Details of Railway Accidents in the Ottawa Area

1895, December - Concern about Safety of Canada Atlantic Railway in the Ottawa Area

This issue was raised by the Ottawa Citizen as follows: Ottawa Citizen 10 December 1895 A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS. Seven Men Injured While Working Around C. A. R. Trains. Paul Goolah, brakesman of the C.A.R., had the two first fingers of his left hand jammed so badly while coupling cars yesterday morning that they had to be amputated. He was the seventh C.A.R. man injured within the past four or five weeks. The list follows: D. Wilson Lost two fingers. R.Cole Four ribs broken. A. Maloney Lost parts of two fingers. W. Young Hand jammed. Andrew Easton Fatal injuries. Paul Goolah Two badly jammed. In the majority of the cases if not in all, the accidents were the result of carelessness. The fatality mentioned above and another one which occurred on 16 December are covered below: Fatality of Andrew Easton/Eastman on 6 December 1895 Ottawa Citizen 7 December 1895 KILLED BY THE CARS. ANDREW EASTON MET A TERRIBLE DEATH LAST NIGHT In the Canada Atlantic Yards in Stewarton. His Back Was Broken. Alive When found but Died Almost Immediately. An Inquest Opened. Andrew Easton, a young brakesman employed in the C.A.R. yards in Stewarton, was almost instantly killed last evening a few minutes after half past six o'clock. The particulars of the accident are yet unknown, and, will likely remain a mystery, for, as far as learned, there were no witnesses to the sad fatality. At half past six o'clock Easton was seen alive by Mr. Patrick Brennan, yard master, and five minutes later his body was discovered lying between two tracks a couple of hundred yards from the station by Mr. P. Driscoll, car inspector, and Mr. W. Crooks, car repairer. There were still signs of life, and medical assistance was hurriedly summoned. When Dr. Cormack arrived upon the scene a short time afterwards, however, be pronoumced the case a hopeless one. In the course of a few minutes Easton expired. His back bone had been broken in the lumber region. Otherwise, with the exception of a swelling and a bruise in the lower portion of the back, there were no outward marks of injury. An Inquest Opened. The body was conveyed in the ambulance to Moodie's morgue, on Bank St. where it was viewed by many during the evening. An inquest was commenced at eight o'clock by Coroner Mark, and, after viewing the body an adjournment was made until 7.30 o'clock Monday evening. It was decided that an autopsy was unecessary. The jury, sworn, consists of the following: Messrs M. Brown, foreman, G. Vallillee, A. True, G. G. Vallillee, jr., G.J. York. G. Sanderson, D. Biggars, G.F. Guy, J.W. Hughes, D. Killeen, J.Campbell, F. Turcotte, W.A. Currie, D. Smith, R. Moodie, and G. Barnes. Caught Between the Cars. Mr. P. Driscoll, one of the two men who found the dying man, said to a Citizen reporter, that there was little doubt but that Easton got caught between two freight cars. Just a short time before they found him, they heard a crash as though two cars had come together heavily. Sorne O.A. and P.S.railway freight cars were being shunted down a siding at the time. It was next to this siding that they found the body, and the only conclusion was that he had been jammed between the cars as they came together. The deceased, who was thirty years of age, lived at the corner of Percy and Somerset streets. He leaves a widow and two small children to mourn his untimely death. Mrs. Easton was almost overcome with grief when the awful news was broken to her. The deceased was a member of "Missing Link" Lodge of the Order of Carleton Place, and also of Carleton Lodge, A. O. U. W. The funeral arrangements will be attended to by "Missing Link" Lodge. Ottawa Journal 7 December 1895 CRUSHED TO DEATH ANDREW EASTMAN, A BRAKEMAN, MEETS DEATH IN THE C.A.R. YARD No one Saw the Accident,but it seems that he was Caught Between the Cars - The Victim Had Just Returned with his Train from a Trip - An Inquest to be Held. A melancholy accident occurred at the C.A.R. freight yards adjoining the Elgin street depot, last evening, by which Andrew Eastman, a married man with a wife and two small children, met almost an instant death. Eastman was a brakesman on the line. He had just come in on his train, but no one knows exactly how or when the accident happened. His body was found shortly after half past six o'clock on a siding a short distance from the depot. Mr. P. Driscoll, car inspector, who found the body, discovered