Details of Railway Accidents in the Ottawa Area

1922, September 6 - Crossing collision at Chesterville, CPR., Winchester sub. 2 fatalities 3 injured

Ottawa Citizen and Winchester Press 7 September 1922 TWO KILLED, THREE INJURED. AUTO AND C.P.R. FLYER CRASH American Auto Party On Way to Ottawa in Fatal Accident at Chesterville Crossing. TRACKS AND ROAD RUN ON PARALLEL Man Killed Instantly, Woman Dies on Train, Others in Smiths Falls Hospital. Chesterville, Ont. Sept 6 - Two are dead and three others are more or less seriously injured following a collision between a Ford sedan and the C.P.R. Montreal-Chicago flier, about a mile and quarter west of here at noon today. The Dead. George Murray, aged 33 years South Bombay, N. Y. Mrs. Helen Reynolds, aged 40. South Bombay, N. Y. The Injured. Mrs. Charles Murray, South Bombay, N. Y., aged 65 years, left leg amputated and scalp wounds, condition serious. Mrs. George Murray, South Bombay, N. Y., scalp wounds and shock, condition not serious. Miss Annabelle Greenwood, South Bombay, N. Y., aged 17, collar bone broken. The party were motoring from South Bombay, N. Y., to Ottawa. South Bombay is about five miles from Moira, N. Y. The accident happened at 11.45 o'clock am., standard time. For about a mile, or most of the way from Chesterville to the railway crossing where the fatal accident happened, the railway and road run parallel, and the driver of the car had full view of any train travelling along this stretch. In the opinion of Dr. Locke, of Williamsburg, the coroner, the driver of the auto, which was travelling the same direction as the train, apparently did not notice that the road crossed the railway tracks at this point. The Ford sedan in which the party were driving reached the crossing at the same time as the Montreal-Chicago flier No. 19, which was travelling at 45 miles per hour. The train was in charge of Engineer Thomas Martin, of Montreal. Fire man A. Jeffrey, Montreal, and Conductor William Chapman, of Toronto. Carried Auto Alone. The front of the locomotive struck the automobile opposite the engine and turned the car completely over, and throwing out all its occupants. After turning the car over, the locomotive carried it along about three pole lengths. When George Murray was picked up he was dead, with some ribs broken over his heart. It is thought that death was due to an internal hemmorhage. The other four occupants of the car were taken on the train and brought to Smiths Falls. Mrs. Reynolds, who was terribly injured, died on the train while en route to Smiths Falls. Mrs. Charles Murray and Miss Greenwood were taken to the General hospital at Smiths Falls, where Mrs. Murray had her leg amputated. Mrs. George Murray, wife of the late Mr. Murray, was taken to St. Francis hospital. She is the least injured of the party. Dr. Locke, of Williamsburg, the coroner for Chesterville district, was notified of the death of the late Mr. Murray and at once went to Chesterville to view the remains. An inquest was opened. After the usual swearing in of the jury, the inquest was adjourned until next Wednesday noon, at the Chesterville town hall. This inquest will also cover the death of the late Mrs. Reynolds. The remains of the late Mrs. Reynolds are in the morgue at Smiths Falls awaiting arrangements for shipment to South Bombay. Ottawa Journal 7 September 1922 TWO AMERICANS EN ROUTE HERE KILLED BY TRAIN Woman Tourist, Aged 65 Years, Loses Leg in Chesterville Crossing Fatality. THREE ARE INJURED IN SMASH-UP ON CROSSING Motoring to Ottawa, a party of five American tourists from South Bombay. NY., was struck by a C P.R. Montreal-Chicago flier, a little more than a mile west of Chestervllle at noon Wednesday. Two were killed and three injured by the collision. The injured included an aged lady of 65 years, who had her left leg amputated at the St. Francis General Hospital, at Smiths Falls, last night. The other two patients are progressing favorably, though they are not yet in condition to discuss the accident. The dead are: George Murray, agsd 33 years, South Bombay, N.Y., and Mrs. Helen Reynolds, aged 40, South Bombay.N.Y. The injured, who are in Smiths Falls hospital, are: Mrs. Charles Murray, South Bombay, N.Y aged 65 years, left leg amputated, and scalp wounds, condition serious; Miss Annabelle Greenwood. South Bombay, N.T., aged 17 years, collar bone broken; Mrs. George Murray, South Bombay, N Y., scalp wounds and shock, condition not serious. Loses Left Leg. Immediately, after the accident the victims were placed on the train. George Murray was dead when he was picked up. Death, it is thought, was due to internal hemorrhage. Mrs Reynolds died on the way to Smith Falls. She was terribly injured. The others were removed to the hospital where Mrs Charles Murray had her leg amputated. The coroner, Dr. Locke, of Williamsburg, when informed of the fatality at once left to view the remains and the inquest was adjourned until next Wednesday noon, at the Chesterville Town Hall. Did Not See Tracks. The accident, in the opinion of Dr. Locke, occurred when the driver of the automobile failed to realize that the railway tracks crossed the road about a mile and a quarter west of Chesterville. From Chesterville to that point the railway and the road run parallel, and the driver had a full view of the train. He apparently did not notice that the high way and railroad intersected. At the time of the accident the train waa travelling at about 45 miles an hour. Striking the automobile near the hood, the locomotive turned the car completely over, scatterlug the occupants and carrying the auto about three pole lengths. Engineer Thomas Martin, of Montreal, Fireman A. Jeffrey, Montreal, and Conductor William Chapman, Toronto, were in charge of the train The bodies of Mr. Murray and Mrs Reynolds are being held in the morgue at Smiths Falls pending the completion of arrangements to have them sent to South Bombay. Morrisburg Leader 8 September 1922 Two Are Killed at Crossing Two are dead and three others are injured following a collision between an automobile and the Canadian Pacific Railway Montreal - Chicago flier, about a mile and a quarter west of Chesterville. The dead: George Murray, aged 33 years South Bombay, N. Y., and Mrs. Helen Reynolds, aged 40, South Bombay, N. Y. The