New Year's Eve, 1896, NewYear's Day, 1897 (Pt. 2)

“ Some of the ‘bhoys’ of the lake district commenced the New Year badly. About 2 o’clock this morning, they filled themselves with beer and the air on Bay street north with foul language.”

Hamilton Spectator.   January 02, 1897

It was not long into the year 1897 before the Hamilton Police department had to swing into action in response to an unruly group of men loudly ‘celebrating’ :

“P. C. Yeats heard their noise and cautioned them. They told him to go to Florida and warmer climates, but instead he went to a call-box and summoned the patrol wagon, which brought Constables Miller, Gibbs, English and Aiken.

“The officers then swooped down on the gang and succeeded in getting a prisoner each. The men were around two beer kegs.

“Jaime McKeever, a big chap who weighs about 220 pounds, was the chairman, and he wore a white plug hat. The names of those placed under arrest are : Geo. Cross, Bay street north; John Crofton, Catharine street north; John Eatree, Picton street west; Wm. Day, Ferguson avenue north.”¹

¹ “ Commenced the Year Badly : Some of the’B’Hoys of the Lake District Fined”

Hamilton Spectator.   January 2, 1897.

Presented before Magistrate Jelfs to face the charges the police imposed, each member of the gang was fined $1 or 5 days in jail. McKeever’s white plug was taken from him and presented to a member of the press gallery at the police court.

For many Hamiltonians, athletics was the theme of New Year’s day, 1897:

“Though very early in the season for football, the boys took advantage of New Year’s day. A match was played between St. Matthew’s juniors and the East End Rangers’ juniors on the Rangers’ field.”²

² “Late Sporting Notes : New Year Football”

Hamilton Times.   January 2, 1897.

Devotees of the sport of curling had hoped that New Year’s day matches were in the offing for them, but were ultimately disappointed due to the mild weather:

“Although matches have been curled on ice that was worse than that which could have been had on two of the Thistle rinks, there was no curling. The Canadian vs. the Old Country match was set for the day, but the two rinks on which there were ice were not sufficient to allow of its being played.

“At the Victoria Rink the ice was hardly good enough, and no curling was indulged in.”²

² “New Year’s Day Sports : Quiet in Hamilton Because There Was no Ice”

Hamilton Times.   January 2, 1897.

The warm weather, for January, was a plus for another sporting event held in Hamilton that day:

“Crowds, numbering away up in the thousands, were out yesterday to see the New Year road race run by the St. Lawrence Athletic Club.

“The course was from the crossing opposite St. Lawrence church, corner of Mary and Ferrie streets, along Ferrie street to James, south on James to Barton to the H. J. C., and return over the same course.”²

Seven entrants lined up at 3 p.m. for the 6 ½ mile race. The Hamilton Jockey Club being 3 ¼ miles from starting line.

 Of the 7 who began, only 3 finished the race, the winner being William Melody with a time of 41:20, barely beating Harry Smith, just fifteen years old, who had a time less than a minute longer, 42:25.

The winning prize was a silver cup donated by Charles Furlong. Before the winner could take the cup home, it was to be put on display first in the window of Gardner & Thompson’s store downtown.

New Year’s day, 1897 was a busy one for the staff and volunteers of the Young Man’s Christian Association, at James and Jackson streets:

“The Y. M. C. A. building was crowded with young men all day.

“Commencing at 10, there was an address to young men by Rev. Dr. Beavis; from 3 to 6, there was orchestral music, exhibition of fine art and gymnasium work; from 8 to 9, limelight views of interesting points along the Intercolonial railway were show, also Hamilton Camera club views; from 9 to 10, the business men played basket ball.”³

³ “At the Y. M. C. A. : Young Men Made Welcome on New Year’s Day”

Hamilton Spectator.  January 2, 1897