that life was not quite extinct and summoned medical aid. Dr. Cormack arrived soon afterwards, and shaking his head announced that the man could, not live. His back was found to be broken, although the external bruises seemed slight. Easfman expired a few minutes after the doctor arrived. Between the Cars. Although no one saw the accident, it is quite evident that Eastman was crushed between two cars, and met his death in this way. The body was removed to Moodie's morgue, Bank street, where shortly after 8 o'clock Coroner Mark empanelled a jury. The jury viewed the body and the inquest was adjourned until Monday evening. Those comprising the coroner's jury were M. Brown, foreman, G. Vallillee, A. True, G. Vallillee, jr., G.J. York. G.Sanderson. D. Biggars. G.F.Guy, J.W. Hughes. D. Killeen. J. Campbell, F. Turcotte, W.A. Currie, R. Moodie, C. Baines and D. Smith. Eastman lived on Somerset street at the corner of Percy. He had been in the employ of the line three or four years, and belonged to the "Missing Link" lodge of Railway Brakesmen. He was about thirty years of age, sober and industrious. Ottawa Journal 10 December 1895 NO ONE TO BLAME JURY FINDS ANDREW EASTMAN'S DEATH WAS ACCIDENTAL End of the Inquest into the C.A.R. Yard Fatality - Evidence Shows that the Deceased was Crushed While Coupling - Statements of the Train Hands. The adjourned inquest into the death of the late Andrew Eastman, who was killed last Friday evening in the C.A.R. yards, was resumed last evening and lasted from half past seven until after eleven, during which time some dozen witnesses were examined. It was conducted by Coroner Mark. George Vallillee. with whom the deceased had boarded during the last four months previous to his death, was the first to give evidence. He testified that he had never seen Eastman under the influence of liquor and as far as he knew he was entirely temperate. When recalled he stated Eastman had been troubled lately by a sore leg. The evidence of Thomas Skuce, of Friel street, was practically the same. Thomas F. Kane, of 551 Nicholas street, the engineer of the cars, which it is supposed killed Eastman, was next examined, his evidence lasting over an hour. It amounted to the fact that the yard foreman had given him instructions to couple his line of cars numbering 22 to one separate freight car standing on a siding. He took his instructions by signals given by the yardmaster and the brakemen, Eastman was one of the brakemen, and it was his duty to do the coupling. He did not see Eastman just prior to the accident, as the deceased was on the ground. When the cars joined, the shock was no greater than usual. He did not believe there would have been any perceptible difference in the jar of the two cars meeting, if the deceased had been caught between them, and thus acted as a cushion. He had received the signal to go back with his engine and had done so, and did not know at the time that the car had not been coupled, or anything about the accident. On being recalled he admitted that at the time of the accident he was not on his engine, which was in charge of his fireman, who was really a regular engineer. This point led to some discussion, as to whether he had any right to leave his engine.  Both Kane and several brakemen swore he had, provided it was only for a short time, and he left the engine in charge of a competent man. Kane said be knew of no ill feellng among any of the trainhands. Arthur Radmore of 19 Peter street. the fireman who was in charge of the engine at the time of the accident, stated that he was a regular engineer, having passed his examinations. It was he who had answered the signals given by the yardman. Brakeman Wm. Hurley stated that Eastman's duty was to couple the cars. He had not watched the deceased, but was watching the yard foreman. There was in his opinion nothing reckless about the conduct of the engineer. Paul Brennan. yardmaster at the time of the accident, was the one who gave the signals to the engineer. He had noticed Eastman standing on the steps of the van preparatory to coupling it to the train. Eastman had partially succeeded in coupling the car as examination showed he had put the coupling ring into the drawbar of the car.The weight of the train. which it is thought passed over Eastman, was aboutI 20.000 lbs. This car was afterwards found off the track. Mr. M. Donaldson, superintendent of the line, stated that a car has been known to be put off the track by running over a man's leg. Mr. Jos. Duval, chief train despatcher, said, the