This accident occurred before
the Ottawa and
New York Railway was opened to traffic. It turned out to be
the
most serious accident in the entire life of the line.
Ottawa Journal 11 June 1898
Dashed Into an Open Switch
O. & N.Y. CONSTRUCTION TRAIN DERAILED AND FOUR LIVES LOST
A Terriblr Fatality on the New Line at Embrum
CONDUCTOR, FIREMAN AND TWO LABORERS BURIED IN THE WRECK
Engineer Murray Tells How the Accident Happened - An Inquest Being Held This Afternoon - Names of the Victims
(Special to the Journal)
Russell, Ont., June 11. - Four men were instantly killed and two
injured last evening in a railway accident on the Ottawa and New York
railway at Embrum, four miles distant from this place, by the derailing
of a gravel train.
The victims are:
W. GREENLESS. conductor, Detroit, Mich.
F. CHRYSLER, fireman, of Chrysler. Ont.
- ROMBOUGH, laborer, Newlngton. Ont.
- BROWN, laborer, Newlngton, Ont.,
Shortly after six o'clock last evening the construction train, in
charge of Conductor Greenless and Engineer Murray, was approaching
Embrum station, travelling at a moderate speed. Immediately after
crossing the Castor river bridge, near the station, the train ran into
an open switch leading to a temporary siding, with the result that the
locomotive and ten cars loaded with gravel were piled in one mass of
destruction, crushing out at least four lives beneath them. Twelve
other cars loaded with gravel, composing the train, remained on the
track.
Engineer's Story.
Engineer Murray's story of the wreck is that
Greenless, Rombough; Brown, and another man were sitting together on
top of a car load of gravel on the car behind the locomotive as the
train neared Embrum. After crossings the bridge he noticed that the
switch was open. He was then only about two hundred yards from the
switch, and seeing he could not stop the train, reversed his engine and
shouted to the men behind, warning them of their danger. He also told
the fireman, Chrysler, to jump for his life. The fireman did so before
the train reached the switch, the engineer remaining at his post till
the locomotive left the track, and then jumped, escaping with slight
bruises. The fireman and three men on the gravel car were buried In the
wreck.
Recovering the Bodies.
Immediately the work of removing the debris with the
hope that some of the victims might be rescued alive, was begun. Within
a few hours the bodies of Chrysler, Rombongh and Green [sic] were
found, but it was not until daybreak this morning, after the men had
worked all night, that the body of Conductor Greenless was discovered.
To-day the wreck is being cleared and it is considered possible that
more bodies may be found, as occasionally laborers who had formerly
worked on the new road, stole a ride on the construction trains.
An Inquest
Dr. Ferguson, coroner of Cumberland, will hold an inquest at two o'clock this afternoon.
The bodies of the four victims lie in Embrum station until the coroner's jury examine them
The remains of Fireman Chrysler will be buried Monday forenoon with Masonic honors.
Two Injured.
There were eight persons on the train when the
accident took place. Two men were injured, one having his hand jammed
and the other his head badly out.
It is supposed that boys opened the switch in mischief.
The locomotive and cars are a complete wreck. The locomotive destroyed was No. 3.
Mrs. Greenlees, wife of the deceased conductor, is in Ottawa where she
arrived only a few days ago from Detroit. The O. & N.Y. officials
to-day notified her of her husband's death.
Rombough and Brown were "cable-men" on the construction train, their
duty being to arrange the cable by which the gravel is unloadad from
the cars.
Ottawa Citizen 11 June 1898
OPEN SWITCH
Causes a Serious Accident on O. & N.Y. Ry.
FOUR MEN WERE KILLED
The Accident Occurres Last Evening near Russell - The Casualties
IT WAS A GRAVEL TRAIN
The Engine Turned Completely Over on its Side and Ten Cars Were Piled Up
Russell, Ont., June 11. - At 6.30 last night a construction train on
the New York and Ottawa railroad, with 23 cars loaded with gravel, left
the track at Embrum station, supposed to have been caused by an open
switch. The engine turned over on its side and ten cars
were piled up and smashed into tinder. Four bodies were got out of the
wreck, Mr. Greenleese, conductor, F. Crysler, the fireman, and Rombough
and Greene, cablemen. It is not known if any more are under the wreck,
which is now being removed.
