Details of Railway Accidents in the Ottawa Area

Ottawa Journal 7 January 1899 FATAL ACCIDENT AT OTTAWA EAST County Treasurer Cowan and His Son are dead THEIR COACHMAN IS SERIOUSLY INJURED They Were on Their Way to the Funeral of Chas. O'Gara When Their Horses Ran Away and Dashed into a Parry Sound Train. Wm. Cowan, County treasurer, 74 years of age, and Holmes Cowan, his son, 48 years of age, were this morning instantly killed at the O.A. & P.S. Ry. crossing on Main street, Ottawa East. The coachman Nathaniel Dumas, 36 years of age, was also killed. The accident is one of the saddest which has occurred in the city for years. The victims were at the time on their way to attend the funeral of the late Charles O'Gara and were killed when within a stone's throw of the house. The Accident. The accident was caused by the team the victims were driving becoming unmanageable and dashing into a passing train. James Taggart the flag man at the crossing where the accident occurred says that the team turned on to Main street about seventy five yards from the railway track. The team started to run immediately after turning the corner and the driver seemed to lose all control of them. Taggart saw the team approaching at a speed of about ten miles per hour and signalled the driver. At the same time he endeavored to signal the engineer of the approaching Parry Sound train to stop. Both engine and team were approaching so quickly and the collision seemed inevitable that Targgart found it hard to know just what to do. He says he did his best to check the running horses and only got away from in front of them when he saw that to remain there longer meant certain death. The team dashed into the train striking between the tender of the engine and the baggage car. Mr. Cowan senior, was thrown violently against the corner of the baggage car. His skull was split and he died instantly. The other two, Holmes Cowan and coachman Dumas, were dragged about 40 feet and badly cut and bruised. Holmes Cowan was instantly killed and Dumas, the coachman, had part of his skull torn away, his hand severed at the wrist, and the arm broken. He was conscious, however, when picked up and asked to be taken to the hospital. The poor fellow suffered terribly. From the time the team struck the train until the train was stopped, was only an instant. The victims were dragged about 40 feet up the side of the track. The horses, one of which was instantly killed, had to be dragged from under the train. The remaining horse had to be shot, as its leg was broken. The cutter was destroyed. Conductor John Stewart of the Ottawa Electric Street Railway, stated to a reporter that he had seen the Cowans in the cutter crossing the Elgin street bridge in the direction of Ottawa East. The horses seemed to be very fiery and were rearing and plunging considerably. Warden Ballantyne, who was coming out of his house about 50 yards away, saw the train pull up suddenly, and hurried to the scene. He says that when he got there Mr. Cowan and his son were lying by the side of the track dead. The coachman, Dumas, was conscious, and asked to be taken to St. Luke's. The horses were badly cut, one was dead and the other was lying with its leg broken, and Mr. Ballantyne stated that this was the first accident which had occurred at this crossing since he had been a resident there, which is some 20 years. There was only one person who was an actual eye-witness of the accident and that was James Taggart, the flagman. His story, as far as can be obtained from him, is given above. Where accident occurred. The spot where the accident occurred is at the Parry Sound crossing on Main street of Ottawa East. It is hard to see a train approaching from any considerable distance on the north side of the track. The road on which the train approached the track runs directly from the canal. There is a short turn just at the canal on to this road about twenty five yards distance from the track which gives very little time for anyone driving up this road to tell whether a train is approaching or not. In this case the team which turned the corner quickly and started to run, were upon the track before anything could be done. The horses apparently were startled by the noise of the approaching train. A short time after the accident occurred a large crowd had gathered on the spot. Several people from the city on hearing of the accident drove out. The Bodies Cared For (this section omitted) Coachman's Statement. Dumas suffered a great deal, but retained consciousness throughout, and when the doctors were through he was quite clear. He did not seem to remember much about what occurred before the accident. He stated to the doctors that Mr. Holmes Cowan was driving, and when the team were turning on to Main Street they started to run away. He remembers the team crashing into the train, but after that all is blank. Dumas is a man of about 36 years of age and unmarried. He has been in the employee of Mr. Cowan as coachman for about six months. Previous to this he was employed with E. Cardinal and other livery firms in the city. RAILWAY STATEMENT What Supt. Donaldson of the Parry Sound Says of the Accident. Mr. M. Donaldson, general superintendent of the Canada Atlantic and O., A. & P.S. railways makes the following statement relative to the accident: "No. 50 O., A. & P.S. train left Central depot at 8.30 for Parry Sound engine 609, Engineer H. Brown, Conductor T. Brackens. While passing over the Main street crossing in Ottawa East, Mr. Cowan's