Etc. -- Peach family and Mrs. Heaton killed
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An unedited transcription of an article in the 2 Sep 1915 Simcoe Reformer. 
[Heaton and Peach obituaries follow accident report in this article]
[Some paragraph breaks inserted by the transcriber]

Five Killed Near Hamilton
Port Rowan family wiped out 
when train struck automobile

Five lives were lost in an automobile accident that occurred on the line of the T. H. & B. Railway near Ancaster Saturday afternoon, about 12:20 when the express from Brantford struck  automobile 19627, driven by J. W. Heaton of St. Catharines.

Mrs. Heaton, wife of J. W. Heaton; Mr. and Mrs. Martin [sic] Peach of Port Rowan, cousins of Jos. Peach, John street, Simcoe, and their two sons, Alan, aged twelve years and Ray, aged ten, were the victims of the terrible affair.

Mr. Heaton escaped with a broken leg and bad shaking up.

Mrs. Heaton and Mr. and Mrs. Peach were killed instantly. Alan Peach died before the train which struck the auto reached the city, and Ray Peach died at the City Hospital, Hamilton, Saturday night, without having regained consciousness.

The train was in charge of Conductor Chester Sheppard, 19 Augusta street, Hamilton; with Engineer Daniel Edwards and Fireman G. E. McGregor in the cab of the engine.

The scene of the accident is on the Ancaster road a short distance south of where it branches from the Dundas road, and is a particularly bad crossing, the view of the tracks being obscured by a hedge.

Mr. Heaton, who is a wood and coal dealer at St. Catharines, and party, were driving from Brantford to Port Rowan, and he drove on the track as the train approached the crossing.

The front part of the motor car was caught, and it was dragged a considerable distance, before the train could be brought to a standstill, the occupants being thrown in all directions, and three being killed outright.

The enginemen state that they did not see the auto until the train was on top of it, and had no chance to avoid the accident.

Alex. English, driver of the motor patrol wagon, stated that he noticed while the bodies were being taken from the scene of the accident that the automatic signal bell at the crossing was ringing constantly, the train being still there when the police arrived.

____

Port Rowan. Aug. 31. -- Last Saturday the usual work-a-day life of this village was disturbed by the sad news that a terrible accident had occurred and that one of our most highly respected citizens, Mr. and Mrs. Charles [sic] [Peach] and their two promising young sons, Allen [sic] aged 13 [sic], and Ray aged 11 [sic], the whole family, had been killed in a collision between an automobile in which they were riding, and an express train on the T. H. & B. Ry. near Ancaster that day.

The news spread through the village like an electric shock, bringing tears to the eyes of many.

The family had been visiting relatives in Welland and St. Catharines, and were returning to their home with Mr. and Mrs. J. Heaton of St. Catharines in their car, who were also coming to Port Rowan to visit relatives, when the accident occurred, in which Mrs. Heaton also lost her life and Mr. Heaton received serious injuries, among them being a broken leg.

Mr. Peach was the youngest son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Frank Peach. He was 37 years old, and was born in this village., where he always lived. His occupation was that of clerk in a general store, and his integrity was such that he enjoyed the unlimited confidence of his employers, and was highly respected by everyone.

He was a member of the A. F. & A. M. and the A. O. U. W. He leaves one brother William, of Port Rowan, and one sister, Fanny, Mrs. Frank Smith of St. Thomas, to mourn his loss; together with a large number of relatives in this village and vicinity.

Mrs. Peach (Carrie), was a daughter of the late John and Mrs. Secord. She was born in Charlotteville and was 3[6] years old at the time of her death. She was a woman of sterling character, a kind friend, a loving wife and an affectionate mother to her two bright and promising sons. Besides a heartbroken mother, she is survived by one sister, Kitty, Mrs. Neiderauer of Welland.

The remains arrived on the mid-day train from Hamilton on Monday, and were taken to the fine new residence just completed and which they had so recently left so full of life and hope. The cortege from the train to the home was watched by a large number of sympathizing friends.

The funeral was held from the house on Tuesday, and was very largely attended and was probably the most solemn occasion ever witnessed in this village.

Interment took place in the Newkirk cemetery, St. Williams, on Tuesday, where all that remained mortally of what so recently was a happy and prosperous family was laid at rest. The Rev. D. J. Rowland officiated.

The late Mrs. Heaton, who was killed in the accident at Ancaster last week, was quite well known here, Mrs. Nowry, her daughter, with her family, have lived in the village for some time, and her brother W. A. Bailey, is one of the most enterprising business men. A sister, Mrs. Lewis Snooks, is also a resident of the village. A widowed mother and a brother live in Forestville; and Mrs. Byron McDonald of Houghton, and Mrs. Delorme McDonald of Ever View, and Mrs. T. Jones of Houghton, are sisters.

Mr. Heaton and the bereaved family have the sympathy of the entire community upon sad loss, and a sympathetic hope is entertained that Mr. Heaton may fully recover from his injuries.

 
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