was his contribution : —
'Iwas on Friday, our last day, with mutual
consent.
At once to the garrison each his course
bunt.
Where luncheon, prepared by our Pre.si8 so
grand.
We were greeted and cheered by the sound
of the band.
'Ere the luncheon was over the clock had
struck tnree,
When each mounted his box, all seemed in
high glee.
The order in which we by rights should hav«
been.
Could not be kept up, as will shortly bo
seen ;
First, tlie " Mutual," who sported a bay and
a grey.
And, in truth, showed his taste in his lady
that day ;
But, strange, 'tis reversing the order of
things.
For, instead of the "Showman," a tiL'cr h«
brings.
Ntxt the Erin-go Bragh is seen creeping
along.
His two greys like the cow that once died of
a song ;
The second he is, number two's not his place.
When we say slow and steady in tune wins
the race,
There is one thing which fully accounts foi
the state.
He was not as usual supplied with his rate.
But the colonel in truth we may safely do*
ride,
For in lieu of the fair gave a GriHin a ride.
Next the 34th Colonel for upsets is famed.
Who drives his own sleigh which has never
been named ;
Some call it the Swan— this we doubt when
we find
No name half so long is placarded behind.
Nigroque Simillima Cygno, some say.
This in conscience is too long a name for a
sleigh.
The first corner wa turned all looked with
suspense,
When we saw the brave Colonel attacking a
fence ;
But seeing no danger and no cause for fear.
Drove on, left the Colonel to bring up th«
rear.
Next is Bruin, aean pawing and taking th«
place
Which the Colonel has left with a very bad
grace ;
I
* 8 '
' " " ''i^iMif "Liiw' w'yiLypf fi;^ii^^P5r'^"^T'^w?^'^^
1044
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
With a sharp eye on Erin, and one on the
Don,
He is secretly urging the slon- greys along.
Thus Erin-go iiragli, who is true to a mile.
Is hard pressed by Shamrocic the ilower of
tbu isle
Soon after the Bruin is seen the grave
Squire,
If his ponies be small, his good taste we ad-
mire ;
Suffice it to say he is steady and sure,
And those whom he drives are from upset
secure.
Forlorn Hope is hard pressing the Squira 'tis
true,
But this is the way they say forlorn hopes do ;
From his heaa to the Foote he seems pleased
with the scene.
And absent by nature, thinks all his a dream.
Then next Crede Byron, to comfort, not
blind.
Most snugly and wiseiy takes his scene be-
hind.
I need not reiterate what has been said ;
Suffice it remember what last week was
read.
Variety's p' easing is a saying of fame.
But Byron's variety's taking the same.
Next Sober-side James, who is broad as he's
long.
Ten times out of nine when he speaks he is
wrong,
Bat as droll a shaped being as you'll ever
find,
Is Paddy from Cork, hit coat buttoned be-
hind.
The Vice of the last and the Presis to-day,
Faith but he is the boy that can show you
the way ;
His'true*blue companion, his own "Pattent"
right,
With himself filled the seat, and they tilled
it light.
Though the last, not the least, to abolish all
fear,
Whereas the Doctor, who cautiously brings
up the rear ;
And led by the Fairy, we safely may say.
Needs no other leader to show her the way ;
The doctor, thus having no leader nor lasli.
Of course to his partner dispenses with trash,
And trusting to Fairy to keep her own rate,
Of course he enjoys a select tete-a-tete ;
Not one of the club but admired his choice.
For who IB there here who has not heard her
voice ?
Cue member in haste laid his reins on the
shelf,
'Cause the horse in the lead would not go by
himself ;
Now we all must allow he's still one of our
club,
Soon the day will arrive to invite us to ifrub.
When the time will arrive to address us in
rhyme.
And the cutting we all shall get will be sub-
lime.
For each in his turn has said something
severe.
And that all is most true is most certainly
clear.
He shows prudence in driving — there's,
reason for care.
For he goes on the principle "good folki are
rare."
Thus ill line we proceeded to Sugar-loaf
Hill,
And strange to record there was not a spill.
The only occurrence we here might relate
la that Paddy from Cork lost his strikr-
moasure weight ;
He sheepishly stopped to cive Nanny a trip.
At the same time.wool-gathering, let fall his
whip.
And our other — the toll-man poor Paddy did
good.
For he forked out the pike for just crossing
the road ;
Thus the tandems proceeded through Judge
McLean's gate
And round the house drove at a furious
rate ;
Then next through the General's gate we all
past,
And one turn through King street complete!
the last.
Then Hirondelle, driving like Paymaster
Roche,
Was driving a sleigh from the box of a
coach,
And with him the infant, or half-penny
catch.
During all our drive we did not see his
match.
0<ie word from Fidele, ere 1 finish my
rhyme,
I hope we shall not be without her next time ;
The owner, of course, you all know him by
name.
We trust that he shortly will join us agaiu.
Again on February 2nd and 5th did the
club hold meetings The fuu grew " fast and
furious," liut if these officers were ardent
sportsmen they were no less gallant soldiers
as some of them proved not many years
later when they laid their lives do.vn for
the Sovereign and country whose flag tbsy
served under and whose uniform they wore.
Captain Markham occupied the vice ctiair
on February 2ud and thus delivered hiiiiselt
in his opening verses : —
Now ladies fair and Jehna bold,
"fis said I must write verses
Of course, the law once being told,
I cannot find excuses.
^^
l!llili^'"^"'''^'"''^^*''"^PP'f'?pP'9'''»^
mm.
WW!^.
LAK^M.^RlvS OP TORONTO.
1045
i to address ua in
all get will be sub-
as said lomething
B is most certainly
n driving— there'ft
pie "good folk J are
jeded to Sugar-loaf
lere was not a spilL
liere might relate
rk lost his strike-
o eive Nanny a trip,
fathering, let fall his
-man poor Paddy did
tike for just crossing
eeded through Judge
drove at a furious
General's gate we all
King street complete.i
Lving like Paymaster
from the box of a
infant, or half-penny
we did not see his
^le, ere 1 finish my
■without her next time ;
, you all know him by
|tly will join us again.
2nd and 5th did the
Ihe fun grew '* fast and
officers were ardent
.10 less gallant soldiers
ivod not many years
thair live* down for
Utry whose flag thsy
tse uniform they wore.
Lccupied the vice cuair
[thus delivered hiuisell
lehuB bold,
lite verses
|ce being told,
S3.
1 he Bruin, »artain, is my name,
Old Albion too's my nation,
Yet, wiiile at school, 1 got less fame
For verses than bastatiou.
But sioce the rule is of our club,
Tha Vice sh uld spin a ditty,
Pray, whips and fair ones, don't me snub.
If I can't now be witty.
But gif e me the allowance fair ;
I hope I shall not shock,
If metre I can't bring to bear
Like Mary and Shamrock.
On Tuesday last I bent my way.
With team, to Lawyers' Hall,
For there, 'twas told, that every sleigh
Should bear the Presis' call.
The captain then proceeding
relates the order in which the
out and how they partook of
which
-wa) illigant ;
with his tale
sleighs sent
a luncheon
The mull from well-stocked cells ;
'Twas said by some the merry chaunt
Was drawn from classic Wells."
The whole day's pr ceedings seem to have
been most harmonious and devoid of acci-
dent ot any kind, tho gallant captain con-
cluded by requesting his hearers
" Now let's drink to our noble Queen,
And tlien commanse adancing."
Lieutenant-Colonel Airey was in the posi-
tion of vice-president on February 5th, und
very pleasingly be told his story. There
are many local allusions contained therein,
some of which will be understood by ladies
who are grandmothers now, but were belles
uf the day then. Like the gallant he was.
Colonel Airey begins his eti'usion with an
invocation to the fairer sex :
** Ah ladies fair ! no easy task is mine,
Who never yet invoked the tuneful nine,
No poet I ! yet still I must essay
To write in verse about last tandem day.
But yet I must agree with those who deem
The eventful day a ino&t prolific theme ;
For our kind president, the Bruin bold,
(Or Minor Bear, as he was called of old,)
Gave to his friends a picnic on that day.
And did it in his usual sumptuous way.
AtOsgoode Hali just at tho hour of three.
A goodly sight I ween it was to see
The many sleighs assembled in the square.
Tandems the most, whilst many double
were.
Containing all Toronto's loveliest fair.
Ab near the town there was but little snow.
Along tho usual roads we could not go ;
But up the avenue ami through a back
Path in the woods pursued our narrow track.
And then emerging usi the Yonge street
road,
AH reached in safety Shepard's grand abode ;
Here Osborne Markham, with his usual
thought,
Had everything provided as he ought.
Ourselves well housed, and horses in tho
stall,
The day then lowered, and snow began to
fall;
Thus nature kindly did us a good turn.
And made the sleighing good for our return.
The ladies bavin; cut led their hair at last.
We all were ushered to a grand repast, I
But as I do not | boast a Homers mus* i
A long detail of dishes pray excuse ;
One slight remark I'll make— no harm ii
meant, —
So do not think so Mr. President :
On Fridays there should lie at least one dish
Containing something in the shape of fish.
The dinner o'er, the circling wine gave birth
To n:any sparkling jokes, and lots of mirth {
Whilst I observed the many happy pairs
That round the table occupied the chairs.
And to a lady sitting by my side
Made the remark . She wickedly replied ;
" I see a Doctor, an invited guest,
But think myself a Clergyman were best."
And when I sought her meaning in her face.
She said, "Pi course I mean to aay the
grace. ''
Now "Dismal Jemmy," rendered bold by
mull.
Sane with most rare effect " The Great
Mogul" ;
And wneu the Dismal's merry aoaz was
sung,
The house with joyous mirth and laughter
rung.
Not one grave face was seen amongst us all,
The very " sides of bacon" shook upon the
wall.
But 'tis high time this clamorous glee shall
end,
And we our footsteps to the ball-room bend;
And there the lights arranged with studied
care
Enhanced the beauty of th' assembled Fair;
I do not say (but that you'll take for granted)
That there was any addition wanted.
To grace the scene, too, some kind fri nd
had lent
A bear, the picture of the President;
And now the band begins, the beaux ad-
vance.
And smiling, lead their partners to the
dance.
Each lady, loo, as 'cross the room she trips
Has quitti forgotten 'tis the moon's eclipse ;
"YTWv
' i
1U46
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
No wonder ! before eyes ao dazzling bright
The gentle moon should hide her head that
nighc.
Alas ! amongst the gay and festive scene,
The gazer sought in vain for Beauty's Queen;
Althoucjh perchance some neat and pretty
feet
Light tripping o'er the floor my gazo mii^ht
meet,
No beauteous foot could T, alas, descry.
Although 1 scanned the crowd with anxious
eye.
A Mrs. Pioudioot certainly was there,
ily some of us considered just as fair,
Hut all allow that pride is not the foote
Of the fair girl whose beauteoui face I
sought,
For I was told the unpretending n aid
Was heard with gentle meekness to have
said,
She did not dare, she could not even hope
With fairer Proudfoot's boasted charms to
cope,
So thouL'ht for once shed better stay away,
And sent Le Fidele her excuse to-day.
Pleased with the dance, none thought of
horse nor sleigh,
'Twas nearly twelve before we came away.
Just at that t.me the kiud, good-natured
moon
Shone out in lustre bright to light us home ;
Unlucky wight ! alas, poor Hope Forlorn
His fair one s cruel absence had to mourn ;
In vain he uriied her not to feel alarm
And guaranteed her from all chance of harm.
The fact is this : she did not think it r ght
To travel with such gents by moonbeam s
light ;
Or else she thought that sitting by his side,
AU his atten ion she'd have occupied.
And made him thus forget his nags to (;uide:
Only hvc days later the club met again,
and Lieut. -Col Wingfield occupied the
vice chairman's seat. In the tirst two verses
of his rhymes he referred to the date being
that of her Majesty's marriage and the
christening of the Princess Royal, and then
glances at the fact just then accomplished
of the union of the two provinces of Upper
and Lower Canada. He spoke thus :
Hail, February Tsnth ! auspicious day.
The harbinger of joys of great account ;
On you our maiden Queen was given away,
Our royal Princess taken to the font.
The cannon s roar proclaimed the Union law
At noon of you ; and then, as I'm a
sinner,
Together the good folks at eve you draw,
By acclamation, to a civic dinner.
He then proceeds to gi- ? details of the
start and preliminaries before luncheon that
ooucluded :
•' the train then led by our face-
tious president <iue west.
Safely we reached a house that's called the
IJell,
Hut here arose a scene of rack and ruin,
How ii occurred I can't just now well tell,
Hut twas an accident to brother Bruin.
What is impossible cannot be done,
And never comes to pass.
And if iiis sloigh would not move on,
It must stay where it was.
Altho' this truth was plain to see.
The horses seemed to doubt it.
So pulled and broke the whiiSetree,
And then waL>ed ofif without it.
I mean, undoubtecUy without the sleigh ;
This only proves what each one always
knew,
That every dog must have his day.
Puppy or I'ouipey — Fidele, I or you.
The gaudy Peacock next we passed, —
At least all did but one, —
The Mutual made a homeward cast.
As if enough he'd done ;
Some said, to seek his other half ;
Others, more cunning far.
Could scarce suppress a tittering laugit,
Thinking of Kin^ street and Godmamma.
Men's associations differ here below.
Nor let the grave to any one's object.^
Because their vast importance they mayn't
know.
But rather let them ponder and reflect.
Does fair Augusta curl her silken hair ?
Or the Sheriff trip the boards with Emily ?
Does Henrietta treen or purple wear :
Does Emmie laugh, or stoop her shoe to tie ?
Or Helen frown, or Mary Anne in passii ::,
Raise but one inch her petticoat too high ;
And may be quite unconscious- -as in
Her heart she'd no suspicions of those
nigh.
It find& some heroes total occupation,—
These are discoveries upon the whole,
Useful at least in my imagination.
As those of Parry at the northern pole.
Or if by chance some fair her 'kerchief
wave,
Rub her soft hands, or cough, or raise her
glove,
This is a happiness too great to leave,
And the afTuir assumes the garb of love'
mmmm
W"M m
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
1047
>re luncheon that
led by our face-
I that's called the
ick and ruiu,
it now well tell,
rother Bruin.
be done,
Dot move on.
I to see,
bt it,
aiiffletree,
out it.
tiout the sleigh ;
each one always
e his day,
,e, I or you.
we passed,—
award cast,
her half ;
tittering lauglii,
and Godniamma.
herd below,
one's object^ ^
tance they maynt
ler and reflect
er silken hair ?
^ards with Emily ?
purple wear :
cop her shoe to tie 1
Anne in passii ::,
jtticoat too high ;
Iscious-as in
luspicions of those
. occupation,—
pu the whole,
.agination,
I northern pole.
fair her 'kerchief
Lugh, or raise her
|reat to leave,
be iiarb of love *
Turned to the right we soui^ht the sylvan
shade,
The startled wood nymphs hiding as we
passed,
''earful lest harsh comparisons were made —
Her charms each felt so very far surpassed .
The envious Satyrs strove our path to clog.
So that tbe trot at times became an amble,
They interposed full many a stump and log,
Hoping — sly rogues — to profit in the scram-
ble.
If haply either we upset or smashed ;
Logs, stumps and satyrs, we escaped them
all.
Safe throu);(h these dangers fearlessly we
dashed,
A«d our sweet burthens brought a^ain to
Osgoode Hall.
Tuesday, February 16th, the club met as
usual with W. fl. Boulton, Esq., (the genial
" Bill ") occupying the vice-president's
chair, who straightway delivered the follow-
ing poetical effusion : —
Ladies and Gemmen, Humbusr comes
'Mid sounds of bugle, not of drums.
To state before each sylph and don
He'd been humbugged by the black Swan,
Who with his usual courtesy said
He'd freely furnish every head
That could, in terms of course decorous,
Tuesday's proceedings lay before us.
All yesterday he sighed in vain
When moon arose he sighed again.
And 'twus not till long after nine
Last night, his cad, not Valentine,
Meekly pulled from his pocket long
The heading of a tandem aons
So be it known, on Tuesday last
Erin-go-Bragli)'oot first but last,
Cumn dashing torward at a pace
As if his life must save his place ;
For he was president, you know,
On that same state day, when if a blow
From Boreas bleak could state
How sad it is to be too late.
He'd ne'er commit the sin again.
Nor cause my most good-natured pen,
To blame the Queen of Heauty's graces
For keeping all the merry faces
At what in terms is called the meet.
Each natty cad had ta'cn his seat
Behind his driver, who, before him.
Proposed to drive with due decorum.
The maiden fair who trusts her limbs
To Mutuals and Dismal Jims.
Assist, oh Muses I help my rhyme,
Fer now I'm only losing time.
In showing how, with one intent,
To buildings, the ex-Parlininent
The club had gone— precisely two—
The President not there— a do I
And so, that all might not await
Without some pretext for debate.
Some said, they'd sleigh outside.
Whilst others through trhe gates muic ride.
The drive is then fully described at very
considerable length and by no means un-
pleasingly, and Mr. Boulton brougUt his
story to a finisli thus :^
" And now, my fair ones, Humbug's done,
This, his first race, is badly run ;
When he reflects within his breast
That but a few months at the best
Can pass before the navigation
Hurries each corps far from the station,
He feels that this may be the last
Of all the happy days we've past
Among the (gallant military,
Erin-go-Bragh, Fidele, and Airey,
And that ere April's gone we're left
Of all that's dear on earth bereft.
There was one " meet" more though, and
thus the TaLdem Club separated forever.
That '* meet" was on February 19th, with
Lieutenant Talbot in the post of vice-presi-
dent. He thus feelingly alluded to the ap-
proaching departure of the troops and demisi
of the club, not forgetting a tribute to th«
vice-preside.it of the previous gathering :—
For true it is, ere many weeks
From hence in haste we shall be starting.
Ah, Humbug can but little guess,
And few there are will ever know,
Our deep-felt nrief and wretchedness,
Our utter misery and woe.
When we are forced to leave this placa
To sail for En^'and's milder shore,
Regretting many a pretty face.
Whom we perhaps shall sue uo more.
Ah ! may the bright-eyed laughing Uamcs,
(There is no humbug, not a bit),
Extinguish 'ere we go the flames
1 hat in our tender hearts they've lit.
For else before our gallant barques,
Can bring us to our destination,
Tlie ocean breeze will fan the sparks
Into an awful conflagration.
I see my English letters say.
Our Sovereign Queen is very fond [
Of goin.' out in Albert's sleigh
On Royal Frogmore's frozen pond.
Although no royalty we I oast, I
I think it now becomes my duty,
To beg you all to join my toast
To our fair Queen of Love and Beauty.
m
ill
■?*^
^■■•■i
■liPHMVPiMHPil
up
mum
1048
LANDMARKS OP TORONTO.
In concluding thia P*p«r the namM ot
(.'aptain M.arkhain and Lieutenant Inglis
should be mentioned aa havin>{ been present
at the action of St. Denis during the iJuna-
disn Rebellion, when the former was
severely wouuded. They in after years
were comrades-in-arms anring the Punjaub
campaign., when Markham oommauded the
regiment. Later, Inglis also was in com-
mand of the same corps, when they were
•hut up in Lucknow during the mutiny and
against fearful odds held out until relieved
by Havelock.
Of those who comprised this famou-i club
but one member, Mr. Heath, of this city, is
known to be alive, though there may be
one or two of the otBcers still extant in the
old country. But there are yet some few
people resident here who, as boys and girls,
remember the gallant show the handsome
sleiuhs and well groomed horses exhibited.
To them certainly, and probably to others
who are interested in the doinjia of a by-gone
period, this sketch, written tifty-two years
after the events took place, will prove of
some interest.
CHAPTER CCLXXin.
AN INCIDENT OF THE REBELLION
Haiiielhiue Abwul the .Wnit %Vbo Warned Ibe
Peeplr «r Toronto of the Advance of Mac-
kenzie
Sutton Frizzell, oi Thornhill,\onge street,
was an early pettier of York. His son,
Sutton Richard, was present during many
of the events thac occurred in the days of
1837, particul^rlY on the night of the 4th
Dec. and the mi.rniug of the 5th Dec , 1837.
The reminiscences here given are interest-
ing :—
Sutton Richard Frizzell.the subject of this
sketch, was the eldest son of Mr. Sutton
Frizzell, of 'I hornhill, who had come to To-
ronto, then Little York, in the old lOUth
Regiment during tlie autumn of 1808, or
sprine; of 1809. It was w^ith the greatest
dithculty that the Commandant could procure
supplies, ami to relieve this ' utton Frizzell
contracted to furnish the garrison with beef.
He retained tiiis contract tor two years and
a half, when oi'ders were received that the
100th Regiment, stationed at Little York,
should be removed to Kingston, Jamaica.
Shortly after the notice of removal was re-
ceived at York, Frizzell left the army.
About this time such injuries were sustained
by him in a tall from a horse as ultimately
led to the partial loss of his reason. lu
iMay, 1812, it became certain that there
would be war m ith the Unite.l States. Some
of the leading citizens of Little York peti-
tioned the Colonel of the 100th Regiment
stationed in the town to appoint a person
competent of teaching men their drill to in-
struct those young men who were desiroua
of obtaining commissions as officers of the
Militia. Frizzell was the man recommended,
and his appointment was confirmed. A
military school was then started. Among
others who learned their exercise from
him were John Macdonell, who fell with
Gen. Brock at Queenston, and the late Chief
Justice Robinson. At the outbreak of the
war Friuell's reason left him and he was re-
moved to Lancaster, in Glengarry county,
but in 1817 having again become sane he
returned west again. He disposed of his
property in Toronto to the late Chief Jus-
tice Campbell who lived at the head of
Frederick street and took up his residence
at Tliornhill ten miles out on Yonge street.
Here his son, Sutton Richard, or Dick as he
was familiarly called, attended school until
1833 when he entered the employ of a dis-
tiller and breuer named Mor.an, afterwards
well-known throughout America in connec-
tion with the anti- Masonic excitement.
While in the distillery young Rio lurd con-
tracted a fondnes4 for liquor, which brought
him into rough company- He was a
fearless youth, possessed of extraordinary
physical strength. Political excitement in
those days ran high. Meetings were not
the most orderly and were being held in all
parts of the district. Dick was an attend-
ant at these meetings, ready at any liine to
fight for himself, his friends or for the
British Go Vermont. In the spring of 1837
some ot those reformers who udvocated arm-
ed resistance to the Government, led many
persons to believe that rebellion was medi-
tated. The general opinion,however,was that
no outbreak would take place .-s most
persons thought that no preparations ):ad
been nmde for such a move. But Frizzell
was of a ditferent opinion. He believeJ that
many on Mackenzie's side would rebel and
that some of their leading spiri s would risk
their all, even their lives to enforce what they
believed to be their rights. By the time the
autumn of 1837 had come round the ex-
citement had become intense. Largely at-
tended meetings were held by both parlies
at ditferent places. A place of rendezvous
was Finch's Hotel, ten miles from the city
on Yonge street. Tories and Reformers
had called a meeting at this place for Octo-
ber 16th. The day arrivea, and as both
meetings had hueu called for the same day
and hour, some change was necessary. Not
desirous of a collision, the Reformers ad-
journed to the iiouto of David Gibson, the
gentleman then representing West York in
the Parliament of Upper Canada. That
mmm
nivipi
^WPHR^^WIP
^^Wi^PfPPWPP
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
1049
lOOtli Regiment
ppoint a peraon
llieir drill to in-
lo were dosiroua
M oificera of the
m recommended,
1 confirmed. A
itarted. Among
■ exercise from
1, who fell with
ml the late Chief
outbreak of the
m and he waa re-
lenjrarry county,
become sane he
! disposed of his
I late Chief Jus-
i at the head of
up his residence
on Yonge street.
ird, or Dick as he
nded school until
employ of a dis-
or. an, afterwards
merica in connec-
onic excitement,
ung Riciurd con-
lor, which brought
ny He was a
of extraordinary
cal excitement in
Leetines wer« not
\t being held in all
ik was an attend-
iy at any liine to
riends or for the
he spring of 18.37
ho udvocated arm-
•nment, led many
bellion was medi-
i.however.was that
;o place !S most
preparations i:ad
|,ve. But Frizzell
He believevl that
would rebel and
. spiri s would risk
oenforce what they
By the time the
ne round the ex-
;ense. Largely iit-
Id by both parlies
jlaoe of rendezvous
liles from the city
es and Reformers
,hi8 place for Octo-
ivea, and as botli
for tlie same day
VBkS necessary. Not
the Reformers ad-
David Gibson, the
iting West York in
Canada. That
morning a Nova Scotian named Stephen
Harvey had come down Yonee street from
beyond Tboruhili bearini^ a white flag, on
wliicii were inscribed in large black letters
the words, " Liberty or Death." Arriving at
Uibson's, Harvey planted the flag firmly in
the ground, between the house and the
street. Frizzell had agreed to be present at
the meeting at Finch's, but two days before
he had gone ino Toronto, and it was not
until noon of the 16th that he recollected
his promise. He at once found a man that
would take him to Finch's,and they immedi-
ately drove out Yonge street. They had to
pa&f Gibson's. When they approached the
place the flag was seen floating in the wind.
The horses were stopped and Frizzell, turn-
ing to his fri nd, who was a loyalist from
Richmond Hill, said : "I am going to take
that fla/, and if the crowd should catch me
I have a job on hand. " With this hu started
for it. Harvey knew Frizzell, and seein,'
his object, also made for the flag. Before it
was entirely clear of the ground Harvey
seized the lower end of the staff and, being
a heavier man but less ivctive, a fierce
struggle ensued. Ho shouted for as-
sistance which promptly came, but not be-
fore Dick Frizzell had escaped with the
flag, leaving only the bare staff in the hands
of his adversary. The two haviut; made
good their escape made in all haste for the
hotel. They arrived just as the chairman,
the late Col. Hoyd, (father of Chancellor
Boyd) was bringing the meeting to a close.
Frizzell and his friends were greatly elated
over the capture of the first rebel fla;,', wliile
Harvey and his friends were correspond-
ingly nepresaed. I he ensign was torn into
shreds uud fastened as decorations to the
tails of horses. Even the chairman's horse
was so decked. Political affairs continued
to be exciting. In some places the rebels
had purchased arms and be,<;un to drill.
During the summer and autumn of 1837,
Richard Frizzell, who was i jovial character,
had a good time. On the 4th of December,
he was at his home depressed mentally and
physically, the results of a recent outimr.
About 9 o'clock in the evening he arose and
demanded his clothes which he could not
And, for his mother had hidden them away
thinking there by to keep her son within
doors. I his however had no effect, and
after searching about for some lime and
Hnding an old pair of pants, old coat, old
boots and a straw hat he went out into the
dark and the cold. He remained away but
a shorr time. He again demanded his
clothing saying it was necessary for him to
go to Toronto as a large body af armed men
were goins; down Yonge street at that
moment whom he positively knew were men
bent on taking the city. Dick asked hia
youneer brother Nelson to accompany him
but he refused. The family thought from the
apparently wild talk that he wasoff his head.
They could not believe that he had seen any
< ne for there was not a *oul moving on the
street, nor were any sounds to be heard.
Finding that he could get neither hia clothes
nor his brother's consent to go with him,
Frizzell left the house. Nelson followed him
afterwards, but seeing his brother go north
along the street instead of toward the city
concluded thathewason his way lo the
tavern. Frizzell, however, did not go to .
the tavern, but tu I home k Parson's store
that he mi.ht procure a horse. On going
into the office and making known to Mr.
Ttmrne what was wanted the latter made
enquiry of one Richard Murphy, a young
Irishman in his employ if there w.ia ahoraa
in the stable fit to go to Toronto. Murphy
replied that there was not nor,continued he,
will " any horse leave thia stable thia
night." Dick said " I suppose Mr. Thorne,
you can let me have a horse without
Murphy's consent. You know th ■ rebels
have gone down street armed, and intend to
take the city if they can." Mr. Thorne aaid
he knew this, and said also that he had
only just found out that over half the men
in his employ weto Rebels and have threat-
ened revenge if any active measi^es b«
taken against them. " We have a great
deal of property exposed : £ dare not let you
have a horse." Though][a horse could not be
got Frizzell was resolved to'reach the city
if his life were spare J. As le was leaving
the store Mr. Thorne] whispered to him.
" Go for Gods sake, but be| cautious. " Mr.
Tborne had taken Frizzell into his private
office, when the latter talk took place.
Murphy immediately followed and soon
overtook him on the road. Every meane
were used to provoke a quarrel. Murphy
said he could thrash Frizzell or any other
Tory on the street. Frizzell took
all this coolly. He saw the idea was to
prevent his reaching Toronto. Finally he
thrust his hand in his pocket and said in a
stern voice to Murphy, " The man that
stops me to-night will come out missing."
This ended the interview, and Murphy left
him alone to pursue his way. He had pro-
ceeded about a mile when the sound of an
approaching horse was heard. As it came
closer the rider who proved to be Frizzell's
neighbor, Duncan Weir, a resolute Scotch-
man, active and intelligent with all a
Scotchman's love of freedom, drew his horse
up to a walk. Ho was armed with a sword
and pair of pistols. Suddenly Weir stopped,
saying at the same time, "I don't know
but that 1 had better arres*
1
;>«
\ 1
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'jE
JH
* 'jfll
'- II
n'^' 9
» If I"
low
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Su." The report he received wai
art and pointed. " I know well
you won't." It was suflicient. Weir rode
•t first slowly, but he soon urged his horse
into a gallop and disiappeared in the dark-
ness. Dick walkud rapidly, occasionally
overtaking ^niall squads of rebels with
whom he had some conversation. Once he
stopped at the liouse of a Loyalist for the
purpose of having some parties living a dis-
tance east of Yonge street notitied of the
movements of tlie rebels. The person whom
Dick called upon was Alexander MoniKom-
ery, and the persons tie wished notified were
Da"id and William Yeomans of Scarborough
and two otlier persons in that vicinity. As
be came near to Eglinton a number of men
were seen in the street opposite Montgom-
ery's hotel He thought as well that his
friend Weir had not made him his prisoner
in the road intending to do so when he came
down the street. To avoid any more de-
tention and all chance of arrest
Dick entered the field to the west and then
struck south till he came to the flats or
what was generally called then " No. 1."
Thence he returned again to the street and
entered the city williout further molesta-
tion. He went directly to the City Hall.
A policeman was stationed at the door and
forbade admittance. The officer told him
the Governor was within and he was srivcn
orders to admit no one without permi-ssioii.
" Tell them " he said to the oliicer " tlie
rebels are coming down Y'onge street, and
that there is a person at the door who can
give them information which it is necessary
they should possess." This being annuunc-
«d admission was at once granted
Though Mr. George Munro, an alderma i of
the city who was present, and Richard Frizzell
had spent their younger days together so many
changes during their ten or twelve years'
8epar<>tion had caused Mr . M unro to forget
Richard. You come from Y^onge street?
This is the Governor Sir Francis Head.
You will state what information you have
to impart to him, was his introduction to
the Governor. A short conversation took
place between the Governor, the Mayor
and Mr. Munro which evidently was
concerning the identity of the in-
formant. Both Mr. Munro and Chief
Justice Robinson stated they had for-
merly known a person of his name, but could
no: certify as to the gentleman present
being th;: same. After the information
telative to the rebels had been given Friz/.ell
prepared to leave. He said to Mr. Munro
that he was going to Harley's Hotel. The
alderman volunteered to go with him. 1 he
two went away and while at the hotel drank
tos«ther. All the time, however, .Mr. Munro
seemed to b« watching Frizzell so closely
that Dick became angry and de>
manded an immediate explanation
of his conduct. Mr. Munro ex-
plained. He said, " The fact of the matter
is the Governor has made up his mind that
you have come with a statement tliat is not
true, for the purpose of alarming the
Loyalists. He suspects yon have been
sent by the rebels or by some persons who
are aware that the Governor and Council
and members of the corporation are as-
sembled in the hall to provide some plan of
defence should the rebels here who are in
sympathy with the insurgents in L<ower
Canada attacii the city." Dick was astonish-
ed beyond expression. He could not speak.
Mr. Munro continued. " Frizzell, if you
have been doing any such thing as the Gov-
ernor suspects you will be in a bad box.
Alderman I^owell has ridden up the street
to see if what you say be true or not.
Dick wished to return immediately to thu
hall, and on the way he told Mr. Munro that
"if Sir Francis Head has his own way the
Rebels will have the city without fighting '
Shortly after they entered the City Hall
Mr. I'owull entered also. He reported that
he had been met near Gallows Hill by Mac-
kenzie and another person and was placed
under arrest by them. .Mackenzie and
Powell had ridden side by side for a long
way following a stranger who was rather
abuve the average man in point of size and
was thoroughly armed. Pov. ell drew a pii^-
tol and fired at him whereupo t .Mackenzie
rode away making his escape in safety al-
though he too was shot at. Every man was
alarmed at the sudden turn affairs had
taken. Sir Francis Head to whom all look-
ed for advice bowed his head in bis hands
leaning his arms upon the table at which he
sat Christopher A. Hagerman, the Attor-
ney Gener.ll who was present was asked what
was to be done as evidently some action must
be taken at once. The proper person,he said,
for directing such action was present and
something must be done. The Governor's
reply was : "We cun do nothing. Why,
what can we do ? There is not a soldier m
Upper Canada. I wrote Sir John Colborne
to take every man there was here if they
were required, and they were taken to
Lower Canadii..'' Excepting Hagerman,
who from the first was decided and resolute,
there did not appear to be a person present
who was decided. So when the Governor
asked who there was to do the fight-
ing, Mr. Hagerman replied, " I, and
there are others that will. We have made
no exertion to get any one, but before it
shall be said that we gave up the city with-
out striking om blow I will take a musket
mmm
Landmarks op Toronto.
1051
sell so closely
■y and de-
explanation
Munru ex-
it of the matter
} hie mind that
ncoi that is not
alarming the
ou have beeu
ne persons who
or and Council
oration are as-
de some plan of
here who are in
jents in Lower
ck was astonish-
could not apeak.
' Frizzell, if you
hing a» the Gov-
e in ft had box.
en up the street
be irue or not.
iiediately to tho
d Mr. Munro that
his own way the
vithout fighting '
the City Hull
He reoorted that
)W8 Hill by Mac-
and was placed
Mackenzie and
side for a long
|who wa3 rather
joint of size and
ov. oil drew a pis-
>upo.\ Mackenzie
36 in safety ul-
Every man was
turn atfaira had
to whom all look-
tad in his hands
table at which lie
srman, the Attor-
It was asked what
some action must
ler person, he said,
was present and
The Governor's
nothing. Why,
,not a soldier in
ir John Colborne
was here if tliey
were taken to
jling Hagerman,
ded and resolute,
person present
en the Governor
do the fight-
[eplied, "I, &nfl
We have made
jno, but before it
[up the city with-
\l take a muaket
and go out alone and die like a man."
iic advised men to be sworn in and propnrly
equipped as there were plenty of arnus in the
City Hull. A short form of oatli was drawn
lip, but it was not until Frizzell and some
five or six others had be -n sworn that the
Chief Justice said to Mr. Ha^urman he
did not think it necessary to swear those
who came forward voluntarily and offered
their services. They sliuuld be given arms.
80 no more were put under outh. The
Chief Justice began to question Dick. When
he learned that this man's father hhd been
his military tutor in 1812, the Chief said
that now that his memory was refreshed he
recollected the name very well. Just.cea
Jones and McLean stood by and when Ciiief
Justice Robinson called them, remarking
that this person was a son of Frizzall, who
had taught them all their exerciae in the
spring ot 1812, the latter deigned no reply.
Continuing, he said, you must recollect him
as we all used to join in games together
when drill was over.
People continued to come aud go to the
City Hall throughout the night, lly .3 a.m.
guards w re stationed at different places
tlu-oughout the city. Dick Friz/.ell was a
sentry on duty at the south entrance of Col-
lege avenue until late in the morning ot the
5th. The citizens were so alarmed that
work and business were entirely suspended.
Tuesday, the 5th, was an uneasy day for
both parties, for each was expecting to be
reinforced by their supporters. It was not
until Wednesday that Sir Allan McNab
arrived by tteamer from Hamilton, bringing
about 60 men. Preparations were at once
be^un for an attack on Mackenzie's position.
Thursday morning Sir Allan moved up Col-
lege avenue with the main body of
the loyal force. The second bricade
inarched up Yongo street, but it failed
to reach Eglinton until after Sir
Allan had attacked the rebels. When they
were passing No 1, firing was heard to the
west. The men went up the hill to Mont-
.i;omer>'s Hotel on the double quick. Dick
Frizzell was among the very first, to reach
the top of the hill, where he saw two shots
tired from behind some bushes and stumps
on the west side of the highway. A horse
came galloping from the fields in thii direc-
tion. As it was passing the bu-hes a man
rushed out and caught the horse and im-
mediately mounted. Some of those around
opened fire on the man, but as soon as Dick
signalled to them that he knew him, it
ceased. It was too late however. Uide-
man (for that was tho man's name) fell from
his horse. While standing around the body
the cry ot fire was raised. Smoke was seen
issuing from Montgomery's Hotel. Some
spectators, and
known that be
no doubt he
harsh trc itment.
were for letting it burn, others for putting
it out, until Judge Jones came up. " Let it
burn, boys," said he, and soon it was
reduced to ashes. Witli a few others, Di(.'k
continued his way slow!y up street until
they reached the "Golden Lion" hotel,
where they had dinner. Evening was drav -
ing on Wi en a man came in and said a build-
ing waa burnini; in tiie direction of Gibson's.
Dick started out, but before Gibson s was
reached the place was nearly consumed.
Many of those around were well known to
him, and he reproached them fo destroying
property in such a fashion His intention
was to go on up Yon;;e street, but many of
his friends insisted on his returning to the
city, which he finally did. On the way
down from Gibson's residence to Yonge
street, the premises of Mr. Poole were found
to be on fire. (I'oole'a house was tlio first
house north of the Methodist Kpi.scopal
church at Willowdale.) Dick FrizzulL him-
self removed and extinguished the brands
which had not commenced to burn
fiercely. This annoyed som« of the
hiid it not been wcU-
was a staunch Loyalist
would have received
The night was spent in
the city Next morning all persons over
whom the slightest suspicion rested were to
be arrested. W. B. Jarvis, Sheritl of York,
employed Frizzell, who thus authorized,
made many arrests in the Townsiiip of
Vaughan, Markham and York. The jail
was soon filled. Many persons were in-
carcerated who wished to send for friends
who would bail them out. While this was
being discussed by the authorities the sheriff
noticed that Dick knew nearly every man
whose name was mentioned. 'J'he fact was
none of the old inliabitunts were unknown
to him. The sheriff Hsked if he knew Sam
Lount. " Sam Lount? Y'es, ever since I
have been a boy." " I hen you are just the
want," said the siieritf.
a man to hunt him up."
Dick refused to do this emphatical-
ly saying by way of excuse that he had now
more to do than ho could possibly attend to
in three weeks. ,Mr. Jarvis pointed out to
him that Louu' commanded the rebels ; than
thty had those with them who could give
evidence that it was by his order Col.
Moodie was shot and tha; therefore he
must b? I aken. Still he was persistent in
his refusal to make the arrest. He had
known Luunt for a lont; time, and they had
ul >^ ays been on the most friendly terms.
Once they had fished, hunted, slept together,
and partaken of one another's hospitality for
days on the shores of Lake Simcoe. Although
I c kherifif was apparently dissatisfied, tic
man I
" I want
!lfP"i"^f.W !>• ,)>'', '\"T" -I""'
lura
LANDMARKS OF lORONTO.
did not press tho iiiuttor further. About
thU time, l)eing tkic aprin^ of 18:)8, Richard
b'rizzell joined aiuI l^eciime
the 3rd Battalion, wlitch,
firti organiied, wan under
of Co). Kenneth Cunicron,
formerly a major in
a sergeant in
when it wae
the command
of Thorah,
the 7i)th or
Cameron ^lighlandnra. The battalion
waa ordered to Chaiham. Here tiiey auiTer-
ed for clothing whiuh the Government had
promised them, but which, when it did
arrive waa very inferior to that worn by the
regulars. Colonel Cameron resigned and
««aa aucceeded by Colonel \oung. FromChat-
ham the battalion was ordered to Windsor.
One co'i'pany under Captain Rankin was
sent to Fori Maiden to du duty. In the fall
of 38 this company moL>nd defeated a body
of " Sympathizers,' as they were called
from the American side. In tho engagement
several prisoners wore talcen. Soon after
Col. i'rince aad Lieut. -Cols. Elliott and
Young came oat from Windsor. Several
officers of the captured party were ordered
to be shot and to use tho words of Col.
Prince, in his despatch to the Government,
" they were shot accordingly." It
was the belief of Dick and several
others in his company who were on
duty near the officers' quarters that Colonel
Prince did not consult his brotiier officers on
the step he took. The condemned men
•vers led out to die in quick suuoessiun one
by one. After nve had been cxecutcii one
stalwart young man who waa being led out
threw up his arms and cried "Is there no
help for the widow's son?" Imineiliately
Lieut. -Col. Elliott said to Col. Priuun that
he thought wrong was being done, as these
men are prisoners and can otfer no defence,
and the man was sent back to jail to be
handed over to the civil authorities.
Dick always spoke in bitter termsi of
Sir Francis Bond Keiid, whom he thought
had practically made a prisoner of him from
the moment he entered the City Hall until
n«W3 confirming the report already brought
by him earlier in the evening ar-
rived. Dick at a later date met the
Governor on the street in Toronto, and in
conversation he told Frizzell that the intel-
ligence which he brought un that nii^ht
was quite correct. On that occaiiion the
governor promised thac as soon as the
excitement subsided his services should be
amply rewarded.
On his return from the west Richard r«-
ceived from his father a deed of some valu-
able real estate in the village. He married
an estimable young lady and settled down.
She : lived only about four years. He then
migrated to the county of Hastings, anil in
;'eptember, 1870, he died in his 5<jt<i year
and was buried in the Muhawk church, west
of Deseronto, fifteen years after ho loft
Thornhill.
In ruforence to the foregoing, the follow
ing passages from .Sir Francis Hond Head'd
volume, " The Emigrant," published in
184U, in which he describes the outbreak of
tho rebellion, may be fitly quoted : — " I had
taken to bed with a bad sick headache,
and at midnight of the 4th of December was
fast asleep with it when 1 was suddenly
awakened by a person, who informed mo
that Mr. Mackenzie was conducting a large
body of rebels upon Toronto, and that he
Mas within two or three miles of the city."
In his ds8pat';h to Lord Glenelg, the Colo-
nial Secretary of Statu, Sir Francis mentions
that his informant was Alderman Powell.
"A few faithful friends kindly conducted
my family to a place of safety, and eventually
to a steamer tloating in the harbor, and
while they were proceeding there I walked
along King street to the position I had pre-
pared in tlte market house.
"The stars wore shining bright as diamonds
in the black canopy over my head. The air
waa intensely cold, and the snow-covered
planks which formed the foot-path of the
city croaked tkt I trod upon them. The
principal bell ef the town was, naturally
enough, in an agony of fear, and her shrill,
irregular, monotonous little voice, strangely
breaking the serene silence of nipht, was
exclaiming to the utmost of its strength —
Murder J murder/ murder/ — and much
worse ! /
" As soon as I reached the market house
I found assembled there the armed guard of
the town and a small body of trusty aien,
among whom were the five judges, a force
quite sufficient to have repelled and punished
any attack which we were likely at that
moment to expect.
" We, however, lost no time in unpacking
cases of muskets and of ball cartridges, atid
in distributing them to those who kept join-
ing our party.
" In a very short time we organized our
little fone, and as we had detached, in ad-
vance, piquets of observation to prevent our
being surprised, we lay down on the floor to
sleep."
It will be seen from these extracts that
ti: J City Fathers had already received in-
formation of the intended attack by the
insurgents when Sir Francis reached the
City Hull, This corroborates Frizzell's
story in all important details.
p^wp
LANDMARKS OF TOP.ONTO.
1053
nrk church, wMi
I ftftcr ho Uft
>ing, the follow
icls Hoiid Head's
" published in
I the outbreak of
luoted :— " I had
I sick headache,
of December was
1 was suddenly
rho informed mo
onducting a large
nto, and that ho
niles of the city."
ilenelg, the Colo-
Fraucis mentions
[erman Powell.
kindly conducted
ty, and eventually
the harbor, and
ig there I walked
position I had pre-
bright aa diamonds
ny head. The air
the snow-covered
e foot- path of tiie
upon them. The
wn was, naturally
ear, and her shrill,
tie voice, strangely
nee of nicht, was
jt of its strength—
'der !—and mueh
the market house
he armed guard of
ly of trusty men,
, ire judges, a force
)elied and punished
ere likely at that
time in unpacking
all cartridges, and
tose who kept join-
we organized our
d detached, in ad-
tion to prevent our
own on the floor to
these extracts that
eady received in-
ed attack by the
ancis reached the
borates Frizzell's
ails.
CHAPTER CCLXXIV.
OLD DAYS BROUGHT BACK.
Exlrarl»rroni tke Various WrIlliifffiarTereif
to's Yeteran Telecrapber—^VIifit CniiMla
was loans— The Kise oflke TelrgrnpUer.
