Setting
My suspense novel is set mostly in Ottawa between December 1915 and February 1916, with some excursions to New York City and London, England.
When I was researching the background for Fire on the Hill I was surprised by how not sleepy Ottawa was during this time period. Here is a very short listing of the various interesting and surprising events that occurred during these two months. The list covers the following themes:
The Weather, Spies and Saboteaurs, Home Front and Social events, Belgian Relief, Politics, War Effort and Sports.
The Weather (what else!)
- December has set out to make new record for heavy fall of snow as Ottawa received 17 inches in a few days. Walking was found to be bad. It was expected that the heavy snowfall would cause extra trouble with telephone lines but both local and long distance appear to be working normally.
Spies and Saboteurs
- Newspaper reports that Hun plotters, in San Francisco, were arrested and charged with two counts: Conspiracy to interfere in neutrality laws and the use of mails to incite arson, assassination and murder. Both men were associated with the German consulate. One man swore he was approached to dynamite a bridge or tunnel in Canada.
- Paul Koeing, is accused as being the head of German Secret Service in New York City. He was arrested at 45 Broadway offices of the Hamburg American line.
- Two suspicious men with a suitcase alarm the good people of Renfrew, Ontario. The men, believed to be disguised as shantymen, are being searched for questioning. The suitcase they carry is thought to contain something dangerous.
- U.S. Secret Service arrest conspirators planned to destroy the Power House on Canadian and American side at Niagara Falls.
- Newspapers reported that a dictograph was found in Captain Gaunt's, the British naval attache in New York, hotel room. German agents had rented rooms on both sides and were recording his meetings that he held regularly.
- Captain von Papen's cheque stubs, books and letters were confiscated when his ship docked at Falmouth England. British claim von Papen had immunity but not his papers. Papers list 500 items, many routine expenditure, others have figured prominently in the activities of German Agents in America. One item indicated a German spy visited Valcartier, the main training camp for Canadian troops.
- Mayor claims Germans have a complete spy system not far from Ottawa. Pembroke is believed to be centre through which news of Canadian military affairs reaches enemy.
- Between 50 and 60 transports ships sailing from St. John's vessels carry 250,000 to 300,00 tons of supplies for the Allies. Same for Halifax.
Homefront and Social Events
- During the war, Canadian women handed out white feathers to men on the street, who were not in uniform, to encourage men to enlist into the Canadian army corp. It was not usually for men to receive several feathers a day.
- The Laurentian chapter of the Imperial Order of the Daughter of the Empire gave a luncheon for visiting Australian Naval Cadets. Sir Rorbort Borden and Lady Borden, and the Governor-General were in attendance. The Cadets were also given a motorized tour of Ottawa.
- Major-General Sir Sam Hughes, the Minister of Militia and Defence, gives a speech at the Ottawa Graduate Nurses Association's monthly session at the Carnegie Library Hall.
- A woman asks Major-General Hughes that her husband and her husband's lawyer be sent to the trenches in France.
- Henry Ford and 170 other pacifists sailed on December 4, 1915 from Hoboken, New Jersey, Oscar 11, for Stockholm Sweden with hopes to negotiate a peaceful settlement to the war. When they arrived in Stockholm the peace conference, sadly, a settlement never was reached as the major combatants refused to attend.
- Sir Robert Borden told reporters while recently in England and France he had visited many wounded Canadian soldiers. Borden had toured the trenches of France, talked with the Canadian soldiers and visited about fifty hospitals. After seeing the wounded, many of them near death, he was devastated.
- The family of the late Sir Sandford Fleming, inventor of standard time, donated their home, on Ottawa's Chapel St, as a convalescent home for wounded soldiers. The home opened in January 1916.
- Sir Robert and Lady Borden left yesterday for New York and the southern states and expected away for two weeks.
- Ministers oppose movies on Sunday.
