Details of Railway Accidents in the Ottawa Area

1900, February 25 - Express train hits a snow plough at Grenville, C.P.R. Lachute sub., one fatality.

Ottawa Citizen 26 February 1900 A COLLISION ON THE C.P.R. Three Train Hands Injured, Among Them David Howard of Ottawa. The "Soo " express, which left Montreal at 9.56 last night, collided with a snow plow on the C.P.R. North Shore Line at 11.54 o'clock. Three train hands, one a resident of Ottawa, were injured. It was a rear end collision and occurred at Grenville station. The snow-plow which was west-bound, left Montreal two hours ahead of the express and the cause of the accident was not known this morning. The trains were supposed at headquarters to be running on the blocking system and an investigation will be held to ascertain who is to blame. It was one of the roughest nigh's [sic] experienced this winter and the engineer on the express did not see the snow-plow until he was nearly on it, and only had the time enough to reverse the brakes and jump. The express engine crashed into the caboose attached to the snow-plow, completely wrecking it. Conductor David Howard and Brakeman O. Sauve were in the caboose and suffered considerable injury although not of a serious character. Engineer H. Shorey, of the express sprained his ankle in jumping from the engine. His fireman was unhurt. The front end of the express engine was damaged and the tender was derailed. The remainder of the train was uninjured and the passengers escaped with a slight jolting. Doctors were summoned from Grenville and Hawkesbury to attend the injuries. An auxiliary train with a gang of men were sent out from Montreal and at 8.42 o'clock this morning the line was cleared. The east-bound "Soo" express which leaves Ottawa at 1.40 a.m., was sent to Montreal over the short line. The North shore line is operated from Montreal under the superintendence of Mr. J. E. Robillard. The injured men were brought to Ottawa at noon and Sauve was removed to St. Luke's hospital where an examination by the physicians showed that his injuries was serious about the head. He is a resident of Montreal and is unmarried. Conductor D. Howard was taken to his home. His injuries are said to be not serious although he is badly shaken up. Mr. Howard is a married man and resides on Somerset street. Ottawa Journal 26 February 1900 PLOW CREW INJURED "S00" TRAIN DOES DAMAGE NEAR GRENVILLE. Ran Into a Snow Plough.Most of the Injured Belonged to Ottawa. The "Soo" train from Montreal last night ran into a snowplow near Grenville and completely wrecked the van of the plow train, injured  Conductor D.T. Howard, of 784 Somerset street, Brakeman O. Sauve of Montreal, Engineer M.H. Charrier of Hintonburgh, and damaged both engines so badly that they had to left at Grenville. The injured men were, brought to the city at 12.25 noon and Sauve was taken to the Water street hospital. and it is feared his injuries may be fatal. Charrier's ankle was sprained and Howard was badly cut and bruised besides being knocked insensible. He was only semi-conscious when the train arrived at the depot at noon. The plow train, it is said, was running about twenty-five miles an hour when the accident happened, and the "Soo" was coming along behind about twice as fast. The truck of the van attached to the plow train was completely demolished and the cuppola knocked ahead on top of the engine in front. Fireman Elliott of the front train was putting coal into the engine at the time and the impact almost sent him into the fiery interior. Engineer Carruth of the plow train escaped uninjured. Engineer Charrier and his assistant on the "Soo" train jumped when the collision occurred. The passengers in the train were not hurt  in any way, but they did not reach the city until noon. Dr. J.F. Kidd of Ottawa went down to Grenville this morning to assist the injured. Ottawa Citizen 27 February 1900 The condition of O. Sauve, who was injured on the C.P.R. at Grenville yesterday and who is now confined to St. Luke's hospital, remains unchanged. He is still unconscious and his condition is as serious as when removed to the hospital. Montreal Gazette 27 February 1900 "SOO" ENGINE IS A WRECK Train From Montreal Runs Into a Snowplouifh. Ottawa, February 26. The "Soo" train from Montreal last night ran into a snow plough near Grenville and completely wrecked the van of the plough train, injured Conductor D. T. Howard, of 784 Somerset street; Brakeman O. Sauve of Montreal; Engineer M. H. Charrier, of Hintonburgh, and damaged both engines so badly that they had to be left at Grenville. The injured men were brought to the city at 12.25 noon, and Sauve was taken to the Water street hospital, and it is feared his injuries may be fatal. Charrier's ankle was sprained and Howard was badly cut and bruised, besides knocked insensible. He was only semi-conscious when the train arrived at the depot at noon. Fireman Elliot of the front train was putting coal into the engine at the time and the impact almost sent him into the fiery interior. Engineer Carruth, of the plough train, escaped uninjured. Engineer Charrier and his assistant on the "Soo" train jumped when the collision occurred. The passengers in the train were not hurt in any way but they did not reach tho city until noon. Dr. T.F. Kldd, of Ottawa, went down to Grenvllle this morning to assist the injured. Montreal Star 27 February 1900 RAN INTO A SNOW PLOUGH The "Soo" Train on the Canadian Pacific Has an Accident at Grenville OTTAWA February 27 - The "Soo" train from