Waifs and Strays Canadian Emigration Party, 1905

A TRIP TO CANADA WITH OUR YOUNG COLONIALS.
By J. C. MAILLARD,
MASTER OF ST. ALDHELM'S HOME, FROME.

An opportunity being given me of seeing a little of that vast Continent in the Western Hemisphere, I gladly availed myself of it. As so many of the boys who had been under my care as far back as 1895 had gone to Canada, and I had heard so much of that great country, my curiosity was awakened, and I was eager to see it for myself — a country where many a poor, down-trodden person has found a hearty welcome and a home, and in many instances made a fortune — a country full of disappointments to the lazy and indifferent, while giving every encouragement to those who are persevering and industrious.

I left St. Aldhelm's on Wednesday, June 21st, 1905, when I set out for what turned out to be a most enjoyable voyage to Quebec, and then by rail to Sherbrooke, the Society's Home for Boys, and other parts of Canada.

After spending an hour and three quarters in the old City of Bristol, I found myself speeding on my way to Liverpool. At 5.40 p.m. I reached Lime Street Station, where I found two boys. I ought here to mention that my duty was to take some of our boys to Canada — Our Young Colonials. It is hardly necessary to state that they were only too pleased to see me, and were eager and anxious to start on their journey, to enter the door of hope that was ready to receive them, and to start making their fortunes, for all our boys go to Canada with the fixed intention to work and to make a home and a name for themselves. We train them to do that, and the results are full of encouragement.

At 6.30 I met Mr. Simpson, from Headquarters, whose work it is to take charge of the boys at the time of embarkation, and who gives them the last cheery word as they leave the Old Country. In addition to the party he brought from London, he was receiving the boys from different Homes.

We took the boys through some of the principal streets of our great industrial seaport of Liverpool; and, as far as lay in my power, I explained the chief places of interest. This they thoroughly enjoyed, and at 9.30 they had supper, which they did ample justice to, and, thoroughly tired out, all retired to bed for the night, to dream of that wonderful country across the water.

On the following morning we were all up early, and at 7 o'clock were ready for breakfast. Many of my little family were anxious to circulate some of their small capital in the Old Country, and to visit some of the shops in the Arcade; but, like many other good things, this was out of the question, and, as I could see a look of disappointment pass over their faces, I determined to offer my services, and set out to purchase some fifteen 2s. 9d. watches and other small things, as the shops had closed at eight the previous evening. Well, I was successful in my mission, and my family was satisfied.

At 9.30 the wagonette came, and with its advent the boys' excitement rose. Within a few minutes off we went, and after a smart drive of some thirty-five minutes we reached the Royal Mail Ship Victorian, which was to take us to our destination. After the usual medical examination had taken place, I left the ship at 11.30, and with the Hon. Secretary of the Natland Home (who had brought a boy from their Home for Canada) paid a visit to the Rockferry Home with its fifteen boys. This Home is most pleasantly situated, in splendid order, and the boys are most respectful. Some were doing odd jobs about the house, while others enjoyed a game of cricket on the green in front of the Home.

The RMS Victorian. © Peter Higginbotham

After having lunch in Liverpool, I went on board at 2.45 p.m. At 4.20 I was met by the Rev. J. Bridger, the Emigration Chaplain, who gave me many useful hints as to helping his particular work on the voyage: he drew my notice to several of the adult passengers, who he was anxious should receive some special attention, and also gave me a large quantity of interesting literature and books for the passengers. Then Mr. Simpson handed over the boys to me (thirty in all), when the chief representative of the "Allan Line" explained some matters of detail to me necessary in complying with the ship's orders of the Canadian Government. After all these preliminary arrangements had been gone through, at ten minutes past five we steamed away from the landing stage, and the boys took their last glance of the Old Country — a country that, in some cases, was connected with many dark pages in their young history; for some of them can only think of the first years of their young lives with regret, and very few sweet memories can they call to mind from their dismal surroundings, prior to the Church of England's timely rescue into those Homes where they received suitable training to fit them for the great battle of life, upon which they were now starting. But they soon forgot their troubles, and in a short time settled down to their temporary home.

The Rev. J. Bridger. © Peter Higginbotham

After tea, I had all the boys on deck and had a chat with them, and appointed one boy, who was formerly with me some three years ago, chief boy, and another from Hedgerley Farm Home second boy in charge. Each of the thirty boys had a berth to himself, but, all being close together were easy of supervision.

