1914-02-07a

The home of the Dickson family on Mount Royal avenue was almost the scene of a sad fatality, Saturday afternoon, February 5, 1914.

          The hero was 12 year-old Clarence Dickson, and it was not the first time that Clarence was involved in a remarkable incident.

          In February 1914, Clarence lived with his mother, and his infant sister, Winnifred, aged 13 months. The three were sitting in the library of their Mount Royal Avenue home, and as the weather was bitterly cold outside, a hearty blaze was warming the house from the fireplace.

          As described by a Spectator, what happened next was truly frightening:

          “Mrs. Dickson was called from the room for a few minutes, and during her absence, little Winnifred, who was playing with a toy, drew it across the floor, and in doing so, backed right into the open fireplace. She was immediately enveloped in flames.”¹

               ¹ “Saved Sister’s Life : Little Clarence Dickson Gave Wonderful Display of Courage”

          Hamilton Spectator. February 7, 1914.

          Immediately and rather cooly given the danger of the moment, Clarence sprang into action to save his sister :

          “Her brother , who was sitting reading at the time, jumped to her rescue, and with difficulty, succeeded in smothering the flames from the child’s clothing.”¹

          The Spectator reporter than pointed out that such a display of calm and courage in such a situation would be unusual for most people, especially children, but it was not the first time for Clarence Dickson to show such presence of mind:

          “When he was only about 8 years of age, he and a little playmate wandered down to the bay front, and his little playmate got into deep water in the vicinity of the Grand Trunk wharf. This little lad made every effort to save his playmate, risking his own life by getting down on a floating log to try and reach his companion.”¹

               Sadly, Clarence’s efforts were brave, but not ultimately successful.

          The third instance where Clarence’s unexcitable nature came into play when he had been sent to a store on Locke Street South to purchase some bread.

On his way back home, crossing Locke street, near Pine street, Clarence was struck and run over by a Hamilton Street Railway streetcar.

Miraculously, the street car passed over young lad and other than a few scrapes and bruises, Clarence was unhurt :

“One would naturally expect a child of so tender years to be almost frightened to death, but not so with this little man, he picked up the bread he was carrying, and, quite unconcerned, walked off home, not even noticing the excitement that the accident had caused among the bystanders.”¹