Facile prinefpt in all matters concerning
telegraphy is Mr. Robt. F. I'lasson, the
manager of the press department, of the
(ireat Northwestern Company, From time
to time Mr, Easson has con-
tributed to the press ot Ontario
interesting monographs dealing with the
history of newspaper telegraphy in Canada.
Theso articles have been read with a very
vivid interest by many an old resident of
Toronto, whose memory rangea back to the
days when even the postman had but lately
tuken for himself a place in men's callings.
In one of those articles Mr. Eaason skill'
fully describes a memorable celebration of
Burns' centenary which took place in the
8t. Lawrence Hall on the evening; ot Jan.
25, 1859. The exercises began with ad-
dresar . delivered by welt-know^ citizens.
Alex. ' oliachlan read a touching poem which
he liau composed for the occasion. John Hill-
yard Cameron also recited some appropriate
31'iginul verseti, and .lulivered an aadread
which was, even fur that talented orator, a
notable effort. Dr. Connor irave an uliirpsg
End read the immortal history of Ta:n
b Shanter. The Mayor, who acted aa chair-
maa,|wa8^the late Kir Adant Wilson. He,
too, made a speech appropriate to the occa-
sion. Dr. McCaul, of Toronto University,
contributed a scholarly historical addreKa,
and the famous Thomas D'Arcy MoUee
spoks in words which moved his hearers to
the highest pitch of enthusiasm.
MEN QDALIKIUD TO JUDQE,
■ays Mr. Easson, said that Mr. McGee's
address on that occasion was the best
amonust the many eulogies of Robert Burns
delivered upon this continent. Saya the
writer of the paper :— " When D'Arcy said,
* wherever on the face of the earth—
at least in English-speaking countries— there
is a Scotchman, or a man, Robert Burns
is not to-nignt Mithout honor"he thrilled the
Scotchman through and through.
Most of the leiuling judges, professional
men, educationists and merchants were pre-
sent upon this occasion. Among
them were: Hon., George Brown, Chief
Justice Sir John Beverley Robinson,
•Sheriff Jarvis, Vice -Chancellor Spragge
Judge Draper, Hon. P. M. Van Koughuet
and Hon.' (now Sir) OliyerMowat. All
classes and creeds were there represented.
A ball and supper followed the speech
ni'iking, and then was seen the curious
(pa? acle of D'Arcy McGee, a Romanist
of the Romanists, and Hon. Johu
Hillyi.-d ( anieron, Orange (irund Master,
duncing together in the same Scotch reel.
Soun hon. George Irown took %
hand in the merriment, and pirouette
and vnapped his tiiigers with the
vim of a lad in his uona(;e
During the evening despalohes froni many
Scottish societies all over the continent uamo
to the St. Lawrenco Hall over wires specially
run into the building for the occasion. As
Mr. Easson was the operator who received
these messages, he was an eyewitness to tho
merriment attending the celebration.
TIIK RISK OKTELEURAPUV.
In a very clever article in tlie Monetary
Timrs, publisned two months ago, Mr.
Easson gave an interesting account of tome
of his eat'lier cxiericnces with the " key-
board." In a most interesting manner tho
veteran describes the gradual uso of
the telcsraph as an aid in newspaper
work. Says he: " The despatches were
very brief at first, containing perhaps 60 or
76 words, but they gradually increased in
length, and aa tho importance of the inno-
vation became apparent, the Toronto Leader
appointed its special correspondent at
Nloutreal. " Now every large papar.in Can-
ada has "specials" scattered in the big c.k ■
of the Dominion. Geo. Gregg, who represented
ha Leader of Ottawa, scored n " oloaa
Leat " by wire on the assassination of Hon.
D Atcy Mc(ioe. '* Parliament," says Mr.
Easson, " was in session at the ti:ne,
. nd on the evening of the as-
sassination we telegraphers had fcok
tho signal ' good ni^rht ' on the Olob*
and Leader reports from Ottawa, when, a
few minutes later, and just as I was going
out of the office door, Ottawa hurriedly
called me up — it was then between two and
three ir the morning— and sent a despatch,
prepared ly Gregg, containing 200
or 300 words, giving a succinct
account of the murder that startled tho
whole country. It happeuad that (iregg's
boarding-house lay in the saina direction
from the Parliament buildings as that taken
by D'Arcy McGee, and on his way home he
gathered sufficient particulars of the tragedy
which had just taken place to make a very
readable story, and hurrying back to tho
Ottawa telegraph office, had it forwarded to
his paper. All the other reporters at tho
capital representing outside papers miiaad
this senBRtiional piece of news."
OK THE ST. LAWRENOB.
During the Franco- Prussian war Mr.
Eaason was stationed at Father Point on tb*
St. Lawrence. The educated French Cana-
dians were extremely anxious to ascertain
the news brought out by the weekly stoam)
.;«
H
h "
■'ni
I '■ ^ 'a
i i
'1 i'
i
1 1
i
ii
1054
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
11 U
ers, and always dro<ro down to hear the
Utest tidings. At Father Point Mr. Easson
i-eceived the latest .A merican neita, prepared
in New York. lie placed it in the press
box, and addressed ii to the agent of the
Associated Press in Liverpool, who distri-
buted it to the English papers. In this
desolate spot Mr. Easson received a visit
from a certain rather raw young law student
who was en route to Metis to i>pend his sum-
mer holidays.
The young fellow was the bearer-of a letter
of introduction from Mr. l)akerB,of loronto.
Of course, he was received hospitably, but
Mr. Eassun little thought that he was enter-
taining a man who, in later years would as
Chancellor Boyd, make a name for hiniself
as one of Canada's most famous jurists. In
those days numbers of people, instead of
spending the summer at Cacouua, holidayed
at Father Point.
In Mr. Easson's boyhood Lake Ontario
was navigated in winter. " There was,"
says he, "considerable commotion on the
arrival of the steamer, large crowda having
assembled to receive goods or to welcome
friends who had come across the sea. The
principal wharves in that time were Mait-
land s. Brown's and Gorrie'r^ The >tramet
was often covered with ice in very cold
weather, but never had nrdi difficulty iu
making the wharf." Aftei' Mr. Easson en-
gaged with the Montreal Telegraph Com-
pany he did not lose sight of his sailor
friends, and often had a pleasant talk with
them over old times.
CHAPTER CCLXXV.
THE EARLIESTJMEWSPAPERS.
When and Where I.<i«ne«I-.SIngulnr Ailver*
tlseineiits — Silave - liuhlvrit mu«1 silave*
dc'MlerM.
The first newspaper published in Upper
Canada, so far as we have been 'ible to ascer-
tain, was the Upper Cntuida Oazette, or
American Orac'e, on Thursday, April 18,
1793.
The paper was printed by Louis Roy, .t
Niagara, and is but very liitle larger than
ordinary foolscap size, and consists of one
single sheet.
The following was the first order fiveflf for
type, which was imported specially from
England in 175)2-9.1. I he record is from the
Archives department ar Ottawa : —
JiequlsitioH 'Jype for Priniing Office, U.C.
1 fount of Brevier Roman, 2.')0 lbs.
1 fount of Itrevier Itnlic, 100 lbs.
1 fount of Lotw Primer Roman, .350 lbs.
1 fount of Long Piimer Italic, 250 lbs.
1 fount of Pica Roman, .300 lbs.
1 fount of Pica Italic, 200 Iba.
1 fount of Great Primer Roman, 150 lbs.
1 fount of Great Primer Italic, 100 lbs.
1 fount cf Double Pica Script, 2(10 lbs.
1 fount of Small Pica Black, 100 lbs.
Also the followiug alphabets of two-line
letters :—
5 alphabets of 5-line Pica.
7 " of 2 line English.
8 '- of 2 line Small Pica.
10 " of 2-line Long Primer.
12 " of 2-line Brevier.
9 " of 2-line Pica.
7 " of 2 line lireat Primer.
N.B. — The letttr founder is n quested in
casting these new founts to cast figures,
braces, rules, fractions, references, small
capitals, etc., and also signs of the zodiac,
planets, aspects, etc , and a complete a-sort-
ment of flowers. King's coat of arms, for
folios and for quartos ; besides some orna-
mented forts and woods, quotations, etc.
Stationery : — 40 reams ot Crowii paper.
80 reams of demi.
20 reams of foolscap.
20 reams of printing post.
6 rnan)s of 4th gilt post.
3 reams wrapping post.
1 ledger and day Look.
2 barrels ink.
A supply of paper was sent for 1792,
which was of good quality, but for the
Oazetle bundles of demy were ordered, and
uosordingly a requisition was sent to Eng-
land for a supply. The old manuscript reads :
Requisition for stationery for the G.-^vta-u-
ment printing office of Upper Canada, for
the year 1793.
6 bundles of printing demy.
8 reams of printing crown.
10 reams of printing post.
8 reams of folio foolscap, plain.
8 reams of folio, post, plain.
9 reams of quarto post, plain.
4 reams of quarto post, gilt.
6 reams of qiir.! to post, bli»ck edge.
Niagara, Nov. 4th, 1792.
Signed, Louis Roy, Printer.
The first article contained therein is a
proclamation by *' His Excellency John
(iraves Simcoe, £squire. Lieutenant Gov-
ernor and Colonel commanding His Ma
jesty's forces in the province of Upper
Canada, for the suppression of vice, pro-
faneness, and immorality." This document
is issued from Navy Hall, Niagara, and is
dated the 11th of April, 179.3.
News travelled very slowly in those days,
for the same paper also contained the King's
speech on opening Parliament at Westmin-
ster on December 1.3th previously, rather
more than four months earlier. Aiiion<!
small items of intelliitenco are chrouieled
tlie departure of H. M. sloop Caldwell ou
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
1055
mn, 150 Iha.
c, 100 lbs.
b, 2(10 Iba.
100 lbs.
tets of two-line
th.
Pica.
Primer.
Br.
Prim«r.
is n quested ia
to cast tigurea.
eferences, small
s of th« zodiac,
complete asort-
mt of anus, for
sides some orna-
otations, etc.
Towti paper,
emi.
)oiscap.
rioting post,
th gilt post,
pping post.
day look.
sent for 1792,
ity. but for the
^re ordered, and
sent to Eng-
lanuscript reads :
for the G-^vtra-
iper Canada, for
plain.
JD.
lain.
lit.
*ck edge.
Roy, Printer,
led therein is a
Excellency John
Lieutenant Gov-
nding His Ma
ince of Upper
on of vice, pro-
Phis document
Niagara, and i»
13.
ly in those days,
;ained the King's
Biit at Weslniin-
reviously, rather
jarlier. Anions:
are chroui«led
OOP Caldwell on
April «*th for Fort O.itario and Kingston ;
also the arrival of the Onondago, conveying
Mr. John Small, Mr. Joseph Forsyth, and
(.thcr gentlemen. Also is mentioned
that at no time during the preceding winter
had there been in tliat neighbourhoud more
than twenty-three degrees of fros', that
Tjakc Erie had never been frozen over, and
Uliat there was scarcely any ioe in Lake On-
tario.
The paper's prospectus, strangely enough,
is almost the la^-t tiling it contains. Now-a-
days, when a new paper starts, this docu
ment is gci-irally the first, but Mr. Itoy was
modest ; in it he mentions that his journal
may bo procured each week for an annual
subscription of three dollars. The following
quaint notice is printed in the prospectus : —
" In order to preserve the veracity of this
paper, wliich will be the first object of at-
tention, it will bo requisite that all trans
accioiis of 11 domestic nature, such as deaths,
marriages, etc., be communicated under real
siguaturt'ii.''
There were two advertisements only, in
one of whicii Stephen Secord, a relative of
tlie famous Laura Secord, is referred to.
The (.'(r-c/le of April '2o contains the report
of the JSiitional convention held in Paris,
January I'nh, 179.?, when Louis XVi. was
condemned to death, the verdict being
" that Louis Capet is guilty of high treason
and of aitempta against the general safety
of the Slate."
In tli^it publi-'hed on May 2nd the pro-
ceedings of a general court martial held in
Quebec on certain soldiers of tho Royal
Fusiliers is recorded. The charge against
ilieni was that of inciting to mutiny. Some
idea of the Draconian severity of the miii-
iiry penal coUe may be gleaned from the
the sentences passed upon those whom the
court found guilty. One, a man named
James Dniper, was sentenced to be sliot,
and of the remaining prisoners one was to
rcceiv seven hundred laahes, another five
luiiK'red, and yet another four hundred.
\V hat was probably . he first agricultural
society in the Upper Province hel^ its
monthly meeting on April 27th, apparently
at Miftgara, though the report dops not say
so '. at any rate they secured a subscription
from Governor Simcoe of ten nuiiieiis each
year *' wliilc he siiall continue in tiiu admin-
istration of this province.'
What would be thought of such a para-
gntpli as the following if it appeared in a
paper of to-day ? It reads : — '* i he general
topick of discourse throughout the World is
the multiplied follies and crimes c' the
French nation." Pretty hard on tliat nvi'ion,
but so wrote tho Upprr Canaila (iazrUt a
little more than a hundred years ago,
(irrindRtonos must have been very expen-
sive or very scarce in those days, for no Icii
than ten guineas reward was offered in the
Gazette of May .'list to procure the discovery
and conviction of a thief who had purloined
one from tiie Iving'o »vliarf at Navy Hall.
On Juno 6th ihe death of Mrs Butler,
wife of the i.itnous John Butler, lieutenant-
colonel of the noted " Ranijers," is referred
to. After giving the date of her death th«
paper adds :— '• Few in her station have
been more useful, none more humble. Sho
lived fifty-eight years without provoking
envy or resentment, and left the world, as
a weary traveller leaves an inn. to go to the
land of his nat.vity." This sentence is m
its conclusion somewiiat obscure as to its
meaning, but the writer probably meant
that Mrs. Butler died happily.
Tho following ndvertisemunt reads very
unpleasantly when .vo remember the lines —
"Slaves cannot brcithe in England! if their
lunKS
Receive our air, that mo'nont th^y arc free.
They lou^h ourcountry, and their .■<liii(%;les fa).L
That's ncrblo, and bosponks a nation proud
And jealous o( tho ))lcssinK."
"FIVE DOLLAK.S KEWAUD .
Ran away from the subscriber, on Wed-
nesday, the '25lh of Juno last, a negro man
servant named John. Whoever will tako
up the said negro man, and return him to
his master shall receive the above reward
and all necessary charges.
Thomas Buti.kr."
"X. H. — All persons are forbid harboring
the said negro man at their peril. Niagara,
3rd July, 1793."
One peculiarity in many of the advertise-
ments contained in this old paper is that
some, thougn not all, of them are printed
both in French and English. I he list of
Acts passed by tlie Legislative .^sscinlily of
Upper Canada is published in the paper,
issued July ^Hrh. 1793, and, strangely
enough, are all enumerated not in both
lan^'uages, but in French only. Among
these Actt was one " to encourage the de-
stroying of wolves and boars in ditlercnt
parts of this province,'' and another to
"prevent the further introduction o' slaves
and to limit the term of contracts for ser-
vitude within this province."
The name of Samuel Street often appears
in these early Gazef .. In one par;icvJar
advertisement this {L,.iitlemaii recpiests pay-
ment of certain moneys due to him, and
warns his debtors that unless they pay
apeedily " he will be under the necessity of
putting them to cost." Other times, other
manners j)robably, but any one who nowa-
daj's utiefiiptcd to collect his account.s in a
siniiliir manner Wiuld vtry soon find hia
business, like Oliiollo's occupation, tone !
it»
m
1
1
I
M
E^MI
TyUTFw^
'Mivif'irffimmjj^^^j^fjm'ri'^Wflfm
mwn^mnw
I' I
l4'
1050
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
An interesting and also an amusinc; adver-
tisement is f luud in the issue of August 1st
io the sair.e year, 1793. It is as follows : —
" Lost or left on Mr. Johnson's premises, a
pinchbeck watch with a lar^e gold seal,
marked with the initials J .M.K. Whoever
will bring it tc the printer shall receive Half
a Joe, without any questions being asked."
I he reward here offered appears a some
what singular one. A " joe," or " joey," in
Eni^iand is a slang term for a fourpenny
piece, thia coin having first been issued at
the instance of Joseph Hume, M.P., but
the period just referred to is many years
anterior to that of the honorable gentleman,
BO in this connection it evidently means some-
thing else. This " joe" may have been a Por-
tuguese cold coin in circulation both ia Upper
and Lower Canada in the latter part of the
last and early years of the present century,
its value was fixed by an Act of the Im-
perial Parliament, passed in 1777, at £4 cur-
rency, which was equivalent to $16 of our
present currency. The term "joe' is a
contraction f T "Johannes," which' was the
full description of this coin. It must have
gone out of u&e completely very early in this
century, for the late Chief Justice 13raper,
in giving evidence before the Decimal Coin-
age Commission in 1837, says regarding the
circalation of Upper Canada in 18'20 :— " Of
gold we saA' very little except tlie English
guinea, the value of which by provincial
statute at that time was £1 3s. 4d. I do
nut remember to have seen any other gold
coin in circulation at that tims. '
But another authority says " Half a Joe"
was a cant term for h^U a dollar, and con-
sidering the small value of the lost properly
this seems a likely reward.
Carpenters for the new public buildin;;s
to be erected in York were advertised for on
July 10th, 1794. Application for employ-
ment was to be made either to John MoGill,
Esq , at York, or to Mr. Allan McNab, at
Navy jiall. These buildings were those
erected in the east end of the city, near
where Parliament street now begins, and
wee destroyed by thu Americans on April
27th, 1813
Two advei tisoments regarding the army
appear in the same paper. The .irst ofTera
"Ten guineas, Bounty Money, to all Gentle-
men Volunteers who were willing to inlist
{sic) the iiselves in His Majesty's 5th Regi-
ment of Poot, then in the Garrison of
Niagara."
The advertisement goes on to say that on
their being approved of, that is the gentle*
men volunteers, they would " be cloathed,
acoutred, victualled and paid agreeable to
liis Majesty's regulations."
What the advertisement says is all well
enough, but the mischief was in what it left
unsaid and what to their cost recruits only
found out when it was too late, namely, that
the cost of their entire equipment had to bt*
borne by the soldiers themseh'es, and that
when these things were provided there wan
little if any remaining of the much vaunted
ten guineas bounty money. Old love
letters after thirty or forty year*
oftentimes read very grimly in the light of
the married life of the writers, and these
advertisements for recruits for the Imperial
army, wherein the advantages and delights
of soldiering are vividly portrayed, are in
strange contrast to the acaounts often pub-
lished, all but side by side with them, of
men in the said army being condemned to
death, and to punishments which from
their brutality were almost worse than death,
for desertion and other purely military
offences. The other advertisement it is need-
less to refer to.
A change occurred in the management of
the Gazet'e very early in December, 1794.
Louis Roy ceased to b« the publisher,
and G. Tiffany reigned in his st ad.
The Gazette of Wednesday December 10,
1794, announces the death, by the guillo-
tine, of Robespierre, Henriot and Du-
mas, on the 28th of the previous
July, as well as thi.t of many more
of the misguided men who had shared the
guilt of brii)ging Louis XVI, Marie Antoin-
ette, and the Duchess Angouleeme, with
scores of others less exalted in station, to
the scaffold. The Gazette sententiously re-
marks in recording the fall of Robespierre
and his colleagues : " Whoever renders him.
self powerful enough to attempt t > sot him-
self above the law, ought in every one oi
his fellow citMens to find a Brutus. The
overwhelming^ influence of a single man is
the most dangerous scourge of a republic."
Another advertisement relating to slave
dealing is f«und in the Gazette of August 19,
1795, James Clark, senior, of Niagara, ad-
vertising that "A Negro Wench" named
"Sue" had run away from him a few weeks
previously. Mr. Clark, though, offered no
reward for her recovery, yet he "forewarned
all manner of persons from harboring said
wench under tiie penalties of the laws. '
The following notice also appears in the
same paper : —
" For sale, for three years, from the 29th of
this present month of July,
A NKGRO WKNCH,
Named Chloe, 23 years old, understands
washing, cooking, etc. Any gentleman
wishing to purchase, or employ her by the
year or month, is requested to apply to
Robert Franklin,
Newark. July 25. 1795."
I in what it loft
I recruiia only
te, namely, that
iinent had to bt;
Ives, and that
vided there was
! much vaunted
ley. Old love
forty year*
in the light of
iters, and these
for the Imperial
ges and delights
wrtrayed, are in
Bunts often pub-
B with them, of
fir condemned to
nts which from
worse than death,
purely military
sement it is need-
le management of
December, 1794.
e the publisher,
in his st ad.
lay December 10,
h, by the guillo-
lenriot and Du-
if the previous
of many more
o had shared the
I, Marie Antoin-
kngouleeme, with
ted in station, to
sententiously re-
,11 of Robespierre
ever renders him.
iempt t ) sot him-
in every oue ot
Id a Brutus. The
jf a sin>;le man is
le of a republic. "
relating to slave
xtte of August 19,
of Niagara, ad-
Wench" named
him a few weeks
lough, oflfered no
let he "forewarned
im harboring said
of the laws/'
[so appears in the
from the '29th of
|,h of July,
iCH,
I old, understands
Any gentleman
Lmploy her by the
[d to apply to
Iert Franklih,
LANDMARKS OF TORON'IO.
1057
In these distant day marriages were not
uim ply described as such the column whet ein
they are printed being heaied " Hymeneal
Journal."
On October 5th in the same year there is
printed a soliloquy by Mr. Quinn, on seeimi
the body of Duke Humphrey in the Abbey
church of St. Alban's, Hertfordshire. It was
iu these words : —
"A Plague on Egypt; art, I say !
Knibalm the dead ? On loveless clay
Hich wine and Bpicen waste !
hike Sturiteon. or like Brawn, shall I
Bound in a preciout pickle lie,
Which 1 can never taste 1"
"Let me embalm this clay of mine
With turtle soup and Bourdeaux wine
And spoil the Egyptian trade;
Than good Uuke Humphrey, happier I,
Embalmed alive; old Quinn shall die
A mummy ready made."
The Mr. Quinn who uttered these words
was the celebrated actor, the friend of the
poet Thomson. It is related of the former
that he had be<>n the instructor in English
literature and in the art of elocution to
George III. When Quinn heard how well
the King delivered his first speech to the
Houses of Parliament in 1760 he rapturously
exclaimed, ' ' I taught that boy . " He died
in Bath in 1766.
A very pretty quarrel between a certain
prominent public official at Niagara
and the farmers of tiie same place
comes to the surface in the following adver-
tisement, the ofticial's name is only given in
asterisks corresponding with the number of
letters contained therein, but everyone
knew who was meant, and the st^ry did not
die out in Niagara for many long years
afterwards.
•• To Mr.
" The ill manners and unjust equivocation
you too frequently use with farmers, myself
being one, when they call on you for pay-
ment, are insufferable, and as you have
been threatened with a publication of this
kind, without having tne desired effect of
reforming you, this modest hint is given
that you may have a further more particular
explanation. Others are joined vith me iu
wishing the preservation of your private
and public honor by your leaving oft" those
little practices, and when we shall be ex-
cased from our promise of our ne\er trust-
ing you again to the most trifling u mount.'
In March, 1797, a report is given of a
charge of blasphemy preferred bofore a
magistrate, against an inhabitant of Forty
Mile Creek: — "The mjigistrate, takint; a
little time for consideration, entered into a
separate and particuh.r examination of the
witnesses ami offender, and collected these
facts, that iu coaversatiou he had used the
following expressions : That liehtnin;; was
a fluid, that it could be extracted from the
clouds at any time and that it could be
made by man, and that by it he could kill a
man or creature, and that thunder is
uo more the voice of God than is
any other noise and is the report of the
lightning, (the declaring that he could ex-
tract the lig'tening is deemed self super
omuipotency), and lastly, that the earth
has two motions, one round the sun, and
that tlie sun stands Htill."
The Magistrate appears to have had rather
more sense thau the complainants, for he
very properly refused to send the accused
for trial, but the paper adus "it was nut
improbable that it would issue from aitother
quarter, and if so the country will have ex-
hibited to them a specimen of pious zeal
such as has never been exhibited since the
time of Galileo." «
Judging from the poetical " new catech-
ism" which iippeared in April 1797, there
were some people iu those far away times
who were iu very bad odor with their neigh-
bors ; the question asked is " What is the
chief end of man ?" and this is the reply :
" To sather up riches to cheat all he can.
To flatter the rich the poor to despise.
To pamper the fool, to humble the wise.
The rich to assist, to do all in his power
To kic:< the unfortunate still a peg lower.
To cry up lor freedom, to defend her with
vigor.
Have slaves without number, and use tlieiu
with rigor.
To deal fair with all men when riches attend
them,
To grind down the poor when there's none
to defend them.
To induce the fair virgin to accept his em-
brace.
To cast on her then all the shame and dis-
grace.
To be angel without and devil within,
To pretend to all virtue and practice all
sin,
This is most men's chief end, or their actions
belie them.
And if you don't believe it, you may e'en go
and try them.
A little cloud " no larger than a man'a
hand " is noticed in the paper issued on May
3, 1797, which contains the intellii.'ence of
the earliest trouble with the Uuitel States,
the notice concludes, "it seems reduced
almost to a certainty that war with thein
is inevitable. Nevertheless, war did nob
take place for fifteen years later, but the
cloud waxed larger and larger, and eventu-
ally did burst.
We also have a glance at a i^ng disbvnded
gorpa in this same paper, as it containt a
; 'i
^■^1 J!
m
u
:
'M4JII
^
^m
••■i^
^IFIW"
1058
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
II
1
iU
paragraph announcin<; " that the 2nd Bat-
ralion of Canadian volunteers are to relieve
this (Niagara) and the neighboring posts,
and that the Queen's B mgers are to be
stationed at York. These volunteers were
!i colonial corps in Imperial pay, raised
for service in Canada only. In that respect,
and in that respect only, were they different
from the troops of the regular army. They
enjoyed all its privileges, sucli as they were,
and were subject to all its punishments, snch
as they were also.
Un May 31st a correspondent writing
under the nom do plume of " Amicus,"
strongly advocated tbe e-tablishment of
annual horse races. From his letter it would
appear that nothing of the kind had been
previously attempted. Amicus, among
other reasons in favor of the project, says it
would, if carried out, promote "an inter-
course of commerce, friendship - nd socia-
bility between the people of this province
and those of the neighboring parts of the
United States." It may he here added that
the plan was carried out, an i in all
probability these were the first public
race meetings that were ever held in Upper
Canada. They too.c place on July tith., 7tii.,
aad 8th., 1797, "over the new course on the
plains ot Newark. " The total amount of
money offered in prizes was thirty guineas
and "no one was permitted to ride unless
dr ssed in a short round jacket. Caps not
being to be had, a black handkerchief must
be worn as a substitute." ISuch were some
c' t'lo leadinj^T rules The stewards were
Ralphe Clench, Alexander Stewart and
Peter Tolman.
Liieru was but one Gazette published be-
tween July 5th and September 27th and un-
fortunately no copy is now to be had. Titus
G. Simons succeeded George Tiffany as editor
and publisher on September 27th., and in
issui-g his first number he "with pleasure
assures the public, that a m<iil
is established to rnn to the United State.'i
garrison of Niagara, which opens a corres-
pondence with every part of the United
States and the Province of Nova Scotia,
New Hrunswick, etc., and which will be a
continual source of new and interesting in-
telligence. "
Messrs. W. and I. Crooks advertised on
October 4th that they wanted to purchase
" A Negro Jirl frem 7 to 12 years of age,
of good disposition."
1 he paper, though, does not say if these
(gentlemen succeeded in realizing their wish.
It is to be hoped that they loo, like the girl
required, were " of good disposition.'
£n the issue of October 21st is printed the
speech of one David Wood, made a short
time prevk>usly while standing in ■ 'i? pillory
jki Charlestown, New Hampshire, for forging
a deed. It is impossible to give
the whole speech on account of its length,
indeed the gist of it is contained in his
first and last para.raphs. It commences :
"Sympathising friends : You come here this
day to see a sad sight, a poor old man pub-
licly disgraced for attempting to make a
penny out of fifty acres of Vermont rocks,
and yet I see some her« in gay coats and
mounted on naggish horses who have made
thousands out of lands to which you had no
more title than I to David Dray's rocks.
I'.ut you great rogues who wear silver
spurs and white beaver hats, and flourish
youi loaded whips, forget what you once
were, drink your Madeira and talk of your
millions of acres, and sit at your ease,
while poor I, who have speculated a little,
in a fifty-acre lot, which would not maintain
a woodchuck, must stand here ; for I am a
little rogue and have no pretentions to be a
great speculator."
The delinquent then proceedn to give par-
ticulars of great frauds perpetrated by land
and mining companies, and thus concludes :
"Take warning by my sad fate and if you
iiust speculate in lands, let it be in millions
of acres, and if you must be rogues take
warning by my unhappy fate and become
great rogues, for as it is said in a pair of
verses I read when I was a boy,
" Little villains must submit to fate,
That great ones may enjoy the world in
stetre.
And again —
A little knav'ry is a dangerous thing,
Great cheats will flourish, while the small
ones swing.''
Whatever we may think of Mr. Wood's
morality, there can bo no possible doubt
that he' was a very shrewd observer of
things in general.
The Gazette's day of publication was al-
tered on October 21st from Thursday to
Saturday, and in the number published on
December 2nd, intelligence is given of the
reported death during his passage from San
Domingo to London of Lieut. -Col. Little-
hales, who had formerly filled the office of
Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor,
General Simcoe This report happily turned
out to be untrue.
Prior to 1800 the Gazette was removed
from Niagara to York. The printers were
within sight of a libel suit for publishing a
letter reflecting on a very worthy citizen of
York, Mr. William Allan, the founder of
Moss Park, and thu father of the Hon. G
W. Allan. The publishers of the Gazette iiad
inserted a lettei from " A Farmer" reflecting
on Mr Allan, and that gentleman promptly
mm
m
m
mm^
LANDMARKS OF TORONIO.
1059
shire, for forging
siblo to give
int of its length,
contained in hia
It comniencea :
lU come here this
>r old man pub-
itins! to make a
Vermont rocks,
in gay coats and
wno have made
•hich you had no
vid Dray's rocks,
vho wear silver
hats, and flourish
what you once
and talk of your
t at your ease,
peculated a little,
ould not maintain
here ; for I am a
)retentions to be a
oceeari to give par-
jrpetrated by land
d thus concludes :
id fate and if you
et it be in millions
ust be rogues take
fate and become
] said in a pair of
a boy,
mit to fate,
joy the world in
erous thing,
while the small
of Mr. Wood's
no possible doubt
rewd observer of
blication was al-
rom Thursday to
[\ber published on
ce is given of the
passage from San
Lieut. Col. Little-
filled the oflBce of
eutenant Governor,
)ort happily turned
izette was removed
The printers were
uit for publishing »■
y worthy citizen of
ian, the founder of
er of the Hon. G
rs of the Gazette had
. Farmer" reflecting'
lentUman promptly
oalied the attention of the (iovcriior t> tlie
fact. The printers evidently made matters
right, for they were not dismis cd, but con-
tinued the publication of the paper.
The complaints were made the subject of
a special meeting of the Executive Council,
The minutes read : —
Council Ch.\mber at York,
25th March, 1800,
Present :
The Hon. John Elmsley, Chief Justice,
'i he Hon, Peter Russell.
The Hon, ^iieas Shaw,
Mr. Allan, a merchant in York, com-
plained of an artic e inserted in the
Gazette of the 22nd iust, and signed "A
Farmer," which states him to be a candidate
for the County of York at tho ensuing elec-
tion. Mr, Allan stated that the assertion
is entirely without foundation, and is
apprehensive that if it readies the persons
with whom he is connected in the Lower
Province, and is uncontradicted, it may very
materially affect his interests.
The Board conceives that the printers are
highly culpable in having inserted an article
in their paper without authority, lUit on
looking at tho rest of the article, it thinks it
absolutely necessary to direct the Chief
Justice immediately to transmit the paper to
hi& Excellency, with the request of tlie lloard
that the printers be immediately dismisiicd
from their office, and that his Excellency
will avail himself of his present situation to
procure some other peraon to be King's
Printer.
Minutes Jolh March, ISOO.
Read a petition from Messrs', Waters and
Simons, King's Printers, uckncv lodging
their error in having inserted in the Gazette.
of las4 Saturday an essay signed " A
Farmer," and throwing themselves upon his
Excellency's clemency for forgiveness.
Recommended, that the Chief Justice be
directed to traasmin a copy of this petition
to his Excellency.
This is yet another reference to slavery in
the columns of the Gazette in February,
1806, contained in this advertisement : —
"To be sold, a black woman, named
Peggy, aged 40 years, and a black boy, her
son, named Jupiter, aged about 15 \ears,
both of them the property of the subscriber.
The woman ia a tolerable cook and washer-
woman, and perfectly understands making
.^uap and candlea. The boy is tall and
strong for his age, and has been employed
in the country business, but brought up
principally as a house servant. They are
each of them servants for life. The price
of the woman is $150. For liie boy $200,
payable in three years with interest from
namesakt
paper was
have been
the day of sale, to be secured by bond. But
one-fourth will be t ken for ready money.
PkTER RlIaSELL "
Anything more cold-blooded it is difficult
to imagine. "Peggy and a boy, her son,"
might bo horses or cattle from the way in
which they are spoken of. Y'et Peter
Kussell could and did eloquently declaim for
freedom and against tyranny of all kinds.
This advertisament appeals from Peter
l^.ussell to Pettr Russell, Comment is need-
k-Si.
Passing from Upper Canadian papers we
now turn to Lower Canada. The Quebec Gazette
is auppoaed to be the oldest publication in
that province being first issued in 1764 or
possibly a very little earlier. The Mon-
treal Gazette first appeared in 1787
or early in 1788. Like its
of Upper Canada the Quebec
a very small one and would
much smaller but for the fact that all
notices and auvertisenients, the whole paper
in fact, was prin od in parallel columns of
French and Eiglish That continued for
many years, then gradually some of the
advertisements were in i'rench and soma in
English, and many of them in very bad
English too, but so also were the French,
so things were equal. All othoial documents
always appeared in both languages.
As re^j'ards tho advcrtiscnieuts, exceptin<^,
of course, that many refer to ocean-going
vessels and none to slavery, they differ very
little from thoso contained in the Upper
Canadian paper. But there is one essential
diiierence between the two publications.
The elder confines itself wholly to business,
No " quips, cranks or oddities " are allowed
to eater its columns. It is grave and emin-
ently respectable all the way through. On
th ' oilier hand, its sisto sheet of Niagara,
and later of Yor.<, while equally respectable,
does not disdain to treat its readers often-
times to ridiculous jests, ludicrous rhymes
and aiiiii.:iing stori' a.
Another anion;; ih: early newspapers was
tho Canada ConsttUalloii, like the Gazette,
printe.l at Niagara, by S. &(i. Tiffany,
" Opposite the Lion lavern," Tiie latter of
these two gentlemen has been ii'.et with pre-
viously. He was the printer of the Gazette,
succeeding Louis Roy. Tiie fir.st number of
the Constellation appeared on Friday, July
19th, 1790, its publishers making the follow-
ing address : —
TO TUB rOBLIC.
On coiniiicncing a new publication much
is expected in the address of the pub-
lishers, and to perform this witn
gracefulness on our [Jirt on this occa
sion and in a country where the
uiideita .ina; is really novel aod
I
I:
f:
:\ >■
'' ■
; ri ;
T
map
■«
lOGO
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
important, is a task, thoiiglt indispensable,
superior to the taunts our greatest vanity
can boaat, we therefore, like the youthful
orator, advance to the stage, blush, bow,
excite compassion, retire to collect our-
selves, and return to act with more fortitude
the part of the drama allotted to us, and to
receive the plaudits of the once disappointed
audience.
The publishers then proceed to say what
will be the object and aims of their paper,
and conclude in a " high state of virtuous
admiration" of themselves, as Mr. Weller
would remark, by saying "the purity of our
intentions flatter us with the expectation of
at last obtaining the verdict of good and
Jaith/m servants."
LTnder date August 3rd, 1799, the Comte!
lotion refer* to " The wilderness from York
to the Bay of Quinte is 12U miles. A road of
this distance through it ia contracted out by
Government to Mr. Danforth, to be cut and
completed by July Ist, next. In the same
issue is contained this
EPITAVH ON A LAWYER.
Here lius the vile dust of the sinfuUest
wretch,
That ever the devil delayed to fetch ;
And the reader will grant it was needful he
should,
When he saw he was coming as fast as he
could.
No l)int is given as to who the lawyer was
and probably it is quite as well that the
Constellation preserved a judicious silence on
the subject. There is little to provoke com-
ment in this paper, it had a very short life,
disappearing in less than twelve months.
It was succeeded by the Niagara Herald
very early in 1800 under the management of
Silvester Tiffany. The Herald thus des-
cribes the decease of its predecessor : "Its
publishers," meaning those of the constella-
tion, "departing too much from its constitu-
tion, (advance pay.) it expired some months
since with starvation. At its death it left a
rich legacy of advice to its parents and
nurses, and wit'n a strict charge tor its faith-
ful administration. Accordingly the senior
printer of that paper accepts the painful
task of an executor, and throws on the
public protection another paper entitled the
Herald."
The Flerald'x earlier numbers were all
printed on course blue wrappini; paper, very
soft and very thick, then for a time it was
issued on what may be described as whitish
paper and later still again reverted to blue.
It was at no time larger than a sheet of
foolscap writing paper indeed not quite so
bii.'. Like its predecessor its life was brief
and its trials many. It died finally from
inaiition, uomourned by any one. least of
all by its proprietors. They on y reereited
" that they had not killed it to save its life"
some time previously.
The Upper Canada Gazette changed its
name on April 15th, 18C7, to that of York
Gazette, and was for a long time published
under that title, later it again took it^
former title, becoming a purely official
journal. Thar* ia little to add about Cana-
dian newspapers in the days that have been
treated of namely, those prior to the war of
1812. When peace was concluded a new era
■•t in, which must be spoken of separately,
it having little if any connection with the
earliest history of Canadian journalism.
CHAPTER CCLXXVI.
A LONG FORGOTTEN INCIDENT.
lilentenant-UevernorH Hunter and Ciore and
the CanadinuH— An Artilrp-^ t« tUe Prince
BeK«nt niiil Who iitltciicd A
Mr. Peter Hunter was appointed Lieuten-
ant Governor of Upper Canada on August
17, 1799, and retained that office until Sep-
tember, 1805, whan he was succeeded by
Mr. Alexander Grant as President of the
Council, who acted in that capacity until
August, 1806, when he was followed by, as
Lieutenant Governor, Mr. Francis Gore.
During President Hunter's term of office
a great deal of ill-feeling and dissatisfaction
had arisen in the colony. The Executive
Council were now elective, being chosen by
the Governor, and could be removed by him
at his own pleasure for any reason or for no
reason. The whole of the revenue of the
Province. was in the hands of the Govern-
ment, and they exercised their patronage
noli for the public good but for the benefit of
themselves and their friends. A large sum
of money, nearly if not quite $'250,000, was
set aside and supposed to be expended year
by year in gratuities and gifts to the In
dians, but complaints were openly made, to
say nothing of suspicions freely indulged in,
that some, at any rate, of this money failed
to reach the people for whom it was intend-
ed. Such was the state of affairs on the
accession to office of Mr. Gore in 1806. Like
his predecessors, this
wholly to his Council,
them in his policy,
bad to w orse. and it is
wondered at that the United States autlioii-
ties mistook the people s feelinus of dis::atis-
faction with the state of political affairs iui
disloyalty to the mother country. A most
amusing instance of this mistaken idea in
given us ''i the bombastic proclamation
issued to the Caandian people by (General
Hull, of the U. S. A., 20th July, 1812,
wherein he offers the former the alternatives
gcntlemau listened
and was guided by
Things grew from
not so much to be
LANDMARKS OF TORONIO.
1061
on y reereiteil
to save its life"
ette changed its
that of York
; lime published
again took it<
purely official
id about Cana-
that have been
ior to the war of
4uded a new era
in of separately,
Bction with the
journalism
XXVI.
N INCIDENT.
Iter and «oreninl
o^'to lUe Prince
A
ppointed Lieuten-
anada on August
t office until Sep-
was succeeded by
President of the
lat capacity until
k3 followed by, as
Francis Gore,
er's term of office
and dissatisfaction
The Executive
5, being chosen by
)e removed by him
y reason or for no
;he revenue of the
ds of the Govern-
id their patronage
It for the benefit of
inds. A large sum
uite $250,000, was
be expended year
id aifts to the In
re "openly made, to
freely indulged in,
. this money failed
horn it was intend-
e of affairs on the
Gore in 1806. Like
rentleman listened
[nd was guided by
iThings grew from
not so much to be
ited States authoii-
feelinus of dissatia-
political affairs !oi
• country. A most
lis mistaken idea i8
lastie proclamation
people by (ieneral
, 20th July, 1812,
Ler the alternativua
f
of peace, freedom and security as citizens of
United Stat a, or war, desolation and exter-
mination if they remained under the shadow
of the British flag.
This discontent among the people culmi-
nated in complaints from the grand juries to
Judge Thorpe, and this is wha^ happeued,
and the quotation given is from D. B. Read's
" Life" of the Judge of whom we are ipeak
iug :—
" The minds of numbers of the people,
and even the minds of certain officials of the
Government, were impressed with the idea
that there waa too much oligarchical rule in
the province, that the executive authority
set at defiance the will of the people as
expressed through their, representatives.
Then the judges were eligible for election as
members of Parliament. * * * * J udge
Thorpe accapted the candidature to Parlia-
ment offered him by the people of the Home
District. This fired the breast of the Gov-
ernor and oligarchy of the period. Mr.
Surveyor-General VVyatt and Sheriflf Will-
cocks were of one mind with the Judge, and
therefore opposed to the Governor. The
Governor carrying out the doctrine of the
time, the divine right of kings and their
satraps, that might makes right, determined
to rid himself of the Judge and the Sur-
veyor-General."
And Governor Gore, who, however auto-
cratic he might be, was thoroughly honest
and heartily believed in himself, carried his
determination into practice, and in 1807
both Judge and Surveyor General were re-
lieved from office. Two actions at law were
the result, the plaintifTs ' eing Wyatt and
Thorpe, the defendant Francis Gore. The
jury found for the plaintilfs, with heavy
damages in both cases.
In September, 1811, Mr. Gore obtained
leave of absence to visit England. He had
scarcely sailed when the following address
was sent from many Canadians for presenta-
tion to the Prince Kegait : —
TO U13 ROYAL HIGHNESS THK PRINCE REGENT.
May it please your Royal Highness. We,
his Majesty's dutiful and loyal stubjects the
undersigned freeholders, householders and
other inhabitants of the capital and home
district of his Majesty's provinca of Upper
Canada, beg leave to approach yi)ur Royal
Highness and to express in common with
others, his Majesty's subjects, the deep re-
gret we feel upon being made acquaiutud
V. ith the ill state of health, our beloved
Sovereign at present labors under and which
has called your Royal Highness to the exer-
cise of the supreme functions of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
Firmly attached to the House of Ilruna-
wick and the British coustituticn
under a conviction that it affords, when re-
ligiously and honestlv administered, all that
security of person and property which it is
possible to expect to enjoy under any social
compact whatever, and which '..ttachment
some of the undersigned have not hesitated
in cementing with their blooii, the loss of
their property, and the separation from their
relations and frienJij during tlio revolution-
ary war in America. Priding ourselves in
being a ramification of the Empire of Great
Britain and Ireland, it has ever been an
anxious wish to render our acknowledg-
ments of the benefits it was the intention of
our Gracious Sovereign we should enjoy in
this distant part of his dominions, but it is
with the deepest rec^ret we are compelled to
state to your Royal Highness tliat the in-
tentions of your Royal Fatiier have been
re:idered abortive and unsuccessful by the
iutrigue and interruption of designing and
interested men who have been placed ii\i
the government of this colony.
Many of the undersigned, after the conclit-
iion of the revolutionary war which separat-
ed the colonies from the mother country'
were left without a home. His Mujesty, with
that benign goodness which has so distin-
guished his long reign, selected this province
as an asylum for his sufiering loyalists, and
invited them to repair hither under promises
worthy the sovereign who bestowed them,
and although many of the undersigned had
sacrificed well-cultivated estates and large
establishments, yet they hesitated not a
moment in choosing between returning to
the enjoyment of those coniforta they had so
recently left under the new order of things,
iind sittinsr themselves down in a wilderness
under the British constitution, and thereby
submitting to privations beyond ihe power
ot expression ; but witli what astonishment,
and regret have they ijchekl the system of
partiality and corruption that has been
pursued in the distribution of those
bounties held out by our gracious
sovereign to his fiufforing and dis-
tressed loyalists, some favorites being
profusely rewarded, while otiier.s of equal,
if not superior claims were unable to obtain
those just rewards their loyalty to their
king and attachment to the British cause
had induced tlieir Sovereigu ♦ ) promise.
Blessed by Providence with a fertile soil,
capable of producing all the comforts of life,
our attention has been in a particular man-
ner turned towards the raising and cultiva-
tion of hemp under a persuasion that while
it held out a prospect of rewarJiii;,' the cul-
tivator it might in some measure be bene-
ficial to the mother country, at a time when
the channels through which they usually
obtained a supuiv of that article had been.