fireman had passed his examination for an engineer. Finding of the Body. Mr. Wm. Brookes, who found the body of the deceased after the accident, stated he had heard a faint cry as the coupling was taking place, and on running to the place had found deceased lying on the snow, face downward, just outside the rails, but there was an impression on the snow over the rails, as though he had fallen there. He helped turn Eastman on his back and had then notified the yardmaster of the accident The evidence of Pat. Driscoll, the car repairer, was practically the same. Mr. Harry Moodie, who had attended the call for the ambulance, stated Eastman was apparently already dead on his arrival. Dr. Cormack, who was the first doctor called, and who made the post mortem examination, stated that he had found on examination that there lad been a compound fracture of the left leg, while a number of the organs around the hip had also been broken. Death had been caused by internal hemorrhage. Judging from the injuries he thought Eastman had been killed by the car passing over him, and not by being crushed between the cars The Verdict. The jury then retired, and after some twenty minutes' deliberation brought in the following, verdict : "The jury are of opinion that the deceased, Andrew Eastman, met his death by accident while attempting to couple cars in the C.A.R. yards of Ottawa, but the exact cause of such fatal accident does not appear clear to us. The jury is well satisfied as to the manner in which Mr. M. Donaldson and Mr. Duval assisted the investigation, and also wish to exonerate the railway company and employees from all blame." Almonte Gazette 13 December 1895 Last Friday evening Andrew Easton met his death in the yards of the Canada Atlantic Railway at Ottawa, where he was employed as a brakesman. He was assisting in making up the eastbound freight train, and went to couple a car on a siding to the line of 22 cars attached to the engine. Apparently he had partially succeeded in doing this when the accident occurred, for he had put the coupling bar into the draw-bar of the car. Mr. Wm. Brookes, who was at some little distance, heard a faint cry just as the coupling was taking place, and running to the spot, found Easton lying on the snow face downwards outside the rails, but there was an impression on the snow over the rails as though he had fallen there. Dr. Cormack was summoned, but he could only pronounce life to be extinct. Death had been caused by internal hemorrhage. Judging from the injuries he thought Easton had been killed by the car passing over him, and not by being crushed between the cars. Coroner Mark held an inquest and, after hearing evidence, the jury returned a verdict of "accidental death." It is only a few weeks since Easton, had his foot injured. At that time his wife pleaded with him to give up railroading and procure another kind of employment. Previous to that he had met with other accidents. Mr. Easton was a native of Lanark county, and began his railroad career in Carleton Place. He was about 30 years of age. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen, Missing Link lodge, Carleton Place, and also belonged to the A. O. U. W. there, in which he had $2,000 insurance. His remains were conveyed to Watson's Corners for internment, and were accompanied by a number of the Carleton Place United Workmen. The bereaved widow and her two fatherless children had the deepest sympathy of all in their sorrow. Fatality of  John Glennie on 16 December 1895 HIS HEAD CRUSHED IN. ANOTHER FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE C. A. RAILWAY YARDS. The Victim a Fireman Who Met His Death Alone and Unnoticed. Inquest Adjourned Until Tomorrow Evening. John Glennie, aged 23, a fireman in the employ of the Canada tAlantic[sic] Ry. was found dead in the yard near the round house last evening. He leaves a wife and two children. It was about seven o'clock when the body was discovered lying on the track near the round house door, with the head completely crushed in. Nobody saw the accident which killed him. Nobody knows just how it occurred, There was nobody else about the building where an employee discovered the corpse on the floor. The ambulance was summoned by telephone and Dr. Kidd's services were promptly requisitionsd by the officials of the railway company. An examination showed that life was extinct, the body was ordered to be sent in the ambulance to Moodie's morgue. There a further examination, of the terrible wounds in the dead man's head was made, by