Details of Railway Accidents in the Ottawa Area
1899, February 16 - Derailment of a passenger train at Green Valley due to a broken rail. 10 injured.
Montreal Star 16 February 1899 THE TORONTO EXPRESS WRECKED About Fifty-Eight Miles West of Montreal, and Ten People Injured There was a serious accident on the Canadian Pacific this morning. The Toronto express due here at 7.50 o'clock ran off the track three miles west of Green Valley a small station in Glengarry County. There were no fatalities but eight passengers and two train hand received injuries more or less severe. The other passengers had a thrilling experience and incidentally a severe shaking up. The injured according to the official report are: Miss F. MacDougall, Toronto, slight cut on chin; Mr. Boltmaun, Montreal, slightly shaken up: Mr Frank Murphy, of Her Majesty's Theatre, leg badly cut; Mrs Frank Murphy slightly injured; Mr. A. Jack Westmount, slightly hurt on arm and leg; Mr John Kerr, Perth, Ont., spine seriously injured and nose cut; Mr. R. Rogers Queen's Hotel, Toronto, badly shaken up; Walter Snell, Montreal, chef of the Buffet car, wrist bruised and badly shaken up; H. Miron brakeman, Montreal, slightly hurt in leg. The C.P.R. naturally enough is reticent about the accident which owing to the level character of the country and the friendly co-operation of snow bank did not prove as serious as the early reports indicated. There were no embankments for the train to roll over and to this fact the passengers ran ascribe their escape from almost certain death. The Toronto express left the Queen City last night in charge of Condurtor Lucy, an experienced employe. It was hauled by engine 625 the engineer being H. Dutil, Montreal. The passengers were rudely awakened at 6.15 this morning when without a moment's warning the train jumped the track. Five cars including the sleeper turned a somersault and landed on the north side of the rails. The engine and tender were more fortunate. Above the noise of the crash of glass could be heard the shrieks of the lady passengers. One lurch after leaving the road and the train came to a standstill. The ladies were assisted through the broken windows, and their hysterical fears were calmed. Conductor Lucy, who was badly shaken up displayed great presence of mind. He was passing from the second class to the first clast car when the train took a flying leap. He caught the platform railing and a moment later found himself in a snow bank. He sent the engine to Green Valley Station where intelligence of the accident was telegraphed to Montreal. There was no little excitement after the accident. All on board probably one hundred and fifty in number received a severe shaking up. The official list only only contains the names of those who received severe injuries but there are many unrecorded cuts and bruises. Flying fragments of glass were largely responsible for the casualties. Green Valley is a station 58 miles west of Montreal. The passengers after an hour's delay were transferred to the baggage car and conveyed to St. Annes where they were re-transferred to a train sent out from Montreal. They reached this city at 9.45 a.m. Ambulances were in readiness to convey several of the most seriously injured to the hospitals. Dr. Girdwood, the C.P.R.surgeon was notified of the accident before seven o'clock. He went out on the wrecking special and met the incoming train at St. Annes. The accident ia supposed to have been caused by a broken rail. An investigation will be held. Dr. Girdwood the C.P.R. surgeon who went out on the wrecking train to the scene of the accident attended to the injuries of the passengers. He officially states that the patients were all doing well. Beyond a severe shaking up and a few bad cuts, none of them received much injury. MR. FRANK MURPHY INJURED Mr. and Mrs. Frank Murphy, of this city, were in the wreck. The latter escaped uninjured, but the former was pretty badly cut up. They were returning from New Orleans, where they had passed the greater portion of last week, and were among the passengers in the first of the sleepers. Mrs Murphy, in speaking to a Star reporter concerning the accident, said it was marvelous that no fatalities had occurred. The car in which they were was completely overturned, but beyond a severe shaking-up and a few cuts and bruises, nearly all the passengers escaped without further injury. There were a few, however, who were seriously hurt, and Mr. Murphy was one of these. The lower portion of his body, she said, was one mass of cuts, and it had been found necessary to call in Dr. Girdwood to dress them. Mrs. Murphy added that the passengers in the first class car were completely hemmed in after the accident, so much so, in fact, that the train hands, in order to liberate them, were forced to smash in the doors. Mrs. Murphy praised the train officials for the coolness they displayed after the accident, and for the manner in which they looked after the interests of the passengers. The latter were brought to Montreal in the baggage car. Among other