An Inspection of Liquor in the 1860's
Who Drank and Why Did They?
PART THREE
As has already been discussed the living
situation in Victoria was not one that was all that terrific. Though
it did not start out as one, Victoria became a "boom town" during the
rapid expansion of the early 1860's. The quick growth led to a situation
of disarray during the early part of the decade in Victoria. In More
English Than the English, Terry Reksten discusses some of the major problems
that formed in Victoria in the 1860's. Reksten writes of how the streets
were extremely dusty in the summer and caked with mud in the winter; however,
the biggest problem was mud of a different kind.
(27)
- photo courtesy of the BC Archives
As with many cities at the time period, sewage
was a constant issue and one which reminded people of the filth in which
they lived in. Raw sewage flowed in the gutters of the streets that people
walked on. "Among the thirteen by-laws passed on September 23, 1862 were
several formed to prevent the town from being buried in filth or from
floating away on a sea of dirty water," writes Reksten.
(28)
To understand the living conditions of Victoria during
the 1860's is important in order to understand the reasons for the drunkenness
in the town.
Victoria was a dirty place to live, with people constantly coming and going, travelling from one place to another. One of the best ways of coping with the mess that was Victoria, was by fully emerging oneself in it. Prostitution, gambling, drinking and smoking were all ways of life for many of the transients living and passing through Victoria in the 1860's. Drinking was a good way to pass the time and in amny cases people were merely taking advantage of the cheapest liquid in town. Water being was more precious than booze at the time. (29)
Victoria was also a dangerous place to live. The threat of fire was one that was always present. Most of the town's major structures were made out of wood and the lighting came from gas lamps which were always suseptable to igniting a flame. (30) Indeed, the police sergeants Daily Report Book from 1865-1866 is filled with numerous entries about fires that broke out during the nights. (31)
Victoria Fire Department (18??)
- photo courtesy of the BC Archives
- photo courtesy of the BC Archives
Victoria was a dirty place to live, with people constantly coming and going, travelling from one place to another. One of the best ways of coping with the mess that was Victoria, was by fully emerging oneself in it. Prostitution, gambling, drinking and smoking were all ways of life for many of the transients living and passing through Victoria in the 1860's. Drinking was a good way to pass the time and in amny cases people were merely taking advantage of the cheapest liquid in town. Water being was more precious than booze at the time. (29)
Victoria was also a dangerous place to live. The threat of fire was one that was always present. Most of the town's major structures were made out of wood and the lighting came from gas lamps which were always suseptable to igniting a flame. (30) Indeed, the police sergeants Daily Report Book from 1865-1866 is filled with numerous entries about fires that broke out during the nights. (31)
Victoria Fire Department (18??)
- photo courtesy of the BC Archives
Fire was not the only concern that the
citizens of Victoria had to worry about during the 1860's. Disease and
sickness were to be found everywhere. The filth that flowed through the
streets surely would have had an effect on the well being of the citizens.
With so many people crowded into such close quarters disease had an ideal
environment in which to spread. The many houses of prostitution and drinking,
and poor manner by which many people lived, led to a situation where once
a disease struck it could be devastating. Amor De Cosmos wrote in The
Colonist when describing the red light district of Victoria, "prostitution
and kindred vices, in all their hideous deformity, and disease in every
form lurk there." (32)
Though, we must be skeptical of comments made by
DeCosmos: the Sergeants report book contains an entry from the June
18th 1866, "Constable Houghton reports that Mr.DeCosmos came on to
his beach this morning at 1 a.m. drunk, and wanted the officer to show
him where he could get a squaw." (33)
I include the above quote to illustrate a point. My point being, that
it was all walks of life that were involved in the dirty aspects of Victoria's
society, even those that spoke out openly about the filthiness of the town.
Murder and violence were other fears for people in Victoria during the sixties. With a population consisting of people who were referred to as the "scourings of the jails in California." (34) Strangely though, it was not these California convicts that were the main source of concern for most white people living in Victoria in the 1860's. For many white citizens of Victoria the threat was located just on the outskirts of town, in the Indian villages. The majority of murders, and many wrong doings in general, were pinned on the Natives. Victorians still saw the Natives as a savage threat to their livelihood. At the time it was believed that the effect that alcohol had on the Indians only made their behavior worse.
To learn more about the so called "Indian Problem" click . . . here
Murder and violence were other fears for people in Victoria during the sixties. With a population consisting of people who were referred to as the "scourings of the jails in California." (34) Strangely though, it was not these California convicts that were the main source of concern for most white people living in Victoria in the 1860's. For many white citizens of Victoria the threat was located just on the outskirts of town, in the Indian villages. The majority of murders, and many wrong doings in general, were pinned on the Natives. Victorians still saw the Natives as a savage threat to their livelihood. At the time it was believed that the effect that alcohol had on the Indians only made their behavior worse.
To learn more about the so called "Indian Problem" click . . . here