Montreal on Sunday night ran into a snow-plough near Grenville and completely wrecked the van of the plough train, injured Conductor D. T. Howard of 784 Somerset street, Brakeman O. Sauve of Montreal, Engineer M. H. Charrier of Hintonburgh and damaged both engines so badly that they had to be left at Grenville. The injured men were brought to the city and Sauve was taken to the Water Street Hospital. Charrier's ankle was sprained and Howard was badly cut and bruised beside knocked insensible. He was only semi-conscious when the train arrived at the station. Fireman Elliot of the front train was putting coal into the engine at the time and the impact almost sent him into the fiery interior. Engineer Carruth of the plough train escaped uninjured. Engineer Charrier and his assistant on the "Soo" train jumped when the collision occurred. The passengers in the train were not hurt in any way but they did not reach the city until noon. Dr. J. F. Kidd of Ottawa went down to Grenville to assist the injured. Also verbatim in Waterloo Regional Record same date; also Hamilton Spectator 28 February. Toronto Star 27 February 1900 The "Soo" train from Montreal Monday night ran into a snowplow near grenville and completely wrecked the van of the plow train, injuring Conductor Howard, Ottawa, Brakesman Sauve, Montreal; Engineer Charrier, Hintonburg, and damaged both engines so badly that they had to be left at Grenville. Manitoba Morning Free Press 27 February 1900 SOO LINE TRAIN WRECK Montreal Express Runs into a Snow Plow - Three Employees Injured OTTAWA, Feb 26. - The "Soo" train from Montreal last night ran into a snow plow at Grenville, Ont., [sic] and three railway hands were injured by the collision. They were Conductor D.T. Harvard, Ottawa; Brakeman O. Sauve, Montreal; and H.H. Charrier, of Hintonburgh. Sauve is now in the general hospital, here and it is feared his injuries may be fatal. Windsor Star 27 February 1900 Soo Train Had a Smash Ottawa, Feb. 27. The "Soo" train from Montreal Sunday night ran into a snowplow near Grenville, and completely wrecked the van of the plow train, injured Conductor D. T. Howard, of 784 Somerset street, Brakeman O. Sauve of Montreal, Engineer M.H. Charrier of Hintonburgh, and damaged both engines so badly that they had to be left at Grenxille. The injured men were brought to the city at 12.25 noon yesterday, and Sauve was taken to the Water street hospital, and it is feared his injuries may be fatal. The passengers in the train were not hurt in any way. Ottawa Citizen 28 February  1900 SAUVE DEAD Brakeman Injured on Sunday Died Last Night UNCONSCIOUS TO THE END Skull Was Fractured - An Inquest Commenced Today by Coroner Freeland. Oscar Sauve, of Montreal, the brake man injured in the collision on the C.P.R. at Grenville Sunday night, died last night at St. Luke's hospital. Sauve was a brakeman on the snow plow and was sitting in the caboose when the engine of the "Soo" train crashed into it. He passed away without having recovered consciousness. An inquest was commenced this morning at the hospital by Coroner Freeland. Dr. J. F. Kidd, who attended the unfortunate man described the injuries to the jury. Death was principally caused by a fracture of the base of the skull. He was also badly cut about the head and face. The shoulders were scalded by steam. Stephen Sauve, of Montreal, a brother of the deceased, gave evidence identifying the body. Te [sic] deceased was 22 years of age and was unmarried. The inquest was adjourned until tomorrow night when the train hands and others present at the time of the collision will be examined. The jury is composed of Lewis Beaucage, foreman, P. Brankin, J. H. Lamontagne, Jacob Gruson, Frank Laroque, A. Morse, Wm. Ashfield, S. Cauthers, M. Lynch, Eugene Faubert, Thomas Whalen, A. Robert and J.I. Laurin. The body was sent to Montreal today for interment. The father and brother of the deceased accompanied it. Montreal Star 28 February BRAKESMAN SAUVE DEAD OTTAWA, February 28. - Oscar Sauve, the Montreal brakesman who was injured in the collision on the C.P.R, at Grenville, Sunday night, never recovered consciousness, and died last night in St. Luke's Hospital. He was terribly injured about the head. His father and brother have come up from Montreal to attend the inquest. Ottawa Citizen 2 March 1900 OSCAR SAUV'ES DEATH Evidence Touching This Fatality Taken Last Night at St Luke's Hospital. The inquest on the late Oscar Sauve, of Montreal, who died from injuries sustained at Grenville by a passenger train running into a snow plow special on Sunday last was continued last night at St. Luke's hospital. From the evidence offered it appeared that the accident was caused by the stormy night as each of the engineers stated that they had taken extra precautions to prevent any pitch in. The inquest was adjourned until next Wednesday, as Conductor Howard, 784 Somerset street, had not recovered from injuries sustained on that night. The station agent at Lachute will also be summoned to give evidence. Walter Carruth, Sherwood street, engineer of the snow plow special, stated that he had orders to run his extra from Mile End to Calumet. When he arrived at St. Therese, he received order to run ahead of No. 7, the passenger train. This latter was due at Grenville at 11.40 p.m. His train reached this place at 11.54 but he apprehended no danger as his orders indicated that he was to have precedence over the passenger train. His snow plow train was running at 25 miles an hour. There had been lamps on the rear of