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EXONERATED
[Welland Tribune, 22 March 1904]
Mr. J.A. Stalker received word on Saturday that the inquest over the explosion of the Chicago Toy Novelty Co.’s plant in Chicago, exonerated the proprietors from all blame.
HEAVY LOSS FOR MESSRS. STALKER
[Welland Tribune, 18 March 1904]
At least five persons were killed and a score of other employees were injured by an explosion of toy pistol caps which completely demolished the 2-storey brick manufacturing plant of the Chicago Toy Novelty company st Western avenue and West 18th street of that city early Tuesday morning. The wrecked building caught fire after the explosion, and the bodies of the dead were badly burned. The building was occupied by three firms, employing nearly 100 persons.
The proprietors of the toy company were Messrs. John, David, Geroge Stalker, sons of George Stalker of Welland, and two Drs. Mason of Niagara Falls. George Stalker was temporarily managing the business. One of the workmen was wheeling a truck loaded with fifty gross of the dynamite caps, and the foreman in putting a case of the guns on top of it, dropped the case, exploding the truck load of dynamite, several smaller explosions following. The building was completely wrecked, and the fire added to the terror of the scene. All the killed were employees of the toy company, and the injured were all badly crushed and burned.
The company had no permit, so far as can be learned, for the manufacture or storing of explosives, and this may affect the insurance. Messrs. Stalker had about $3000 invested in the business.
KENSINGTON HALL BURNED DOWN
Fort Erie News
[Welland Tribune, 8 January 1904]
The Power Specialty Co. occupies the rear of Kensington hall, the front being used as a church and Sunday school by the Disciples. The building was owned by John T. James and was valued at $1,500. At 3 o’clock on Monday morning a railway man named Thomas Hood, who lives in a brick cottage, belonging to Mr. James, next to the hall, discovered that the Power Specialty premises were on fire. He gave the alarm and the firemen, soon after the alarm was given, were on the spot, but, owing to a chapter of accidents, including inability to call up the waterworks engineer (Mr. Jukes, Fort Erie) to put on fire pressure, frozen pipes and uniforms, it was half an hour before a stream of water (a weak one) was thrown on the building. The water pressure (there being no person at eh pump house to put on fire pressure) gradually grew weaker and became useless, the result being that the hall was burned down, but a little water poured on the nearby houses saved them. The Amigari hose company next arrived, but want of water rendered those willing fire fighters powerless. Both hose companies worked hard under discouraging circumstances such as no water and a thermometer down below zero. A kind soul, Mrs. Hamilton, wife of the foreman of the Specialty Co., very kindly brought the firemen into her house, warmed them and gave them hot tea. The hall, valued at $1.500, had $600 insurance in the Waterloo Mutual. The Specialty Co. lost $3,000 worth of tools and machinery, the insurance on which was $2,000. Mr. James’s cottage, occupied by Thomas Hood, insured in the Guardian for full value, was damaged to the extent of about $150. Mr. Hood’s furniture was damaged to the extent of $75 in being removed from building. He had no insurance. The cottage west of the hall (also owned by Mr. James) escaped with slight damage to its windows. A short time ago Mr. Herman, Power Specialty Co., wanted Mr. James to rent him the whole hall, and had concluded to do so and have another building erected for church and Sunday school, but he now declares he will build nothing else in the village until it has a proper fire alarm, a good system of having fire pressure turned on at any time and provision made for the care of hose and firemen’s suits so that they will not find them frozen when needed; and we quite agree with him. There is no need for us to point out what might result if there had been a high wind. There should be a stove in the fire hall to prevent the appliances from freezing, a tower for the hose, and some person living in this village should always be available when fire pressure is needed at the pump house.
NARROW ESCAPE AT ICE BRIDGE
[Welland Tribune, 5 February 1904]
One of the most thrilling double rescues ever witnessed at Niagara took place Sunday afternoon on the ice bridge below the American Falls. Edward Murty, the 14-year old son of Mrs. Elizabeth Murty of No. 432 Cedar ave., and John Morrison, a young man, were the two who were in such deadly peril. Morrison and a number of his friends were standing on the ice bridge at the point where it converges with the ice mountain, when suddenly they saw a large piece of the bridge, on which Morrison was standing, break loose and float away. A chasm of about 15 feet in width yawned between Morrison and firm ice in a few moments, but luckily the detached floe lodged against another projection of the bridge and did not whirl out and under the structure, which had it done so, would have been certain death for Morrison.
Hardly had Morrison’s friends realized his danger when they were startled by a shriek up the side of the ice mountain, and turning they beheld, headed straight for the opening made by the detached floe and flying as if on wings, a lad rushing down the mountain side. He was on skates and apparently lost control of himself. A second later and he had disappeared over the edge of the wall of ice and plunged into the cold waters of the river. It was the instant decision of all that he would pass beneath the ice bridge and be drowned.
Morrison was a spectator of the boy’s plunge and bravely went to the rescue. Throwing himself flat on his stomach on the ice he waited for the reappearance of the lad. The moment the boy’s head appeared above the water he made a grab and was successful in catching him by the collar and dragging him on the floe beside him.
A rope was secured and one end of it was tossed across the open water to Morrison. He first tied it securely about the waist of the boy and told the lad to jump into the water, at the same time directing those on the firm ice to haul him in. Young Murty made a leap into the water, and a second later he was hauled to the surface and in another minute he was safe on the firm ice. The rope was then thrown back to Morrison and he tied it about his own waist and jumped into the water. The task of getting him across the opening and up the steep wall of the icy ledge was difficult in the extreme but a number of willing hands were at the rope and he was soon safe among his friends.
