Details of Railway Accidents in the Ottawa Area

 1905, January 16 - The three freight cars and the combination passenger car on the Brockville and Westport mixed train derailed and
rolled down an embankment half a mile west of Lyn.

Renfrew Mercury 20 January 1905 The worst accident in the history of the Brockville and Westport occurred on Monday night, half a mile west of Lyn, caused by the spreading of the rails while a mixed train was running to Brockville.  The train was made up principally of freight cars, with a combination passenger and baggage at the rear, said to contain about fifteen passengers, mostly women and children.  Suddenly the passengers were startled by the wheels of the coach bumping along the ties, and the coach rolled over the embankment and rolled to the bottom, a distance of several feet.  The passengers were thrown from their seats and while not one escaped from a cut or a bruise, strange to relate, none received severe injuries.  Conductor Hurton was severely cut about the head, but pluckily stuck to his post, directing operations with blood streaming down his face, until he saw that all were out of danger. Brockville Recorder 29 January 1905 Peculiar Accident On The BW&N Railway West of Lyn- Passenger Coach Went into the ditch - eleven passengers on board, all of Whom escaped Serious injury Conductor Horton and J. Cross, of Athens, Cut and Bruised An accident, which was fortunately not attended with serious results, occurred about five o'clock last evening at a point on the line half a mile west of Lyn. News of the affair reached Brockville shortly afterwards and created some excitement. Supt. W.J. Curie, who was on the scene as promptly as possible, very cheerfully gave the Brockville Times a correct statement of the wreck, which in substance as follows. It was train No. 4, due here at 4:30 running about twenty miles an hour, from Westport to Brockville, and was made up of an engine, eight freight cars, three of which were loaded with live stock consigned to Montreal, and a combination baggage and passenger coach at the tail-end, containing eleven passengers including Conductor Horton and Brakeman Murphy. On the engine were Engineer John M. Phillips and Fireman A. Belmont. As the train was running along at a speed of about twenty miles an hour the last two freight cars suddenly left the track, followed by the passenger coach at the end. The scene of the accident is about half a mile west of Lyn, just about the point where the road to Mallorytown crosses the track diagonally. There is a cutting at this point which gradually opens out upon a minor embankment, and the cars left the track before getting out of the embankment, near the residence of Frank McCreary. The freight cars did not turn over, but the passenger coach, after bumping along a short distance, toppled over and slid along on its side a short distance. An effort was made to signal the engineer without avail and the derailed cars finally broke loose from the train. Naturally the passengers were filled with consternation at the sudden shock. The concussion pitched them out of their seats in all directions and immediately there was a scramble for the doors. In their excitement the ladies gave an outcry but were assured by Conductor Horton and the other male occupants of the coach that no immediate danger was pending. Mr. Horton, with blood streaming down his face and neck, from a deep gash in the head, displayed remarkable coolness. Though suffering much pain he remained in the coach till every other occupant had been removed, being the last to leave. When the smoke had cleared away it was found that while all had been more o less shaken up and bruised none were seriously hurt. Conductor Horton and J. Cross, of Athens D.D.G.M., who was coming to Brockville to install the officers of the A.O.U.W., received the most painful injuries. They were removed to the residence of Nathan Purvis, where they were attended by Dr. Judson, who had been summoned from Lyn. Mr. Cumming sent out sleighs from Lyn and brought all the passengers to M. B. Stack's hotel, where they received every attention. New of the accident having been wired from Lyn to the head offices of the company, Supt. Curle awaited the arrival of the engine and remaining cars of the train and made preparations to take charge of the wreck personally.  Accordingly he returned by a special leaving here at 6.20 accompanied by Dr. Jackson, whose services were not required as the injured had previously received medical attention. The passengers together with Conductor Horton, were brought on to Brockville shortly after 8 o'clock by the special. Mr. Horton being removed to St. Vincent de Paul Hospital. The passenger list include Alex, Taylor, Athens, H. Johnston, Delta; N. Whitmarsh, Westport; I. Fleming, Kingston; J. C. Ross, Athens; Miss Laishley, Chaffey's Locks; W. H. Brightman, Brockville; Miss Rowsome, Athens, who was accompanied by her little niece, a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. A. E. Shaver, Brockville; Mr. Ross was cut over the left eye, required three stitches. Miss Laishley, who was en route to the Ladies' Moulton College,Toronto, is a niece of Mrs. C. Davison, Brockville. She was badly shaken up. Little Miss Shaver was slightly bruised. Messrs, Taylor, Whitmarsh and Johnston, cattle drovers, were pitched over the stove, on of top of the other. Taylor had his nose skinned, cheek discolored and side sprained. Johnston complained of pains in the side and back. Mr. Horton suffered considerably from the shock and injuries. He fainted at Mr. Purvis house from the reaction and loss of blood, but came in on the special. The cut in his head received several stitches and he was also bruised about the body. To-day he is feeling very sore but not in any danger. The cause of the wreck was either due to a defective truck on one of the freight cars or the spreading of the rails. Supt. Curle is not in a position to say which. He was at work bright and early this morning with a gang clearing up the wreck. By this afternoon it is expected everything will be in running order again. The track was torn up for a onsiderable distance. Ottawa Citizen 1 March 1905 Note conflict between dates Brockville, January 3rd, 1905: The worst accident in the history of the Brockville, Westport and Northern Railway occurred about 5 o'clock this evening at a pit half a mile west of Lyn, caused by the spreading of the rails while a mixed train was running about 20 mph enroute to Brockville. There were about 15 passengers, mostly women and children. Suddenly, the passengers were startled by the wheels of the coach bumping along the ties. Efforts were made to signal the engineer but to no avail and finally the coach plunged over the embankment and rolled to the bottom, a distance of several feet. The passengers were thrown promiscuously from their seats but none sustained serious injury. Conductor Horton was severely cut about the head. He would not leave his post until all others had been cared for. The passengers were conveyed to Lyn in sleighs and subsequently brought to Brockville by special train.

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