Details of Railway Accidents in the Ottawa Area

1927, February 5 - Wife of CNR Carp station agent killed by train at Carp.

Ottawa Citizen 7 February 1927 WOMAN IS KILLED INSTANTLY WHEN STRUCK BY TRAIN Mrs. F. S. Morrison, Wife of Carp Station Agent, Was Walking on Track, Returning From Shopping Trip. CREW FROM OTTAWA WAS IN CHARGE OF THE TRAIN Husband Witnesses Woman Walking to Death, But No Time to Warn Her. Struck by a C.N.R. locomotive, while walking on the railway tracks at Carp on Saturday afternoon, Mrs. Morrison, wife of F. S. Morrison, station agent, was instantly killed. She was 67 years of age. Mrs. Morrison had been out on a shopping trip in the village and was returning to her home at the station about 3.10 p.m. when she was struck by a light engine and van travelling from Ottawa to Madawaska. Conductor W. R. Marsh, of Ottawa, was in charge of the train, and Engineer L. J. Turner, also of Ottawa. was in charge of tne engine. The accident happened only a few yards east of the highway crossing where an electric bell was ringing to warn of the approach of the train, It was only about a hundred yards to the west of the station, at which the train had not stopped. Mrs. Morrison was slightly hard of hearing, it is stated, and apparently did not hear the warning of the approach of the train. She was walking towards it and her attention was evidently otherwise attracted for she gave no sign of having noticed the train. Husband Sees Accident. Her husband, who was at the station, saw her go to her death not knowing that the woman was his own wife, and being powerless to warn her of approaching danger. He saw the woman walking on the tracks about a hundred yards away and also noticed the approach of the train. After the train had passed he noticed that the woman he had seen had disappeared. He did not see her getting struck for the train was between him and the woman. After striking the unfortunate woman the train was brought to a stop She was picked up by a member of the crew and was found to be dead, She was carried to the station, and Mr. Morrison received a dreadful shock when he saw that the unfortunate woman was his wife. Dr. A. B. Hyndman was called, and found Mrs. Morrison to be beyond medical aid. In the capacity of coroner he viewed the remains and inquired into the circumstances of the accident. He decided to hold an inquest and a jury was empanelled, and after the usual formalities the hearing was adjourned until this evening at the town hall. The late Mrs. Morrison had been a life-long resident of Carp and vicinity. She was born near Carp. During her many years of residence in the village she had won a wide circle of friends, among whom there is deep mourning following her sudden and untimely passing. She was active in the women's organizations of the United Church. To the travelling public and in railway circles she was quite well known, especially to those who use the Ottawa, Madawaska or Pembroke C.N R. line. Her husband for the last thirty years had been station agent at Carp, formerly with the Grand Trunk and latterly with the C.N.R. Besides her husband she is survived by one daughter, Mrs. (Dr.) F. J. Johnson, of Carp: two brothers, Nicholas Hanlan, of Arnprior, and Michael Hanlan, of Gravelford. Sask.; and one sister, Mrs. James Mitchell, of Detroit. Mich. The funeral was held this afternoon from her late residence to St. Paul's United church, where a service took place at two o'clock. Interment was made in the Third Line cemetery, Huntley. Ottawa Journal 7 February 1927 HUSBAND SEES FAST CN TRAIN KILL HIS WIFE Mrs. F. H. Morrison, of Carp, Loses Life While Walking to Village Station Struck by a CN. train before her husband's eyes when she was unable to get from the track because of high snow drifts, Mrs. Margaret Hanlon Morrison, aged 67, wife of F. H Morrison, for more than 30 years C.N.R. station agent. at Carp. was instantly killed on Saturday afternoon at two o'clock. The accident occurred while she was walking on the track about 100 feet from the station where her husband was on duty. Mr. Morrison was one of the first to reach her after the train passed, but although she was carried into the station immediately, life was found to be extinct by Dr. A. B. Hyndman. her neck having bean broken. Walked Along Track. The train was a C.N.R. through extra, proceeding west from Ottawa and due at Carp ar 2.10 o'clock. Altbough not required to stop at Carp it was proceeding slowly at the time the accident occurred. The engine and caboose were going towards Smiths Falls to get a load of freight. W. R. Marsh was tbe conductor in charge. As far as is knowm. Mrs. Morrison was going to the station to see ber husband. Instead of following the road from the town to the station, as she usually did on such visits, she left it at a crossing a short distance west ot the station and started walking east to the station on tbe track. Although familiar with the regular train schedules, she apparently did not know that tbe extra was due. and did not notice it approaching her until it was about half way to the station. She attempted to step to the side of the track, but found that she was blocked by high snow. She got as far from the track as she could, and waited for the train, to pass. The train, meanwhile travelling at reduced speed, whirled past the station, the engineer at the same time noticing her at the side of the track. Immediately, seeing that there was not room for the train to pass without stiking her, the engineer threw on the emergency brakes, but too late  to stop the train in time. Thrown 15 Feet. The engine caught the elderly woman and threw her 15 feet over the snow at the side of the track. Mr. Morrison, who had. been expecting his wife to arrive by the road as usual, was on the station platform as the train passed through. Just as it passed.he caught a glimpse of tbe woman on the track and in the moment ot uninterrupted, vision recognised her as his wife. The train thundered past, and blotted her from from his sight. Fearful for her safety he ran down the track after the train and the still figure lying on the the right of way, just as some section hands also arrived, at the scene. With the assistance of the section hands, Mr. Morrison carried her to the station, and Dr. Hyndman found that death had been instantaneous, her neck having been fractured. Her body was practically uninjured in any other way. Dr. Hyndman, who is coroner for Carp, has decided that an inquest is necessary, and it will be held this evening. The tragic death, of Mrs. Morrison came as a great blow to hundreds ot friends in the town and district. She was born in Carp and lived her entire life there, and was much beloved by all who knew her. Sbe was a member of St. Paul's United Church, and the funeral was held this afternoon from the family residence to tbe church. Burial was made in Huntley Cemetery. Mrs. Morrison is survived by her huaband and one daughter, Mrs. (Dr). E. S. Johnston. Ottawa Journal 8 February 1927 NO ONE TO BLAME FATALITY AT CARP A verdict of accidental death was returned by the coroner's jury which last night at Carp investigated the death of Mrs. F.H. Morrison, aged 67, wife of the C.N.R. station agent at Carp. Mrs. Morrison was killed on Saturday by a Canadian National train when she was caught on the track with high banks of snow on either side, and was unable to escape from the path of the train. The jury exonerated the train crew of all responsibility in connection with the accident. Dr. A.B. Hyndman, of Carp, presided as the coroner, Morrisburg Leader 11 February 1927 Woman Killed By Train Struck by a C.N.R. train before her husband's eyes when she was unable to get from the track because of high snow drifts, Mrs. Margaret Morrison, aged 67, wife of F.H. Morrison, for more than 30 years C.N.R. station agent at Carp, was instantly killed on Saturday afternoon at two o'clock at Carp. The accident occurred while she was walking along the track about 100 feet from the station where her husband was on duty. Mr. Morrison was one of the first to reach her after the train had passed. But although she was carried into the station immediately, life was found to be extinct, her neck having been broken.

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Updated 16 September 2021