Mr. J.H. Burgar re Gaol Surgeon’s Duties

[Welland Tribune, 29 December 1882]

Editor Tribune:

DEAR SIR: In reply to my former letter, Mr. J.H. Burgar’s “conception” of uprightness seems very much shocked when I acknowledged to have used the county medicine to put up a small mixture for each of two county councillors, and he can hardly find words sufficiently strong to express his seemingly astonished indignation when I use the county medicine for a man who has dropped down of syncope, and whose heart shows a feebleness of action that means death in a few moments unless restoratives are immediately applied. But before I am through we will examine the motives which prompted this paragon to act, and we will see whether it was a wish to protect the interest of the county, or a desire to gratify the green-eyed envy and bitterness of soul which have been nursed in the breast of both Mr. J.H. Burgar and his brother for the past twelve years.

When there is a “dirty object to be accomplished” we find Mr. J.H. Burgar’s “conception” of uprightness shown in its true light. Under such circumstances this would be manly man stands forth in all the “unblushing” perfection of a pharisaical hypocrite, and, in the council chamber, in the dignity of his official position as reeve of the town of Welland, he sniffs the air and declares he smells something putrescent. He, however, does not ask that the prison inspector be requested to investigate any irregularities he imagines may be connected with my duties as gaol surgeon, for he knew such an investigation would be open and manly; I would have been present to hear the evidence; there would have been no opportunity for him to have done otherwise than to face the investigation honorable and “squarely;” the evidence would have been taken under oath and the report would have been in accord with that evidence. Such an investigation would not have answered Mr. J.H. Burgar’s purposes, and he would not have accomplished the object he had in view; so he moves for the appointment of a committee, he himself forming one of said committee, and in his last week’s letter he acknowledges that the committee had not the power to properly investigate his charges, but he evidently thought that by scheming he could get them to accomplish what he had undertaken. In a measure he succeeds. The committee is appointed. They hold “hole and corner” investigation, I am excluded from the room. The evidence is taken and a report is written out, the first of which is so outrageously false that even some members of the committee refuse to sign it; then another report is written and after much persuasion all the committee sign it except one. This report is presented to the county council and finally passed, and I know nothing about the matter until all has been completed, and yet in the face of such contemptible duplicity and intrigue, Mr. J.H. Burgar prates about honesty in a “county official.” Respecting the other members of the committee, I do not think they desired to do me an injustice.

With references to the price of medicine, I have no defence to offer for either Mr. J.H. Burgar or Mr. Hobson in respect to any excessive charges either of them may have made to either a brother druggist or the county. In my former letter I merely referred to this part of the committee’s evidence, which places both of these gentlemen on a par so far as profit on medicine is concerned; but when Mr. Burgar tells the pubic it is a part of my duty to audit Mr. Hobson’s accounts, he tells them what he knows to be untrue. The county have auditors for this purpose, and as to certifying to drug accounts, I merely certify that the drugs ordered were supplied. Here my duty ends, and in no instance have I certified as to price, simply because it was not a part of my duty.

I will be short in my reply to the gentlemen who seem to think the public cannot believe them except when under oath. In regard to Dr. Burgar’s declaration, the only essential part in which he is correct is where he swears he made application for the appointment to the position of gaol surgeon. The other part of the declaration is not true, for at the time to which he refers I neither applied for an increase of salary now did I put a document to that effect into “the hands of a member of the then council.”

With reference to Dr. Glasgow, I might be willing to acknowledge that he may understand the Indian language, but he certainly seems incapable of comprehending a very simple sentence in English. I did not say Dr. Glasgow applied for the position of gaol surgeon. I said he figured for it, and if the Doctor wishes to carry out the impression he desires to give the public, let him come out next week with another declaration and swear that he never asked any person to use his influence to obtain for him (Glasgow) the position of gaol surgeon. If the Doctor will do this I will try and convince him he is swearing fast and loose.

