Derailment near Bracebridge takes 2 lives.
Fireman and brakeman killed in derailment at Falkenburg today.
TO BE VERIFIED
Where derailment occurred
Two were killed in a C.N.R. freight train derailment at Falkenburg, 5 miles north of Bracebridge, early this morning. Charles Hill, fireman, and Herbert Hurrel [sic], both of Allandale, were the victims. The line is reported tied up, and a local made up to handle traffic. Map shows location of derailment.
Chas. Hill and Herbert Harrell [sic] both of Allandale, are the victims.
Engineer injured.
Twisted rails believed to have caused accident to C.N.R. freight.
Special to The Star
Bracebridge, Feb. 20.—Two men were killed in a derailment of the C.N.R. fright train at Falkenburg, five miles north of Bracebridge, early today. They were Charles Hill, fireman, and Herbert Herell [sic], brakeman, both of Allandale. W.C. McInnis, the engineer, also of Allandale, was seriously injured. The line is tied up. Train No. 46, due at Toronto at 7 a.m., will not reach there until noon. A local was made up to handle traffic.
A buckled rail which sprung inward just after the driving wheels of the locomotive passed over it tossed the heavy engine—which was running extra—on its side. Engineer McInnis held fast to his controls and threw the air brakes on, while Fireman Hill who was in the act of throwing coal into the fire box lurched against the swaying door, scorching his arm. He shouted, "She's going over, jump—jump quick" but before he had time to jump himself the engine turned on its side, crushing and burning him. McInnis hung tenaciously to his air lever and this possibly saved his life for when the engine overturned he was on the upper side.
The engineer was seriously injured but he pulled himself from the cab and endeavored to extricate Hill, who was also terribly scalded by escaping steam.
Meantime the cars bumped over the twisted rail and one by one toppled into the shallow ditch. The last to leave the rails—empties—telescoped the heavier cars in front. When the debris was partly cleared away the body of the brakeman was found in the midst of splintered wood. A broken
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Fireman and brakeman killed in derailment at Falkenburg today
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neck is thought to have caused instant death. Other members of the train crew could not tell exactly where Herrell was when the crash occurred.
The engineer is in Bracebridge Memorial hospital. His injuries include broken legs.
Telephone lines were clipped quickly on the telegraph wires running parallel to the track and medical help summoned from Bracebridge while a train crew call boy scurried through Allandale yards with the ominous command, "wreckers out."
The wreck special and salvage squad were soon engaged in the work of clearing the main line, but had not made sufficient progress to let No. 46, regular North Bay-Toronto night train, through on schedule. On advice from the chief dispatcher this train was rerouted by way of Bala and reached Toronto shortly after 11 a.m.
C.N.R. statement
A. E. Warren, General Manager of the Central Region of C.N.R., issued the following statement to The Start this morning:
"At 12:15 a.m. the extra southbound freight, engine 2378, in charge of Conductor E. Knightley, and Engineer W. McInnis was derailed at Moore's siding, one mile north of Falkenburg on the Huntsville subdivision. The engine, tender and eight cars left the rails and turned on their side.
"Engineer McInnis sustained head injuries and four broken ribs. He was removed to the hospital at Bracebridge. Brakeman Herbert Harrell and fireman C. Hill are missing, and it is feared that they were caught in the cab of the locomotive, which is reportedly partly submerged in the mud of the swap on the east side of the track. The train crew were from Allandale.
"Word of the derailment was at once communicated to North Bay and Allandale terminals, and auxillaries from those points left immediately for the scene. The work of clearing the track is now under way, and it is estimated that it will take at least 10 hours to resume normal operations. It was necessary to detour trains No. 46 and 47, operating between Toronto and North Bay via Scotia Junction, while the passengers of train No. 42 also operating between the same points were transferred at the scene of the derailment. It is anticipated that it will also be necessary to transfer passengers of trains no. 41 and 44. The cause of the accident is now under investigation and a supplementary statement will be issued by the general manager when further information is available."
R.J. Cody, conductor of the C.N.R. train 46, which arrived at the Union Station this morning at 11:20 from Timmins, told The Star he had seen nothing of the wreck, and had heard no particulars concerning the accident. His train was detoured at Scotia Junction to the Winnipeg line, approaching Toronto through the Don Valley [i.e. via the Algonquin Subdivision from Scotia Junction to Otter Lake Junction then the Bala Subdivision to Toronto].