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| Percy Baker |
Young Percy Baker was heading west on the Canadian Pacific
Railroad’s No. 1 train, the “Harvesters’ Special” when tragedy struck. He and his cousin Charles Baker, were
travelling to Regina, heading west to earn some money farming in Saskatchewan. Percy
and Charles were part of a large migration of seasonal workers heading from the
east to the west to help harvest the wheat for three to four weeks before
returning home to Ontario or one of the other eastern provinces.
In 1906, Percy
was living in Stayner, Ontario, his family had a farm on the 6th
Line in an area known as the “Dutch Settlement” (which was really “Deutsche” or
the “German Settlement”). He was from a
farming family and likely no stranger to hard work. He would have had to travel
to Toronto to catch the early morning train. There were so many migrating
workers heading west that the train was broken into three sections that left
Toronto in the early hours of September 12th. Percy boarded the
third section, which included seven coaches and a heavily loaded baggage car.
Percy’s coach would have followed right behind the baggage car, while a heavy
Pullman sleeper pulled up the rear of the train. The last section of the train
left Toronto at 4:00 a.m. and began its journey west.
The No. 1 westbound was to meet CPR’s eastbound No. 2 train the
“Imperial Limited” at the small town of Azilda, 11 kilometres west of Sudbury.
The Azilda station had an 800 m long siding and at 7:30 a.m. on September 12th,
the No. 1 Harvesters’ Special paused just short of the eastern switch to the
siding, ready to pull off with the approach of the eastbound No. 2 train.
It was raining that day, and the rails were slick. The
eastbound train was running late – but had been trying to make up time and was
running fast in the last 47 kilometres approaching Azilda. As the eastbound
train approached the station at Azilda, the last run within 1.2 km was gently
sloping downhill. Engineer W. Thurlow reduced steam and applied brakes within
400 metres of the station, intending to stop four car-lengths from the standing
westbound train. Brakes on the front sections of the No. 2 train (the locomotive,
tender, refrigerator car and baggage car) engaged, but none of the brakes
further back along the train came on. The train continued bearing down on the
stopped train at 64 km/hr without slowing. Engineer Thurlow realized something
was wrong and signalled for the emergency brakes then blew a steam signal to
warn his own crew and the crew of the standing “Harvesters’ Special” train.
There was no time for the standing train to start backing up. Both crews jumped
for their lives before the locomotive of the eastbound No. 2 train crashed into
the standing train loaded with excursionists and all their gear.
The passengers on the eastbound train were saved by the
refrigerator car that had been loaded with salmon. This unit took most of the
force and saved the passenger car from taking the brunt of the impact. The
standing No. 1 Harvesters’ train was not protected in any way and the lead
baggage car telescoped into the leading passenger car, killing twelve
passengers. Many were trapped between seats and under flooring and some of the
injured had to wait more than two hours before the luggage could be cleared to
release them.
The twelve killed were all from Ontario, Percy was the
youngest male at 24, all the rest were men between the ages of 35-55 years with
the exception of two sisters, aged 10 and 12 who had been sitting in front of
their parents. Their parents walked away from the wreck but their daughters
were not spared. An additional 17 were injured.
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Train wreck at Azilda, Ontario, 12 September 1906. Credit:
photographer William G. Gillespie/Library and Archives Canada/PA- (no restrictions on use, copyright expired).
|
Ultimately the cause of the crash was attributed to
mechanical failure due to the unexplained closure of a brake valve on the rear
cars of the eastbound No. 2 train and no one was blamed. Investigators
attributed the closure of the valve as the result of two dangling chains that
may have swung wildly from the train’s movement, striking the valve behind the
third car of the No. 2 train, closing it and rendering the braking power of the
train behind the front three cars useless. However, Halliday (1997) questions
whether investigations were thorough enough to count out how environmental
conditions (wet, slippery rails) and speeding (as the No. 2 train had been
trying to make up lost time as it approached Azilda) contributed to the crash. It
was also unclear as to why the Harvesters’ Special train had not moved off onto
the Azilda siding and off the main track. But it had been running late that
day. Accounts from surviving passengers stated that the Harvesters’ Special was
moving forward very slowly at the time of the crash, perhaps it was just
starting to enter the siding when the other train appeared. It would have been
impossible for the Harvesters’ train to move backwards or forwards fast enough
to escape the collision with the oncoming train. The Azilda train crash is
considered one of Canada’s worst railway accidents (see Halliday 1997).
