Brock Centenary 1812-1912 Part 4

Brant Historical Society, Brantford: His Honour Judge Hardy, Honorary President; Mr. S. F. Pa.s.smore, President; Miss Isabella Gilkison, Mr. T.

W. Standing, Vice-Presidents; Mrs. J. Y. Brown, Secretary; Major H. F.

Leonard, Curator; Mr. J. J. Hawkins.

Lundy's Lane Historical a.s.sociation, Niagara Falls: Mr. J. Jackson, Secretary.

Thorold and Beaver Dams Historical Society: T. H. Thompson, President; Miss Amy Ball.

Niagara Historical Society, Niagara-on-the-Lake: Miss Janet Carnochan, President; Rev. J. C. Garrett, Mrs. J. C. Garrett, Mrs. Ascher, Mrs. T.

F. Best, Miss M. Ball, Mrs. Bottomley, Miss Creed. J. Eckersley, H.

Macklem, Mrs. Macklem, Wm. Ryan, J. deW. Randall, Mrs. Randall, E. H.

Shepherd, Mrs. Shepherd, Miss C. Waters, F. Winthrop, Mrs. Winthrop, Niagara; R. Field, Miss E. L. Lowery, Mrs. H. Usher, Queenston; Miss Amy Ball, Thorold; Miss S. Crysler, Niagara Falls; J. C. Ball, C. A. Case, St. Catharines; J. S. Carstairs, A. J. Clark, Miss E. Long, Mrs. Charles Lewis Shaw, Miss Annie Clark, Mr. G. J. Clark, Toronto.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FLORAL TRIBUTE PLACED ON CENOTAPH, WHERE BROCK FELL, BY THE GUERNSEY SOCIETY, TORONTO.]

[Ill.u.s.tration:

G. J. Birney. Sgt. John I. Matthews. Q.O.R.

Dr. Chas. F. Durand. J. L. Birney. Sgt.-Major Geo. Creighton, Q.O.R.

BROCK CENTENARY CELEBRATION AT QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.]

Women's Wentworth Historical Society, Hamilton: Mrs. John Calder, Miss Calder.

Canadian Club, Hamilton: Mr. C. E. Kelly, President; G. D. Cadeaur, Secretary; Mr. Harry D. Petrie.

Women's Canadian Club, Hamilton: Mrs. Harry D. Petrie.

Women's Inst.i.tute, Queenston: Mrs. A. A. Ramsay.

Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire, Hamilton: Mrs. Harry D. Petrie, Miss B. Gaviller.

St. George's Society, London: Mr. N. F. Willmot.

St. George's Society, Guelph: Mr. H. J. B. Leadlay.

Canadian Business Women's Club, Toronto: Miss H. Williamson, Miss Winnifred Macdonald, Miss Effie Telfer, Mrs. Anna Fox.

Others present were: Mrs. (Col.) William Hendrie, Hamilton; D. Macgregor Whyte, artist, Oban, Scotland; Lieutenant-Colonel Fred W. Macqueen, Toronto; Wm. Rea, Mrs. Rea, _nee_ Jane Thomas, daughter of Mr. James Thomas, who was one of the contractors for the erection of Brock's Monument, and resided at Queenston during the entire time the Monument was being erected; Rev. S. A. Laidlaw, Ridgeway; Mr. W. H. Banfield, Mr.

Benj. P. McKay, Mr. H. E. Wilmot, Mr. Samuel O'Bryen, Miss F. May Simpson, Miss Marjorie FitzGibbon, Miss Perkins, Miss Lulu Crowther, Mr. William Moss, Miss J. E. Douglas, Mr. H. B. Adams, Miss D. F. Waite, Miss Helen J. Sturrock, Mr. James Young, Mr. John Hawley, Mrs. Rees, Miss Amelia Rees, Gonnie Rees, A.T.C.M., Toronto; Mr. Fred Landon, Press Gallery, Ottawa; Mayor J. deW. Randall, Niagara-on-the-Lake; Mrs. A.

Servos, Miss Mary Servos, St. Catharines; Mrs. Redhead, Miss Oliver, Niagara; Wm. Milliken, Toronto, and Dr. Campbell Meyers, Toronto.

