THE DAILY PROVINCE
NOVEMBER 23, 1906

p.1

SHIVERING HINDUS ARE THROWN
INTO STREET
------------------Hundred New Arrivals Spent Cold Night in South
Vancouver.

------------------EJECTED BY CONSTABLE.
------------------Mr. Vogel Defies Authorities, While People of Eburne
Are Indignant.

------------------One hundred Hindus, clad in the scantiest of garments, were thrown out
of houses which they had been occupying on the cemetery road last evening,
and spent the night in the open air.
And last night was about the coldest of the season.
Along toward daylight a few of them were housed, but the majority
spent the greater part of the night huddled together, trying to keep out the
cold. There were not half enough blankets amongst the men to go around, and
from the appearance of the men and the scantiness of the clothing they
possessed, they seemed to have suffered all the tortures of a cold winter’s
night.
The eviction of the Hindus arouse out of the insistence of the authorities
of South Vancouver not to allow the Hindus to be foisted on them by the city of
Vancouver. A few days ago W. H. Mason & Co. rented a house on the cemetery
road, half a mile outside the city limits, to Attam Singh. Almost one hundred of
the new arrivals took possession. They not only crowded the dwelling house,
but swarmed the stables and chicken houses, which were renovated for their
reception. The rent was paid to December 7.

THE DAILY PROVINCE
NOVEMBER 23, 1906

p.1

Mr. H. B. A. Vogel, who lives near the South Vancouver Town Hall, was
much incensed this morning, as he described conditions to The Province. He
said:
“Disgraceful,” Says Vogel.
“It is inhuman and disgraceful that these men should have been turned
out last night in the cold. They had scanty clothing and very few blankets. Late
in the afternoon the constable of the municipality appeared and literally threw
all of the Hindus out of the buildings. In another little house they had rented
the owner appeared and move all their baggage and belongings into the street.
When I came home last evening I saw the Hindus all camped along the road,
shivering in the frosty night air. This kind of atrocity is permitted in a civilized
country, it appears. I took action at once by arranging to house a number of
them for the night. To-day we fixed up temporary shelter for the poor fellows,
and they will stay at my place until they find some better housing. I do not
care what the members of the Council think about it. I am against the Hindus
being allowed in the vicinity at all, but in the name of humanity we must keep
them from freezing to death.”
Fearful of Hindus.
At the South Vancouver Municipal Hall it was stated this afternoon the
eviction of the Hindus took place after the municipality, moved by the attitude
of the residents near the places, had notified the owners that unless instant
action was taken against the Hindus the municipality would take up the
questions and act. The real eviction was, however, done under the direction of
the owners, though a municipal constable was on the ground. The complaints
concerning the conditions under which the Hindus were living, and the fear
inspired in the locality because of their presence, was thought to be ample
warrant for any urging the Council gave in the matter or any threatened action
on in its part.
One of the houses was rented to a Hindu through the local firm of W. H.
Mason & Co. The manager stated this morning that a respectable Hindu asked
for the lease of the place, and as it was an old shack permission was given.

THE DAILY PROVINCE
NOVEMBER 23, 1906

p.1

Before the rent money was paid, however the stipulation was made that the
action was subject to approval of the owner, a lady who resides in New
Westminster. The South Vancouver authorities communicated with her, as the
result of which action she repudiated the lease and directed the Hindus to be
turned out. The firm would repay the Hindu the rent paid.
Objections at Eburne.
Out at Eburne it is reported that a force of men is at work to-day
repairing the old Greenwood cannery making ready for the accommodation of
the five hundred Hindus, for whom Dr. Monro recently stated provision would
be made. Interior fittings are being places, wells dug, etc. The residents of the
locality have showed the spirit in which the threatened invasion of the place is
felt, by refusing to supply the needed materials or boards for the men at work
on the improvements. What will be the outcome of the matter, said an
Eburnite this morning, and would be hard to tell. The residents certainly
objected to having a proposition which was too big for Vancouver to handle
thrust upon a sparsely settled district, and would govern their actions along
this line.