team ran into the side of the train, striking it between the tender and the baggage car. Mr. Cowan and his son were instantly killed, and the driver, whose name is Germain, was seriously injured. The train was immediately stopped, coming to a standstill in a few car lengths past the crossing, and the facts, as given above, were reported to my office. It would appear the driver lost control of his horses, which was the cause of the accident. The flagman, J. Taggart, stationed at the crossing, used every effort in his power to stop the team, and narrowly escaped being killed in his efforts to do so. The horses and wreck of the sleigh, and the bodies of Mr. Cowan and his son, were found after the collision on the north side of the track, some distance west of the crossing. "Drs. Hannah, Robinson and Small and the ambulance were summoned by telephone immediately after the accident, and arrived within a few minutes. The injured driver was conveyed to the Protestant Hospital in the ambulance and the bodies of Mr. Cowan and his son were removed to their home by order of the coroner " Ottawa Citizen 7 January 1899 Father and son killed together County Treasurer Cowan and Holmes Cowan, of the Gilpen House, Meet an Instant and Shocking Death at Ottawa East Team Running Away Crashed into O. A.& P.S. Express, Killing Occupants of Sleigh, except Driver Who is Fatally Injured Killed Wm. Cowan, Treasurer of Carleton County Holmes T. Cowan, Proprietor of the Gilpen House Injured Napoleon Dumais, Coachman One of the most appalling accidents that has happened to Ottawa for years and which resulted in the death of two of the city's most estimable and best-known residents, occurred this morning at rhe Ottawa East crossing of the Parry Sound Railway. County Treasurer William Cowan and his son, Holmes Cowan, proprietor of the Gilpen House, were struck by a westbound express train while driving in a cutter and killed outright while Napoleon Dumais, the coachman was fatally injuered. The accident occurred at 8.35 on the Main street crossing. Mr. Cowan, his son and the coachman Napoleon Dumais, left their home on Nicholas street shortly after eight o'clock to attend the funeral of the late Charles A. O'Gara, son of Magistrate O'Gara, at Ottawa east. They drove a splendid pair of horses and all went well until Landriau's corner at Ottawa East was reached, when near this point the horses became suddenly frightened at some object or more probably at the sound of the locomotive whistle and started to run away. The driver held on to the terrified horses and did his utmost to stop them but his efforts were to no avail. The frightened animals dashed down the street at a terrific pace, around Landriau's corner and made for the railway crossing. Just at this moment the 8:30 west bound train of the O.A. & P.S. railway came around the corner going at a good rate of speed. Seeing that an accident would be inevitable unless the horses were stopped the flag man at the crossing shouted to the coachman to stop, but the efforts of the latter were futile and the terrified animals ran into the the train striking it between the tender of the engine and the baggage car. The sleigh was instantly turned around and struck the baggage car with terrific force, the occupants being thrown a distance of 75 feet and horribly bruised and cut about the head and face. The horses were cut off from the cutter and killed immediately. The Messrs. Cowan, who occupied the rear seat in the cutter, were killed outright, but the coachman, Napoleon Dumais, while probably fatally injured, escaped death. He maintained consciousness for about a minute exclaiming. "Where am I?" and "My arm is broken," and then lost reason. As soon as the driver on the engine saw that an accident would happen, he immediately shut off steam and applied brakes, but not in time to avert the collision.  The train was stopped, however, after proceeding about thirty feet from the scene of the accident. The dead bodies were at once taken up and placed in the flag house at the crossing, while Dumais, the coachman, was taken to the hospital. Undertaker S.M. Rogers was summoned and moved the bodies of the dead father and son to his morgue on Rideau street, where an inquest will be held this evening, The train was in charge of Conductor Bracken and Driver Harry Brown. Both of these officials continued on the trip to Madawaska. Story of an eye-witness Albert White a resident of Ottawa East, who was standing near the crossing at the time of the accident, related the following to the Citizen: "I was standing near the flag house on Main street, when I saw the team of horses coming around Landrieu's corner at break neck speed. The driver was holding on to the reins tightly and apparently doing his utmost to stop the horses but they kept on running and going faster as they approached the track. The occupants did not appear to make any attempt to jump out of the cutter. At this instant the 8.30 Parry Sound train rounded the curve going at a good rate of speed and I then saw that unless the team could be stopped a bad accident would happen. James Taggart, the flagman was standing near me at the middle of the crossing and he signalled the driver of the cutter to stop, but the latter was unable to do so. Seeing what was going to happen I ran up the street a short distance and jumped for the bridle of the horses as they rushed by, but was too late. The team ran on and just as the engine reached the centre of the crossing the horses ran