Yours truly,

J.W. SCHOOLEY

THE GAOL SURGEON

[Welland Tribune, 22 December 1882]

To the Editor Welland Tribune:

             DEAR SIR- In your last issue I see a reply, or rather what purports to be a reply, to the report of committee of county council re meideal supplies and medical attendance in connection with gaol. I am glad that Dr. Schooley has seen fit to rush into print to justify a certain party in charging the county exorbitant prices for medicines. But then what could you expect of a man who unblushingly admits that he took medicines belonging to the county and used them for his own private practice, excusing himself by saying that in one instance it was on a Sunday. I suppose he thinks the better the day the better the deed. It appears he thinks it no sin to appropriate others property on a Sunday. But he seeks to defend Mr. Hobson in his excessive charges by stating that I charged Mr. Cumines a high price for certain articles, making Mr. Cumines a fulcrum on which to rest his lever of defence of Mr. Hobson. This is absurd on the face of it. Mr. Cumines understands his business and knows the price of drugs, and if I overcharged him he could have returned the article. Not so with the county. They were buying articles of which they had no conception as to price, and were depending on the honesty of the gaol surgeon (an officer of the county) to check anything that was wrong in these bills. But he coolly states in his letter “that the price of drugs does not concern me.” A nice county servant, surely who would stand by and see the people’s money taken without a fair compensation. He stated before committee that he called Mr. Hobson’s attention once to a high charge. Why did he certify to correctness of account when the charge was so excessive that he in his simplicity could not see?

             For the Doctor’s information I will state that the committee based their report on the evidence of two witnesses substantiated by his own admissions; and, if necessary, that evidence can be printed and also verified by declaration, then the public can judge for themselves whether the committee reported facts or not. I am positive that the people of the county have every confidence in such gentlemen as Messrs. Joseph Garner, Cruickshank and Ramsden, a majority of committee and that those gentlemen would not be guilty of presenting a fraudulent report. All I have to say in answer to such an assertion is that the above named gentleman have held the trust and confidence of their fellow electors for years, and must consequently be honest, truthful and upright or they could never have enjoyed the confidence that has been so often reposed in them. The Doctor labors hard to show that the quantity of medicine used depends on amount of sickness. Nobody denies this fact, but the Doctor only quotes a part of the sentence viz: “for the immediate wants of such supply.” Here he stops and forgets to add the remainder contained in report. Further Dr. Schooley states, “That Messrs. Garner and Burgar intimate that there is something more to be told; who asked them to conceal anything?” Now Mr. Editor, if the gaol surgeon desires to know more, and is not satisfied with the report, all he has to do is to ask that the inspector of prisons hold an official investigation. This would be done under oath (a power that the committee could not avail themselves of) and then he could learn the particulars to which Messrs. Garner and Burgar referred. Dr. Schooley says we had 11 months to enquire into the matter. True! And Mr. Editor why did not the committee report at June session of council? Simply because several of the members of the committee were told that there was nothing in the charge but petty spite, and it was impossible to get the chairman (Mr. Fraser) to act; and the committee had to appoint another chairman. The truth was that the parties interested did not want an investigation, and did what they could to have it staved off. To the final reply or charge which the Doctor styles, “The true investigation inwardness of the investigation.” That Dr. Burgar, a brother of mine, wanted the position, and when he failed Dr. Glasgow tried to get the appointment and failed also.” I append the declaration of those two gentlemen. Thanking you, Mr. Editor, for kindness in allowing so lengthy a reply. I remain, yours truly, J.H. Burgar

DECLARATION of DR. BURGAR

DECLARATION of DR. GLASGOW

THE GAOL SURGEON

[Welland Tribune, 15 December 1882]

To the Editor of the Welland Tribune:

DEAR SIR- I ask space for a few comments upon the report of the committee re my duties as gaol surgeon.

