1884-09-13a Drunken Ladies and the Hamilton Street Railway

On James street north, in 1884 Hamilton, there was rarely a day when something of interest would not occur to attract attention.

About 8:30 in the evening of September 12, 1884, something happened which not only gathered a large crowd of citizens, but also was written up in the following day’s Hamilton Times.

The occurrence involved two women and a horse and buggy on James street north, near to the Vine street intersection.

One of the women was Mrs. Meg Smith, a woman described in the Times as a “well-known character” whose “home” on Jackson street was possibly a “house of ill-repute.” The other women was not named but was described in the Times as “one of her girls.”

As the two women were proceeded along James North in a light buggy, it seemed that both were less than sober. As a result, there was a collision with one of the Hamilton Street Railway horse-drawn cars, causing both women to be hurled onto the street pavement.

Referring to Meg Smith in particular, the Times reporter noted :

“The latter had been drinking something considerably stronger than water during the afternoon and was in no position to properly govern herself, let alone being responsible for the movements of a horse. “¹

¹ “Where’s the Horse !” : A Brace of Intoxicated Females Drive Into a Street Car : And Are Spilled Out”

Hamilton Times. September 13, 1884.

The driver of the buggy came out of the accident in better shape than her ‘girl’ :

“Mrs. Smith escaped unhurt and very nimbly unhitched the horse from the buggy and led him around the corner onto to Vine street. The other woman was picked up from under the vehicle and carried into Chapman’s drug store. Her left should was badly hurt.”¹

After the druggist has administered to Mrs. Smith’s ‘girl’, she left the drug store rather unsteadily:

“She staggered out, climbed into the empty buggy, which was already surrounded by scores of people, and turning to the crowd, she asked ‘Where’s the horse? Where’s the lady that was with me? That’s what I was to know !’ ” 1

The buggy was eventually dragged onto by a couple of the men who had stopped to witness the incident. Meg Smith then re-appeared:

“The horse was hitched up again, and the beautiful pair continued their drive.”¹