in between the tander and the baggage car. They were cut off completely from the sleigh, which by this time had turned around and was struck by the baggage car. The occupants were thrown fully 75 feet and when we reached them both father and son were dead. The coachman kept his senses for a minute and then sank into unconsciousness." The flagman's story James Taggart, the flagman of the O.A. & P.S Railway at the Main street crossing was seen by the Citizen. He said: "When I first noticed the runaway, the horses were coming around the corner --- and the coachman was jerking them up and shouting "Whoa." As soon as I saw the train coming around the corner I knew that there would be a collision and I waved my flag and shouted to the driver to stop, but he was unable to do so. The team came on faster than ever and the engine had crossed the street when the horses were within twenty-five feet of the team (sic) They kept on and ran in between the tender and the baggage car. The shafts were smashed the horses cut off from the sleigh and badly mangled. The cutter was thrown a great distance and the occupants of the rear seat were killed outright. I did all in my power to stop the team and prevent the accident but was unable to do so." W. Humpas, of Ottawa East, was near the crossing and saw the accident. The horses were running away and the driver was attempting to stop them. The occupants of the cutter were hiolding on but did not appear to make an effort to jump out. Mr. Humpa's story of the accident corroborated those of Messrs. Taggart and White. Gates are needed The crossing of the Parry Sound railway is situated in the centre of the village of Ottawa East, and although freight trains, expresses and shunting engines are passing up and down at all hours of the day and night no gates have ever been put up, although the necessity was an urgent one. At the side of the road is a little flag house and a watchman stationed there is supposed to give the signals  and keep the track clear. The village council of Ottawa East intended to place gates at the crossing and this was one of the improvements suggested during the recent election campaign.. The gates will now be put up, but not until two lives have been sacrificed on account of insufficient protection. Had there been gates at the crossing the horses might have been killed but the occupants of the cutter would probably have escaped with slight injuries. O.A. & P.S. Official Report Mr. M. Donaldson, General Superintendent of the Canada Atlantic and the O.A. & P.S. railways, makes the following official statement relative to the accident at the Russell road crossing this morning: "No. 50 O.A. & P.S. train left Central Depot at 8.30 for Parry Sound, engine 600, Engineer H. Brown, Conductor T. Bracken. While passing over the Main street crossing in Ottawa East, Mr. Cowan's team ran into the side of the train, striking it between the tender and the baggage car. Mr. Cowan and his son were instantly killed and the driver, whose name is Dumais, was seriously injured. The train was immediately stopped, coming to a standstill -- lengths past the crossing, and from the facts, as given -- reported to my office, it would appear that the driver lost control of his horses, which was the cause of the accident. The flagman, J, Taggart, stationed at the crossing, used every effort in his power to stop the team, and narrowly escaped being killed in his efforts to do so. The horses and wreck of the sleigh, and the bodies of Mr. Cowan and his son were found after the collision on the north side of the track some distance west of the crossing. "Drs. Hanna, Robinson and Small and the ambulance were summoned by telephone immediately after the accident, and arrived within a few minutes. The -- was conveyed to the Protestant Hospital in the ambulance and the bodies of Mr. Cowan and his son were removed to their home by order of the coroner." Survivor's Story. Coachman Dumais Tells How the Accident Happened. Coachman Dumais, the only survivor of the shocking affair, lies at the Protestant Hospital. The poor fellow's sufferings were terrible and made even those accustomed to such scenes shudder as they watched by him.  Dumais regained consciousness shortly after 12 o'clock but was so weak that he could only speak in whispers. Mr. William Cowan was driving, Dumais states, and the horses were travelling at an ordinary rate of speed when suddenly something frightened them, they took hold of the bits and dashed off down Main St. at a terrific rate. Mr. Cowan did his utomost to stop the now uncontrollable animals, buit all of no avail. Dumais stood up in the sleigh and did his utmost in checking the horses, but even with his assistance the animals could not be pulled up. The occupants could hear the approach of the fast moving train. Every yard brought them nearer the track. The horses became terrified at the noise of the locomotive and  Mr. Cowan realized that the only thing that could save them from destruction was to get over the crossing. But the iron monster was the more speedy and the engine had passed over the crossing when crash went the horses, sleigh and occupants into the rear end of the baggage car. The horses were hurled to the side and the car struck the sleigh with awful force. Dumais, when he first saw the engine, made an ateempt to get out of the sleigh and was about to jump when the collision occurred. To this he probably owes his life. His head is frightfully cut and his right arm it is thought will have