The report states that the county has been paying from 100 to 125 per cent more for drugs than it should. Now Mr. Cumines told me that he showed the committee over Mr. Burgar’s own signature, that he (Burgar) charged him (Cumines) 60¢ for 1½ ounces of a medicine, the price of which was 11¢. I merely mention this to show that if Mr. Hobson has charged the county a good profit on medicines, Mr. Burgar has charged even a brother druggist an equally large profit, and in the face of this fact has united with other members of the committee to condemn another brother druggist for taking a profit which he himself charges. The price of drugs does not concern me, and with this part of the report I really have nothing to do. I, however, fully agree with the suggestion that the medicine should be furnished by tender. The report also states that the quantity of medicine supplied appears more than was necessary and that in a few instances medicines were used for other than gaol purposes. The quantity of medicine used will invariably depend on the amount of sickness, and all I can say is there was no more medicine used than was necessary. Respecting the use of medicine for other than gaol purposes, I told the committee that during a session of the county council, I put up a small mixture for Mr. E. Furry, the warden, one for the late Mr. Edwin Hershey; one for Mr. G.L. Hobson, when he was suddenly ill at the court house; one for Mrs. J.P. Evans, on the Sabbath when the drug stores were closed; and one for either Mr. or Mrs. Gill.

I also told the committee that I had frequently used medicines from my pocket case for the prison, and that I had supplied more medicine than had been used for other than gaol purposes. In the discussion of the report before the county council, Messrs. Garner and Ramsden are reported as saying that the amount of medicine used for other than gaol purposes was not worth over one or two dollars. From this I infer that the only evidence the committee had on this part of the report was what I gave. If so, they must have gone at their work with a determination of bringing in a damaging report, and they succeeded in doing so only by rejecting a part of the evidence, and putting a construction upon the balance which the facts did not warrant. In this discussion Messrs. Burger and Garner intimate there is something else to be told. Now I am interested in this matter, and I would like to know why they did not tell it. Who asked them to conceal anything? It was eleven months from the time the committee was appointed until they brought in their report. Surely this ought to have enabled them to ventilate this matter, and it is not creditable for them to intimate that they had found something but they would not bring it out in the report. In conclusion, I may as well tell the public the “true inwardness” of this investigation. Dr. Burgar, a brother of Mr. Hamilton Burgar, the mover in this charge, applied to be appointed gaol surgeon, but did not succeed; then Dr. Glasgow figured with the same object in view, and also failed. Consequently there was no alternative but to bring the charge which, as far as its real object was concerned, has failed also.

Yours truly,

J.W Schooley

Welland, Dec. 13^th, 1882

TO THE EDITOR

A Tribute to Dr. Douglas

1921 East 97^th street

Cleveland, Ohio

February 17^th, 1922

[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 23 February 1922]

 Tribune & Telegraph,

             Dear Sir:

             Along in May, the year of 1870, a barefooted small boy who lived on the McConnell farm, near the village of old Fort Erie was despatched in great haste to summon the doctor for Mrs.McConnell-an aged old lady who had fallen in a faint.

             The youngster, having been duly impressed by Mr. McConnell with the necessity of haste, did his best along the (at that time) muddy thoroughfare-The River Road; and , in more or less breathless condition, after a time, reached the little white, rough-cast house on the south corner of (I think) Bertie Street, and upon knocking the door was soon opened by a sweet-faced, white-capped lady of perhaps 55 or 60 years of age, who, upon learning the boy’s mission, called for “William,” and in a moment or two the young man came to the door and said he was the Doctor, and upon learning my mission, said he would come right down.

             A few moments later-before the messenger had retraced his steps homeward more than a block or two- a flying horseman with a cape of the English mackintosh which he wore on such occasions, flying out straight behind, passed by and was soon at the homestead. He had done the needful and before the boy had reached home he met the Doctor on his way back to the village.

             The Doctor in this case was no other than that grand little man who has kept up that alertness to this day and who has done more to alleviate suffering and bestow mercy upon the distressed and suffering than any other man who ever lived in Welland County-Dr. William Douglas. Nor has his mission of mercy ceased, my sister having informed me just recently that he is still “riding the circuit” and never fails to respond to the call of the afflicted.

