1884-02-14aa Benefit Performance at the Grand

On Thursday evening , February 14, 1884, there was a benefit held at Hamilton’s Grand Opera House in aid of the Thirteenth Battalion Band and the Hamilton Police Department library and reading room fund.

Long before the programme was to begin, a ‘standing room only sign’ was posted at the entrance of the large theater.

The evening performance began with the playing of various selections by the Thirteenth Battalion Band which were well-received. Police Chief A. D. Stewart then made a few introductory remarks, explaining that the purpose of the benefit was to raise funds to help the Thirteenth Band cover its expenses and to purchase books and magazines for the library and reading room at the King William street police station.

The first exhibition on stage was a horizontal bar exercise by Luke Harrison, followed by an encounter with Bowie knives between two combatants who wore steel breast plates and masks.

Next up was three round boxing match, the bout featuring two local amateur boxers, A. E. Jarvis and T. H. Stinson.

Then the schedule called for a fencing contest between Professor McGregor and Police Chief A. D. Stewart:

“Alex. D. proved by his knowledge of fencing that ‘he was no slouch’ as Josh Chapman expressed it, and was adjudged the winner by the referee who was nowhere to be seen.”¹

¹ “The Assault-At-Arms : Local Dudes on Their Muscle”

Palladium of Labor.  February 15, 1884.

A musical performance was next on the bill.  The number chosen was from the opera bouffe of Guenevive de Brabant, and was sung by a ‘police’ choir which included a few pseudo-members of the force:

“Chief Stewart and three ‘alums’ arrayed in great coats and helmets next appeared to sing the Policeman’s Chorus. The singing was O.K., but the helmets and coats ill-fit three of the songsters. The Chief, and a bank clerk filled the positions of end men. Between these end men stood two little fellows whose craniums were entirely buried by the helmets. They no doubt felt proud when they were encored.”¹

After a fine exhibition of fine swordsmanship by Sergeant Morgan of the Kingston Military School, Chief Stewart gave a demonstration of dumb bell exercises:

“Part of the time the Chief used a pair of fifty pound bells, which he handled without the least difficulty. This part of the performance was a great time for the noble chief, and it cannot be disputed. This strong-strong specimen gave exhibitions of his wonderful strength by lifting a man (a small one) with one hand clean off the stage. His fame as a modern Samson is certain to be heralded far and wide.”¹

A boxing match followed, featuring R. Martin Jr. and W. Hendrie, two young members of well-known ‘elite’ families. The Palladium of Labor found the match interesting but derisively called the combatants, “light-weight dudes” and “ society sluggers.”

The evening ended with the ever-present Hamilton Police Chief A. D. Stewart in a boxing match against Joe Papp of Toronto.

In the end, the evening was a success as those in attendance enjoyed the show, and substantial moneys were raised for the band and the police library.