Ottawa Citizen 13 June 1898
FOUR KILLED THREE INJURED
In the Accident on the O. and N. Y. Road
CAUSE, OPEN SWITCH
One of the Men Killed Had Only But Just Come To Reside in Ottawa
The new Ottawa & New York Railway has had its first accident, and
it was a serious one. Shortly after 6:00 on Friday evening a train ran
through an open switch and pitched down an embankment, resulting in
four being instantly killed and three injured. The names of the killed
are; H. M. Greenley, conductor; F Chrysler, fireman; W. Rambough,
laborer, and Jas. Green, laborer.
Conductor Greenley lately moved to Ottawa from Detroit, and lived on
Waverley street. He was a married man, and leaves a wife and two
children. The man Rambough belonged to Newington. The death of Chrysler
is particularly sad. He was once a fireman on the C.P.R. But had
abandoned the work at the instance of his father, who was afraid he
would get injured. The railway company, however, bought the right of
way through his father's farm at Chrysler, and the young man asked for
a position as fireman. His father consented, and the young man had been
at his work for only a few weeks.
The train consisted of twenty flat cars loaded with gravel and was
running about twenty miles an hour when the accident happened. It was
making the last trip of the day on the return from the gravel pit to
Longstreet. Approaching Sunburn [sic] (Embrum?) station after crossing
the Castor River bridge, the train ran into an open switch leading to a
temporary siding. The locomotive turned over on its side and rolled
down the embankment, which is quite high at this point, dragging ten
cars with it. When about two hundred yards from the switch, engineer
Murray saw that it was open, and jumped from his engine and escaped
with a few cuts and bruises. On the first car back of the engine
conductor Greenley and Rambough were sitting, and before jumping,
engineer Murray called to them to jump for their lives and reversed the
engine. This, however, could not stop the train which crashed into the
switch. The fireman, Chrysler jumped before the switch was reached, but
too late to save his life. After the engine turned over, the cars
loaded with gravel piled up on one another, burying the three men in
the first car under the gravel and broken cars.
The work of clearing away the wreckage was at once begun with the hope
of finding some of the men alive. In a few hours the bodies of
Chrysler, Rambough and Green were found, but it was nearly morning
before the body of conductor Greenley was discovered. The unfortunate
men were buried under the gravel, and two or three car loads had to be
shoveled away before the bodies were reached. All the bodies were badly
crushed.
The injured men are Jacob Brown, Manson, Hollister, and engineer
Murray. Brown's hands are badly crushed, and Hollister has an ugly
scalp wound. Their condition is regarded as serious.
The bodies of the dead men were removed to Sunburn [sic] station, where
they were viewed by Dr. Ferguson, of Cumberland, the coroner, and a
jury. The inquest will be held later. The fireman, Chrysler, will be
buried with Masonic orders today.
How the switch happened to be open is not known. The line is not
regularly open for traffic, and switches are opened and closed by the
train men. The train was in charge of the contractors Balch &
Peppard, and the railway company is in no way responsible for the
accident
Ottawa Citizen 14 June 1898
BROWN NOT KILLED
Citizen Correct When It Stated Green Was the Fourth Victim of the Big Accident.
Russell, June 13 - The accident on the N.Y. & O. Railway at the
little village of St. Onge has cast a gloom over the community. A sad
sight, indeed, was that which met the eye on visiting the
scene. The corpses of the four victims were lying in the station house
waiting the arrival of the coroner,
The four man killed were Mr. Greenly, the conductor; the fireman, F.
Chrysler, and two of the cable gang, Wm. Rambough and a man named
Green. It is supposed the accident was caused by someone tampering with
the switch and not properly closing it.
