Other than the Battle of Stoney Creek in 1813, no incident in the history of the city of Hamilton has been more violent than the riot that occurred on the nights of November 23rd and 24th of 1906. A streetcar and radial strike that had been going on since November 5th lead to one of the largest riots in Canadian history, which would see the reading of the riot act and the use of militia troops to bring it to a end.
The author would like to thank Amalgamated Transit Union Local 107 and the William Ready Division of Archives and Research Collections of Mills Library at McMaster University, without whose help this article could not have been written.
In the summer of 1906 the three-year contract between the Cataract Company's Hamilton Street Railway and the union representing its streetcar employees, Division 107 of the Amalgamated Association of Street and Electric Railway Employees of America (AASEREA 107), was coming to an end. This was the third contract between the HSR and AASEREA 107 since the founding of the union division in 1899.
AASEREA 107 members approved the draft of their requests on July 7. Discussions between the two sides over the new fourth contract began in late July with the first mentions of the contract discussions appearing in the August 15th Hamilton Spectator. However an impasse was reached almost immediately, before any of the contract details could be negotiated. The primary obstacle between the company and the union was over which workers the new contract would cover. The previous contract had applied only to employees of the HSR. Since the contract had been created, the employees of the Cataract Company's two radial lines, the Hamilton & Dundas Street Railway (H&D) and the Hamilton Radial Electric Railway (HRER) had joined the union. AASEREA 107 wanted this new contract to cover not only the employees of the HSR, but the employees of the H&D, and the HRER as well. Up to this point these three railways were covered by separate agreements.
The Cataract Company's Traction manager, Clyde. K. Green, refused to bring the employees of the H&D and the HRER under the same contract as the employees of the HSR, claiming that all three companies were completely independent of each other, and each should have its own contract. Green refused to recognize the negotiating committee as having any authority to negotiate on behalf of the two radial lines. The union disputed this on the grounds of frequent interchanging of men and equipment between the three railways, but on this point the company would not negotiate. On August 17 AASEREA president W. D. Mahon arrived in Hamilton from Detroit to assess the situation and to determine the level of support the members had towards a possible strike. With the membership giving their full support to the union leadership, Mahon departed two days later.
At the same time as the contract negotiations were going on, the city of Hamilton was involved in a dispute with the HSR. Complaints from riders over the condition of the tracks and cars, and the service frequency prompted the Ontario Railway and Municipal Board (ORMB) to announce on August 18 that they would investigate. On August 22 the Cataract Company asked the ORMB to act as an arbitrator in the negotiations. AASEREA 107 objected, claiming that based on their actions in a recent labour dispute involving the London Street Railway and its union AASEREA 97, the ORMB was anti-labour. The union countered with a proposal to add special representatives from each radial line to the negotiating committee, but that was turned down by the Cataract Company.
The old contract expired on August 24. That night a union meeting was held at the Trades and Labour Hall, in which a motion to strike was narrowly defeated. Instead, it was agreed to continue to negotiate with the Cataract company. The union agreed to separate the radial lines from the streetcar contract, and create a separate grievance committee for the radial lines, with AASEREA 107's president to act if a grievance could not be resolved. This too was rejected by the Cataract Company.
In a last ditch effort to avoid a strike, members of the union appealed directly to the company president Col. J. M. Gibson on August 27. Gibson and the union agreed to three separate contracts, the use of arbitrators if need be, and that members of the radial lines who had grievances could be accompanied by a member of the streetcar union as an advisor, but that member could not act in any official capacity. The three new preliminary contracts were drafted the next day, and negotiations over the details began at once. There were demands for wage increases, and a demand that pay be more closely tied to hours worked (many employees were required to be at their job for 18 hrs, but only be paid for the 10 or 12 hrs they actually worked).
A week's negotiation over wages did not get anywhere, and so on September 3 the contract dispute went to arbitration. AASEREA 107 appointed Adam Studholme as arbitrator, and the Cataract Company appointed William Bell, who resigned on September 8 due to ill health and was replaced by F. J. Howell. Several other names were proposed for the third member of the arbitration board, but it took until September 14 for all parties to accept Joseph Jardine as the third member. The arbitrators met in the jury room of the Hamilton courthouse with Traction manager Green, General manager W. C. Hawkins, and Union president John Theaker for the first time on September 17.
As negotiations proceeded, the city was moving ahead with it's actions against the HSR. The city filed a formal complaint against the HSR with the ORMB on September 6. It alleged that the streetcars were dirty, very noisy, and in poor shape, while the tracks were worn out and improperly set in the roadway surface. The ORMB launched an investigation, and began receiving witness testimony in Toronto. The HSR rebutted the city's allegations on September 20. A lengthy list of defects were submitted into evidence by inspectors on September 27.
On September 29, a preliminary contract was agreed upon. The agreement would last for 2 years and 8 months, with a retroactive start date of August 1, 1906. A ten hour shift would have to be completed within 12 consecutive hours, and that anyone handling a late evening shift would not have to begin work the next day until 10 am. Overtime of an additional 2 cents per hour would be paid to all workers for any work done on Sunday, or for work exceeding 60 hours a week.
Both the HSR and H&D conductors and motormen would see increases in wages, but the HRER conductors and motormen would see no increase in wages at all. Feeling betrayed by the union, the employees of the HRER quit AASEREA 107 en masse on October 14. The agreement was formally signed on October 20.
On October 22 the HSR announced the first new work schedule as a result of the new contract. As a result of the restriction on employees who were working late being on call the following morning, the HSR began hiring an additional 40 workers to operate early morning extras running on the Deering extension, from Barton north along the HRER to the industries along the waterfront. The HSR implemented the new schedules one at a time, starting on King West.
By October 31 the HSR had hired and began training about half of the required new operators. But that morning Manager Green announced that the HSR would not implement the new work schedule for the Belt Line route, as it had been unable to hire enough new employees. Strangely, the Cataract Company also announced that it would halt its efforts to hire additional operators. No real explanation why was given. This was a violation of the newly signed contract and arbitration, and talks between the union and the HSR went nowhere.
At 12:30 am on Sunday November 4, a mass meeting was held by AASEREA 107 on the issue of whether or not to strike, due to the Cataract Company's refusal to implement the new schedule. Manager Green was telephoned at 4:00 am and asked one last time if the new schedule would be put into place by Monday morning. He responded 'no'. Shortly after a vote was taken, and the results were nearly unanimous: 'Strike.'
The vote to strike meant an immediate halt to all HSR and H&D operations. As the HRER members had quit the union after the decision not to raise HRER wages, operations on the HRER mainline between Hamilton and Oakville and on the HRER's Bartonville line continued as normal.
H&D service was restarted by the Cataract Company on November 6 on a limited schedule, later expanded to full service, but in a sign of solidarity with the strikers very few Hamilton or Dundas residents used the service, instead riding more expensive Grand Trunk Railway or Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo Railway trains between Dundas and Hamilton.
The Cataract company responded to the strike by demanding that all striking employees turn in their caps, badges and ticket punches, and collect their wages. In effect, all striking workers were fired. Members of AASEREA 107 refused to either collect wages or return items. As it no longer had any workers, Cataract Company stopped officially speaking to the union and began hiring replacement conductors and motormen. Strike-breakers were also brought in, and housed near the Sanford barn.
Hamiltonians were very much on the side of the strikers. The poor conditions of the HSR that had prompted the involvement of the ORMB, combined with a feeling that the Cataract Company was becoming or had become a monopoly in the transportation and electricity fields meant that there was little support for the company. Donations to the strikers were large enough that the union was able to pay full salaries to all the striking workers, and many Hamiltonians wore blue ribbons with the slogan 'We Walk' in support. Similar levels of support came from the residents of Dundas.
Several merchants announced freezes on payments due that were being made by members of AASEREA 107. Others took advantage of the strike to quickly change their advertisements in local newspapers to remind shoppers of what they could buy with the fares they weren't spending.
Mayor S. D. Biggar attempted to get both sides talking again, and discussions between the two sides took place on November 5 & 6, but with no results.
On the evening of Monday November 5, a crowd gathered at the HRER/H&D station at James & Gore (today's James & Wilson). At first the crowd was quiet, but as the sun set and the HRER cars continued to operate the crowd began to get more and more agitated. The crews on the radial cars departing at 8:30 and 9:30 PM were the target of insults, while rocks and bottles were thrown at the radial car departing at 11:15 PM, shattering the windows. A crowd at the Stuart St Car barn also threw stones and broke windows, before the police arrived and drove off the crowd. AASEREA 107 denied any involvement with the violence.
The first injury in the strike occurred that evening when Constable Billy Campaign struck Dennis Bennett with his baton for not moving fast enough and for talking back, as Campaign tried to clear a crowd from in front of city hall. Bennett filed a complaint for Campaign's actions, but it was rejected by the court.
The first arrest for strike related vandalism was also made that night, when fifteen year old Russell Hymers was arrested for setting a Cataract company flat car on fire on a siding at Gore St & Mary. The damage was minimal, but he was sentenced to the Mimico penitentiary on November 8 for a term to end when he turned 21.
