Details of Railway Accidents in the Ottawa Area

Ottawa Citizen 25 July 1898 A COLLISION C.P.R. Trains Crash Into Each Other MIRACULOUS ESCAPES Only Two Persons Severely Injured - Wreck Described by a Passenger. At a point one mile east of Pembroke a collision took place on the C.P.R. yesterday morning shortly after midnight. The "Soo" express ran into an excursion train. The latter was on its way from Ottawa to Pembroke, and had, as it was nearing its destination, slackened pace; the express, too, was going at a moderate rate. As a consequence, the danger to those on board both trains was minimal. No lives were lost, none were dangerously injured, but all were badly shaken up. The trains collided where there is a double curve in the line, a fact which may also account for the lack of speed. Not withstanding the impact of the two trains coming together caused a great deal of damage to the rolling stock. Neither Engine Left the Track. One of those who was on the scene of the disaster - and who has witnessed several railroad catastrophes - said that he has not known one exactly similar to the one in question. The peculiar feature was that neither of the engines nor any of the cars left the track; they merely jammed into one another until no further headway could be made. They were much like an accordion. For example, the boilers [sic] of one engine crashed into the other until both smoke stacks were together, and the tenders rammed through the baggage cars on both trains, and made these latter spread until they were a shapeless mass of wreckage. Engineers and Firemen Jumped. The "Soo" train had between forty or fifty on board, while the excursion train, consisting of six coaches having dropped its passengers all along the line, was freighted only with twenty passengers. The express left Pembroke on time, and had gone exactly one mile when the collision occurred. Just before it took place the engineer saw what was coming, and put the emergency check in operation. This was all that could be done. He and his fireman then jumped. The engineer and fireman on the excursion train followed their example. All four escaped unscathed. Baggageman's Miraculous Escape. The baggage master on the express was in his car, and had a miraculous deliverance. How he escaped instant death is a mystery. Although his car was smashed to atoms, he came out unharmed. A great deal of baggage was totally destroyed. Mr. J. M. Coyne, a Toronto commercial man, was a big loser, and will enter a claim against the company. Only Two Were Hurt. Only two of the passengers on the express were badly hurt. One was an old man in the smoker, who was thrown to the floor. He was greatly bruised, and some glass falling out of the windows, his face was lacerated. A young man was injured in the back. Both were attended to by physicians from Pembroke, and both were settled with by the company's claims agent for $10. These two are the easiest things the company has run against in years. Hustling Claims Agent. It is said that the way this claims agent got in his work was one of the lighter phases of the event - vastly entertaining. He was one of the earliest on the scene of the accident, and the rapidity with which he got the necessary documents signed was a revelation. Wrecking Crews Clear the Scene. Two wrecking trains arrived on the scene about four o'clock in the morning; one was from Chalk River, the other from Carleton Junction. By eight o'clock the debris was cleared away, and the line passable. Hundreds of people from the adjoining town were interested spectators while the work was in progress. Passengers Treated Well. In the meantime all the passengers on both trains were conveyed to Pembroke, where they were entertained to breakfast by the C.P.R. at the Copeland House. Indeed, every credit is due the company for the kindness and consideration shown to their belated patrons. The "Soo" Express left Pembroke at 9.45 and arrived in Ottawa without further detention at 12.55. Conductor Cameron was thrown from his train by the collision, but a few moments afterwards was busy rescuing his passengers. One of these is a marvel. After the first shock, he stuck his head out of the Pullman to see what had happened. As though satisfied that all was well, he turned over contentedly and slept until morning. Conductor Cameron's attitude throughout is, however, commented upon appreciatively. H. B. Was Mum. Mr. H. B. Spencer, the district superintendent here, was seen, but, while extremely courteous, would give no information beyond a few general facts. He says that an investigation will be instituted at once to settle where the blame for the disaster is attributable. Who's to Blame? In Pembroke it is rumored that the night operator at the station there is the culpable party. He, however, is said to have alleged that shortly after the express left he received a wire from Ottawa. " Hold 'Soo'  express." But the warning came too late. These points will be threshed out later on. Newspaper Man on Board. Mr. Herbert S. Fuller, A genial and capable newspaper man from Brockton, Mass., was on board the express. He is on his way home from a fishing trip. Together with his wife he's staying at the Cecil. Mr. Fuller is the city editor of the Enterprise at Brockton. Ottawa Journal 25 July 1898 NINE INJURED C.P.R. Passenger Trains Collide Near Pembroke EXCURSIONISTS RETURNING FROM OTTAWA IN THE WRECK Engineers and Firemen Jumped and Saved Their Lives A Serious Pitch in Early Sunday Morning - The Injured and Their Injuries (Special to The Journal.) Pembroke. July 25. Shortly after one o'clock yesterday morning many citizens were awakened from their slumbers by a terrific crash in the east end of the town, but it was not till some hours afterwards that the town generally became aware of the significance of the commotion. The regular C.P.R. passenger train, commonly known as "the SOO," passes this station on its way east at 1.02 a. m.. and Saturday night it came into the station carrying a red signal, but through a blunder on the part of some one the train was not detained here as should have been done, and shortly after pulling out from the station ran head on into a special passenger train loaded with excursionists returning from the North Lanark Agricultural Society's excursion to the Experimental Farm, Ottawa. Acted Promptly. The accident occurred about one and a half miles east of the Pembroke station and fortunately was on a straight stretch of road where the  engineers of both trains had time to realize the danger in which they and those under their charge were placed. They lost no time in reversing the engines and applying the air brakes, and this done they with their firemen jumped for their lives. They were just in time, for a moment afterwards the two trains interlocked with a terrific crash and had they remained nothing could have saved them from instant death. Tramps Escape The two engines were destroyed and several cars. The tender of the "Soo" engine was jammed back into the baggage car, from the platform of which two tramps had been ejected before the train pulled out from the station, just a few minutes previously. In a short while wrecking trains from Chalk River and Carleton Place were on itbe scene and by ten o'clock yesterday morning the track was cleared and all that remains to be seen now is the two interlocked and mangled engines and several badly smashed cars standing in the Pembroke yard. To the cool-headedness of the engineers in charge of the two trains is due the credit that no lives were lost, and though all the pasengers were badly shaken up there was not one who is at all seriously injured. Had there been any delay in applying the air brakes and reversing the engines the consequences must necessarily have been fraught with dreadful fatality. but as it was the momentum of the two trains had been so reduced that neither was forced from the track when the crash came The Injured. The injured are as follows: JOSEPH JACKSON, one of the oldest engineers on the road, strained his back and neck jumping from the "Soo" train. JAS. DEVINE, of North Bay, slightly bruised the calf of one leg jumping from the train. He was the engineer on the excursion, train from Ottawa. The firemen on both trains were uninjured with the exception of slight strains of the muscles. DAN CAMERON, of North Bay, was thrown through a door and sustained a slight wound on the arm. He was conductor on the "Soo." THOS. LARMONDRA. brakesman on the excursion train, sustained a slight wound on one leg. JOHN FALBY, baggageman, of North Bay, struck by flying timber; slightly  injured in back. FRANK SMITH, of Boston, slight strain of muscles of back. MOSES ROWE, Warren City. N.J. head bruised and muscles of back strained FELIX CLEMENT. foreman for W.C. Edwards Co., of Rockland, a few slight bruises. GEO. MORRIS. injured in abdomen ; not serious. Dr. W. W. Dickson was called upon and rendered medical assistance to all in need of it. Who Was At Fault? Upon whose shoulders shall the blame for the accident rest, is knowledge which it seems is impossible to obtain here, as the C.P.R. officials are very reticent and will give no information to the public. But from all that can be gathered by way of rumor and from the "know-it-alls." it would seem that the unfortunate accident was due to the neglect of the night operator here in failing to detain the regular train till after the arrival of the special. This much however has no better foundation than rumor and those in position to know will neither verify or deny anything, and so the knowledge of where the blame lies remains In the hands of the railroad officials. AS SEEN BY A PASSENGER Mr. H.S. Fuller, proprietor of the Daily Enterprise, Brockton. Mass., who was on board the "Soo" says he has seen many bad accidents, among others the famous Quincy accident in which 40 people were killed, and that the wreck in none of these was any worse looking than the Pembroke wreck. Mr. Fuller speaks highly of the consideration shown the passengers by the railway company. Mr, Fuller and wife are on a holiday trip and spent yesterday at the Cecil. They left to-day for a trip up the Parry Sound. Montreal Gazette 25 July 1898 Accident on the Canadian Pacific Railway MANY REPORTED INJURED Though no Fatalities Are Expected Ottawa, July 24. - (special) - A collision occurred at 1.40 o'clock this morning on the Canadian Pacific Railway about one mile from Pembroke, between the eastbound Soo train and a special from Ottawa to Pembroke with about a thousand excursionists, who were here yesterday on a visit to the Experimental Farm. Particulars received here are very meager, but from what can be learned it does not appear that the accident was a very serious one, no lives being lost, and although quite a number are reported to have been injured it is said that the injuries are not serious. A wrecking train was sent up and the line cleared so that the Soo train passed through here for Montreal about noon, about eight hours late.. Kingston Whig Standard 25 July 1898 