 |
Train wreck at Azilda, Ontario, 12 September 1906. Credit:
photographer William G. Gillespie/Library and Archives Canada/PA- (no restrictions on use, copyright expired).
|
Percy Baker was born Horace Percival
Baker, eldest son of Isaac Cober Baker and Caroline Brillinger. Percy was born
9th of May 1884 in Nottawa, Ontario. Percy’s mother Caroline
“Carrie” Brillinger, died in 1891 when Percy was only 7 years old. Percy’s
father Isaac remarried the following December 1892 to Leah Toman. In 1901, 16
year old Percy was living in Nottawasaga Township with his father Isaac C.
Baker and stepmother Leah Toman Baker and family which included Percy’s full
siblings, Cora (15 years), Lydia (13 years) and Fred Nicholas Baker (10 years)
and half siblings (children of Isaac C. Baker and Leah Toman), Eunice (7
years), Alvin (6 years) and Elma (3 years) as well as their grandmother Barbara
Baker (nee Cober) 83 years. Barbara Cober Baker was my own third great
grandmother on my mother’s side.
After the Azilda train wreck of the 12th of
September 1906 that took his life, 22 year old Percy was buried at the Brethren
in Christ Church Cemetery, 6th Line, Stayner, Ontario, his
grandmother Barbara Cober Baker was buried there four years later in the spring
of 1910. By 1911, the Baker family was living in Saskatchewan but included only
parents Isaac and Leah, eldest son Fred and younger siblings Eunice, Alvin and
Elma. Percy’s father Isaac became a prominent character in the Kindersley area
as a he had migrated to the area from Ontario with a number of families to
homestead and to start a new branch of the Brethren In Christ Church. Elder
Isaac Cober Baker and Bishop Charles Baker came from Ontario to Kindersley in
the summer of 1906 to scout out land along with William Hahn of Delisle and Sam
Swalm of Regina (both also originally from Nottawasaga Township, Ontario).
Isaac Cober Baker had returned to Ontario that summer before Percy was killed
on the ill-fated train. Isaac and his wife Leah and children returned to
Saskatchewan in July of 1907 where they lived out their lives. Reverend Isaac Cober Baker died in 1946 at the age of 88 and his wife Leah died in 1931 at the age of 69.
They are both buried in the Merrington Cemetery in Kindersley, Saskatchewan.
Percy’s sister Cora Baker married Charles Hall in 1917 and
sister Lydia Baker married Merton Klippert in March 1907 in Collingwood,
Ontario. Both Cora and Lydia’s families eventually made their way west. Cora
passed away in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1960 at the age of 74; Lydia passed away
in Calgary, Alberta in 1933 at the age of 45, her husband and eleven children
all grew up in Calgary. Percy’s brother Fred Baker married Lena Winger in 1916;
the couple had six children in the Kindersley area of Saskatchewan before
leaving for California in 1926. Fred and Lena lived in California for most of
their lives, Lena died in Nevada in 1972 at the age of 78, Fred passed away in
Arkansas in 1977 at the age of 86 (he was likely living with one of his
daughters at the time).
Percy is my 1st cousin three times removed.
List of Passengers Killed in the Azilda Train Wreck*
All were found dead
at the crash site except Samuel Kingston, who died of his injuries in Sudbury
as a result of the wreck.
- William B. Puddicombe (record #98), male, about 35 or 31 years of age of N.W.T., formerly of Haysville, Ontario; farmer and speculator, born in Ontario, Wilmot Township, Waterloo County, married, Episcopalian, nephew of Thomas B. Puddicombe; member of the New Hamburg A.F. and A.M.; leaves a wife and two small children.