As a result of the violence, the Cataract company cancelled all HRER and H&D passenger trips taking place after dark. On the night of November 6 a similar sized crowd formed at the HRER/H&D station, but as there were no cars running the crowd remained peaceful, but noisy. For several more days large crowds formed on James street in the evenings, but no further acts of vandalism happened.
The same could not be said for crowds near the International Harvester works on the HRER, near today's Burlington & Sherman. Crowds hurling insults formed on the evening of November 5, and the following evening sticks and stones were thrown at cars from the GTR bridge over the tracks north of Barton, including one rock large enough to almost break through the roof of one of the cars. Motorman Tom Fothergill and Supt. Miller both suffered minor injuries.
On November 7 a large interurban car being used to transport mail on the HRER was derailed near Stipe's crossing (near Gage Ave) in the east end. Shots were fired, and the police on on the mail car returned fire. No one was hit on either side. This exchange of shots may have scared the protesters, as no incidents were reported the following night, or on the nights after. A heavy police presence prevented further trouble near International Harvester on November 8.
As this was the first strike for AASEREA 107, Fred Fay of Ypsilanti, Michigan was sent to Hamilton by the AASEREA head office to act as the overall strike leader, arriving on November 7. On November 8 the maintenance crews downed tools and joined the picket line as well.
On the morning of November 9 a final group of 20 strike-breakers arrived, bringing the total number in Hamilton up to 100. This the HSR deemed enough to start a basic service.
On November 10, the Cataract Company issued a statement explaining their side of the story. It said that the company would have been able to issue the new schedule, if not for the quitting of 11 employees between October 27 and 29. It blamed the strike not on Division 107, but on AASEREA's senior managers, described as 'Detroit manipulators'. The statement again called for striking employees turn in their caps, badges and ticket punches, and collect their wages.
As part of its investigation into the HSR, members of the ORMB arrived in Hamilton on November 12. Mayor Biggar addressed the Board, asking that it arbitrate between the two sides in the strike. The Board agreed, provided that both sides ask it to do so. Since the testimony on September 27, the HSR had quickly relaid tracks at several locations, to remove the worst offenders from the inspector's list. However, city engineer J. R. Heddle and engineer John Hendrie both confirmed the previous descriptions of the HSR's trackwork and streetcars. The city's case was concluded on November 15.
At 3 pm on the afternoon of November 12, seventeen streetcars appeared on the streets of Hamilton, the first since the strike began. Because of the reduced number of cars, the streetcars operated on a Sunday service. To protect riders two crews operated on each car along with a policeman, and the service ended before dark.
As word of the return of service spread, a crowd formed at King & James. As the crowd grew into the thousands, shouts and insults turned to the throwing of eggs at the cars and the police (the chief of police took one in the face), followed by the throwing of stones. The police were overwhelmed in their efforts to stop the mayhem. Attempts were made to make arrests, but the crowd intervened each time. Bricks were thrown from the tops of nearby buildings onto passing cars, and police horses were sprayed with a skin irritant or acid causing them to buck, in one case hard enough to throw rider Constable Harry Tuck to the ground.
By 5 pm the streetcars were being returned to the Sanford yard with shattered windows and had been egged to the point that they were 'more yellow than they were painted'. At the request of Mayor Biggar, the Cataract company held off on running streetcars again. Mayor Biggar stated that the police force was exhausted from the actions of the previous week, and could not guaranteed the safety of the streetcars from another mob. At the same time, Mayor Biggar refused to call in the militia for added support.
Again, AASEREA 107 denied any involvement with the violence, and called for calm. The next morning the Cataract Company announced that they refused to negotiate with AASEREA 107 any longer, and that they would 'fight that union to a finish, even if it takes two or twenty years'. Still, separate meetings were held the same day by the ORMB and city officials, first with AASEREA 107 and then with the Cataract Company. The two meetings lead to a meeting between the two sides on the evening of November 16, but the meeting ended when Manager Green showed the union representatives the door.
The Cataract Company faced a second rebellion from a group of streetcar drivers, but this one was self inflicted: The strike breakers that the Cataract Company had hired demanded that either they drive the streetcars and take on the crowds, or they would quit en masse. Not wanting to weaken their position by losing so many operators, the Cataract Company started running streetcars at 1 PM on November 16. A strong police presence at James and King kept the crowd in check, and when the Cataract Company discovered that the crowd wasn't reacting, they quickly put on enough cars for a Sunday service. This was followed by normal daytime service starting the next morning.
Another meeting on November 17 between the two sides made no progress, and so the ORMB felt that it was no longer being useful in arranging talks, and returned to Toronto. Both sides blamed the other for the breakdown in negotiations.
Over the next several days several acts of vandalism occurred, such as blocking streetcar tracks with debris. Several arrests were made of people throwing stones at streetcars. The worst incident happened on November 19 when a stone was thrown through a streetcar window at Barton & Sanford that resulted in a schoolteacher being badly cut by flying glass.
Mayor Biggar continued to meet with both sides separately, but to no avail. Members of the ORMB returned to Hamilton, and efforts to end the strike now revolved around some form of binding arbitration. AASEREA 107 proposed that the arbitrators be a group of Hamilton clergymen, while the Cataract Company proposed the ORMB. The union accepted this proposal, provided that they be allowed to return to work pending the outcome of the arbitration. The Cataract Company refused, and negotiations broke down again.
On November 23 the Cataract Company announced that they would run streetcars after dark. As the police did not have sufficient manpower to deal with the crowds if things turned ugly, the Cataract Company again asked the Mayor to call out the Militia. Also on November 23 the Cataract Company was forced to relocate their strike-breakers from their residence on Sanford to Hunter St, due to an outbreak of a skin disease.
The first night of the riot centred mostly in three locations: James Street, The East Barn, and on Hunter Street next to the TH&B station.
As night fell, the HSR returned all its cars to the barns, and then made preparations to run four cars that night. People began to line James Street around 7:00 PM, and around 7:30 the first streetcar arrived to scattered insults.
Shortly after, an automobile broke down next to the Arcade at James and Market. A dense crowd formed around the automobile, and remained there after repairs were complete and it drove off. The crowd continued to grow, and shortly after a southbound streetcar on James was met by a fierce volley of stones, shattering its windows.
It was at this point that the police, waiting inside city hall, were marched out in a double line and began marching up and down James Street, between Gore and York. Streetcars passing through were given an escort, but stones continued to fly.
By 8:30 PM the crowd had nearly filled James Street, between York and Gore. In front of the Arcade Detective Campbell arrested a boy who was throwing stones, and the mob turned on him. Detective Coulter tried to come to Campbell's aid, but was knocked down. Coulter responded by drawing his nightstick and swinging wildly. Several people were hit, and the crowd turned on Coulter, who then drew his gun. With his gun raised Coulter and Campbell made their way to city hall, their prisoner having escaped. The mob turned their attention to another streetcar as the policemen made their way through, pelting it with stones.
At this point, seeing the level of chaos on James Street, Mayor Biggar called for militia troops. At the time it was government policy not to use local militia units, to prevent the possibility of the rank and file from having to fight friends, neighbours or even family. Units from Toronto and London would have to be called in.
The HSR decided to pull in all their streetcars at 9 PM. The last car heading north on James could not pass north of Barton, as the crowd had begun attacking the tracks themselves, and was forced to turn east onto Barton. Only one strikebreaker suffered serious injury, although almost all of them were bruised from flying stones.
With no more streetcars, the mob turned their fury onto the HRER/H&D station at James & Gore. Police responded by forming a line, and marching northwards of James, forcing the mob north. At Vine St, the police stopped, and the crowd began to disperse. At around this time a mob of young boys came up Hughson street to King and began smashing windows while the police were busy, before fleeing back down Hughson street.
Postcard of the HRER's Gore St office & station in Hamilton after the 1906 Riot. The postcard photo caption reads "Radial Office showing damage done by mob during the Strike". The postcard is postmarked December 2 1906, so the photo was taken the morning after. In the background left is the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church at Hughson & Wilson.
As the crowd on James Street dispersed, a second crowd began forming outside of the East barn at Sanford & King. At around midnight the strike breakers inside the East barn came out, and attacked the crowd of 1500 in the darkness with axe-handles. One member of the crowd, Frank Fitzgerald, had his skull bashed in by a strike-breaker and was taken to hospital. The crowd fled, but around 2 AM a lit stick of dynamite was thrown onto the roof of the car barn, which blew a hole in the roof and shattered the windows of the streetcar below it.