^1
w'
}
l,i»
.<
■I
.»
i
•%•
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H
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i'
i
w
)
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H
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9
SI :5
fPfilPVPi
iplpfp<
wmmmm
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imm
1062
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
by tba ascendancy of her most inveterate
enemy, shut up. Even thia ant'.cipution of
gratitude towarda our mother country has
been rendered of no effect by the injudicious
and narrow policy of the Executive of tlie
colony in tlie selection of persons with
whom the cultivator had to deal.
With the most heartfelt satisfaction I bei;
leave to express to your Koyal Highness our
gratitude and thanks for the removal of Mr.
Gore from the government of this colony,
and wc further beg leave to state that upon
a retrospective view of Mr. Gore's adminis-
tration it will be made apparent that his
measures have been uniformly calculated to
disunite and create distrust amongst his
Majesty's loyal and faithful subjects in this
province ; and although endeavors may be
made by Mr. Gore's adherent* for the pur-
pose of impressing upon his Majesty's Min
isters the approbation of the people of this
colony of Mr. Gore's administration, and
thereby deceive your Royal Highness, we
implore yonr Royal Highness not to receive
such representation as the general voice
of the inhabitants of this province, but a <
that of a very partial part of the sense of the
people of this colony, and principally those
only who have been loaded with Mr. Gore's
favors and partook of a share in his coer-
cions and mal-administration.
Should it please the Supreme Disposer of
Kingdoms to remove our gracious Sovereign
from a mortal to an immortal throne, we
hambly implore in mercy that He may bless
your Royal Highness with a long and happy
reign, and that you may prove the chosen
instrument in the hand of heaven to van-
quish and overcome the public as well as
secret enemies of your Royal House and the
nations over whom your Royal Highness
may be called to govern.
YoBK, Provinee of Upper Canada, 24th
October, 1811.
John Mills Jaekson
F. Single
Joseph Shepherd
his
WUIiam z Hash
mark.
Jacob Delong, Jr.
Oliver — •
Paul Willcutt, jr.
Alex. MontKomerj
Simeon Mortin
Jacob Cummer
John Fordham
Wslentine Ficher
Michael Wbitmore
Leonard Ashley
Jacob Klacee
Cornelius Van Nor-
■trand
James Van Noelrand
Habram Devens
Simeon Devens
Nicholas De Long
Joke Brnadige
James S. Browii
Samuel Morton
Jonathan Hart
Ttionias Mercer
William Bates
Thos. - '
Conrad Orom
H >nr7 White
John Soulea
Aaron Sonles
Winthrop Crasby
his
John X Cook
mark.
Joseph Brown
hki
Quatz. X
mark
Benjamin Stiles
Ansel BriUoB
Ebenezer Cooke
Rodolf Black
.Stephen B.-undigo
Lovi Uruiidige
Jacob i)e Long
Wni. B. Peters, Atty-
fti-Luw
J. B. Lotman
Thomas Livy
Henrich Sommerfeldt
Oideon Orton
Jacob Liickniann
Jededitih Uritton
hs
Joseph X Tumbleson
mark
hu
James X Tisses
mark
Joseph Lyons
Jacob Pini^cl
George Ptngel
hi<4
Joseph X Foyco
mark
John Mooro
William Spaftord
Stephen Mooio
William Rush
Jno. Hnycs
his
John X TomlinsOD
n;nrk
his
Jacob X Cook
mark
his
Jacob X Cloyn
mark
his
John X Cloyn
mark
Daniel R. Orton
James ."-^oulea
James Tomlinson
Michael Bowman
Peter Vanaliany
William Olendennen
John Clendennen
Lewis Dennis
Samuel Mercer
Augustus Bates
Wm. Hunter
Kick. L Lippincott
Cornelius Anderson
Andrew McGlashau
Honry MoGary
William Marsh
Leonard Marsh
John Young
Isaac Wilson
George Bond
Andrew Sharp
John McDonald
William Soules
John Cameron
Uzal Wilson
Peter FIcsher
Jarvis Ashley
James Warren
Jobe Kinnee
James Dulcjtt
Henry *
Uenj. Davis
his
Samuel x Lewie
mark
Isaac Duclus
his
Ira X Wliite
mark
Lary Davis
John Chapman
Reuben Wai'.
Martin Snider
Jacob Snider
Phillip Wiegman
Martin Klsworth
Alex. Montgomery
John Montgomery
Peter RoseauLawrenca
William Gray
Stillwell Willson
Eber. Wighte
QeoTio Uugtiron
Michael Ficher
John Wilson
Coiboth
Leond Klincker
Anthony Hoilingshead
ir.
John Hong
his
Oreal x Hudson
mark
his
David X Adair
mark
Ai^a Patrick
Timothy Wheeler
Juss Fludgen
John Price, late Adjb
Brit. Leg. Cavy.
Joseph Hill
liaac Coiumbes
Thos. Stoyell
Cornelius Anderson, Ji
Samuel Arnold
John Willson
John Willson. jr
J<:iihu Pease
George T. Davison
Luke Stotenbourgh
Charles Denisou
his
Jacob X Anderson
mark
William Thomson
his
Robert x Stuart
mark
Oliver Prentis
Henry la Mars
Benjamin de Ling
Charles Willcoclc8,for.
inerly Ensign 3rd
Bart., 60th Uegiinenc
or Royal Americans.
Joseph Vancise
James Ozburn
Joseph Ozbum
James Ross
James Glenncn, Surg.
G. Willoocks. M.l^
Peter Howard, M, I'„
for the County of
Leeds
John Willson, M. P.
Ge irge Gary
Sam Kverson
James Kverson
Thomas Mercer
Wm. IX Jackson
.Samuel Jackson, Junr.
Joscnh JacksoB
Phillip Blown
J hn M. Dougall, Junr
William Moody
Jacob Miller
David Miller
Jacob Miller
William McBride
Jeremiah Brown
George Howe
ben Wal'.
tin Snidar
)b Snider
lip Wiogman
■tin Klsworth
K. Montgomery
ti Monigomery
sr RoseauLa w rones
Ham Gray
Iwell Wiilsoa
ir. Wighto
tr^e Uughron
!haol Ficher
in Wilson
■ Colboth
>nd Klincker
tbony Hoilingshead
in Hong
bis
lal X Hudson
mark
his
vid X Adair
mark
a Patrick
nothy Wheeler
33 FUidgen
hn Price, late Adjt
3rir. Leg. Cavy.
Mph Hill
lac Columbea
los. Stoyell
irnelluB Anderson. Ji
muel Arnold
hn Willson
bn Willson. jr
ihu Pease
sorge T. Davison
ike Stotenbourgh
larles Denlsou
his
kcob X Andorsoa
mark
'illiam Tbomscn
bis
obert X Stuart
mark
liver Prentit
enry la Mars
enjamin de Ling
haries Willcocks, for-
merly Ensign 3rd
Bate, 60th Uegioieni
or Royal Americaas.
oaepb Vancis*
ames Ozburn
oseph Ozburn
ames Uoss
amesGiennon. Surg.
',. Wllloocks. M.P
'eter Howard, M, I',,
for the County of
Leeds ,, .,
ohn Willson, M. P.
Je ifge Gary
iam Kverson
lames Everson
L'hoDias Mercer
iVm. D. Jackson
Samuel Jackson, Junr.
toscnh Jacksoa
.'hillip Blown
r hn M. Dougall, Juat
IVilliam Moody
lacob Miller
David Miller
Jacob Miller
William McBride
Jeremiah Browu
Qeorgu Howe
!t
I
U, i <i
II
HONORABLE THOMAS IlIDOUT— Surveyor General of Uppor Canada, 1810, and aubbe-
auently (1821) a member of the Upper Canadian LuKislative Council, waa born in Sherborne,
Dorsetshire Bnj?., on March 17, 17')!. At tiie ai?e of 'i<) years, in September 1774, he left England
for America arriving in New Yorli about October 18th. From there he proceeded to Annapoli:i.
Maryland, where an elder brother was already settled. He was in the North American c donies
during their entire struggle for independence, and on the conclusion of peace appears to have
accepted the changed condition of affairs. Whilst on a journey through the United States in
op lO&i
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
1063
■n
1810. and aubue-
In Sherborne,
he left England
cd to Annapolis,
merlcan c donies
appears to have
United States iu
four months in
rmined to settle
Arms, House of
rveyor Gencnl,
athedral.
op lO&'J
OaUb Perth
OeorKo McOratb
Moses MoOratta
Thos. Mosler
Isaac Brown
Philip Peters
D. M. Q. KoKcrit, mom-
bar of the Assembly
for the Diatrict of
Newcantle
Joseph Bronn
hU
QuarU X
ronrk
Wm. Marsh
Jacob Notheart
John Phillips
Henry Jonnaton
William Harrison
his
Francois z Koland
mark
AbrahamCronkwrlKht
'Oliver Betti!
*Ueor<e Laurier
•(Jeorge Meredith
'Mttguiro
Of the Hignatoriea to this address the first
on the list is that of John Mills Jackson, an
Engliahman, who came to this country in
18(M> from Downton, in Wiltshire Here-
turned to Englaud some years later, beint;
dissatisBed with the way > fairs were con
ducted here. Ho published a pamphlet ad-
dressed to the King and i'urlianient of Great
Britain, entitled " A View of the Political
Situation of the Province," This pamphlet
caused much annoyance in Upper Canada,
and the Legislative Assembly voted it a
libel !
'1 hen follow, among many others, the
names Alexander Moutjfomery, of Yonge
street ; Thomas Mercer ; John Montgomery,
who kept an hotel here, known as the
" Bird in Hand" : Samuel Mercer ; Richard
I^ppincott, who gives his name to the street
80 called in Toronto ; Andrew McUlashan,
who lived well on in to the " fifties" ; Isaac
Columbes, u hose memory is yet green ;
Charles Denison, who married Miss Playter ;
Charles Willcocks, who, whatever eminent
virtues he possessed, did not count excessive
modesty among them, as he once proposed
to publisU by subscription a history of lis
own life.
Theie are many others whose names are
familiar, and also many of whom nothing is
known, but "The times change, and we
change with tiiem '
CHAPTER CCLXXVIL
AN OLD ACCOUNT BOOK.
Some dnalnt antl IntercKdne Entries— 4
ContraNt in Price* Bp|>vcen (he I'rescu'
Time nud n Century Since.
The following extracts from a daily cash
journal kept by Mr. '1 honias Ridout, some-
time Clerk of the Peace for the Home Dis-
trict, and father of the late Thomas Gibbs
Ridout, BO well known as cushier in its pros-
perous days of the old Bank of Upper Can-
ada, will probably be of interest to many
us showing the difference that exists in the
price of evcry-day articles, now in this year
of grace 1894, and that which o tained very
nearly one hutidred years ago.
Mr. Ridout kept his household and odice
expenses in one book, and it is somewhat
amusing to find such entries as the following,
side by side :— " November 15th, 1797, house
expenses. Dr. to cash, paid for two barrels
of flour at SOs, £3," and on the same da e, in
fact the very next entry : •' Cash Dr. to
ortice, received for sundry wriiings, £1 10*.
There are many similar entries to the next
following, Payment is made in New Vork
currency, and thus enteieii, then reduced to
Halifax eurrency : — " Canl;, Dr to Abner
Miles, receiTod of him by ilie hands of Mr.
Thomas Barry —
£9 14 6 Now York currency.
of himself 10 0 0
£19 14 ti
Halifax currency £I'J g 7."
On December 15th, in the same year, is
this entry recalling the name of a man
whose end wa^ a tragic one :— " Household
expenses. Dr. to James Ruggles, for sundry
earthenware, as per his account, £114 0."
Mr. Ruggles was a passenger on the
schooner Speetly when she witli all on board
foundered in the waters of Lake Ontario on
October 7th, 1804, none being left to tell
the tale.
Throughout the month of December the
foil' wing names are often found :— Archi
bald Thomson, of Scarborough; William
Allan, of V'ork ; Joseph Hunt of the same
place, and also that of the Honorable D. \V.
Smith .
In January, 1798, occur the names of
Andrew and David Thamson, who were
••Vrchibald's brothers, Abner Miles, Archi-
bald Cameron, and Samuel Heron, i he
latter was one of the town wardens in the
year 1799. Though lie was one of a well-
known family, his name does not often ap-
pear in any of the old records.
On March I2th, in the .same year, is this
entry: "ReceiTed of Duke ".Viiiiani Ken-
drick and James Nasli, for sundry wiiiing^,
£1 12 0." .Mr. Ridout at any rate suc-
ceeded in obtaining some cash fro u Mr.
Kendr.'ck, but it appears to have tieen a
very scarce article with him, as with pretty
nearly every one else in those days, for we
find him advertising in the Gazette on De-
cember 21st, 1799, nearly two years later,
that he wisiied to purchase ashes, iie having
establisheil a potnshery, but be added 1 his
significant notice to his advertisement : —
"He (Kendrick) conceives it his duly to
infoi-m those who have ashes to dispose of
that it will not be in his power to pay Cdsb,
but merchandise at cash price,"
On the last day of March Mr. Ridout
records having received as a deposit the sum
of £101 5 9^ from Mr. W. P. Lawe, and
there is this somewhat quaintly worded note
added : — *' Left by me in the hands of the
;! '
'■>■
f:
■ ■ i r
ior.4
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Hon< rabia D. W. Siniih, m « pUo* uf
vreRtar security tbAu my house, the same
day."
Ephraiiii Payson received payment from
Mr. Ridout, on April 7kh, of £4 5 Halifax
curreucy for 1,700 briclcs to be delivered at
" lot No. 2, Dulie street, York." This was
the beginDing uf the old liidout homestead.
Again, ou May lat is a payment in uounec-
lion with the same building to one W.
Mather tor shingles and to D. Hendrie for
pickets.
Bo«f at the time was seven pence halt-
per.ny currency a pound. Mr. Kidout enters
the purchase of 92 pounds of that commodity
at that price on .'viay 18th. That woald be
jast twelve cents of our money.
On July 25th the firm of Skinner £;. Terry
is mentioned. They were proprietors of a
saw mill on the banks of the Don, al no
very great distance from where the Winches-
ter street bridge now (1894) crosses the
river.
Lovers of tha' cup which " cheers but not
inebriates," must tiave had to be very care-
ful in those diys, for on August lat Mr.
Ridout enters : "1 lb. Souchong tea,
£0 12 6, or 12 50." Think uf that, those
who complain wlieu ^iessrs. Black, tireeu &
Co., the family grocers, charged even the
odd fifty cents for a pound of the same com-
modity.
Among other entries are 52 lbs. maple
sugar at Is— £2 12 ; two and a half cords of
wood at 148 — £1 15; for a pair of shoes,
£1 4; forty-five pounds pork at Is — £2 5.
In all these cases it mu.sc be borne in mind
that the ■failling quoted was only equal to
twelve and a half cents, so with the excep-
tion of wood the prices compare fairly well
with those charged to-day. On October let,
still in the same year, occurs tliis entry :
" House expenses. Dr. to Thomas >larkeand,
of Kingstoti. Received from him this day,
per the Toronto, 3 barrels of flour 72 lbs. or
Gid (barrels) and 21 lbs. at 20ti id £6 8 9,
Halifax, or £10 6 0." The "Torortc."
means the well-known trading and passcn,^:e.-'
vessel the Toronto yacht, wrecked aft*i
wards on tlie Isl<nd opposite Toronto.
Yet another eutry on the 25tli of ilio f,'.me
month, and here the prices as compared
with tfa»^ present time present a marked
contrast. It runs thxiH : —
One pound loaf sugar ■« 0
Pour " brown '" at ;{3 13 0
•• " 23 6d 10 0
One " chocolate, Tw 5 0
Fonr " 13 oz. cheese, 2s 9 8
£2 0 8
It will be seen^ therefore, that sugar varied
from .').'» cents to 50 cents a pound, chocolate
was 02^1 cenis, and cheese 2<'> cents. House-
keepers of to-day have therefore a good deal
to bo thankful for m respect o; what the
same articles cost them now.
One of the last entries in the boolt is this :
" I'aicl Mr John .McDougall, my club in full
as a member of the liardeuers' Society,
£2 18 4." Tiiift particular association is not
re erred to elsewhere. There are many of
the naniea which occur in the book that are
still represented in and about Toronto, but
the entries relating to them are on purely
business matters and arc of no general in-
terest.
Some confusion may arise as to the terms
New York and Halifax currency, A New
York ptiund, ittough like ali other pounds, it
consisted of twenty shillings, ^as only equal
to $2 50 as the so-called "shilling" or
" Yorker' was but 12.J cents in value. A
pound Halifax was equal to 94 and a pound
Btorlincr or the English sovereign passed for
twenty-five shillings Halifax. 'Jhe follow-
ing table in Sterling, New York, Halifax
and in dollars and cents will show tliu rela-
tive values : —
Sterling.
New York.
Halifax.
£ S. D.
£
S. D.
£ S. I).
s c
ti
1
7i
124
I 0
2
1 :i
25
1(1 0
1
0 0
12 6
2 51)
1 0 0
2
0 0
1 5 0
5 00
CHAPTER CCLXXVin.
THE WAR OF I8IZ
Many Interesting Dorunients KelntiuK to
It— Preclanintlon and lieu. Brack's Keply.
A caaual reference was made in the chap
ter entitled, " .4 Long Forgotten Incident,"
to a bombastic proclamation issued by
General Hull, of the U.S. A, from Detroit,
to the Canadian people, at the time when
the war broke out between the United
States and Canada The full text of this
document was as follows : —
" Inhabitants of Canada : After thirty
years of peace and prosperity the United
States have been driven to arms. The in-
juries and aggieasions, the insults and in
dignities of Great Britain have once more left
them no alternative but manly resistauce
or unconditional submission.
"Thj army under my command has invad-
ed your country and the standard of union
now waves over the territory of Canada. To
the peaceable unoffending inhabitant it
brings neither danger nor difficulty. 1 come
to find enemies not to make them. I corns
to protect, not to injure you.
"Separated by an immense ocean and bv
m
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
I0<i5
k pound, ciiocoUt*
2.'» cents. House-
rufura a good deal
ipect o; what the
IW.
I the book it this :
M, my club in full
ftrdeners' Society,
r association is not
'here are many of
the book that are
l)out Toronto, but
»m are on purely
of no general in-
ise as to the terms
:urrency, A New
all other pounds, it
igs, was only equal
led "shilling" or
cents in value. A
to $4 and a pound
ivereign passed for
[if ax. 'iho follow -
ew York, Halifax
rill show thu rcla-
Halifax.
£ y. I).
7i
1 :i
12 ti
1 5 0
>
.XXVIII.
$ c.
12i
25
2 51)
5 00
>F 1812.
iipnts RelMtliiK tA
eu. Brock's Keply.
made in the chap
rgotten Incident,"
matiou issued by
.A , from Detroit,
»t the time when
ween the United
he full text of this
ada : After thirty
iperity the United
to arms. The in-
.he insults and iu
have once more left
: manly resistance
on.
ommand has mvad-
standard of union
;ory of Canada. To
ling inhabitant it
• difficulty. I come
ke them. I corns
rou.
lense ocean and
bT
an extenbivc wildernoas from (ircat Britain,
you have no participation in hur councils, no
interest in her conrtuot. V'ou have fell her
tyranny, you have seen her injiisiire — but I
do not ask you to avenge the one or redress
tho other. The United .Statoii are sutlicient-
ly powerful to afford you every security,
uousistont with their rights and your cxpec-
tiiiious.I tender you the invaluable blessinjs
of civil and religious liberty, and their
necessary result individual and general
prosperity — that liborty Nvhioh gave decis-
ion to our councils andcnergy to our conduct
in our struggle for independence and
which conducted us nafely and triumphantly
through the stormy period of tho revolution
—that liberty which has ruisen us to an
elevated rank throughout tiie nations of the
world, and which has aiTorded us a greater
measure of peace and socurity, of wealth and
improvement than ever yet fell to tho lot of
any people.
" In the name of my country and by the
authority of my (jovcrnment, I promise pro-
tection to your persons, property and rights.
Remain at your homes, pursue your peace-
ful and customary avccatious, rn s« not your
bands against your brethren. Many of your
fathers fought for the freedom and indepen-
deooe we now enjoy. Being children, there-
fore, of Jkne same family with us, and heirs to
tho same heritage, the arrival of an army of
friends must be hailed by you with a cordial
welcome. You will be emancipated from
tyranny and opprosssirn and restored to the
dignified station of freemen.
" Had I any doubt of eventual success I
might a^k your a.ssistance, bub I do not. I
conio prepared for every contingency. I
have a force which will look down all oppo-
sition, and that force is but the vanguard of
a much greater. If, contrary to your own
interests and the just expectation of my
country, you should take part in the ap-
proaching contest, you will be considered
and treated as enemies, and the horrors and
calamities of war \\ ill stalk before you."
This last sentence shows plainly in the
earlier words the idea that obtained at this
period throughout the United States that
Canadians were prepared to throw off tlieir
allugi^ince to (ireat Britain. This mistaken
notion has already been referred to In an
earlier chapter. The Proclamation then
proceeds : —
" If the barbarous and swage policy of
(ireat Britain be pursued, and the savages
be let loose to murder our ci izens and
butcher our women and children, this war
will be a war of extermination. 1 he first
stroke of the tomahawk, the first attempt
with the scalping knife will be the signal of
one indiscriminate scene of desolation. No
white man found fighting by the side of an
Indian will be taken prisoner— instant de-
struction will I e his lot. If the dictates of
rcuAon, duty, justice and humanity cannot
prevent the einployinnnt of a force which
respects no rights and knows no wroni, it
will bo prevented by a severe and relentlesa
system of retaliation.
" I doubt not your courage and firn-
nest, I will not doubt your attachment to
liberty. If you tender your servicet volun
tarily thKy will be accepted readily. The
United States offer you peace, liberty and
security. Your choice lies between these
and mere slavery and destruction. < ho<>s«
then, but choose wisely ; and may He who
lioows the justice of our cause and who holds
in His Hands the fate of nations, guide you
to a result the most compatible with your '
rights and interests, your peace and pros-
pcritv. VV. H ULL
'• By the(Jeneral, A. F. Hull, Capt. I3th
Regt. and .\ I).( .
" Headquarters, Sandwich, July 12,1812."
To the foregoing proclamat on General
Brock issued the following reply aa found in
the Cunadia'i Archives, Series Q., Vol 315,
Colonial Ofhce Records, Psge 152.
" I'riocr.AYATiox
"The unprovoked uechiration of war, by
the United States of .America, against th«
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ire-
land, and its dependencies, has been followed
by the actual invasi n of this Province
in a remote frontier of the Western District
by a detachment of the armed force of thu
United States. The officer commanding
that detachment, has thought proper to iu-
vite His Majcs y's subjects not merely to a
quiet and unresisting submission, but in-
sults them ^vlth a call to seek voluntarily
tlie protection of his (iovernmeut. \Vithont
condescending to repeat the illiberal epi-
thets bestowed in this appeal of the American
commander to the people of Upper Canada,
or the administration of His Majesty, every
inhabitant of the tVovince is desired to seek
the confutation of such indecent slander in
the review of hit own particular
circumstances ; wlicru is the Canadian sub-
ject who can truly affirm to liiraselt that he
has been injured by the (Government in his
person, his liberty, or his property ? Where
is to be found in any part of the world a
growth so rapid in wealth and prosperity aa
this colony exhibits ? Settled not tUrty
years ago by a band of veterans exiled from
their former possessions on account of their
loyalty, not a descendant of those brave
people is to be found who, under the fostor-
ing liberality of their sovereign, has not aa-
quired a prosperity and means of enjoyment
superior to wnat were possessed by their
i
.;
4.
i
1066
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
AiictRtors. This unequalled prosperity
could not hkve been attained by the utmost
liberality of the Government or the perse-
vering industry of the people, had not the
maiitimn power of the mother country
secured t.> its colonists a sui ; access to every
market where the produce of their labor
was in demand.
The unavoidable and immediate conse-
quence of a separation from (Treat
Britain must be the loss of
tliis inestimable advantace. And
what is offered you in excliange ? To
become a territory of the United States and
ehare wich them that exclusion from the
oocan wh'ch the policy of their present
(lovernnient enforces. You are not even
, flattered with a participation of their
boasted independence, and it is but too
obvious that unce exchanged from the power'
ful protection of the United Kingdom, you
must bo re-annexed to the doniiuion of
France, from which the provinces of Canada
were wrested by the arms of (Jreat Britain,
at a vast expense of blood and treasure, from
no other motive than to relieve her uneirate-
ful children from the oppr. ssion of a cruel
neighbor. This restitution of Canada to the
empire of France was the stipulated reward
for the aid afforded to the revolted colonies,
now the United States. The debt U still
due, and there can be no doubt but the
pledge has been rei ewed, as a consideration
for commercial advantages, or, rather, for an
expected relaxation in the tyranny of France
over the commercial world. Are you
prepared, inhabitants of Upper Canada, to
tiecome willing subjects, or rather sliivus, to
thedssrot who rales the nations of Europe
with a rod of iron ? If not, arise in a body,
exert your energies, co-operate c .nliallv
with the king's regular forces to repel the
invader, and do not ^ire cause to your chil-
dren when Kroanin<; under theoppression of a
foreign master to reproach you with having
too eaady parted with the richest inheritance
on earth— a participation in the name, char-
acter and freedo/n of Hritons.
The same spirit of justic. which will make
•Tery reasonable allowapct for tlie unsuccess-
fnl efforts of zeal and loyaity will not fail to
punish the defalcation of principle; every
Canadian freeholder is \iy deliberata ciioice,
bound by the most solemn oaths to defend
the monarch) as well as his own property.
To shrink from that engn);ement is a treason
not to be forgiven; let no man suppose that
if in this unexpected struggle his
Majesty's arms should 1>e compelled
to yield to an overwhelming force,
that the province wi!l be eventually aban-
doned ; the endeared relation of its first
■ettlcrs, the intrinsi j value ot itts ouinnicrce.
and the pretensions of its powerful rival to
repossess the Canadas are pledges that no
peace will be established between the United
states and (ireat Britain and Ireland, of
which the restoration of these provinces does
not make the most prominent condition.
lie nut dismayed at the unjustifiable threat
of the commander of the enemy's forces, to
refuse ({uarter if an Indian appear in the
ranks. The brave bands of natives which
inhabit thif colony were, like his Majesty's
subjects, punished for tiieir zeal and fidelity
by the loss of their possessions in. the late
colonies, and re«arded by his Majesty witii
lands of superior value in this province.
The faiiii of the liritish Government has
never yet been violated, they feel that the
soil they inherit is to them and their poster-
ity protected from the base art.s so frequent-
ly devised to over-reach their simplicity. By
what new principle are they to be prevented
from defending their property ? If their war-
fare from being different to that of the white
people is more terrific to the eniiny, let him
retrace his steps— they seei; him not — and
cannot expect to find women and children in
an invading army ; biU they are men and
have equal rights with all other men, to de-
feml themselves and prcperty when invaded,
more especially when they find in the
enemy s camp a ferocious and mortal foe
using the same warfare which the American
commander affects to repudiate .
Thi:j inconsistent and unju.'«tifial>lc tlircat
of refusing (jnarter for such a cause as being
fuuiid in arm? with a brother sufferer in de-
fence of invaded rights, must be exerc sed
with the certain assuiance of retaliation,
not only in the limited operations of war in
tliis part of the King's Doicinions, but in
every quarter of tiie globe, for the national
ciiaracter of Britain is not less (iistirguished
for humanity than strict retaliative
justice, which will consider the execu-
tion of this inhuman threat as
deliberate murder, for which every subject
of the offending power must make expia-
tion Is.VAc Brock,
j>laj.-Gen. and President.
(!cd Save the King.
IToad Quarters, Fort George, '2'2nd July,
181*2, by order of his Honor the President
I B. tilegg, Capt. A. D. C.
Captain Gcigg, whose name is attaciied to
the foregoing proclamation was a captain on
the unattached list, and hud been selected by
Brocic to act as his aide de-camp. He aerveil
throughout the wvr, and afterwards filled
various public offices in Canada. Some
yeais later he attained the rank of colonel,
and was private secre'ury to Lord Ayliner
iluiing the peiiod that hi.s Lordsliip was
Governor-General of Canada.
Kmmmm
^
VVnpf
mmf
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
loc:
rerful rival to
dgea that no
:en the Uuited
lad Ireland, of
provinces does
condition,
stifiablo threat
;ny's forces, to
1 appear in the
natives which
his Majesty's
laland fidelity
ms ip. tho Ittto
3 Majesty with
1 this province.
Joverument has
>y feel that the
r,d their poster-
rts so frequent-
• simplicity. By
to be prevented
|r ? If their war-
;iat of the white
ennny, let him
k him not— and
anil children in
>y are men and
ther men, to de-
Y when invaded,
ey t'lul in the
and mortal ioe
uii the American
ate.
ustifiable threat
a cause as being
r sufferer in de-
,st be exerc sed
of retaliation,
ations of war in
ii'inions, but in
"or llie national
jS3 aiatic guished
lict retaliative
[er the execu-
11 threat as
every subject
it make expia-
Lnd President.
linK.
tge, '2'2iid July,
the President
\o 13 attaciied to
I'as a captain on
Ibeen selected by
limp. He served
Ifterwiirda fillttl
ICanida, Some
link of colonel.
Lord Ayliner
Lordsiiip was
Chief Justice William Dummer Powell
was generally supposed to have been the
real author of General I Crock's reply to
General Hull. '1 ho Chief Justice was a
trusted adviser of the President's, and was
consulted on all matters of moment, by the
authorities, throughout the whole of the war.
Nor was Brocn otherwise idle, thoui;li
from a letter, dated July 20th, 1812, ad-
dressed to Sir ( Jeorge Prevost, but two days
before he issued his reply to General Hull,
it was evident he was not without very
grave doubts as to the coutse events would
take. The communication was as
tollowB :• -
'* Major-General Brock to Sir George Pre-
Toat
Fort George, July 20th, 1812.
*• My last to your E.-tcellency was dated
the 12th inst, since which nothing extra-
ordinary has occurrevi on this communi-
cation. The enemy has evidently diminished
his force and appears to have no intention of
making on immediate attack.
" I have herewitli the honor of endoaing
tha copy of two letters wiiich 1 have re-
ceived from Lieut. -Col. St. (»eorge, together
with some interesting documents found on
board a schooner, which the boats of the
Hunter captured on her voyage from the
Miami to Detroit.
*• From the accompanying ofGcial cor-
respondence between General Hull and the
Secretary at War, it appears that the cot-
l«cti3d force which has arrived -it Detroit
amounts to about 2,000 men. I have re-
quested Colonel Proctor to proceed to Ani-
herstburg, and ascdrtaiu accurately tlie state
of things in that quarter. I had every in-
clination to go there myself, but the meet-
ing of the Legislature on the 27tli i. stant
renders it impossible.
''I receive this moment a despatch, dated
the 15Ui instant, from Lieut -Colonel St.
George, giving un account of trie enemy h\v-
ing landed on the Pitiinudimnini'iately after
occupied the villag.- of Sandwich. It is
strange that the three days should be allow
ed to elapse l)ffi)ri! sending to acqu'iiit
me of this important fact. I h d
no idea until I received Lieut. -Col. St
G«orge'3 letter a few days ago that (ieneral
Hull was advancing with so large a force.
" The militia, from every account, be
haved very ill. The ofliccrs appear tiie
inoet in fanlt. Colonel ^'roctor will pro-
bably reach Amherstburg in the course of
to-morrow. I have great dependence in that
otiicer's decision, but fear he will arriv? too
late to be of mmch service. The enemy was
not likely to delay attacking n force that hr.d
allowed him to cross the river in open lUy
without firing a shot.
"The position which Lieut. Colonel St.
George occupies is very good, and intinitely
more formidable than the fort itself. Should
he therefore be compelled to retira I know
of no other alternative than his 'mbarking
in tho King's vessels and proceeding to Fort
Erie,
'■ Were it possib'e to animate the militia,
to a proper sense of tlieir duty somutning
might be ilone, but I almost despair.
*' Your Excellency will readily perceive
the critical situation in which the reduciiuu
of Amherstbnrg will place mc.
'* I do not imagine General Hull will be
able to detach more tlian 1,000 men, but
even with that trifling force I much fear he
will succeed in gcttinir to my rear.
The militia will not act ' with-
out a strong regular force to sec
them the example ; and as I must now expect
to be seriously threatened, I cannot iu
prudence make string detachments, which
would not only weaken my line of defence,
but, in event of a retreat, endanger their
safety.
" i am now given to understaml that
General Hull's insidious proclamation, heie-
with enclosed, has already been productive
of considerable effect on the mi ds of the
people. In fact, a general sentiment pre-
vails that with the present force resistance
is unavailing. I shall continue to exert my-
self to the utmost to overcome every dilli-
culty. Should, however, the comiiuinicatioii
between Kingston and Montreal be out oli,
the fate of the troops in this part of the pro-
vince will be decided. I now expresa my
apprehensions on a supposition that the
slender means your Excellency possesses will
not permit of diminution ; conscciuently,
that I need not look for reinforcements. It
is evidently not the intention of the enemy
to make any attempt to penetrate into the
province by this strait, unless tho present
force be diminished. He seems much more
inclined to work on the flanUs, aware that it
he succeed every other part must soon sub-
mit.
" .My la'^* oilicial communication from the
Lower I'n • 'co is dated the 'JStli ultimo,
when the .. ' ; Uant-C5eneral announced the
receipt of inieiiigencc by a mer'-antile hou.se
of war being declared by the United Stales
against Great Britain."
On .Inly 27th, 1812, Gei eral Brock re-
turned to York from Niagara and oponed
the special session of Pt>rliament, whicii had
been called in conseiiuence of the outbreak
of hostilities. His speech was as follows : —
llonorablt Gentlemen vf the Legisltiiive
Council and (lentlnnen of the Hout^t of
Afstmlili/ :
1 he urgency of tlie present cri'.is is the only
.<r
. ■
J:.
lUGS
LA^DMARK^ OF TORONTO.
consideration which could have induced ma
to call you together at a time when public,
as well as private, duties elsewhere, demand
your care and attention.
But, {{L'litlcmeD, when invaded by an
enemy whose avowed object is the entire
conquest of the provinue, tha voice of loy-
alty, as well as of interest, calls aloud to
every person in the sphere in which he is
placed to defend hia country.
Our miliiia have heard the voice, and
have obeyed it ; they have evinced, by the
promptitude and loyalty of their conduct,
that they are worthy of the king whom they
serve, and of the constitution which they
enjoy ; and it atfords me particular satis-
faction, that while I address you as lefi;isla
tors, I speak to men who, i:i the day of
danger, will be ready to assist, not only
witii their counsel, but with their arms.
We look, gentlemen, to our militia,
as well as to the regulars, for our pro-
tection ; but I should be waiitin<; to that
important, trust committed to my care, if I
attempted to conceal (what experience, the
crreat mstructor uf maakind, and especially
of legislators, has discovered) that amend-
ment is necessary in our militia laws to
render them efficient.
" It Is for you to consider what further
improvements they still may require."
Then addressing botli Houses the Presi-
dent proceeded to point out that it mi: ht be
necessary to suspend, at any rate for a time,
the Habeas Corpus Act and that it might
also be desirable to enact a S3'stem of mattial
law and the closing sentences of his spcccli
were in these words : —
Geulltmen of the Houxi of Assemh'i/.
"I have directed the public accounts oi
the province to be laid before you in as com-
plete a state as this unusual period will
admit. They will afford you the mea's of
ascertaining to whatextei.t you can aid in
providing for the extraordinary demands
;)ccasioned by the employment of tiie milili-
tia, and I doubt not but Co that intent }ou
will cheerfully contribute.
*^Houornhle Ocnl'emenoflhf. Lrgi.t'ndreCoim-
cil and Gentlemen of the Hoitue of Com-
mons .
"SV'e are engaged in an awful and eventful
;DntC8t. Hy unanimity and dispatch in our
vouiicils, ciud by vitror in our operations, we
may teach the enemy this lesson, that a
country defended by *'frce» <en" enthusiasti-
cally devoted to the cause A their king and
fonstitntion, can never be conquered."
The Parliament which n it in the spring
of 1S12 had already passet a i act granting a
sum of money to the President for purposes
ut mi'itia reorganization and in the special
session which Tiab iust been icforrcd to a fur-
ther act after endless discussion was passed
relating to the discipline and pay of the
force. The President was later authorized
by the Legislative Council — not the Assembly
— un ter certain specified conditions to have
recourse to martial law and power was also
granted pi'oviding that in special cases the
Habeas Corpus act she dd not apply.
On July 17th owing to the r/rp<npt action
of General Ikock in his orde.s to Captain
Roberts oi' the 41st Regiment, who was
stationed at St Joseph's, Fort Michilli-
mackinac surrendered to the British with->
out the loss of a single life.
The inaction or comparative inaction of
the House of Assembly respecting the
militia and the conduct uf the war, caused
Brock the gravest anxiety as will be gleaned
from the following account of a Council
justing held August 3rd, 1812. The report
is contained in the : —
•• Canadian Archives, Vol. 118, Series Q,
" Colonial Office. Records, jiage ."'V
" At a Council held at the Govi^iumeat
house, York, Upper Canada, Monday "id
August, 1812
" Present — Major-(Jeueral Brock, Hon.
the Chief Justice, Hen. James Baby, Hon.
Alexander (irant, Hon. John McCrili, lion.
Mr. Justice Powell, Hon. Frideau iSelby.
" His Honor the President represented to
the Board tiiat the hopes he had entertained
from the call of the Legislature were likely to
be disuppo.nted.
" That the Lower House of Assembly,
instead of prompt exertions to strengthen
I his hands' for the gov >rnment of the militia,
I providing for security fron» internal treason
by partial suspension of the Habeas Corpus
. ct, authorizing a partial exerci.se
of martial law concurrently with the
ordinary course of justice, and placing at his
disposal for the defence of the Province tho
funds not actually applied upon past appro-
priations, had cunsitmed eight days in car-
rying a single measure of party— tiie repeal
of the School Bill the pissing of an act
for the public disclosure of treasonable prac
tices before tho magistrates, should have
power t^ commit without i ail That under
such circumstances little could be expected
from the prolonged session of the Legisla-
ture.
" That the enemy had invaded and taken
part in the Western District, was multiply
ing daily his preparations to invade in
otiiers ; that tho militia in a perfect state ot
insubordination had withdrawn from tli*
ranks in actual service ; had refused to miu
when legally commanded, to reinforce a '
tachment of the regular force for the rein-
of Amherstburg— had insulto 1 their olhcers,
and seme, not immediately embodied, iiad
ssion was passed
5 and pay of the
lat.tr authorized
-not the Assembly
londitions to hare
I power was also
special cases the
lot apply,
[le nroinpt action
•de.s to I aptaiii
sjjiment, who was
'a. Fort Michilli-
,he British with-
I. . .
rative inaction ot
respecting the
the war, caused
as will bo gleaned
unt of a Council
1812. The report
ol. 118, f!«riea Q,
)rds, Tpage. /'^
It the Goveaiment
lada, Monday ">iii
eral Brook, H-on.
James Baby, Hon.
John McGili, Hon.
. Frideau Selby.
ident represented to
\ he had entertained
ilature were likely to
louse of Assembly,
lions to strengthen
jinent of the miLitia,
:om internal treason
the Habeas Corpus
partial exercise
tirrently with the
e, and placing at his
of the Prorince tlio
ied upon past appro-
eight days in car-
ol: party— the repeal
I pissing of a^ act
of' treasonable prac
trates, should have
It I ail That under
_e could be expected
ssion of the Leijisla-
1 invaded and taken
trict, was multiply
tions to invade in
in a perfect state nt
ithdrawn from tli*
had refused to mm
d, to reinforce a '
force for the reiitn
suite 1 their otliL-ers.
(itely embodied, imc
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
1060
a
manifested in many instances, a treasonable
spirit of neutraiicy or disallection.
"That the Indians on the (Jrand River,
tampered with by the disaffected whites,
had withdrawn from their volunteer service,
and declared for a neutrality, wliich, in res-
pect to I hem was equally inadmissable as
with the King's other subjects.
" That in tiie Western a>id London dis-
tricts several psisons liad negotiated with
the enemy's commander, hailing his arrival
and pledc;ing support. That tbe regular force
consisted of one regiment, the 41st nine
hundred strong, and part of the Royal New-
foundland Regiment, two hundred, M'ith ^
detachment of the Royal Artillery, and
several armed vessels. That the extent of
coast exposed and thi great distances of the
p ominent points had obliged him to divide
that force to support and countenance the
militia. That tlie conduct of the western
militia had exposed to imminent danger the
regular force at Amherstburg, and however
inconvenient, he had made a large detach*,
mant of the 41st, and militia from the home
and Niagara districts with the few Indians
not corrupted, to reinforce that garrison if
time would admit.
" That, on the other hand, the command-
ant at "St. Joseph had with his ganison and
Indiana taken the island of Micheiimack-
inack, the earrison of which capitulated
without firing a shot.
*' That in all probability part of that force
might descend to Detroit, and in such case
a co-operation with the garrison at Fort
Amherstburg, reinforced by the detachment
now on its march to Long I'oint, might com-
pel the invaders to retire or surrender, but
•;hat no good result from any military ex-
pcditioa could be expected unless more
poweriul restraint ,:ould be imposed on the
aiihtia than the actual law admits, and that
he had power to restrain the general popu-
lution from treasonable adherence witli the
enemy, or neutrality, by summary proceed-
iv.^xr and punishment. Nor could the colony
ht considered safe from the Indians in its
vc.-y bosom, wliilst liable to be tampered
with by disaffected persons, exposed only to
the jlow progress of oonviciion by criminal
lav*.
" That with this view of the situation of
the Colony, ho submitted for the considera-
tion of the Colony, how far it might be ex-
pedient to pre rogue the (ieneral House of
Assembly and proclaim martial law, under
ths powers of the King's Commission in case
of invasion.''
Ttie Council adjourned one day for dc-
libeiation, meeting agai i on Tuesday, 4th
August.
•' The Council met from adjournment of
yesterday.
"Present — The same members. The
Council having deliberated upon His Honor's
representation, is unanimously of opinion,
that under the circumstances of the Colony,
It is expedient upon prorogation of the
(Jeneral Assembly to prod dm and exercise
martial law according to the powers of His
Majesty's Commission to the Governor-
General."
A true extract from the minutes.
John Small,
Clerk of the Executive Council.
But, happily, the disaffection noticed in
the report of the Council meeting did not
spread, and General Hull, instead of carry-
ing all before him, surrendered to General
Brock a few days later, on August 16tb,
1812.
This great success had the effect of
strengthening the loyalty of those who were
already loyal ; of making loyal those iitho
were inclined to disatl'ection, and of bringing
to the defence of the province many who had
hitlierto held aloof, or wno were w.vering
in their allesiance. Brock return <:d, after
the capture of Detroit to Kingston for a brief
period, but early in September was again at
Niagara
The prisoners of war who were taken cap
tive at Detroit numbered 2,500 men and 33
pieces of brass and iron ordnance. These
figures are given on the authority of General
Brock himself, contained in his despitch to
Sir George Prevost, dated August 17th,
1812. Brock's own forces, to quote the same
document, " consisted of 30 artillery, 250
men of the 41st Reeiment, 50 of the Royal
N wfuundland Regiment, 400 militia and
about 600 Indians, to which were attached
three six-pounders and two three-pounders.
* * * I cannot withhold my entire appro-
bation of their conduct on this occasion."
On Septembef 18th 1812, Brock wrote
from Fort George to his brother Savery in
those ternif : —
" I have now officers in whom I cari con-
fide : when the war comniencud, I was really
obliged to seek assistance among the militia.
The 4lBt is an uncommonly line roginient,
but wretchedly officered. Six companies of
the 49th are witii me here, and the lemain-
ing four at Kingston undei Vincent. Al-
though the regiment has been ten years in
this country drinking rum without bounds
it is btill respectably and apparently ardent
for an opportunity to acquire distinction".
Then follow several sentences of no general
interest and he continues. "Vou will hear
of some decided action in the course of a
fortnight or in all probability we shall
return to a statn of trauquiUity. I say
1070
LAM DM ARKS OF TORONTO.
!
decisive, because if I should be beaten, the
province is inveitably gone, and should I be
victorious, I do not imagine the gentry from
the other side will be anxious to return to
the charge.
"It IS certainly some.<hin^ singular that
we should be upwards .'f two months in a
state of warfare and tnat along this widely
extended frontier not a single
death, either natural or by the sword should
have occurred under the troops under my
comman>l, and we have not been altogether
idle, nor has a single desertion taken place. ''
On October, 11th, following?, Brock again
wrote to Sir deorge I'revost from Fort
(Jeorge. Ha spok« with regret of the capture
of the British vessel Detroit by the Ameri-
cans as "an event particularly unfortunate
which may reduce us to incalculable distress.
