THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY FORTY YEARS AGO.
The reproduction of an item in the _Colonist_ of "Forty Years
Ago," giving a list of the committee formed to prepare a programme
for the celebration of the Queen's Birthday, called my attention to
the names of that committee. They are nearly all familiar. His
Worship the Mayor, I think, was Mr. Harris, who was our first mayor;
next follows Doctor Tolmie, chief factor of the Hudson's Bay Company;
Wm. J. Macdonald, now senator; Lumley Franklin, was a prominent
citizen, an English Jew. There were two brothers, the elder being
named Selim. They were real estate brokers and auctioneers. Lumley
was a clever amateur actor and as a member of the Victoria Amateur
Dramatic Association he took a prominent part in all the
entertainments for charity in those days. John Wilkie was a Wharf
Street merchant. Mr. W. T. Drake was the late Judge Drake; D. B. Ring
was a prominent barrister, who, when not in court, might have been
seen walking about with a couple of dogs and a hunting crop under his
arm. He was one of the old school. Allan Francis, the first American
Consul to Victoria, a man liked by everyone; James A. McCrae, an
American auctioneer, and very fond of sport; Mr. T. Johnston was
manager for Findlay, Durham & Brodie; James Lowe, of Lowe Brothers,
Wharf Street, merchants; William Charles, chief factor of Hudson's
Bay Company; Captain Delacombe, in charge of the garrison on
San Juan Island; E. Grancini, hardware merchant, with whom Charles
Lombard was chief salesman; T. L. Stahlschmidt, of Findlay, Durham &
Brodie; Captain Stamp, a millman, representing an English company who
owned a large mill at Alberni; Godfrey Brown, late of Honolulu, a
clever member of the Victoria Amateur Dramatic Association. I might
mention this association had many very clever men as members, who
would have graced any stage. Mr. Higgins, with myself, have written
of the theatrical performances by this club in early days. Next is
A. R. Green, of Janion, Green & Rhodes, of Store Street; J. D.
Pemberton, colonial surveyor; J. C. Nicholson, who married pretty
Mary Dorman; George J. Findlay, of Findlay, Durham & Brodie; Francis
Garesche, of Garesche-Green's Bank; C. W. R. Thomson, manager of the
Victoria Gas Works; George Pearkes, barrister; Lieutenants Brooks and
Hastings, of H.M.S. _Zealous_, the first ironclad to come into the
Pacific around Cape Horn, and Sheriff Elliott.
This was a strong committee, for those days. All prominent men and
good workers.
[Portrait: Thomas Harris.]
Beacon Hill was the head centre of sport, and far enough from town,
as nearly all of us walked. But all kinds of conveyances were brought
into requisition to take people out, especially from Esquimalt and
the country. We had to rely on the navy then as always. The two
livery stables of J. W. Williams, on the corner now occupied by Prior
& Co., and William G. Bowman, on Yates Street, where the Poodle Dog
stands, furnished busses and buggies, and large express wagons were
also improvised, seats being put in for the occasion. With my mind's
eye I can see Thomas Harris, first mayor.
The chief event of the day was the horse races, and the mayor was an
enthusiastic horse-fancier and steward of the Jockey Club. These
attractions were nothing without Mr. Harris, coupled with Commander
Lascelles, of the gunboat _Forward_, a son of the Earl of
Harewood, and John Howard, of Esquimalt. The time for the first race
is near, the bell rings (John Butts was bellman), and the portly
figure of Mr. Harris on horseback appears. "Now, gentlemen, clear the
course," and there is a general scattering of people outside the
rails, and the horses with their gaily dressed jockeys canter past
the grandstand, make several false starts, then off they go. It is a
mile heat round the hill, best two out of three to win. Oh! what
exciting things these races were to us old-timers, who were satisfied
with a little. The grandstand stood due south of the flagpole, and
stood there for years after the races were held elsewhere. I must not
forget to mention the Millingtons, of Esquimalt, who always rode John
Howard's horses at these meetings; they were born jockeys. I think
one of them still lives near Esquimalt. I would we had such Queen's
weather now as we had then. May was then more like what July is now
for warmth, with beautiful clear skies; they were days worth
remembering. Everyone went out for the day, and whole families might
have been seen either riding in express wagons, busses, or trudging
along on foot, carrying baskets of provisions. Soon the hill was
covered with picnickers, as well as the surrounding woods. There was
plenty of good cheer and good-natured folk to dispense that cheer,
not only to their own, but to those who had not come provided. "Why,
how do you do, Mrs. Smith? Mr. Smith, how are you? You are just
in time. Make room for Mrs. Smith, John, alongside you; Annie
and Mary can sit by Ellen. Oh, of course, you'll lunch with us!
There, we are all ready now, so fall to!" This is a sample of the
good-heartedness of the old-timers. Everyone knew everybody, and all
were as one family.
The navy was represented by bluejackets and marines by the hundreds.