22 Hunter Street East was being used to house strike breakers, and on the night of November 23 as the police were called away to James Street, a crowd gathered in front of the house. Around 9:30 PM a volley of stones was let loose, smashing all the windows in the house. The front door was smashed in, but police arrived in enough force to prevent entry. Constable Yaxley arrested a small boy for throwing stones, but the mob turned on him and grabbed the boy and Yaxley's gun. Yaxley and Constable Gibb were driven away by a hail of bricks and stones and forced to flee.Yaxley took shelter in the nearby YMCA, Gibbs at a nearby hotel. The mob dispersed on its own around 11 PM
This aerial photo dated September 7, 1922 shows the TH&B's Hamilton station right next to the plane's wing. Across the railway tracks and to the right is a row of five houses. 22 Hunter St East is the house second from left. (Photo courtesy of the Hamilton Public Library, Local History & Archives)
22 Hunter St East, likely taken the morning after. The caption reads 'House on Hunter St riddled(?) by mob during strike'
Because of the mob, only a few people were successfully arrested that night
| Name | Address | Charges & Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| John Farrell | 281 Hughson St North | Disorderly Conduct, fined $20 |
| Anson Hannon | ||
| Herbert Irwin | 281 Hughson St North | Disorderly Conduct, fined $20 |
| Andrew Walls | 251 Main St East |
Milita began arriving from Toronto around 1:30 AM, and were quartered in the Armoury. Under the command of Lt. Colonel Septimus Denison, the troops consisted of members of the Royal Canadian Dragoons, the Royal Canadian Infantry, and the Royal Canadian Artillery. This last group was added to provide additional mounted forces, as only 20 members of the Dragoons were available, and so several artillery drivers on horseback were added to create a mounted troop of about 50 men. Additional members of the Royal Canadian Regiment from London arrived at 11 AM.
Troops assembled at the intersection of Hughson and Robert behind the Drill Hall. Presumably this is the Toronto contingent of troops, with members of the Royal Canadian Dragoons, the Royal Canadian Infantry, and the Royal Canadian Artillery. If so, then Colonel Septimus Denison would be the officer on horseback in the front in the lower left
Squads of troops were deployed on the afternoon of November 24: One at King & James, one in front of City Hall, one further down James at the radial office, and others at each of the car barns, at several track switches, and even at Manager Green's house on Jackson St West. Large crowds of Hamiltonians came out to see the troops, and as night fell many people remained in the downtown area.
The second night of the riot centred mostly at two spots: on James Street and at King & Walnut.
As the streetcars kept running into the evening, crowds once again formed on James street. By 6:30 PM stones and bricks were flying at streetcars at James & Market. At 7:10 a line of policemen stretched in front of city hall. Seeing the crowds as they were the night before, Sheriff Middleton stood on the steps of city hall and read the Riot Act.
“Our Sovereign Lord the King commands all persons being assembled immediately to disperse and peaceably to depart to their habitations or to their lawful business, upon the pain of being guilty of an offence, on conviction of which they may be sentenced to imprisonment for life. God save the King.“
With that, the police swung in a line facing north on James street, drew their batons, and charged the crowd. Batons swinging, they drove half of the crowd northwards past Gore street. At the same time, the militia squads, bayonets fixed, drove the other half southwards past King.
Shortly after, the main body of troops emerged from the Armoury. Lead by the RCD and RCA on horseback with Colonel Denison at the front, the troops marched south through the crowd near Gore & James to King & James. There the troops split into sections. The mounted forces returned northwards on James, using the presence of the horses and the flat sides of their cavalry swords to clear the sidewalks. One section went west along York St, while the rest continued northwards. Members of the RCI spread out along King East, King West, James South, and King William St, and began patrols.
As the troops and police were deployed in squads, crowds would reassemble after the troops passed. One crowd in front of The Arcade next to City Hall threw stones at the passing streetcars, which had been 'armoured' with wire netting over the windows. Alderman Allen made a speech on the steps of city hall to the crowd calling for peace, but the police then charged the crowd. Colonel Denison ordered the police to arrest Allen, but they were reluctant to arrest an alderman and Allen was able to get away.
Numerous arrests were being made by this point, as the Riot Act only allowed arrests to be made after 30 minutes had passed after the act had been read. City Hall was used as a temporary jail that night. Many of those arrested had been struck by the police batons, and arrived wounded. As the night progressed Dr. John Langrill was brought in to patch up the wounded.
Around 9 PM the most severe incident happened when the mob blocked a westbound streetcar at King & Walnut with a large pile of debris. The motorman strikebreaker Arthur Butruit thought that he could ram through the obstacle, but failed. The crowd surged around the streetcar, pulled down the trolley pole, tore the window screens free and smashed all the windows with stones. The crew fought their way out, reattached the trolley pole and attempted to reverse the streetcar, only to hit another debris pile and derail.
As the crowd began to run out of stones, a squad of mounted troops arrived and the crowd scattered. Arthur Butruit was rushed to hospital with internal injuries from being hit multiple times. The streetcar was rerailed and sent back to the barn, and the rest of the streetcars were returned to the barns around 10 PM. Shortly after the crowds dispersed for good. The troops returned to the armoury around 10:30 PM, while cavalry patrols continued until around 11 PM.
Postcard of HSR #111 after the Great Riot of 1906. The caption reads 'Car 111, which was wrecked by mob on King St. E, Saturday Night, Nov 23rd 1906. Every panel of glass in this car was broken, holes were smashed through woodwork, interior of car filled with stones and bricks up to the level of the seats'. The postcard is postmarked December 28 1906, so this photo must have been taken within days of the riot, possibly as soon as the morning after.
Postcard of HSR #111 after the Great Riot of 1906. The caption reads 'Interior of Car 111, which was wrecked by mob Sat Night, Nov 23rd 1906. Not a pane of glass remained, & the woodwork was badly damaged. The strike breakers used the cushions as barricades against showers of bricks & stones'.
Several Hamiltonians reported that the soldiers had shown great restraint in facing the mobs. This was confirmed by Colonel Denison, when he revealed to a Hamilton Spectator reporter that there had been at least one instance where the troops had refused orders to charge the crowd with fixed bayonets. By comparison it was reported that several members of the police force had apparently attacked people without restraint, in some instances apparently competing with each other to see how many people they could hit. Among those who witnessed this were some of the city Aldermen.
In addition to Arthur Butruit, half a dozen strikebreakers suffered injuries. One of whom, a man named Sutherland, was struck in the back of the head and suffered serious spinal injuries. Among the police only Constable Hallisey required hospitalization when he was hit in the chest by a large brick. The injury proved to be less serious than feared, and he was released the next day.
Twenty-six people were arrested that night on various charges. None of them were members of AASEREA 107, the HSR or any of the radial railways. As shown in the table below, the majority of people who were arrested either had the charges dismissed at the first opportunity, or were found not guilty in court over the next week.
| Name | Address | Charges & Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Alfred Bailey | 186 Princess St | Disorderly conduct, charges dismissed |
| Joseph Carson | 99 Hess St N | Riotous conduct, charges dismissed |
| Thomas Champ | 27 Stevens St | Riotous conduct, charges dismissed |
| John Cherrier | 39 Stuart St E | Riotous conduct |
| Thomas Crowe | 204 Bay St N | Riotous conduct, not guilty |
| Archie Fair | 78 Murray St | Riotous conduct |
| Fred Fisher | Buffalo | Riotous conduct, charges dismissed provided he leave the country immediately |
| Harry Hawkins | 7 Picton St | Threatening police, charges dismissed |
| Owen Hoover | 15 Huron St | Riotous conduct |
| Henry Hyde | 61 Vine St | Riotous conduct, charges dismissed |
| John. B. Kerr | 428 Mary St | Assault (2 counts), not guilty (both counts) |
| Arthur King | Toronto | Riotous conduct, charges dismissed |
| Newton Matthews | 306 Cheever St | Riotous conduct |
| James Moran | Bethel | Riotous conduct (guilty), unlawful assembly |
| John Oliver | Hughson St N | Riotous conduct, not guilty |
| George Phillips | 75 Wentworth N | Riotous conduct, charges dismissed |
| Merritt Roy | 137 John St S | Riotous conduct, charges dismissed |
| Clarence Ryerson | 211 John St N | Assault, attempting to escape, not guilty |
| Judson Ryerson | 297 Wellington St N | Assault, |
| John Seamanes | Assault, sentenced 2 months | |
| Robert Speers | 362 Ferguson St | Disorderly conduct, charges dismissed |
| John Swallow | 143 Grant Ave | Riotous conduct, charges dismissed |
| Cecil Smith | 276 Victoria Ave N | Riotous conduct, charges dismissed |
| Norman Todd | 301 John St N | |
| Thomas Wilson | 157 Simcoe St | Disorderly conduct, charges dismissed |
John Seamanes' case was not like the others. He was arrested after troops entered his candy store after rioters, and he tried to evict them all from his property.
In a special edition published on Sunday, the Hamilton Spectator described James Street on Sunday morning as looking as if 'the citizens in that neighbourhood have been cleaning up their backyards, and placing any stones not working on the road' Large numbers of store windows had been smashed along both sides of James Street between King and Gore, and on the north side of King from James to Walnut. The cost to store owners was high as insurance companies did not pay for plate glass windows broken in riots, nor was the city liable for damages.
At 1 PM, strike leader Fred Fay was approached by the Hamilton police at the Waldorf Hotel and ordered to return to the United States or face arrest and deportation. Union lawyer George Lynch-Staunton said there was no legal justification for this action, and Fay remained.