The enemy is makir.g every exertion to gain
a naval superiorit; lioth lakes, which, if
they accomplish, 1 see how we can
retain the counl'-v
On the next day, Ocu ' '. 126h, Brock
penned his last despatch to Sir (>eorge
Prevost. It is very brief and simply states
that he is convinced that an attack is im-
minent and that he has made every exertion
" to complete the militia to 2,000 men."
On the following day tcok place the Battle
of Queenston Heights. The account thereof
is contained in the following despatch from
Major-General Sheaffe to Sir George
Prevost : —
Fort George, 13th October, 1812.
Sir, — I have the honor of informing your
Excellency that the enemy made an attack
with a considerable force this morning before
daylight on the position of Queenston ; on
receiving intelligence of it Aiajor General
Brock immediately proceeded to that post
and I am excessively grieved in having to
add that he fell whilst gallantly cheering
his troops to an exertion for maintaining it ;
with him the position was lost, but the
enemy was not allowed to reta.n it long ;
reinforcements having been sent up from
this post composed of regular troop&, militia
and Indians, a movement was made to turn
his left while some artillery under the di-
rection of Capiiiu Holcrofi, supported by a
body of infantry euguged his attention in
front ; this operation was aiiled too by
the judicious position which Norton and the
Indians Mrith him had taken on the woody
brow of the high ground above Qucen&ton ;
a communication being thus opened with
Chippawu, a junction was formed with
succours that had been ordered from that
post. The enemy was then attacked, and
after a short but spirited conflict, completely
defeated. I had the satisfaction ot leceiv-
ing the sword of their commander, Brigadier-
General Wadsworth, on the tield of I attle,
and many otticers, with upwards of nine
hundred men were made prisoners, and
more may yet be expected ; a stand of
colors and a six pounder were also taken.
The action did not terminate until nearly
3 o'clock in the afternoon, and their loss in
killed and wounded must have been con-
siderable, Ours, I believe, to ',ave been
comparatively small in numbers. No officer
was killed besides MajorGeneral Brock,
one of the most gallant and zealous
otticers in his Majesty's service, whose
loss cannot be too much deplored,
and Lieut. -Colonel McDonell, provincial aide
decamp, whose gallantry and merit rendered
him worthy of his chief.
Captains Dennis and Williams, command-
ing the flank companies of tiie 49th Regi-
ment, v'tiioh were stationed at Queenston,
were wounded, bravely contending at the
head of their men agai)ist superior numbers,
but I am R\\d to have it in my power to add
that Captain Dennis fortunately was able to
keep the field, though v/ith pain and diffi-
culty, and Captain Williams' wound is not
likely long to deprive me of his services.
I am particularly indebted to Captain
Holcroft, of the Royal Artillery, for his
judicious and skilful co-operation with the
guns and howitzer under his immediate
superintendence, the well directed tire from
which contributed materially to the fortunate
result of the day.
Captaiu Dercnzy, of the 41st Regiment,
brought u*^ the reinforcements of that
corps from Fort George, and Captain Bul-
lock led that of the same regiment from
Chippawa, and under their command those
detachments acquitted themselves in such u
manner as to sustain the reputation which
the 41st Regiment had already acquired in
the vicinity of Detroit.
Major-General Brock, soon after his
arrival at Qucenstown, had sent down orders
for battering the American fort, Niagartw
Brigade- Major Evans, who was left in
charge of Fort George, directed the opera-
tions against it with so much effect as to
silence its fire and to force the troops to
abandon it, and by his prudent precautions
he prevented mischief of a most serious
nature, which otherwise might have been
effected, the enemy having used heated shot
in firing at Fort (ieorge. In these services
he ^^ as most etfectually aided by Colonel
Claus (who remained in the fort at my de-
sire) and by Captain Vigoreux, of the Royal
Engineers. Brigade-Major Evans also men-
tions the conduct of (Japtains Powell and
Cannon, of the militia artillery, in terms of
commendation.
Liicutenant Crowther, of the 41i.it Re>;i-
he field of i attle,
upwards of nine
le prisoners, and
;ted ; m stand of
were also taken,
nate until nearly
and their loss in
it have been con-
e, to ',ave been
nbers. No officer
)r-General Brock,
>nt and zealous
service, whose
much deplored,
)ll,provinoial aide
nd merit rendered
illiams, command*
of tiie 49th Regi-
ed at Queenstot),
>ntending at the
superior numbers,
my power to add
[lately was able to
:h paiu and diffi>
ims' wound is not
f his services,
bted to Captain
\rtillery, for his
leration with the
' his immediale
directed tire from
ly to the fortunate
I 41st Regiment,
sementa of that
nd Captain Bul-
i regiment from
command thoee
mselves in such a
reputation which
?ady acquired in
soon afcer his
sent down orders
1 fort, Niagartw
ho was left in
!Cted the opera-
jch effecG as to
s the troops to
dent precautions
a most serious
night have been
used heated shot
in these services
ided by Colonel
! fort at my de-
•eux, of the Royal
' Evans also men-
iins Powell and
lery, in terms of
the 4 hit Reiji-
^
5'lo4
cers
with nei
fire plaq
rooms. 1
rac'kH. i
refloubti
where tj
Nia^
lj
1
;t ■» l.j.> l»l, ,
JiJ -J w
\ / A V A l< A
"»»•■->-,
i
— -^
-^/
7V / !//■ /<
I'l.AN OK MAIiAHA Willi AN KX IM, AN A Til »N (II' ITS I'ltlWKNT STATIC.
.4— Lnrpe stfine lumso, cDiitaininK twclvo rucuiis willi tire iilaccs, two wiilKinl, ii lnrKi' kitc'licn, two cellars and three rooms. II— Ofli-
cers' lodKilij;-^. with s«'\en lire pliicos, cut iri' out of ivpiiir. «' M.-iUehoiise. entire repiiired iiiut new shimmied. U— S;)l(Iier.s' biirnicivS,
with new lierths to tdiitiiin 112 nien. tlic v. holi' new floured, ehiinney repiiired iiiid new shingled. F -OlHeers' quarters ; two rooms and
lire tiliiees in trood repair. <; -Tliree I'ooiiis with lire jilai es and one without. II .•'<tal)Ie, I Oflleers'ciuartcrs, one! ir^'e and I wosnuill
rooin.v. K l!la(ksinith's shop and I iiree small rooiii>, entire oni ol' repair. I<— ( 'hiireli, entire out of repair, .U and \ Soldiers' liar-
racks. <| I'rovision store house cut ire. i'(.'paii'ed wil li stone pillars, a cellar to lonlaili the butter and lusw shiii^jled, K— Two sloiio
redonhts built in 1770 and 1771. S l„uidt,'ate, T WaterKale. V Trailers' houses, or lowtT town. W— Kind's wood yard. \--\Vharf
wh(-re the \essels ntdoad the provisions. \- .Small wharl^ for batlin.'s, at way. s llltod up. Z— Small block house, formerly afrwird house,
Kiajrara, September •2Sth, 1773. opp. llt'O
1^
m^^mum^^
as
■ t!,l'
II
wmr
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
1071
muiit, hud charge of two three pounders
that uccompaiiicd tliu inoveiicnt of ou: little
3(irp3, aud they wore employed with very
i;ood effect
Cuptain tilegg, of the -lOch regiment, aide-
de-cttmp to our lamented friend and genera',
itfunled me most essential assistance, and I
found the service of Lieutenant Fowler, of
the 41st regiment, p 'distant deputy quarter-
inastergeneral, very useful ; I derived much
»id too from the activity and intelligence of
Lieutenant Kerr, of the Glengarry Fencibles,
whom I employed in conunuuicatious with
the Indiana and other flanking parties.
I was unfortunately deprived of the aid of
ihe experience and ability of Lieutenant-
Colonel Myers, deputy quarter- master
t,'eueral, who had been sent up to Fort Erie
i few days past on duty, which detained
him there.
Lieutenant Colonels Butler and Clark,
of the militia, and Captains Hutt,
Uurand, Rowe, Apple<{arth, James, Crooks,
Cooper, Robert Hamilton McEwen and
Duncan Cameron, and Lieutenants Richard-
luii aud Thomas Butler commauding flank
companies of the Lincoln and York Militia
led their men into action with great spirit.
Major Merritt, commauding the Niagara
Dragoons, accompanied me and gave me
much assistance with part of his corps.
Captain A. Hamilton belonging to it was
disabled from riding and attached himself to
the guns under Captain Hoicroft who speaks
highly of his uctivity.and usefulness.
1 beg leave to add that Volunteers Shaw,
Thompson, and Jarvis attached to the flank
comcanies of the 49th Regiment, conducted
themselves with great spirit ; the first was
wounded and the last taken prisoner. I beg
leave to recommend these young men to your
Kxcellency'g notice. Norton is wounded
but not badly. He and the Indians parti-
cularly distinguished themselves, and
1 hare very great satisfaction in
assuring your Excellency that the spirit and
good conduct of his Majesty's troops, of the
militia and of the other provincial corps
were eminently conspicuous o.i this occasion.
1 have not been able to ascertain yet the
uumbsr of our troops or of those of the
enemy engaged. Ours. I believe, did not
exceed the number of the prisoners we have
taken, and their advance which effected a
landing probably amounied to thirteen or
fourteen hundred.
I uhall do myself the honor of transmitting
to your Excellency further details when I
shall have received the several reports of the
occurrences which did not pass under my
observation with the returns of cusualties
and those of the killed and wounded and ot
tbu ordnance taken.
I have the honor to be, etc.,
R. U. SlIEAFFB,
Maj. -Uen., etc.
His Excellency, Sir Ceorge Prevost, Bart, etc.
Accompanying this dispatch were the fol-
lowing returns : —
Quebec, 1st Dec, 1813.
Return of ordnance and stores captured
from the enemy at Queenstown in Upper
Canada, by the army under the command of
.Major-General brock on, the 13ih October,
1812, agreeably to Mr. Assistant-Commissary
Gordon's return of that date.
Species of stores ;
Ordnance^ iron, six pounder light, 1; car-
riage travelling with limber complete, 1 ;
elevating screw, 1; hand spike, traversing,
2: sponges with staves aud rammer heads, 2:
shot fixed, round, 4, case, 14; port tires, 12;
waggon ammunition (tumbril) complete, 1:
horse, harness, trace sets, wheel, 2, leader, 2;
muskets, French carbine, 435 ; bayonets,
380 ; scabbard for bayonets, 141 ; pouches,
with belts, 245 ; without belts, 80 ; cart-
ridges, musket, with ball and buckshot,
2,811) ; with buckshot only, 3,140.
The above is the most satisfactory account
I have been able to procure of the ordnance
and stores captured on the 13th October,
1812. It appears by what 1 can learn from
Mr. Assistant Commissary Gordon that in
the hurry of action he had merely time to
ascertain the numbers of the different
articles before they were distributed to the
artillery and troops for immediate service,
which made it impracticable for him after-
wards to ascertain with any piecision the
state thereof.
Lakkatt Smith,
Commissary and Paymaster.
Return of ordnance and stores, etc., cap-
tured at Queenstown, Niagara, on the 13th
October. 1812.
One six^pounder with tumbrils and horses
complete ; one stand of colors.
William Holcroft,
(.apt. Royal xXrlillery.
Fort George, 15th August, 1812.
Thomas Eva.ns,
^lajor of Brigade.
By His Excellency's command.
Edward Bayi»»9,
Adjt.-Geu. N. Ani«'*ca.
Return of killed, wounded and prisoners
of war in the action at Queenstown, Niagara,
ou the 13th October, 1812 :—
Prisoners of war — 1 brigadier-general, 1
major aide de-canip, 5 lieutenant-colonels, 3
majors, 19 captains, 32 lieuteniiuts, 10
ensigns, 1 adjutant, 1 surgeon, 852 non-
cominisbioned officers aud privates. Tola 925
Regulars — Otlicers, 19 ; non-con; niissioiicd
otticers aud privates, 417-
i :
-' i I
i
I
I i
i
I' I
1U72
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Militia — Ofliccrs, [A', non-commi&sioDcd
oHicers and privutca, 435. Total 9:25.
Eatimated loBa of tli« enemy in oiFicers and
men killed and wounded, and in wuundad
sent over during the engagement, 500 ; aup-
posed total loss, 1,4*25; acknowledged iorce
engnged, ^,600.
Total Kritisli force engaged — regular and
militia, 800 ; Indians, 200— I,(X)0.
Fort George, 15tli October, 1812.
Thomas Evans, Major of Brigade.
By hit Excellency s command,
Edward Baynes,
Adjutant-General North America.
Return of killed, wounded and missing of
the army under the command of Majorx
Uer cil Isaac Brock in an action at Queens-
tow , Niagara, on the 13th October, 1812 :
General stafiF— 2 killed.
Royal Artillery— 2 rank and file wounded
Detachment 41st Regiment — 1 sergeant, 1
rank and file killed ; 1 sergeant, 9 rank and
file wounded.
Flanl^ Companies— 8 rank and file killed.
49th Regiment — 2 captains, 3 sergeants, 27
rank and file, 1 volunteer wounded ; 5 rank
and file, 1 volunteer missing.
Lincoln Artillery — 1 rank and file
wounded.
Lincoln Militia— 1 adjutant, I sergeant, 12
rank and file wounded ; 10 rank and file
iiiii-sing.
York Militia— 2 rank and file ialled, 1
lieutenant, 1 serj^eant, 15 rank and tile
wounded ; 5 rank and tile missing.
Total loss— 1 major-general, 1 aide-de-
camp, 1 sergeant, 9 rank and tile line ;
2 rank and tile, militia, killed ; 2 captains,
line ; 1 adjutant ; 1 lieutenant, militia ; 4
sergeants, line ; 2 sergeants, militia ; 2 rank
and tile, artillery ; 1 ditto militia artillery,
36 rank and tile, 1 volunteer line ; 27 rank
and tile, militia. Wounded — 5 rank and tile,
1 volunteer line. Missing— 15 rank and file,
militia, missing.
Genoral total — 2 geaeral staff killed, 1
sergeant, 11 rank and tile, 2 captains, 1
lieutenant, 1 adjutant, 6 sergeants, 66 rank
and tile, 1 volunteer wounded, 20 ran!; and
file, 1 volunteer missing.
Officers killed— Major General Isaac
Brock, commanding; Lieut. Colonel Mc-
Donell, Provincial Aidede-Camp
Wounded — Captains Dennis a id Williams,
49th regiment, Lieut. McLean, York Licht
Infantr}', and Adjutant Mclntyre, Lincoln
militia ; Volunteer Shaw, 49th regiment.
Fort George, 15th October, 1812.
Thomas Evans, Major of Brigade.
By His Excellency'.s command.
P'dward Bavnes,
Adj General North America.
Tbe follov.'iiig ollifial account of the battle
ia found in the archives departmsut at Ot
tawa : —
(From the Plattshurg RepiiUuan.)
BRITISH OFFICIAL ACCOUNT
OF THE BATTLE AT Q0EEN9T0WN.
The following general orders, giving an
account of the attack made by the Ameri-
cana upon the Heights of Queanstown, etc. ,
are from the Montreal Herald extra of Oct.
21 :—
Adjutant General's Office,
Head Quarters, Montreal, Oct. 21.
[ueneral orders.]
H<9 Excellency the Commander of the
Forces, has received an official report from
Major General Sheaiie, of the brilliant vic-
tory achieved on the 13th instant, by a
portion of the troops under his command ,
over a division of the enem}''s army, which
effected a Unnine at Queenstown under cover
of the night. That post was nevertheless de-
fended with undaunted gallantry by the two
flank companies of the 49th regiment
animated by the presence of their gallant
and ever to be lamented chief Major-General
Brock, whose valuable life was upon this
occasion devoted to his country's service.
These companies displayed exemplary
disciplinn and spirit, although the captanis
of both were wounded, and succeeded in
keeping the enemy in check until the arrival
of Major-General Sheaffa with re-iuforce-
meuts.
The disposition of the forces and the
plan of attack adopted by Major-General
Sheaffe cannot receive a higher or more just
praise, than by stating, that nine hundred
prisoners of war, under the command of
Brigadier-General Wadsworth, surrendered
their arms to a force inferior in numbers,
and without susta ning any considerable loss
on our part.
A six pounder and a stand of colors havu
been taken from the enemy.
Major - Geaeral Sheaffe's report
of the zeal and undaunted gal-
antry that animated every officer and
soldier of his army, affords the commander
of the forces the most heart felt satisfaction,
and will be a most gratifying duty to his
Excellency to bring before the notice of His
Royal Highness the Prince Regent.
Lieut. -Col. Myers, Deputy Quartermaster
General, was stationed in charge of Foit
Erie, and succeeded in completely silencing
the tire of the enemy, drove a detachment
from the encampment near the Black Rock,
destroyed a barrack in which was a consider-
able deposit of ammunition. Its explosion
must have killed many. The Caledonia,
lately captured by the enemy, was destroy
ed at her moorin2s.
LANDMARKS OF TOKOXTO.
1073
departniaiit ftt Ot
/ Jiepuhliian.)
L ACCOUNT
JCEEN9T0WN.
orders, giving an
le by the Atneri-
: Queanstown, etc.,
erald extra of Oct.
sral's Office,
ontreal, Oct. 21.
DERS. ]
.'ommander of tli«
»tiicial report from
f the brilliant vie-
13th inntant. by a
ider his command,
imy's army, which
instown under cover
vaa nevertheless de-
;allantry by the two
i 49th regiment
3 of their gallant
uhief Major-General
life was upon this
ountry's service,
splayed exemplary
tiou^h the captains
and succeeded in
ack until the arrival
fa with ra-inforce-
) forces and the
by Major-General
higher or more just
hat nine hundred
the command of
sworth, surrendered
;erior in numbers,
my considerable loaa
band of colors havo
my.
Sheaffe's report
undaunted gal-
every officer and
ds the commander
art felt saiisfaction,
fying duty to his
re the notice of His
ce Regent,
puty Quartermaster
charge of Foit
ompletely silencing
rove a detachment
ar the Black Rock,
hich was a coHRider-
on. Its explosion
The Caledonia,
Hemv, was desjiroy-
LienU-Col. Myers speaks highly of the
discipline of tha detachment of the 49th
Reeiment, under Major Ormsby, and of tliu
skill and spirit with which the guns were
served under Capt. Kirby and Lieut. Bir-
8on of tho militia
Essential service rendered by Brigade
Major Evans, left in charge of Fort
tieorga ; a well directed tire from that
work succeeded iu silencing the
enemy'a batteries on the opposite sida. Cap-
tain Vigoreux, Royal Engineers; Col. Claus
and Capts.Powell and Cameron of the militia
were zealous and indefatigable in their exer-
tions, particularly in a.xtineuishing fires
which broke out in the court house and
other placKS from red tiot shot fired by the
Bcemy.
Captains Dennis and Williams of tha flank
companies of the 49th Regiment have par-
ticularly distinguished themselves,the former
officer retained the commsnd of his company
of grenadiers to the end of the conflict,
though suffering seveiely from his wound.
To Captain Holcroft of tiie Hoyal Artil-
lery,the highest praise is due for his success-
ful and judicious cooperation. The well-
directed fire of the artillery militia, as well
as regulars, is the best proof of the indefatig-
able zeal au.t taleuts ot that officnr.
Major ivierritt, commandinij; tho Niagara
Dragoonsaccompanied and rendered essential
assistance with part of his corps. Capt.
A. Hamilton, belonging to it, was
disabled from riding and attached himself
to the guns under Capt. Holcroft, who
speaks highly of his activity and usefulness.
Lieutenant ( rowther, 41st Regiment, had
charge of two field pieces which were em-
ployed with good efifect
Captains Derenzy and Bullock are repye-
sented to have maintained the high repuA'v
tion of the 41st regiment in the detachment
under their respective commands.
Major Geneial Sheaffe reports having re-
ceived essential service from Captain Glegg,
the aide-de-camp to Major General BrocU,
Lieut. Fowler, 41st Regiment Deputy Assis-
tant Quarter Master (general and Lieut. Ker
of the Light Infantry Fencibles, employ d
with the flanking party of Indians.
The eminent services and talents of
Lieut. Col. iviacdonnel. Provincial Aide de-
Camp and Atlorney-Genenil of the Pro-
vince aie recorded by the most honori ble
testimony of the gallant General, whose stups
he followed during the short but glorious
career, nor quitted him iu death.
Vol-tnteers Shaw, Thompson and Jarvis,
attached to the flank companies of the 49tli
Regiment, conhicted themselves with great
spirit. The first was wounded and the last
[akcn prisoner.
The Major-fieneral particularly menliona
the services of Lieut. -Cols, liutler and
Clark, of tho militia, and Capts. Hatt, Du-
rand, Rowe, Appiegarth, .lames Crooks,
Cooper, Robert Hamilton, McKwan and
Duncan Cameron, and Livuts. Richardson
and Thomas Butler, commanding flank com-
panies of the Lincoln and York militia, who
led their men into action with great spirit.
The Mhjor-General reports the conduct of
tha Indians employed on this occasion as
meriting the highest prai.se for the good
order and spirit, and particularly names the
Chief Norton, who was wounded.
Several gentlemen volunteered their ser-
vices in the field, and shared in the honor of
the day. .Mr. Clouch and Mr. VVillcox
were of the number, and the Major-General
witne.ssed the zealous conduct of many
others not mentioned in his report
Major-Generul Sbeaffe had humanely con-
sente t to a cessation of offensive hostility ou
the solicitation of Major-Ueneral Van Rens-
sellaer, for the purpose of allowing the
Americans to remove the bodies of their
slain and wounded.
G. O. — -Major-General Roger Hale Sheafl'e
is appointed to the command of the troops
m tho Upper Province, and to administer
the civil government of the same.
Edward Bavnes,
Adjutant-General.
After the battle of Quoeuston an armistice
was concluded between (Jeneral Smyth ot
tho United States army, and General
Shoaffe, wl>o upon the death ot Brock had
become administrator of the Government of
the Province and also succeeded to tha chief
military command. This cessation of hos-
tilities terminated on November 20tli, the
Americans having notified the British to
tliat eftt'ct. The armistice had been granted
on the application of Gene al Smyth on
October 18th " to continue until thirty hours
after notice of its termination."
Three days later General Shcaffe address-
ed the following dispatch to Sir George
Prevoat : —
Fort Geor(;e, '23rd Nov., 181'2.
SiR,^ Having formed the resolution of
opening a fire on Fort Niagara after the ex-
piration of the armistice, wi^b a view to
cripple it for a co-operation 'ri any early
projected attack on this llauic, and to create
a diversion in favor of the other llank,
should the designs of the enemy be directed
against it, it being reported that his mala
body was assembl. d in front of it, prepara-
tions were accordingly made for the pur-
pose, and the fir'^ was commenced on the
morning of the 'ilst instant. I had pre-
viously set out for the right flank, thinkini:
that iiiy presence might be more retjuire.i
!'
,
1':^
ffk
'H hi
'■"fit-
m
^ ii
.1' -f
lit'
n
'J
If
'"^mm^^ff^^m
nfv« "pii
iii.
J 074
LANDMARKS OF TOHONTO.
thoro, those ablo otriuerH, Lieut. -Col. Myvrs
and Cape. Halurofl, being iiere to coiuluct
tiie opera! ioiid, as.sistuil by lirigada
Major Evans, under whoso direc-
tions they had been so succoss-
ful on the l.'Uii Outober. 'I ho report
V'hich 1 iiave the honor of transmitting,
will i iforin your KxcuUeucy of the events of
the day. The advuntai;o, thougii not so
great as might reasonably have bc%n ex-
pected, is, however, on our side. The old
building; in front of Fort Georije that was
burnt, intercepted the view of tlio beach
from a coinmandins; position. The damai^e
done to the building^i in the fort can be re-
P'ired in two or three days; none of the
^uns or works have been injured, and we
have only to lament the losd of an inhabit-
ant, an old half -pay otHcer, Captain Fry,
who was killed while colloctinf; siiot (as he
said to send back to the enemy), and of one
private of the 49th Regiment. Some of the
houses in the town were damaged, particu-
larly two or three of them, but not one was
burnt, though it was found that the enemy's
shot were in creneral heated His expendi-
ture in ammunition must have been very
great His tire having been very quick it
was, of course, ill-directed. The number of
his shot already collected, and added
to our piles, probably exceeds that
which was fired by us. The extent
of the mischief done by our fire cannot be
ascertained, but by the observations made, as
noticed in the accompanying' report, the
damage and loss that the enemy sufiored
must have far exceeded ours.
In m}? visit to the other part of the line I
observed two large camps, one at Sshlesser
and the other below lilack Rock. The
troops appear to have been withdrawn from
the former ; the other is partly concealed by
an island. Their greatest assembly of troops
i > said to be near Buffalo, and is not visible \
from any part of our line. |
Indications have been discovered of their I
preparing boats for a movement. I have I
directed some Indians to ba sent on Grand J
Island secretly to watch their motions, i
Lieut. -Colonel Bisshopp, whom I find an i
active and intelligent officer, is at present |
on that flank, Major-General Shaw, who
commanded there, with the rank of colonel ',
in the militia and pay of lieutenant-colonel, i
.having relinquished the command to return |
to the duties of adjutant-general of ,'
militia in which his services were much
wanted. The number of militia in the field ,
has considerably increased sii^ce th« notice
was given of the termination of the armis- {
tice, but it is partly in consequence of mea- !
sures that had been previously adopted for
eallinit in absentees. They are very alert in
their several posts, ahd continue generally to
evince the best disposition.
Some old Loya ists who bore arms in the
American war have come in though exempt
from service in the militia. I retain them
for the present, as they are still capable of
stationary service, and their lessons and
' examples will have a happy influence on the
youth of the militia ranks.
i have tiio honor to i e Your Excellency's
most obedient and most humble servant,
R. H SlIKAKFK,
Major-General Command' •"
To His Excellency Sir George Prevost
etc., etc., etc.
Lieutenant Colonel Myers so flatteringly
referred to in the foregoing document was
an officer on the stafT, head of the Quarter-
master-General's department. Ho was re
moved from those duties to take command at
Niagara early in August, 1812 by Brock
himself who in reporting the appoit..ment to
Sir George Prevost, wrote : — •' The high
sense 1 entertain of the abilities and judg
ment of Lieut. -Colonel Myers induced ron to
appoint him to the important command at
Isiagara." Captain Holcroft was also a statl
otficnr. Captain Fry belonged to the 8th
" King's " Regiment, not the " King's Own,"
that designation belonged to another
battalion of inlantry, the 4th, while the
2nd were the "Queen's Owu." It is more
than probable that tht> Toronto *' Qr -^'h
Own Rifles " owe their title to the fa t
being the 2nd Regiment in the Cr
Infantry militia, it followed natu. ..ly
that they should also have the alternative
and more honorable title. Lieutenant
Colonel Bishop and Major-Geueral Shaw
have both been referred to many times
previously. The former was inspeetimj field
officer of militia and met his death on the
field of action at Black Rock, some months
later. Major-G.-neral Shaw was ilSueas
Shaw who had seen a great deal of servict
and was one of York's first inhabitants. He
died in 1815 and was buried in the grave
yard surrounding the Church of St. James
in that place.
During the armistice spoken of General
Satyth had exerted himself vigorously in
preparing boats whereby to invade the
upper province near Fort Erie. Christie, in
his volume published in 1818, and compiled
probably so.newhat earlier says the actual
landing when it did take place was "at the
upper end of GraiAl Isle, between Fort Ere
aad Chippawa." General Hheaffe in his dis
patch of Novenaber 3Dth, 1812, gives the
following account of the affair : —
Chippawa, 30th Nov., 1812 — Sir,
I have the honor of reporting to
your Excellency that very early in the mora-
LAX DM \RKS OF TORONTO.
1075
inc of the 2Sth intt. an attack was made
nu our balteiio3 opposite to HIack Huok.
llicy vrere wroited fioin us for a time by
Buporior numbers, but Miijcr OriiHby, 4iltli
Mejjiment, with a body of troops from Kort
Erie, havini; formed a juuctioii with Lieut.-
Colonel liidshopp wlio liad moved up with
<;roat celerity from ('lii|)p'iwa, with rein-
furcements, tliot-e of the enemy wlio had nui
retired to thbir own siiore, amountiui; to
nearly forty, were ma<lc prisoners, wiili
Captain King who had ouinmaiided liioiii in
the attack.
On receiving information of the attack, I
went up haviui,' previously ordered a move-
ment of troops to atren^Uieii tho«o posts
from which reinforcements had
been detached to the ri(;ht
tiank. On my arrival there I found ttie
enemy in great force, of whicli h« seemed to
to make an ostentatious display, some on
shore and some in boats, perhaps with the
hope of its giving effect to a summons whicli
Lieut. Colonel bisahopp had received to bur-
render Fort Erie.
When I approached the ground opposite
tu Black Rock, several largo bodies of the
enemy wore seen moving downwards. I sus-
pected their intention to be either to ad-
vance from the bottom of Squaw Island in
aid of a direct attack above il in front of
niack Rock, or that a desii^n against this
post or some other lower point was in con-
templation. I therefore caused some de-
tachments that I had passed ou the road to
be halted opposite to the foot of Scjuaw
Island, and I remained there till night ap-
proached, when 1 set ofT for this post. I
continue here as being a central situation,
in which I can quickly receive intelligence
from either extremity of the line.
It appears that m the afTair of
the 28th the loss on our
part, if not the early suece^ss
of the evening, waa chiefly owing to his hav-
ing been mistaken for friendly succour com-
ing from some neighboring (|uarter.
Captain Fitzgerald, Wth Regiment, was
employed to carry to IJlack Rock f^ieut. -
Colonel Bisahopp's answer to the sum:iions
he received He siw Brigadier-General
Smyth, who desired him to survey his fdrce.
He counted fifty-six large boats with men
in them, and there was a great number of
troops ou shore— in all he thought about
five thousand, and he saw six scows with a
field piece in each, :ind horses with every
appurtenance for field movement.
I have not yet received Lieut. Colonel
Bisshopp's official report, nor the return of
the killed, wounded and missing. I wait
for them to despatcli an express.
Lieut. -Colonel Bisshopp deserves high
commendation for the spirit and activity he
displayed, and great credit is due to the
oflieora and men who acted under hia
orders
It was unf rtutiate for the service
that tliose valuable officers. Lieutenant
King, of the Royal Artillery, and Lieut.
Lamont, 4Uth RuuMinent, ware ao early dis-
abled, otherwise the most beneficial efl'ects
might have been expected from their exer-
tions, I have thn honor to be your Excel-
lency's mos't obedient humble aervant,
R. H. SlIKAKKE,
MajorOeu'ral Conmianding, etc.
To his Excellency Sir (Jeorge Prevost. Bart
Tlie returns following were-also furnished
by (iencral SheatTe to Sir (ieorge I'ruvost :
Return of killed, wounded and inixsing of
the following corps of the division of vhe
army serving in Upper Canada under tha
command of Major - (ieneral Sheaffe, in an
affair with the enemy on the Niagara fron-
tier on the '2lst and 2Sth November, 1812.
21ST NOVKMBER.
Royal .Artillery — 1 rank and file wounded.
49lh Regiment — 1 rank and file killed.
28th novembek.
Royal Artillery — 1 rank and file killed;
1 lieutenant; 1 rank and file wounded.
49t)i R^v'iinent — 12 rank and file killed; I
lieuteneni, li sergeants and 22 rank and file
v\oundeil, 3 drummers and 21 rank and file
missing
Militia Artillery — 1 sergeant wounded.
Norfolk Militia— 1st Regiment — 1 ser-
geant killed, 1 captain. 1 lieutenant and
8 rank and file wounded ; 2 rank and file
missing
Norfolk Militia — 2nd Regiment— 1 rank
and tile killed, 7 rank and file wounded, 4
rank and file missing.
Oxford Militia — Firat Regiment — 6 rank
and file missing.
Total loss — 14 rank and file line, 1 ser-
geant, 1 rank and file, militia killed ; 2
lieutenants, 3 sergeants, 24 rank and file
line, I captain, 1 lieutenant, 1 sergeant and
15 rank and file, militia wounded ; 3 drum-
mers and 21 rank and file line, 11 rank and
file, militia missing
General total -1 sergeant and 16 rank and
file, killed ; 1 captain, 3 lieutenants, 4 ser-
geants, 39 rank and file, wounded ; 3 drum-
mers and 32 rank and file, missing.
Officers wounded — Captain Bostwick, lat
Norfolk militia (slightly) ; Lieut. King,
Royal Artillery (severely and taken priso
ner) ; Lieut. Lamonl,49tli Regiment (severe-
ly) ; Lieut. Ryerson, 1st regiment Norfolk
militia (severely).
Tho.m.\s Evans, Major of Brigade.
By his Excellencey's command,
Edward Baynks, Adjt.-Gea.
I
i
n
I
m
HI
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? I
} ; -I I' *
■ 1'
m i
P
n
■ i]^-
i"
fr<;
1 * ■ .' ■
107G
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
When the news readied EiigLind of the
repulse of thu A*- ericans at Queenston, and
of (jiencral .Sheaffe'a victory, achieved after
the deatli of Brock, there was great rejoic
iiig, and v^ry early iu December the Secre-
tary of Stat* for War, addressed tlie follow-
ing letter to Sir Geortre Prevoat : —
IJdwnino Street, 3th Dec, 1312.
To LitnttnantGnneral Sir Geo. Prevost,
Bart, etc., etc., etc.
SiK, — I have had the satisfaction of re-
ceiving your despatch, No. 13, and 1 lort
uo time in laying before his Royal Hiuhness
the Prince Regent iutelligence so highly to
the credit of his Majesty s arms, and so
calculated to secure hiii Majesty's posses-
sions in North America.
I am commanded by his Royal Highness
to beg you will take the earliest opportunity
of conveying to M. General Sheaifo his Royal
Highness' entire approbation of the dis-
tinguished service of tliat officer on this
occasion, and of the zealous exertions and
•xemplary courage displayed by the officers
and troops under bis command.
As a testimony of his Royal Highness'
sense of Major-Ceneral Sheaffe's service-, he
has been graciously pleased to confer upon
him the title of baronet of the United King-
dom.
His Royal Hipineas is fully aware of the
severe loss which his Majesty's service has
experienced by the dea'.h of Major-tjenerm
Sir Isaac Brock ; this would have b«eri
sufficient to have clouded a victory of 'imch
ereater importance.
His Majesty has lost in him not only an
able and meritorious crncLr, but one who,
in the exercise of his functions of Provisional
Lieutenant-Governor of the Province, dis-
played qualities admirably adapted \,o awe
the disloyal, to reconcile the wavering and
animate iha great mass of the inhabitants
agaitist the successive Attempt.-; of the
enemy to invade the province, i\> the last of
which he unhappily fell, too prodigal of that
life of wiiich His eminent services had
taught us to understand tiie value.
His Royal Hi}.rliness has also been
gracuusly pleased to exprers his regret at
the loss which the province must experience
l;y tlio dcaih of the Attorney Gencial, A.lr.
Md'onnfll, whose zealous co-operation with
Sir Isaac Biock will reflect lasting honor on
his m^m ry.
\eiy soon after the events of November
28th, on tiie Niaijara frontier, winter set in
with L'reat severity, and warlike operations
were for the time sujpended, but the spring
of loKl had not far aivanced when warlike
operations we'^e resumed.
The foliosving tables show accurately thi
naval forces on the lakes :—
Comparative statement of the British and
American forces upon the lakes, as far as
that of the en«my can be ascertained .
Quartermaster (Jeneial's Office,
Montreal, 13th March. 1813.
ON LAKE KRI£.
British — The Queen Charlotte, carrying
12 24 pounder carrunades and four long
9-pounder, two in the bow and two in the
stern, ship-rigged, 16 guns. The Lady
Prevost, 10 12-pound carronades and two
long sixes, one in the bow and another in
the stern, 8chooner-ric.:ed, 12 guns. The
General Hunter, six long six pounders, six
guns. Total .34.
The above are fully equipped and ready
for sea. The following are building and
way be ready to launch in June.
A ship of 18 gvns, which it is proposed to
arm with 14 12-pounder carronades and four
long nines, in bridle porta in the bow atx
■tern, 18 guns. Two decked gunboats,
capable of mountini; a long 18-pounder
each, two guns. Total building 20 guns.
Total number of guns expected to be
mounted in the vessels by the end of June or
begi.uiing of July — 'A
American— Th'j naval force of the enemy,
on this lake, was ail taken and destroyed
last summer, but they have been building,
both at r>ulTalo and Sandusky. It is there-
fore uncertain wha: their means may be o.i
the opening of navigation. There is, how-
ever, no reason to suppose that they will be
enabled to meet us oa the lake, as, from all
the information wc iiave bv^en enabled to
procure, their eflbrts have been confined to
small craft and gunboats, etc.
ON LAKE ONTARIO.
British — The Royal George, carrying 20
32-pounder carronades, ship rigged, 20
guus. 1 he Earl of Moira, oerryiug 10 18-
pouuder carronades and 4 long sixes, 2 in
the bow and 2 in the stern, brig rigged, 14
guns. The Prince Regent, 10 12 pounder
carronades and 2 long sixes, 1 in the bow
and 1 in the stern, 12 guns. The Gloucester
formerly curried 6 6-poundera,(now repaired)
cutter rigged. 6 guns ; total, 52 guns.
The Royal (ieorge and Earl ot i\loira arn
at Kingston, and the Regent and Gloucester
at York. The above are fully equipped and
ready for sea.
Thcj following are building : — The Sir
Isaac Brock, building at VTork, lu carry 26
32 pornder carronades and 4 long eitjh-
teens, 2 in the bow and 2 in the stern, ship
rigged. This vessel should be launched in
May ; 30 guns. Ship building at Kingston
of '.'2 gun , 18 32 pounder carronade.'*, a.id
4 long twelves, 2 forward, 2 aft ohip rigged,
22 guns. Schooner building at Kingston to
carry 10 18»pouuder carronades and 4 lorn:
^WlJPf'P'W?''
"|W"
f the British ano
lakes, ft3 far as
scertained .
neral's Office,
,h March, 1813.
us..
jarlotte, carrying
s Rud four long
and two in the
uns. The Lady
^rronades and two
' and anotlier in
i, 12 guns. The
six pounders, six
ipped and ready
are buildiag and
I June.
h it is proposed to
larronades and four
I in the bow aixr
decked gunboats,
i long 18-pounder
building 20 guns.
IS expected to be
the end of June or
orce of the enemy,
en and destroyed
ftve been building,
iusky. It is there-
: means may be o.i
ijn. There is, how-
,e that they will be
e lake, as, from all
bvien enabled to
e been confined to
etc.
YARIO.
eors;«, carrying 20
ship ringed, 20
)ira, carrying 10 18-
4 long sixes, 2 in
ern, brig rigged, U
BDt, 10 12 pounder
xes, 1 in the bow
IIS. The Gloucester
ders,(now repaired)
tal, 52 guns.
Earlot iMoira aro,
gent and Gloucester
fully equipped and
building -.--The Sir
Vork, lo carry 26
and 4 long eieh-
2 Ml the stern, ship
uld be launched in
uiliHng at Kingston
ler carronades, tind
d, 2 aft i.hip rigged,
Iding at Kingston lo
rrouades and 4 Ioul'
LANDMARKS OF TORON'IO,
1077
nines, 2 forward and 2 aft The ship will
be launched the 15th April, and the schooner
al<out the middle of May, 14 guns ; total
building 66 guns.
Total number of guns expected to be
mounted in the vessels as soon as the
ordnance arrives and can be got up, pro-
bably by the end of June, 118 guus.
American — The ship Maddison, carrying
26 32- pounder carronades, 26 guns. The
brig Oneida, 16 24- pounder ccirronades, 16
guns. A new vessel building of the cla^js of
the Oneida (it is supposed) 16 gun.i. Six or
eight armed craft carrying cither one heavy
gun or two or three of a lighter calibre each,
say eight vessels, mounting 2 32-pounder
long / uns, 2 24 pounders lung guns, 10
12><ou .del long guus 14 guns. Total Ameri-
can guns, 72.
A. Grey,
Acting Dep. Q'r. M'r. General,
On April 27th, 1813, as told elsewhere, the
town of York was captured by the Ameri-
cans. The terms of the capitulation and a
fac simile of the document have appeared in
an earliir chapter. After the evacuation of
the town by the Americans Major Allan of
tho 3rd York militia, addressed the follow-
ing plainspoken epistle to Sir Roger She iffe.
I'hat gallant officer is credited with having
had a very bad temper, and with being also
of a very tyrannical disposition. It is not
at all probable tliat Major Allan's letter
boothed him in t ny way for liis recent re-
buEF.
York, 2nd May, 1813.
Sir, — In obedience to your orders at the
moment of retreating at 3 o'clock p.m. 27tli
ult., Lieut. Col. Chewett and myself,
accompanied by the Rev. Dr. Strachan,
entered into terms of capitulation witli the
commander of the enemy's fores (of which
the enclosed is a copy. ) Various difficulties
were thrown in the way of its final
adjustment from the destruction of the siiip
and naval stores, supposed to have been
commanded by you subsequent to your
orders to capitulate.
They were not ratified by General Dear-
born till next afternoon, during wluoh
period the inliabitanta were exposed to every
sort of insult and depredation
But as matters were very little mended by
the ratification, it is presumed that these
depredations happened more from the
insubordinatton of the men than tliu wish of
the otiiccrs.
It is proper to observe to you, sir, tiiat
the protection of private property was con-
strued not to extend to your baggage, liaviiig
been abandoned l>y you It is accordingly
taken from the place of its deposit.
After carryi ig off all the public stores and
burning all the public buildings, the troopi
are now embarking, but are ail ignorant of
their destination.
Few houses in town escaped a minute
search by two or three different parties,
under pretence of looking for public pro-
perty. Many have bean pillaged, and some
have had everything taken from them and
threatened with the loss of their '' /es.
We have now nearly forty wounded men
to liake cp/re of, some very badly, and several
amputations must take place. W e have no
medical assistance for them, the surgeons
haviug retreated along m ith the troops.
I havd the honor to be, sir.
Your most obedient servant,
W. Allan,
Major 3rd Reg. Vork Militia.
To Sir Roger Hale Sheaffe, commanding the
forces at Kingston.
On May 5th Sir Roger Sheaffe having:
reached Kingston after his retreat from
York, sent the following official account ot
the matter to Sir George Ptevost ; —
KiNiisTON, .May 5, 1813.
Sir, — I did myself the honor of wiiting to
Your Excellency on my route from York,
to communicate tho mortifying intelligence
that the enemy had obtained possession of
that place on tiie 27th of April.
I sliall now cfive Your Excellency a further
detail of that event.
In the evening of the 26th information
was received tluvt many vessels had been seen
to the eastward Very eaily the next morn-
ing they were discovered lying to, not far
from theharbor. .Aftersome time liad elapsed
they made sail, and, to the number of sixteen
of various descriptious, anchored off the
shore, some distance to the westward ; boats
full of troops were immediately see'i as-
semi'ling near their commodcre's ship, under
cover of whose lire and that of uther ves-
sels, and aided by the wind they soon effect-
ed a landing in spile of a spirited opposition
from Major (.jivens, and about 40 Indians ; a
company of Glengarry Light Infantry wliicii
had been ordered to support them, wa.s liy
.some mistake, (not in the smallest dotjruu
imputable to its ."oinmander) led in another
direction, and came late into action ; the
other troops, consisting of two companies of
the 8th or King's P 'gimcnt and about a
company of tho R(.yul Newfoundland Regi-
ment, with some militia, encountered
the enemy in a thick wood.
( aptaiu McNeal of tho King's Fiegii'ieii*
was killed while gallant'y '<)adiug his com-
pany, wliich suffered severely ; the troop-j
at lengtli fell back ; they rallied several
times, but could not maintain the conte.it
against the great!/ »uperi.?r and incieasin:^
number of tlie cii»my. They retired under
■
' *j
H
'%l
hi
'*1l
m
fill
. \l
1078
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO,
{
i if
1)1' it
cover of our batteries which wera enf;aged
with some of the eiieinj's vessels, that had
moved hi^rber up the harbor.
They kept up a iieavy fire on ua, acme of
their guaa being thirty two pounders; to
return it we had two twelve pounders and
bwo old condemned eighteen pounders with-
out trunions, and during p!>.rt of
the time, a twelve pounder of the
same deacription, wnich we had atocked and
mounted ; with these defective means the
enemy was kept at bay for aomc time, when,
bv some unfortunate accident, the magtzine
at the VV'eatern Battery blew up, and killed
bad wounded a considerable number of men,
and crippled the battery.
It became too evident that our numbers
aad meaua of defence were inadequate to
the task of maintaining posseaaion of York
against the vast superiority of force brought
against it. The troops were withdrawn to-
wards the town, and were finally ordered to
n treat on the roetd to Kingston. The powder
magazine w:t3 blo\(rn up, and the new ship
and the naval 8:ores destroyed.
Lieut. -Colonel Che wett and Major Allan,
Df the militia, residents in the town, were
instrncied to treat with the American cum-
mandsrs for terms.
A statement of those agreed on with
Major-General Dearborn and Coiimodore
Chaancey is transmitted to your Excellency
with returns of the killed and wounded, etc.