Brown safe, not dead.
Brakeman E. Brown was on top of the tender. He jumped
and escaped without a scratch. There were two others slightly injured.
J. Brown, who was riding with the men on one of the gravel cars,
received a cut on his hand and another a slight scalp wound.
As soon as Engineer Murray had regained his feet after his leap for
life, and saw three of his companions dead, and could not find his
conductor, too, he got a horse and drove to Russell to the nearest
telegraph office wired to South Finch to Mr. Mothy, the superintendent
of the road. The latter had to send eight miles for an engine and
train.
The Jury.
Dr. Macdougall, of Russell, was on hand in a very
short time and dressed the wounds of the injured men. He immediately
telegraphed to Coroner Ferguson, of Cumberland, who arrived here at 3
p.m. and without delay empaneled a jury. The jury men were D.
McDairmid, foreman; Joseph Britt, John Liney, John Rambough, G. Craig,
S. Black, S. Seyen, M. Hebert, A. Latroumouille, T. Emard, O.
Nadeau, N. Lemieux.
The jury viewed the bodies of the dead, and adjourned until 6:30. p.m.
Coroner Ferguson then gave permission to remove the bodies.
They were placed in caskets by the undertaker. Mr. Balch, the
contractor, had brought everything necessary from Cornwall by special
train.
The Deceased
The body of Mr. F. Chrysler was taken to his father's
home at Chrysler. Deceased was the only son of Ralph Chrysler, of
Chrysler.
W. Rambough's body was removed to his late home at South Finch. His is
a case of particular sadness, as he leaves a widow and small, helpless
children. His wife had been very ill for some time, and it is feared
the shock may be too much for her.
The body of Mr Green was taken to Newington. It is said he was the only
support of a widowed mother. It was his first day on the gravel train.
He had been loading at the pit, and was sent to replace another man.
Conductor Greenly's former home was in Minneapolis. He came here last
year when the work of construction commenced, and decided to remain in
Canada and take the position of conductor on a passenger train when the
road would be in operation. He brought his family here in April. His
wife and daughter went to Ottawa two weeks ago and rented a house on
Waverly street, and intended becoming permanent residents of Ottawa.
They just left him at South Finch the day before the accident, in the
fond hope that he would spend the following Sunday with them in their
own home at Ottawa. Instead of expected message of homecoming, it
became the painful duty of their friend, Mr. G. Eddy, to break to his
wife and family the news of his terrible death. He made many warm
friends during his short stay in the country, and his family have their
most heartfelt sympathy in their trouble.
Evidence at the Inquest.
The inquest was resumed at 6:30 p.m. in the town hall,
Embrun. The jury heard the evidence of Mr. Murray, the engineer, who
escaped, and the two brakemen who were on tbe train. They could not
account for the accident in any way, except that the switch had been
opened by some person and not properly closed again. They had passed
over the road going south with an empty train about 1 1-2 hours before,
and it was all right. The jury also heard Mr. F.D. Anthoney, the chief
engineer of the road, who showed that the road was in good condition
and well built, and the switches of tbe most modern pattern.
The brakemen testified that they were not running over twenty miles an bour.
The inquest was then adjourned, to meet in the town hall in the village of Russell next Thursday, the 16th inst., at 10 a.m.
Comment as to the cause of tbe accident would be out of place until the
investigation is closed. The coroner promises a most searching
investigation. So far there appears to be no blame attached to any of
those in charge of the train. Engineer Murray stood bravely to his post
until the last - W H.L.
From the Lanark Era 15 June 1898
Four young men were instantly killed and two injured on Friday evening
in a railway accident on the Ottawa and New York railway by derailing
of a gravel train four miles from Russell. The conductor, fireman and
two laborers were killed.
From the Chesterville Record of 16
June 1898:
Four men killed.
Gravel train derailed with
terrible results.
Accident occurred near St. Onge in Russell county.
Twenty five cars reduced to splinters.