passengers on the train were Messrs. A.B. Wade, Belfast, Ireland, and James Stuart, Hamilton. Both gentlemen escaped uninjured. They are at present at the Windsor. Montreal Gazette 17 February 1899 BADLY SHAKEN UP C.P.R. Toronto Express Leaves the Track - The Injured Passengers. The Toronto C. P. R. express due here at 7.50 o'clock yesterday morning, ran oft the track near Green Valley, Glengarry county. Eight passengers and two train employes were more or less injured. These are Miss F. MacDougall, Toronto, slight cut on chin; Mr. D. Bolmaun [sic], Montreal, slightly shaken up; Mr. Frank Murphy, of Her Majesty's Theatre, leg badly cut; Mrs. Frank Murphy, slightly injured; Mr. A. Jack, Westmount, slightly hurt on arm and leg; Mr. John Kerr, Perth, Ont., spine seriously injured and nose cut; Mr. R. Rogers, Queen's Hotel, Toronto, badly shaken up; Walter Snell, Montreal, chef of the buffet car, wrist bruised and badly shaken up; H. Miron, brakeman, Montreal, slightly hurt in leg. This official list only contains the names of those who received severe injuries, but there are many unrecorded cuts and bruises caused especially by flying fragments of glass. It was 6.15 o'clock a.m., when, without a moment's warning, the cars jumped the track, The engine and tender kept to the rails. After one lurch on leaving the road, the train came to a standstill. The noise of the crash of window combined with the shrieks of the lady passengers rendered the scene a dismal and tragic one. Conductor Lucy, who had charge of the train, displayed great presence of mind. He sent the engine to Green Valley station where intelligence of the accident was telegraphed to Montreal. After an hour's delay, all the passengers, about 150 in number, were taken to the baggae [sic] car and conveyed to St. Ann's, where they boarded a train sent out from Montreal. They reached the city at 9.45 a.m. Ambulances were in readiness to convey several of the most seriously injured to the hospital. Dr. Girdwood, the C. P. R. surgeon, had been notified of tthe accident before 7 o'clock and had gone out on the wrecking special to meet the incoming train. He stated that beyond a severe shaking up and a few bad cuts, none of the passengers received much injury. The accident is supposed to have been caused by a broken rail. An investigation will be held. Mr. Frank Murphy, whose name appears in the list of the injured, was in the sleeping car with Mrs. Murphy at the time of the accident, and for a moment he was stunned by the shock. Upon becoming fully conscious, his first thought was for Mrs. Murphy, whom he saw lying on the aisle by the side of an upturned seat. She was not seriously hurt, suffering mostly from some severe scratches on the right arm. The interior of the car was a pandemonium. Everybody was shouting for rescue, and in response to the call for assistance, a porter rushed forward and crashed in two or three windows. Mr, and Mrs. Murphy were dragged through these, as was likewise Mrs. Green, of Winnipeg, who was suffering from severe contusions in the face. Mr. Murphy is under the care of Drs. Girdwood and Roddick, and he will not be able to leave his bed within the next ten days. The C.P. R. company naturally enough are very reticent about the accident, which, after all, did not prove very serious. There were no embankments for the train to run over, and to this fact the passenger can ascribe their escape from almost certain death. Green Valley is 58 miles west of Montreal. Ottawa Citizen 17 February 1899 C.P.R.EXPRESS WRECKED It Was Derailed at Green Valley and About a Dozen on Board Were Injured Montreal. Feb. 16. The C.P.R. express from Toronto, due here at 8.50 this morning, met with an accident at Green Valley, fifty-eight miles above Montreal. Five cars were derailed, and the passengers were very badly shaken up and about a dozen, including trainmen, were injured. The sufferers include Miss F. MacDougall, Toronto; Mr. R. Rodgers, of fhe Queen's hotel, Toronto; John Kerr, Perth. Ont.; D. Boltman. Montreal; A. Jack, Westmount; Mr. Frank Murphy, manager of Her Majesty's Theater, Montreal, and Mrs. J. H. Holt, also of this city. The passengers, after an hour's deday, were transferred to the baggage car, and conveyed to St. Anne's, where they were retransferred to a train sent out from Montreal. Dr. Girdwood, the C. P. R. surgeon, was notified of the accident before seven o'clock. He went out on the wrecking special and met the incoming train at St. Anne's. He officially states that the patients were all doing well. Beyond a severe shaking up and a few bad cuts, none of them received much injury. The accident is supposed to have been caused by a broken rail. Chesterville Record 23 February 1899 Eight passengers and two train employees were more or less injured. At 6.15 a.m. without warning, the cars jumped the track. The engine and tender kept to the rails. After one lurch, on leaving the road, the train came to a standstill. Conductor Lucy sent the engine to Green Valley station. Caused by a broken rail. |
Updated 2 March 2024