- Samuel Kingston,(record #99), male, 50 years from Frankfort, farmer, died in Sudbury of injuries received in Azilda train wreck, born in Ontario, married, Protestant.
- Henry Hermann (record #100), male, about 40 years, successful farmer from North Easthope, Ontario; twice married, leaves a widow and five grown-up children; born in Ontario, resident of New Hamburg, Protestant.
- Dr. H.S. Milne, (record #101), male, about 50 years from Woodslee, Ont., physician, married, born in Ontario, Protestant; leaves a widow and two children, was living in Hillsdown, Alta, returning home to Alberta when train crashed.
- Francis “Frank” Blackwell,(record #102), male, 45 years, Toronto Police Officer, married, born in Ont., resident of Toronto, Protestant; member of the Occident Masonic Lodge and the K.O.T.M. (Knights of the Macabees).
- Reverend Jabez J. Noble, (record #103), male, about 40 years, Methodist Minister, born in Ontario, from Luton, Elgin County, Ontario, Protestant; former pastor of the Elizabeth Street Methodist Church, Barrie, Ont., leaves a wife, no children; was a member of the No. 63 Independent Order of Oddfellows.
- Charles Palmer, (record #104), male, about 35, from Toronto or Miller’s Hollow, York County, Ontario, married, born in England, Protestant; leaves a widow and six small children at Miller’s Hollow, a village near Wexford; from Worcestershire, England last September.
- Thomas B. Puddicombe, (record #105), male, 55 years from Haysville, Ontario, capitalist, married, Protestant; was the director of the Standard Loan Company and connected with many other monetary institutions, he was a prominent Free Mason, a Conservative and member of the Church of England. He leaves a widow and five children.
- Louis Pfaff, (record #106), male, 50 years, from New Hamburg, proprietor of the local bus and baggage line in New Hamburg, born in Ontario, Protestant. Leaves a widow and four children.
- Percy Baker, #107, male, 24, from Collingwood, Ontario, born in Ontario, Protestant.
- Olivia Schade, (record #108), female, 10 years, school girl from Mitchell, Ont.; born in Ontario, Protestant.
- Viola Schade, (record #109), female, 12 years, school girl from Mitchell, Ontario (sister of Olivia Schade); born in Ontario, Protestant.
*Compiled from information available in Ontario Death
Records [District of Nipissing, Sudbury, Ontario, Death Certificates, Schedule
C, pages 77 and 78. Ontario, Canada, Deaths, 1869-1938 and Deaths Overseas,
1939-1947]; and from news reporting at the time of the crash.
Transcripts of News Articles Regarding the Accident
KILLED IN COLLISION
----------------------------------
The
telegram which came to Mr. Samuel Ditson about half-past seven o’clock on
Wednesday evening announcing the death of Percy Baker was the first intimation
the people of Collingwood got of the terrible accident on the C.P.R. near
Sudbury. The sad news quickly spread and those who had friends on the way to
the West were much concerned for their safety. Among those from this district
were Mr. A. Rentner, Miss. Agnes May,
Mr. Colin McGregor, Mr. Walter Scott and Mr. W. Williams.
For some
time no definite information could be ascertained as to the section of the
Pacific express was in the trouble. The News put itself into communication with
The Globe and learned particulars, scouring the names of the killed and the
most seriously injured. This relieved the tension, and the townspeople waited
until the arrival of the daily papers to learn further details.
The remains
of Percy Baker were brought back to Stayner on Thursday by his cousin, Mr.
Charles Baker who was accompanying him to the West. The deceased was the oldest
son of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Baker, who live in the Dutch Settlement in the
Township of Nottawasaga, about seven miles from here and five from Stayner. He was
about twenty-five years of age and was on his way West to engage in farming. His
destination was Regina. The deceased was a highly intelligent, progressive and
energetic young fellow, and was buoyant with hopes of a bright and successful
future in the West. The funeral took place in the Tunkard cemetery yesterday.
Mr. and Mrs. Baker, the parents of the unfortunate young man were in Waterloo
with friends when they received the news of the death of their son.