Russell June 11. At 6 o'clock last
night a construction train on the New York and Ottawa Railroad,
with 22 cars loaded with gravel, left the track at Embrun
station.
The accident is supposed to have been caused by an open
switch.
The engine turned over on its side
and ten cars piled up and were smashed into tinder.
Four bodies were taken out of the wreck. They are Mr.
Greenley,
conductor, Mr. Crysler, fireman, and J.W. Rombough and Greenley carmen.
At 8 o'clock this morning it was impossible to say if any more are
under the wreck.
Ottawa June 11. The accident caused quite a stir around the
city
and was discussed on all sides, although no authentic particulars can
be obtained. The Free press sent a representative to the
scene
and at a late hour this morning he telephoned that the accident was
most appalling Only the four bodies had been removed from the
wreck and it was not thought any others met death, although an escape
after the sudden pitch in occurred would have been impossible to any on
the ill-fated train.
From information received, the train was
ditched by an open switch near St. Onge, which is about seven
miles from Russell village. The train was known as No.
3 and was returning from the pit to Longfield on the last run
of the day at the rate of nearly 20 miles an hour. The train
consisted of an engine and 25 heavily laden cars. Just where
the
switch is situated there is a steep embankment and down this the engine
plunged at full steam with the unfortunate victims. There was
no
chance for escape. In a twinkling the cars crashed together
and
went on top of the locomotive and the poor fellows who
were in the cab. The three nearest cars were reduced to
splinters
and all piled up in a miscellaneous mass on top of the wrecked
engine. The scene which followed was frightful. No
assistance could be
rendered the helpless ones.
Work of rescue started at once by the railway hands, but it was hours
before the bodies were recovered.
The bodies of William Rombough, the cable man on the train, and Fireman
Crysler were recovered about 8
o'clock but that of Conductor Greenley could not be found until 2
o'clock this morning and by that time two car loads of gravel had
been shovelled away. The man's head was badly smashed and
his legs broken, Fireman Crysler's body was found near that of
Rombough. It was frightfully bruised. A brother of
Greenley's who was
also on the train was hurled head first into the ditch and one of the
cars crushed him. He was killed instantly.
Engineer Murray, as the train approached
the switch, notices something was wrong and quickly reversing
the brakes, jumped for his life. He escaped with a few
bruises and a scalp wound. Jacob Brown, one of the train
hands,
had one of his hands frightfully crushed and Manson Hollister an ugly
scalp wound. Both are in serious condition and fears
are entertained for their recovery.
Greenley, a short time ago, moved from the east to Ottawa, and has a
wife and two sons here.
Crysler was a resident of
Crysler and was a
single man.
President Hibbard, when seen in referrence to the accident said ""I
know very little of the details. There is no telegraph office
at
Embrun and the nearest telephone is three miles away, so that
particulars are meagre. It appears that a construction train
belonging to the contractors Messrs. Balch and Peppard was going
south. It consisted of an engine and some twenty empty flat
cars. The switch at the north end of Embrun siding had been
tampered with, possibly by someone who knew very little about
it.
The wheels of the engine caught in the opening, with the result that
the engine was derailed and ten flat cars piled upon one
another.
The cars were entirely demolished and the engine partially
disabled. Fireman Crysler of Crysler; Conductor Greenley, of
Ottawa and two brakemen, whose names I do not know, were
killed.
This was the contractors train, the company had nothing to do with the
accident and we are in no way responsible for it. As I said
before it was purely on account of some one tampering with the switch.
An inquest into the cause of the wreck on the Ottawa and New York road
was held at Embrun. Dr. Ferguson, of Cumberland, presided as
coroner, and Duncan McDiarmid was
foreman of the jury. There was quite an array of legal
talent,
R.A. Pringle representing the contractors, and C.H. Cline of Cornwall
and C.B. Rae of Chesterville, the friends of the victims.