injured are: Mrs. Charles Murray, South Bombay, N. Y., aged 65 years, mother of the dead man, left leg amputated and scalp wounds condition serious; Mrs. Geo. Murray of South Bombay, N. Y., wife of the dead man, scalp wounds and shock condition not serious, and Miss Annabel Greenwood, South Bombay, N. Y., aged 17, collar - bone broken. When the party met with the fatal accident they were motoring from South Bombay, N. Y., to Ottawa. For about a mile, or most of the way from Chesterville to the railway crossing where the fatal accident happened, the railway and road run parallel, and the driver of the car had full view of any train travelling along this stretch. In the opinion of Dr. Locke of Williamsburg, the coroner, the driver of the automobile apparently did not notice that the road crossed the railway tracks at this point. At any rate, the car in which the party were driving reached the crossing at the same time as the Montreal - Chicago flier No. 19, which was travelling at 45 miles an hour. The front of the locomotive struck the automobile opposite to the engine and turned the car completely over, throwing out all its occupants. After turning the car over the locomotive carried it about three pole lengths. When George Murray was picked up he was dead, with some ribs broken over his heart. It is thought that death was due to an internal hemorrhage. The other occupants of the car were taken on the train and sent to Smiths Falls. Mrs. Reynolds, who was terribly injured, died on the train while en route to Smiths Falls. Mrs. Charles Murray and Miss Greenwood were taken to the public hospital at Smith's Falls where Mrs. Mary had her left leg amputated. Mrs. George Murray, wife of the late Mr. Murray, was taken to St. Francis' Hospital. She is the least injured of the party. Chesterville Record 14 September 1922 Jury’s Verdict "Accidental Death" Tuesday evening in the Town Hall, the jury inquiring into the cause of the accident which resulted in the death of George Murray, of Bombay N. Y., who was killed when the auto he was driving was struck by the C. P. R. Montreal - Chicago fast train on the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 6th, returned a verdict of accidental death, without placing the burden of responsibility on anyone, adding that the crossing in question was a menace to the traveling public and warning the public that great care should be exercised when approaching it. Engineer Thomas Martin swore that every precaution had been taken by him to avoid the accident. The whistle had been sounded for the crossing at the usual place, about eighty rods distant. The auto was seen by him when it was 200 or 300 yards from the crossing. It appeared to be going fast. When it did not appear to be slowing up the whistle was again sounded and the emergency brakes applied and the train was brought to a stop in about 1800 feet, being about three car lengths after passing over the crossing, where the auto had been struck. Martin considered that a good stop had been made as his train was traveling at fifty miles an hour, when it was evident the auto was not going to stop. He did not think that the auto had come to a standstill where it was struck. Fireman Jeffrey being on the opposite side of the engine did not see the striking of the car. He had heard the warning whistle and said the bell was still sounding when the train was stopped, after continuous ringing up to that time. Mrs. Murray, wife of George Murray, said none of the party had heard any warning whistle or the ringing of the bell. The auto was a sedan with all windows closed. She was sitting on the side away from the track and had not noticed they were approaching a railway crossing. The car was a new one and was running at a moderate speed. Her husband was an experienced driver, having handled a car for two years. Geo. H. Baker said he lived opposite the point on the railway where engines have warning of their approach to the crossing. He heard the regular blasts of the whistle, but had not heard a second warning, which might be accounted for in the wind blowing from the east away from him. There was a corssing sign at the south side of the tracks but he did not remember seeing it from his place a thousand feet away, but he believed it could be seen at that distance. Kenneth Baker and Willis Cassleman had not heard any second blasts of the whistle. Thos. Hamilton had not heard the second whistling. He had heard strangers refer to the crossing as a dangerous one. Mrs. S. Smith and Mrs. Boxell gave unimportant evidence. J. H. Forbes, Division Engineer of the C. P. R. was on the train. Had noticed the application of the emergency brakes. He believed that the crossing could be made safer by the placing of a warning sign on the North side of the track, although the Railway Commission called for but one sign at such a crossing. Winchester Press 14 September 1922 Accidental Death A verdict of accidental death was rendered by the jury at Chesterville who were assembled to inquire into the death of the man and woman who were killed when their auto was struck by a train at Smith's Crossing just west of Chesterville. The jury could not lay any blame on the Railway Company, but recommended that large signs be placed on either side of the crossing so that approaching cars could see them and be warned. Mrs. Murray wife of the driver of the car was present and testified that they did not know there was a crossing, and their car being closed they did not hear the whistle of the locomotive. Mrs. Reynolds, who was killed, had buried her husband only a few weeks previous. Kemptville Weekly Advance 1 May 1924 and Morrisburg Leader 2 May 1924 Past 60 years of age, hobbling about on one leg and a pair of crutches Mrs. Eliza Murray made her way into United States court at Syracuse, N.Y. on Saturday for the opening of the trial of her action for $25,000 damages against the Canadian Pacific Railway Co. She was one of a motoring party belongong to Moira, N.Y. whose car was struck by a  C.P.R. train two miles west of Chesterville on Sept. 6th, 1922. Her son George and his sister, Mrs. Ellen Reynolds, were killed and Mrs. Murray lost one leg and suffered other serious injuries.

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Updated 15 January 2024