TERRIBLE C.P.R.
WRECK
------------------------------------
Atlantic and Pacific Express Trains
Meet near Sudbury
------------------------------------
Twelve Excursionists of Harvester’s Train,
Which Left Toronto Tuesday, Killed Outright, and Three Score Injured – Forty of
These Are Seriously Injured and Some of Them May Die – List of Dead and
Injured.
Sudbury,
Sept 13 – Twelve dead and three-score injured, many of them seriously, and some,
perhaps fatally in the toll of a collision on the C.P.R. early yesterday
morning near Azilda station six and on-half miles west of Sudbury.
Failure of
the brakes on the fast-going express bound east is held to be responsible for
the collision which caused the first colonist car of the third section of the
harvester train No. 1 to be telescoped. All the dead and injured were in this
car.
The
accident occurred about 7:15 yesterday morning. The third section of train No.
1 going west, which left Toronto yesterday afternoon, and the second section of
No. 2, coming east had orders to cross at Azilda station.
The
harvester train was to take the siding and had slowed up within 75 yards of the
switch when the express plunged into it.
A Tremendous Crash.
There was a
tremendous crash, a rendering of metal and wood, the hissing of steam and then
the air filled with cries, shrieks and groans of passengers of both trains.
There were
fifteen coaches on the harvester train with over 300 people on board. The eastbound
train was also well-filled, but these passengers suffered only from the severe
shaking up.
Luckily,
fire did not break out among the wreckage, and the work of rescue was
facilitated considerably. Those who were unhurt joined in the task of removing
the injured and dead. Word was sent to Sudbury and four doctors were soon attending
the wounded who were later brought here and taken to the hospital and local
hotels.
The dead
were brought here and preparations for an inquest are underway.
The Dead.
As announced
by the C.P.R. officials at Montreal:
F. Blackwell, policeman, 55 Bellevue Avenue,
Toronto.
Charles Palmer, Toronto.
J.J. Noble, Barrie.
Thos. Puddicomb, Haysville (probably Hagersville, Ont.).
Louis Pfaff, New Hamburg, Ont.
S.F. Milne, N.W.T.
William Puddicomb, New Hamburg, Ont.
Viola Schade and Olivia Schade, Monkton, Ont. These
were two children, 12 and 10 years of age respectively. Their parents were also
very seriously injured and are now in the hospital at Sudbury.
Besides these there is still one body which has not
been recognized.
Dead as Given in Dispatches
Herbert Williams, Toronto.
Dr. Milne, South Woodslee (near
London).
Henry Herman, New Hamberg
Dr. Donald Currie, Emsdale
Official List of Injured
George Arose, Frankfort, Ont.,
badly bruised.
Sheldon Marrin, badly bruised
and leg fractured.
Leonard Schade, head cut and
severely bruised.
Mrs. Schade, severely cut and
bruised.
E.Walt, Stockdale, Ont.,
seriously injured.
Samuel Kingston, Frankfort,
Ont., leg broken and internally injured.
Besides these about a score of
other passengers were slightly injured, with broken fingers, bruises, cuts, etc.
Reported in the Dispatches
William Rowe, Frankfort, feet
and internal injuries.
Herbert Williams, Toronto, cuts
and bruises, doing well.
Sheldon Moran, Frankfort,
fractured leg.
Seymour Chapman, Maple View,
Ont., cut and bruised.
Mrs. Willoughby, Tennison,
London, England, seriously injured.
George Jaral, Essex, Ont., cut and bruised.
J. Walt, Stockdale, Ont.,
severely injured.
William Alexander, Parkhead,
Ont., cut and bruised.
George Reis, Hanover, Ont.,
seven ribs broken and other injuries: doing well.
Samuel Kingston, Frankfort,
legs and body badly cut; condition critical.
David Martin, Warsenburg,
slightly injured.
Jacob Meisenger, Hanover, arms
and head injured, not seriously.
C. Hamilton, Harper’s Corners,
Ont., slightly injured.
George Rose, Frankfort,
slightly injured.