The accounts of the number of the enemy
vary from eighteen hundred and ninety to
three thousand. We had about six hundred,
including militia and dockyard men. The
[quality (k some of these troops was of so
superior a description, and their general dis
position so good, that un ier less unfavorable
circumstances I should have felt confident
of success, in spite of the disparity of num-
bers. As it was. the coni<ust, which com-
menced between six and seven o clock, was
maintained nearly eight hours.
When we had proceeded some miles from
York we met the light company of the
Kin«r'8 Regiment on its route for Fort
George. It retired with us and covered the
retreat, which was effected without moles-
tatioa from tiM enemy.
I propose remaining here until I shall re-
ceive Your Excellency's commands.
I have the honor to be, with ^reat respect.
Your Excellency 8 most obedient and hum-
ble servant),
R. H. Sheaffi, Maj.Gen.
H. E Sir (jeorge Prevost, Bart.
Tho following letter was also sent to Sir
(>eori^ Prevost. It does not require any
comment ;
Ki.vijsTON, U. Canada, 13th May, 1813.
iiK Lu&D, — I regret to have to state to your
Lordship that the money in the Provincial
'J reasury fell into the enemy's hands when
he obtained possession of York — it had been
concealed, but the enemy threatened to de-
stroy the town unless il were produced. It
was given up. i do not know the exact
amount, but from the best information I had
been able to obttkin it was about two then
sand pounds. Mr. Selby was at the time in
a stale of insensibility from the illness which
soon afterwards proved fatal to him. I have
the houcr to be, My Lord, with great respeot,
your Lordship's most obedient humble ser-
vant,
R H. Sheaffe, M. General, President, &c.
Earl Bathurst, ^c, &3.
This desp ' .i of (general Sheaffe Sir
George Prevost forwarded several days liter
'x> Karl Bathurst, the ' • -etary of State
"or War, together with ^t of the killed
nnd wounded at a cap .ire of York. It
will be seen from Sir (ireorge's letter that he
did not write at all enthusiastically and that
he I'videutly felt himself to be in a very
awkward position. But the letter will
speak for itself : —
HKAnQCARTKRS, Kingston, U. C.,18th May,
1813
AlY Lord, — I have the honor of transmit-
ting to your Lordship copy of a dispatch
whicli I have received from Major-General
Sir Roger SlieafTe, containing the particulars
of an attack made by the land forces and
the flotilla of the enemy upon York in Up
per Canada ' on the 27th uUimo, When
your Lordship adverts to the small propor-
lioii of regular force as yet at my disposal
and is informed that the United States have
acquired a decided superiority on Lake
Ontario, in consequence of their exertions
during the last si.'c months to increase their
marine, most particularly on that lake,
whilst I have been unable to obtain from
Admiral Sir John Warren a timely rein-
forcement of seamen with the naval officers,
who were sent by him through
the forests of New Brunswick
to Quebec, ^^ here they arrived on the 20th
of last month, I hope your Lordship will
feel disposed favorably to represent to His
Royal Highness the Prince Regent the
gallant efforts made by a handful of British
troops for the preservation of the cost they
had to defend against the numerous foi«e
brought for its conquest.
The enemy left York on the 8th inst. and
proceeded to Niagara where 1 underatan I
they landed on the American side of this
lake 1,200 men, under General Dearborn,
for the purpose of then gathering their ar'ny
on that line and probably with o, view to
make a further attempt upon Fort Erie or
Fort Georae. The flotilL afterwards re-
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
1079
P
I the Provincial
ys hands when
rk— it had been
[ireatened to de-
e produced. Il
;now liie exact
tformation I had
kbout two thoQ
ks at the time in
the illness which
I to him. I have
ith great respect,
ient bumble ser-
ai, President, &c.
iral Sheaffe Sir
loveral days Uter
•etary of State
.t of the killed
re of York. It
e's letter that he
astically and that
0 be in a very
the letier will
U. C.,18th May,
lonor of transmit-
ty of a dispatch
m Major-General
[ng the particulars
1 land forces and
)on York in Up
th ultimo. When
the small propor-
t at my disposal
United States have
eriority on Lake
jf their exertions
to increase their
on that lake,
to obtain from
m a timely rein-
the naval officers,
him througli
few Brunswick
•ived on the 20th
ur Lordship will
represent to His
ince Regent the
.andfulof British
of the ^ost tiiev
numerous force
the 8th inst. and
lere 1 understan 1
•ican side ot the
general Dearborn,
.thering their ar-ny
with 0. view to
pon Fort Erie or
la afterwards re-
turned to Sackett'a Harbor where I find
from a Hag of truce which came over the day
before yesterday they remained on the 14tii.
From the information £ have received
from an officer of the Lake Marine taken at
York, and sent over in the flag of crnce I
find the enemy': force at Sackett's Harbor
amounts to near ",000 men, and that they
were making preparations for another ex-
pedition, but t'> what point the attack was to
be directed I have not been able to ascertain.
I have the honor to be, my Lord, your
Lordship's most obedient humble servant,
Gkorcje Prevost.
The Right Honorable the Earl of Ba-
th urst.
Return of killed, wounded, prisoners and
missing of the troops engaged at York under
the command of Sir Roger Hale Sheaffe, on
the 27th ulto., Kingston, 10th May, 1813 :
Royal Artillery — Killed, 3 gunners;
wounded and prisoners, 1 drummer; piisou-
ers, 1 bombardier, 3 gunners; missing, 1
gunner. Total — 1 bombardier, 7 gunners, 1
drummer.
8th, or King's Regiment — Killed, 1 captain
1 sergeant-major, 3 sergeants, 40 rank and
file; wounded, 2 sergeants, 21 rank and file;
wounded and prisoners, 1 sergeant, 25 rank
and file; prisoners, 2 rank and tile; missing,
1 rank and Hie. Total— 1 captai.'i.l sergeant-
major. 6 sergeants, 89 rank and tile.
Newfoundland Regiment — Killed, 1 ser-
geant, 1 drummer, 10 rank and file; wound-
ed, 1 drummer, 6 rank and file; wounded
Eind prisoners, 1 lieutenant, 3 sergeants, 1
drummer, 8 rank and tile; prisoners, 2 rank
and tile; missing, 2 rank and file. Total — 1
lieutenant, 4 sergeants, 3 drummers, 28 rank
md file.
Glengarry Light Infantry — Killed, 2 rank
and tile; wounded, I ensign, 3 rank and tile;
missing, 3 rank and file. Total — 1 ensign,
S luuk and file.
49th Regiment — Wounded and prisoners,
!1 rank and file; Prisoners 2 rank and file.
[These men were in the hospital at the
lime of the action. ) Total— 5 rank and Hie.
Return of killed, wounded, prisoners and
miss ng — Killed, 1 captain, 1 sergeant-
m ijor, 4 sergeants, 1 drumuier, 52 rank
and file, 3 gunners ; wounded— 1 ensign, 2
ser^'eants, 1 drummer, 30 rank and Hie ;
wounded and pi'isoner.s — 1 lieutenant, 4
sergeants, 1 drummer, 30 rank and hie, 1
driver ; prisoners — 0 rank and Hie, 1 bomb-
ardier, 3 gunners ; Missing— 6 rank and Hie,
1 gunner. Total— 1 Captain, 1 lieutenant,
1 ensign, 1 sergeant- Major, 10 sergeants, 3
Jrummurs, 130 rank and Hlc, 1 bombardier,
7 gunners, 1 driver.
OtUcers killed— Capt. Neal McNea', 8tli
Iviug's regiment ; officers wounded —
Lieutenant De Koven, Royal Newfonndland
Regiment ; prisoner— officer Ensign Robins,
Glengarry Light Infantry, slightly ; general
staff wounded — Capt; I.i0UQe, 104th
regiment, slightly ; Incorporated Militia —
Capt. Jarvis, wounded, volunteers, D. Mac-
Lean, clerk of House of Assembly, killed,
Mr. Hacleney, Barrack Master, bounded.
Richard Leonakd,
A Deputy- Assistant Adjutant- General.
Edward Baynks,
Adj. -General,
North America.
Endorsed. Roiiurn of killed, wounded
and prisoners and missing of the troops
engaged at York under the command of Sir
Roger H. SheatTe, on the 27th ulto.
Kingston, 10th .May, 1813.
Lt.-Gbn. Sir G. Prkaost.
No. 60, 18th May, 1813.
On June 6th, 1813 was fought what is
known as the battl<i of Stoney Creek when
when it had been the desire of the invaders
and their boast that that they would ac-
complish their purpose, v hich was to make
prisoners of the whole of the British forces
and at once bring to a close hostilities on
the northwest frontier. On May 8th previ-
ously an attack had been maue by Commo-
dore Chauncy of the United States navy on
Niagara which the Kritisn were unable to
resist owing, it is said, to the overwhelming
numbers of the attacking forces. After
spiking the guns and destroying the
magazines, the British forces retreated
toward Burlington. 1 he loss of the British
on this occasion both regulars and
militia amounted it is stated to
nearly three hundred and fifty killed, and
many more wounded. The loss of the
Americans was about two liundred. Colonel
Vincent, commanding the 49th Regiment,
actin!4 for the time as Brigadier-General,
was in command, and on the evening of June
5th, he found that the American forces,
numbering 3,500 infantry and about 300
cavalry, were encamped at Stoney t'reek,
some nine miles from his own headquarters.
Vincent determined to attack them at
once. The action commenced between one
and two o'clock on the morning of June 6th.
The following is an account ^iven by an eye
witness : —
"immediately the quarter guard of the
enemy was surprised and takei!, and
the assailants rushed into the camp,
where all was in apparent security. But
such a scene of carnage commenced, the
huzzas of the besiegers, the yells of the
Indians, led on by Captain Brant, the clash-
ing of bayonets, and above all, the thunder
of the cannon and musketry, rendered it
truly appalliuy."
Ui
1 : !
mmmm
mm
mmmmmmm
1080
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
! II
li
After the action Colonel Vincent again
rMutned his old position on Hurlington
Heights. On this occasion two general
ot&ctrii and one hundred and fifty othcera
N. C O., and men of the American forces
became prisoners of war.
Sir George Frevoat in his despatch to
Earl Bat hurst thus related the story : —
KlNoaTON, Upper Canada,
14th June, 1813
My Lord,— I have again the high gratifi>
catimi of having to transmit to your Lord-
ship the particulars of a feat of
distinguished valor and enterprize
achieved near Burlington >>ay on the 6th
instant by a division of the army CMniaanded
by Col Vincent, of the 49th regiment, who
is acting aa Hrigadier-(>eneral in Upper
Canada, until His Koyal Highness the
Prince Regent's pleasure is known.
To the just measure of praise given uy
Col. Vincent to Lieut. -Col. Harvey for the
zeal, intelligence and gallantry dicplayed by
him on this occasion. I liave to add that so
great was the tiemrc of that meritorious
officer to arrive at his post, and share in the
arduous duties of the army to which he had
been appointed, that he w Iked on snow
shoes in the depth of last winter through
the wilds laying between the Canadas
and New Brunswick. In addition to Col.
Vincent's report of the affair at Stoney
C reek, I have the honor to inform your
Lordship that the enemy made a move-
meat to their rear in consequence of the
attack of their camp, and had r<>tirecl to the
4U mile creek when Sir James Yao's flotilla
had appeared in the otBng.
The Commodore after communicating with
Col. Vincent proceeded with the reinforce-
ment of troops I had put on board his vessel
at Kingston towards theenemy'ssecdud camp,
and when the last intelliucuce left him his
squadron had so successfully cannonaded it
that the luass of the Americans were re-
treating with precipitation, and our troops
pressing upon them ; several of their boats
had fallen into our possession. Tlie attack
made upon Sackect's Hurbor, the 20th ult.,
which ternNuaied iu the uestruction of the
naval stores accumulated at that post, in-
duced the enemy's fleet to cease operating
with the army, aud to return suddenly into
port, since wliich time Commouoro Cbauncy
lias not ventured upon the lake.
Capt. McDoual, my aide de camp, will
have the honor of delivering to your Lord-
ship this dispatch. He is an otiicci of great
merit aud intelligence, and having been sent
forward with instructions to Col. Vincent,
had the ^ood fortune to be present in the
lasl action iu which that division of tiie army
80 highly distinguiibhed itself. iic was also
at the attack made on Sackett'a Harbour,
and was employed on an arduous mission to
Col. Proctor, when the movement of the
American army under General Harrison to-
wards the Detroit frontier took place
in February last. He is therefore well
qualified to give your Lordship any informa-
tion you may require respecting ttie state of
affairs in the Canadas, and deserving of any
mark of favor it may graciously please his
Royal Highness the I'Tioce Regent to confer
on hire.
Captain McDonal will also have the honor
of delivering to your Lordship the colors
taken from the enemy at Ogdensburg that
they may be laid at the feet of his Royal
Highness the Prince Regent.
I have the honor to be my Lord your Lord-
ship's most obedient and humble servant,
George Provost.
To Right Hon. Earl Bathurst
A short time elapsed and then occurred
one of the moat gallant actions of the whole
war, when Lieut. James Fitz-Gibbon, with a
mere handful of men, succeeded in makmg
priiioners of a vastly superior American
force. But gallantly as Fitz Gibbon oa-
(loubtedly acted it is much to be regretted
that in his despatch (which is given in fall)
he did not then and there acknowledge by
name his indebtedness to that famous hero-
ine, Laura Secord. It will be as well to let
that intrepid woman tell her own story. It
is contained in the following letrter : —
•' Dear Sir,— I will tell you the story in
a few words :
"After going to St David's and the
recovery of Mr. Secord, we returned again
to Queenston where my courage again wa^
much tried. It was there I gained the sec-
ret plan laid to secure Captain Fitz-Gibbon
and his party. I was determined if possible
to save them. I had mueh difficulty in get-
ting through the American guards. They
were ten miles out in the country. When
I came to a field belonging to Mr. De Cou,
In the neichborheod of the Beaver Dams,
I then had walued nineteen miles. By that
time daylight had left :<ie. I yet had a
swift stream of water (Twelve mile Creek)
to cross over on an o1 i fallen tree and to
climb a high hill wKich fatigued me very
much.
"Hcfore I arrived at the encampment of tha
Indiana as I approached they all arose with
one of their war yells, which indeed awed
me. You may imagine what my feelings were
to behold so many savages With forced
courage I went to one of the chiefs, told him
I had great news for his commander and
that he must take me to tiim or they Mould
all be lost. He did not understand me, but
said " Won.au, what dues Woman waut
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
lOSl
ckett'B Harbour,
rduous mission to
aovomeiit of the
jral Harrison to-
ntier took place
8 therefore well
ship any informa-
cting the state of
, deserving of any
iously pleaie his
5 Regent to confer
so have the honor
rd«hip the colors
Ogdensburg that
feel of his Royal
ny Lord your Lord-
liumble aervant,
Gkorgb Provost.
ithurst
and then occurred
3tions of the whale
Fitz-Gibbon, with a
cceeded in making
superior American
.8 Fitz Gibbon ua-
ich to be regretted
ch is given in full)
re acknowledge by
» that famous hero-
rill be as well to let
her own story. It
iring leMer : —
ell you the story in
David's and the
vtre returned again
courage again wai
I gained the sec-
aptain FitzGibbon
ermined if possible
ch difficulty in get-
ican guards. They
le country. When
ng to Mr. De Cou,
the Beaver Dams,
oen miles. By that
le. I yet had a
weWe mile Creek)
fallen tree and to
fatigued me very
le encampment of the
they all arose with
which indeed awed
hat my feelings were
irages With forced
(f "tiie chiefs, told him
his commander anJ
to him or they would
it understand me, bul
does \Voin»u want
here!" The scene by moonlight to some
might have been grand, but to a weak
woman certainly terrifying. With difficulty
I got one of the chiefs to go with me to their
commander. With the iutellifreDce I gave
him he formed his plans and saved his
country. I have ever found the brave and
noble Col. Fitz Gibbon a frieml to me. May
he prosper in the world to come as he has in
this. Laura Record,
Chippewa, U. C, Feb. 18th 1861.
A more unselfish letter was never penned
and prob&bly few more disinterestedly uu-
■eltish women have ever existed than this
humble heroine. '* This noble minded and
heroic woman," as she haa been aptly de-
scribed by one of 6he most acconr.pliafacd of
her biographers, passed away into the
shadows of the Great Unknown on October
17th, 1868, in the 94th year of her ago, and
lies buried in the little churchyard of Drum-
iBondville.
"And time shall twine her wreath of bays
Immortal as her fame.
And many a generation joy
In Laura Secord's name."
^ —Ballad of lSt2 bg S.A.C.
The following official dispatches have al-
ready been referred to ; the first is from
Lieut. -Col. Bishopp : —
Bkavkr Dam, June 24th, 1813.
Sir, — I have the honor to inform you that
the troops you have done me the honor to
place under my command have succeeded
thia day in taking prisoners a detachment
of the United States Army, under the com-
mand of Lieut. -Col. hoerstler.
In this affair the Indian warriors under
the command of Captain Kerr were the only
force actually engaged. To them great
merit is due, and to them I feel particularly
obliged for their gallant conduct on this
occasion.
On the appearance of the detachment of
the 49th Regiment, under Lieut. Fitzgibbon,
aud the ligbt company of the 8th or King's
Hegiineut, the two flank companies of the
104th, under Major l^e H«ren, and the Pro-
vincial Cavalry, under Captain Neall, the
whole surrendered to his Majesty's troops.
To the conduct of Lieut. Fitzgibbon,
through whose address the capitulation was
entered into, may be atfributed the surren-
der of the American force.
To Major De Haren for his speedy move-
ment to the point of attaek and execution
of the arrani:ements I had previously made
with him, I am very much obliged.
I have the honor to enclose the capitula-
tion entered iato between Colonel Boerstler
and myself and a return of prisoners taken
exclusive of wounded, not yet ascertained
I lost no time in forwarding my Siafl'-
Adjutant Lieut. Barnard to communicate
to you this inteiUgenoc. H« has been parti-
culai-ly active and useful to me on all
occasions. I take this opportunity of men-
tioning Um to you and beg the favor of you
to recommend him to his Excellency ^r
George Prevost, aa an active and promising
young officer.
I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
Cboil HiasHopp,
Lieut. -Col. Com'g Troop*.
Brigadier-General Vincent.
Then follows a despatch from Lieut,
Fitzgibbon.
T0W>SHIP OF Lo JTH,
24th JuN£, 181.3.
Sir,— At De Cours thia morning, about 7
o'clock, I received information that about one
thousand of the enemy with twogHn8,were ad-
vancing toward me from St. Davids. I soon
after heard a firing of cannon and aiusquetry
and in consequence rode in advance two
miles on the St. David's roMl. I observed
by the tiring that the enemy waa moving for
the road on the moantain. I aent off Cornet
McKenny to oider out my detachment of the
49th, consisting of a subaltern and 16 rank
and file, and closed upon the enemy to re-
connoitre. I discovered him on the Moan-
tain road, and took a position on an emi-
nence to the right of it. My men arrired
and pushed on in his front to cut ofF his re-*
treat, under a fire from his guns, whieh,
however, did no execution.
After examining his position, I found it
diOicult to approach hini, there being no
wood in front or on the flanks to cover the
Indians, and his force, apparently 600, 1
could not approach. I was here informed
he expected reinforcements. I, therefore,
decided on summoning him to surrender.
After tlie exchange of several propositions
between L<ieut.-Col. Boerstler and uiyseu', in
the name of Lieut. -Col. DeHaren, Lieut. -
Col. Boerstler agreed to surrender on the
terms stated in the articles of capitulation.
On my return to my men to send on an
officer to superintend the detuils of the
surrender, you arrived. I have the honor to
be sir.
Your obedient, humble servant,
J. FlTZC!IBBO\,
Lieut. 49th Regt.
Major DeHaren.
Next we hrve the terms of capitulation
and return of prisoners.
24th June, 1813.
Particulars of the capitulation made be-
tween Captain McDowell on the part of
Liaut.-Col. lloerstler, of the United States
army and Major De Hareu, of his Britannio
Majesty's Canadian Resiment. on the oar t of
mi
m ■
m yd
1082
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Lieut.-Col. Bishopp, commandini; the ad-
vance A th<s British, respectins; thb force
under the command of Lieut. -Col. Boerscler.
First — That Lieut. Col. lioerstler and the
force under his command shall surrender
prisoners of war.
Second — That the ofTicprs shall retain tiicir
arms, horses and baggage.
Third. ^That that the non-commissioned
officer* and soldiers shall lay down their
arms at the head of the British column, and
become prisoners of war.
Fourth. — That the militia and voluuteers
with Lieut. Col. Boerstler shall be permitted
to return to the United States on parole.
/^NDKEW McDowell.
Capt. U. S. Lt. Artillery.
Handed to P. S. Boerstler, Lt.-Col.
Comd'g. Dotach't. U. IS. Army,
P. V. DkHaben,
Major Canadian Reg't.
Return of Americun prisoners taken near
Fort George on 24th June, 1818.
Light Dragoons — 1 cornet, 1 sergeant,
19 rank and iile ; two Held pieces taken.
Light Artillery— 1 captain, 1 lieutenant,
2 sergeants, 31 rank and tile. 6th Regt
Infantry — 11 captain, 1 lieutenatit, 3 ser-
leants, 54 rank and file ; 1 12-pounder,
1 6-pounder. 14th Regt. Infantry — 1
lieutenant-colonel, '.i captains, 11 lieutenants,
\ surgeon, 15 sergeants, 301 rank and file ;
2 cars, stand of colors of the 14ih U.S.
Regiment. 20th Regt. Infantry — 1 Major.
23rd Regiment Infantry — 1 captain, 4 ser-
geants, 2 drummers, 57 rank and file.
Total — 1 lieut -colonel, 1 major, 6 captains,
13 lieutenants, 1 cornet, 1 surgeon, 25 ser-
geants, 2 drummers, 462 rank and file 30
militia released on parole not included in
this return.
Officers' names and ranks : — Lt. -Colonel
Boerstler, 14th Regiment Infantry ; Major
Taylor, 2Uth Regiment Infantry. Captains :
McDowell, Light Artillery ; McKerrsey,
6th Regiment Infantry ; McKenzie, 14th
Hestiment Infantry ; Cummins, 14th Regi-
ment Infantry : Fleming, 14lh Regiment In-
fantry ; Roach, 23rd Regiment Infantry ;
Lieutenants : Morris, Light Arlillery ;
Shell, 6th Infantry ; Saunders, Arnell,
Kearney, Marshall, Waring, Mudd, Mur-
doch, (iioodwin, Clarke, Robinson, Lu'uiiill,
14tli Infantry ; Commander Bird, Light
Dragoons ; Surgeon Young, 14tii Infantry.
The loss of the enemy supposed to be about
100 in killed and wounded.
Edward Baynes,
Adj. -General.
Lastly is this letter from Colonel Vin-
cent.
FoBTT Mile Creek, 25th June, 1813.
Sib, — [ have the honor of transmitting to
your Excellency a report I received from
Lieut.-Col. Bishopp, commanding the troops
in advance, of ihe success of a skirmish with
a strong detachment of cavalry and infantry
advancing with two field pieces.
'I o the vigilance of Lieut.-Col. Bishopp
I feel much indebted, and beg leave to refer
your Excellency to his report of
the conduct of the officers an<l
men under his command, which
is deserving every commendation I cannot
but particularize that of Lieut. Fit/gibbon
of the 49th regiment, commanding a small
reconnoitring party — cooperating with the
Indians, through whose address in entering
into the capitulation, \oui' Excellency will
perceive by Lieut. -Col. Bishopp's report, that
the surrender of the American detachment
is to l)C attributed.
I beg leave to recommend this officer to
Your Excellency's protection.
1 have the honor to be. Sir,
Your obedient humble servant,
John Vincent, Col
His Excellency Sir Geo Provoat, etc., etc.
After the battle of Stoney Creek the
American army were seized with panic and
retreatuil in disorder and confusion towards
Fort Cieorge. There was neither discipline
nor subordination . Officers iRStcad of rally
in^ their men, seized upon horses wherever
they could find tliem, and in many cases
omiitt'd the small preliminary, generally
considered an essential, to pay for tli(^
forcibly requisiticned animals. The men
were left to look after themselves.
They in many cases threw away their
arms and accoutrements, and in detached,
straggling parties made their way towards
their headquarters, being indebted in manv
cases to the very people wlioso houses they
had pillaged but a few days previously for
the ineans of sustenance.
On .luly 3rd Sir George Prerost, having
in his possession the despatches that iiave
already appeared, sent the following otficiai
account to Earl Hathurst: —
HEAUynARTERS,
King ton. Upper Canada, 3rd July, 1813.
Mv Lord, — I have the honor to trauaant
to your Lordship copies of letters from Col.
Vincent and Lieutenant-Col. Bishopp anil
of the papers accompanying them, containing
the highly gratifying intelligence of ttui
capture on the 24tli ulto of a body of tlif>
enemy's forces, consisting of two field
officers, twenty-one other ofiicers
of uifferent ranks, twenty-seven non-
commissioned ofiicers and four hundred and
sixty-two privates, together with a stand of
colors and two field pieces.
The details of this gallant affair, which
reflects so niucii credit on our Indian allien.
LAND>'.»RKS OF TORONTO.
1083
received from
nding the troops
a skirmish with
klry and infantry
eces.
t. -Col. Bishopp
)eg leave to refer
his report of
e officers an<l
mmand, which
lation I cannot
uieut. Fii?!sibbon
landing a small
crating with the
dress in entering
Excellency wdl
lopp's report, that
•lean detachment
d this officer to
on.
.Sir,
mble servant,
i Vincent, Col
Prcvoal, etc. , etc.
^toney Creek the
led with panic and
confusion towards
neither discipline
ira iwetead of rally
n horses wherever
ind in many cases
iminary, generally
to pay for tli<:
imals. The men
after themselves
hrew away their
and in detached,
tlieir way towards
indebted in manv
whose houses they
Llays previously for
re I'revost, havinp
patches that havu
following official
3rd July, 1813.
honor to trauaadt
letters from Col.
Col. Bishopp and
ng theni,containiny
utelligence of tliu
of a body of tlic
of two field
other officers
wenty-seven non
J four hundred and
ler with a stand of
'.a.
pliant affair, whicli
our Indian allie*.
inc
ai well ui upon Lieut. Fitzgibbon,
fur the promptitude and decision
with which he availed himself
of the impression their attack had made
upon the enemy, will, 1 have no doubt, be
read by year Lordship u ith great satisfac-
tion, and afford a decided proof of the want
of perseverance in the American army.
Since the surprise of the enemy's camp at
Stoney ('reek on the 6th ulto and their
subsequent retreat from the Forty Mile
Creek, in which almost the whole of their
camp equipage, togecher with a quantity of
■torea and provisions, fell into our hands,
Major-General Dearborn has withdrawn the
troops from Fort Erie, and has concentrated
hif forces at Fort George. Col. Vincent
has, in consequence, made a forward move-
ment from the head of the lake in order to
BPpportthelightinfaiitry and Indian warriors
who are employed in circumscribing the
enemy, so as to compel them to make use of
their own resources foi the maintenance of
their army.
Major-General de Rottenburg his assumed
the command of the Centre Division ot the
Army of Upper Canada. After the squadron
under Commodore Sir James Yeo had
shewn itself off the 40 mile creek, which
principally determined (he enemy to retreat
from that position, it was very successfully
employed in interrupting and cutting off
their supplies going from the Genesee river,
and their other settlements upon the
Southern shore of the lak . Five
small vessels with provisions, clothine
and other articles were taken and several
loaded boats were captured and some
dsstroyed. During the cruise Sir James had
an opportunity of ascertaining that at Oswego
the enemy were constructing a large floating
battery according to Mons. D'Arcon's piun
of admitting the circulation uf w»ter through-
out, for the purpose of aiding in an
attack upon this place and for the destruc-
tion of our dockyard. Against any attempt
of this nature all proper precautiuiis arc
taking.
The force at Sackett's Harbor, from which
place the attack is threatened, amounts to
about 4,000 men.
Commodore Chauncey, with his squadron,
is still in port there. A bold and
w«U coDcnived plan of surprising a part ot
it, was lately defeated by the desertion to
the enemy of two men of the Newfoundland
regiment.
Sir James Yeo, with about 450 sailors and
nearly 250 of the Royals and 100th R«gi-
meutd, had been enabled to get within ten
miles of the enemy unpcrceived,
and to lay concealed in the
wooda for twenty-four hours intending
to commence the attack the following night,
the success of w hich seemed highly probable,
but it evidently appearing by the movements
of the enemy that they had taken tho alarm,
the expedition was reluctauily abandoned,
and the boats returned in safety with the
party to Kingston yesterday morning, the
whole of Commodore Chaunccy's squadron
having got under way to attempt intercept-
ing them.
I have jast had the satisfaction of learning
that the 13th Regiment arrived at Quebec
from Halifax the -JSth ult.
I have the honor to be, my Lord, your
Lordship's most obedient, humble servant,
Georuk PRJivoax.
Ihe Honorable Earl Bathuist.
About the end of July, the American Heet
having been greatly strengthened on Lake
Ontario, Commodore Chauncey with a large
body of artillery and also a considerable
number oj. infantry, all under Colonel Scott's
command, sailed for the head of the lake
with the intention of capturing the stores
there collected at Burlington ifeishts, and
only defended by a small body of troops
under Major Maule.
This design reached the ears of the
Adjutant-General, who at once ordered
Lieut. -Col. Battersby, commanding the
(ileugairy Fencibles, who was then at York,
to proceed with his men to Burlington
Heights to relieve the garrison. By a forced
march Battersby succeeded in reaching the
camp in time, and the Americans Hnding
the British ready to recei ve them, and
possibly deeming discretion the better part
of valor, did not attaul; them.
But Commodore Chauncey found other
work to do. Knowing that York was un-
defended owing to the absence of Col. Bat-
tersby at Burlington, he made sail for the
former place, where he arrived on July
3 1st, landed without encountering any oppo-
sition, and at cnce burnt the barracks and
public storerooms, took possession of whut
fur stores were in the place, and at once re-
embarked and sailed for Niagara.
'I he army which held the Michigan terri-
tory was under command of General Proctor,
and was dependent for its supplies on free
water communication on Lake Erie. This,
though, by the total defeat of the British
naval force on th»t lake in the early part of
September was now no longer possible,
and General Proctor determined to ratreit
alon<.; the River Thames to the head of Lake
Ontario. On September 2Utli, Fort Sand-
wich and Detroit were evacuated, the public
stores at these places having first been de-
stroyed. He was pursued by General Har-
rison and a large body of Americans, who
succeeded in coming up with him ou October
'i! I
1 ' ■ fe-'l
Hi
if
'iWh
Ul-\
ii /^3|
W'Vi
m . ;i
10S4
ill
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
H
b
73
o
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
1085
4th, and ia capturing bia rear guard and the
whole of tlieir stores Aud animunitiou
General Proctor thuriupon deleruiiued
to make a Btund and eneage his
foe. He drew up his forcts at a small In<
dian village known as Moiaviau 'I'own and a
battle took place which lesultcd in the com-
plete defeat of the British with a loss of
twelve killed and twenty-two wounded.
Thirty-three Indians were also among the
slain, among them tho g'^'l'^i*^ warrior
Tccuinsch who was " not less celebrated for
his humanity, a virtue little known among
Indians in a state of war, than by his
bravery, his eloquence, and hii influence
among our Indian allies."
The following is a complete return of tiie
killed, wounded and missing in the engage-
ment of October 5th, 1813.
Killed 12, wounded '22, miasiug and pri-
soners, field oflkers 1, captains 6, lieuten-
ants 15, ensigns 3, assistant surgeons 3,
sergeants 23, drummers 13, rank and file 790.
lieBides these there were five staff oilicers
taken prisoners.
It ii almost unnecessary to add that this
great reverse caused much recrimination
an i Gen. Proctor was must severely censur-
ed and not undeservedly so.
But despite tiiese reverses the British still
retained their possession of Michillimacki-
nac and though General Harrison intended
to attack it, he did not carry tiia intention
into efifect. For one reason the season was too
far advanced and for another, Harrison pro-
bably entertained the belief that the garri-
son would, from want of provisions or their
inability to procure other necessary sup-
plies, fall otl' itself.
It is now necessary to go baok for a
brief period in the campaign and follow tl\e
career ot Lieutenant ( olcnel Bishopp. On
iluly 11 this officer, with the approbation of
the General in command, put into execution
an enterprise that he had previously sug-
gested. This was to inukc an attack from
Niagara on the American forces at
Black Rock. His paity numbered about
two hundred and fifty men, and was made
up of men trom the 8th, 4l3t and 49th
regiments und a few of the Canadian militia.
Crossing the river they succeeded in sur
prising the enemy at lUack Rock, and not
only burnt the block-liouse but the barracks,
stores, ihe dock yard, and a vessel that was
in course of construction. But on returning
to tlieir boats the Americans having been
leinforced opened a heavy fire upon chem
which compelled them to embark somewhat
precipitately, so that confusion obtiiined in
their ranks. No less than thirteen were
killed and several wounded, among the
latter Lieutenant - Colonel BishoDO. who
very soon nfterwarda died from th«
effects. This was a great loss to the ISritish
as Colonel Bishopp was a most popular
otiicer.
Several field pieces, two hundred muskets
and a great quantity of atorts wore captured
on this occasion.
Lieutenant-Colonel Hishopp was buried at
Niagara Falls imd a handsome tomb nlurk^4
the spot where he sleeps. He was the only
son of Sir Cecil Bishopp, baronet, and was
born in 1783, being only a liitle more than
thirty years of age at the time of his death.
In the English village of Parhain, in its
lovely parish ctiurch, is a tablet to his
memory which, after recounting who and
what he was, has this epitaph : —
*' His pillow, not of sturdy oak ;
His shroud, a soldiers simple cloak ;
His dirge will sound till time's no more ;
Niagara's loud and solemn roar, —
There Cecil lies — say, where the grare,
More worthy of a Briton bran,."
There were three other battles fought on
Canadian Ground which especially merit
description those of(vliateauguay, Chrysler's
Farm and Lundy's Lane.
I he first of these may be safely taken aa
the turning point of the war in favor of the
British. The whole of western Canada with
the exception of Mackinac was now m the
bands of the Americans. They had re-
captured Michigan and the battle of Mor-
avian Town had given them complete
ascendancy, so ihe American Government
now thought that their time bad
come to conquer Lower Canada alao
I and thus obtain the object of tlieir ambition
which was the complete conquest of Canada.
" L'homine propose mais Dieu dispose." It
was not to be.
On September 20th General Hampton
bejian his inarch and ufter having taken by
surprise and overcome a Canadian outpost
stationed at Odelltown proceeded on the
road towards L'Acadie. A swamp which
e.Ktended for nearly fifteen miles had to b«
traversed before the open country was
reached. The Canadian officer in command
of the militia stationed at CJ^ateaut^uay had
done all he could to make this road
impassable, trees had been cut down
and thrown across it while every here
and there it was it was intersected with
ditches. Hampton was now making »
direct marcTi towards the head of the Gha-
teauguay rivtsr, and Colonel De Salaberry
learning the roa'l he intended to take in his
advance, stmngly entrenched himself on the
left of the river at a point about six miles
from the confluence (if the former with the
luiglish river. On September 22nd, the Am-
ericans, under General Izard, force^ one of
iH-
\\'IM I
fir
f '
II !
u h
♦• I
10S6
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Ihe Canadian outposts at the place where
the rivers Uutuitd and Chateauguay met and
on the same day the main body ot the Am-
erican troops arrived. It was (jeneral
Hampton's plan to attack Ue Kalaberry'a
position bolh in front and rear, but that
portion of hia forces who were to have at-
tacked in the rear lost their v\uy and the
plan fill through.
On September 'iGth, Hampton arrived in
front, and the action commenced. So us to
deceive the Americans, suys a writer, who
given a most graphic account of this afifair,
" the greatest possible noise was made, pur-
posely, by buglers stationed here and there
in the wings, the centre and the rear of tha
Canadian forces. As some of the skirmishers
retreated, the enemy moved forward. Again
the Canadian buglers sounded the advance.
• * • — as if 20,(00 men were being mar-
shalled for the light.'' .'gain and again the
Americans bravely advanced and were as
often repulsed, till at l:ist entirely losing
heart, they retreated from the field. Five
regiments of Canadian militia took part in
this engagement, and so highly were their
services appreciated that each of them was
presented with a stand of colors. Honors
were showered upon De Salaberry, and the
fame of his exploit was on every one's lips.
Later he retired from military service and
was called to the Legislative Council in
1818. He died at Cham ly, February 'iUth,
1829.
On November llth, 181", was fought the
battle of Chrysler's farm, the H.-itish forces
engaged being the Hank companies of the
49ih Hegimeiit, a detachment of a Canadian
regiment and Volligeurs, three companies
of the 89th, with one gun and some Indians,
in all about 800 men. These were attac .'d
by an American force of nearly 4,000, who
embraced among their numbers a strong
body of cavalry. But the superior discipline
of the British troops proved too much for
for the Americans, even aided as they were
by their overwhelming numbers. After
terrible loss they gave up the contest and
retreated. In this action the Americans are
computed to have lost over 600 men either
killed, wounded or prisoners.
The British loss was as follows : —
Killed, officers 1, men 21 : wounded,
ofiicers 10, men L37 ; missing, men 12 ;
total, officers 11, men 170.
On .luly 3rd, 1814, the Americans ad-
vanced on Fort Erie which was only garri-
soned by about 175 men belonging to the
8th and lOOlh regiments, commanded by
Major Buck. The American general, seeins;
the comparatively defencelem atate ot thi
place, i^ave Buck two hours in which u
i make up his mind to surrender, and th«
latter.seeing the u.^elessness of attempting tc
hold the position, surrendered.
Following this success up, the Americani
pushed on tor Chippewa and there onct
more engaged the hritish, compelling th(
latter again to retreat. The loss on botli
sides was tremendous, that of the Americans
being about 350 killed, wounded or missing,
and that of the British reaching 505. The
troops engaged were the 1st Royals, 8th and
100th Regiments and 19th Light Dragoons,
together with a contingent of the Canadiau
Lincoln militia.
On July 25th was fought the battle ol
Lundy's Lai.o which both sides claim as a
victory. American writers speak of it as the
battle of Niagara Falls, and are very proud
as indeed they may well be of the bravery
displayed by their soldiers on that field of
carnage. But by the following letter, dated
Builalo, September 6th, 1814, addressed i)y
General I'rown, U. S A., to Commodore
Chauncy, it certainly dona not looi; as ii
the former officer thought he had gained any
great success. The letter is as follows : —
"Tiie Government led one to believe that
the Heflt under your command would ho
upon Lake Ontario to co-operate with my
division of the army the first week of July,
I hare deemed it right to let the nation
know that the support I had a right to e.\-
pect was not afforded me. From the 9th
July to the 24th the whole country was in
our power, from Fort George to Burliugton
Heights, and could the army have been i-up-
plied with provisions from the depots provided
on the shores of Lake Ontario, we should
not have doubted our al>ility to carry the
heights, when we could have returned upon
Fort George and Niagara, or advanced upon
Kingston with the co-operation of the fleet.
1 have endeavoured to e.xecute the orders
given me. Success has not attended my en-
deavours. "
The otiicial report of the losses ou both
sides was as follows : —
British forces, killed 84. wounded 559,
missing 193, prisoners 42; total 878.
American forces, killed 171, wounded 570,
missing 117; total 858.
This was the last great engagement of the
war fought ou Canadian territory. With those
which took place elsewhere we have in
these sketches no concern and all naval
events on the lakes are fully described in
earlier chapters.
celeM atate ot thi
ura ia which u
rreuder, aad thi
IS of attcniptiDg tc
ered.
Lip, the Americaiii
i aud there oiict
I, compelling the
he losa on botl:
,t of the Americant
>uuded or missing,
aching 505. The
St Royals, 8th and
I Light Dragoons,
t of the Canadiau
;ht the battle ot
sides claim as a
rs speak of it as the
id hre very proiul
I be of the bravery
irs on that field of
owing letter, dated
1814, addressed i)y
I., to Conimodoie
>Ha not looi; as ii
he had gained any
■ is as follows : —
one to believe that
mmand would be
)-operate with my
irst week of July.
to let the nation
lad a right to e.\-
!. From the 9tli
e country was in
irge to Barliugtoii
my have been i^up-
;he depots provided
utario, we should
lity to carry the
lave returned upon
or advanced upon
ration of the Heet.
execute the orders
t attended my en-
le losses ou both
84, wounded 559,
total 878.
171| wounded 570,
engagement of the
rritory. With those
here we have in
rn and all naval
[uUy described in
LAN DM AUKS OF TORONTO,
10S7
CHAPTER CCLXXIX.
TORONTO'S EARLIER FAIRS.
A Slrlklnc t'onlra»t-The Flritt itRrlcullural
Kocletlcs — Parliamentary Aid — Some
AniuHing BecolleetleBi.
Toronto people are juit now (1M04) both
■■ntertaining and being entertained, the occa-
sion being the annual Industrial l<)xhibition
held in the palatial buildings erected for that
purpose on the Garrison common at the
west end of th« city. I he Exhibition Is
without doubt a great one, and deserving of
all the praise so freely bestowed upon ik by
visitors, and especially by Sir John Thomp-
.-on, .Mr. Mackenzie Bowell ar I Senator
Fergu on in thuir speeches at the curectora'
luncheon on the occasion of the formal open-
iiic! by the Premier of the Dominion on Tues-
day last.
■Some of the speakers at this same luncheon
drew a contrast between the Exhibition as
it is now and aa it was when it was first in-
augurated nearly half a century since.
1 lie present exhibition sprang out of the
old Provincial Agricultural Exhibition which
held its first show as far back as 1846. It is
uf this old institution, of the men who
managed it, and of incidents connected there-
with that we propose to give an account.
It ii strange, but no loss strange than
true, that until the year 1830, though many
agricultural societies existed throughout the
province of Upper Canada no recognition of
chem had been taken by Parliament. P>ut
in that year it entered into the minds of our
legislators that this was chietly an agri-
cultural country, dependent for the most
part on the products of the land and the
forest to provide a living for its thus rapidly
increasiag population.
In tke Parliamentary session of 1830 a
measure which successfully passed through
both the Upper and Lower houses was en-
acted, entitled " An act to encourage the
establishment of Agricultural societies, in
the several districts of the proriuce. "
THIS trSEFITL MEA9CKB
contained the following provision, nameh-,
"That when any society was established for
the pnrpose of importing valuable live stock,
grain, grass seeds or useful implements, and
had £50 (|200) subscribed and paid into thfe
hands of the treasurer of said society, it
should then le lawful for the (iovernor to
is;iue his warrant to the Receiver-General
for the sum of £100 ($400) annually to such
society, so long as it should continue to raise
such sum of £50."
In 1835 this act was amended, and in 1837
another to take its place (the former havin;{
expired) was passed, which was much more
favorable to the agricultural societies, as it
enacted that when the sum of £'J."i ($100)
was in the hands of the troa^>urer, that
Government would grunt the sum of £200
or S8Ui>. The local contribution was halTod
and the Parliameutary subsidy doubled.
I5ut yet more favorable conditions came into
force by another act passed in 1845, which
increased the subsidy
OIVFN BY COVKFINMRNT
to £250, at the same timo making certain
regulations respecting the management of
the societips, among thesu was one chat
they should transuit to Parliament each year
a statement ''of the expenses cf the society
and the persons to whom it may have grant-
ed premiums, and the objects for which such
premiums were obtained."
The Provincial Agricultural .-X ssociation
and Hoard of Agriculture for Upper Can.ada
was formed in 1846, having for its first
olKcers the following gentlemen : —
President, Edward William Thomson.
Vice-Presidents, John Wetenhall, of
Hamilton, and Henry Huttan, of Cobourg.
Secretary and treasurer, W. G. Edmund-
aon.
These gentlemen were all well-known re-
presentative man. (Jolonel Thomson resided
about fire miles from Toronto where he had
a farm of about one hundred acres and he
also farmed about four hundred acres in an-
other portion of Toronto township. Mr.
John Wetenhall was also closely connected
WITH AGRICULTURAL PURSUITS,
and was a highly respected inhabitant of the
"ambitious little city," Some of his grand-
sons now fill important positions in Toronto.
Mr. Rattan was the well-kno.vn sheriff of
Cobourg. He possessed a variety of experi-
ence, as indeed did all ot his colleagues. In
early life he was engaeed in business in
Kingston. He afterwards removed to
Cobourg. where he held considerable pro-
perty, and while there was elected to repre-
sent the constituency of Northumberland
first in 1820, and again in 183t), and was for
some time Speaker of the House. He was
also somewhat of a scientist, being the
patentee of a system of watmiug and venti-
lating houses, which was, as a matter of
course, in his opinion, "superior tn all others
then in vogue." We do not know that tliis
opinion was shared by the public generally,
but whether it was or not the system has
long since gone out of fashion. The secce-
tary and treasurer, Mr. ^V. G. Eimundson,
was a capable man ot busine^is, and well
fitted for the position he filled.
On October 21st and 22nd in the year 1846
THE FIRST EXHIBITION
was he) ' in Toronto on the grounds attached
to the 01 I Government house, several of the
exhibits being located in the House iti>elf.
