Thursday 11 February 2016

Poem ~ Canada's Fear Spreads - Friday, 11 February 1916


Impression sketch of Rev. J.D. Morrow and Mayor 'Tommy' Church recruiting, 1916 - by Jamie. From an original image that can be seen at: http://torontoist.com/2014/06/meet-a-toronto-mayor-tommy-church/ [Accessed: 11 February 2016]

Dark clouds of suspicions
Could only spread outwards,
As a result of the serious
Fires on Canadian soil.

With Parliament buildings
In Ottawa, suspicious fires
In factories of munitions,
Sparked beliefs of plots.

Origins of those likeliest
Sympathisers of Germany
Could lurk everywhere, as in
Their Washington embassy.

Thursday 10 February 1916,
Gave witness to telephone
Calls to Montreal’s Mayor
In threats to set off a bomb.

The time planned for this
To blow up Montreal City
Hall, at the given time
Of 12.30 that afternoon.

Disturbed by Ottawa fire,
Montreal Mayor Mr Martin
Ordered increased guards,
And prepare fire apparatus.

All careful precautions set up
A panic of employees from
City Hall - who at the allotted
Hour, were busy elsewhere.

The time came and went
With nothing occurring,
Except realisation that this
Had been a practical joke.

'Tommy' Church, Mayor
Of Toronto, was a receiver
Of a 'black hand' letter -
In a slightly quieter threat.

One result of such matters,
Increased guards across
Many sites of public places,
And munitions factories.

In a brooding undercurrent
Of Ottawa's fire, called out
Demands for Germans to be
Dismissed in public situations.

A thought was aimed at the
Naturalised aliens - with no
Immediate actions, except
For increase of recruitment.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Plots in America The Canadian Outrages. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 11 February 1916. P.9. Col.2. Available at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12149075/Daily-Telegraph-February-11-1916.html [Accessed: 11 February 2016].



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