-----------------------------------
THE OFFICIAL ACCOUNT.
-----------------------------------
Montreal,
Sept. 13 – Last night General Manager McNicoll of the C.P.R. gave out the
following report of the wreck at Sudbury:
“As far as
the meagre despatches we have of the accident go to show, it was caused by the
failure of the brakes on the express to act. The harvesters’ train was standing
on the main line waiting while the brakeman ran ahead to turn the switch, so
that it might be sidetracked to allow the passage of the east-bound express.
Before he could get the sitch in position the express arrived and plunged head-on
into the train, smashing the first colonist to fragments and killing or
injuring over half the people in it.
The
engineer of the east-bound express was not killed and he later claimed that the
accident was caused through the failure of the brakes on his train A hasty
examination of the train proved the correctness of this assertion. A little
back of the middle of the express an “angle cock” on the air brake tubes had
been turned which shut off the latter half of the train where the heavy
sleepers and diner were, from the front end. The result was that when the
engineer applied the brakes from the front half of the train was affected, and
the weight of the latter half forced it on into the standing train.
Had the
brakes not been applied at all there would have been a much greater accident,
as the harvester’s train was crowded with passengers.”
A Drastic Investigation
Regina,
Sask. Sept 13 – Sir Thomas Shaughnessy, president of the C.P.R. and the annual
inspecting party of directors fo the Inc. arrived in the city shortly after 6
o’clock last evening. They had already heard of the terrible accident near
Sudbury by which 13 harvesters are reported killed.
The
president and individual members of the party expressed themselves as greatly shocked
at the deplorable catastrophe and the president said, “You may rest assured
that the most thorough and drastic investigation will ensue.”
Killed At Sudbury
------------------------------
Among the killed at the terrible railway
accident at Sudbury, was Percy Baker, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Baker,
of the 6th line of Nottawasaga, who was on his way west to engage in
farming. The deceased was a highly respected young man and had a bright future
before him. The funeral took place to the Tunkard cemetery on Friday. The
remains were accompanied by his cousin, Mr. C.W. Baker.
C.W. Baker, a cousin of Percy Baker, who was
killed, was one of those who was only bruised, and he assisted in the work of
rescue. One man who was twisted and held in a terrible position under two dead
men and heavy iron and timbers had a voice like Percy Baker. The work of rescuing
the man took two hours but the real Percy Baker was dead of injuries. He was in
the wash-room at the time of the crash. C.W. Baker, his cousin said that he had
a presentiment that there was to be an accident from the beginning of the trip.
He first heard a dull and heavy crash, then a yell of “Collision!” then came a
noise of grinding, grating timbers, of ripping and tearing wood. He jumped for
the end of the car, and with an unknown woman, jumped from the steps, escaping
with only slight bruises.
Amongst those on the ill-fated train from
this district were Miss Agnew may, of Banks; Mr. Colin McGregor, Duntroon;
Messrs. A. Renter and W. Scott.
STORY
OF THE WRECK – MANY WITNESSES OF THE AZILDA TRAGEDY RETURN HOME
–
Apparently slippery rails,
combined with obstinate air-brakes, had a great deal to do with the terrible
wreck on the C.P.R. at
Azilda, near Sudbury, according to reports given by passengers who were in the
speedy Imperial Limited at the time it crashed into the harvesters special, and passengers who were in
the latter also. A number
of these passengers arrived in Toronto from North Bay by Grand Trunk, on
Thursday, and their hurried descriptions convey an idea of the magnitude of the
disaster in which fourteen lives were lost.
THE
KILLED.
Viola
Schade, aged 12, Monkton, Ontario.
Olive Schade, aged 14, Monkton, Ontario.
Dr. Milne, South Woodslee, Ontario.
Frank Blackwell, Toronto.
Reverend J. J. Noble, Methodist minister, Luton, Elgin County, Ontario.
Nelson Schatz, New Hamburg, Ontario.
A wire from New Hamburg says Mr. Schatz is still living, but his name has not been withdrawn from the official list of dead.
Henry Harmann, North Easthope.
