HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-08-13, Page 32Tiger Dunlop Days...Page 7
many had arrived at Rattenbury's Hotel, and more than
one carried a sore head from a blow of an axe handle when
he disagreed with some of the newcomers.
"Axe handles were the weapons carried by not a few
and when rival bands met, with banners flying and wear-
ing the colours of their candidates — red for Captain
Strachan and Blue for Dr. Dunlop — these weapons were
likely to be -used withconsiderableenergy.
"The genial doctor quietly disposed his Highlanders
around the hotel and they allowed the voters to come in,
one by one.
"Votes were entered slowly, because one vote had to be ,,
entered each hour, for if one hour elapsed without a vote
having been registered the election was over and both par-
ties were anxious to give time for every last straggler to
arrive.
"The result at the end of the week showed 149 for "The
Tiger" and 159 for Captain Strachan.
"The returning officer, Henry Hyndman, advised a pro-
test. Dr. Dunlop acquiesced and Daniel Lizars was the
moving spirit of the inquiry. His indefatigable industry in
discovering evidence was wonderful.
"The election trial was a costly and memorable one in
which scores of electors were examined as to their legal
right to vote and it ended in the seat being given to Dr.
Dunlop, since he had secured a majority of those who
were duly qualified to exercise the franchise.
The Tiger won, probably because he was so popular
with the people. As one historian wrote in 1948, "His
warm-heartedness and his personal interest in the settlers
made him by all odds the most popular man in Huron
County in the eighteen -thirties."
There was great jubilation in Goderich when news
reached here of Tiger's victory. A group of residents
assembled at the Steamboat Hotel to celebrate, and
"many a glass went around" according to legend.
Numerous festive dinners were held.
All the Doctor's supporters were jubilant and some,
feeling prose quite inadequate to express their 'feelings,
overflowed in couplets such as:
"A flourish now of penny whistles,
Old Tiger, smooth your angry bristles:
Wave flags and banners; beat ye drums,
The Huron's charming member comes.
See him, electors - there he: stan s; --
A masterpiece from Nature's hands. -
Behold his thousand natural graces,
His opera step, his sweet grimaces,
Thy matchless fitness all surpasses
To rule a Commonwealth of Asses...
Go home, Old Boy, thy brain is addled,
For Huron's member now is saddled."
Tiger was a prankster
Dr. William "Tiger" Dunlop and his brother, Captain
Robert Graham Dunlop had a housekeeper by the name of
Louisa McColl.
According to information written by W. H. Johnston in
The London Free Press several years ago, Louisa was
"quite a clever woman".
"The Doctor suggested to the Captain that one of them
should marry her," wrote Johnston. "The Captain agreed
and they decided to toss a penny to see who would do it."
"The Doctor had a double -headed penny and he tossed it
three times and got heads each time," the story went on,
"and the Captain accepted the decision."
History shows that Lou, as she was called, made a
splended wife for Captain Dunlop.
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