' J!
m
■I
T
1088
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
On tlio evoiiiiig of the lir.Hl day a diiiiier at
vvhii!lt more tliuii iwo liiinilroil ixmmoiih wore
preaenl waa liolil in (iovuriiiit'Jiit home,
among tli« apuakfi's l)eiii^ the lace C'liit^t
iuitiee Sir Jolin lievitrluy KubiDsoii, Or.
Kyeraou, and auvcrul others. On ilie follow-
ing day the llonoralilo Adam Fei/uaaon, who
was n well-known authority on ai^ 'icultiiru,
dolivcrod an address on that aiibjugt, wliicli
contuinud the foUowint; passage roferrinqf to
the riews held by many people in (ireat
Britain respeuting ( anada. He said : —
" (,'anadu, though thousands in Britain
wrapped up in wilful darkness, shiver at its
iianio, ignorant alike of its real oapabilitivs
and raiue, is nevertheless blessed by a
bounteous Proridcnce, with every advantage
which can minister to the comfort and sup-
port of man. . . Of all the pursuits which
engage the physical energiss or which rouse
the intellectual lesourucs of our race,
there is none uhich can at all
BKAR ANT OOMFARISUV
with the occupation of the husbandman."
After dwelling on the blessings of peace, Mr.
Fergusson thus canclude I :
" I fenl far more intensely than I can
possibly express that our rery existence as a
aseful institution must altogether depend
}n a tirm and scrupulous exclusion of all
copies of a party or political nature from the
lioard. I ttiank God we have a irreat and
magnificent arena upon which every man
in Canada may contend in honorable and
patriotic compotilion, untainted by party
jealousies or strife, and moat devotedly
should we all pray that party feelin<> or
party intrigue may never be known amongst
us."
The next year the Exhibition was held in
Hamilton on October Ulh and 7th, the prizes
olTered amounting to £750, or $3,000. Uover-
norUeiieral theKarl of Elgin, was present
at the annual dinner and made a speech,
which everyone present was delighted with.
In 1848 Cobourg was the place selected,
and the number of days for the show to be
open was extended from two to four days.
THF. I'KIZE LIST
was not much larger than in the preceding
year, nevertheless the whole affair passed off
most successfully.
The " Limestone City" was the next
locality fixed upon for the annual show,
which took place on September 18th, 19th,
20th and 21st, 1849. The fifth and sixth
exhibitions were held in Niagara and Brock-
Tille, respectively, the amount offered in
prizes being about the same in both cases,
namely .?5,000.
In 185*2 the exhibition was again held in
Toronto and was a tremendous success. It
took place on September 21&t, 22nd, 23rd
and 24tli, on the fields which then existed
north of Simooo stieot, at that lime known
above Queen as William street. It is dilii-
cnlt to realize that audi .should have bee i
the case as every yard of thu ground is now
thickly covered with house.s. I liu I'resby
terian church near Simeoe .street stands
almost on the spot where was the
principal entrance to the fair ground.
Tiiere were a very lariro number oi
AMUSI.NO SIDE SIIOW.S
just outside the gates. One of these was the
exhibition of an aged gentleman of color,
said to have reached the decidedly mature
age of one hundred and seven years, and to
have "spoken many times to George Wash
ington. ' It would be quite easy for that to
have taken place, even if the man who was
exhibited had been much younger than the
age claimed for him. liut crowds poured in
and out of the tent all day long, cheerfully
paying their York shilling. They were
satisfied, and as a matter of com so the pro-
moteru of the side show were also.
At these provincial exhibitions almost
every conceivable article useii in Canadu
was exhibited, some of theexhil)it3 being ol
a somewhat grotesque character. Tiiere
were hor.sos and cattle, sheep and pirs,
poultry of all kinds and produce of every
description. There were giant pumpkin!)
and mammoth squashes, and a very good
trado was dono in selling the seeds
of both these varieties of the vege
ta')le kingdom. There were worU.s
of art in wool and in crayons
FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY
executed in many cases, A favorite subject
in woolwork was that of Abraham offerinL,'
up Isaac. It was once remarked in reference
to one of these artistic (?) productions,
" that it was ugly enough to bring Abraiiam
back again to protest against beinc represent-
ed in such alight." That hap^ "> led now
nearly forty years ago and much has been
learned since then while there is this to be
said even for those hideously ugly pieces of
fancy work, that they were done by young
women who '^ad little leisure and
to deny themselves much needed
to do them at all.
Early in the year 1855 an oxhil
place in the old Parliinnr li
l<'ront street of a L:reat
tared articles, some of w
to exhibit at the grea^
who had
recreation
aon t.
<lings (III
inanufac-
was intended
^ilibition of all
nations which was to be ti' that ear in
Paris. The late Mr. Geurge ucklanJ,
better known in later years as Professor
Buckland, took a very prominent part in
organizing this particular show. Admission
lo the building was wholly gratuitous,
80 no doubt, partly in consequence of ih'n
licit tl)oii existed
ihal lime known
itreet. It ia ililli-
hoiild liave bue i
»o grouiul is now
U.S. I lio I'l-psby
00 stret'l stands
wliere wuh the
lio tair giounii.
iriro nuini)er oi
SIIONTH
le of these wat the
iitlemaii of color,
decidedly mature
3V0I1 years, aad to
1 toUeorjje SVaali
le easy for tliat to
tho man who waa
youuger tltau tiie
crowds poured in
ay long, cheerfully
ing. They were
of com so the pro-
ero also.
exiiibitions almost
i used in Canadu
eexhit)its being ot
character. Tiiere
, sheep and piirs,
produce of every
■e giant pumpkina
and a very good
selling the seeds
9 of tho vege
ere were works
,nd in crayons
ONDERFULLY
A favorite subject
Abraham offering
narked in reference
tic (?) productions,
I to bring Abraiiam
na*beinir represent-
lat hapi'-'ied now
id much has been
there is tliis to be
Dusly ugly pieces of
ere done by young
sure and who hud
needed recreation
an exhil -ion i
\nc b dings on
. manufac-
^vas intended
^iibition of all
that ear in
George ucklanJ,
years as Professor
prominent part in
r show. Admission
wholly gratuitons,
cousequence of this
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO
1080
fact, the number of visitors was very great
Tho I'roviiicial Kxhibition continued to
move each yoar from place to phico, being
held in Kingston, Hamilton, liondon and
lirantford before it again visited Toronto
It was decided at tlia close of the ishow
held in 1S57 that in the following yuar the
exhibition should take place in Toronto, the
ijruund chosen being that portion of the
Uarrison commons lying immediately south
a\ the I'rovin'jial lunatic asylum, between
that building and the lake.
Tho question of suitable buildinurs though
waa a very urgent one and greatly exorcised
the minds of the Astociation. At last after
sndless discussion among the members of the
board ai|d their professional advisers, it » as
decided to erect a building partly of glass
and iron, premiums of $1*20 and $100 being
offered for the most suitable plana. There
were uo less than
TIIIBTKEN OOMPETITOKS,
AC any rate that was the number of plana
sent in, but strangely enough the two selected
by the committee as being the best, proved
to have been sent in by the same firm,
Messrs. Fleming & Sohreiber, well known
civil engineers of Toronto.
The committee approved of the details of
certain portions of each desiL'n ; the engineers
were requested to prepare a plan embracing
the advantages of iioth, and on May 22nd
tenders were received for tlie erection of the
Ijuilding. The tender of Messrs. Smith,
Burke k, Co., proposing tc construct the
building for the i>um of £4,870 10s., or
$19,482 GO, waa accepted, and, the time being
limited, the work was immediately com-
menced.
Towards tho expense incurred in connec-
tion with the erection of permanent build-
ings the City Council voted the sum of
$20,000, while the County Councils of York
and I'eel united and voted S''4,000. These,
considering the times, were truly handsome
contributions,
MUCH TOO HANUSOMI
thought many of the taxpayers, both in the
cities and counties, nevertheless the money
was paid over without any serious protest.
The corner stone of tho building, known
for su many years afterwards eia tho Crystal
Palace, was laid on July 15th, 1858, in the
presence of the Board of Agriculture, the
City Council and a great number of specta-
tors, by the Hon. Philip M Vankoughnet,
the then Minister of Agriculture for Upper
Uanada.
.\ deed engrosseil as follows was deposited
in a lai-i'e cavity within the stone : —
0.1 t 15lh day ot July, A.D 1858, in
the22iid year of the reign of Victoria, by
thp k-riii'B of (iod. Oueen Defender of the
Faith, His Kxcellency Sir Kdmund Walker
Head, liart, C.I!., one of Her Majesty's
most honorable I'rivy Council, being liover-
iior-Ccneral of llie province, this the fecunda-
tion stone of a Crystal I'alace, wlicrein under
tho direction of thu Provincial Agricultural
Association, tho resources of Upper (!anada
shall be fosteri.'d by the annual exiiibitions
of the evidences of its progress in agricul-
ture and
TIIK INDUHTKIAL ARTS
was laid by the lionorablo Philip M. Van-
koughnet, President of the Kxecutivo Coun-
cil and Minister of Agriculture, asHlsted by
Ed ware) William ThoinHon, Ksq., Piisident
of the ISnard of Agriculture of Upper Can-
ada, William B. Jarvis, Kaq , President of
the lioard of Arts and Manufacturei, and
William Henry Houlton, ]Ln{., Mayor of tbe
City of Toronto."
Then followed a list of the names of the
otHoers of the Provincial Agricultural Asso-
ciation, of the iioard of Agriculture, the To-
ronto Local Committee, and ot the architects
and builders.
Of those who formed the Local Committee
only Mr. D. H. Head and Mr. J. E. I'ell,
the evergreen secretary and collector of the
St. (ioorge's Society, now remain among us.
Besides this document a small number of
newspapers were also enclosed in a tin case
and depoaited within the cavity. Amongst
those so placed were copies of the (llobt,
Colcnint, Leader and Atlas. Au English
half sovereign, florin, sliilling, and some
copper coins were also enclosed.
TUK KOYAL CANADIAN HIFLBS
furnished the band for the musical portion
of the day's proceedings, which passed o£F
most satisfactorily
The Palace was cruciform in sliape, and
from the inside presented a very handsome
appearance. But outside the elTeut was
greatly marred by the flatness, or apparent
Uatuess, of the building. it looked as if
some heavy weight had been dropped on the
roof, crusiiing it down. The building from
cast to west was two hundred and fifty aix
feat long and ninety-six feet wide. Its ex-
treme height was only fifty-five feet. In
the centre of the buildiuK, immediately
under the dome, was a itandsorae fountain,
the first of the kind ever erected in Upper
Canada, which attracted a very great deal
of attention and admiration froii^ everyone
who saw it There were four minor jets of
water rising from the central basin,
and on each of these rode grotesque
figures of Chinese mandarins and
the typical John Bull. From the
central jet rose a column of water
for some five or six feet upon which ever
revolving was a ^ilt hollow ball, some six
I
i
tr
■'r
t
if
:V
>• 'fi
W
. I
fe
■^S-
H ■
* a •-
i:i
■I
'it
mmmm
1090
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
1.1 tr
inches in circumference. 'I his continued
optn ior nearly a fortnight, and was very
largely patruniztid. There were band con-
tests open to pttrformers from all parts of
(he province, besides many other ways of
finding both amusement and instruction.
Atnoug those who were connected with
tbt old ProvinciAl Exhibitions, still extant,
is Lieutenant-Colonel Oeorg^ T. Dcnison,
Toronto's etiicient Police Magistrate.
Jcorge r. Whitney was also one among
the juniors, and no one was more popu-
lar. Poor George, he soon passed away,
dying before he attained his thirtieth year.
He was a U.C. College boy, and was present
at Ridgeway in commaud of the University
company of the "Quean's Own." Then
there were many others, among th«ni be'^g
Kill, '• Tom" Kennedy and Mr.ra. The If^t
named met his death while on his way to
Kingston in 1859, falling between the boat
<ind the wharf, while the former was leaving
harbor.
Of the older officials there a''e now very
few left. Not one has an>^.iin(r to do with
the Industrial. J hey are engaged elsewhere,
or do not now reside in the city, but those
few who do remain have none but pleasing
memories of the old Exhibitions, and of the
happy days spent as the shows mo/eJ from
town to (o\\n in " the days of long ago."
OLD TIME EXHIBITORS.
Tbe First Sbow— CUanges In tbe Province—
An Imposins Denionstrution — IVell-
kuown rrize Taiters— Obielete Initutttries
In a preceding article on the above sub-
ject a sketch has been given of the earlier
shows, when they took place, the principal
man who managed them and other incidents
connected with iheir rise and progress. It
is now proposed in this paper to give some
iiarticulars of the animate and inanimate ex-
hibits, of the prizes taken, and of the people
who were their recipients.
Of tlie show of 1846 it is not necessary to
■ay a very great deal. It was necessarily a
very small affair, and as the means of trans-
port for cattle and merchandise were in
those days exceedingly difficult, the live
stock and natural products shown were
drawn almost entirely from local sources.
But wheu the second exhibition was held
here in 1852 great changes had taken place
in the province. Roads were better, there
had been a great development in the num-
ber of steamboats plying upon the lakes and
the population of the country had greatly
increaeed also, so that those who exhibited
at the show, inttead of being a' most wholly
from Toronto or its immediate vicinity, were
taken from almost every part of the province
preceded by a batd
starting and on th;:
classical and other
The show commenced on Tuesdav and ex-
tended until the following Friday. The ad
mission on the last two days was only
twelve and a half cents or a York shilling.
These two were the " People's days " auci
on each morning the show was opened by—
to quote a newspaper report of the time —
" an imposing procession of several thousand
people. ' 'I'he horses which were on exhibi-
tion to the number of eighty headed the
procession which was
which playetl before
march, selections of
music, mostly " other; " then followed apo-
plectic bulls Knd sleek kine,Bomo of the lattet
having their horns fantastically ornamented
with gay ribbons. The rear of the proces
sion consisted of exhibitors and the genera]
public in conveyances of every possible de
scription and not a ^ w upon " shank:
mare."
The cavalcade furmed up on the old county
show grounds near tbe jail on Front street
and v,a the Thursday morning Dr. Widmer,
who lived very near the spot, came out of hii
house and wiih the critical eye of an old cav
alryman inspected the horses before they
started ofiT on their round. The procession
wound its way by Front street to the City
Hall, thence along King to Simcoe street and
to the show grounds.
In this year of grace the number of prizes
offered by the directors of the In-
dustrial Exhibition for horses exceeded two
hundred, first, second and third, besides
SEVERAL SILVER MEDALS.
In 1852 there wervf less than three score.
The President of the Association in that
year offered a prize of $120 for the best agri-
cultural stallion in Canada. This was won
by Mr. Thomas Hlanchard, of Toronto town
ship. This gentleman was a great lover of
horses and spared no pains or money so as
to procure the best. In carriage horses
there were three prizes awarded and three
only. These were secured by Mr. W. H.
Dickson, of Niagara, Mr. William Allan,
Moss Park, Toronto, and Mr. J. J. Ptttitt,
of Sa'Mileet. Though Mr. Dickson and Mr.
Allan have both paid tbe debt of natura
long since, their representatives are still
among us.
"The three prizes tor saddle horses," com-
placently rcmarki^d the Toronto Examiner,
in its report, "were all taken by Toronto
citizens, Messrs E. C. Jones, Grantham
and Lafontaine." tSous of Mr. E. C. Jones
are yet in Toronto and are as fond of a horas
as ho was.
For " Klood " horses the first prize was
taken by John Huntingford, of Toronto
township, the second by Ueorge Cooper, oi
the same place, and the third by \V. U.
I:
Li-
XANDMARKS OF TOF.ONIO.
1091
Tu«Bdav and ex-
Friday. The ad
) daya was onlj
a York shilliDg.
iple's days " aud
■ was opened by—
•t of the time —
( bsveral thousand
h were on exhibi-
eighty headed the
ceded by a, baL'd
rtint; and on th;:
ssical and other
hen followed apo-
I, some of the lattet
ically ornamented
iar of the proces
s and the general
very possible de
w upon " shank E
3 on the old county
1 on Front street
ning Dr. Widmer,
)oc, came out of hit
.1 eye of an old cav
horses before thev
The procession
itreet to the City
) Simcoe street and
e number of prizes
)r8 of the lu-
>rses exceeded two
lud third, besides
HBUALS.
than three score.
Association in that
10 for the best agri-
,da. This was won
d, of Toronto town-
M a great lover of
na or money so as
carriage horses
Rwarded and three
•ed by Mr. W. H.
Mr. Williaai Allan,
Mr. J. J. Fettitt,
Dickson and Mr.
e debt of nature
iiitatives are stiU
addle horses," com-
torouto Examiner,
taken by Torouto
Jones, Grantham
of Mr. E. C. Jones
e as fond of a horse
,he first prize was
gford, of Toronto
George Cooper, oi
1 third by VV. U.
Dickson, of Niagara. Joh' Funtingford
v/as both farmer and horse-breedor, and was
very prowd of his cattle. Geo. Cooper lived
at that tiue in a large frame house on the
aonth-east side of Dundas street about the
eighth of a mil* north of the second cr.nces-
sioD, now known as Bloor street \Vest.
Part of his house remains standing now, and
is used as a manufactory.chiidron's carriages
being n'.ade there. He was a very eccentric,
but a most upright and honorable man aiul
was a well-known figure at all of the exhibi-
tions He built abouVlS^S a largo brick
house for his own occupancy on the Daven-
port hill overlooking the station of that
name on the thctz Northern, now Grand
Trunk Railway. Mr. Cooper was a remark-
able example of perseverance; he had not
the advantage of much education and heqan
work at a very early age, yet he acquired a
handsome fortune entirely by his own exer-
tions.
Anoth*>r prize taker at thii exhibition was
Judge Mci^ean, of Toronto, he taking first
prize for the best thoroughbred two-year-old
tilly. Ihere are many wiio remember the
learned judge, his earnest face, diguitied de-
portment and haliitual courtesy
In this year's list there are prizes for
"Hunters, 'for "Kackneys," for " I anc'cms,"
and "Four-in-Hands." Our fathers and
grandfathers 'vould have simply stood aghast
had any proposition been mailc to them
tiiat they should compete in sucli classes.
Some of them had heard of all four very
possibly. A few had seen the "I'andcm
c:iub" drive out from the barracks during
the winters of 1839-42, but they generally
looked upon it as frivolou'), if not ridiculous,
and fit oiily for officers of the army who had
no I etter means oi occupying their time.
But had they been asked seriously to exhibit
a "Fourin-Hand"
INDKJNATION AND AMAZKMENT
would hare tilled them, that anyone could
think them capable of indulging in such
fobiish extravagance.
The times have changed since then. Hlvery-
one now is familiar with " luinters " and
" four-in-hands " and no one is considered to
be "putting on frills " because he indulges
himself one way or the other.
In horned catile the following were the
olbises : — Durhamt, Devons, HereforJs,
Ayrshires, besides a separate class each for
"Grades "and " Fat cattle." The total
anmber of prizes was one hundred atid two
Those oflfered this year reach nearly four
hundre'i. In Durham cattle Haron <ie
Longueuil, of Kingston took first prize.while
Ralph Wade, a prominent agiieultnrist, re-
siding in Cobourg and the Ilonoriible A.
Fercrusson were also exhibitors. In Devons.
John Gage, of Wellington Square, took the
first prize, while G. F. Kykert, of St.
Catharines, and John Mason, of Cobourg,
were also winners of several more.
In Ayrshires seventeen prizes were
awarded, these falling principally to J. B.
Ewart, of Dundas, Baron de i..ongueuil, ot
Kings' on, and Richard Lippincott Denisen,
c Toronto. I'lwart. was one of the first to
introduce this particular kind of cattle into
Canada, and for a long time R. L. Denisoo
was the only agriculturist in or near Toron-
to who had any stock on his farm of that
breed. Mr. Denisou's farm was on Dundas
street, between Ossington avenue, Dover-
court road and College !>troet on the north.
A SINGITLAR CIRCCMSTANCE
ociiurred in the Hertford class. There were
only 5ve prizes offered, and every one ol
these was secured by I'aron de Longueuil.
Their total value was only $81. This year
they exceed $400, and in addition there ate
two silver medals.
In sheep in the Leicesters the principal
pr'zes were t,aken by John and George
Miller, of Markham, and by Nathaniel
Cooper, of Toronto. In the Merinos and
Saxon'-, with one single exception,
the whole of the prizes were taken
by Nathan Choatp, of Hope, and John
Lan^staife, of Kiclimoud Hill. In the
.Southdo« ns Edward Joiies,of .Stamford, took
nearly all the prizes, though it must he con-
fessed he was not very s>reatly enriched
thereby, as they only amount i in the aggre-
gate to a trifle more than $130.
There were very few prizes offered tor
pigs, and tlie.so were principally taken by
Mr Thomas Mus.son, of Etobicoke, (who
that once knew genial " Tom ' does nob ro
member liiti with affection?) Dempster
Smith, of Trafalgar, and John P. \N' heeler,
of Scarborough,
Tiie txhibits of poultry were comparative-
ly tfw; thirteen prizes were awarded, these
falling for the most parh to George Miller,
Marl.ham, J. G. Home, R. A. Goodenough
I anil the Hon. W illiam Allan, of Toronto,
(ieorge Miller was or'.e of the most noted
agriculturist of his day. tlverylhing he did
as a farmer he did well and few men were
more useful to the comnuinity, among whi::li
they dwt'lt than he was.
Ke.specting the horlicultui-al exhibits a
newspaper of the time gave the followin;;
very Mattering report under the heading of
'■ Tbi; Garden. '
Gratifying as must have be«n the exhi-
' .cioi. jf live stock and the shaped commo-
dities of the (icld to every inteliiijeiit lover
of his country, and proud, ns were the feel-
ings which it was calculated to inspire, it wcs
not without an incrcasinrr sense of pleasure
I I
.'' }> 5-.'!'/f -^r^T^f^^^P!?"
1092
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
that we vUited the Floral Hall. Hera the
C leasing and the useful were moat sweetly
lended. In a building of considerable length,
with the entrance fro'.n the south end,
wore arranged a splendid vriety of the
choicest garden fruits, including apples of
nearly onu hundred varieties, pears, plum ,
peaches, grapes, pumpkins. Grapes were
shown by Mrs. S.A. Boulton.of Toronto, and
the same lady also carried the first prize for
winter pears.* * * In this building the atten-
tion of visitors was arrested by the gigantic
squashes exhibited by Mr. Gordon, of Yonge
street, some of which were so ponderous that
the strength of a man of ordinary muscular
ability would iiava been required to raise
them from the ground.
In agricultural pro lucts the Canada Com-
pany's prize of $100 for the best 25 bunheis
of wheat was won by J. U. Carpenter, of
Townsend. Toronto farmers did not make
a Tery good show in this class, those who
took prizes being very few; among them
were Alexander Shaw, P. Armstrong, R. L.
Denisou and Lewis Kate.
Captain Shaw took prizes for hemp and
flnv ".ul for sn ar beets, for mammoth
fsquashes and for broom corn brush. His
iuuu Nva.i situated jiissl eabt of Duu-
uas street, near Trinity University, and
was known as Oak Hill. Shaw street
gets its name from the captain's family.
The ground is now coveied with residences
and not a vestige of the old farm buildings
remains, and yet the old h use possessed an
historic interest as it was fur a brief period
a royal residence when the Duke of Kent
visited York nearly a centurv ago.
Lewis Bate, who took a prize for Swede
turnips, was not only a small farmer, but he
also kept the Queen's Head tavern on the
corner of Dund as and Queen streets, where
the Dominion Bank now stands lie I'as a
good-hearted man and a great gossip.
Notliing delighted liim more than to have
the uudergraduates from Trinity University,
then very recently opened, call at his house,
%vhen he would listen to thcii narrations or
tell a variety of stories to entertain them
with equal pleasure.
The implements .shown were rough copies
of what is new to ie found at the West-end.
Some of those who have exhibits this year at
the industrial were represented then, and
there wai nothing in the articles shown to
call for any particular notice or comment.
In the "Cabinctware and Carriiiiris'' class
F. C Scaile',',, of Etobicoke and Toronto,
took prizos for sawed pine and best Bpeoi-
mens of oak. He also secured a prize for
tho " besi ox yoke and bows.' Scarcely
any of the men who now farm near
Toronto know even what an ox yoke i.s
Yet it is less than fifty years sinse wood
and produce were brought into Toronto
market by th« aid of a yoke of
oxen. Samuel Scarlett, a brother of Ed-
wards, also took a prize for the best dozen
of '* turned broom h mdles," while Francis
Silverthorne and Peter Dache were award-
ed premiums for flour barrels.
£dward and Saniuel Scarlett were
brothers, sons of John Scarlett of Bunui-
mede, on Dundas street to the extreme west
of Toronto Junction, the house being stand-
ing and iu good preservation. Edward re-
sided near Weston and Samuel on the banks
of the Humber at no great distance from
Lanibton. The latter eventually settled
in the North-we.<!t where he died several
years ago. Edward lived to very nearly
four score and died on the shores of the
Bay of Quinte lu the latter days of 1893.
Silverthorne and Peter Dache were very
well known men. The former belonged to the
famous family of U E. Loyalists ; the latter
was a French-Canadian. He lived at Lamb-
ton in a pretty house on the south-eastern
side of Dundas street, overlooking tht>
Humber.
Among the exhibitors and prize takers in
" Domestic Manufactares " are found a great
many well known names.
J. R. Armstrong & Co , and G.H.Cheney,
of Toronto, with Oliver T. Macklem, of
C lippewa, took prizes for stoves, no one
else having even a ''look in." Not to know
any one of these firms in the "forties" and
"fifties" was to write yourself down un-
known. Though none of these firms now
exist many of the descendants of the men
who composed ttiem are still in the city.
In the ladies' daparDment the display of
wax figures, artificial flowers, crochet work
a«d fancy knitting, was " in gorgeous pro-
fusion," as it was described by a writer iu
the local press, who added, " Our common
jtlace notions led us to admire the substantial,
cosy, and tlaboralely wrought quilts ex-
hibited by Mrs. Phoenix, Miss Chapinan,
Mrs. Thomson and others, as much as
the elegant specimens of embroidery. "
Mrs Phoenix was from Trafalgar ; Miss
Chap:nan belonged to a well-known Scar-
boro fa iiily, and Mrs. Thomson was the wife
of John Thomson, who lived in a cottage on
the north side of Queen street, east of the
Don. The road was then known as Kings
ton road, and why it was ever altered is one
of those things " that nobody can under
stand."
.Among the " Miscellaneous class " w«re
exhibits of the following all but forgotten
articles : — Melodcons, seraphims, grain
i^iM<)!("* !ind grape prrserves, whatever tli*i
last may be.
rs sinse wood
into Toronto
a yoke of
irother of Ed-
Iho best dozen
• while Fcancis
,e were award-
''Searlett were
rlett of Runni-
he extreme west
use being staud-
,n Edward re-
lu'el on the banks
t distance from
eniually settled
he died Beveral
to very nearly
he shores of the
er d^ysof 1893.
)ache were very
,er belonged to the
valists ; the latter
He lived at Lamb-
tbe south-eastern
overlooking th«.
ind prize takers in
" are found a great
, and G.H.Cheney.
r T. Macklem, ot
or stovea, no one
in " Not to know
tlie "forties" ana
ourself down uu-
of these firms now
.dants of the men
stiU in the city,
tient the display ot
iwers, crochet work
' in uorgeous pro-
ibed bv a writer m
imi " Our common
fmire the substantial,
wrought quilts ex-
ix Miss vJbapnian,
thers, as much as
g of embioidery.
|m Trivfa'icar ; Miss
la well-known Scar-
feomson was the wife
luved in a cottage on
n street, east of the
,en known as Kmgs
,B ever altered is one
nobody can under
llaneouB class were
Ing all but forgotten
'^seraphims
Lt'ives,
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
i093
grain
whatever tli*i
! here was also a prize for clue awarded
to Mr. (!'arr. It will be news to many to
Irara that this glue factory was on the
Cistern side of Church sire t, jut north of
Carlton, and that beyond was what was
known as Woods' bush. Churcti street ter-
minated at this point, as do likewise these
reminiscences of " Toronto's Earlier Fairs."
CHAPTER CCLXXX.
THE OLD CRYSTAL PALACE.
Sir Kdiiiund llentl— DIstlnsKlstaed VUlton
— "<'hevaller)i d'lndnstrle"— A Koand of
Aiiiu.<temcnt~Exhlblts and ExhUiltors.
In two former articles on " Toronto's
Earlier Fairs " a lengthy reference was made
to the erection of the first permanent Exhi-
bition building \vhioh was constructed in
Toronto and an account also given of its
size, its builders and architect, and of the
laying of the corner-stone thereof.
This building, known as the Crystal
Palace, was first used, as has been already
mentioned, for the annual exhibition of the
Provincial Agricultural Association in the
last days of the month of September and the
first days of the following mouth in thw year
1858.
The opening ceremony was a most impos-
ing one for those days, being performed by
his Kxcellency Sir Edmund VValker Head,
the then Governor-General, accompanied by
Lady and Miss ilead and other members of
his family. ' Among those present were the
Honorablea John A. Macdouald, Philip
Vankongbnet and Sidney Smith, Judgo
llagarty, the Bishop of Toronto, Dr. John
Strachan, Rev. John McCaul, D.D., C apt.
Retallack, ADC, and many otliers, nota-
bly Mr. J. E. Poll, chairman of the build
ing committee. Upon the entrance of
the (iovernor-General and party the band
of the Royal Canadian Rifles played the
National Ant em. On its conclusion
thfc Bishop of Toronto offered up pray-
er and then an addrosa was presented
from the Agricultural Association of
Upper Canada to the Governor - General
setting forth the object and aims of the
society, the purpo e for which the Crystal
Palace had been erected and asking his Ex-
cellency to declare the building open.
Sir l-i^dmiind Head in a lengthy speech ac-
kno't lodged the address, dwelling on the
importance of such exhibitions and com-
mending the pulilic spirit of those concerned
in their nianaiiement. He then proceeded: —
"Twenty years ago no person would iiave
I'liuught that at this day, we would have seen
Ki'.eh a building at the head of Lake Ontario,
sLudilB erection ou this spot is indicative
alike of the advancement of the whole Pro-
vince as of Toronto. The prosperity of
Canada ; the unity of Canada ; the life of
Canada, depends on those inland waters,
those great seas which pour down the St.
Lawrence connecting us with the ocean aud
through the ocean with Europe and the
mother country> '
' The prosperity of Canada depends on the
St. ijawrence, it is tlie life blood of the
country. The all important thing for the
future of Canada, for its wealth and national
existence is its control of those great masse*
of water."
THE GOV'ERNOR-QE.NKUAL
after again complimenting tlie President aud
committee of the Association on the s .ccesd
of their enterprise, declared the Exh bition
opened A report in one of the Toronto
daily papers of the time says : —
•* The Choral Society then performed th<
chorus 'The Heavens are Telling,' by
Haydn, in a splendid style. This produc-
tion of the master mind of the ureat com-
poser was well rendered, and at its conclu-
sion a clap of rejoicing was raised from one
end of the building to the other."
Besides the distinguished visitors who as-
sisted at the inaugural ceremony, there wer«
also present a great number of the light
fingered gentry, otherwise pickpockets, who
plied their trade with unwearied assiduity.
Many serious robberies were reported, in
one case a farmer being relieved of more
than $500. There is scarcely anything,
though, which has not a ludicrous side at-
taching to it, and so it was in the case ol
the losses caused by these pickpockets. A
number of gentlemen were gatiiered to
gether in the committee room of the .Associa-
tion, and the chairman referred to the necea
sity for caution in carrying th^ir money
owing to the great number of robberies that
had taken place. One of his hearers who
had but just returned from a lengthy tour
in Europe assented to the truth of the
chairman's remarks, adding that if meu
would cany their money in theii' trousers
pocket they would be quite .^ure uot to
lose it. Growing enthusiastic in his re-
marks, he said ; " I liav<j travelled all.
over England and I always kept my purae
here." As he uttered these word-s he put hia
hand into his pocket to tind— not liis purse,
but that he, too, had been the victim of
some one of the "chevaliers d' indu»trie.''
Despite the sympathy felt for him in his lose,
it was impossible not to be amused by the
very practical refutation given by fact to
his theory.
The numbers present on the first two dayi
of the Exliibition were greater than at any
previous show held in luroiito or cUewberat
s: I
: '1
I I
m
u
S li
lOM
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
i
A writtr, ipaaking of the attemlance, said :
'* The exact number present it is ditiicull to
ttompute, but some idea may be forme:! from
the statement of the fact that upwards of
fire thousand one dollar badges had been
disposed of up to noon of Wednesaay. >ix
hundred and twenty-tive were sold yester-
day (i huriiday), and upwards of nine feliuu-
land Were admitted on the payment of a
quarter of a dollar."
Visitors were present from every part of
the province, from Quebec, Montreal
ftnd even from Halifax. The Grand Trunk
railway carried passengers at single fares
for the return journey and the steam-
boat owners did the same. Writing after
THK CLOSE OF THE EXUIBlTIOtf
% Toronto paper wrote thus on the large
Qumber of those present:
"The lar^e concourse of people present at
the inauguration of Wednesday, consider-
able as it was, was exceeded on 1 hursday,
aot less than twenty thousand being present.
As on the preceding day, only one opinion
prevailed in reference to the Exhibition,
which was that of complete satisfaction
both with the display itself and with the
excellent manner in which ail the araange-
nents hud been curried out.
"Not only was the Crystal Palace itself
srammed to overflowiu({, but *he entire city
itself presented a scene of animation which
in all probability has never before been
squalled. King street especially wore from
the number of pedestrians who paraded it
sll day, an appearance which reminded one
itrongly of Cheapside or Ikoadway at the
busiest hour of the day. How all our visit-
trs procured accommodation is a mystery to
M but the initiated, but certain it is that
ao great amount of inconvenience has been
•xperienced by the welcome strangers. But
Toronto has already so much of tue attri-
butes of a real metropolis about it, that it
can engulf a large amount of extra popula-
tion without overtaxing; its powers of accom-
modation. This fact will no doubt serve it
in good stead when the question of fixing
upon a permanent site for the annual hold-
ing of the Provincial Exhibition comes to
be considered."
Lnt in addition to the Exhibition Toron-
to offered boats of attraotiona to its
many visitors. At the Romaine build-
ings there was a bazaar where young ladies
in the daintiest of uostum ■ acted aa ama«
teur saleswomen, dispensing coffee at
SS cents a cup and eakea r 10 cents each,
with the most praisewortuy perseverance.
There was no charge to go in, or if ao.it was
a very small one, but there was a great deal
to pay before one could get out. But the
public liked the fun ; the young ladiee en-
joyed the work, and the funds of the church
were benefitted, besides, it was exhibition
time, and every one was in a good humor, no
all were satisfied.
Then there were races during the week on
Gates' Newmarket course, where the sport-
inn portion of the visitors were able to put
in a good time and back the favorite or an
outsider, accordiug to their own swest will.
Not a tew took advantage of the opportuui
ties allbrded them.
Besides these attractions there were yacht
races on the bay. Among the compeMtora
appear such well-known names as £. M.
Hodder, Overton Gildersle.ve and Saiu
Sherwood. The first of these, L>r. Hodder,
who resided on the south side of Quesn
street west, nearly opposite Csllege avenue,
was for many years Commodore of the Royal
Canadian Yacht Club, .^n excellent portrait
of the accomplished surgeon and
COOL, CAUTIOUS, \ACHTSMAN
adorns the reception room of the R. C. Y.
Club's spacious home on tlie Islai d. Over-
ton Gilderaleeve was an old U. C. College
boy and and a brother of Charles Gilder-
sleeve who is also, like all his family, a born
sailor. They are both sons of the well
known Gilderaleeve who l.uilt the Charlotte,
that dear old craft which seventy years ago
plied from Kingston to the Bay of Quints
ports.
What with bazaars, horse races, yacht
races, the conclusion might safely be ar-
rived at that with these, in additien to the
attractions offered by the Exhibition, the in-
habitants of Toronto had amusements suffi-
cient. But the conclusion would be errone-
ous, there was much more to interest them.
The i oronto firemen held high carnival and
gave Hi great demonstration, in addition to
their own strength they invited the atten-
dance of the fire brigades from London,
Hamilton and Cobourg and marched iu pro-
cession throughout the city on Friday in the
first week of the Fair.
The order of march was as follows : —
Hand of Toronto Hre brigade.
Mr. James Ashfield, Chief Engineer, and
deputies.
The Hook and Ladder Cocipany.
No. I "Phoenix" Company, Toronto Firs
Briga e.
The London Fire Brigade.
No. 2 "Rescue,' Toronto Fire Brigade.
No 3 "British America," Toronto Firs
Brigade.
mulla'net's brass band.
The Hamilton Fire Brigade.
No. 4, "Victoria," T.F.B ; No. 6, " De
luge, • T.F.B. ; No. 6, " Provincial,' T F. B.
The Cobourg brigade fround up the pro-
oeasion.
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
109S
[s of the church
was exhibUion
good humor, no
ng the week on
here the sporl-
ere able to pat
• favorite or »n
own 8W«"st will.
i the opportuni-
there were yacht
the comper.itora
names as E. M.
e ve and Sasn
886, L»r. Hodder,
I side of Queen
Call«S« a'0"*>
dore of the Royal
excellent portrait
a and
dCHTSMAN
,f the R. C. Y.
a lilat d. Over-
d U. C College
Charles GiWer-
his family, a born
8ons of the well
uilt the Charlotte,
seventy years ago
it, Bay of Quints
irse
ght
races, yacht
safely be ar-
additien to the
Exhibition, the in-
amusements sum-
would be errono-
to interest them,
high carnival and
la addition to
ivited the atten-
from London,
d' marched in pro-
;y on Friday in the
as follows :—
gade.
hief Engineer,
and
(Doaipany.
uiy, Toronto Firs
^•- . u
10 Fire Brigade.
ca," Toronto Firs
33 BAND.
■f.B; No. 6, "Ha-
rovincial,'' T F.B.
Uouud up the pro-
No one wishes for a moment to go back
to the days of the hand engines and volun-
tary firemen. Yet there was a picturesque
side to the old-time firemen that docs not
now attach to ths much more efficient body
possesbed by Toronto. There was a rivalry
then butweon «he various companies as to
which could turn out in the smartest style
and whose engine could throw a stream of
water the highest. The various engines
were all part and parcel of the life of the
town, and at a fire it was considered no
■mall privilege by youths and men to be
able to take a hand at the breaks. " Good,
old Rescue, well done, No. 2," would resound
from the crowd surrounding that engine
during the progress of a fire, while perhaps
from a similar conerregalion around the
"Phoenix" or "Deluge" would be heard
the cry of " Broak her down, boys ; you're
higher than No. 2 ; break her down "
To return to the procession, It formed up
on Duke street and proceeded via Frederick
to King, thence by York tO Front, along
that thoroughfare tu Y^onge street as far as
Queen, thence to Bathurst street, where it
dispersed.
THE SCARLET COATED FIREMEN.
The gaily caparisoned horses drawing
the engines which were all profusely decor-
ated, the floating banners precedin^r each
CO np.my, and the music fiom the various
bai d: , all combined to make the scene a
mo&t imposing one.
Thii nfiwspapers of *.he time .spoke of this
procession ami the one by torch light which
took place the same evening, as " being the
grandest things of the sort that had ever
taken place in Toronto," another report
Eays:
" The display was in every way creditable
and was much enjoyed by tlie thousinds of
people at present in the city."
There were a greater number of entries of
stock, implements and produce at tho 18.58
Exhibition than in any year preceding it,
and the exhibits themselves were superior
iu quantity as well a.s in quality.
The prucipal prize takers were the fol-
lowing :
F. W. Stone. Guelph, $272; W. Rod-
dick, Port Hope, §210; G. and W. Miller,
Markham, $196 ; \V. H. Lock, Yarmouth,
$191 •• Richard L. Denison, Toronto, $122;
Jacob Ryiiial, Wentworth, $102, and I G.
Turnbull, of South Dumfries, who took the
Canada Company's prize of $100 for wheat.
MANY CURIOUS ARTICLES
were exhibited, anung them bein;,' a model
of H. M. ships Niagara and Agamemnon
laying the first Atlantic cable A model of
the " paying out " process was also ex-
hibited.
In the northern transept, on its western
side, was a huge bookcase containing one
hundred copies of the Bible printed in aa
many different languages. This case from its
absolute no^ elty and unique character drew
crowds of observers. Not very far from
this was '. "Diagram of a Million Units,"
constructed by John Damp, of Davenport.
This diagram w»b intended to show the
VBstness of that number and the capabilities
of a million of money. Damp was an Eng-
lishman who came to Toronto about 1856
from Newport, Isle of Wight, he was a
builder and a carpenter and resided in a
pretty house on Davenport road almost op-
posite Churchill avenue, he was fond of
lecturing on this pet subject, " A Million
of Units" and lectured very well. He long
since left Davenport where he was a very
useful man.
In fruit, plants and flowers the prize
takers numbered J. D. Humphreys, ^^ . A.
Baldwin, Judge Harrison and Professor
Hir&chfelder. The latter is still amongst ns,
hale and vigorous, though the day is fast
approaching when he will be almost our
' oldest inhabitant."
One other name also appears in the prize
list for 1858, that of Mrs. C. P. Traill, of
Rice liftke, for "the best collection of
native plants dried and named." Few names
are more honored in the history of Canadian
literature than this lady's, none more de-
servedly so. Nothing but what is pleasant
attaches to the honored trio of women
writers, all more or less connected with
Canada, and all related, Traill, Strict; land
and Moody. " They did what they could"
for the good of tiieir country afld the credit
of themselves and theii familiei.
CHAFTKR~CCLXXXL
CURIOUS OLD BOOK.
An Adverllsomciit Milli an Apology— Sin*
giilnr (iiroiioloslrnl Table- 4M«I Civil !>er*
vants— The Old .llllitla Force.
An old volume lies on the table as we
write. It is not bound in " boards," or
even in "paper" cover. It is simply
stitched in pamphlet form, and contains
about ninety p iges. It is entitled " The
York Almanac and Provincial Calendar for
the year 1821." It purports to have been
issued " By Authority ' from the office of
the Upper' Canada Oazefle, York, where it
was printed and sold.
In the middle of the first page are
THE CALCULATIONS FOR THE MERIDIAN OF
YOUR, UI'PER CANADA.
North Lat. 43° 39' 10".
\Ve«t Long 78° 4' 11".
This table and the other matter just men-
'; '■: jl
'H
^^TT
lOM
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
tiooad is the whole of what >'s to bo fouud on
page number one.
There is no preface, but th^re is what
M ould nnw-a-days be called one under the
style of " ftdTertisement, ' which sets forth
that owing to unexpected circumstances the
publication of the Calendar has been delayed
and that the editor has been compelled re-
luctantly th omit several articles at first in-
tended to be inserted. It continues " Not-
withstanding much pains were taken to ob-
tain accuracy, yet it being the tir.st publica-
tion of the kind attempted in this province,
many errors were unavoidable."
THE DOCUMENT IS UATBO
York. Jan Ist., 1821.
The almanac proper begins with a table of
"Epochs and common notes for the year
1821, beint; the tirai after Bissextile or leap
year." Most of these "notes' are still to be
found in all almanacs issued even now. i'>ut
such as the following are now never seen: "The
year 1821 is 329 years since the discovery
of America ' ; and "30 years since the divis-
ion of the Province of Quebec into the pro-
vinces of Lower and Upper Canada.
The monthly calendars present no object
of comment; they are exactly the same as
t hose inserted now in all similar publica-
tions.
But succeeding them is an interesting table
entitled "A Chronology of Remarkable
Occurrences since 1,700." There are many
note^Northy incidents in European and
Asiatic history recorded, but strangely
enough in a Canadian almanac, scarcely a
single item relating to Canada. The death
of Wolfe, the division of Canada into the
two provinces, the arrival of Simcoe, the
death of Brock, and the battles of Lake Erie
and Lundy's Lane are all omitted, why it
is difficult to say, as the work was intended
for Canadian readers.
Following this come the names of the
King and royal family of Great Britain, and
the Cabinet Mi' isters of the time. As re-
gards these the first is incomplete, and the
second incorrect, but considering how very
slowly news travelled in those days, perhaps
that is not much to be wondered at
The name of no less a person than
THE PRINCESS VICTORIA
in omitted from the list of t^e Royal family
as is also that of her cousin Prince George of
Cambridge. The names of her present
Majesty's mother, the Duchess of Kent, also
that of the late Duchess of Cambridtre are
also left out, so it is plainly evident that the
publisher, or editor rather, of this book was
not very conversant with what he was at-
tempting to do .
After the names of the Cabinet Ministers
h a very curious table headed " Chronologi-
cal epitome of the History of England from
the Norman conquest to the present time,
exhibiting the successions in the monarchy,
the ages of the several sovereigns, when they
began to reign, and the duration of their
reigns, the principal statesmen, military
characters, men of genius, and particular
events."