The HSR did not start service until 3 PM on the afternoon of Sunday, November 25. Crowds again gathered downtown, but as the evening passed, little activity happened. Some rock throwing occurred near City Hall and near Barton & James at around 8 PM as evening church services ended. Streetcar service ended at 8:30 PM.
On the morning of November 26th a stick of dynamite was found concealed in a pile of stones on the HSR tracks at James & Guise. Based on the size it was concluded that had a streetcar run over it, it would have blown the flange off the wheel, but not derailed the car.
Also that morning, all members of AASEREA 107 visited the HSR head office to turn in their caps, badges and ticket punches, and collect their wages. After AASEREA members had initially refused to return to their equipment, the HSR had ignored the issue. But as the strike entered its third week it was decided to try again to get the equipment back for the new employees the HSR was training. Letters had been sent out before the riots threatening legal action if the workers did not comply with the HSR's earlier demand, and it had been decided that such legal expenses would be beyond the capabilities of both the union and its members, and so the decision was made to comply.
That night another large crowd gathered downtown. Rumours were circulating that large numbers of handguns had been purchased all over the city, and that this time the mob would be well armed. Several residents reported that the strike-breakers were smashing streetcar windows themselves, and that some were operating streetcars while drunk. The HSR decided to remove the streetcars from service at dusk, and no problems were reported.
Thomas Garrett of 446 Mary St was arrested for throwing a stone at a streetcar in front of the James Street armoury. The next day he was arraigned, plead guilty, and was sentenced to two years.
As before, AASEREA 107 was reluctant to trust the ORMB, and so on November 27 AASEREA president Mahon returned to Hamilton to conduct negotiations. Mahon convinced AASEREA 107's members to submit to the ORMB's arbitration, and to waive their demand that all strikers were to be rehired. In exchange, the Cataract Company pulled all streetcars from service while negotiations were underway.
On November 29th the agreement for binding arbitration of the strike by the ORMB was signed. The arbitration proceedings began on the morning of November 30. Proceedings began with the immediate announcement by the board that 'in order to serve the comfort, convenience, and best interests of the community, hereby orders the strike off.' All AASEREA 107 members were to report for work, and the Cataract Company was to accept them and put them to work.
The Cataract Company objected, claiming that they men hired since the beginning of the strike could not simply be let go. The company then threatened to fire all of the shop workers who had struck, as they were not officially part of any of the three railways, but were employees of the Cataract Company itself. After an adjournment of several hours, the Cataract Company returned and said they would accept the union workers.
HSR operations by members of AASEREA 107 began again on December 1st, 1906. Of the twenty streetcars that set out that morning, eighteen were manned by members of the union, and the other two (HSR #39 and #109) were run by new hires. Several of the cars were still battered after the riots, but Hamiltonians climbed on.
However, things were not proceeding as smoothly with the the two radial lines. The H&D was operated completely by non-union crews, while the HRER crews had reported but were not accepted by the company. The Cataract Company countered by saying the HRER crews were not union members, having left the union several weeks before after not receiving wage increases.
There was one reported incident between the union and non-union crews. Conductor Anderson reported that a non-union member made 'insulting gestures' at him as their streetcars had passed each other. The non-union member apparently quit that day, while Anderson was fired for 'conducting himself in an unseemly way.'
Since the previous contract agreed to two months earlier had been rendered void, a new one was drawn up. Negotiations went smoothly, and the militia troops returned to Toronto and London on December 1. By December 3 the union and the company had agreed to wages, and were negotiating an adjusted schedule, and the H&D was now being operated by members of AASEREA 107. On the same day the last of the strike breakers left Hamilton.
The final agreement was signed on December 6. The HSR would operate 4 different classes of streetcar runs, with operators getting choice of runs every three months based on their seniority. Three separate contracts were signed, one each for the HSR, the H&D and the HRER. The Cataract Company agreed to recognize AASEREA 107 as representing all of its streetcar and radial line employees.
The month long strike cost the HSR an estimated $18000 (about $400,000 in 2016 dollars) in lost revenues. The cost to the city of Hamilton to supply the soldiers while they were on duty in Hamilton totalled $1300 dollars, approximately $28000 in 2016 dollars. The Cataract company spent over $2000 dollars on board for the strike-breakers.
The ORMB resumed taking testimony in the city's case against the HSR on January 3rd, 1907, this time hearing from the Cataract Company. A final report was issued on February 14, ordering the HSR to make numerous track and streetcar repairs. But the board stated that they could not force the HSR to upgrade the system. The HSR bought some additional second-hand streetcars in 1908, but would not buy new streetcars until 1910.
Of the people sentenced for their part in the riot, none served more than a few months. Seamanes was pardoned and released on January 18. Ryerson, Morin & Thompson were all pardoned and released on March 22nd. Less willing to wait had been Russell Hymers, who had broken out of jail a week after he'd been sentenced. He was recaptured, but was released sometime in the summer of 1897.
The agreement between AASEREA 107 and the Cataract Company left a lot of the newer union members feeling angry, due to the seniority benefits for selecting streetcar runs. President John Theaker was re-elected by a large majority in early January, but in early February word began circulating that several members were looking to form a second union. On February 17 the new streetcar union was formed as part of the National Trades and Labour Congress of Canada. A. B Murphy was elected president. The fate of this new union is unknown, however in April 1919 AASEREA Division 876 would be created to represent the employees of the Cataract Company's radial lines.
HSR 45 after the Riot. Exactly where and when this streetcar was damaged is unrecorded. The caption reads 'Street Car en route to Car Sheds after encounter with mob during Strike' (Photo courtesy of the Hamilton Public Library, Local History & Archives)
Hamilton resident Will Sheridan wrote this postcard to his brother Jack in Belleville a week after the riot. It's the other side of the HRER station photo postcard above. It reads: "Dear Brother. You aught to be here. It was something awful. This is a ___ place that they destroyed & was prety near caught" and I can't make out the rest. Any guesses?
Newspapers
Hamilton Spectator
"Comes Up To-Night - New Agreement Between Men and Company Is Ready" July 7, 1906, pg 16
"Citizen Will Move - Action To Be Taken Against the Street Railway Company" July 14, 1906, pg 16
“Nothing Was Done - Street Railway Men Have Conference With Employers" August 15, 1906, pg 1
“No Trouble Likely - But the Men Will Not Get All That They Ask For" August 17, 1906, pg 1
“They Take Notice As Well As Action - Ontario Railway Commissioners Are Considering Hamilton's Electric Railway Situation" August 18, 1906, pg 1
“Where The Block Is - Why Street Railway Men and Bosses Are Still Apart" August 18, 1906, pg 1
“Company Will Not Recognize Union - Looks As If There Would Be a Strike on the Street Railway This Week" August 20, 1906, pg 1
“Men And Company Are Holding Out - Little Prospect of a Settlement of the Street Railway Men's Troubles" August 21, 1906, pg 1
“End of Trouble Not Yet In Sight - Ontario Railway and Municipal Board Will Take a Hand in Settling It" August 22, 1906, pg 1
“Will Be Settled By Arbitration - Indications Are That There Will Not Be a Strike of Street Railway Employees" August 23, 1906, pg 1
