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Father McDonagh cracks horse whip to control canal worker race riots

Info for this colourful history column was taken from Thorold Township and Town, 1786-1932. Published by John H. Thompson
welland-canal-construction
Construction of the Welland Canal. Photo Toronto Public Library

After the Rebellion, the British regulars, who had come out too late to take part in the skirmishes, were kept in the country to prevent further uprising. The 43rd Regiment was stationed at Niagara Falls, and look-outs were posted throughout the peninsula, one being kept at Port Robinson. When the 93rd Highlanders succeeded the 43rd, these outposts were withdrawn.

When, in 1840, the Government assumed control of the canal, and the work of enlargement was begun, a new impetus was given to trade at Port Robinson. A great deal of business was done there, for a large number of people were constantly coming and going, as this was the central point for travellers.

A steamboat made daily trips between Buffalo and Port Robinson, carrying hundreds of passengers during t navigation season; a line of passenger packets plied daily during the open season between Port Robinson and Dunnville; a daily stage coach was laden with passengers on each trip to and from St. Catharines; and mail coaches came to the village from Wellandport and way stations, and from St. Johns West and North Pelham. A four-horse stage coach also carried passengers and the mail between Port Robinson and Hamilton.

All this changed when the Buffalo, Brantford & Goderich Railway was completed; the steamboat to Port Robinson ceased to make its usual trips, and when the Welland and Great Western divisions of the Grand Trunk Railway were finished, the stage coaches from St. Catharines and Hamilton ceased to run, and therefore there was no more use for the packet boats.

Before steam tugs were brought into existence, all vessels, except steamers, were towed by horses. The village being midway between Lake Erie and Ontario, the tow boys (as they were called) and tow horses made this their stopping place for rest and refreshments. Once tugs were used for towing, there was no more use for the ancient mode of propelling, and consequently Port Robinson lost all revenue from that source.

The Irish men working on the canal came chiefly from Cork and Connaught, and many were the fights that took place between the two classes, who still retained their ancient tribal hatred for each other. The contractors were utterly unable to restrain these riots, so law and order was to some extent maintained by a squad of Mounted Police under Captain John Wheeler, and a corps of colored soldiers commanded by Captain Duncan Macdonald.

The officers of this company, both commissioned and non-commissioned, were white men, but the privates were chiefly runaway slaves who had escaped from the U.S. They were a fine set of fellows, very zealous for the honour of their company, and exceedingly proud of the trust reposed in them. To the Irish, however, the sight of a black man wearing a red coat was as so much more fuel for the fire, for they bitterly resented being governed by a militia made up of Africans, whom they had always despised.

At last, one of their faction fights broke out, and the workmen from Thorold, Allanburg, and the Deep Cut marched southward unmolested. When the mob reached Port Robinson, the whole corps of red-coats, 200 men in all, called out, while most of the men of the village were sworn in as special police.

The soldiers were sworn in with ball cartridges, and were ordered to fire and charge among the rioters, if they advanced beyond a given point. The infuriated Irish men were just upon the point of daring the Negroes to touch them, when Father McDonagh of St. Catharines rode up, whip in hand. This priest had great power over all the labourers, and was always of great assistance in keeping the peace; but on this occasion he was obliged to resort to extreme measures.

Drawing a line across the bank, he threatened to pronounce the curse of the church upon any who dared to cross it. Then, fearing lest some might be tempted to disobey, he rode down among them, laying the horse whip vigorously over their soldiers, until this form of punishment brought the rabble to their senses, and they gradually slunk off to their homes or lodgings.

Until the improvements on the old canal were completed, the Negro soldiers were stationed at Port Robinson. The two companies were disbanded in 1851, leaving but one in the village, Henry Lowry, a highly respected resident.