Succeeding this,taking up a page to itself,
is the name, style, titles and various offices
held by the Earl of Dalhuusie U.C.B. the
then Governor (General " in and over the
Province of Lower Canada, Upper Canada,
Nova Scotia, New Brunswiclr * * and in the
Islands of Prince Edward and Bermuda."
Lord Dalhousie had a tolerably extensive
command as there were garrisons from Pene*
tanguishone to Halifax and from there to
Bermuda. It is basely rumored that the
noble Lord and gallant soldier never even
saw the former once famous military station,
and now equally famous summer resort for
tired Torontonians and explorers from a city
some 40 miles to the west of us, but that
probably is a baseless invention. He did
come to York ; there is no doubt whatever
upon that point.
After the almanac disposes of the Cover"
nor-General it gives complete lists of the
officers in the Canadian civil service,
THE UOUSR OF ASSEMBLY,
the Legislative Council, Executive Council,
Court of Kings Bench, "Clergy of the
Established Church" — that has a strange
sound to us nowadays. It is hard
even to imagine such an institution
ever even existed in our midst. Also the
names of "Commissioners appointed to ad-
minister the oath of allegiance " besides the
names of " Commissioners under 58 Cleorge
III. Chap. 12, vesting the estates of certain
traitors, and also of persons declarod aliens,
in his Majesty."
The names of a great many other publie
functionaries are then given and lastly a
complete militia list, tables of population
and names of postmasters m Upper Canada.
The Civil list is headed with the names of
the Lieutenant-Governor, Major-C^eneral Sir
Peregrine .Vlaitland, KC. B. In addition to
belongine to this English order of chivalry,
he was a Knight of the Russian order of Si
George and of the order of William in the
Netherlands.
His private secretary was Major Hillisr,
of the 74th Regiment,who died in India dur-
ing the '•' forties.' Mrs. Hillier was a
daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel James
(livins formerly of the Queen «
Hangers. She survived until the spring
of 1894, dying in London, England,
at an advanced age. The clerks in the
Lieutenant Governor's office were Messrs.
!«■
warn
of England from
le present time,
n the monarchy,
reigns, when they
uration of theii
ttsmen, military
I, and particular
p a page to itself,
id various offices
usie G.i;.B. the
* in and orer the
a. Upper Canada,
iclr * * and iu the
and Bermuda."
terably extensive
rrisons from Pene-
bnd from there to
imored that the
aldier never even
8 military station,
ummer resort for
plorers from a city
it of us, but that
ventioii,
doubt
He did
whatever
ses of the Gover<
lete lists of the
nl service,
iSEMBLY,
Izecutive Council,
"Clergy of the
lat has a strange
jrs. it is hard
an institution
nidst. Also the
appointed to ad-
ance " besides the
I under 68 Cieorge
estates of certain
as declarsd aliens,
many other publie
iven and lastly a
)les of population
in Upper Canada,
with the names of
Major-('eneral Sir
B. In addition to
order of chivalry,
ussian order of Si
if William in the
as Major Hillisr,
died in India dur-
rs. Hillier was a
at-Colonel James
the Queen »
until the spring
ondon, England,
rhe clerks in the
iice were Messrs.
THE
YO^K ALMAJSfAC,
AND
PROVINCIAL CALENDAR,
FOB THE VEAR
1821.
THE CALCULATfOTJS FOn'THE MfRiD/AN 0^!
YORK, UPPE-IJ-GANADAj
North Lat.J$°"30' Id"
Jff^est Long. 78<* 4*^H"
np. 1096.
printBd and -sold at'The upper-c-/
GAZETTE. 0"F;PK;E, tOfiK.
^ KA.. siMtLB OK TITLK PAGE OF FOTHERUILL'S AT.MANAC FOR ,821.
See pp. um, imi
'C.
.■?-
ij II iii|in|i(.
ii"iw!ipi>iiwi|iyii"f,*
» t
I i
in
1
wmm
wm
mmm
wmm
LANDMARKS OF 1 OROX 1 O.
1007
Edward NfcMftlion, John Lyons and Tliomas
Fitzgerald.
Following the namas of the Lieutenant-
Governor and his suite are those of Ih*
members of the Legislative Council, twelve
in all, namely, Chief Justice I'oweil, who
was Speaker ; Dr. Jacob Mountain, Bishop
of Quebec ; the Honorables I homas 8cott,
James Baby, John McUill, Thomas Talbot,
William Glaus, Thomas Clark, William
Dickson, I homas Frazer, Neil MoLtan and
()reorge Crookshank.
After the Bishop of Quebec, the next
name is that of Thomas Scott, afterwards
chief justice. Scott street, Toronto, derives
its name from
THE LKARNEU JUDGE,
whose resilience closely adjoined the street
which now bears his name. Mr. Scott was
the first chairman of the ' Loyal and
Tatriotis Society of Upper Canada," which
was founded in York in 1812, during the
war. The Chief Justice during the war
issued a circular to the British public asking
for funds (to enable the society to prosecute
its work) which contains the following
statement :— " That the subscription of the
Town of York amounted in a few days to
£S75 Ss Od currency, dollars at fire shillings
each, to be paid annually during the war,
<ind that at Kingston to upwards of £400."
The next named, Mr. James Haby, was
b: rn in Detroit in the year 1762, he was
educated at Quebec and on the completion
of his studies there went to Enu;land where
he remained until 1783. He returned to
this country in that year and entered into
business. He subsequenth' became a most
distineuished public man. Kis residence in
Toronto was on Queen street some distance
to the we^t of Spadina avea'. >. .lohn Mc-
Gill, often known as Captain McGill, was
one of the first officials who were appointed
by General 8imcoe, being commissioner of
stores at Niagara in 1793. His name is per-
petuated iu McGill street, 'J'oronto. The
. family residen-ie was between Queen,
Church, Shuter and Bond streets. Thomas
Talbot was the celebrated founder of the
Tklbot settlement, owning nearly the
whole of the township of Aldborough. Ex-
cept during t he
PARLI.\MEN'TART SESSION
he was never a resident in Toronto, William
Glaus belnnge 1 to Oxford and was " lieuten-
ant of the county," an office that very soon
became obsolete. He had no direct con-
nection with Toronto. Thomas Clark was
the welNknown Colonel Clark of Niagara;
he was a very prominent figure in the re-
joicings wbich took place on the second visit
to Canada of H. K. H. the Duke of Kent, in
1799. William Dickson was one of the
Niagara family, luul Thomas Frazer was
from I'rescott. Neil McLe^bn was from
Cornwall, and had been ( ommissary of
Provisions in the first days of the colony.
George Crookshank was for some time R«*
ceirer-Genoral of the Province. His house
was on Front street, bounded on the west
by Peter street. Crookshank's lane, now
Bathurst street, was called after him.
Of the officers attached to the Lecrislatire
Council none call for special comment ex-
cepting the chaplain, the honoratile and ven-
erable Archdeacon, afterwards Bishop, John
Straohan.
Succeeding the names of the LesislatiTo
■Council come the names of those gentlemen
who composed the House of Assemhly.
Among these Alexander McDonell, of Glen-
garry, belonged to the same family as the
celebrated Roman Catholic Prelate of the
same name. Philip VanKoughnet was fath-
er of the statesman who for some years was
Minister of Agriculture. Jonas Jones be-
longed to a prominent Brock ville family.
Allan McLean, Christopher and Daniel Hag-
erman, Henry Ruttan, Peter and John B.
Robinson, besides numerous others in thia
list
BELONGED TO FAMILIES,
every one of > hich have made their mark in
the history of the Dominion.
Peterborough derives its name from Petor
Robinson, while the Hamiltons were lone
prominent as shipbuilders.
The members of the House were as fel-
lows : —
Glengarry— Alexander McDonell, Alex-
anJer Mc^lartin.
Prescott and Russell — William Hamiltcn.
Stoimont — Archibald McLean, Philip Van-
kou'zhnet.
Dundas— Peter Shaver.
Grenville — Walter F. (<ates, Jonas Jones.
Leeds— L P. Sherwood, Charles Jones.
C arleton — William Morris.
Fronteuac — Allan McLean.
Town of Kingston — Christopher Hager-
ma)i.
Lennox and Addington — Daniel Hager-
msn, Samuel ('auey.
Hastings — Reuben Whita.
Prince Edward — James Wilson, Paul
Peterson.
Northumberland — D. M'G. Rogers, Henry
Ruttan.
Durham — Samuel S. Wilmot.
York and Simcoe — Peter Robinson, Win.
W. Baldwin.
Town of York — John B. Robinson.
Lincoln, 1st riding — John Clark ; 2nd
riding, William J. Kerr ; 3rd riding, Robert
Hamilton ; 4th riding, Robert Randall,
Oxford— Thomas Horner.
■;. ,■•
n-
';v
ion
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
MiddlM«z— MahloD Burwell, John Boit-
wick.
Norfolk— Robert Nicol, Francis L. Walsh.
Kent — James Gordon.
Essex -Francis Baby, William McCor-
mick.
Wentworth — Oeorge Hamilton, John
WiUon.
Halton — James Crooks, William Chiaholm.
Officers of the House were : —
(.^erk. Grant Powell ; Chaplain the Ker .
Robert Addison ; Clerk in Ch lucery, S P.
Jarvis, Sergeant-at-arms, Allen NlcNab ;
Door-keeper, William Knott, and MeB<
senver, John Hunter.
Next toUow the names of the Executive
Council. 1 wo of these gentlemen, the Honor-
ables James Buby and N\ illiam (Jlaus, were
also members of the Legislative Council.
The other members wero the iion. Samuel
Smith, Rev. Dr John Strachau and the two
uxofficio members, who were ihe Chief
Justice and the Biahop of Quebec. The
clerks were iMessrs John Beikie and
George Savage. Mr. Beikie was after-
wards sheriff and Mr. Savage Col-
lector of Customs at the Port of
Toronto. In the Public Departmeuts the
officials comprising the Court of King's
Bench were but nine in nil, including both
the keeper and usher. The puisne judges
were William Campbell and D'Aroy lioulton,
these gentlemen and their residences have
been fully described in the earlier chapters
of the " Landmarks of Toronto."
In the Surveyor-(!encral s Department
Mr. Thomas Ridout filled the chief office,
that of Sutveyor-General, while we find
among his subordinates such nell known
names as \V . Chewett, who was chief clerk,
Sf.amuel Ridout, who was second clerk, with
as extra clerks, W. Morrison, J. Radeuhurst
and Bernard Torquand The last named
resided on Queen street, west of Spadina
avenue, and was father of Dr. Joint Tor-
quand, of Woodstock.
In the offic - of the Inspector General of
Public Accounts, the Hon. James Baby, the
clerks were John Scarlett and A. Warlfe.
John ^carlett afterwards washed bis hands
of official life and officials generally, devoting
himself
WHOLLY TO CO.MMKKCIAL PURSUITS.
He resided for many years at Runnimede, on
Dundus street, about six miles from J'oronto.
The Province had an agent resident in
London, England, whose duty it was to at-
tend to the interests of the colony at home.
Mr. William Halton, who was a connection
of the Givins family, and after whom Hal-
ton street in this city is named, discharged
the duties of the office.
The clergy list given in thie ala anac is
very brief and it is hard to believe that it
refers to such a comparatively recent period
as 1821.
The following are the names of the
' Clergy of the Established Churc'h," but it
is to be presumed that it only refers to Up-
per Canada, and of course it must also be
distinctly understood they were all Anglican
clergymen : —
Dr. Mountain, Lord Bishop of Quebec ;
Official ot Upper Canada, the Rev. O'Kill
Stuart, Kingston ; Diocesan Missionary,
Hon. and Rev. C. Stewart, D.D., Bis:. op's
Chaplain ; Revs. R. Addison, Niagara ; R.
Pollard, Sandwich ; S. J. Mountain, Chap-
lain to the Lord Bishop. Cornwall : Hon.
and Rev. J. Strachan, D. D. , York ; Rev.
J. G. Weageant, VViUiamsburg ; Rev. R.
Leeming, Ancaster ; Rev. W. Sampson,
Grimsby ; Rev. J. Leeds, Brockville and
Augusta ; Rev. M. Harris, Perth ; Rev. W.
McCaulay, Hamilton ; Rev. J. Thompson,
Cavan and Port Hope ; Rev. J. Stoughtou,
Fredricksburg and Ernesttown ; Rev. H.
Rolpli, Amherstburg ; Rev. \\, Leeming,
Chippa-va.
Chaplains to the forces : Rev. W. C.
Frith, L.L.D., Kingston; Rev. B. B. Stevens,
Fort George.
THE NEXT LIST GIVEN
in this almanac is also one of professional
men, namely, barristers and attorpeys. Aa
a pretty general rule the lawj'ors in auy
to .\n or country greatly exceed in nuniuer
the clergy, but sevenly-five years ago such
does not apoear to bavo been the case ia
Upper Canada at any rate, as there were
bui thirty-oight members of the legal pro-
fession in the entire Province.
" The names of the commissioners iu
whom were vested the estates of certain
traitors and also of persons declared aliens''
were these : — James B>by, George Crook
shank, James Macaulay, \\ illiuin Allan,
Grant Powell and Peter Robinson. J. b
Macaulay was clerk and Josepii Wells wa«
special receiver. The last named official
Mus far barter known as Colonel Wells
He belonged formerly to the 43id
Regiment and had seen hard service
in the Peninsular war. He was at
the Battle of Badajoz, receiving the gold
medal for his distinguished services, lie
resided in a large two-storey, rough oast
house overlooking the city on Davenport
hill, some few hundred yards from where
now runs Spadina road The house is still
standing and in excellent preservation. Col
Wells' eldest son was also an officer in th«
army, belonging to the 1st Royals, and diJ
gallant service in the Crimea It is relatcil
of him that when a boy at Upper Canada
Colle.tie, during the troublous period o:
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
1099
believa that it
iy r«o«at perivd
namn of the
. huroh," but it
ly reUrs to Up-
b ir.u»i al«o m
ero »U Anglican
OP of Quebec ;
he Rot. OKill
lan Miiiionary,
D.D., Bie.op'i
,n,Ni»g«ra ; R.
Mountain, Chap-
J.rnwall : Hon.
, York ; Rev.
jurg ; R«v. ^
\V. Sampson,
Brock ville and
Ferth ; Rev. W.
■. J. Thompson,
v. J. Stoughtoii,
ittown ; Rev. H.
,T. VV. Leeming,
: Rev. W. C
ev. B. B. Stevens,
C GIVEN
le of profeaaional
nd attorreys. A*
J lawyers in any
ixceed in numoer
re years ago such
been the case in
e, as ihere were
of the l«gal pro-
iuce.
commissioners lu
estates of certain
IS declared aliens "
George Crook
' \\ illiaiii Allan,
Robinson. J. B
Joseph Wells waa
last named offioial
Bts Colonel Wells
to the 43id
en hard service
|ar. He was al
receiving the goU
shed services. U«
•storey, rou^h cast
3ity on Davenport
yards from where
The house is still
preservation. Col
[so an officer in tha
at Rovals, and diJ
imea ' It is relateii
' at Upper Caiuida
ouulous period o:
1837, he organised and drilled a oem-
pany of nadeta drawn from the pupils at-
tending that lohool. These embryo warriors
were not armed with anything more for-
midable than broomsticks, nevertheless it is
en reoord that they offered their services to
Sir Francis Bond Head "to assist in the
suppression of the rebellion." It is al-
most needless to say that the offer was
DIOLINED WITH THANKa
After the nanes of these commissioners
comes ft list of doctors who formed the first
Medical Board in Upper Canada, under an
Act of the Imperial Parliament passed two
years previously. They were James
Maoaalay, Christopher Widmer, William
Lyons, Robert Kerr, William Warren Bald-
win and Grant Powell, with William Lee
as secretary.
In 1819 Land Boards were appointed
throughout the Province, among the nism-
bers were the Roman Catholic Bishop Mc-
Donell, Adiel Sherwood, Thomas Markland,
G. H. Markland, Walter Boswell, J. 0.
Bethune, Rev. VV. Macaulay, Francis Baby
and many other well-known names.
Acompletelistof magistrates for the whole
of the province follows. There were 316
in all, divided among ten districts. Follow-
ing these are the names of the commissioners
appointed to " administer the oath of alle-
giance," the oiBciala in the Surrogate and
District courts, the sheriffs, treasurers and
Clerks of the Peace in the several districts,
together with thi; names of the inspectors of
(hop and tavern licenses, and the culiect.ors
of customs.
An interesting table is that eiving the
names of the various " District School
Masters" Among them all
THERE IS NOT A SI.NQLB NAME
which is not a Canadian household word .
They were these : —
Eastern district. Rev. J. Leeds ; Johns-
town district. Rev. J. Bethune ; Midland
district, Rev. J. Wilson ; Newcastle dis-
trict. Rev. W. Macaulay; Home district.
Yen J no. Straehan, D.D. ; Gore district,
Rev. R. Leeming ; Niagara district, Rev. J.
Burns; London district, Rev. J. Mitchell;
Western district, Rev. W. Merrill.
The civil service list concludes with the
names of tha registrars of countles,coroner8,
the public notaries, the licensed deputy
inrveyors and the "inspectors of beef, pork,
flour, pot and pearl .'ishes. "
Glancing for a moment at the names of
those men who formed the Medical Board
the first given, that of .lames Macaulay, de-
mands some notice. His careitr began with
thu regime of Governor Simcoe. He was a
member of the Lieutenant-Governor's staff,
tad then became Inspector-General of
Hospitals. Subsequently ha was appointed
to the newly formed Medical Board, of which
HE WAS THE SENIOR MEHBRB
Dr. Macaulay was a Scotchman, born in
1759, and entered the army as surgeon to
the 33rd Regiment about 1785. Afterwards
he became surgeon to the Queen's Rangers
of which corps Simcoe was Lieutenant
ColoneL Dr. Macaulay left the army when
the Rangers were disbanded and took up hia
residence in a cottage house to the south of
where now stands Holy irinity Church. It
was almost opposite the southern transept
of the church and remained standing until
about 1849 when it was destroyed by fire
It was known as Teraulay Cottage, and
there Dr. Macaulay died January 1st, 1822.
Ihe York Obaerrer thnt chronicle* the
event : —
"It becomes our painful duty to crmmuni
cate to the readers the decease of Dr. Ma-
caulay of this town. In the deati) of this
truly valued member of society, charity
has lost its best supporter and the unfor
tunate emigrants their best friend. He wk.s
ever ready to wait upon and relieve the for-
lorn strangers, not only with his medicine
but his purse."
It is wholly needless to say anytiiing re-
specting Dr. Widmer ; he has been described
at length on previous occasions Dr. Lyons
was a A MII.ITABT SDROBON,
as was also Dr. Kerr. The former was on
the staff, and the latter had been surgeon to
Sir John Johnson's regiment raised during
the war of Independence. Dr. Kerr married
a sister of Captain Brant and had several
children ; he died in March, 1824, in bis
sixtieth year. Of Dr. Baldwin it is as need^
less to speak as of Dr. U idmer, not because
there is nothing to say, bat because it has
been told already.
Dr. Grant Powell was a son of Chief
Justice Powell, and was boru in England in
1759. He came to York during the war
of 1812, and was appointed surgeon to the
Incorporated Militia, in which he served
throughout the entire war. On peace being
proclaimed, he was awarded a pension of
£200 a year for life. He soon afterwards
retired from practice, and became clerk to
the House of Assembly. In 1820 he was
appointed judge of the Home District, and
still later clerk to the Legislative Council.
He died, aged sixty years, .lu le 12th, 1838.
The secretary, Ur Lee, had also seen a
great deal of military service in the 49th
and 24th regiments. On leaving the army
at the close of the war of 1812, he was
appointed to the honorable, if noc very
lucrative, position of "Gentleman
"USHER OF THE BLACK ROD"
to the Legislative Council. He died in York
/-.:
•i
■ i< fi lifWiyM
-l««*>
1100
LANDMARKS OP TO HON TO.
? )
'I
T'i
July l«t, 183:{, aged 70 years.
AfUr liia vurioiia oDlcials come.i the
Militia Lists, liie following are the names
of the ttatf in Upper Canada and of the
various reeiments : —
Adj. (len. Colonel Nathaniel CofSn; Clerk,
Lieut. Satnsun ; (j.-M.-Cen. Lieut Colonel
Robert Nichol ; I'eputy Pnymaster-Cieneral,
Alexander McOonell ; General Agent for
paying; Militia I'ensioners, K .vlcMuhoa
The reeimcnts enrolled were ; — Frescott,
let, fJlcngarry, 2nd Glengarry, .3rd Glen-
garry; Stormont, Dundas, Ist (>ronTillo,2nd
(irenvilie, Ist Leeds, 2nd Leeds; Frontenao,
Addington, Lennox, Prince Edward, Hnst-
ings, Northumberland, Durham, 1st York,
2nd York, 3rd York, -ilh York, Ist Gore,
2nd Gore ; Independent Companies— Grand
River, 1st Lincoln, 2nd Lincoln, 3rd Lin-
coin, 4th Lincoln, let Norfolk, 2nd Norfolk,
Oxford, Middlesex, Ist Essex, 2nd Essex,
Kent.
OCU LOCAL RECilMKNTS WERK
the 1st, 2d and .3d York, the following is
a complete list of the ofticera, with very few
exceptions the names p;iven being those of
men npresantin^; families who reside to this
day in or near Toronto.
1st York l.ieut.-Col. Peter Robinson,
Majnr Dennis Fit/£,erald.
Capts. John Arnold, James Mustard,
Jeremiah Tracers, Jamea I'enwick, John
Button, Nathaniel Gamble, James Miles,
William Macklem, George Mustard and
(ieorge Shultz
Lieutenants — Lodowick ^^ eidman, An-
drew Thomson, Henry Pingle, George
Lemon, Arad 3mally, Andrew Borland,
William Roe, *William Marr; John H. Sam-
son, Adjt.
Ensigns —Samuel I'oster, Reuben Ken-
nedy, Asa Smalley, William Trayers, Richard
Graham, William \Vilson, Thomas Wilson,
James Marsh, John W ilson.
Cornet — *Francis Button.
2nd York — Colonel, William Allan; Lieut.-
Col. Stephen Howard ; Major, John BeTer-
ley Robinson.
Captains — John Playter, (ieorge Ridout,
Eli Playter, Edward MacMahon, William
Smith, .James Macaulay, D'Arcy Boulton,
James Chewett, Daniel Brook, Andrew Mer-
cer.
Lieutenants — Isaac Secor, John Karr, Ed-
ward W. Thomson, W illiam B Robinson,
John Claus, Andrew W . U arffe, Thomas
Cooper, Robert Anderson, Hcny J. Boulton,
James E. Small.
Ensigns — John Gamble, A. S Thompson,
George Hamilton, Robert Dickson, William
Dickson, ^V illiam Jarvi?, Richard Brooke,
William Proudfoot, John Munro, Francis
Leys. Adit. Georee Da^rzan.
3rd York — ^'olnmd, James Givins, Lieut,-
Col. James Fitz (libbon, Major John Beikie.
Captains — Thomas Merrigold, William
Thompson, John Scarlett, Benjamin Gealo,
Frederick Starr Jarvis, WMUiam Birdsell,
Daniel Brooke, son., Allan N. McNabb,
Clifton Jackson, Joseph Carter.
Lieutenants— Thomas Humberstone, Chas.
Denison, George T. Denison, Thomas Denison,
George Shaw, Robert Gray, .John Beatty,
John Lyons, George Sheehan, Alexander
Chewott, .-imon Kemp, Adj.
Ensigns^David Shaw, James McNabb,
Allan Robinette, Aaron Silverthorne, .Tamei
Farr, Bernard Turquand, William Crook-
shank, Lambert F. Brook'A, Thomas Merri-
cold, Joseph Price.
Quartermaster — John Murchison.
•Were officers of cavalry troops.
From the following tuhleitwill be srei
that in 1821 the enrirj population of the
Province only amounted to \ little more than
half the number of people now resident is
Toronto alone. Very pro' ably thero ar«
some slight errors in the figures, but thei
are substantially correct :
THE POPtlliATIOM.
Glengarry 5,785
Stormont 4,571
Dundas 2,197
Russell 107
Prescott 1,56"
(irenvilie 4..37.*?
Leeds 6,72'J
Carleton 3,69S
trontenac (exclusive of the Town of
Kingston) 2.901
fown of Kingston 1,880
Lennox and Ad('>in>;ton 5,72<t
Hastings 2,52fl
Prince Edward 6,07!)
Northumberland 4,,32'2
Durham 1,783
.Simcoe 148
York (exclusive of the Town of York) 9,593
Town of York 1,240
Lincoln 13,787
Wentworth ' 4,9.')9
Halton 4,79(5
Norfolk 4.178
Oxford 2,455
Middlesex 5.243
Kent 1,624
Essex .3,732
IC4.9S2
In conclusion hearty thanks are given to
Mr. Alexander Manning, by whose kind"
ness this olJ almanac has been lent for our
purpose.
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
1 101
CHAPTER CCLXXXII.
OUO ST. JAMES.
Tkc rinl BalldlaK-Ali«ratl«Bt «■« Ra-
UrccaieMU— ■■rTlTlac' Ncaibcra sr ihe
The first Anglican ohnroh eracted in To-
roote WM built in 1803, and wai little more
A reproduction of the interior of the
building if also ^ iven. The larse pew at the
■outhern end of the building which it lur-
mounted by the royal arma, wai that of the
Lieutenant Governor, while the first of the
threo Urge square pewe, jnet underneath
the pulpit, was that aet apart for nnembc rn
of the Legislature. When the aUeration<i
were finally completed, the outer windows
FTR9T ANflLICAN CHOBCH RRKCTED IK TORONTO.
than a "meeting house,' conatrueted of
wood, atanding on the same site as the pre-
sent 8t. James' Cathedral does, but, unlike
that edifice, whieh mns north and south, it
faced east and west, which, according to
the ideas obtaining among An<.licans, Roman
Catholics and followers of the Greek Lhnrch,
is the only way ia which a ohnrch should be
built. A cut of the first building is given in
this issae, as is also one of what the building
was like after its mlargfement in 1818, under
the direction of the venerable .Archdeacon
John Strachan, the then rector of York, he
having sueceeded Archdeacon G. O'Keil
Stewart in 1811.
had circular heads given to tticin, and gal-
leries, which do not appear to ever have
been used much, were also added.
The benches at the back of the pews were
then used by such of the soldiers of the
garrison as attended the services of the
Anglican Church.
This edifice remained in use until 1830,
when it was replaced by a stone building.
The pulpit was removed to the Anglican
church in Scarboro', where it is still to b«
seen.
There are not many of those who wor-
shipped in the building from 1818 to 1830
now living, though Dr. Seadding, Hons. U.
■ (.
,1
I
<i
,1102
LANDMAllKS OF TORONTO.
R<; !
i I
\^ . Ailau anJ Joha Beverley Robinaou,
Mr. Clarke Uainl>le. Mr William H«lliwell,
of Highland Creek ; Colonel D Arcy Boul-
ton, of Cobourg ; Coloael R. !i. Deuiaon,
Mr. J A. Scarlett, auii perhaps half a dozen
othara are still with ua (1894)
I^atiu fur fifth. This, though a some-
what pretty couceit, ia far fetched and
not ut all probable.
There is yet auother derivation given,
and that in fuuiul iu the Imperial Lib-
rary, Paris, where Quiute is spelt " Kaii-
ti," " Kiuti " and '• Kinto," which is the
INTlllIOR VIEW OF URST ANOI ICAN CHCTRCH.
CiIAPTEIi CCLXXXIII.
SOME CANADIAN NAMES.
lBt«rMUns Farllcalars YTIty Hanir IVell-
Known PlMcea wrre So Called.
Tiiere have beeu many disputes au the
quostiou of how the Bay of Quiute de-
rived its uarne^ aud also not a few i'l-
terestiiig coujectures ou the sume sub-
ject. Orlgiually the ua.ue appears to
have beeu Con Bay, or thi Koy of
Cou. Tliis ia a Mohawk word, ol' wiiich
the oieaaiug in utit kuowu.
The prei<L'«t nam'! of (juintt i^^ gcuerally
btflieved to be taken from Colonel (^uinte,
Ctominaudor ol' thi^ French tro')p« at Nia-
gara, where h.-. was dt'feated by the
Jiii«rliah forced iu th»? war which euded
vith tlic capitniatiou of Quebec a»d the
dic&tJi of Wiilfe. Defeated at Niagara
Qvintflt always in dread of aud ))nrsued
hy the ludLaus, retreatt^d by Burlington
hd^. Fort HouiiDe and aioug tiie westeru
ijlioro of Lake Outario to the point BtiU
kuowu as Stickney'a Hill, ou tlve west
ol the bay, where he pv.'ru9hed sadly from
cold au4l exposure.
Another stateuiuat made regarding the
der.7atk)u of the uanie it* that it was so
called friMU being the fifth o^ five bays,
uauiely Lower Pietou, Hay, the Reach
«ad LIppur Bay, aad that it should be
%iilnta( which is the feminine form iu
name of a branch of the Sjuoca ludiaus
who sejuirated from thfi main body, tak-
ing the uame of Kanti, aad irko arc
s.iid to have bad their huutiug grouudn
ou the shores of the Bay of Quinte.
The Mississaga tribe of I.udiaua who in-
habited this portion of Outario were so
Called because at or near tiiis partiealar
jjoint were mauy outlets or streams of
water. The Credit, Uiuuber, Don auU
others.
Iu J 688 Lake Outario is said to have
been kaowu ftjy the ludians at SUa-uia-
doue, the ^wivatiou of which ib not
known. Lflh«* Hurou was colled Mer-
Douce, aud Krie, Okswego.
ce A p 1 i*:ii ccLx x x i r.
THE ISLAND BLOCK HOUSE-
Some i*itrllculari of the <»:u Bntl«llag~
lis Deatracll4>n and aeniOTal.
'■ Hiirdly, a man u now alise wUo reinaui-
bcrs tlint faniou:> day aud yaur."
The War of 1812 to newspaper read-
ers of the preeut day, ia now a mattoi-
of very anciimt iMatory, uot that no
iutorpst is taken in the matter, but it
is "such a long time ago" to the ma-
jority of people, that its eveuts fail to
create tiie interest that those do con-
I uected with the North- weat exi)ed>tioa
LA^DMARKS OF TORONTO.
1108
hough a 8ome-
!ar letchcd aud
lerivatioii given,
le Imperial Lib-
e U spelt " Kau-
to," wUicb uithe
the Sjuoca ludlaus
hR luiviu body, tak-
uti, aad who arc
!ir huutiug grouuds
Bay of Quinte.
oT 'ludiaus who iu-
tif Outario wore bo
«af ttiirt particular
.(•ts or stroains cA
Ui'.iiiber, Don aud
•io is said to have
udiaiifl at SUa-uiar
o! wkich ib uot
was caUtd Mer-
,vego.
GLXXXm
LOOK HOUSE-
IUp «»sa Bntl«ll«f-
an« ifteiuoTal.
ow alive who remein-
iud year."
to newspaper read-
in now a matt I.' r
Lory, uot that no
the matter, but it
e ago" to tho ma-
,t it8 eveutB fail to
that those do coii-
irtU-weat exi>editioo
of JS85, the Koiiian raid of 1866, or
oven the Rebelliou of 18.'?7-:',8.
The cut given to-day of an old forti-
Tieation erected very early iu the cen-
tury upon the s(>ot where uow stands
Haulnn's Hotel at the Island, and which
was demolished nearly three score and
ten years since, takes us back to a vei'y
early period in the history of the city.
This old "IMock House" was built of
pine logs, squared to about 10 incheB,
and dovetailed the one into the other at
the corners of the buildiug. The roof
was of the same sized timber as the
walls, and the interstices of both walls
ai d roof were filled in with mortar.
iu all probability it still remains, if
one only knew wiiere to look for it.
There are scarcely any iiemons uow
alive who took any part in the terrible
events of 18^2 aud the three following
years. One aged veteran who has near-
ly completed his century, is knovm to
reside in Montreal, aud there are two
survivors, ohe lieing a lady, of the cap-
ture of York, in 1813. The Island block
house WRW, though si; was jxiwerlesg to
avert, the capture of York, and met its
own extinction some 13 years later.
Tlic contractors for ita removal were
Joseph Hloore, after whom the well-
known thorougUarc is called, and Geo.
v^jTba^^
''A f
*■ 1 r^\
'^r^^jSMI^iA-U,
THK ISLAND BLOCK HOITSK, 1814.
The block house was about 25 feet
square in its exterior uieasurement, and
tiie roof was about 14 feet frocu the
H round. Thereon was mounted a 24-
pounder cannon, which, being on a
swivel truck, could bo turned iu any
din ct ion. During the War of 1812 no
nirntion is ever made of this fort being
engaged with the euemy, and iu the
aitieles of capitulation of York, iu 1813,
it is not referred to even by inference.
It was probably found tn be of no use
wliatever iis a means of protecting
York harbor, for in 1826 or 1827 it was
taken down and its solitary pieco of
ordinance transferred to Quebec, where
Cooper, who from very modest begin-
nJn|.B, by ceiuB«de'is energy and persever-
auc'>, amassed a large fortune, an4
died some 20 years b\\\(x at a very
great age. He resided for many years
in a large farm-house standing in the
angle formed by Bloor and Dundas sts.,
about 100 yards north of the former and
east of the latter. Later he removed to
a handsome brick house on Davenport
Hill, overlooking the city. There he
died after many years of usefulness.
Still li\ing hearty and vigorous at
Ilij;lilan(l Tn ek is William ll.-lli w>ll,
who Si -.V rot)p r i ml Bloore tak" the
old and useless block house down, aud
l-ii
§m
1104
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Z-bf !■
V '
.? V?
m-. I
11
• *x__ i -A
„
mm
lis
f- - ■■
:
?■'
1
< ■ . 1.;;
p
i 1
with the exccpticwi of Mr. Clarke Gamble,
Dr. Scaddiug aud, it may bo, one or
two others iu the city, ho is the only
jjersou now alive who has any ricollec-
lioa whatever oi it.
CHAPTKR CCLXXXV.
HOME OF THE TRIPLE "V '
Komethlns •! the HUtery •fund lh« %f<iil<
BelAK DoMc l»7 T«r«iit* Aililcllc ClaU
Thai; aupremaoy which is conceded to the
English and their forbears is by no mean
wholly due to the race's mental qivlities. Jl
would be unwarranted Co claim for thi
tal strength — we ha,ve some of them. But
there are few who steadily may maintain
intellectual btrein without the reinforcement
of blood and bone. The saying of Welling-
ton M'hen he saw the Eton boys at
their play Js trite but apposite. Not
many of our great men have lived
without having, at some time, taken an
active interest ni athletics. Canadian men
and Canadian boys think much of the sound
body, not as much as of the sound mind,
perhaps., but they do not forget that the
machine must be in working order if the
needle is to point true. The time was when
grown-up men tliought it unbusiness-like or
unmanly .o broaden their chests and to
TOKONTO ATHLETIC CLUB,
Anglo-Saxon [teoplo any great intellectual
jirt'-eminence. Otlu r peoples th«ii'e are
which need yield nothing to ours in pure
biain-atrength — many there have been and
some there are now that have a larger re-
gard for what philosophers call the Intel -
leotuai life.
It is the happy combination of liodily and
nental powers 1 hat has plaeed Ihc .\nglo-
.^axons in the front rank of the nations.
Men can be physically strong witiiout men-
thicken their muscles. That geoeration.
with a f(jw mi?iguided e.\cci)tions, has passcil
away. The man who disapproves of
athletics is hard to find nowadays. Shouiil
business or age prevent his active participu
tion therein, he seldom lets slip an opficr
tunity of seeing others simultaneou^l^
building up brain and bra\'-n. A Satin
day afternoon in sununer-time liltevati';
tho\isands of men and boys who seek the
level field, or the country road, or the lake's
; of them. Bxit
y may maintain
the reinforcement
ying of Welling-
Eton boys at
apposite. Not
en have lived
time, taken an
Canadian men
mch of the sound
I the sound mind,
forget that the
Ling order if the
he time was when
mbusineS3-like or
ir chests and to
That generation,
•ptious, has passed
disapproves ot
lowddays. ShouM
is active participa
iUi slip an oppcr
rs simultaneoii^l,\
liravn. A Satui
iier-lime lilx'valf;
)\» who seek the
road, or the lake's
>
50
S5
5
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
1105
i
♦.. ■;
11
1I0»
LANDMARKS OF TORONIO.
broad expanse, there to indulge in their
favorite sport. When winter comes the
choice of amusements is lessened. What
with skating, hockey or curling, the lusty
athlete need not let time hang heavy on his
throws its broad doors open. The grren
clothed billiard tables are leady for thosr
wliose delight it is to push the clicking
ivory globes. The bowling alleys are ready
for the men, who strong of arm and keen of
WITH THE FENOKKS.
hantls. But there are those who do not f;are eye, toss the great lignum vitiie balls with
for these exercises, and there are those wlio accuracy and certituile. And — how th«
fear to risk the chills and colds which are their young Torontonians of fifty years ago would
iaaeparable adjuncts. For these Toronto has stare — the huge swimming bath, filled witli
a home. She has an athletic club, grandly | summer warm water, is open foi him who
THE BOWLING ALLEYS.
equipped, managed by men who love the
eauae of strengthening tlieir fellows, and
manned by a thousand and more of brawny
young Caaadituis. For these, unlike their
predecessors of fifty yeai-s ii!j:n, there is no
Uok of winter sport. The great gymnasium
would breast old Ontario's transferred wavr.
It was in April, of 1 890 that Capt C.
Greville Harston, then of the RoytU (ireii*-
diers, liappened to be in C. C. Robinson's
jewellery shop on Yonge street. Mr. K'^b-
iuson for years was one of Toronto's lacrosfc
m. The grren
jady for thosi-
sh the clicking
[illcys are ready
rni and keen of
vitiie balls with
And — how the
bv years ago would
g bath, filled with
pen foi him who
's tiansfcrred wavr.
1 890 that Capt G.
the Royad ♦''■en*-
C. C. RobinsiMia
I street. Mr. Kob-
If Toronto's lacro8»v
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
1107
cnMsks. That was ia tho early days of the
game in Toronto. His companions at thegame
w«rc slim young fellows who now are fathers
of families, and who now have run so much
to adipose tissue as in old days they were
and sportsmen. Mr. Massey and his friend
lamented the fact that Toronto, unlike
Montreal, possessed no athletic club. An
effort had been i .ode to organize one, but
the gentlemen interviewed had been re-
THE SMOKING KOOM.
lean-flanked and long-winded. One of these
was Captain John Massey, a man whose
nane needs no introduction to the city's
au. ixa sportsmen. The talk was of sport
luctant to participate in a matter of such
magnitude as the plan requisitely would
be. Mr. Massey disinterred from a pigeon-
hole bel\ind him a roll of paper, and showed
i^.,./iiii'<' i
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TUF Bin PLTTNOE.
ki-i'
1108
LANDMARKb OF TORONTO.
LANDMARKS OF TOltONTO.
1109
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7.
L(i Capt. llarstoii, tlie stock-list — meagrely
filled up — of a club which lie and
others had thought of forming. Buai
ness cares had prevented Mr. C. H.
Nelson, Mr. Massey and the gentlemen
interested fiom going into the matter ex
tcuaively, and Mr. Massey suggested to Mi-.
Harston that he try his luck with the stock
sheet. A ready consent was given, and
Capt. Haraton, who had plenty of time on
his haads, started out dJanvassing. The other
Eacli had made a lecord for himself in some
branch of sport. As Mr. Nelson is accus-
tomed to say,
there ; all that
someone to start
Massey interested
Toronto Laciosse
althougli an exodus from the old " Rosedak
i grounds was inevitable many of the
I members of the club took stock
I in the new organization. Prof, (iold-
the material
was necessary
the good work,
many memljcrs of
(;iub in the plan.
was
was
Mr.
the
and
INNEii VRSTlBrMC.
gentlemen interested continued to work.
Mr. Nelson, to whom belongs the honor of
hiving proposed the organization ot the
club, labored amongst the merchants, Mr.
Charles Hunter, now of the Standard Life
Insurance Company, looked after the bank-
ers, and Capt. Harston canvassed the young
men who were to form the rank and tile and
active membership of the club. Three more
e.imest or more succeaisful advocates of the
Koheme could not have been found. Each
knew hundreds of Drosoective members.
win Smith, tham whom the cause oi
athletics has no more earnest or more valu-
able advocate, speedily became interested,
and began that course of enthusiasm and
liberality which has stood the club in such
good stead.
It was in November, 1890, that the &n\
meeting of gentlemen interested in the T. A.
C. was held. There were present Hon.
John Beverley Robinson, Messrs. C. H.
Nelson, John Massey, W. D. Langmuir and
C. Greville Harston. A provisional Board d
i I
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If
1110
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Directors was formed with these gentlemen
•s members : — Hon. John Beverley Robin
son, Wm. Mulock, M. P., C. H.Nelson
Jolm Massey, W. D. Langmuir, John I
I)»Tidflon, E. B. Osier, T. C. Patteson
John Henderson. Most of these gentlcmei
have oentinued their interest in the club,
aad still serve as directors.
On Feb. 19, 1891, the provisional directors
and the report of the canvassers was
handed in. It was reported that in all
$47,000 worth of stock had been taken up,
and it was decided to apply to the
the property on College street owned by
Hon. Beverley Robinson, was acquired, and
in September tenders were, callod for, the
building not to exceed in cost more than
$60,000. The ceremony of turning the first
sod took place Sept. 11, upon which occasion
Mr. Gold win Smith delivered a speech which
will long be remembered by those who were
fortunate enough to hear it. The first
tenders for the building were not satisfactorv,
■ind others were calKd for and aooepted.
The total cost of the structure was estimated
it $72,000, but, as buildings usually do, the
A COST ORNER.
Ontario Government for a charter. Tkis
was obtained in the foUowing April, wiien
Mr. B. J. L«mcx's plans for a club house
were accwted, with some modifications.
The first lanoal meeting was held May 21
wlten tliese directors were elooted : — Hon.
John Beverley Robinson, Dr. Larratt Smith,
Messrs. E. B. Osier, C. H. Nelson, W. T.
Jeaninffs, Jas. Murray, John Henderson,
Capt. HoGee, Ghaa. Hunter, J. B. Murray,
Senator Ferguaon, Dr. Goldwin Smith. Sir
Adam Wilson ahorUy afterwards joined the
Board. In August, 1891, Sleepy Hollow,
completed edifice cost considerably more
than this amount. The work of plaeing
stock went on, and when, on Jan 23, of last
year, the formal opening took place, there
were fifteen hundred stockholders. By
May, 1894, there were 882 members, and
when the year closed the membership list
bore 1,101 names. Since the opening of the
present year 1 15 new members have beon
enrolled, and 47 resignations have been
handed in.
The Toronto Athletic Club is in reality an
association of a doaen or so of other organi-
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
nil
owned by
quired, M»d
od for, the
more than
ing the first
lien occasion
ipeech which
fle who were
The first
.sfttisfactorf,
tid aooepted.
vas estimated
ually do, the
laiderably more
fork of plaein*
I Jan 23, of last
v)k place, there
jckholders. By
E memben, a"*!
ImemberBhip list
Ic opening of the
Ibera have beon
lions have been
lb is in reality an
lof other organi-
zations. All are equal, and all have tha
saoM representation on the directorate, not
Qumericallr, >ut in point of influence. There
are committees to look after the various
sports, and each of these committees has for
chiorman one of the T. A. C. directors.
Bj this means the claima of every branch
%t9 certain to be presented to the direc-
torate. Among the clubs enrolled are the
Toronto Bicycle Club, the Toronto Fencing
Club, the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club, the
Usgoode Hall Athletic Clubs, and some
thirty-five of the playing members of the
Toronto Lacrosse Club. Negotiations are
now on foot by which the Toronto Cricket
Club may become affiliated. The cricketers'
grounds are in close proximity to the T. A.
C., and the advantage* which accrue from
Indoors, the large gymnasium is fitted up
with all of the newest appliances. TIm in-
structor, Prof. W. W. Taylor, ii a well-
known gymnast. The billiani rooa poMMsea
nine tables, all except one beiag ol
Canadian manufacture. The poli^ of pur*
chasing goods manufactured in thia country
was followed wherever practicable. Moat
of the carpets and all of the furniture wera
bought in Camwla. The whole equipment
cost about $14,000. So it may easily be
figured up that the amount invested in thin
home of athletics is by no means small.
It is the hope of the direeton that the
rolls will show a membership of 1,500 by the
end of the year. No young man — or old
man, for that matter — whose moral charactet
I is good, need fear the disqualifying black
COMMITTEK ROOM.
amalgamation would seem to be obvious.
The ladies, too, are not forgotten by the
directors. The club now numbers some
sixty-seven lady members, who have their
own rooms entirely separate from the men's
portionof thebuilding. Within these forbid-
den portals the fairathletesmayparticipateto
their hearts' content in health giving gymnas-
tics or the grace-endowing sport of fencing.
The club's grounds are two acres in ex-
tent, part of which is under lease from Hon.
Mr. Robinson. Here are laid out no less
than thirteen tennis courts and two bowling
greens. There is also a clay and cinder bicycle
track, measuring seven laps to the mile. It is
confidently expected that, with its new courts,
the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club will possess
one of the best izrounds on the continent.
ball. The club has been erected for the
betterment of athletics, and the social line
is not held to be of paramount imijortance.