W. B. Puddicombe, N.W.T., formerly of Haysville, Ontario.
Thos. Puddicombe, Haysville, Ontario.
Louis Pfaff, New Hamburg.
Charles Palmer, Miller’s Hollow, York County, Ontario.
Samuel Kingston, Frankfort.
Unknown but, believed to be E. May, Winfield, Ontario.
Percy Baker, Collingwood.
Olive Schade, aged 14, Monkton, Ontario.
Dr. Milne, South Woodslee, Ontario.
Frank Blackwell, Toronto.
Reverend J. J. Noble, Methodist minister, Luton, Elgin County, Ontario.
Nelson Schatz, New Hamburg, Ontario.
A wire from New Hamburg says Mr. Schatz is still living, but his name has not been withdrawn from the official list of dead.
Henry Harmann, North Easthope.
W. B. Puddicombe, N.W.T., formerly of Haysville, Ontario.
Thos. Puddicombe, Haysville, Ontario.
Louis Pfaff, New Hamburg.
Charles Palmer, Miller’s Hollow, York County, Ontario.
Samuel Kingston, Frankfort.
Unknown but, believed to be E. May, Winfield, Ontario.
Percy Baker, Collingwood.
RAIN WAS FALLING as the Imperial Limited dashed up on the special, making the rails
decidedly slippery, and thereby causing an additional difficulty in bringing
the heavy flyer to a stop. So far as is known at present the special was barely
moving, being just about to enter the switch at Azilda. Latest reports indicate
that no person in the Limited was injured, though it is said the fireman was
bruised by jumping from the cab. Almost every passenger seen unhesitatingly
said that the speed of their train had been checked considerably before the crash
came. The grinding of the airbrakes on the wheels was distinctly audible,
though it is said these did not work as they should have done.
HARROWING
SCENES DESCRIBED the description of the scenes subsequent to the collision are
harrowing in the extreme. In the downpour of rain the work of rescue was
immediately commenced. Passengers and neighbouring farmers nobly assisted the
train crew in their duty. The injured and dead arrived in Sudbury at about
noon, and their removal from the cars afforded one of the most mournful
spectacles in the whole history of the town.
WAS AN
ILL-FATED CAR.
In some cases these had lost their baggage or had been shaken up so that they did not care to continue the western trip. Among the number was James W. Bartley of Murray Township, Northumberland County whose coat was torn in the collision and who received a number of scratches as well as a bad shaking up. Mr. Bartley admitted that his escape was little short of miraculous, since he was in the car where all the deaths occurred.
“I was three seats from the front of the car, he said, and I saw that ponderous baggage van come right into our car with hardly a moment’s notice. I crouched down. But two men who occupied the double seat with me were killed. I was pinned down for a few minutes, but releasing myself I crawled through a window, wondering at my escape. The baggage just seemed to chew everything to pieces that was in its path. I lost all my baggage, but was very thankful to get away so luckily.”
In some cases these had lost their baggage or had been shaken up so that they did not care to continue the western trip. Among the number was James W. Bartley of Murray Township, Northumberland County whose coat was torn in the collision and who received a number of scratches as well as a bad shaking up. Mr. Bartley admitted that his escape was little short of miraculous, since he was in the car where all the deaths occurred.
“I was three seats from the front of the car, he said, and I saw that ponderous baggage van come right into our car with hardly a moment’s notice. I crouched down. But two men who occupied the double seat with me were killed. I was pinned down for a few minutes, but releasing myself I crawled through a window, wondering at my escape. The baggage just seemed to chew everything to pieces that was in its path. I lost all my baggage, but was very thankful to get away so luckily.”
MANY BODIES
MANGLED
Sitting at breakfast, James F. Kennedy and his daughter, of Lindsay, who also returned, were interrupted by the shock, followed by a shower of broken glass from the chandeliers, while the victuals were dashed to the floor. Mr. Kennedy was in the seventh coach of the westbound special. I went outside to investigate, said Mr. Kennedy, but for fully five minutes we could not distinguish anything because of escaping steam. Subsequent sights accompanied by groans of the injured were simply horrible. Many of the bodies were fearfully mangled, some of them being crushed flat.”
