Frederick Haney and Chas. Hagendorn Killed.
David Ireland Injured
Frederick Haney, dead
Charles Hagendorn, dead
David Ireland, hands terribly mutilated and otherwise injured
[Welland Tribune, 23 June 1905]
Wild excitement prevailed in Port Colborne on Tuesday night, when an explosion, with fearful results, occurred on the steam drill, Pulvertizer, one of Contractor Hogan’s submarine drilling machines. About 7.15 o’clock a loud and ominous report rang out from the drills which were working near the breakwater. The expert ear knew that something unusual had happened.
The explosion had taken place above the water! That meant that men were injured, if not killed.
Men and women hurried toward the pier to look lakeward.
Then the drills and tugs began blowing their whistles- a cry of distress-and many thought the drill must be sinking as the ominous sounds came in over the water.
Women who had husbands and sons on the drills ran frantically here and there in an endeavor to learn just what had happened.
They had not long to wait for in a few minutes two tugs were seen heading toward the harbor under full steam. By this time hundreds had gathered along the shore and the anxiety and subdued excitement was intense. The Hector was the first tug, and as soon as the captain had his boat within hailing distance, the message was heard: “Telephone for the doctors to meet the tugs.”
The spectators now knew that the accident was serious enough, and physicians were summoned to meet the boats.
A HEART-RENDING SCENE
Behind the Hector came the tug Mitchell, and on her decks the scene was one not soon to be forgotten.
Motionless on the deck lay the mangled form of Chas.Hagendorn. He was instantly killed by the explosion.
Between two men, came the tug who were supporting him and bathing his face, reclined Frederick Haney, pallid and in great pain, but conscious. His body was frightfully torn, and as soon as the doctor saw his condition, he said nothing could prolong his life beyond a few hours. Blood was streaming from terrible wounds in his neck, chest and abdomen. He was beyond medical aid, and at nine o’clock death relieved him from his awful suffering.
The third victim was David Ireland, who has charge of blasting, and who is an expert with dynamite. One hand was almost entirely tore off and the other mutilated. But, with nerves of steel, Ireland stepped from the tug, and with two companions beside him, walked to his home, half a block away.
TAKEN TO HOSPITAL
Mr. Ireland’s wounds were dressed as carefully as possible, but as an operation had to be performed on his hands, and as he was cut and burned about the body and legs as well, it was deemed wise to send him to the hospital; at Buffalo. Preparations were quickly made and in a short time the tug C.E. Armstrong was headed toward that city with Mr. Ireland resting on a cot on the deck with Dr. Hutton, Mr. Marrigan and other friends of the injured man. He was taken to the general hospital, Buffalo, where an operation was performed at three o’clock in the morning. The stub of the thumb and first finger only remain on the left hand, and the thumb and side of the right hand is gone. The operation lasted an hour and three-quarters. Mr. Ireland was fortunate to escape with his life.
HOW DID IT HAPPEN?
Precisely how the accident happened is not known at this writing (Wednesday) except by Mr.Ireland, who is in the hospital and so far as we can learn has made no positive statement. Those best qualified to judge believe that a charge was put down in the hole and failed to work, so a small charge
was put down to explode it. This failed to leave the charger at the bottom, and when the charger was
pulled up , the “popper” came up with it unoticed by the opeartors. When the word was given to apply the
electric spark the charge of dynamite was exploded right beside the men on the dock of the boat.
EXPLOSION IN THE CHARGER
It is certain that the explosion took place in the charger, an iron pipe about two inches in diameter. The charger was bursted and flying pieces of buried themselves in the woodwork of the boat in many places, one striking the beam of the far side of the drill boat. Flying pieces of this infliced severe wounds on the dead men. Of course the cause of the accident, as descibed above, is merely surmised for no evidence has yet been given by those immediately concerned.
INJURIES ON THE DEAD MEN
Hagendorn received a charge through the right side of his jaw leaving a gaping wound; a charge through his heart and a large gaping wound in his abdomen on the rigth side driving his watch inside of his body, besides muerous smaller wounds. He was instatnly killed.
Haney received a large wound on the right side of his neck, a wound over the heart crushng in the ribs, a gaping wound in the abdomen from which the bowels protruded besides many smaller injuries.