The stirring interest taken by the public in the celebration was in no way made more apparent than by the large number of costly and beautiful floral offerings sent to decorate the monument. Immediately on a.s.sembling on the Heights, these expressive tributes were formally received, one by one, by Colonel Ryerson. The names of the givers were announced by Mr. Chas. E. Macdonald, who also read out the patriotic mottoes and inscriptions. The wreaths were then carefully placed on the monument, and so numerous were they that they almost covered its huge base. The luxuriant ivy growing on the lower masonry was richly tinted with autumnal bronze, and on the natural background thus unexpectedly provided, the delighted celebrators worked out an effective colour scheme. It has not been possible to obtain a complete list of those who brought wreaths with them, but the following were noted:

A magnificent Cross of St. George, made of oak leaves, from the Guernsey Society of Guernsey Island, Brock's birthplace, was placed on the cenotaph which marks the place where Brock fell, by Mr. J. L. Burney, whose father was a lieutenant under Brock and was by his side when the General was fatally stricken.

J. A. Macdonell, K.C., Glengarry, A. McLean Macdonell, K.C., Toronto, and Angus Claude Macdonell, K.C., M.P., Toronto, as representatives of the family of Colonel the Honourable John Macdonell, General Brock's aide-de-camp and military secretary, placed on the monument two handsome wreaths of laurel leaves, decorated with white and pink heather and heavily trimmed with purple, one to the memory of Brock, and one, with the motto "From Kith and Kin," to the memory of their kinsman, Colonel Macdonell.

[Ill.u.s.tration: MEMORIAL WREATHS ON THE TOMBS, AT QUEENSTON HEIGHTS, OF MAJOR-GENERAL SIR ISAAC BROCK. Kt., AND COLONEL JOHN MACDONELL, P.A.D.C., ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF UPPER CANADA.

Placed there by Mr. John Macdonell, K.C., Glengarry, Mr. Angus Claude Macdonell. K.C., M.P., Toronto, and Mr. A. McLean Macdonell. K.C., Toronto (with the motto, "From kith and kin." on that of the latter).]

Colonel George T. Denison placed a wreath from the British Empire League (England), he being the President of the Canadian branch.

Mr. J. Murray McCheyne Clark, K.C., LL.B., Toronto, sent a wreath on behalf of the Toronto branch of the British Empire League, of which he is the President.

Wreaths were sent by the Canadian Club, Toronto; the Canadian Club, Hamilton; the Caroline School pupils, Hamilton; Centre and South Toronto Conservative Club, Ladies' Branch; Governor-General's Body Guard, Toronto; 91st Regiment Canadian Highlanders, Hamilton; Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire, Toronto; Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire, Hamilton; Chapter General of Canada Knights of Malta and the Grand Chapter of Ladies of Justice, Toronto.

Mrs. Fessenden, as founder of Empire Day, sent a sheaf of crimson carnations tied with the national colours. To this was attached, with a League of the Empire brooch, a card bearing this inscription from Palgrave:

"If the day of a nation's weakness rise, Of the little counsels that dare not dare, Of a land that no more on herself relies,-- O breathe of the great ones that were, Burn out this taint in the air!

The old heart of England restore, Till the blood of heroes awake and cry on her bosom once more."

Lundy's Lane Historical Society, Niagara Falls, Ont.; 9th Mississauga Horse; Niagara District Veteran Volunteers' a.s.sociation, St.

Catharines--Mr. Jamieson Black, as President, placed a wreath on the grave as a tribute from St. Catharines. For many years this a.s.sociation has placed a wreath at the foot of the tomb of Brock at their annual outing at Queenston Heights.

Niagara Falls City, Ontario, Mayor and Aldermen; Niagara Historical Society, Niagara-on-the-Lake; Niagara Public Schools; Ontario Historical Society; St. Andrew's Society, Toronto; St. George's Society, Toronto; St. George's Society, Hamilton; Sons of Scotland Benevolent a.s.sociation; Sons of Scotland, Camp "Alexander Fraser"; Six Nations Indians (Oshwegan), Brantford; United Empire Loyalists' a.s.sociation of Canada, Toronto; Upper Canada Old Boys' a.s.sociation, Toronto; Welland County Teachers' a.s.sociation; Women's Canadian Historical Society, Toronto--Wreath of scarlet gladioli and carnations tied with scarlet and green, the colors of the Society, the motto in gold on a green band: "Deeds Speak"; Women's Wentworth Historical Society, Hamilton.

Miss Ball, granddaughter of Captain John Clement Ball, carried a lithograph of the battle scene (Queenston Heights) made in 1813 from a sketch by Major Dennis as he lay wounded on the field, October 13th, 1812.

