Killed on
Metcalfe Street Crossing
A fatal accident occurred
at the south end of the Metcalfe Street railway crossing on
Thursday afternoon, 24 Jul 1919 about 4 o'clock, when Ira O. A.
Beemer, a brakeman on the G.T.R., received injuries from which he
succumbed about two hour later.
At the time of the accident
the train crew was making a shunt to release three cars, and the
unfortunate young man was uncoupling the cars when his heel caught
between the rail and the planking of the crossing, throwing him in
such a position that the wheels passed over her right leg and left
arm, which were terribly mangled.
He was hurried to the
residence of his father-in-law, Mr. Liston Kirkwood on Patterson
Street, where Drs. McGilvery, Bowlby and Toll did all in their
power to save the young man's life. Their united efforts proved of
no avail, the injuries and shock received being too much for human
endurance and he passed away shortly before 6 o'clock.
The parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Orson Beemer, who reside near Renton, were promptly notified of
the accident and immediately left by motor for Simcoe, arriving
just after their son breathed his last.
The jury was empaneled in
Coroner McGilvery's office at 6 o'clock as follows: Henry Crabb --
foreman, John Haseley,
John Borland, J. B. Cline, Harry Little, Norman Coates, and H. T.
McCready.
After viewing the remains
at the home of Mr. Kirkwood, an adjournment was made to meet again
in the town hall, Friday, 1 Aug 1919.
Deceased was in the 24th
year of his age and was a young man of sterling qualities. He had
been in the employ of the G.T.R. since last September, and with
his family came to Simcoe on Tuesday 15 Jul 1919 from their home
in Stratford to relieve on the South Norfolk for six weeks and
reported for duty on Thursday evening, 17 Jul 1919.
The sympathy of the entire
community is extended to the families concerned in their sudden
bereavement.
Besides a sorrowing widow
(formerly Miss Margaret Kirkwood) and two little children, Kinloch,
a baby boy seven months old, and a bright little chap, Liston, 2½
years old, there are left to mourn his loss his parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Orson Beemer of Townsend, a sister, Mrs. Charles Duncan of
Port Rowan, and a brother, William of Villa Nova.
The funeral, which was
largely attended, took place from the residence of Mr. Liston
Kirkwood, on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, under the
auspices of the I.O.O.F. to Oakwood Cemetery.
The service at the home was
conducted by Rev. Duncan E. Foster, B.A., of St. Paul's Church,
Simcoe, assisted by Rev. J. T. Cavers of Mount Zion. The last sad obsequies
at the graveside were in charge of Noble Grand Tom Cowley and
Walter Cole, Chaplain.
The pallbearers were Walter
Forse,
George Shay, Norman Coates, George Wood, Howard Stegmeir and
Augustus Jaques.
The floral tributes were
from:
wife and sons,
father, mother, brother and sister,
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Robinson,
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Maxwell,
Mr. and Mrs. William Robinson,
Mr. and Mrs. K. Norris,
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Christie,
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Duncan,
the Ladies' Aid of St. Paul's Church,
the I.O.O.F. and
a wreath from the employees of the G.T.R.