             I do not know the Doctor’s age but you people of Welland County and especially Fort Erie must know that a man who has devoted more than 52 years of his life to mercy must be well along and in the natural course of events cannot serve many years more.

             Great books have been written of the lives of others whom we know have been less deserving, and while it has been many years since I have shaken the hand of the subject of this letter, I shall never forget him as of the type which get their pleasure out of life by doing good to others, and my fond hope is that the people of old Fort Erie and Welland County will endeavor to demonstrate their love for “Billy” while he is yet with them.

             In my opinion nothing could be more fitting than a fine demonstration on the part of the citizens of Fort Erie and Welland County towards Billy while he is yet with them.

             This is just a suggestion and I would appreciate an acknowledgement.

Sincerely yours

D. Robertson

POINT ABINO AND OTWAY PAGE

[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 6 May 1926]

Letter written in reference to article of 27 April 1926 by Meta Schooley Laws

 Editor Tribune and Telegraph

             Very interesting and informative are the articles on “Point Abino and Vicinity” contributed to the Tribune and Telegraph by Meta Schooley Laws, I have never seen, nor even been near to Point Abino, but I read these recollections of folk-lore, legend and reminiscences with attention and appreciation.

             In the issue of April 27^th, the authoress gave a scrap of information about Otway Page. This pioneer of Bertie was a prominent man in his day, but, so far as I know, no comprehensive biography or sketch of his career has ever been published. He is often mentioned in old records, but I did not know until reading this recent reference, that he was once High Sheriff of the Niagara District. I hope that Mrs. Laws will give T. & T. readers some more particulars concerning him.

             That was a pretty good story of the Governor drawing to the roadside in the snow and waiting, uncovered, while the funeral passed. I doubt, however, that it was Governor Simcoe. Probably it was one of his successors.

             The Governor who had a residence near Niagara Falls was Sir Peregrine Maitland. He bought a large tract of land on the brow of the mountain in Northern Stamford and built a 22-room cottage. The estate was called “Stamford Park.” Governor Maitland left the province in 1828 and the “cottage” was burned some years later. Another house was erected on the grounds, but not on the same site. This was occupied by the late William Henry and was burned in the ‘eighties’. The original gate-ledge of the Governor’s park still stands, though recently much altered. It is on the road from Stamford Village to St. Davids, just where it detours to the west before passing down the ravine. The original iron gates were purchased by Colonel R.W. Leonard and are now at the entrance to the grounds of his residence in St. Catharines.

ERNEST GREEN

OTHER MEMORIES OF LONG AGO

[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 23 January 1923]

Welland, Ont., 17^th, Jan. 1923

Editor Tribune-Telegraph         

Dear Sir:

             I noticed in your issue of the 16^th inst., an account of the sleighing and dancing parties among the young people of sixty years ago, and it brings to my mind pleasant memories, as I was one of the youngsters at that time. As I am now past 85, and there is but one living person of my age left in our whole neighborhood, and that is an old lady. I have attended a number of parties in my younger days where Blind “Oliver” furnished the music and I have always understood that Oliver was not quite blind, from the fact that if there was any trouble or dispute, while the party were getting set on the floor, I have seen him get right up and in among set, and settle any dispute that may have happened and get to their places before he would start the music or leave the floor. The most of the dance music up to a few years ago was furnished by The Dean Brothers of Caistor Centre, of the late Calvin Lymburner, who lived in our school section, and about 25 years ago, I built a good sized store in our village with a hall overhead 22×24 with a stage, where many dances, shows, medicine men and political meetings were held, and where five townships and three counties met inside of an area of a few hundred yards, and where I have been D.R.O, the last 27 years in our division without a break. I intended to mention that the youngsters of today are practicing the old reels and hornpipes, including Money Musk, Devils Dream, Rocky Road to Dublin, Irish Jig, Sicilian Circle and Colitions.

             I remember the old “Acorn” paper and the old “Niagara Mail.”