Sitting at breakfast, James F. Kennedy and his daughter, of Lindsay, who also returned, were interrupted by the shock, followed by a shower of broken glass from the chandeliers, while the victuals were dashed to the floor. Mr. Kennedy was in the seventh coach of the westbound special. I went outside to investigate, said Mr. Kennedy, but for fully five minutes we could not distinguish anything because of escaping steam. Subsequent sights accompanied by groans of the injured were simply horrible. Many of the bodies were fearfully mangled, some of them being crushed flat.”
TWO SISTERS
EXPERIENCES.
Two sisters, Miss Annie Veitch and Miss Jenn Veitch of Winterbourne, who, were travelling together to Medicine Hat, were so unnerved from the effects of the accident that they decided to return home.
“Did you see anything of the wreck afterwards? the young ladies were asked.
“No, replied Miss Annie, with a shudder. I saw two little girls lying dead just outside our car. That sight was enough; we hadn’t nerve enough to go out and see anything more.
Two sisters, Miss Annie Veitch and Miss Jenn Veitch of Winterbourne, who, were travelling together to Medicine Hat, were so unnerved from the effects of the accident that they decided to return home.
“Did you see anything of the wreck afterwards? the young ladies were asked.
“No, replied Miss Annie, with a shudder. I saw two little girls lying dead just outside our car. That sight was enough; we hadn’t nerve enough to go out and see anything more.
HOW IT
OCCURRED
I was standing in one of the tourist cars when the collision occurred, but the shock did not knock me off my feet, said Mr. A. McKellar, a farmer from Hibbert Township, Perth County, in giving a most practical description of the wreck. Mr. McKellar was returning from the west on the Imperial Limited with his wife and Mrs. A. E. Hodgert of Exeter, Ontario.
I distinctly felt the brakes grip the wheels shortly after we had passed the western entrance to the switch at Azilda. Rain was falling, and perhaps the braking was hindered by slippery rails. The collision occurred about 100 feet east of the eastern entrance to the siding. In other words the harvesters special never entered the siding where it was intended the two trains should pass. I cannot tell the reason.”
“What did the wreck look like?
“The engines of both trains were smashed somewhat. The fish car on one train was in splinters, while a baggage car was damaged. On the harvesters special a box car containing baggage next to the engine was turned on end. A heavy baggage car had risen on top of the passenger coach following, where all the people were killed. This baggage car almost went through the coach, pinning the inmates down so that they could not move.
I was standing in one of the tourist cars when the collision occurred, but the shock did not knock me off my feet, said Mr. A. McKellar, a farmer from Hibbert Township, Perth County, in giving a most practical description of the wreck. Mr. McKellar was returning from the west on the Imperial Limited with his wife and Mrs. A. E. Hodgert of Exeter, Ontario.
I distinctly felt the brakes grip the wheels shortly after we had passed the western entrance to the switch at Azilda. Rain was falling, and perhaps the braking was hindered by slippery rails. The collision occurred about 100 feet east of the eastern entrance to the siding. In other words the harvesters special never entered the siding where it was intended the two trains should pass. I cannot tell the reason.”
“What did the wreck look like?
“The engines of both trains were smashed somewhat. The fish car on one train was in splinters, while a baggage car was damaged. On the harvesters special a box car containing baggage next to the engine was turned on end. A heavy baggage car had risen on top of the passenger coach following, where all the people were killed. This baggage car almost went through the coach, pinning the inmates down so that they could not move.
PINNED
BENEATH THE DEBRIS.
I saw men jerking at the trunks and hauling them off, but I didn’t know what was wrong until I looked under the car and saw a mass of splintered wood it was the first colonist car half buried under the luggage, while the other end was thrown up and lying skew-gee across the track. The baggage car had telescoped, the other.”
Mr. McKellar started in at the pile of luggage nearest the engine and worked until after 12 o’clock without a break.
