[Welland Tribune, 1903]
A serious looking blaze broke out in the roof of the pattern warerooms at Messrs. M. Beatty and Sons’ iron works yesterday at 11 a.m. The pattern building is a two-storey frame structure just behind the blacksmith shop, and there is never any fire inside. About the time mentioned, one of the men noticed flames coming through the end of the building, and he quickly gave the alarm. The men about the shop soon had the hose cart, which is stored in another building out and a line of hose attached. In the meantime a general alarm had been given and the other hose carts from the first and third wards were soon on hand, with lots of willing workers. A gale of wind was blowing, and as the building contained very inflammable material and had a good start, it was generally thought it would turn out to be a serious one. But the quick action and good work of the men on the spot soon had the fire under control, although the flames under the shingles were stubborn for a time. The contents of the building, being all wooden patterns, were very valuable, and a number of these in the top floor were burned and some damaged by water. The loss is not heavy considering the value of the material amongst which the flames were, and it is covered by insurance. The cause of the fire is unknown.
[Welland Telegraph October 29, 1903]
Tuesday morning a light road engine , while backing out from the Grand Trunk roundhouse ran down and instantly killed a workman named James MacDonald. The unfortunate man was dragged some 20 feet, the wheels of the engine passing over his legs. The body was rolled under the ash-pan of the engine and it was found that nearly every large bone was broken. Death was instantaneous. James MacDonald was about 50 years old, a carpenter in the employ of the company, and was working near the round-house at the time the accident happened. He stepped in the way of the engine as it backed out thinking no doubt, he was stepping on to the pathway. Before he could step back the engine was upon him. He was a married man leaving a wife, one daughter and two sons, who reside at Simcoe.Ont.
[Welland Telegraph October 8, 1903]
A fatal accident occurred on the N.S & T.R. line at Thorold Monday morning, whereby George Betts, of St Catharines, a section employee of the company, lost his life. Betts, with the other members of the section gang, was working on the eastern side of Thorold, and their handcar, on which was a quantity of ties, stood on the track near by. When the car due at Thorold at 8.56 a.m. was seen approaching several of the section hands ran to place their hand-car on the siding, out of danger, while one of their number took his place to operate the switch. He waited till he thought his companions had run their car into safety, and he signalled to the passenger car to run ahead. Motorman Clark obeyed the signal, and the car passed over the switch and into the siding before the switchman had turned the points back to their proper position. Betts had no chance of escape. The car was upon him before he was aware of it, and in the twinkling of an eye the man was dashed to the ground and the car passed over him mangling his body frightfully and causing almost instant death.
Betts was between fifty and sixty years of age and leaves a widow and four children. He resided on Henry street St Catharines.
An inquest is being held.
[Welland Telegraph March 6, 1903]
James Durham Meets a tragic End on the Railroad Wednesday Evening
A sad and fatal accident occurred on Wednesday evening, when James Durham was killed on the G.T.R. tracks. The fatality occurred just north of the Welland depot and about 7 o’clock in the evening. The unfortunate man was struck by the engine, carried about 100 feet and hurled to one side of the track. Death was instantaneous.
James Durham, together with his son Teskey, and Alf Young and Herbert Reuter,had been in Mr Reuter’s bush all day getting out timber for a new house Mr Reuter intends building. About 6.30 they started for home down the track. Teskey and Alf Young walked ahead and James Durham and Mr Reuter walked behind. Both went along with their heads down. When just back of McAlpine’s brick house two south bound trains went through on the last track. The two men continued to walk on the west track, Mr Durham on the inside. Just as the second freight was passing the north bound passenger train ran the men down before they realized it was coming. Mr Reuter just stepped off in the nick of time, but Mr Durham was caught, and probably never knew what struck him.
When the trains passed the young men, who were ahead, ran back and the old man was found at the side of the track where he had been thrown. Medical aid was summoned, but it was useless for he was already dead. His left arm and right leg were broken and his head cut.
