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Historic EVENTS in and around Welland

TRAGIC CONCLUSION TO GAS EXPLOSION

Oswald Hickey Succumbs to His Injuries

[People’s Press, 23 January1912]

              His serious injuries were not the end of the disaster which overtook Oswald Hickey on Sunday morning a week ago. He suffered from the burns which enveloped his body for a week, and then pneumonia setting in Thursday night, sank suddenly in his weak condition, and expired at three o’clock on Friday morning. He was approaching his 23rd birthday, which, had he lived, would have taken place on March 12th next.

             From the first his condition was so serious that doubt was held of his recovery, but he seemed to be progressing favorably. Even on Thursday morning he seemed to be resting easily and doing as well as could be expected, but in the evening the dread pneumonia set in and his physician warned his relatives of his serious condition, death occurring a few hours later, as stated.

             Mr. Hickey was born in Toronto, where the home of his parents is at present. He was reared there and came to Welland two years ago.

             In August last he was married to Miss Mary Cherry, a former resident of Toronto, and they took up housekeeping on East Division street, in the house where he met with the fatal accident.

             Besides his wife, four brothers are still living, viz: Fred and Russell of Toronto, and Joe and Leo of Welland; three sisters, Lilly, Edna and Ethel, and his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. James J. Hickey, are all numbered among his survivors. His father is manager for the Supreme Heating Co., of Welland, in which establishment deceased was also employed.

             The body was taken to Toronto on Friday and the funeral took place Monday, from his parental home in Toronto to Mount Hope cemetery of the Roman Catholic church.

             Deceased was a member of the R.C. Church, of exceptionally good character and habits, and deservedly possessing the respect and friendship of all who knew him, and who deeply deplore his tragic end.

Peoples Press
23 January 1912
Died: 19 January 1912
Married: 7 August 1911-Sarah Cherry
Mount Hope Cemetery, Toronto
12 March 1889-19 January 1912
Pnuemonia
Father: James J. Hickey
Mother: Elizabeth Karens

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