The 1905 emigration party. © Peter Higginbotham

We had not been long on the move before the boys' troubles began, and many of them wished themselves back again; in fact, with the exception of two of the boys who seemed to enjoy the fun, as they called it, they were all suffering from the usual effects of the sea. The cabin steward was exceedingly kind and obliging, and his services were often required. But after two or three days they began to recover, and life was once more worth living. The food was served out without any stint. We got up at 6.30, wash and parade being maintained each day, as far as possible. Breakfast, 7.30; dinner, 12.30; tea, 5.30; and supper, 8.30 p.m., each day. How bountiful was the fare provided may be gathered from the sample of a single day, and this was varied each day of the week:—

The days went with lightning like rapidity, and were spent chiefly on deck, where we indulged in all sorts of games — quoits, deck billiards, leap frog, and many others too numerous to mention, in which many of the passengers joined most heartily. We all took stock of our fellow passengers, who were a very mixed lot indeed and from all parts of the globe. I could hear the boys laughing and talking amongst themselves about the funny foreign passengers. Swedish and German fun is often most amusing and of a strange character. A number of German emigrants (young men and women) kept themselves apart from the others and appeared to spend most of their time in dancing.

In due course we reached Morville, in Ireland, on the Friday morning, about 8 o'clock. At 1 o'clock the mails were brought aboard by a small steamer from Londonderry, which also brought a number of passengers; and within half an hour we steamed away, and by 6 o'clock we were out of sight of land.

From the Saturday until Tuesday we saw nothing but sea, then we sighted a steamship, which signalled that icebergs were near, and as there was a fog on at the time, our ship sailed round in a circle for half an hour, and then pursued her course. Great care had now to be taken, and all went very well until the following day when we heard the welcome sound of "Land ahead!" and sighted the island of Cape Breton, which looked liked a cloud at first on the horizon, but gradually got clearer as we neared it. We passed within a mile of the island and distinctly saw the wreck of a small steamship on the rocks. We had a breakdown one day in the engineering department, and were compelled to stop for over an hour S.W. of Newfoundland.

On Sunday, Divine Service was conducted twice; the Morning Service in the saloon, and in the evening on the second-class deck, so that the third-class passengers might attend, which they did in large numbers. At these Services I assisted.

On Friday we passed the Island of Anticosti, and at 1.30 reached Riminski, when the mails were taken off by a small steamboat. By this time our overcoats were being put away, as the weather was getting warmer.

We reached Quebec at 5 a.m. on Saturday, July 1st, and having passed the Custom House officers went on shore. We then had to see the Custom House officers for our luggage, having to wait two hours for the examination of the same. It took quite three hours to get the thirty boys' luggage checked, a check being given for each bag or box. At 11.30 we went on board a small steamer and crossed the River St. Lawrence, when we got into the Canadian train at the terminus station, and at 1.30 started for Richmond Junction. We reached there at 4.15 p.m., just ten minutes late for our train to Sherbrooke, We waited three hours at this junction. I got the loan of a bucket and took all the twenty-nine boys (one having been left at Quebec, where he was met by the Bishop's son and was driven away in a four-wheeled car — a rather funny looking light dog cart, the usual kind of conveyance used at Quebec for hire — this boy was going to the Bishop's establishment as a page boy) to a pump almost in front of the station, and they looked a strange picture, for the day was extremely hot, and everyone was very dirty from the heat and travelling, and not a few people looked at our party as they stripped to the waist and had a wash. After their wash and brush down, we went into the town, and had some food, which we were all ready for, although we had a good supply at Quebec earlier in the day.

A great number of people came out to see the boys as they were such a big party, and many asked who they were. Several farmers stopped their teams and inquired if the boys wanted situations, and would have taken them off with them if I could have let them go. A farmer gave the boys a drive through Richmond for about seven miles. At half-past seven (the train being almost a quarter of an hour late) we started for Sherbrooke, which we reached at 8.45, when were met by a boy from the Home. Arriving there at 9.15 we found three farmers, who had heard that a party was expected that afternoon, had been waiting some time, and before 10 p.m. each farmer was driving away with a boy, who had to go three, ten, and fifteen miles respectively; and on Sunday morning others came for boys, and during the afternoon another batch of boys for farm and house work had left.