In addition to the wreath placed on the monument the United Empire Loyalists hung a wreath on the portrait of General Brock in the Parliament Buildings, Toronto.

The scene presented was unique, and in many respects a remarkable one.

Not the least striking feature was the character of the gathering.

Descendants of soldiers who fought with Brock were there, some of them carrying the burden of years, some barely out of childhood's leash.

Others, and scarcely less interested in the proceedings, represented loyal and patriotic societies, widely spread over the Province. The Indian contingent from the Six Nations occupied a conspicuous place of honour most worthily, their presence recalling the signal service rendered by their brave forefathers at Queenston Heights and in the campaign generally. The military detachments added colour to the animated scene. The men of the Royal Canadian Regiment, of the Governor-General's Body Guard, of the Forty-eighth Highlanders, the Queen's Own, the Royal Grenadiers, the Mississauga Horse, the Ridley College Cadets, and of other corps, were drawn up on the outside of the crowd, and beyond them, on the escarpment, the St. Catharines' Battery, Field Artillery, was stationed. Over all floated the Union Jack.

[Ill.u.s.tration: WREATH PLACED ON BROCK'S MONUMENT IN ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL, LONDON, ENG. BY THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: WREATH PLACED ON BROCK'S MONUMENT, QUEENSTON HEIGHTS, BY THE IMPERIAL ORDER OF THE DAUGHTERS OF THE EMPIRE.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: BROCK CENTENARY CELEBRATION AT QUEENSTON HEIGHTS

Conferring tribal members.h.i.+p on Miss Helen M. Merrill, who on adoption into the Oneida Nation received the name "Kah-ya-tonhs" (One who keeps records).]

An incident of the gathering in which much interest was shown was the unfurling of an old, historic Union Jack from the top of Brock's Monument by Miss Helen M. Merrill, Secretary of the Committee. When the first monument erected to Brock at Queenston was destroyed (17th April, 1840) a great indignation meeting was held on the Heights. Among those present was a British sailor from one of the s.h.i.+ps that conveyed the Toronto people to the meeting. He had brought with him a Union Jack, and climbing to the top of the broken shaft, waved it aloft, amid the cheers of the a.s.sembled patriots. The flag was preserved, and Mr. Comer, Kingston, Ont., readily loaned it for this special occasion.

Accompanying Miss Merrill to the top of the monument with the flag were Misses Marjorie FitzGibbon and Laura Brodigan and Mr. Allen W. Johnson (Six Nations).

Several relics of the War of 1812-14 were shown by their possessors, who held them sacred, among them a Union Jack, carried by Chief Paudash (Johnson) of the Mississauga Indians, from the Ontario Archives Department; early sketches of the Queenston battlefield, and pictures of officers who took part in the war.

At the close of the speeches the Six Nation Indians present formed a Council, and, in recognition of her services as Honorary Secretary of the Celebration Committee, conferred on Miss Helen M. Merrill the honour of tribal members.h.i.+p by the name "Kah-ya-tonhs"--one who keeps records.

The wreaths having been placed, the programme of the day was opened by the firing of a general salute by the 7th St. Catharines Field Battery of the Royal Canadian Artillery. This was followed by the playing of a lament for the dead by the pipers of the Forty-eighth Highlanders and Pipe-Major Dunbar, piper to Lieut.-Colonel William Hendrie, of Hamilton.

Letters expressing regret for inability to be present were read by Colonel Ryerson from the following gentlemen: The Right Honourable R. L.

Borden, M.P., Prime Minister of Canada; His Honour Sir John M. Gibson, K.C.M.G., Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario; Colonel the Honourable Samuel Hughes, M.P., Minister of Militia, Ottawa; the Honourable Sir James P.

Whitney, Prime Minister of Ontario; Major-General C. J. Mackenzie, C.B., C.G.S., Ottawa; Major-General W. D. Otter, C.V.O., C.B.; Major-General D. A. Macdonald, C.M.G., Ottawa; Brig.-General F. L. Lessard, C.B.; Colonel R. W. Rutherford, M.G.O.; Dr. R. A. Falconer, President, University of Toronto; Hugh Munro, M.P.P., Glengarry.

[Ill.u.s.tration: SIX NATION INDIANS CELEBRATING BROCK'S CENTENARY AT QUEENSTON HEIGHTS.