A collision occurred on the C.P.R. at Pembroke Sunday morning between two passenger trains; no fatalities are reported. Montreal Gazette 27 July 1898 THE PEMBROKE ACCIDENT Fuller reports from Pembroke with respect to yesterday morning's accident on the C.P.R., confirm the report sent out last night that there was no loss of life, and that none of the passengers were seriously hurt. It seems that nearly all those on the excursion train had got off along the line, and only soms twenty were left when the collision occurred. There were about fifty passengers on the Soo. A remarkable thing about the collision was that none of ths cars left the track. The two engines, tenders and baggage cars telescoped, but no damage was done to the passenger coaches, beyond breakage of glass, etc. The loss is roughly estimated at $15,000. An investigation is being held into the cause of the accident. Both trains were fortunately going slow. Lanark Era 27 July 1898 A collision occurred on the C.P.R. early on Sunday morning about a mile east of Pembroke. The "Soo" express ran into on excursion train which was returning from Ottawa and which had slackened its pace when nearing its destination.  The express, too, was going at a moderate rate so that the danger to those on board was minimized. The "Soo" train had between forty and fifty passengers on board, while the excursion train was freighted with only twenty passengers. Just before the collision took place the engineers and firemen of the two trains noticed what was about to occur and jumped. Neither engines nor any of the cars left the track, though the former and both baggage cars were badly damaged. The baggage car on the express was smashed to atoms but the baggage master miraculously escaped any injury. Only two of the passengers on the express were badly hurt. One of these was an old man who was thrown to the floor of the car and badly bruised. The other, a young man, was injured in the back, but both settled with the company's claims agent for $10. It is rumored that the night operator at Pembroke is the culpable party but he alleges that he did not receive instructions to hold the express until it had left. The matter will be investigated. Almonte Gazette 29 July 1898 COLLISION AT PEMBROKE Saturday's Excursion Train Collides With the Soo Express, With Serious Results - No Fatalities, But Many Injured - $15,000 Worth of Damage Done - Cool-Headed Engineers - The Particulars. The North Lanark Agricultural Society excursion train from Ottawa was delayed at Carleton Place for over an hour on Saturday night owing to an accident to the air brakes on the Winnipeg express at Almonte; and the delay proved a serious matter for the C.P.R. Co. and some of the excursionists from Pembroke, as it was about one o'clock when the train reached that town, and through a serious blunder on the part of someone the Soo express, due about the same time, collided with the excursion train a mile on this side of Pembroke. Fortunately no one was seriously injured. The two engines and the baggage cars were completely wrecked. The excursion train had distributed passengers all along the route, and scarcely twenty people were on board when the collision occurred. The express had just left the Pembroke station when the engineers saw the headlight of an approaching train. At the entrance to the Pembroke station yard there is a sharp curve, consequently the engineers did not see the full danger until the trains were too close to be stopped. They were not going more than ten miles an hour. The Soo express carried about 50 passengers. When the engineers saw that a collision was inevitable, the air brakes were applied and the drivers and fireman jumped and escaped without a scratch. Ten seconds after THE TWO ENGINES CAME TOGETHER with a crash, completely telescoping each other. The heads of the engines were driven right into the other's boiler, while the tenders telescoped the baggage cars. The most remarkable thing, next to the freedom from death and serious accident, was the fact that the trains did not leave the track. The engines and baggage cars were driven together somewhat after the fashion of a concertina. While the baggage and mail cars were badly wrecked, none of the employees were hurt. No panic occurred. Some of the men in the baggage cars made a jump and got out before the tenders of the engines had time to fully telescope the car. The passenger cars were uninjured beyond the smashing of windows and the slight effects of a severe jolting. The only passengers who were injured sufficiently to require medical aid were an old man in the rear sleeper, who was bruised by being thrown to the floor, and had his face cut by falling glass, and a young man in the excursion train who had his back injured. Dr. W.W. Dichson, of Pembroke, was early on hand and gave every attention necessary. The passengers were taken to Pembroke. Assistant superintendent H.B. Spencer sent a wrecking train from Carleton place, and one came down from Chalk River. The debris was comparatively easy. At 9.45 a.m. a special train was made up and the Soo train's passengers were brought on to Ottawa. A feature of the accident which is being freely talked of was the alacrity displayed by an agent of the company in settling claims with the injured parties. A claims agent seemed to be on the spot, and it is said succeeded in getting the injured passengers for the sum of $10 to sign a document releasing the company from liability. Mr. H.S. Fuller, of Brockton, Mass., Ccty editor