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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