the caboose, but, he thought, it would have been difficult for an engineer, who was coming behind with his train, to see them on account of the storm. He could not run the train any faster as the wind and the track were heavy. Until he had reached Grenville, there was much snow on the track. His train had stopped at St. Therese for almost 35 minutes as the head lamp on the snow plow was out of order and had to be fixed. At St. Scholastique, another stop of 10 minutes had to be made as the steam had become low through snow getting into the coal. He had informed the officials at St. Thererese that he could not make the siding at Grenville before the passenger train, and orders were therefore obtained for him to have a clear track to Calumet. At Lachute he advised his own conductor to inform the agent that his train was making slow time and that it would be advisable to stop the passenger time [sic] at that place. W. J. Powell, Mosgrove street, brakeman on the snow plow special, said that there were three red lights on the rear of the caboose as he had examined them at Lachute. He could see the light on the top of the caboose at any time that he looked from the engine where he was stationed. J. J. Elliott, Brockville, fireman for Engineer Carruth, corroborated his superior's statements. Michael Charrier, Fourth avenue, Bayswater, who was the engineer on the passenger train, said he had no orders to stop at Grenville station. There was only one siding there. He had not seen a signal to stop. His train struck the snow plow special about opposite the station. The last semaphore indicated clear track. He did not notice any lamps on the caboose of the snow plow. The accident happened at midnight on Sunday. It was very stormy and snowing. It was possible that the snow or smoke from the engine might have obscured any lights on the caboose mentioned even if they were there. He knew that the special was ahead of his train as he had received orders to that effect at St. Martin's Junction, about 47 miles from Grenville. His train wa running about 47 miles an hour. He had gone on duty at 8 o'clock that night. The snow plow left St. Martin's an hour and 10 minutes before his train and he had lost 12 minutes between the two places as he had to run his train slower as a precautionary measure to prevent a pitch in. Geo. W. Smythe. fireman  in Chevrier's train, A. E. Wright, conductor, and H. O'Leary, brakeman in the passenger train, also gave evidence. Almonte Gazette 2 March 1900 A railway collision occurred last Sunday night at Grenville, where an express train ran into a snowplough. Engineer Shorey and his fireman, after reversing and applying the brakes jumped. No passenger was injured, but the occupants of the caboose of the snowplough were injured. Ottawa Citizen 9 March 1900 COMPANY RESPONSIBLE So Says the Coroner's Jury Enquiry Into the Death of Oscar Sauve, at Grenville. At the continuation of the inquest to ascertain who was responsible for the death of Oscar Sauve. which occurred through the running of the Soo train into a snow plow special, at Grenville. on Sunday, February 25, the jury brought in the following verdict at midnight. "We find that the deceased, Oscar Sauve. came to his death on February 27, 1900, from injuries sustained at Grenville on February 24th, 1900, through the Soo train, running at 35 miles an hour, pitching into Howard's special snow plow, running at 25 miles an hour, and we find the C.P.R. responsible, through the negligence of its employes." The conductor of the snow plow train, D. R. Howard, 784 Somerset street, said that he had merely obeyed his orders, as he had authority to infringe on the time of any trains following him. He had taken the proper precautions, having displayed three red lights at the rear of the caboose. Philios Monette, station agent at Lachute, stated that he had put up the semaphore to protect the snow plow special. The understanding was that if the Soo train was close enough behind he was to warn those in charge of it. According to regulations, the latter train did not pull out until ten mintues after the special. The distance from Lachute to Calumet, where the snow plow was to cease operations, was not considered sufficient to allow the Soo to catch the other train. The evidence all through tended to show that the accident was due to the storm. Ottawa Journal 9 March 1900 RAILWAY TO BLAME. Jury Decides Canadian Pacific Railway is Responsible for a Death. The inquest  into the death of Oscar Sauve of Montreal, an employee of a Canadian Pacific Railway snow plow train, who succumbed to injuries received in a collision at Grenville, about two weeks ago, was concluded Wednesday night. The jury brought in the following verdict: "We find that Oscar Sauve came to his death on February 27th, 1900,  from injuries sustained at Grenville February 24th, through the Soo train, running at 35 miles, pitching into Howard's special snowplow, running at 25 miles an hour, and we find the Canadian Pacific Railway responsible, through the negligence of its employees." Evidence was given by Conductor D. R. Howard of 784 Somerset street, who was in charge of the snow plow train to the effect that he had obeyed all orders in running his train. P. Monette, station agent, at Lachute, testified that he had taken precautions to protect the snow plow special. It is claimed that the snowstorm which was in progress at the time of the accident was to some extent, responslble.

Return to Main Page of Railway Accidents



Updated 10 March 2024