1883 - May -1

During the morning of May 2, 1883, a Spectator reporter, hunting for news, was walking along James Street North when he noticed an unusual sign hanging over a doorway:
          “This sign set forth that Signor Emilio could cure corns, bunions and ingrowing nails without pain. It was gaudily painted and had several peculiar-looking feet, decidedly out of drawing that had little dabs of red paint stuck on here and there to represent the corns aforesaid.”^{1
                1} “Your Poor Feet : See the Corn-Curing Hero Comes” Hamilton Spectator. May 2, 1883
          After entering the doorway, the Spectator reporter passed down a short hallway and tapped at a door at the far end :
          “After a couple of knocks, to which there was no response, the scribe grew bolder and, raising the latch, opened the door and walked in, finding himself in a small, carpeted room that was frequently used as an ante-room, and looked wonderfully like a barber’s shop.

₁“A couple of young ladies were in the apartment waiting their turn as the reporter entered. Another room opened off this, which was evidently the ‘surgery.’ In this room, a young girl was here with her foot bared to the tender care of the signor, who was bending over it with every appearance of solicitude. The reporter coughed and the young girl in the far room looked up and blushed prettily when she caught the scribe gazing earnestly at her.”¹

          When he asked to speak to the signor, the reporter was asked to return at a later time:

“The signor was in the inside room and came out to greet the scribe. He is a tall man, with black, curly hair, an Italian, and talks in very broken English, interlarded with Italian words and phrases.

“ ‘Yes, I do a large business,’ said the signor, when the reporter had explained his business and had propounded an initial question, ‘not to any particular class, but scattered all over. I do a great deal amongst girls. There are more girls in Hamilton with corns on their feet than any place I have ever been in, at least more come to me. Some of my customers belong to the very best families here.’ ”

About 11 a.m., Monday morning, May 14, 1883, Police Constable Harris was on patrol in the Hamilton downtown core:

“Walking along King street, in a quiet, stately and impressive manner, as all good peelers do, his eagle eye alighted upon the forms of Four young denizens of Corktown, who were rolling along in a state of sublime inebriation, exercising their vocal talents as they went, and bumping against every passer-by, one woman being struck in the breast by one of the unruly ones and sent sprawling on the sidewalk.”²

² “Four Thoroughbreds : Get Drunk and Whoop It up Lively – A Struggle for Liberty” Hamilton Spectator. May 15, 1883.

P. C. Harris warned the men to get off the street or he’d run them in, but the men smiled scornfully at him and continued on their way.

Harris went to No. 1 station to get assistance, and soon the quartet of celebrants were caught up with when they reached York street:

“The peelers bold overtook the reckless roughs in front of Kraft’s harness shop, and politely urged them to come to the cells to enjoy for a while the sobering influences of stone walls and some iron-barred windows, but the men couldn’t see it in that light, and contested forcibly the policemen’s right to take them along.”²

A free fight ensued and, within minutes, more police reinforcements were on the scene with Chief Stewart in command. At length, the police got the upper hand, but not before one of the men escaped:

“The three remaining victims of firewater and freshness were led towards the cells, cursing horribly, and every little way making frantic efforts to escape the clutches of the law.”²

The three men who were arrested were James Hayes, Mike Canary and Robert Barret:

“They are all old jail birds, Canary only being out from a two years’ term for burglary about six weeks’ ago.”²

Tuesday evening, May 16, 1883 was the time when a benefit concert was held at the Academy of Music to recognize the work of Professor James Johnson. For some years previously, Johnson had been the teacher of singing in the public schools, as well as the choir leader at Knox Presbyterian church:

“Miss Clench and Mr. Parker were the accompanists. The beneficiary should receive quite a handsome testimonial from the managers of the concert.  Some miscreant turned the gas off at the meter while the concert was in progress, and left the hall in darkness. It is unfortunate that no one saw him at the rascally trick.”³

³ “Music and the Drama : Information Concerning Singers and Players” Hamilton Spectator. May 16, 1883

The Diurnal Epitome : What Goeth On In and About the City.”

Hamilton Spectator. May 16, 1883

-      There is an unusually large number of men hanging around in the vicinity of the bay.

-      The home-staying part of the citizens sat in their doorways last evening instead of around the coal fire as on Monday night.

-      Inspector Kerr has received the following order : ‘The acting Minister directs that the issuing of netting and spearing licenses in Burlington bay by discontinued, and that the waters be reserved for angling and trolling purposes only.’

-      The sidewalk on King street east, below Wentworth, is in a disgraceful condition and badly needs repairing. A reporter walking down in that neighborhood last night tripped several times over the broken boards, and pedestrians are constantly complaining about it. City fathers, your kindly officers are needed here.