Yours truly

J.K. Tisdale

WELLAND PARK

[People's Press, 20 November 1906]

Names Suggested-Welland of Old-A Reminiscent Letter

             Mr. Editor:-Among the names suggested for your park we like “Merritt” the best, not forgetting (at the same time) the New York capitalist, the one man among the capitalists of England and the United States who made it possible for Merritt to build the canal, none of the rest favoring the scheme. We suggest and would suggest “MERRITT & YATES.”

             In conversation some years ago with a gentleman, regarding the influence of those we meet in life, he said of all men he ever met, when a young man, the influence of none for good, or as a model gentleman, so impressed him as Mr. Yates did when driving him in carriage from St..Catharines to Fort Erie, on Mr. Yates’ return to New York state.

             We lived in Welland when the Merrittsville grist mill was built by Dunlap & Seeley. We were under the impression that the raceway mentioned in one of your recent issues was extended across the street by them from their sawmills. My father did the carpenter and joiner work on the said grist mill and Jacob Ryan, I think, began his apprenticeship as millwright on it. Yours truly,

D.W. McCain

Humberstone, Nov. 17, 1906

FENIAN RAID REMINISCENCE

[Welland Tribune, 10 July 1872]

LETTER FROM MR. SHISLER

             EDITOR TRIBUNE- Sir-On returning home one evening a short time since, I found a present awaiting me which pleased me very much. It was a copy of the “Parliamentary Debates on Confederation,” a well bound volume of 1,032 pages. The following relation of circumstances will explain how I came by this handsome present: When Col. Peacock came to New Germany with his artillery, at the time of the Fenian Raid, he sent Mr. Abram Hendershot, of Welland, to me for my map of the Counties of Lincoln and Welland, which I lent him, and he (the Col.) cut out the Township of Bertie to see more conveniently the lines and roads. The Col. afterwards left the map with a certain individual with instructions to deliver it to me, upon which that person sent me two poles, stating that the Col. had cut out the map and sent the poles, on which I tried them where the map had been hung, and found them not to agree with the length of mine. I then sent a letter to Mr. A. Hendershot stating that I wished them to return the map, on which he said he would either pay for it or give me another, and it was left at that for several years, after which I wrote to Mr. J.G. Currie about it, who said, by return mail, that I should state which I preferred, a map or the money. I wrote him that I would rather have the map, and then he sent me a letter stating that I should call or send, and I could have a map and the book alluded to above. As I think the book a valuable one, and am certain to get the map on calling or sending for it, I am well satisfied and wish the Hon. J.G. Currie to accept my thanks.

Yours, &c.,

PETER SHISLER

Stevensville, June 1872

WELLANDER IN THE WEST

Special Correspondence to TELEGRAPH

             Grand Crossing, Ill.. Dec. 7^th, ’84

             Mr. Editor-The number of railways that cross here, and the numerous trains that are constantly thundering past, amply entitles this place to the name of Grand Crossing, but if I had been at the christening I would have called it Ditchtown, because it is ditches from end to end. The houses are far between, the lots being held on speculation; the land is low and flat; the sidewalks are elevated about two feet above the level, and alongside of the sidewalk, on each side of the street, are ditches dug from three to four feet deep, and like a tinker’s bed, both broad and wide.

             I am told that in spring they go from house to house Venetian fashion, in boats. I am employed on a railway three miles from here, and ride out to work in the morning and back in the evening. Coming back some nights, especially when dark, the yard looks like some grand entrance to the dark regions. There are from eight to ten engines standing in the yard, with their great glaring headlights, and from some of these the spectator is enveloped in a cloud of smoke and steam every few minutes. The whole length of the yard, about 1 ½ miles, is studded with the switch lamps of different colors, and the numberless switchmen swinging their signal lamps, gives to a stranger the appearance of the utmost confusion. Then, 150 men with blackened faces came hurrying from the workshops, each with a lamp, when a tall Irishman, with his hands in his pockets to the elbow pokes his coal besmeared visage from the dark over the lighted track “the very picture of terror,” looking for the approaching train, the scream of which can now be heard.

