1914-12-04a

Some of the most dangerous jobs in the Hamilton 1914 were those held by workers with the railways, particularly those working in one of the railway yards.

          For assembling trains, the chance of being seriously hurt were very real, as was proved by the incident at the Garth Street yards of the Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo Railway.

          Joseph Dickenson was employed as a brakeman at the yards when an accident occurred there shortly after 11 a.m., December 4, 1914.

          The afternoon edition of the Hamilton Spectator that day shared the following hastily-assembled account of what happened:

          “Mr. Dickenson for many months had been employed as a brakeman by the T. H. and B. railway. He was witching cars in the yards when the accident occurred.

          “A heavy freight train was backing into the yard, and Dickenson was attempting to couple on another car. In some unaccountable manner he fell to the rails and the four wheels of one car passed over both legs and his left arm.

          “Trainmen heard his screams for help and ran to his assistance. A hurry call was telephoned for the ambulance, and the unfortunate man was rushed to the city hospital, where doctors found it necessary to amputate the mangled limbs.

          “His wife was at his bedside, wracked and torn with grief, and praying against inevitable death, which came shortly before 1 o’clock.”¹

               ¹ “Mangled Under Freight Wheels : Brakeman Fatally Hurt in Aberdeen Ave. Yards : Joseph Dickenson Died Shortly After at Hospital”

          Hamilton Spectator.   December 4, 1914.

          At press time, the railway company had initiated its own investigation; the Crown Attorney had ordered an inquest and Mrs. Dickenson had been taken to the family home, 30 Tuckett street.