- Tea House will aid the Red Cross fund. TRH the Duke and Duchess of Connaught were in attendance in Formal Opening. Flags of the Allies holding prominence on the walls, daintily laid tables each with a vase of chrysanthemums. Seating capacity of over 100.
- Early morning fire, in Ottawa, that sweep 1295-199 Bank Street causing scores of people to jump from windows.
- A novel feature of the 77th Battalion concert, to be given a Russell Theatre, is a machine guns demonstratio
- Prince Eric of Denmark, 25 year old son of King Christian is now enroute to Canada to study agriculture. He sailed for New York yesterday and is expected to stay in Canada for two years.
- Abolish Fire Bell? Never! Chief Graham to the Rescue. Proposal of underwriters that City Hall Tower Fire Bell be cut out. Strong opposed by the Chief for Reasons practical and sentimental.
- The Duke and Duchess Connaught entertained yesterday at a small skating party for their quest, opera singer Madame Melba. A delightful informal time during tea Madame Melba sang several selections.
- The Duke and Duchess of Connaught will be present at the Collegiate Institute when Mr. Rustom Rustomjee formerly of Oriental Review Bombay India when gives a speech "India and the War" to the Canadian Club of Ottawa.
Belgian Relief
- Magdeleine de Vercheres Chapter Belgian Relief. The Duke and Duchess of Connaught will attend. There will be tables, baby things. articles de Paris, fishpond, tobacco and cigarette table, fancy bag table, doll table, home-made jam table, fortune-telling booth, fancy work. There will also be an evening dance.
- Distinguished men have established a committee to promote Belgian Relief. The Duke of Connaught will be the committee patron. Sir Robert Borden and Sir Wilfrid Laurier are members as well, the presidents of Canadian Pacific, Grand Trunk and Canadian National. Also the four major banks, Bank of Montreal, Merchants Bank, Royal Bank and Chevalier Credit Foncer.
Politics
- Major-General Sam Hughes gives speech to defend the Shell Committee. He made the admission that occasionally he might be a trifle erratic, but the balance wheel was in Prime Minister Borden.
- Washington is worried about international situation now. Germany is reported to be intensely irritated over the recall of military attaches Captain's Karl Boy-Ed and von Papen says dispatch.
- General Pancho Villa brutal massacres two Britishers and sixteen Americans in a raid on Columbus, New Mexico. The U.S. masses 5,000 men at the U.S. Mexico border under the command of Major-General Pershing. Pershing is ordered to capture Villa dead or alive.
- Count Von Bernstorff, German Ambassador in Washington, made emphatic denials of reports that Germany and German agents had been involved in recent attempts to set-up a counter-revolution in Mexico.
- Liberals after a two day session decide to leave extension policy to the decision of party caucus.
- Riot at the Gigues school when parents joined in a real earnest battle to kept commission teachers out of class.
- World famous suffragette leader Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurst will address Ottawa suffrage league in the last week of February.
- President Wilson refused to amend the U.S. constitution to give women the vote.
- Henri Bourassa, visits Ottawa, and give a vigorous speech in support of the sisters.
- Thousands of separate school pupils demonstrate in front of city hall demanding to see the Mayor concerning funding for French language schools.
War Effort
- Canadian government authorized a half-million men for the Canadian Expeditionary Force.
- Unmarried civil servants of military age must join the colors or lose their jobs. Labour Minister Hon T. W. Crothers intimated.
- Admiral Kingsmill, director of the Canadian Navy, testifies to a parliamentary committee on efficiency of the American submarines bought by Sir McBride the premier of BC.
- Patriotic fund appeal electrifies Ottawa, the capital. At 2 p.m. $200,000 is in sight to help our brave soldiers
Sports
- Advice to the golfers on getting back their game.
- A new tobogan slide built at Rockcliffe.
- Frank Nighbor, Vancouver Coast league star, should round out the Senator's hockey team to perfection. Coach Smith expects him to more than take "Punch" Broadbent's place as a back-checker. He's an aggressive wing player, strong team player and not selfish with the rubber.