Dr. Kidd; and Coroner Mark, who had been summoned in the meantime impannelled a jury. The jurymen having viewed the body, the inquest was adjourned until Wednesday evening at eight o'clock, when full investigation will be made into all the ascertainable circumstances surrounding Glennie's death. The probabilities are that the unfortunate fireman was somehow crushed between a passing engine and a standing car or other heavy obstruction, and that death being instantaneous the engine crew had no intimation of the fatality. By Dr. Mark's order the remains were removed last night to Glennie's late home, 444 Bank street. Ottawa Journal 17 December 1895 DEATH WAS SUDDEN JOHN GLENNIE, A FIREMAN, KILLED IN THE C.A.R. YARDS His Head crushed Between Cars Which he was Preparing to Couple - Details of the Sad Affair - An Inquest to be Held Another very sad accident occurred at the Canada Atlantic depot about 8 o'clock last evening, by which John Glennie, a fireman, lost his life. Glennie was fireman on the locomotive attached to the "tank car" which car is used for carrying supplies of coal and water from the station yards to the spot where the steam shovel is excavating close to the site of the temporary depot at Maria street. The car which is flat, has a tank in the centre of it for water, and two boxes at either end for supplies of coal. The quantity of coal and water consumed by the steam shovel is remarkably large, and the car has frequently to be sent back to the depot for supplies. It was on one of these trips that an accident occurred last evening. While near the tank at the round house, Glennie left the engine to couple the tank car to a box car. He did not observe that one of the coal boxes projected a foot or more past the end of the tank car. He stepped between the cars to couple them, not noticing his danger. The cars came together, with the result that his head was jammed between the two cars. Several fellow employees witnessed the accident and picked poor Glennie up, but he died a minute or two afterward. His head was terribly crushed. An Inquest. The body was taken in the ambulance to Moodie's morgue, where Coroner Mark empanelled a jury. The jury viewed the body and then adjourned to meet on Wednesday evening. Glennie had been in the employ of the railway company for about four years. He began as a cleaner, but rapidly rose to the position he held at his death. Glennie was a Scotchman, coming to Ottawa direct from Scotland about 6 years ago. Before entering the employ of the C.A.R. he was an employee of the Electric Street Railway Co. for about a year. Nearly three years ago he married a Miss Little, whose father resides on the 6th line of Huntley. His wife and two children survive him. Deceased was a member of Camp Argule, Sons of Scotland. Ottawa Citizen 19 December 1895 HOW WAS HE KILLED? JOHN GLENNIE'S DEATH IS STILL A MYSTERY. Testimony of Canada Atlantic Employes. Was the Fireman's Head Jammed Between the Cars "Accidental Death" Returned. Funeral of the Victim. How John Glennie, fireman on the C.A.R. was fatally injured on Monday night, will remain a mystery. According to the. testimony at the inquest conducted by Coroner Mark at Moodie's, on Bank Street, last night, there were no eye-witnesses to the sad fatality. Mr. C.H. Chrysler, Q.C., was present on behalf of the interests of the railway company, and Mr. A.W. Fraser on behalf of the deceased's friends and relatives. The Engineer's Testimony. William Roger, the first and most important witness, was examined at considerable length. He is a locomotive engineer, and was on engine 81 Monday night, in the C.A.R. yards. Coming on 7.30 o'clock he received a signal from the deceased fireman to back his engine up to a coal car, which it was intended to shift on to another track. The draw bars did not bump together as usual, it having seemed as though something intercepted between them. He shouted "How is it?" but there was no answer. He went to the end of the car and found the deceased lying outside the track. He was speechless and motionless, and badly disfigured about the face. Witness ran to the office to telephone for a doctor, and, upon returning, found that Glennie was dead. In answer to questions by the jury, witness said there was sufficient light in the yard for the deceased to perform his duty of coupling the cars. There were a couple of electric lights a few rods from where the accident happened, and, besides, the deceased was carrying a lantern. When asked his opinion how he thought deceased's head got