Five or six people, they said, were pinned under it. It took us over two hours to get the trunks off, and then the thick floor of the baggage car was between us and those underneath. We got axes and split a hole in it, but that wouldn’t work, and we split it up the centre and jacked the two parts off and got in at the wreckage underneath.
“The two sisters were taken out first. They were near the top, both of them badly crushed. But lower down was a man who was still living, and for hours we worked to get him. He did not complain, however, though he was being crushed and almost smothered. When we got near him we found that his legs were caught in Policeman Blackwell’s, just as firm as if you locked legs. The policeman was farther down, and we had to clear most of the stuff off his body before we got the living man. Just there we found another dead body, and the last of all to be cleared of the whole wreck was the Toronto constable. All this time little could be heard of the cries of the wounded above the roar of escaping steam. It was a terrible time.”
I saw men jerking at the trunks and hauling them off, but I didn’t know what was wrong until I looked under the car and saw a mass of splintered wood it was the first colonist car half buried under the luggage, while the other end was thrown up and lying skew-gee across the track. The baggage car had telescoped, the other.”
Mr. McKellar started in at the pile of luggage nearest the engine and worked until after 12 o’clock without a break.
Five or six people, they said, were pinned under it. It took us over two hours to get the trunks off, and then the thick floor of the baggage car was between us and those underneath. We got axes and split a hole in it, but that wouldn’t work, and we split it up the centre and jacked the two parts off and got in at the wreckage underneath.
“The two sisters were taken out first. They were near the top, both of them badly crushed. But lower down was a man who was still living, and for hours we worked to get him. He did not complain, however, though he was being crushed and almost smothered. When we got near him we found that his legs were caught in Policeman Blackwell’s, just as firm as if you locked legs. The policeman was farther down, and we had to clear most of the stuff off his body before we got the living man. Just there we found another dead body, and the last of all to be cleared of the whole wreck was the Toronto constable. All this time little could be heard of the cries of the wounded above the roar of escaping steam. It was a terrible time.”
NO ONE TO
BLAME.
General Superintendent Brady of the Lake Superior division has issued the following official statement:
“I was over the ground and I know that no one was to blame for the accident. There was no negligence. There was no mistake. It was simply a mechanical failure. Both trains intended to stop. In fact, both trains were where they ought to have been. The train going west had halted two car lengths from the east end of the switch, which is 2,500 feet long. The train going east was to stop four car lengths from the westbound train to allow the later to enter the siding. The eastbound train was not going fast, and Engineer Thurlow put on his air brakes, but, owing to a closed angle-cock only the engine, refrigerator and mail cars responded, and the trains telescoped.”
General Superintendent Brady of the Lake Superior division has issued the following official statement:
“I was over the ground and I know that no one was to blame for the accident. There was no negligence. There was no mistake. It was simply a mechanical failure. Both trains intended to stop. In fact, both trains were where they ought to have been. The train going west had halted two car lengths from the east end of the switch, which is 2,500 feet long. The train going east was to stop four car lengths from the westbound train to allow the later to enter the siding. The eastbound train was not going fast, and Engineer Thurlow put on his air brakes, but, owing to a closed angle-cock only the engine, refrigerator and mail cars responded, and the trains telescoped.”
Richmond Hill News Article submitted to
Ancestry.com message boards by Jay Underwood, Elmsdale, Nova Scotia, Canada
December 2005 Canadian-Train-Disasters-List Archives[http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/CANADIAN-TRAIN-DISASTERS/2005-12/1134958990]
accessed November 2012
Post Script
I found it interesting that there had been this historic migration of people moving from eastern Canada to western Canada on an annual basis at harvest time. This is a significant part of Canadian history and yet another thing I had never come across during my Canadian education! I have also included the transcriptions of a number of news articles from the time, not only because of the detail provided, but also because of the style of writing used by newspapers in the early 1900s. While we think our current news and movies are quite graphic, I found some of the descriptions of the accident more graphic than I would have expected in any current news articles. A terrible accident for sure, but not one that should be forgotten. I hope this article provides information for any of the family historians out there who are researching their families who may have been involved.