Mr. Ireland was blown into the lake by the explosion and was_________.
Dan Slade and Fred Seuss were working with the three men above mentioned, but esaped without a scratch.
THE INQUEST
Dr. Hutton ordered an inquest and Wednesday morning empanelled the following jury-Harry Dunlap, J.E. Lynden, W.M. McKay, D. Armstrong, F.D. Noble, Wm. Reeb, Chas. Fares, F.K. Brown, J.H. Smith, J.R. Tuck, W.J. Saurin, and T.J. O’Neil. They drove to Humberstone to view the remains and went out to the drill on the tug Mitchell to see the condition there Then they went to the town hall where an adjourment was made until Wednesday, July 5, at 7 p.m., when it is hoped Mr. Ireland will be present to give evidence.
FREDERICK HANEY
Illegible———home of his brother-in-law, John Houser at Humberstone. He was a son of the late Dr. and Mrs. F.M. Haney, who died in 1897 and 1903 respectively. He was in the 29th year of his age and unmarried. He was born in Humberstone and lived there all his life with the exception of a couple of years spent in British Col_. He had only_on the drill since Thursday last week, his debut at the business. Poor fellow, he was to have been married on Wednesday next. Truly in the midst of life we are in death. He is survied by one brother, Thos., in Woodstock and three sisters-Mrs. J. Houser of Humberstone, Mrs. W.A. Schooley of Buffalo and Mrs. Chas. Armstong of Port Colborne. He was a member of Beacon Lodge, I.O.O.F and of the I.L.M. & T.A. The funeral was held yesterday aftrnoon at 2.30 p.m. under the auspices of Beacon Lodge. Rev. A.C. Mackintosh conducted services at the house, and intement was made in Overholt’s cemetery.
CHARLES HAGENDORN
Was about 28 years of age. He had no near relatives in this country except some uncles in Buffalo who ____. He had been in America 15 years, of which the last six were spent in this village. A father, sister and brother in Germany survive. This was his second season on the drill. The body was taken to Ellsworth’s undertaking rooms and later to Wm. Rother’s at Humberstone from where the funeral took place at 10 a.m. yesterday. Rev. A.C. Macintosh conducted service at the house, and intement was in Overholt’s cemetery. He was also a member of the I.L.M. and T.A. who looked after the funeral.
The drill was not injured to any extent, although some pasrts look as if they had been the target for a charge of shrapnel.
Outside of the relatives of the dead and injured, no one feels the accidnet more keenly than Contractor Hogan. It is the first accident that has occurred in the explosive department during the five years drilling here, and it is an undoubted truism that “familiarity breeds contempt.” Deadly dynamite sticks were handled without thought of danger, and it is not to be wondered at if the men failed to use extreme caution at all times. Although so far as we know, there was no lack of caution in this case.
[Welland Tribune, 9 June 1905]
Buffalo, N.Y., June 6-The chief incident attendant upon last night’s severe storm in Buffalo was the averting by a small boy of the probable wrecking of a T.H. & B passenger train in the Black Rock yards, in which serious loss of life night have been entailed. In thunder, lightning and in rain, the little fellow was walking along the railroad on his way home about eight o’clock, when he noticed that the stone ballast had been completely washed away and that it was unsafe for a train to pass that point. A minute later he saw the headlight of the engine of the T.H & B train turning into the New York Central tracks near International Bridge. The youngster realized the danger the oncoming train was running into, and he started to wave his handkerchief, but afterwards spied a switch lamp which he grabbed and rushing to the centre of the tracks waved it so that the engineer could see the red light. The train was brought to a stop just a short distance front the washout, and an inspection showed that the boy’s conclusions were justified. There is a heavy embankment on one side of the track. The train was delayed almost two hours.
[Welland Tribune, 8 August 1905]
The scene of the local land boom has shifted south from Rainey’s Bend and Mr. Richards is now endeavoring to buy a block of about 200 acres south of the Chippawa road. The following are the farms which he desires: R.H. Appleyard, 30 acres; H.S. Ramey, 30 acres; Jno. Weaver, 25 acres; Frank Schooley, 50 acres; Wm. Rauch, 10 acres; J.A. Steele, 52 ½ acres. Mr. Richards has succeeded in optioning all the above land at a satisfactory figure, except J.A. Steele’s, which he says is held at a price too high to buy. We understand Mr. Steele wants $100 an acre. Mr. Richards says he wants this piece of land to complete the block, and unless Mr. Steele sells to him he will not buy any of it. The purpose for which this land is being bought is as a great mystery as ever.