And so ended my care of the boys, who, having enjoyed the voyage thoroughly, and played many a prank on one another, are now each one earning his living. Though far away, they do not forget their friends in the Old Country and the Society that helped them, and many write home, telling of their experiences, their hopes, and plans for the future. Those that help the Society must feel highly gratified and pleased at the results obtained, for nearly all the boys are decided successes, and the farmers are always ready and willing to have them.

Whilst in Sherbrooke I saw several of the old boys, some old friends, and many others whom I had not met before, so that in the evening there were quite a lot of old boys present who had heard that I was to assist in the Service. It was a most happy and pleasant day, and I might also mention that I saw the Chairman, Secretary, and a number of the Committee, who were most kindly disposed towards me.

So far as my connection with corned, this brings to a close my account of one of the most interesting and pleasant voyages I have ever undertaken. I think all who can should make a point of seeing something outside of their own native country, as widening their ideas and giving them an insight into the methods adopted and the way of living of our fellow creatures in more distant parts of the world. The life of a man or woman is rendered far more interesting by having an ambition in life, and to be able to realise this ambition makes life still more so. I might mention that I have my the Continent on several occasions, and this made my Colonial P all more fascinating, as I was able to see how the different nationalities of Europe worked side by side in the Far West.

Upon the subject of child emigration, which has so materially increased and been so favourably reported on during later years, it should be borne in mind that Canadians do not look upon their land as the dumping ground for the helpless and destitute portion of society, as some would have us to believe. No, as a matter of fact, the demand exceed the supply, and many farmers journey a considerable distance from their farmsteads to the station at which a cargo of England's young blood is about to arrive, sometimes to find to their dismay that those residing nearer have been first in the field.

Referring directly to the class of children with which I am connected, it is an easy matter to ascribe their almost invariable success when trained in Canada to the influence of improved environment. A child who has not quite attained the ordinary intellectual standard here has nothing to fear in crossing the sea: rather should he rejoice, for Canadians, as a rule, do not expect a mountain out of a mole hill, and by this reasonable method of calculation they are able to estimate accurately their assets in every department. The simple course of the lad who is sharp mentally and energetic is not difficult to follow. His parents, whose misfortune was due to adverse circumstances rather than lack of acumen or to atrocious habits, were sharp and energetic, and as a natural consequence the sequence of his birthright is maintained by transportation. The career of the criminals' child is more engaging. Mismanagement at the outset will bring unavoidable wreckage. Inasmuch as such a child would have made pliable material in the hands of his unprincipled parents and their associates in some dark haunt of London, from which he has been hauled by the hand of benevolence, he will, with healthy surroundings, honest employers and pure associations, have every opportunity of successfully treading the path of fame and manliness, to which end he will attain as surely as he would have been victimised had he never been reclaimed. The life is simple, therefore appealing to most classes; employment is lucrative, which necessarily touches not a few. Canada is recognised as primarily a land of agriculture and agricultural pursuits, and many years must elapse before the present idle tracts, some of which are flourishing in timber, are overrun with labour. Many thousands of acres of land are uncultivated in England, therefore: Why send the poor mites to benefit Canada? some may say.

England is not, and I believe never was, a land primarily of agriculture. She seems to prefer that lands rich in soil should be idle, and that thousands of tons of agricultural and dairy produce should be imported annually for the consumption of her people, She will not, as it seems to some of us, even permit honourable competition by opening up emulation in this respect. Canada is a school for thought and Canadian subjects are exactly what Canada has made them, and failures in Canada are hopeless in England, but failures in England are not hopeless in Canada, for there they are exposed by their indolence. Farms can be conducted out there on more economic lines than we know, and what is economy but a stepping stone to success? Whilst speaking of material prosperity the spiritual side of the question should not be lost sight of. There are the same opportunities of unfettered success in this direction. Still, midst all the sunshine of possibilities and hopes, give to me England, but do not close the door of Canada to those of the community, who, as it was said of Christ, have not where to lay their heads, until the barrier of this problem is burned away.

I will not close before inviting the reader to support the means whereby the outcast is lifted from the clinging mire and rescued from the dungeon of utter despair. It is undoubtedly the best scheme of the age, and until something more commendable is formulated, it appears to me that the next best thing should receive consideration, and where this is obtained we shall benefit by it, for mature consideration will ripen into interest, interest into sympathy, and sympathy will receive practical support.

Except where indicated, this page () © Peter Higginbotham. Contents may not be reproduced without permission.

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