of the Enterprise, of that place, and his wife, were passengers on board the wrecked train. Mr. Fuller gives an interesting account of the accident, which, however, does not differ from the above in material facts except in this, that Mr. Fuller is a Christian Scientist and of course views the mishap from that standpoint. "The instant I became aware that something serious had happened to the train, the thought flashed across me," he said, "that no harm could befall my wife or myself or our baggage. And strangely enough, but, as Mr. Fuller might say, naturally enough, although the injury done to the baggage was very considerable, that of Mr. and Mrs. Fuller, like themselves, escaped without the slightest injury. THOSE IN CHARGE The express train was in charge of Conductor Dan. Cameron, of North Bay, with engineer George Jackson and fireman Dunlop, of Ottawa. The excursion train engine was manned by engineer James Devine and Fireman George Morris, of North Bay. Baggagement Joseph Folby [sic] was in his car with Dominion Expressman C. Web. They had a close shave from death. Mr. Falby was slightly injured and will have to rest quietly for a few days. Felix Clemow, of Ottawa, was also slightly injured. He settled with lawyer Wm. White, solicitor for the railway, for $10. Superintendent Spencer is conducting an investigation to ascertain the cause of the accident. Until it is concluded he could not give any information. It is understood, however, that there was a mistake in connection with a despatch ordering the express to be held at Pembroke. Whether the fault lies with the Ottawa or Pembroke end of the service has yet to be determined. The loss to the company will total about $15,000. Both engines were first class, that on the express train being a "Mogul." In Pembroke it is rumored that the night operator at the station there is the culpable party. He, however, is said to have alleged that shortly after the express left he received a wire from Ottawa: "Hold 'Soo' express." but the warning came too late. These points will be threshed out later on. The night operator is Mr. Connors, who was held up at Stittsville sometime ago, and afterwards spent a fortnight in Almontet. He was summoned this week to Ottawa for examination. THE INJURED are as follows: Joseph Jackson, one of the oldest engineers on the road, strained his back and neck jumping from the "Soo" train. Jas. Devine, of North Bay, slightly bruised the calf of one leg jumping from the train. He was engineer on the excursion train from Ottawa. The firemen on both trains were both uninjured with the exception of slight strains of the muscles. Dan Cameron, of North bay, was thrown through a door and sustained a slight wound on the arm. He was conductor on the "Soo ". Thos. Larmondra, brakesman on the excursion train, sustained a slight wound on one leg Falby, baggageman, struck by a flying timber; slightly injured in the back. Frank Smith, of Boston, slight strain of muscles in back. Moses Rowe, Warren City, N.J., head bruised and muscles of back strained. Felix Clement, Foreman for W.C. Edwards Co., Rockland, a few slight bruises. Geo. Morris, injured in abdomen; not serious. To the cool-headedness of the engineers in charge of the two trains is due the credit that no lives were lost, and though all the passengers were badly shaken up there was not one who is at all seriously injured. Had there been any delay in applying the air brakes and reversing the engines the consequence must necessarily have been fraught with dreadful fatality, but as it was the momentum of the two trains had been so reduced that neither was forced from the track when the crash came. Two Tramps got on the express at Pembroke and were put off by the train hands about one minute before the collision. As they viewed the wreck, and especially the condition of the seat they occupied was in, one was hurt to examine, "thank God the conductor put us off." They would have been crushed into mince meat. Ottawa Citizen 30 July 1898 THEY WERE DISMISSED Canadian Pacific Employees Released as a Result of Sunday's Collision Two dismissals from the service of the C.P.R. are recorded as a result of. the collision near Pembroke last Sunday morning - Mr. Howard Moore, conductor on the local train that left here Saturday evening and Mr. F.A. Tonnor, the telegraph operator at Pembroke, who failed to hold the Soo express. Conductor Moore carried a red signal on his train as far as Pembroke, which indicated that a "special" was following. At Pembroke he registered the "special" in a book kept for that purpose. Mr. Moore's offence is that he did not secure a receipt for this registration. It is claimed, however, on his behalf, that it has not been customary to ask for such receipts. Mr. Moore has been connected with the line for many years, and he says that instances of receipts being obtained must be exceedingly rare. If this be true, Mr. Moore's blame for the accident is greatly lessened. The two engines, much battered, two cars with their ends stove in, and a large quantity of scrap iron resulting from the collision, have been brought to the city, and now lie on a siding near the Union depot. First three paragraphs carried in the Almonte Gazette page 4 under the heading "Conductor and Operator Bounced". Montreal Gazette 30 July 1898 As a result of an investigation in to the accident on the C.P.R. at Pembroke Sunday morning, the night operator at Pembroke and the conductor on the up-special passenger train have been discharged for negligence.