“Street Railway Men Will Likely Strike - Management Still Refuses to Include Suburban Line Employees in Negotiations" August 24, 1906, pg 1
“Dundas News" August 24, 1906, pg 6
“Turned Men Down - The Street Railway Company Refused to Consider Revised Proposition From It's Employes" August 25, 1906, pg 1
“Company Fears A Riot - Chief Smith Has Been Instructed to Have His Men in Readiness to Put Down Any Hostile Demonstration on Part of Strikers" August 25, 1906, pg 1
“Are Interested - Sympathies of Dundas People Are With the Men" August 25, 1906, pg 4
“Another Meeting Will Be Held At Midnight - Street Railway Men Will Then Decide Whether or Not There Will Be a Strike" August 27, 1906, pg 1
“Little Danger Now Of There Being A Strike - Company Yielded a Point and Men Decide to Continue the Negotiations" August 28, 1906, pg 1
“Men And Company Are At Last Together - First Conference Over Street Railway Agreements Held This Morning" August 29, 1906, pg 1
“Question Of Wages Has Caused A Hitch - Men Not Likely to Get All They Are Asking From Street Railway Company" August 30, 1906, pg 1
“Street Railway Men Are Not Satisfied - Possibility That They May Yet Decide to Go Out on Strike" August 31, 1906, pg 1
“Are Still Talking Strike - The Street Railway Men Have Called a Meeting To-Night to Discuss That Important Question" September 1, 1906, pg 1
“Agree Upon A Third Arbitrator To-Day - Street Railway Differences Are Now in the Hands of Men On the Outside" September 4, 1906, pg 1
“Not Settled Yet - Street Railway Arbitration Matter Still in the Air" September 6, 1906, pg 1
“Filed Its Complaint - City Council and railway Commission Re Street Railway" September 6, 1906, pg 1
“Named A Man - F. J. Howell Takes Wm. Bell's Place As Street Railway Arbitrator" September 8, 1906, pg 1
“Still At It - Selection of Third Arbitrator Has Not Yet Been Made" September 12, 1906, pg 1
“Named At Last - County Clerk Jardine Chosen to Act As Third Arbitrator" September 14, 1906, pg 1
“They Are At It - Arbitrators Had Their First Conference Yesterday Afternoon" September 15, 1906, pg 1
“They Are Now Hard At It - Arbitrators Who Will Settle Street Railway Dispute Held Their First Session Yesterday" September 18, 1906, pg 1
“Is Not So Bad - That Is What Street Railway Co. Thinks of Its Service" September 20, 1906, pg 1
“Experts All Agree System Is Obsolete - Not a Good Word Spoken By Engineers For Hamilton's Street Railway" September 28, 1906, pg 1
“Ends In A Compromise - Street Railway Arbitration Finishes With an All Night Session-Award Announced For Publication" September 29, 1906, pg 1
“Bad Tangle In The Arbitration Award - Joseph Jardine Doesn't Remember Having Given Out a Statement" October 1, 1906, pg 1
“Jardine Is Satisfied With A Compromise - Arbitrator's Award in the Street Railway Case Is Public Property" October 6, 1906, pg 1
“Settled To-Day - Street Railway Agreement Now Up For Consideration" October 10, 1906, pg 1
“Brief Local Items" October 11, 1906, pg 12
“Brief Local Items" October 12, 1906, pg 12
“Brief Local Items" October 13, 1906, pg 20
“They Have Quit - Radial Men Will Paddle their Own Canoe" October 15, 1906, pg 12
“New Schedule Works Badly For Employes - Street Railway Men Not So Pleased Over It As They Might Be" October 22, 1906, pg 1
“Schedule Will Not Allow A Ten Hour Day - Looks As If Street Railway Men Might Want Old Layout Again" October 23, 1906, pg 1
“Says His Visit Was Merely Accidental - Secretary of Street Railwaymen's Executive Is in the City" October 24, 1906, pg 1
“Two New Ones - York Street and Incline Schedules Will Begin To-Morrow" October 25, 1906, pg 1
“Special Meeting - Street Railway Men to Hear International Officer" October 27, 1906, pg 1
“Short Of Men - Street Railway Management Cannot Put New Schedule in Force" October 31, 1906, pg 1
“There Is A Tangle Yet - Street Railway Matters Are Not Straightening Out As It Was Hoped They Would Do" November 2, 1906, pg 1
“They Will Stand By Street Railway Men - Trades and Labor Council Discusses the Situation at Regular Meeting" November 3, 1906, pg 1
“Street Railway Men Are On Strike - Decision Reached at a Sunday Morning Mass Meeting and Put Into Effect at Once, No Cars being Moved Yesterday or To-Day" November 5, 1906, pg 1
“From The Men - What They Have to Say Officially About the Strike" November 5, 1906, pg 1
“What Is Doing - Company Gives No Indication of Its Future Program" November 5, 1906, pg 1
“Police Are Alert - Chief Is Ready For Any Emergency Owing to Strike" November 5, 1906, pg 1
“Is Soft For Them - Liverymen Make a Harvest Out of the Trouble" November 5, 1906, pg 1
“This Was A Very Warm Letter - Text of the Document Referred to in the Statement Issued For Publication By Officials of the Union and Sent to the Management" November 5, 1906, pg 1
“Pay Them Off - How the Company Proposes to Treat the Strikers" November 5, 1906, pg 1
“How It Happened - Was Decided at a Mass Meeting on Saturday Night" November 5, 1906, pg 1
“Mayor Steps In - His Worship Will Endeavour to Get Warring Factions Together" November 5, 1906, pg 1
“Depend On Public - That's How The Men Expect to Win the Struggle" November 5, 1906, pg 1
“Find Things Out - Aldermen Are Discovering Now Where They Are At" November 5, 1906, pg 1
“He Denies It - Manager Green Says a Union Statement Is Untrue" November 5, 1906, pg 1
“Bartonville Line Good - How the Strike is Affecting the Various Branches" November 5, 1906, pg 1
“About That Letter - What the Company Has to Say About It Now" November 5, 1906, pg 1
“Strike Echoes - Radial Men Are Quitting Their Places To-Day" November 5, 1906, pg 1
“Dundas Feels It - Car Strike Affects People Working In Hamilton" November 5, 1906, pg 7
“Street Mob Was Looking For Trouble Last Night - Great Crowd of Idlers at the Radial Station Threw Stones and Bottles at the Beach Cars" November 6, 1906, pg 1
“It Is Coming - Ontario Railway Board Is to Sit in Hamilton on Monday" November 6, 1906, pg 1
“Strike-Breakers Here - Strikers Say Hundreds Have Been Brought to the City" November 6, 1906, pg 1
“Doings Last Night - Radial Station Was the Location For Mob Violence" November 6, 1906, pg 1
“He Used A Club - Constable Campaign Lands One on Dennis Bennett" November 6, 1906, pg 1
“A Conference - It Was Held, But Nothing Came of It, Yesterday" November 6, 1906, pg 1
“This Is Serious - It Will Not Pay to Injure the Radial Cars" November 6, 1906, pg 1
“On The Lines - Dundas Cars Were Running To-Day With Few Passengers" November 6, 1906, pg 1
“A Big Pile - Men Will Not Call to Collect Their Wages" November 6, 1906, pg 1
“A New Schedule - To-Day's Conference Was Held With that End in View" November 6, 1906, pg 1
“Is This True? - Company Says Members of Union Apply for Jobs" November 6, 1906, pg 1
“Out In Dundas" November 6, 1906, pg 1
“To Have Law - Street Railway Men Have Retained Geo. Lynch-Staunton" November 6, 1906, pg 1
“Judge Snider Hands Out Some Good Advice - If Men Don't Want to Be Hit, Keep Away From Street Mobs" November 7, 1906, pg 1
“To Deal No More With The Traction Manager - Street Railway Men Take a New Stand in Conference Matters" November 7, 1906, pg 1
“On The Streets - A Disorderly Rabble Made Things Somewhat Unpleasant" November 7, 1906, pg 1
“Police Were Called - Crowd Made Things Uncomfortable for Strike-Breakers" November 7, 1906, pg 1
“On The Radial - Motorman Fothergill and Supt. Miller Slightly Injured" November 7, 1906, pg 1
“Out Dundas Way - How the Strike Is Affecting the Valley City" November 7, 1906, pg 1
“Company Was Hotly Roasted - Seven Speakers at a Mass-Meeting of the Street Railway Men and Sympathizers" November 7, 1906, pg 3
“Company IS Getting Ready To Operate Street Cars - Calls on Mayor Biggar To Be Ready With Military Protection For Its Property in Case of Trouble With the Mob" November 8, 1906, pg 1
“Shopmen Quit - Car Barns and Repair Shops Were Vacated This Morning" November 8, 1906, pg 1
“Mr. Fay Speaks - Says That He Depends Upon Sympathy of Public" November 8, 1906, pg 1
“A Quiet Night - Crowd was Orderly and There Was But Little Disturbance" November 8, 1906, pg 1
“Mail Car Derailed - This Occurred a Short Distance East of Irondale " November 8, 1906, pg 1
“These Threw Stones - Big Crowd Does Things at the International Works" November 8, 1906, pg 1
“Tried To Burn A Cataract Car - Russell Hymers Wanted a Wild West Strike, and Got Into Trouble" November 8, 1906, pg 3
“Another Company of Strike Breakers Now In The City - Company Now Claims It Has a Complete Staff to Equip and Operate All Its City and Suburban Lines" November 9, 1906, pg 1