             On looking around, I can see prairie fires blazing in all directions, and before I have time to think, or the incoming train to stop, the lamp lit gentry before mentioned make a rush for the train, and the engine heaves a great puff of steam. Prairie fires are mostly commenced by locomotives and by hunters, and run both before and against the wind. They recede slowly, but advance with great rapidity if the wind is high, about as follows. The flame shoots up and the wind doubles it over and it strikes five or six feet ahead, where it takes fire instantly. The fire now approaches both forward and back on the intermediate unburned space, and when they meet the flame shoots up high and bursts with a loud report, and each time leaps farther and farther, and consequently going faster and faster; but on a calm night they don’t make much headway and are simply grand. The fire is fought when necessary somewhat like skipping the rope. Each of two men take a long wet cloth and beat the fire streaks from the sides, and they are followed by two more, and so on. This if done on both sides of the fire, soon become contracted, and dies out at the first obstacle it cannot leap. I will tell you about the winter soon.

Yours &c.,

Robert Lamont

Welland Telegraph
2 January 1885

A LONG TIME AGO – 11 November 1887

 Editor Tribune:- My letter in your issue of Oct. 7 spoke of Mr. and Mrs. Fawcet, the newly married couple whose respective ages were about 65 years, and who were spending their honeymoon on board ship during the voyage to Quebec in the year 1828. I said I might take them up again, which I now do in an abridged way.

Mr. Fawcet had been in Canada before, and had there married a second wife, after which he returned to England, leaving wife No. 2 behind. Mr. F. was a great professor of piety, which enabled him the better to carry his points. Wishing again to return to Canada, but being minus the means, he thought it expedient to fall in love with an old lady about his own age, who, with her hired help, was making a comfortable living in conducting a laundry business in the city of York, England, and, with her little savings and household effects, could furnish the means of shipment to Canada. So he married wife No. 3, and these are the parties mentioned in my first letter. Upon their arrival at Brockville in May, 1828, Mrs. F. No. 3 found a Mrs. F. No. 2 and Mrs. F. No. 3 not being a convert to Mormon faith, deserted her liege lord and master, and hired to a respectable family by the name of McDonald to do housework for one dollar a week. This family were very kind to her. After working for them over a year, they paid her all her wages, made her a present of twelve dollars and other things, and she left for Quebec in the hope of getting a passage back to England, which at that time was much more difficult than now, as there were no more regular passenger ships. The only chance was by a lumber ship, and that was difficult for a lone woman. A man could berth with the sailors in the forecastle, or with the captain in the cabin.

But upon her arrival at Quebec she was taken ill with the fever and confined to her bed several weeks. The expenses incurred took most of her money. When she had so far recovered as to be able to walk out a little in the street, one day she met a military officer. Her English dress and flour-scoop bonnet attracted his attention and he looked very intently upon her, so much so that after passing she turned to look after him, when he had done the same to look at her; he then came up to her and said: “My good woman, I did look at you for there is something in your appearance I could not help doing so; may I ask who you are, or where are you from?” “My name is Mrs. Fawcet, and I am from the city of York, in England, but when in England my name was Mrs. Jib.” “Yes, that accounts for it. When I was a little boy I used to come with our nursemaid to your house on Bishophill after linen.” “Indeed, sir, and what is your name, sir?” “My name is Crompton.” “Good Lord, are you young Master Crompton?” After learning a little of her history, the street and number where to find her, he said he would call, which he did, and brought her a bottle of wine. He learned her history; how she had come there; interested himself in her behalf, secured her a passage to Hull; gave her a letter to Mrs. Crompton, his mother, wishing her to give her some of the furniture lying in the garret of their big house in Micklegate, and otherwise to assist her in establishing herself in her former business; all of which was done, and when I called upon her a short time afterwards I found her not in the same house she had left on her marriage with Fawcet, but in the next house to it, with two hired girls and the necessary apparatus for carrying on her former business, and this account I had from herself. What became of Mr. F. I never learned.

Welland Tribune

11 November 1887