Bands of music, Aunt Sally, and the usual side shows were there. Aunt
Sally was usually run by a lot of sailors, or soldiers, with faces
painted like circus clowns, and dressed in motley garments. "Now,
ladies and gents, walk up and 'ave a shy at Aunt Sally; the dear old
girl don't mind being 'it a bit; she is so good-natured; that's a
right h'excellent shot that, 'ave another try." The same scene was
likely being enacted some distance off with "Punch and Judy," and you
may be sure that "Jack" was principal in this show as well, for where
there is fun there Jack is. I must not forget the music. Outside the
local band there was always a naval band, of a flagship usually, such
as the _Ganges_ or _Sutlej_, which were "three-deckers,"
line-o'-battleships which would have put an ordinary battleship to
blush. It was supposed that the officers subscribed to the band fund,
and as there were many officers on a large ship, and well-to-do at
that, they had good music. The _Ganges_ band was something worth
hearing, about twenty-four strong. It was often heard in Victoria,
either at a naval funeral or at some public function. The navy was
the mainspring of Victoria in more ways than one. They took part in
all public functions, furnishing music, help and flags, and by their
presence in uniform brightened up and lent grace to the affair. Do we
realize how great a loss their absence to the city is? We ought to
have found out the difference by now. The races are over, the day's
celebration is near its end. Some of those who came early with
children are tired out and have gone home, others will soon follow,
as a general packing up of baskets is going on. "Jack" no longer
calls on the passerby to have a shy at Old Aunt Sally, Punch has
killed his wife and baby for the last time. Parties of bluejackets
are moving off with one playing a tin whistle, to which some are
singing. The day draws to a close, and in the words of the immortal
Gray, "Now fades the glimmering landscape on the sight," and I
close this recital of echoes of a past--Queen's Birthday forty odd
years ago.
Through the kindness of Mr. Albert H. Maynard I am enabled to produce
an old picture of Beacon Hill during a celebration.
[Illustration: Queen's birthday, Beacon Hill.]
The following account of the regatta during the celebration of the
Queen's Birthday appears in the _British Colonist_ of May 25th,
1868:
"The first of the festivities forming a part of the celebration of
the forty-ninth celebration of Queen Victoria's Birthday took place
on Saturday, and was in every respect a great success. The day,
although warmer than usual, was well suited for the picnic parties
which occupied the banks of our beautiful Arm, all the way from the
bridge to the Gorge. It is estimated that there were one thousand
persons assembled altogether. Early in the morning the town bore a
most lively appearance, flags were flying from all the principal
buildings and the shipping, and by half-past ten the streets were
full of well-dressed persons wending their way to the Hudson's Bay
Company's wharf, where the steam launch and barges of the _Zealous_
were placed at the disposal of the Committee by the Admiral to convey
them up the Arm. The managing committee were here represented by
Messrs. Stuart and Franklin, whose arrangements were admirable.
From the wharf to the Gorge the Arm wore a most animated appearance.
From Her Majesty's gunboat _Forward_, all decked in colors, which
took up her position near the bridge, down to the meanest craft, the
water was covered with boats laden with people full of merriment and
joy. From Curtis' Point, where the barges delivered their living
freight, the scene was really enchanting. An arch of flags spanning
the water, the high banks covered with tents, the bridge and every
spot on both sides of the Arm crowded with people, and the roads
lined with equestrians, amongst whom were many ladies, gave the
happiest effect to the whole scene. We cannot recall a single
celebration which was more appreciated or enjoyable than our regatta
of Saturday. Much of this success, it must not be forgotten, must
be attributed to the gracious manner in which Admiral Hastings
co-operated with the committee to secure the comfort and convenience
of the public, and without which kindness and attention the day would
have been shorn of most of its enjoyment. Owing to the severe illness
of His Excellency the Governor he was prevented from being present.
We observed Mrs. Seymour, Mrs. Hills, the Admiral, Sir James Douglas
and family, the Chief Justice, Colonial Secretary, officers of
the fleet and several of the principal officials and families.
A more universal assemblage was never known; clergymen of every
denomination, men of all politics, people of all nations, rich and
poor, in fact, mingled together freely, forgetting the sectional and
social differences which divide them, acted as became the occasion,
that of honoring the monarch whose virtues are an example to
the world. The racing was not so successful as last year, but,
nevertheless, was good, and under the management of Mr. Hastings
and Mr. Kelly gave perfect satisfaction.
"The amusements concluded by a duck hunt, but the men were not seen
by more than a dozen people; it may be considered the only failure of
the day. We must not omit to mention that two new racing gigs were
built for the occasion, respectively by Mr. Trahey and Mr.
Lachapelle, boat builders, who take the greatest interest in the
regattas, and spare nothing to make them successful. These boats were
both defeated in their maiden races, but the design and workmanship
of the _Zealous_ and _Amateur_, it is said, would reflect
credit on any country."