FIRST BUILDING GENERAL HOSPITAL, NIAGARA FALLS, ONT.
Architect E.D. Pitt, 8/4/ 05
[Welland Tribune, 18 August 1905]
Above is an illustration of the central building of the proposed hospital to be built at Niagara Falls, Ont. The plans were made by Architect Pitt and approved by the Board, tenders for construction to be opened, Sept. 5th. The plans show a compact and severe building, consisting of basement well above ground, and three stories and attic, to front toward the north. The facade has two large outer gables and two smaller ones between, an arched porch with side steps, and balcony from second storey. Through the basement and each floor runs a corridor, with convenient apartments in front and rear. A front hall leads directly to the elevator. There is arrangement for twenty beds, and for all the necessary accommodations of a first class hospital. The estimated cost is $18,000.
[People’s Press, 22 August 1905]
An exciting yachting accident happened off this harbor a week ago Saturday night. A gasoline yacht bound from New York City to Erie was running for Port Colborne harbor on account of coming storm, when she struck a reef off Fairview Farm (Frank Shisler) at 12 o’clock at night. Three men were on the boat, two running it and one asleep. When the yacht struck the reef a small boat was launched, but upset in four feet of water, nearly half a mile out, and one of the men waded ashore on the reef. He woke Mr. Shisler, who drove to town and sent the tug Armstrong to the assistance of the yacht. The yacht had been got off in the meantime, but was helpless, as her shoe was bent up against her propeller. She was towed to Port Colborne, where one of the Contractor Hogan’s derricks lifted her out of the water for repairs. She remained in port all day Sunday, the crew spending the day searching for oars, anchor and pocket-book of money, which were lost in the lake, but without success. The pocket-book was said to have contained $180 and some valuable jewelry. The party had no money left but some small change. The yacht was 44 feet long, and two of the crew named Tismuth, claimed to be the owners. The lake was very calm or the boat would have dashed to pieces.
TWO MEN DROWNED
[Welland Tribune, 9 June 1905]
Port Stanley, Ont. June 7-This morning about 9.15 the Government cruiser Vigilant, Capt. Dunn, sighted a fishing tug about six miles east of Middle Island in Lake Erie and five miles north of the boundary line. The captain changed his course and made towards the tug, which proved to be the Grace M. of Lorain, Ohio, Capt. William Galbraith. The tug went quite near her Capt. Dunn signalled with his whistle for her crew to check. No attention was paid to stop, but the tug shot past the Vigilant with full steam.
Captain Dunn turned and soon overhauled her, but the tug continued to dodge the Valiant notwithstanding the fact that Capt. Dunn had fired across her bows several times. The Vigilant was again coming up on the tug when she again attempted to cross the Vigilant’s bow. Capt. Dunn seeing there was likely to be a collision, stopped and backed full steam.
He had his boat well stopped when they came together, but the momentum of the Vigilant was sufficient to roll the Grace M. over and she sank. Capt. Dunn rescued Capt. Galbraith, Engineer Wm. Rulleson, and D, Poppelwell, a fisherman. Two fisherman named Martin Oleson of Cleveland and Wm. Anderson of Lorrain were drowned.
Capt. Galbraith admits that Capt. Dunn was in no way to blame, and now his sorrow realizes he should have obeyed Capt. Dunn’s signals and stopped his boat when ordered to do so.
The Vigilant succeeded the Petrel on Lake Erie this year. The big legal fight over the seizure of the Kitty D. by the Petrel is well known. It has lasted two years and has cost thousands of dollars.
[People’s Press, 5 September 1905]
The Str. Savona, loaded with iron ore, went ashore on York Island in Lake Superior in a gale on Friday night, and broke in two. One boat containing eleven people reached shore in safety, but it is feared that five men, who took another boat, are lost, also six members of the crew who staid on the wreck. The Savona was a steel freight steamer, built in 1890, owned at Erie, and valued at $150,000. She was lengthened 72 feet at Buffalo last spring.
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