James Durham was one of the oldest residents of Welland and probably had seen more changes here than any other man. He was a son of Jos Durham, who was one of the first settlers of the northern part of Wainfleet township. Having once held much property just west of the town along the river. James is the last surviving member. He was 69 years of age and the father of two sons and four daughters, who are left to mourn his untimely loss. They are: Teskey, at home, Ernest, in Bay City; Mrs Ellis, Mrs John Dunlop and Mrs A.W. McAlpine, of this town, and Mrs John Marvin of Toronto.
Deceased was well and favorably known about town and was a good citizen. It was one of his boasts that he had never been under a doctor’s care or never take a spoonful of medicine.
The funeral will take place tomorrow from the late residence, Ross street, in the east end, and interment will be at Fonthill.
[Welland Telegraph January 23, 1903]
Two Young Men Meet Terrible Death at Jordan Bridge.
Jordan, Ont. Jan. 19-A shocking accident occurred at the new double track Grand Trunk Railway bridge last night, when two young men of the village, both well and favorably known, were instantly killed. Their names are John Fester and Elmer Moyer.
It is not known whether the boys were together, but both were killed about the same time. The body of Fester was found about 9.30, and even then it was not known that Moyer had met a similar fate. His body however was found at 8 o’clock this morning, lying on the bank.
They had been to the Methodist church and were on their way home and walked unconsciously into the death trap. No. 17, Toronto express was going west, and it is evident in stepping out of the way to avoid being struck by this train, they moved over to the other track, where another train was crossing the bridge at the same time.
The affair has cast a gloom over the village. The young men were both about 19 years of age, and of respectable parents. Mr Moyer was president of the Methodist Epworth League, and prominent in church work. Fester was also a worker in the same church, and their sad end will long be remembered here.
[Welland Telegraph June 26, 1903]
Buffalo,N.Y., June 23- Coming fromDuluth, laden with flour and freight, last night the Chemung crashed into the tug O.W. Cheney at a point about seven miles up the lake, The tug sank immediately, carrying with her, Capt. John Wheland, Steward Andrew Shafer, and Fireman Edward Dugan. Engineer Byres and Fireman McManus, who were on watch, sprang to the life raft and on that they floated until picked up. The accident happened about 3 o’clock this morning. The Chemung was steaming at full speed towards Buffalo. Off Point Abino she was hailed by the tug O.W. Cheney. For some unexplained reason the latter ran directly across the bows of the big freight steamer and in an instant had been crushed by the impact. The night was dark and rainy.
[Welland Telegraph June 19, 1903]
Christian Lieher, an inmate of the Industrial Home, came to a sad and tragic end on the M.C. R. Tracks near Perry on Tuesday evening, At the time the victim was unknown, and it was not until Wednesday morning that he was identified. An east bound freight was running at a high rate of speed just at dusk, when an old man suddenly walked on the track directly in front of the train. He was struck and hurled to one side. When picked up he was dead. A cut on the back of his head and others in front and an arm broken in two places were the results of the blow. Coroner Hopkins of Marshville was summoned, and after viewing the remains ordered them sent to Welland where they were received by Chief Forde and placed in Messrs, Lawrence & Sutherland’s morgue. An effort was made to identify the man, as it was thought from his appearance that he was not a tramp. About 11 o’clock Messrs, Ben Zavitz and Peter Sipp of Ridgeway viewed the remains and identified them as Christian Lieher of Ridgeway, who has lately been an inmate of the Home. A telephone message to the Home revealed the fact that he had absconded early Tuesday morning.
The old man had been a resident of Ridgeway for many years, and a few years ago when his wife died he had considerable property. After his wife’s death his mind became affected and he lost his property and money before his relatives knew of his unwise dealings. Two sons, John and Fred, live in Buffalo, and a daughter, Mrs Elizabeth Rohr, lives in Ridgeway. The sons placed their father in institutions in New York State but he was dissatisfied. Last March he was put in the Industrial Home here. On Monday he asked Keeper Kottmeier for money to go to Humberstone, which was refused him. The next morning he was gone and Mr Kottmeier concluded he had gone to Humberstone. The old man had apparently lost his way and imagined when walking up the M.C.R. tracks that he was going up the G.T.R. to Humberstone. His sons arrived in town Wednesday evening and had the remains moved to Ridgeway for burial. He was 78 years of age. Crown attorney T.D. Cowper decided an inquest unnecessary.