jammed, Mr. Chrysler objected, stating that what the witness only thought should not be accepted as evidence. Mr. Fraser suggested the substitution of the question for another. It was, whether witness had seen any indications of how the accident might have happened? In answer to this, witness said that after the accident he saw blood on the brake and buffer beams of the engine. Fireman Ball's Story. Fred. Ball, fireman, testified that about a quarter of an hour before the accident he arranged the link and pin on the engine in readiness for coupling. After the accident, he noticed the link extending into the draw-bar of the car a couple of inches. The first he knew of the accident was when Engineer Roger called out, "Fred, come over, Jack is hurt." Upon going over, he saw the deceased on the ground, and he hurried away for a pail of water with which to wash his bleeding face. How Was He Killed? This evidence dispelled an idea held by some that the unfortunate man's head had teen jammed between the draw-bars of the engine and car. While this was proven, not to be the case, yet there was nothing adduced from the string of witnesses called afterwards to throw any light upon how the unfortunate man really met with the awful accident. Locomotive Superintendent Ogilvie said that the exhaust steam from the engine had thawed the snow where the accident happened and made the spot slippery. He believed deceased slipped on the spot while going in front of the engine and had his head crushed by some lower portion of the engine. Accidental death was the verdict. It was after midnight when it was decided upon. The Funeral Yesterday. The funeral of the deceased took place yesterday. It was attended by many, including firemen of the C.A.R. and members of Camp Argyle, Sons of Scotland. It is understood Mrs. Glennie will receive insurance money, both from the Sons of Scotland and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen. Ottawa Journal 19 December 1895 THE CAR KILLED HIM Jury Returns a Verdict of Accident in the Glennie Case The inquest into the death of John Glennie who was killed Monday evening at the C.A.R. depot was held last evening at Mooie's morgue by Coroner Mark. Mr. AW. Fraser, barrister, was present in the interests of Glennies's relatives and Mr. F.H. Chysler attended the interests of the C.A. Ry. The first witness was Wm. Rogers night foreman at the C.A.R. depot. He stated he was in charge of engine No. 81 Monday evening, it being his duty to put the engines into their proper position for the night. He was movlng engine 81 backwards about to couple to the tank car, having received the signal to do so from Glennie, the deceased. He answered Glennie's signal by moving back the engine. He did not feel any shock as is usual when coupling with a car and called out to Glennie if everything was "all right." Receiving no answer he alighted from the engine suspecting some accident and found Glennie lying across the track between the engine and the tank car. Glennie did not speak. Pulling Glennie away from the track he discovered him bleeding at the ear. He explained that the "tank car" was used far carrying water and coal to where the steam shovel was working at the canal (b)asin. A coal bin was at either end of the car and a recepticle in the centre held the water. After the accident he discovered that of the coal boxes had moved and protruded about six inches over the end of the car. It seemed to him that Glennie had been crushed between this protruding box and the engine when coupling. Two weeks previous to the accident he had seen the coal bin on the "tank car" moved so as to extend beyond the end of the car. He did not report his observation and to his knowledge the box had not been removed back to its proper position. The box after the accident was the same as he had seen it two weeks before. Fred Bald and Wm. Robins gave evidence to seeing the body lying between the tracks after the accident. Other witnesses gave testimony but none directly to the cause of death. A verdict of accidental death was returned. Funeral of the Victim. The funeral of the late John Glennie, victim of the railway accident at the C.A.R. depot Monday evening, took place yesterday afternoon and was largely attended. The members of Camp Argyle Sons of Scotland and the local division of Locomotive Firemen of which deceased was a member attended in a body each being represented by about fifty members. Rev. Dr. Moore conducted the funeral services.

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