Unveiling the Enigmas Surrounding the 1916 Parliament Hill Fire
CommentaryThe Dominion Parliament building in Ottawa was devastated by a massive fire on the evening of February 3, 1916. The fire resulted in the deaths of seven individuals and the complete destruction of the building, except for the Library of Parliament, which miraculously remained untouched by the flames and remains intact to this day. At the time, Canada was embroiled in war, leading to rumors that the fire was the work of German saboteurs. There were indeed several German agents operating in Canada and the United States, under the guidance of Captain Franz Von Papen and Count Johann von Bernstorff, representatives of the German Embassy and Kaiser’s Ambassador in Washington.
A news editor claimed to have received information from “employees of the German Embassy,” indicating that the Ottawa Parliament Buildings would be destroyed by fire within three weeks. The source of this information was John Revelstoke Rathom, a journalist for the Providence Journal, a prominent newspaper in Rhode Island. Rathom made these claims at a time when the Canadian public was inclined to believe that the fire was deliberately set by the enemy. The Royal Commission established to investigate the fire found this theory of German arson repugnant but acknowledged that it could not be dismissed as unbelievable.
It was later revealed that Rathom, an Australian native, was affiliated with British intelligence. His role was to amplify German atrocities and war crimes, with the intention of swaying American public opinion in favor of joining the war on the side of Britain. Congress eventually declared war on April 6, 1917. In 1918, when the State Department became suspicious of Rathom’s activities, he publicly admitted to spreading British propaganda.
Colonel Arthur Percy Sherwood, the chief commissioner of the Dominion Police, which was responsible for Parliament Hill, testified that he had not received any prior information about Rathom’s allegations. The fire spread rapidly due to the highly flammable nature of the interior, which was predominantly made of beautifully carved white pine. Witnesses reported that the ceilings and paneling were oiled and varnished, further contributing to the rapid spread of the flames. When the Centre Block was reopened in 1920, it had been reconstructed with limestone walls and ceilings.
Interestingly, the Library of Parliament was saved thanks to the presence of iron fire-doors installed by Alpheus Todd, the first Parliamentary Librarian, in the 1860s. Today, visitors to the library can still see and touch these doors, which were painted to resemble wood paneling. According to the Royal Commission report, there were no other fire checks or iron doors in the building, except for those leading to the library.
There are conflicting accounts as to who closed the iron doors during the fire. One version credits a Library clerk named Michael “Connie” MacCormac, while another version suggests that it was Arthur Meighen, who at the time served as the solicitor general in the cabinet of Sir Robert Borden. Eugene Forsey, a socialist intellectual, claimed to have heard from Meighen’s wife that Meighen himself closed the doors. However, this account has been contradicted by other sources. It remains unclear who exactly closed the iron doors, but it is commonly believed that MacCormac was responsible.
Despite the destruction caused by the fire, the Centre Block was successfully rebuilt within a span of four years, from 1916 to 1920. Unfortunately, due to current restoration efforts, Canadians will not be able to view the interior of the building until 2032. These opinions are solely the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
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