“Mr Gibson Speaks - But He Will Not Speak Very Extensively Just Now" November 9, 1906, pg 1
“This Is Personal - The Men Make Reply to The Traction Manager" November 9, 1906, pg 1
“A Big Procession - The Rough Element Does Much Damage in East end" November 9, 1906, pg 1
“Shots Were Fired - Belated Information About a Happening Out in the Country" November 9, 1906, pg 1
“Real Sufferer Is Company Says President J. M. Gibson - Hands Out a Statement That Makes It Appear That the Strikers Have Been Most Handsomely Treated by the Management" November 10, 1906, pg 1
“Calls Them In - Management Has Sent Another Letter to the Strikers" November 10, 1906, pg 1
“Loyal In Dundas - Citizens in the Valley City Will Not Use the Cars" November 10, 1906, pg 1
“Is With Them - Strikers Are Backed Up By This Lady Correspondent" November 10, 1906, pg 1
“Citizens Are With The Men - Resolution of Sympathy and Confidence Passed at Mass Meeting" November 10, 1906, pg 5
“Street Cars Started" November 12, 1906, pg 1
“Mayor Biggar Calls For Railway Board - Asks That It Take a Hand in the Street Railway Strike" November 12, 1906, pg 1
“Men Make An Answer To Company's Claim - General Denial Shows Just How Far the Two sides Are Apart" November 12, 1906, pg 1
“Another Statement - Traction Manager Green Makes a Further Explanation" November 12, 1906, pg 1
“Strikers Hold Dundas People - No Doubt About the Turn of Sympathy Out in the Valley City" November 12, 1906, pg 10
“Live Up To It - What Chairman Leach Says of Street Railway Agreement" November 13, 1906, pg 1
“Mayor Refuses To Order A Call For The Military - There Is Deadlock in the Street Railway Strike Situation After Yesterday Afternoon's Disgraceful Exhibition" November 13, 1906, pg 1
“There Was Violence - Attempt to Run Cars Yesterday Afternoon Not a Success" November 13, 1906, pg 1
“The Riot Act - Company Thinks This Will Be Good Enough Just Now" November 13, 1906, pg 1
“The City's Case Was Concluded - Many Strong Complaints Heard at the Railway Board Session Yesterday Afternoon" November 13, 1906, pg 7
“Loyal Dundasities - They Stand Firmly By the Men and ignore Car Service" November 13, 1906, pg 9
“Don't Like It - Union Officials Regret the Occurrences of Yesterday" November 13, 1906, pg 9
“They Deny It - Union Makes Answer To Statements of Traction Manager" November 13, 1906, pg 9
“Think It's A Joke - Strike Breakers Not Worried About Yesterday's Demonstration" November 13, 1906, pg 9
“Done With the Union Forever - This Was the Trouble-Inciting Statement Made By Traction Manager Green in An Interview With Newspaper Men This Morning" November 14, 1906, pg 1
“Cold Justice - That Will Be the Board's Finding, If Forced to Take Action" November 14, 1906, pg 1
“Need More Police - Mayor Biggar Thinks Increase Should Be Substantial One" November 14, 1906, pg 1
“Plenty of Money - Strikers Find they Have Many Generous Friends" November 14, 1906, pg 1
“Makes Comparison - Company Hands Out a Table of Wages For Publication" November 14, 1906, pg 1
“Conference Arranged - In the Meantime There Will Be No Cars on Streets" November 14, 1906, pg 1
“More Strike-Breakers - Union Men Say They Have Come Here From Chicago" November 14, 1906, pg 1
“Railway Board Takes Up the Strike Difficulty - Mayor Biggar Insists That It Is time Something Was Done and the Board Agrees" November 15, 1906, pg 1
“No Cars To-Day - Company Accedes to Request to Wait Awhile" November 15, 1906, pg 1
“Without Result - Afternoon Private Conference Did Not Settle Anything" November 15, 1906, pg 9
“Everyone Walks - Except Those Who Use the Busses Run By Union Men" November 15, 1906, pg 9
“Company Running Its Cars, Small Hope Of Settlement - Conferences Between Railway Board, Strikers and the Company Have So Far Proved To Be of Little Use" November 16, 1906, pg 1
“The Company's Answer - This Doesn't Look Much Like a Strike Settlement" November 16, 1906, pg 1
“What They Say - Company's Proposal Does Not Appeal to the Union" November 16, 1906, pg 1
“Are Running Cars - Company Does Not Wait For the Board to Act" November 16, 1906, pg 1
“Wouldn't Stay - Young Hymer Didn't Like the Industrial School" November 16, 1906, pg 12
“Let Them Go - Street Cars With Tough Looking Crews Run Unmolested" November 17, 1906, pg 1
“It Doesn't Look Like A Peaceful Settlement - Committee of Strikers Meets the Traction Manager at the Request of the Provincial Railway Board" November 17, 1906, pg 1
“The Men Report - How They Got Along In Their Interview Last Night" November 17, 1906, pg 1
“Ready For Trouble - Police Will Be on Hand After the Football Game" November 17, 1906, pg 1
“The Riot Act - What the Document Is and What It Means" November 17, 1906, pg 1
“A Fair Proposal - What the Men Say In Response to the Company's Statement" November 17, 1906, pg 1
“Many Conferences - And More of them Will Be Held To-Day" November 17, 1906, pg 1
“Railway Board Quits, New Call For The Militia - Government Commissioners Conclude That They Can Do Nothing in the Street Railway Strike" November 19, 1906, pg 1
“Meet This Afternoon - The Police Commissioners have the Case Under Advisement" November 19, 1906, pg 1
“Quit The Job - Railway Commissioners Tired of Fruitless Conferences" November 19, 1906, pg 1
“Fight To A Finish - And Mayor Again Refuses To Call Out Militia" November 19, 1906, pg 1
“Fake passengers - Union Sympathizers Say They Are Working For the Company" November 19, 1906, pg 1
“A Sunday Brush - Strike Sympathizers Throw Things at the Passing Cars" November 19, 1906, pg 1
“Up For Trial - Two Men Are Charged With Stone Throwing at Cars" November 19, 1906, pg 1
“Once Again Mayor Biggar Holds Peace Conferences - His Worship Making Strenuous Efforts to Bring the Company and Men Together Without Serious Clash" November 20, 1906, pg 1
“More Conferences - Mayor Biggar Working Overtime on a Thankless Task" November 20, 1906, pg 1
“Hurt A Passenger - Stone on Barton Street Yesterday Did Some Damage" November 20, 1906, pg 1
“Men Make Answer - Say the Latest Statement Is a Side Issue" November 20, 1906, pg 1
“Railway Board Comes Here Again To-Morrow - In the Meantime There Is Little Change In the Strike Situation" November 21, 1906, pg 1
“People Are Loyal - They Are Not Riding, Despite the Disagreeable Weather" November 21, 1906, pg 1
“Company Again - Will Not Arbitrate As to Men To Be Taken Back" November 21, 1906, pg 1
“They Submit Answers - Union men Reply to Questions Asked By the Company" November 21, 1906, pg 1
“Still No Change In The Car Strike Situation - Members of Provincial Railway Board in the City and Are Holding Conferences of a Secret Sort With the Mayor" November 22, 1906, pg 1
“Striker's Turn - Their Reply to the Company's Latest and to Mr. Miller" November 22, 1906, pg 1
“Hawkins Says Cars May Be Run To-Night - All Depends on Action of Company in Arbitration Proposal" November 23, 1906, pg 1
“New Quarters - Company Finds a Boarding House For Its New Men" November 23, 1906, pg 1
“Wild Mob Was in Complete Control - Police Were Powerless to Check the Wild Rushes of a Crowd of Many Thousands of trouble Seeking Men and Boys" November 24, 1906, pg 1
“Saved Wreck - Plot Hatched to Derail Cars at James and Gore" November 24, 1906, pg 1
“What Caused It - Company's Refusal to Arbitrate Roused the Ill-Feeling" November 24, 1906, pg 1
“Not unexpected - Company's Determination to Run Cars Was a Warning" November 24, 1906, pg 1
“Had A Conference - Mayor and Other Officials Discuss the Coming Difficulty" November 24, 1906, pg 1
“Where It Started - Crowd Remained to Do Damage on James North" November 24, 1906, pg 1
“Yelled And Hooted - How the Crowd Acted When the Police Came" November 24, 1906, pg 1
“Attacked An Officer - Detective Coulter Forced to Draw His Revolver on the Mob" November 24, 1906, pg 1
“Smashed the Offices - General Wreck of Company's Headquarters at Gore Street" November 24, 1906, pg 1
“Came Too Late - Police Arrived After Damage Had Been Done" November 24, 1906, pg 1
“Dynamite Was Used Here - Attempt Made to Wreck Car Barns at Sanford Avenue in the Early Hours of the Morning" November 24, 1906, pg 1
“One May Die - Frank Fitzgerald Was Struck With Club on the Head" November 24, 1906, pg 1
“Another Storm Center - Police Were Mobbed at hunter and James Streets" November 24, 1906, pg 16
“How He Escaped - Supt. Miller Was the Centre of Attraction For a Time" November 24, 1906, pg 16
“The Riot Act - How Was It the Famous Document Was Not Read" November 24, 1906, pg 16
“Ready For More - Strike-Breakers Are Cheerful Once Again This Morning" November 24, 1906, pg 16
