Chain Gang Strike, Sunday 3 January 1897

116 years ago Vancouver’s chain gang was on strike from clearing land and building streets:

Some 25 vagrants were ordered out on New Year’s day to clean city lots. Over half of them refused duty and were put on a diet of bread and water, whilst those who went to work had New Year’s turkey. Now nearly all the gang are on strike, and since New Year have been sleeping two and three in a cell and living on bread and water. Some of the less vigorous ones seem scarcely able to stand this insufficient diet, but are stubbornly holding out.

The bread and water punishment had the desired effect of breaking the strike, but failed to pacify the chain gangsters. On 7 January, the papers reported that the chain gang was again “getting unruly” and tried to make a break for it:

The Vancouver chain gang, comprised of some 20 vags, has been arrested on suspicion of burglary and highway robbery. After going on strike, during which time they were fed on bread and water for five days, they made a desperate and united effort to escape today, and but for the timely arrival of the police, they would have been again loose. There are more determined toughs in Vancouver than the present police force can look after and serious trouble is feared unless more active measures are taken by the authorities. It is said that some Pinkerton detectives will be sent for.

By 1910, Vancouver was the only Canadian city to still use chain gangs for civic works projects and there was talk of abolishing them. Nevertheless, the chain gang continued until 1917, and by the 1920s, unemployed relief workers had replaced prisoners as a ready supply of free labour for the City.

Source: Cropped photo of men laying bricks for street railway on Main Street, 1910s, City of Vancouver Archives #A-16-20