Hon. John Beverley Robinson has been
re-elected president for 1895,and the various
committees are as follows : —
Billlards-J. E. EUis, E.W.Phillips. W. G. Mc-
Clelland and P. A. Maiming:. Bowling— R. K.
Sproule, J. B. Kay, Geo.Begg and A.W. Ridout.
Gymnasiuni-E. ti. Walsh. G. H. Muntz, J. W.
Watt and T. Burnsidc. Fencinsr— Dr. Peter8,A.
D. Cartwright. H. V. Jo.ies and H. B. Broueh.
Boxing— J. K. Eldgar. KPemberton, Hume Blake
and G. M. Young. Swimming— John Harrraft.
P. Bath. D. Mitchell and C. Andros. Rink— E.
A. Thompson. D. Muir, Geo. S. Lyon and J. Gil
roour. Lawn Bowling— J.W.Corcoran, J. Spoon
er. U.K..Sprouio and Judge Kingsmill. Whist—
Forsyth Krant, E. W. Phillips, J.Buchanan and
C.H.GrnDlham. House Committee— C.H.Ander
snn.H. A. Robinson. H.B.BrouGrh and P.ManuiaiE
I
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1112
LANDMARKS OP TORONTO.
CHAPTER CCLXXXVL
THE ROYAL CANADIANS.
■•alnU««ttce» of 11m Karly Day* af Ik*
IMlk r.W.B.C.B.-By One Whit Sarvad
TliaralB.
It is now (1895) thirty-seven years since
a4itbority was given by the Imperial authori-
ties in England to Sir Edmund Walker
Head, the then Glovernor-Ueneral of Upper
and Lower Canada to raise a regiment of
infantry for general service in the dominions
of her Majesty. There heul been colonial
corps in plenty previously, among thcni
the Glengarry Fencibles of Canada who did
such gallant sei-vice in the war of 1812, the
Newfoundland regiment of veterans, the
Ceylon Rifle Regiment, the Cape Mounted
Rifles, the Royal Canadian Rides, (disband-
ed in 1871, after an existence of about thirty
yeurs) and others of kaa importance. But
all these various military orgar izations were
enrolled strictly for service in the colonies
where tbey were raised, and they could not
have beei< used for any other purpose than
the defeL . and maintenance of order in
their own country.
'Ihe 100th, or Prince of Wales' Royal
Canadian Regiment was diiTcrent in consti-
tutaoofrom all those which have been men-
tioaed. It was to be part and parcel of ;
the Qseen's infantry of the line, and was
to serve wheiever the authorities might
ordlBr it to go.
'Hie movement excited great enthusiasm
in U^per Canada, thoagh a fair proportion
ai recruits were obtained in the lower
govince. Crimean memories were stiU
!sh in the minds of every one, the Indian
■MI tiny was not yet quelled, and it was
more thui hinted that the 100th would be
^^en the opportunity to assist in rcstori ng
Otoder in the vast peninsula of the East.
The whole of the men who foi-med the
100th regiment were enlisted in Canada, and
aaaong its officers one major, five captains,
•ght lieutenants and five ensigns were
dtoacn from Canada to receive conunisskms.
The Majority was SLlod by the appoint-
ment of Alexander Roberts Dunn,
who had formerly been in the 1 1th Hussars,
where, in the famous charge of the Light
Brigade, he won the Victoria Cross for his
eonapicnous bravery. When peace was de-
clared in 1856, Dunn left the ai-my, diss&tis-
fted with some slight or imaginary slight
that had been p«t upon him. He was re-
ajding in Toronto when the 100th wiis in
course of formation, and as lie by his own
exertions enlisted 200 men, he became junior
■jajor. He was born in Tnroulo, bemg a
of Hon. John Henry Dann, the some-
time Receiver-General. Dunn avenue in
Parkdale is called after him. His end was
a HOfl one, he being accidentally shot
while on active service in Abyssinia in 1867
witli tlie 33rd Regiment into wkich he had
exchanged.
'I'he captains, each of whom raised eighty
men, were John Clarke, T. W. W. Smythe,
(ieorge Macartney, C. J. Clark and R. C.
Price. Of these only Captain Smythe, who
came from Brockville, now survives. He is a
colonel on the retired Hat and resides, or
did till very recently, in Dover, England.
Capt. John Clarke was for some years in To-
ronto in command of the depot of the lOOUi.
On its withdrawal he exchanged into the
R. C. Rifles and died in this city about
twenty-five years since. Captain Macartney
come from Paris, Ont. , where ho was the
postmaster, ho died in London, England,
in 1887.
Captain C. J. Clark exchange<l into
the 57th Regiment, serving for sev-
eral years in India prior to his death,
and Captain Price died in Gibraltar, where
he is buried, in 1861.
Among the lieutenants, John Fleteher, C.
H. Carriere, H. T. Ducheanav and Brown
\Vallis are still extant. Mr. Fletchw resides
in Quebec ; after retiring from the lOOth he
served as D. A. 6. for many years in the
Canadian militia. Mr. Carriere is a pro-
fessional man in Ottawa and Mr. Walbs a
member of the Canadian civil service. Mr.
Duchesnay, now Lieutenant-Colonel, is a
D.A.G. of Militia in the proyince of Quebec.
The remainder of the Canadian lieutenants
were L. A. Casanit, who commanded one of
the Canadian regiments of militia which
were sent to the Red Itiyer, under
C<donel Wolseley in 187a He retind
from the 100th in 1866. Lient. -Cdwiel
Casault received the order of C. M. G.
foi his services in the North-west, but
died very soon after the return of the sspe-
dition. L. C. A. de BellefeTiffie, Philip
DerbishiM and A. K Rykert are all gone,
the latter so far back as 1860. He was one of
the well-known St. Catharines family, c^nd
was a man of exceptionally good anlities.
He was educated at U. C. College and Trin-
ity University, and had his health not failed
he would undoubtedly have made his mark
in the army.
Of the ensigns, who were John GKbbs
Ridout, H. E. Davidson, T. H. Baldwin, C.
A. Boulton and W. P. Clarke, all with
the exception of Mr. Baldwin, who
died in 1862, survive. John Gibbs Ridout
is here in Toronto, int-erestcd in law and
logic, photography and archa;ology, the Ca-
nadian Institute and the Dogs' Home, and
able to enjoy the recollection that he wa>
1!
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
I avenue m
His end was
entally shot
isinia in 1S07
rkich he had
raised eiglity
. W. Smythe,
k and R. 0.
Smythe, who
•vives. He is a
i reaidea, or
ver, England,
ic yeara m To-
►tof thelOOtJi.
aged into the
m city about
iain Macartney
e ho was the
don, England,
xchangeil into
.ring for iev-
t)o his death,
ibraltar, where
hn 9leteher, G.
lay and Brown
Fletcher resides
m the lOQih he
ny years in the
rriere i» a pro-
Id Mr. WalBe a
il service. Mr.
at-Colonei, is a
7ince of Quebee.
,dian lieutenants
nmanded one of
militia which
River, under
He teth«d
Lieat.-Co4«nel
. of C. M. ti.
(orth-weet, hut
im oftheexpc
lefetriHe, Philip
■t are aH gone.
0. He was one of
nes family, ^^nd
good abilities.
JoUege and Ti in-
health not failed
made his mark
ere John Qibbs
H. Baldwin, C.
?l»rke, all with
Baldwin, who
n G'lbbs Ridout
ed in law and
lajology, the (^
oga' Home, anH
)n that he waa
111.')
X
head of the staff college in Kn;{liind in 18G5.
H. K. Davidson is a colonel on lialf |u.y in
England; he exchanged into tlic I'.Uii ilcgi-
menfc, the second battalion of wliich ho
commanded for four years. Sub.scquently
he commanded the Brigade Depot at Rich-
mond, Yorkshire ; since then he has been
awaiting further employment. He was a
most popular officer in the 100th, also in the
19th, being known among the men as " Our
Harry." C. A. Boulton retired from the
100th as captain in 18157. Since then hia
career as Canadian cavalry --fficer during
the troubles of 188.1, and h.i subsequent
I'lcvation to the Dominion Senate is well
known. W. P. Clarke left the 100th as
lieutenant in 1866. He has since pursued
an honorable career in the North-west.
The officer chosen to command the 100th
regiment was, as is well known. Colonel
George de Rottenburg, C.B. He died at
Windsor, England, a year ago. Full par-
ticulars of his life and services were given at
the time and need not be recapitulated. He
too was a Canadian by birth, but had 40
years service when he took command of the
Royal Canadians.
I'he remainder of the officers appointed to
the 100th were from English regiments, and
as this paper is not a history of the regi-
ment, but merely a reminiscence of those
Canadians who were among its fir.st officers,
tlifii' r'arecrs need not to be referred to.
CHAPTER CCLXXXVII.
CAPTURE OF DETROIT.
Tb« War •t 181'i— Krock's Demand for the
Sarreniier of lietroli— The CMpitnlailon
-The OrisinnI Ureil.
The story of the capitulation of Fort
Detroit under Major-Genoral Hull, of the
Tnited States army, to Major-General
Brock, commanding the British troops in
Upper Canada, which took place on
August 16, 1812, when the war of 1812-
14 was but two mouths old, *is oitcn
been related. Though the story is an
old one, it is always read an'l re-
membered with interest, aud the fac
similes of the articles of capitulation
which are reproduced from the original
documents thenwelves, kindly lent by
Mr. Christopher Robinson, of Beverley
House, will be studied with pleasure by
all those who are interested in the his-
tory of their country.
Ou August 15, ]812. General Brock had
hia headquarters at Sandwich, and from
there addressed to General Hull, who was
in command of the United States forc^ea I
on the opposite side, .a peremptory de-
mand " for the immodiatc surrender of
Fort Detroit," this summons being con-
veyed by Captain Glegg, who was on
the staff of IJrock. (rmieral Hull de-
clined to see Captain Glegg, though he
detained him some hours, and then re-
plied as follows :
" Headquarters, Detroit, Aug. 15, 1812.
"I have reeeived your letter of this
date. I have no other reply to make
than to inform you that f am prepared
to meet any force that may bo at your
disposal, aud any consequences whirh
may result from any exertion of it yo«
may think proper to make.
VV. HULL, Brigadier-Gcneriil,
Commanding N.W. Army U.S."
A cannonade was at f)nce commence*!
by Brock from a five-gun battery erect-
ed opposite Detroit, but was soon dis-
continued and orders given to the troops
that the attack was to lie resumed on
the following day. Accordingly at 6
a.m. on August 10 the bombardment re-
commenced, and Brock's trfwps, in all
about 1,000 men, were preparing to
cross the river, when ii flag of trnce
was sent from Hull, with a letter.
The following is a transcript of the
document :
"Detroit, Aug. 16. 1812.
" General Brock,
" I propose a cessation of hostilities
for one hour to ojien a negotiation for
the Surrender of Detroit.
" Yours, .^tc,
" WM. HULL,
" B. Genl. Commg."
Aeeonipauying the articles of capitn-
lation, is a well executed plan of the
Fort, drawn January 12, 1812.
The foot-note on the bottom of the
plan rends :—
" Not knowing the dimensions of the
various parts of the work, it was im-
possible to lay it down by any scale.
It is, however, hoped it will be sufficient
to give a general idea of its strength
and of the range of its guns."
After the flag of truce was sent, FIull
indited the following explan.'tory epis-
tle. It is simply an amplification of the
one sent with the flag ;—
Detroit, 16th .Vug.. 1812.
Sir,— The object of the Flagg, whieh
passed the River, was to propose a ces-
sation of hostilities for one hour for the
purpose of entering into a uegociation
for the Surrender of Detroit.
Yours, etc.,
W.M. HULL, B.-Gen*V
Com'g.
Gen'l Brock.
It is a somewhat singular circumstance
that of all those who signed those artlcli<*
not one served throughout the entire
war. The United States officers w«re,
of cou!so, pr'.'oludod from doing so throagk
hr
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23 WiiST >/AIN STREET
WEBSTER, N.Y. 14SS0
(716) 872-4503
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LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
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LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
1115
tbelr terms of tbelr parole. Brock and
HMdouoell fell jiiat two montlia later at
Qvseiutoa Heights, aud Major Olegg was
documents exact tae similes are giTM»
reads as follows :—
Camp at Detroit, 16th August, 1812.
S
ordared vn other sorriee before peace waa
The text of the capitulations, of which
Capitulation for the surrender of Fort
Detroit, entered into between Major-
General Brocic, commanding His Brit-
mm
{
1115
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
Annick Majestj's forces on the one part,
aid BriRadicr-Gcneral Hull, comniaud-
iag the North- WoHtern Army of the Unit-
ed StatOH on the other part.
l«t. Fort Detroit, with all the troops,
regular as well an militia, will be im-
mediately surrendered to the British
ierees under the command of Major- Oen-
8rd. Private persons and property ef
every description will be respected.
4th. HiN Excellency Brigadier General
Hull havin); cxpreflscd a desire that a
detachment from the State of Ohio on its
way to join his army, as well as one aent
from Fort Detroit nuder tbe command of
Colonel McArthur, should be included in
;^V^.^
.^..t^f-Z^xf*^-^
FAC SIMILR 0» STfPT.AVATORT I.KTTEB.
eral Broek, aad will be considered Pria-
onera of war, with the ezceplion of such
of the Militia of the Michigan territory
who hare not joined the army.
Sod. All public storea, arms and public
documents, iocludlnc everything eUe of
a public nature, will be immediately
girea upb
the aboTe capitulation, it ia aeeordingly
agreed to. It is, however, to be under-
stood that such part of the Ohio Militia
as have not joined the army will be per-
mitted to return to their homes on con-
dition that they will not serve during
the war, their arms, however, will be
delivered up if belonging to the Publie«
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LANDMARKS OF TORONTO
1117
Stii. The UariUtuu wiil muruh uut at
tilt' hour of twoiro o'clock thia day iim\
tho ItritiMli fnro^H wilt tuktt iiuuuMlinta
pmResKinn of the Fort.
I. Macdonki.i,. Lt. Col. Militia, I'. A. DC.
I. B. (Ji.ifi«), Mftjor A. DC.
Jamrs Mli.LRK, Lt. Col. .Itii IJ. S. Inflry.
K. nuROii, Colonel, Coing Isl lieu.
Approved. Micliigiiii Nlilitia.
W. lli7ix,B. (}cn'I(>)in'gtluX.W.Ariny.
Approved. IsAAi; Budok, Major <:oncral.
Uenornl Hull proposed sevRrul addi>
tionn (n tin- iirticl<'« of fiipitultttlon, which
ri'iitU tliuJ :—
" AdditioiiN prnimNcd by General Hull.
" All Itritinh nubjocts who have taken
protcctiou iiiiiliT tho American Qorern-
iii< lit to MiiHtiiiii uo injury in couBcquenrn
tlii-reof.
•• .No ptTPoii ol iriiB Army to bo consider-
ed nthcrwiHO than as a prinoncr of war.
" The Army to march out of the Rarri*
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I Ai siMii.i, 111 •^^ ri'LKMI.NTAI, AKrirl.l.,
■■■'■) ' I.' ? ^ -■
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LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
lilt
«ou with tho honours of war, and pvcry
iudiridual to bo jirotcctcd ugaiiwt the
ludiauB."
The drift of tJie first and Hccoud of
thaw proiKMod additiuua was u> protect
tboM men beiougiug to Ilull'g army who
were of British birth, from the penalty
motive ap|)earfl to have been to "let
himself down " as easily aa poeaible.
The two following supplemental artielee
were added, though referring to the Ohio
and Michigan militia :—
Transcribed, these two documents rvad
thus :
/■ /— ^„
^'Ssp^pt*
^Lt^T**^
V
// /iPy^
j!d A''*-^^ -
K: y^^—y^ ^^^^ y^
■ <? -
^^cr^ ^i:;::^^^ X-*^- A*- -"'^
<•<-
PAC SIMILE OF OEN. Blldi KS LETTER TO FRIENDS IN ENGLANP.
enforced upon those who are guilty of
tukiuK up arms against their own pouii-
CTTmen. Hull evidently thought tlu' first
aadition not sufficiently comprohoiiRivo, so
added the second. Neither was ncti'pted.
The last proposed addition was simply
ao impoEsible quo to accede to. Hull's
An article supplemental to the articlen
of capitulation concluded at Detroit, the
16lh of August, 1S12.
It is agreed that the officers and sol-
diers of the Ohio militia and volunteers
shall br ponnittod to proceed to their
respective homes ou this coudition, that
I
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ii
I
■I
.1:
!
■'! I
11:20
LANDMARKS OF TOKONTO.
1
Pi '
U'^'
I"
i
^
thoy are not to sorvo * ilnrinR the iirea-
eut war uiiIohh tlu'y ure cxi'limiKcil.
W. IIILL. D. Upiii'rnl,
('oiiiinuii(Hiig N.\v'. Army U.S.
ISAAC ItllOOK, Major-Ooiiprnl.
•Seven words I'xpunscd before niKiiing.
1. n.
W. H.
The oiippUineiitary nrtiele refers to
the Michigan militia, and its terms aro
iilentienl with the first.
('(•nsciiuent upon the capture of Detroit,
IJriK'li ini))!i><hed a proclamation to the
|H'i>ple of that rity ami the State of
Michigau regarding what would be re-
(piired of them. As will be neeii. it was
ci.iii'ise, and said in plain woids what
hail to Im' done by all concerned,
■['he following ]•* the text of the pro-
ilaniatiiiii. It will be nnticid that in
the Hubscrijiticui the words '* and seal "
have been obliterated, that it simply
leads, " (livt'ii under my hand," with the
date, followed by the ♦'igniituro of the
victorious general :
PHOCT.AMATIOX.
]\\ Isaac I'linvk, E6(|uire. Major-di'neral,
I'l-ninianding His Majesty's forces iu
the Province of Upi^cr Cunad.i, iVc., iVtc,
Whereas the territory of Michigan wa«
tliisi day by '•.•ipitulalir>i\ ci-d.-d to the
arms of His Hritannick Majesty without
any otjier ('(Midiliou than the protection
oi private property— and wishing to give
an early proof ot the moderation of jus-
lice of the Oiivernm Mit, I do hereby an-
nounce to all thr inhabilant-i of the said
territory that tlie law« heri-tofore in
existence shall Continui' in fu:ce until His
Majesty's jjleasure be known— or so long
B9 the peace, safety of tiie said territory
will admit therecvf. And I do here-by
also declare and make known to the
isaid inhabitants that they shall be pro-
tected iu the full exercise nnd enjoyment
of their religion— Of which all jiersons
lK>lh civil and military will take notice
and goveiii ttuni^elves accordingly.
AH jvi-^ous having in their |Kj8bes»ion
or having any knowledge of any public
property shall forthwith deliver in the
same or give notice thereof to the officer
commanding or Lt,-Col. Nichol, who are
hei-eby duly authorized to receive and
give paper receipts for the same.
Officers of militia will be hold respon-
uible that all armi iu poasctisiou of
militia-men be immediately delivered up,
and all individuals whatever who have
iu their imssission arma of any kind will
deliver them up without delay.
Given under my hand • * * at De-
trtMt, this sixteenth day of August, 1812,
and in the lifty-seeoud year of ilia
llaieaty's n-ign.
ISAAC iiiiOCK, Major-Geuerul.
ContiMiiporaneoiHly witti his |)roclauia
tlon, Sir Isaac Hrock indited u hast.v
note to his brothera in England.
Tiie greater portiou of this b'tter i«
mendy ji repetition of Brook'd despatch
to Sir George Prevost. It reads thus
Headquarters,
Detroit, August 10, 1812:
My Dear Urothers ami Friends,
l{ejoice at my good fortune and join nn
in prayers to Heaven. 1 send you a copy
of my hasty note to Sir George.
" I hasten tc appri/.e your Kxcelleiiry
of the capture of this very important
Po.st. 2,600 troops have this day sur-
rendered Prisoners of War, ami about 25
pieces of ordnance have been taken with-
out the sacrifice of a drop of British
blood. I had not more than TOO troops,
incliuling Militia aud about 700 Indium,
to accomplish this service. \Vhen 1 di-
tail my good fortune, your Kxcellenc.v
will be astonished. I have been admir-
ably supported by Colonel Proctor, tin-
whole of my staff, and I may justly saj
over" individual under my command."
Let me hear you are all united ami
happy. ISAAC B .
The following fool-note to (Jeii«'r.il
Brock's letter was addi'd by the late Sir
J. 11. Uobins(>n :
" 'I'his," meaning the original letter,
" wiLS kindly sent to me iu March, 1S4(>,
by 1'. B. TupiH'r, Esq., as an interestiiiK
autograph of his uncle, Major-G(>neral Si-
Ibauc Brock." .1. B. U.
To make this sketch complete, thcrt'
are here given reproductions of the en-
(lorseinents on the various documents.
Thf duplicates of the treaty of capitu-
lation are thus endorsed :
-^€-^
//^
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
1121
Am will be aeeiii these nre all but ideu-
tie&l in cvpry rpflp«ct.
The aupplemcntal articles wore also on-
duFHed* ajjpureiilly by the eamo peraoa,
tbiw:
There are various nthor endorscmiintSf
\ of which fac-flimile ropreseutatioas are
' hero givou. The lawt of these three is ia
tht' handwriting ol Sir Johu Beverltj
Il(j|iin.<4uu :
Cou-
(ztCT^ ^«^t^ tru^f^c^^
C^
<-ur%
.t
-^r
//^^ /p/ij
In eoncludiug this history of the cap-
ture of Detroit, the kiudueas of Mr.
Christopher Robinson, Q.C., son ol the
late chief justice, in placing at the dis-
posal of The Evening Telegram tl» or-
iginal documents relating to this great
event in Canadian history, is heartily
and roeiiectfully ncknowledged.
\
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•.i«.w»ynr<'!* '^ sww^-
\\n
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
CHAPTER CX:LXXXVIII.
TORONTO'S ASSESSMENT.
It. la M Vmih
■■rrcjMMl Ovrr •••
-Karly
Tknc MirrrrBt MHIi«mIn.
-Karly A«MrMnM:
;r
Like the eturdy oak in tbe forrat, which
•Itrang from the tiny ororu, Turonto, the
arlatorratie avemiM, its frand
buildiiiKM and educational inatl-
broad.
pub'tC
tutionn, ite uneurpaMad schaol ayat«>ni,
ita atiitrly private nanaiona and ita
Krnnd cimiuiorcial and ahippioj; faciliti<<«,
glorioN in a amnll beKinnlng. Toronto,
which lit tlie present time embrncea with>
in ita bouudarioa territory exteudiug ever
z6,zo2 ese
^9. 7iS-Z,^9Z
6 6./ 9Z,J / ^
Sa,&S7.70G
7z,/az6 6cr
S^f.z*r9,s'j3
QG,^'/^, ^63
/^ 6,687,^^^
/'^7.o3Z,jra9
/so, 63 3, 79 e
/^0^766,7^0
OROWTH or TOnoNTfl'i ASflWSSMKHT
frwkt eoBTention eity of Canada, the
pride o( Ontario, cnn tn-day, in nil its
splendour aad maguiiicence, with ita
16 1-2 square mile
very small pl.-ucf.
vraa in the furin
I, wn« originally a
The first town plot
of a pariillcliicrani.
it! frand
ional inatt'
jl ■y«t««m,
a and iti
K IncilititMi,
J. Toronto,
}rncea with*
I'udiug oTar
r
o
> 99
OS
//
70 €
6 60"
zon
7.3ZO
»3, 79 6
6,7^9
originally a
It town plot
ariillelt«ran».
LANUMAKKS OF lURONTO.
1133
l^'iug witLiu tbt* limit* of Ontario atrt'ot
un ttiu fiiNt, Ul*ui|{<' nliM't't mi the wi'it,
DuL-heM Rtrvet on tUv north iiml Front
HtrtH't on th« •until, Tliiil w.tn antc-
cvdfut to 1797, in wliith jour IMfwidcnt
UuMell iMu«*d att ofticial urdi>r tur tlir
rnlargt'iuL'itt of the town, tbfu known a«
York. Weatward tlir slur uf uuipiri- look
itH cuiirav, uud in IT'.tM the wi'Hti.'rn city
limit liud «xtenilfd to Pt'tnr Hlri'ot, wilL
tU« nurtburu limit reuuliin|{ lu (juuuu
Btrect.
York proHiiercd i>ici>ediitKl.v in the early
3'eurfl of ita inttrffting Listory, np«'tMlily
uc(|uirtng renown ax a " nu-eliuK place, "
which waa aignified by ita early Indian
name. It muitt liavu takuu ou tlic evil
auxiliariPH uf liviliiutiun without wnat
ing much valualile tiiuu, fur in 1H17, by
euactiufnt p^uMtnl in tin* fifty Beventh
year uf the reign uf (Icurgo III., York
wan proc'laimc^d a iiolice tusvn. Abont
thii time the noutherly boundaries were
witkni'd beyond Fruut ntreet to inclu<le
the beach eawt of " Kuitt ITa Creek," which
meandered through the eiuit end of the
ul<l Parliament groundu, clone to Simcoe
titreet. Fourteen year* later the western
buundi. r waa exteuded to a point which
iK to-day represented by Tecumseth
street. East, west, north and suuth has
the city steadily grown.
In lUit4 " the daughter of the Don put
her (|ueenly garmenta ou," having at-
tained to the crown and dignity of a
city. At the time of incorporation To-
ronto waa divided intu five war(L«. All
the territory east of Yonge street was
iuclnded in St. David and St. Lawrence
waidM, King sticet being the interBeut-
iiiK line. WcHt oi YoiiKc street !>l. I'at-
riik'« \Vi\rd embraced all the property
north of Queen Htreet; St. Andrew's Ward
was the iSan<lwi<'h distiioi, httwein (^ueeu
ami King; St. George'M Ward lieing the
iihwt Southerly Si-'ctiuu. In 1.^47 St.
.Iiiiiics' Ward waa established, and in
l.s.'),", the " Noble V\ ard " of St. John
wpraiin into exiHtencc. Five years later
tin' Liberties were abolisheil. The Lib-
erties represented the di«trirln skirting
the honndaries of the city. The abolition
i>f LibertieM lironght the Colli'jje avenue
ami (jueen's Park into the city, as they
were part of the LibtMlien.
Historical research among the loines
and archivew that are zealously guarded
by City Clerk lih'Vius atiorJs a wealth
ol iutereatiug inloimatiou tu the urchaeo-
logically inclined student of the early his-
tiny of Toronto,
The object of this eki.'tch is to outline
by chart and fi;;;ure.s the growth of the
city's ii«8eNSuieiil. Suae l>,'-t theiu
ii.ive lici'U three nietiiodM .idipled of innk-
in<: the abaesniU'Uls. ''.elween l,sM4 ;ui(l
1S;'.7 the ;i8b''Bso.B di'lcruiUu'd ihe mar-
ket value uf all property, and taxM wera
collected upon a percentage of that
I valu)-. In IM34 the entire OMesHniunt
j of rateable property (real and iiersoual)
I in the city was ilK(i,4UU. The rate fur
that and tho two succeediug years was
, -Hd on the pound. The eolleution of tazea
in 1H:14 amounted to i:,'t,45U I Us Utl. or
I about J^l7,2ri4 in currency. By way of
I comparison, it may be stated that tke
] taxea levied in 1NU4 were over $2,400,-
I UOU. In 1S3M the mode of lutsessiug
I waa changed, so that only upou the ac-
tual rental derived from prn|M>rty wim
I the valuation made. As a conseiiuence,
' the total axscHsmeut drop|>ed from $218,-
OUO to $71,U81.
'I'hen a* now, a low aasessment render-
ed necessary u high rate of taxation,
and the rate bouuiled from 3d cm the
pound to la 1 I-2d on the pound. The
citizens were progressive: so also wiis
the tax rate, and in 1847 it is found
that the property ownera are paying Is
2d on the pouud. lu 1849 a great cou-
flagratiou destroyed a large amount o!
property, causing an immense deprecia-
tion iu the assessment. To meet the
deficiency, the municipal faUiers increaa-
ed the rate. In 18.'>L it had reached
la 9 l-2d on the pound. Upward and
atiil upward it climbed with const^at
'.tridea. In 1853 it had attained w^j
altitude of 2s od on the pound, and waa
still ascending. A year later the even
38 were demanded, and. of course, paid.
Then a halt was called. The bills were
evidently growing with too much pr'-'-
cipitancy to suit the times, and so a
shift was made. Currency was adopted,
and the first rate under the dollara and
cents system was 14 3-4 cents on the
dollar. In 1><((4 the maximum figure
was reached— 22 1-2 cents on the dollar.
Probably about that time there was
universal proteatation from the taxpay-
er.«* for the present method of the assess-
uient was introduced in ISGT- High
assessment and a corieHpoiidintriy low
rate of tax.'ttion became the recognized
busis. The initial rate under this sys-
tem was 1.5 mills on the dolliir, the
loweiit was 14 miils im the dollar iu
1^74, the lilghest was I'J 1-2 mills on the
dollar in l!S77.
Increases due to the annexation of
suburbs were as follows : 1S83, Vorkville,
$2,r>.-)2,lt>8 : l'^S4, r.rjcktun. $447,037;
Kiverside, $511, ToU; 1^8'J, Parkdale,
$3,203,630.
The accompany iiig sketch illustratea
the annual growth of the assessment since
the present method was adopted in 1867.
The charts are designed to a scale so to
deiiioiiwtrate the jHi'portionate increase or
decrease of the assev.^uu'iit from year to
vear.
II
I
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11S4
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
!I
fc;.|iN
S'
m
\
li !
mi
I-
The Mayors of the city from 1867 to 1805
k*vc In-en aa follows : —
1867 8 .laim's E. Smith.
186!» 7l» S. H. Hiuni.iii.
1871-2 JoHcph Slinirtl.
1873 Aliixauder Miiiuiiiig.
1874-5 Francis H. Medttilf.
1876-7-S Aiiyiia Morrison.
1879 80 .liiiiH's lUaty.
1881.'_' WiUmni B. 'McMun icli.
1S8.S.4 Arthur H. Hosw.ll.
iS8,'> Alcxan(l«»r Mannin{;.
iH.S().7 William 11. HoMlaml.
18S.S !).!M 91 . Kdwanl F. Cl.uUc.
l8<»-J-3 llobcrt .1. FU-mmg.
1894-0 NS'aiiing Konnetly.
CHAI'TEK I t LXXXIX.
AN OLD DOCUMENT.
.4 Pr«nil<tM<ir.v Mo(<> «r IH;i4 How llir 4°il> ot
T«r«ut« KNiK.->4l 1MAII4-.V In Ikr Iciir or IIn
Inrorperallou.
.4u old dwumeut, in the shape of a
promiwory unte, dated 26th St'|it»'iiili<'r,
1834, has Intt'ly bi on um-arllu'd. It hIiows
that in the fitni ynar of it« in<'f>r|>(ir-
atioQ the «'ity of Toronto receivod finan-
cial aid from a local bank, wliiih at
that time ^vn« a wtll-knonTi institution.
The particulars •! the note IhsucmI for
the «or|)oiaii(m of the city ci Toronto on
OtobiT 0th. 1834, by the Mayor an«l
c<hf'r8, as on rword in The UKkx of the
Civic Treaaury Department, are nn fol-
io \va :
PromiMory note in favour of M^a^ri.
Goorge Tru«cntt, John (^lovcland, (ir"en
Ji t'o., for £50(*. dati'd niui-ty d ivh from
2t>th Septfuiber, 18.'U, and due L. t'l I)c-
"•(•nibi'r. 1^84. but not paid until .Janu-
ary 3lRt, 1835.
Discount on note paid October Ulli, 1 >^.'14,
£7 1h. 5d.
Intenut on overdue note paid January
aiiit, 18.15. £2 15«. lid.
All the signers «»( the note n-ere mem-
bere of tin.- '"ity Coun<il for '834, and
well-k:,^/wn <iti7.('n*. William i.vori Mac-
kenzif wa."< Mayor and aldrmian fj)r St.
David's Ward. In tluwe davs the mayor
WM« elected from ainonjr«t the aldenni'u.
.Tohn Armstrong, Tlioma* I). Mniriaoii,
M.l>., chairm.LU '>( Hk' Finance rominit-
tec, and .John I)oel wcic aldermen and
coiiiipilni.'in respi'it ividy for St. Andrew's
Ward. T, J). Morrioon waa m.iynr in
1836. He lived <,n Hiehniond stiect, ai.d
was a well-known Torontoni«u. .lohn
Duel w!iH the owner of I)oel'« brewery,
and liveil in the hou«e now standi nR on
111* north-west ci,ri;er of Adi-laid" anil
Way streets. In the rear oif his house
Htood the brewery, in whi<'h some oi the
lae'tingH preliminary to the rebellion of
l'^37 were held.
James Lessiie wrs alderman and Frank-
lin Ja*kes and Colin DrMmuiond council-
men for St. David's Ward. James l^as-
lie wart one of the firm of LeMlie arcs.,
:\wl brother of Mr. Joseph I..e«alie, th-
in t« |>of<tni.i.'«ter of Toronto. Mr. FVank-
lin Jackes lived on King street eaat in
the early days, but reiaoveU »fterw«rda
to Kglinton, and wa« th« father of the
JaekcH family, who for many yean lived
on the east Hide of Youge atreet in Egliil-
ton. Mr. t'oliii Drummond reaided on the
noith-west corner of Victoria aud Uich-
niond stP'ets. lie waH a lumber merchant.
It waw at the great fire whicli occurred
in liis InmlMT yard on Yonge atrect, op-
pointe Trinity equare, in the early sixti>'H
that William Charlton, of the fire bri-
gade, was killed. Thomiu Carfrae, jr.,
and Kdwaid Wright were the aldermen
and tieoigc (nirnett councilman for St.
tieorge'M Ward. Mr. Uur;iett waa also
mavor in 1837. 1848. 184!» aud 18B0,
and later was |>olice maginlrate of the
<'ity. .lames i.'.irfrae wafl formerly col-
le<tor of the port, and lived on the west
side of .^«-utt ulreet, in the little cottage
\vhi<di was afterwards occupied by the
late Stedm.in U. Campbell. The custom
house of those days was a small red
brick building, immeciiately east of John
Macdonald A Co.'s, on Front atreet. Kd-
ward Wright was one of the early in-
habitant« of York. He was a mendier
of the old (jneen's iUingeis, and during
his life was naiil to l)e the earliest in-
habitant of York. He lived in the cot-
tage which Htood fill the north-west cor-
ner of Front and .fohn streets, in rear
of what NN as known aa the Greeulaud
F'iwKirii'H ta\ern, which he also kept for
yr;i rs.
W illiam Arthur.-* and J. (i. !!ear<l were
the ci.niicilni'Mi for St. Lawrence Ward.
\\ illiaui Arthurs was the fallur of the
late Col. Arthurs, and Mr. Heard whk
mayor in ls.'">4. He wan the father of tln'
Me.^isrs. Heard, of tbiH city.
.John !•;. 'i'ini-^, .M. P., anil (i. T. DeniHon,
Sr., were aldernn II for St. I'.itrickV W.ird
and .laine.H 'Irott'T was one of its cnui,
cilnoii. He wa.s ii«see of tin' nnirket fi i
nwiny jenrn.
The rat'' roll of Toronto for l^.".4 ..Iiowh
the ratiir.; of th se nani'd in lli • pn-
miN«<ory note, so that doubtl'NH thi' li.inU
bad giKid ^euurity fir the money ad-
van<-ed. .MiK.-irfi. Truncott & (Ireen reprc
srnted the Agricultural Uank, which w; s
sitiuiteil on Friint street. 'I'lie director>
were Filward 'rriiKCcitt and John Clev
land tJreen. H. .J. Hensleigh was caMliii;.
There was 'lU eii halite office adj"iniij-
the Agrieidtural Hank.
The following gciiJlemen coniposi'il llir
first f'ity roiincij of Toronto .•titer ita in-
corporation na u city in I S3 1
i5
I
lU) aud Frank-
lUjoiid couucil-
Jaiui'B I./«iii-
LpmUc JJroB.,
1 ljma\i(\ til-
. Mr. F'rank-
strt'ct en«t in
L'd •Iterwank
ffttlicr of the
uy yea™ livcl
reet in Egliil-
resided ou th-
riu aud Uich-
brr inerchnul.
•hkb occurnMl
g(* strtM't, op-
■ ciiily Bixti'-H
the fire hri-
CHifrae, jr.,
the aldi'rmeii
mHu for St.
(>tt waa alfio
t!> aud 1850,
ft rate of thi>
fonui'rly col-
1 on the wost
little cottHge
upit'd hy tin'
The cufllom
a small inl
eaat of John
it Btreet. K<1-
he early in-
u8 a menilior
, and during
! piirliCHt iu-
i in the cot-
jrth-Wfflt I'oi-
I'ct*, in rt'iir
ic Grrculiiud
alw) kf'pt for
. I5enrd wfre
.Tcncc Wtird.
\itiur (»f tlir
. llciird \Mis
father cif Ihi'
I. T. DcniHdii,
itiii'kV V\';it(i
(if it^ ciiiii.
1' nmrki't fii
r l^.'I4 .sliowH
ill llii' pro-
CKN thf l)illlk
moupy lid-
(rri'iMi rt'iiri'
<, whii'h w. N
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LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
112S
Mayor— William Lyon Mackenzie.
St. Andrew's Ward— Aldermen, Thomas
Morriaou, M.D., Jolin Ilarixr ; Councilnien,
JoLu Armstrong, .lutm Doel.
St. David's Ward— Aldermen, William L.
Mackenzie, James l.osHlit^ ; Conncilmen,
Franklin Jaekes, Coiiu Dnunniond.
yt. George's W.ird -Aldermen, Thomas
Carfrae, jr., Kdwnrd WriRJit ; t'ouneilmen,
iFoiin Craig, (ieorge (iuiiwtt.
St. Lawrence Ward— Aldermen, (leorge
Monro, *(je()rp;e Duggau, sr., •William
Cawthra ; Couiieilmen, William Arthnrs,
■'Lnrdner Bostwiek, 'Joshua G Heard.
St. Patrick's W ard— John E. Tim«, M.D.,
George T. Denison, «r.; Cunncilmen, Joseph
Turton, James Trotter.
Dr. Uolpli refused to be sworn into office
after beii.g elected, and Dr. Tims was
elected in his stead, taking hin seat on
A^'•=l 26.
Civic Officials— James Hervey Price,
CHAPTKR CCXC.
SOME OLD-TnVIEJ?ESIDENCE&
Thit Brongta Hoiisr Two Slmeoe Mreet
nMolllngA-Sani. RoserHanilJohnSliea.
Fifty years since stood on the south-
east corner of Adelaide and Simco6
rtreets, with the j>rinci{)al entrance in
the latter thoroughfare, the comfortable
rough-cast house, built and occupied
about 1844 by Mr. S<*cker Brough, bar-
rister, for many years Princijxil of the
Court of Probate, and afterwards county
judge of Huron and Bruce, he then remov-
ing to Goderich. Mr. Brough's office in
Toronto wa« at first on the south side
of King street, near York street, but for
a gn>at number of year* in the Welling-
ton Chambers, on Wellington street. Mr.
Justice Brough died in .Tannary, 1879.
There was a si>acious gardeu on the
RRonm IIOISE, SIMCOK STREKT, 1H4.'5.
City Clerk : Matthew Walton and Andrew
T. .MeCord, ehamberlain : Charles Barn-
hart, governor of the jail : Wm. lliggins,
chief of police.
Mr. Matthew Walton was chamberlain
until his death, whicli occurred in July,
1S34, when he was succeeded by Mr. Mc-
Curd, who continued in office until 1874,
when he resigned, Mr. Samuel B. Har-
man being apjiointed to fill the vacnney.
Ill health forced the retirement of Mr.
Harman in ISHS, and Mr. I'.iehard T.
Cojfdy, then Assistant City Tre.vsurer. was
promoted to the position.
•The courts unseated Mr. George Dug-
gan, lyid declare 1 Mr. Cawthra duly en-
titled to the seat.
"•Mr. J. G. Beard was elected on Sep-
tember 15, in place of Mr. Boetwick, de-
ceased.
Simcoe street side of Mr. Brough's house.
Indeed, at that time, Simcoe street,
whwe name had cjiily just been
changed from Graves street, was
almost in the country. Some years
later Mr. Brough had iOr his neigh-
bour Mr. Clarke Gamble, who lived on
the same side of the street. In 1845-6, the
perioil now being referred to, there were
very few houses, indeed, on Simcoe street.
South of Mr. Brough lived W. A. C. Myers,
the printer. Myers was connected at one
time with printing the Church newspaper,
in an office at the back of No. 5, now No.
10 King street west. PasNiug Adelaide
street, there were only one dr two very
small houHcs on the same side of the
street until Uiciimoud street was reach-
ed, and then came two substantial
brick houses built some nixty years
ago, one of them, the southern, with the
1126
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
arched doopwny, «lio\rii in tho illuatration.
oceupii'd liy Mr. John .loBopli. fatlior of
the lato Frank .Taseph. whoso tloath Viy a
railway acciili'iit in th«> oarly days of 180r»
was so universally deplorod. Air. .Tosepli
wa«, when in Enplaud, private secretary
to Williiim \VillH>rforce, the philanthrop-
ist, subsequently in Roveniinental employ-
ment In the (olonial (Mfioe, anil e;une to
this country with Sir Francis liond-llead
in 183G ns his private stHiretary. While
here he married Miss Ilagorman, daughter
of Mr. .Tu."tlce Hagerman, and sister of
tiie late Mrs. John Beverley Uoliiuson.
well-known Hugh Scoble, Hvpd there, and
later still Dr. Lucius O'Brien occupied it
until 18r>U, when he removed to Quebec.
On the south-east corner of Quoeu and
Simcoe streets is a wooden house, now
used as a fep<l and corn store, which
was once a fashionable residence. There-
in rewided, almost as soon as it was erect-
ed, al)out 1820, Rev. .Joseph Hudson, chap-
lain to the forces. Subsequently C/olonel
Horton. H.M. 16th Regiment, lived in it.
and so did afterwards Captain Halket,
Coldstream Guards, A.D.C. to Sir Francis
Iknid-Head and Sir George Arthur in buc-
Two SIMCOK STKKKT BESIDKNCKS.
Mrs. .foufpk died ulniut 1838, and Mr.
Joseph, who afterwards Incame clerk of
the Kietuiive I'ouucil, removed elsewhere.
Afterwards, very early in 1841, this same
house passed into the occupation of Mr.
i •' 11 Uo'»iison, dry goods mercliiuit,
'■ ,i(' west side of Yonge street, just
V;.' of King street. Mr. Rolx^rtson lived
n^ nijti.; 1850, or the early
uaniitia of 1851, when he removed to
the rext t,,i8e north, also shown in the
engraving remaining there until he went
to a hoti.He he Ininself built on the west-
em nidi' (»f .lohii street. Afterwards, alv)Ut
ISSl-S, .Mrs. Justina Scobie, w i<low o!' tli''
cession. Captain Halket married a daugh-
ter of <"olouel Mf)odle, who was killed in
the rel)ellion. He returned to England
about 1842.
To change the locality, but also half
a century since, stood on the eastern
side of Hay street, just north of where
the stables are now which adjoin the
Molsons Rank, the frame cottage of
Samuel Refers, the painter. Rogers built
the hourie about 1840-41, and resided
there until his death, which occurred
about twenty years since. He was a
tradesman of the old school and was
hiu'hlv resiM'Cted. He charged a good
LAN'DMARKS OF TORONTO.
1127
there, and
occupied it
o Quebec.
Queen and
house, now
tore, which
nee. There-
; was erect-
idson, chap-
itly Colonel
lived in it.
iin Halkct,
Sir Francis
thur in «uc-
','.
V
lod a daugh-
tts killed in
to England
ut also half
the eastprii
th of where
adjoin the
cottage of
Rogers built
ind resided
h occurred
lie was a
and was
•d a jtood
'I
i<
1128
LANDMARKS OF TORONTO.
price »nd did excellent work. Rogers was al-
ways on very intimate terms with the boys at
Boyd's school hard by and was fond of hearing
their conversation and listening to their jokes
which he was always ready to applaud.
Another old time place was on the eastern
plied for hire throughout the city. Shea's carta,
as well as those of other owners, used to stana
at the foot of Yonge street, near the Custom
House. Afterwards Shea became a contractor
and lived at 109 Seaton street, where he re*
mained until his death.which took placeabout
now
corner of Palace and Caroline streets,
known respectively u Front and Sherbourne
■treeta,in the occupation of John Shea. Shea
was a carter, a class of tradesmen who have
been superseded by expresK waggon-s and rail-
way lorries. Ue had several cuits and they
1874. His sou, also John, took orders in the
Roman Catholic body, and as Father Shes. of
St. Michael's and St. Paul's, was held in Mfell
deserved esteem. He and his father yrnn
both uf thcin popular and useful men.
Shea's carte,
led to atana
the CuBtom
contractor
here he re-
placeabouk
Brain the
)r Shea, of
d in wH)
ler wre
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