“Police Court - What happened to the Offenders Who Were Caught" November 24, 1906, pg 16
“The Causality List - How the Strike-Breakers Fared During the Activities" November 24, 1906, pg 16
“Revolver Shots - Police Lost Theirs in the Mob at Hunter Street" November 24, 1906, pg 16
“Troops Here - They Paraded From the Station at an Early Hour" November 24, 1906, pg 16
“An Appeal Made To Washington - Fred Fay, Strike Leader, Is Now Under Protection of American Consul. Pending Further Instructions" November 26, 1906, pg 1
“To Blow it Up - Stick of Dynamite Found on Guise Street Track" November 26, 1906, pg 1
“To Washington - Fay Matter May Become One of Some Importance" November 26, 1906, pg 1
“Quiet Last Night - Sunday Crowds Were on Their Good Behavior" November 26, 1906, pg 1
“Baton or Bullet - Cataract Manager Talks of Saturday Night's Affair" November 26, 1906, pg 1
“The Smashing Record - What the Streets Look Like After the Battle" November 26, 1906, pg 1
“Strike Incidents - Some things That Happened Saturday Night and Since" November 26, 1906, pg 1
“It Was Right - Col. Densison Endorses Spectator's Sunday Extra" November 26, 1906, pg 1
“Mob and Military Clash - Disgraceful Saturday Night Scenes on the Main Streets of Hamilton Bring Blush and Shame to Citizens" November 26, 1906, pg 3
“The Soldiers Next - And As they Came the Crowd Was Awed" November 26, 1906, pg 3
“With Wire Screens - Street Car Crews Had the Best of Protection" November 26, 1906, pg 3
“Blocked The Track - Very Rough House Time on King Street East" November 26, 1906, pg 3
“Didn't Know It - Riot Act Was Read Before Military Came Along" November 26, 1906, pg 3
“Outlying Points - Presence of Soldiers Kept the Crowds in Check" November 26, 1906, pg 3
“Irving Saw It - And Will Never Forget His First Hamilton Visit" November 26, 1906, pg 3
“Up In The Air - Policemen Too Free in the Use of Their Clubs" November 26, 1906, pg 3
“What They Say - Ontario Railway Board Members on the Situation" November 26, 1906, pg 4
“Give Back Caps - And the Company Pays Strikers Their Wages This Morning" November 26, 1906, pg 4
“Stay In Jail - No Bail Allowed For Men Accused of Rioting" November 26, 1906, pg 4
“How They Worked - Disposition of Military Forces During the Evening" November 26, 1906, pg 5
“The Colonel Speaks - Commander of the Military Interviewed after the Scrap" November 26, 1906, pg 5
“The Injured - Partial List of the People Who Got Into Trouble" November 26, 1906, pg 5
“Police hurt - Constable Hallisey, Hit By Brick, in Serious Condition" November 26, 1906, pg 5
“In The Cells - Men Who Were Locked Up By the Local Police" November 26, 1906, pg 5
“Damage Claims Are Pouring In - City Solicitor Will Be Asked For Written Opinion As to City's Liability" November 26, 1906, pg 12
“It Was A Riot At Police Court - All the Prisoners Taken In on Saturday Appear Before Magistrate Jelfs" November 26, 1906, pg 12
“Mahon The Man With Power To Determine - Pending His Arrival in City Strike Situation Remains the Same" November 27, 1906, pg 1
“A Wise Move - Had the Cars Run Last Night There Would Have Been Trouble" November 27, 1906, pg 1
“Strike Notes - Various Verified Items Showing Progress of Events" November 27, 1906, pg 1
“Make Complaint - Strikers Talk Straight to the Chief of Police" November 27, 1906, pg 1
“A Great Success - Concert for Strikers in Dundas Was Largely Attended" November 27, 1906, pg 6
“Progress Of The Rioting Cases - Some of the Defendants Dismissed and Others Committed For Trial" November 27, 1906, pg 12
“Peace Negotiations Are Now In Progress - President Mahon Is The Pivot Around Which All Interest Circles To-Day " November 28, 1906, pg 1
“Was Satisfied - President Mahon on the Attitude of the Strikers" November 28, 1906, pg 1
“Should Be Prosecuted - More About the Doings of Drunken Strike-Breakers" November 28, 1906, pg 1
“About The Military - Troops Have Not Been Served With Blank Cartridge" November 28, 1906, pg 1
“Was Justification - Police Make Statements In Their Own Defense" November 28, 1906, pg 1
“Another Stoning - This One Occurred This Morning on York Street" November 28, 1906, pg 1
“Up Against It - Prisoners Charged With Rioting May Have to Suffer" November 28, 1906, pg 1
“More Riot Cases Up Before Magistrate - Some of Them Fortunate and More of Them Sent Up For Trial" November 28, 1906, pg 1
“Now Before The Railway Board - Once Again It Looks As If the Street Railway Strike Trouble Might Be Settled By a Reference to the Powers" November 29, 1906, pg 1
“Yesterday's Conference - It Looked Then As If There Would Be a Long Struggle" November 29, 1906, pg 1
“Would Run Cars - Company Refuses to Keep them Off the Streets" November 29, 1906, pg 1
“Chief Wouldn't Act - Seemed Afraid to Search Strike-Breakers For Weapons" November 29, 1906, pg 1
“Not Much Made Of Riot Cases - Police Fail to Secure Evidence Against Several Prisoners Who Were Discharged" November 29, 1906, pg 11
“All Ordered Back To Work - Railway Board Chairman Springs a Surprise on the Street Railway Company" November 30, 1906, pg 1
“Yesterday's Sessions - After Long Discussion They Were Crowned With Success" November 30, 1906, pg 1
“A New Idea - Street Railway Company Says That It Wants Peace" November 30, 1906, pg 1
“Home To-Morrow - Hamilton Has No Further Use For the Troops" November 30, 1906, pg 1
“Union men Operate Streetcars To-Day - Two Non-Union Crews Start Up and One Throws Up Its Job" December 1, 1906, pg 1
“Arguing Over The Order - President Mahon Says It Has Not Been Enforced on the Radial" December 1, 1906, pg 1
“Mutual Forbearance Is Working Wonders - President Gibson Thinks It Might Have Been Good at the Outset" December 3, 1906, pg 1
“Question Of Schedule - Union Men Are Trying to Work out One to Suit Everybody" December 3, 1906, pg 1
“They Waged War In Greek Candy Shop - Military Took Possession and Proprietor Undertook to Eject Them" December 3, 1906, pg 1
“Aged Lady Dies - Born in France, Had Lived in Dundas Many Years" December 3, 1906, pg 5
“Company Makes its Answer To Demands - Doesn't Think Wages Question Should Come Up At All" December 4, 1906, pg 1
“The Company's Claim - How the Street Railway Co. Would Settle the Strike" December 4, 1906, pg 1
“They Will Make An Issue - Street Railway Men Want to Know Something About the Case of Alex Anderson, Discharged" December 4, 1906, pg 1
“They Say “I Told You So” - Street Railway Company Officials Claim a Victory In So Far As the Accepted Schedule Is Concerned" December 5, 1906, pg 1
“Will Rest Now Until Thursday - On That Day the Railway Board Will Bring In Its Award" December 5, 1906, pg 5
“This Was A Severe Test - Street Railway Company Up Against It To-Day Because of a Shortage of Cars Fit For Service" December 6, 1906, pg 1
“Company Must Now Recognize The Union - Award of the Railway Board in the Street Railway Dispute" December 7, 1906, pg 1
“The Award - How the Railway Board Settled All the Trouble" December 7, 1906, pg 1
“Everybody Happy - Company and Men Satisfied With the Award" December 7, 1906, pg 1
“Radial and Dundas Lines - Some Few Clauses That Are Different Here" December 7, 1906, pg 10
“Their Reasons - How the Board Reached Its Conclusions in the Case" December 7, 1906, pg 10
“Looks Like A Small Cause For Trouble - Laying Off of Spare Men Till Cars Are Fixed Excites Some" December 10, 1906, pg 1
“Who Pays The Soldiers?" December 10, 1906, pg 6
“It Is Serious - Judge Snider Talks to Jurymen About the Recent Riot" December 11, 1906, pg 1
“Men Are Not Satisfied - Street Railway Conditions Seems To Be In a Very Unsettled State, Even After the Award" December 11, 1906, pg 1
“What The Soldiers Cost - An Approximate Statement of Expenses in Connection With the Recent Military Occupation of the City" December 12, 1906, pg 1
“Sheriff Now Swears That Mob Came At Police - The Trial of the Rioting Cases Was Begun at the Sessions This Morning" December 14, 1906, pg 1
“Verdict Is Guilty In First Riot Case - Seamenes' Lawyer Objected to Certain Statements in Judge Snider's Charge" December 15, 1906, pg 1
“Only One Is Guilty, The Others Go Free - Judson Ryerson Convicted, But Brother Clarence and John Oliver Get Off" December 17, 1906, pg 1
“Saturday's Session - Three Were Tried and But One Found Guilty" December 17, 1906, pg 1
“Another Bill In For the Troops - Mayor Biggar Received an Account this Morning For $4,316 For Pay and Transportation" December 17, 1906, pg 12
“This is Better - Peace Now Between Street Railway Company and Its Employes" December 18, 1906, pg 1