to be amputated. The Messrs. Cowan were instantly killed, and it is a source of consolation to their relatives to know that death came with such awful suddenness that there practically was no pain whatever. Sad Scene at the Homes of the Deceased -- Grief at the Court House -- Inquest Opened An Inquest in the sad affair was opened at Rogers' morgue by Coroner Freeland this afternoon. The jury is composed of Messrs. A.P. Fournier, George Hollingsworth, High carson, W.R. Striud, H. Baldwin, George Mcgregor, John Davison, Patrick Brankin. John Thompson, H. Bobier, Samuel Davison, Frank Ladouceur and E. Ladouceur. Biographical sketches -- Ottawa Journal 10 January 1899 It is expected that the fatal accident at Main Street crossing in Ottawa East will result in the installation of gates at the crossing. Mr. N. G. Roche, the reeve of Ottawa East, expressed himself forcibly to the effect today that the Canada Atlantic Railway company should immediately place gates at the crossing. The reeve stated that he wonders accidents have not previously happened at this exposed crossing. " level crossings," he continued, "are beyond all doubt most dangerous without guard gates. Gates should have been placed at the crossing long ago. The Canada Atlantic Railway company shall have to fix gates at this fatal place immediately. If they do not do so at once, so far as I am concerned, the village will compel them to.". Speaking to-day of the circumstances surrounding the accident by which Mr. William Cowan and his son, Holmes, lost their lives on Saturday, Warden Ballantyne stated that if there had been gates at the crossing, where the accident occurred there would have been no one killed. " This Main street crossing," said Mr. Ballantyne, "is one on which gates should have been placed some time ago as the traffic has been steadily increasing, and consequently the danger has too. There have been several narrow escapes both with vehicles and bicycles at this crossing. The traffic into the city from Gloucester to By ward market all passes over this crossing and it is only a miracle that some fatality has not occurred previous to the sad accident of Saturday." EVIDENCE TAKEN Coroner's Jury Hear Witnesses re the Ottawa East Accident The Inquest upon the remains of the late Messrs. Wm. and Holmes T. Cowan, killed in Ottawa East Saturday by a Parry Sound train, was resumed at Rogers' morgue last evening, but again adjourned till Friday for further evidence. Coroner Freeland conducted the inquest. Mr. J. C Grant looked after the interests or the family of the deceased and Mr. F. Chrysler represented the O., A. & P.S. Ry. The witnesses examined were Jas. Taggart, flagman at the fatal crossing; Dr. R. P. Robinson, who examined the remains to ascertain the cause of death; Hiram Brown, engineer of the train which killed deceased; John F. Lytle, fireman; Thos. Bracken, conductor; John Cameron, baggageman; John Otterson, brakeman; M. Donaldson, general supt. of the O. A. & P. S. Ry and Thos. Deevy, a boy who saw the horses driven by Messrs. Cowan running away.  The evidence was in effect the same as that already published. The horses of Messrs. Cowan ran away, and though the flagman at the crossing attempted to stop them they rushed into the train, striking it between the baggage car and tender. Mr. Wm. Cowan's left, arm and shoulder were fractured, almost all the ribs were torn from the spinal column and the skull was fractured in several places. Death was due to paralysis of the brain and spinal column caused by concussion. Mr. Holmes T. Cowan's death was caused by a severe fracture extending around the back of the head from one temple to the other. The evidence showed, that the usual crossing signals were given and that the train was not running more than 8 or 9 miles an hour.  Ottawa Citizen 14 January 1899 Ottawa East Fatality More evidence touching the death of the late Wm. Cowan and his son. The adjourned inquest into the death of the late William Cowan and Holmes T. Cowan was resumed last night before Coroner Freeland at Rogers undertaking establishment. The first witness called was Thomas Donoghue, an Ottawa East boy, who was on the south side of the O.A. & P.S. tracks at the scene of the accident last Saturday morning. (Jan 7) He said he saw Cowan's team coming down Main street. The horses were at a trot opposite Fourth street. When the team passed the post-office they were galloping. The train whistled when it was middle way between the semaphore and the crossing. The flagman was in the middle of the road and when the team came closer he waved the flag and shouted.  The flagman had walked up the road to meet the team. James Brown, fitter in the C.A.R. roundhouse, was at the shoemakers shop on Fifth avenue and heard the flagman shouting. The horses were then galloping and he thought at the time that the team was going to knock the man into the engine. The flagman was about seven or ten feet from the rail at the middle of Main street. In answer to a question from Juryman Hollingsworth as to whether the flagman did all in his power to stop the team, the witness answered; "Well, he did more than I would have done." Mr. John H. Roberts, conductor on the Parry Sound railway, was on Sixth street, Ottawa East, on that morning. He saw the horses running and saw the team then about 65 or 70 feet from the crossing.  