After
hearing all the evidence the inquest was adjourned to meet
again on 16th instant in the village of Russell. An order was issued
for the interment of the bodies.
There was also a piece on the death of Frank Crysler, the only son of
the reeve of Crysler and a description of the funeral.
Ottawa Journal 17 June 1898
SWITCHES SHOULD BE LOCKED
So Say the Coroner's Jury in the Embrum Accident
(Special to The Journal)
Cornwall, June 17. Very little new evidence was
adduced at the adjourned inquest on the bodies of the four men killed
last week in the O. & N.Y. accident at Embrum. The inquest was.
continued yesterday at Russell, Coroner Ferguson, of Cumberland,
presiding. The verdict brought in by the jury attached no particular
blame to anybody, stating that the accident was caused by an open
switch, but the jury recommended that the government pass legislation
to compel the locking of all switches both during operation and
construction of all railway lines. Mr. Balch one of the contractors,
says that all trains were instructed to slow down to six miles an hour
passing switches.
Ottawa Citizen 17 June 1898
A RATHER ODD VERDICT
The Jury in the Russell Accident Finds That the Deaths Were Accidental.
The adjourned inquest into the cause of the accident on the) Ottawa and
New York road was held yesterday at Russell. Coroner Ferguson presided,
but no new evidence was adduced. He made a lengthy and able charge to
the jury, who were not long out. Tbey returned a verdict of accidental
death, the switch being left open through negligence. They have
addressed a memorial to the government asking that all switches on
roads under construction be locked In future.
The contractor was represented by Mr. Pringle, of Cornwall, Mr. Cline,
of Cornwall, acted for the Chrysler family, Mr. C. Ray, of
Chesterville, for the Rambough family, and Mr. Gagnon, of Cornwall,
represented the Green family. County Crown Attorney Maxville of
L'Orignal was present for the crown.
Eastern Ontario Review, Vankleek Hill, Friday 17 June 1898
W.
Greenless, conductor, F. Chrysler, fireman; and two men named
Rombiriugh and Brown, laborers, were killed on a railway wreck near
Russell village on Friday night last. They were on a construction train
on the O. & N.Y. and ran into an open switch.
Almonte Gazette 17 June 1898
Four Men killed.
A terrible accident happened on the Ottawa and New York Railway at
Embrum, about four miles from Russell village, on Friday. Some
mischievous boys, it is supposed, opened the switch, and the train
running into it, was derailed. The conductor, the fireman and two
laborers were buried in the wreck and killed. The engineer noticed the
open switch, but too late to avoid it. He reversed his engine and
shouted to the men to save themselves, but it was too sudden. He stuck
to his engine till it left the track, when he leaped and saved himself,
escaping with slight bruises.
Ottawa Citizen 2 December 1898
THE EMBRUN ACCIDENT
Friends of the Two Young Men Killed Given Damages
Cornwall Dec 1. The cases brought against the Ottawa and New York
Construction Company and Balch and Peppard by the friends of J.W.
Rombough and George W. Greene, two of the men who were killed in the
Embrun accident in June last, were completed here this evening.
The cases have occupied the court all week and it was not until a very
late hour tonight that the jury were ready with their verdict.
The verdict was for $4,000 damages, allowing $2,500 for the plaintiffs
in the Rombough case and $1,500 for the plaintiffs in the Green [sic]
case. Although the actions were brought against the two
companies, Balch & Peppard and the New York and Ottawa Co., the
jury exonerated the N.Y. & O. Co. from any blame and placed all the
damages on the shoulders of Balch & Peppard. The friends of
the young man Crysler, who was killed in the same accident, brought an
action also but it was thrown out yesterday morning, the judge holding
that they had no cause of action, whatever. There are several
legal complications between the two companies and the case will, in all
probability, be appealed. MacClennan, Q.C. and Cline for
Rombough. Mogo and Beatty fro Greene. Caeselle, Q.C. and Anglin
for Balch & Peppard. Leith, Q.C. and Pringle for N.Y. &
O. Co.
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