““Not Guilty” Is Their Verdict - Juries In Riot Cases Let Two Men Off, and Help Out a Third" December 18, 1906, pg 5
“Bench Warrant Out For Jake Burgess - He Did Not Appear to Answer to a Charge of Theft" December 19, 1906, pg 1
“All Back At Work - Street Railway Men Have No Kick Coming Now" December 20, 1906, pg 1
“Not At Rest - Younger Street Railway Men Now Make a Protest" December 27, 1906, pg 1
“Are At Work - Ontario Railway Board and the Street Railway Case" January 3, 1907, pg 1
“Parent Company Is Safe - The Evidence In the Street Railway Case Is All In At Last" January 4, 1907, pg 5
“To Meet To-Night - Street Railway Men Will Discuss Their Grievances" January 5, 1907, pg 20
“They Win Out - Old Guard Street Railway Men Back In Office" January 7, 1907, pg 1
“Seamenes Is Free Again, Now Get the Others Out" January 18, 1907, pg 1
“President Sees No Sign Of Further Trouble - Everything Was Most Harmonious at the meeting of Street Railwaymen Held on Saturday Night" January 21, 1907, pg 1
“Company Lost Much On Account Of Strike - Quarter's Earnings Are Short By About $18,000" January 22, 1907, pg 1
“A New Union - Street Railway Men Want to Get Away From Parent Body" February 4, 1907, pg 1
“Charge and Denials in Street Railway Fight - Officers of Old Union Say Company Is Engineering the New One and the Company Says “Nay, Nay”" February 5, 1907, pg 1
“Our Dose Of Cold Justice - Ontario Railway Board Hands Out Its Decision in the Street Railway Case" February 14, 1907, pg 1
“This Will Result In Queer Complication - Trades Council to Oppose Formation of a New Union" February 15, 1907, pg 1
“Split In The Ranks May Cause Trouble - New Union of Street Railway Men Has Been Formed" February 18, 1907, pg 1
“To Be Freed - Street Railway Rioters and Gamblers to Receive Clemency" March 20, 1907, pg 1
“Rioters And Gaming House Men Released - Order Came From Dept. of Justice This Morning" March 22, 1907, pg 1
“Will He get Out? - Small Boy Expected to Share in the General Release" March 22, 1907, pg 1
“It Was Assault Day In Earnest – Police Magistrate Handed Out a Stiff Sentence to a Boardinghouse Keeper” July 23, 1907, pg 12
Hamilton Times
“Threatened Strike Is On The Street Car System” November 5, 1906, pg 1
“Surprise and Inconvenience – Caused in Dundas by the Street Railway Strike November 5, 1906, pg 6
“Conference Arranged To-Day Between Company And Strikers – Hope Expressed That it May Result in a Settlement and the Return to Work of the Men at an Early Date” November 6, 1906, pg 1
“No Cars To-Night – Company Decides There Will Be No Service “ November 6, 1906, pg 1
“Look For Trouble – Police Making Special Preparations for Duty This Evening November 6, 1906, pg 1
“They Wouldn't Ride – Harvester Men Refused to Patronize Radial Cars Yesterday” November 6, 1906, pg 1
“Trouble At Radial – Non-Union Men Jeered and Switch Turned” November 6, 1906, pg 1
“Used His Baton – P. C. Campaign Struck Denny Bennett and Started Trouble” November 6, 1906, pg 1
“Stoned Radial Car – Crowd Bombarded It With Rocks and Jeered Crew” November 6, 1906, pg 1
“Clash With Police – Mob Threatened to Batter in Doors of Car Sheds” November 6, 1906, pg 1
“The Military In Control – Riot and Bloodshed Followed the Running of Street Cars in This City Last Night by the Non-Union Men and Great Crowds Were on the Streets” November 24, 1906, pg 1
“Leave Switches Alone – Some of the Innocent People Will Be Killed” November 24, 1906, pg 1
“The Military In Charge – Toronto Troops Arrived After Midnight-London Regulars This Morning” November 24, 1906, pg 1
“Negotiations are Off – Company Refused Union's Offer to Arbitrate Case Unconditionally” November 24, 1906, pg 1
“Blame Strike Breakers – Say They Started Trouble to Get Military Here” November 24, 1906, pg 1
“Deplored By Union – Statement Issued About the Trouble of Last Night” November 24, 1906, pg 1
“Badly Handled – What Military Officer Thinks of Last Night's Doings” November 24, 1906, pg 1
“Mob Rules City – Mayor's Refusal to Strengthen Peace Force Has Its Results” November 24, 1906, pg 1
“How The Mob Gathered – Windows Smashed and Switches Interfered With Early in Evening” November 24, 1906, pg 1
“Could Not Awe Crowd – Whole Armed Police Force Did Not Scare the Mob Last Night” November 24, 1906, pg 1
“Two Young Men Heavily Fined” November 24, 1906, pg 3
“Riddled the Cars – Terrific Bombardment as They Passed Mob on James Street November 24, 1906, pg 5
“Drew His Revolver – Detective Coulter Used Billy Too, and Held the Mob at Bay” November 24, 1906, pg 5
“Beyond Police Control – Mob' Wild Doings Prevented Further Delay in Calling Troops” November 24, 1906, pg 5
“Barricaded Windows – Crews Tried to Stop Stones With Seats Out of Cars” November 24, 1906, pg 5
“Showed His Nerve – Detective McVey Ran Car Through Mob When It Was at Worst” November 24, 1906, pg 5
“Police Made One Arrest – Had To Draw Revolver and Use Baton to Hold Him” November 24, 1906, pg 5
“Wrecked Radial Office – Mob Smashed Windows and Tried to Rescue Prisoner” November 24, 1906, pg 5
“Wrecked Quarters – House on Hunter Street Stoned and Smashed by Mob” November 24, 1906, pg 5
“Wounded Policeman – Crowd Attacked P. C. Yaxley and Took his Prisoner Away” November 24, 1906, pg 5
“Gibbs Fired Two Shots – Mob Rescued Prisoner and Chased Policeman Several Blocks” November 24, 1906, pg 5
“Smashed Plate Glass – Big Windows in Stanley Mills' Store Shattered During Riot” November 24, 1906, pg 5
“Rewarded His Nerve – Chief of Strike Breakers Showed Appreciation of McVey” November 24, 1906, pg 5
“Four Men Injured – Detective McKernan Was Dangerously Hurt-Others Cut By Glass” November 24, 1906, pg 5
“One Window Left – How Cars Looked After Passing Mob Last Night” November 24, 1906, pg 5
“Fear More Trouble To-Night” November 26, 1906, pg 1
“Have New Grievance – Men Did Not Get Their Money in Full, They Say” November 26, 1906, pg 1
“Alderman's Views – H. S. Wallace Pays His respects to the Police” November 26, 1906, pg 1
“Peace Reigns Again – Immense Crowds Out, But No Attacks on Cars Yesterday” November 26, 1906, pg 1
“Attacked The Car Sheds -police used Batons on Mob Last Night and Made Arrests” November 26, 1906, pg 1
“How Big Riot Began – Early in the Evening Crowds Gathered and Jeered Soldiers” November 26, 1906, pg 1
“Cars Well Protected – Angry Mob Roared “Scab!” and Hurled Bricks and Stones” November 26, 1906, pg 1
“Call For Troops – Regulars Presented Imposing Appearance When Responding” November 26, 1906, pg 1
“Riot Act Was Read – Mob Jeered While Sheriff Middleton Was Performing His Duty” November 26, 1906, pg 6
“Mob Was Persistent – Tropers Rode on Sidewalk-Police Charged Time and Again” November 26, 1906, pg 6
“The Dragoons Were Busy – Galloped All Over City Dispersing Angry Crowds” November 26, 1906, pg 6
“Dynamite Used Again” November 26, 1906, pg 6
“Continued Attacks – Mob Dared Soldiers and Police and Still Stoned Cars” November 26, 1906, pg 6
“Pitched Battle – Worst Fight of Night Occurred When Car Was Wrecked” November 26, 1906, pg 6
“Got Wrong Ones – Hoodlums Got Away in This Case and the Innocent Suffered” November 26, 1906, pg 6
“An Awful Sight – Way Police Used Clubs on Crowd Awed People” November 26, 1906, pg 6
“Some Of the Injured – Many Complain Bitterly of the Sweeping Onslaught” November 26, 1906, pg 6
“Some Casualties – Policemen Sustained Many Injuries During the Night” November 26, 1906, pg 6
“At Police Stations – Many Arrests and Enquiries About Friends and Relatives” November 26, 1906, pg 6
“Mob On The Run – Crowds Were More Scared of Police Than the Soldiers” November 26, 1906, pg 6
“Business Suspended – Merchants Lose Heavily-Lady Clerks Fainted in the Stores” November 26, 1906, pg 6
“Sheriff Was Busy – Kept Sharp Eye on trouble and Issued Directions” November 26, 1906, pg 6
“How Police View It – Think Their Actions Were Justified-So Do Officials” November 26, 1906, pg 6
“Odd Incidents – Many Unoffending Persons Injured or Chased” November 26, 1906, pg 6
“Troops Appeared – Patrolled the Streets and Guarded Switches on Saturday Afternoon” November 26, 1906, pg 6
“Bail of $1,000 Was Required – Of All Prisoners Accused of Rioting on Saturday” November 26, 1906, pg 8
“The Riot Act – The Proclamation in the Name of His Majesty the King” November 26, 1906, pg 8
“Many Revolvers – Said to Have Been Sold Since the Trouble Began” November 26, 1906, pg 8
“Judge Snider's Stand – Says He Won't Investigate Any Charges Against the Police” November 26, 1906, pg 8
“Strike Notes” November 26, 1906, pg 8