He did not actually see the collision, but he was sure that the engine had cleared the crossing before the team struck the train. The steam was turned off the engine. In answer to questions from Mr. J.C. Grant, witness said that whem steam is turned off there is no unusual escape of steam unless the cylinder cocks are turned. He did not see any unusual escape of steam at that time. Mr. Albert White, fireman, was leaning against the side of the flagman's shanty. He saw the team trotting the post-office. The flagman was in the centre of Main street about eight or ten feet from the track. When the horses did not seem to be stopping the flagman proceeded up the road a little way to meet them.  In answer to Mr. Grant, witness said that the team was trotting when they struck the train. It appeared to him that when he noticed the horses there were two men holding the lines. When the team came opposite the shanty witness jumped out and grabbed at the horses' heads and they swerved to the right. Mr. James Ballantyne, of Ottawa East, gave evidence to the effect that he had been a member of the County Council and the Council of Ottawa East, and he had never heard of any notification having been given the railway company to put gates at that place. The inquest was adjourned till the night of Wednesday next week. Ottawa Citizen 19 January 1899 Verdict of the Jury in the Cowan Fatality Two recommendations Gates at Main Street Crossing and a fence around railroad property. The adjourned inquest into the death of the late Wm. Cowan and Holmes T. Cowan was resumed last night before Coroner Freeland in Rogers undertaking establishment. Michael Keeley, cab driver, was about half way between Slattery's corner and the track when the accident happened. The Cowans were ahead of him.  He had followed the Cowan team from the Cowan residence and kept about 100 yards behind. His team was trotting. He saw the Cowan team going from the post office to the track, and they were going easily. He heard one whistle before he turned from Fifth street on to Main, but he did not know where the train was, and he halted up slightly. He saw the flagman in front of the horses with something in his hand. After cabman Dan Holmes and Robert Pettapiece had given evidence, Mr. H.J. Roche, commercial traveller, of Ottawa East testified. He was on the tracks at the crossing on the morning of the accident.  He saw the train about three quarters of the distance between Main and Centre streets down the tracks. He looked around and saw Cowan's team near the post office. He saw the flagman after he had crossed the first track and was on the second track. This finished the evidence, and the jury, after a short deliberation, returned the following verdict. "We, the undersigned jurymen, have come to the conclusion that Wm and Holmes T. Cowan came to their deaths on the 7th day of January, at about 8.30 o'clock, a.m. on the P.S. crossing on Main street, Ottawa East, through a collision with the O.A. & P.S. railroad train, and believe the same to have been accidental. "We would recommend that the proper authorities be compelled to erect a fence on the line dividing the railroad property from Fifth street westward from Main, and also that they be compelled to erect gates on the Main street crossing. Ottawa Journal 19 January 1899 THEIR DEATH WAS ACCIDENTAL VERDICT AT THE INQUEST UPON THE MESSRS. COWAN Coroner's Jury Last Night Heard Additional Evidence and Then Brought in a Verdict - Crossing Gates Recommended A verdict of accidental death was brought in by the jury last evening at the inquiry into the death of the late William and Holmes T. Cowan. The verdict was to the effect that the late William and Holmes T. Cowan came to their, death as the result of a collision with the Parry Sound train on the morning of January 7th and that the death was accidental. The jury also recommended that the proper authorities should be compelled to erect a fence on the line between the railway property and Fifth street westward and also that the proper authorities should be compelled to have gates, placed at the Main street crossing in Ottawa East. The evidence produced at last evening's sitting was not very important and threw no light on the accident. Michael Kealy, a hackman testified to having been a short distance ahead of the Cowans on the way to Ottawa East the fatal morning. He was about 100 yards ahead of them and had crossed the railway track as the train approached some distance down. Cowan's team as far as he could judge were not running away but were trotting along at a good pace as they approached the track. H. J. Roche, a resident of Ottawa East stated that he had seen both the train and the team approaching. The team did not appear to be going quickly. He saw the flagman waving his flag and standing, in front of the team. Daniel Holmes, another hackman, gave unimportant evidence which concluded the case. After being out a short time the coroner's jury brought in the verdict noted above. Ottawa Journal 30 January 1899 DUMAIS IS INSANE The Result of Injuries Received in the Cowan Accident. Dumais, the coachman who was injured in the Cowan fatality is now insane and it is feared he will never recover his mind. He has become violent and has to be watched night and day. His hand was amputated and the arm is not healing up as well as it should owing to Dumais' actions. He takes no care of it, strikes the wound and has it in a worse condition than it should be. He shouts and in every way acts like a madman. He is confined in one of the private wards of the Protestant Hospital but his cries at times can be heard throughout the wing of the building.