May 26, 1876

“Yesterday morning, a fine little boy of six years of age, the son of Mr. Brennan, of Little Peel street, was firing off the remainder of his Queen’s Birthday fire crackers, when the whole charge of one of them in exploding flew into his left eye.”

Hamilton Spectator.   May 26, 1876

The Queen’s Birthday was still news in the Spectator two days after the holiday, but for an unfortunate incident.

A six year boy got access to some fireworks which had not be set off during the holiday celebrations, and apparently unbeknownst to his parents, undertook to fire them off by himself, and suffered a terrible accident when one exploded in his face:

“For several hours, he suffered great agony, and obtained no relief until Dr. Rosebrugh was called in, who cleaned the eye of the lodged powder. It is not yet known whether the eye is destroyed or not. This accident raises the question of whether all the juvenile pleasure derived from fire crackers is worth the risk that is run in using them?”

The Spectator gave Hamiltonians a forewarning that there would be a special sight to see in the city’s downtown in a few days’ time:

“On Monday evening, three hundred Knights Templar from Detroit will pass through this city en route for Philadephia via the Great Western Railway. They will spend about an hour and a half in Hamilton, and will go through several military evolutions in the Gore. They are splendidly equipped and drilled, and are accompanied by Gardiner’s Flint Band. They will be met at the Station by a large deputation of their Masonic brethren, who will escort tem up town. They will arrive here about half past six on Monday evening, when it is expected that the Corporation will allow the fountains in the Gore to play. The Knights are composed of the leading men of the city of Detroit and the State of Michigan, and it is hoped that their impression of our city of Hamilton will be a favourable one.”

Finally, in response to a published question about the fund-raising effort on behalf of the widow and offspring of the executed man, Michael McConnell, the following letter was forwarded:

       “To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.

          Sir, - I beg to acknowledge the receipt of the amounts opposite the names of the under-mentioned who have so kindly interested themselves on behalf of Mrs. McConnell :

          Mrs. Gray…………………………………………………………….$80.25

          Ms. Simpson……………………………………………………….$116.35

          Mrs. Barr……………………………………………………………..$25.60

          Mrs. Murray………………………………………………………….$13.30

                                                                                                             $ 213 .50

          The friends of Mrs. McConnell are very anxious to make an investment of the amount collected that would be a benefit to her and her family through life. To accomplish this object, a further sum of $50 is required, and I trust the ladies who have kindly interested themselves in this unfortunate family will continue their exertions to raise this amount.

                                                                                      D. A. McNair

                                                                                      Deputy Sheriff.

Hamilton, May 26, 1876