[Welland Telegraph April 10, 1903]
A bad accident occurred Monday morning about half past three when G.T.R. train No 8, the Chicago flyer, drawn by engine No 567, smashed into yard engine No 638, and string of freight cars, at this place.
The flyer was in charge of Engineer Ashby and conductor H. Bell Jas Crossett was engineer on the yard engine. The flyer is the fastest train coming here from London and consists of a baggage van, a coach and a pullman.
The yard engine was backing down the yard with a long string of freight cars, when the flyer crashed into it. Both engines are badly damaged, and to look at the yard engine was to wonder how it was possible for the engineer and firemen to get out alive, as the tender was jabbed right through the cab up against the boiler and the cab broken to pieces. Engineer Crossett was badly hurt, but the fireman escaped without a scratch. He says he does not know how it happened but he suddenly found himself lying on the track beside his engine. It seems miraculous that these two men were not instantly killed, as they had scarcely any warning as to what was coming. The men on the other escaped without injury, but Conductor H. Bell was badly cut up about the face and head and several passengers were badly shaken up.
The cars of No 8 remained on the track though considerably damaged, and were taken down by a Lehigh Valley engine. Both engines are badly damaged, the lighter engine being smashed the most. Many freight cars are broken or derailed, some even 200 feet from the collision were damaged or thrown off the track. One box car in particular. The second from the engine was thrown into peculiar shape. It is split in half and the trucks coming together elevated the centre part about 20 feet.
There are two semaphores up the track a little way to guard against such accidents. Sunday night these were in charge of Switchman George England. He claims that both semaphores were up and that the No 8 should have stopped. Engineer Ashby could not have seen them in time, but he evidently tried to stop, as the track was sanded for about 100 feet back. There is a sharp curve at the scene of the wreck and doubtless this had something to do with it. Large crowds visited the place Monday.
Dr Wilson, the G.T.R. physician, was early on the scene and assisted by Dr Kellam, did good work in helping the injured. Jas Crosssitt was removed to his home, and by latest reports is doing well as could be expected. Conductor Bell’s injuries were dressed at the station and he proceeded to his home in Sarnia by the early express. Another man injured was F.H. Stevens, a theatrical manager, who was removed to the St Catharines hospital. He is doing well also.
[Welland Telegraph February 27, 1903]
A rear end collision occurred on the Air Line division of the Grand Trunk about a half mile west of the village here at 6.15 a.m. Wednesday morning, as a result of which the brakeman in the van that was crushed into a pretty badly shaken up, all the others escaping uninjured. Two empty coal cars and a large car loaded with potatoes, were totally destroyed the potatoes being mostly smashed or burned, and the van in which the brakeman was sitting was smashed into match wood, and how he escaped without being killed is a mystery. The engine was not very badly smashed, the staving-in of the end of the boiler. It seems that two Grand Trunk freights were running close together from Welland Junction both to take the siding at Stevensville, the first train was entering and the second No 426 was waiting to get in when a fast Wabash light freight, No 1059, came tearing along also from Welland Junc. And thinking that the train directly in front was going through to Fort Erie, did not slacken speed until it was too late. The force of the collision drove the trucks of the four smashed cars under the fifth car, which however,did not leave the track. The auxilaries from Niagara Falls and Fort Erie got to work on the wreck about 9 o’clock and by noon the trains were running again.
Just where the blame is to be placed is difficult to find out, as all the railroad men refuse any information when questioned on the subject.
[Welland Telegraph February 20, 1903]
John Davis, a driver from Hagersville, was killed on the Michigan Central Railway at Perry Station, west of Welland, about twelve o’clock Tuesday night. Mr Davis was in charge of a car of horses on a west bound freight, and when at Perry a light engine ran into the end of the train. The caboose was badly broken up, and Davis who was in the caboose at the time had just come out of the van when the crash came. The damage to the rolling stock was not serious and traffic was not delayed long.
An inquest was held there yesterday when H.W. Macoomb representing the Crown attorney was in attendance. The Michigan Central have for a long time claimed that they have never killed a passenger on the Canadian Division since the road has been in their possession.
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