1914-07-14gg

“Harry Pearson, the 26-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Pearson, 128 Napier street, lost his life while swimming in the bay yesterday afternoon, making the second drowning fatality in this city in two days.”

Hamilton Times.  July 14, 1914.

When temperatures rise to sultry levels, the temptation to swim in the waters of Hamilton bay was hard to resist.

As it had been very hot in Hamilton for over three days, on Monday July, 13, 1914, Harry Pearson and his friend Fred Cook decided to cool off :

“Both men, finding the intense humidity almost too much for them, mounted bicycles and rode to the bay where they hoped to refresh themselves by bathing.

“At Bastien’s boathouse, they secured a rowboat and rode across the bay. Willow Point has always been a favourite spot for swimming for the two.

“Pearson was first in the water, but only a few seconds separated the other man’s plunge.”¹

¹ Drowned Near Willow Point : Harry Pearson Lost His Life Yesterday Afternoon : Companion Tried in Vain to Recover Body.”

Hamilton Spectator.   July 14, 1914.

As described in the Times report of the tragedy, Pearson seemed to get in trouble without any warning:

“He waded out a short distance and returning decided to dive. The water at one spot is rather deep, and taking a spring, Pearson shot into the water here.

“Whether he struck a hard obstacle on the bottom or whether he became entangled in the weeds is not known, but he did not reappear.”²

² “Lost Life When in Swimming : Harry Pearson Plunged Into Bay and Did Not Return : May Have Hit Bottom or Become Entangled in Weeds”

Hamilton Times. July 14, 1914.

While the Times did not specify it in its account, Pearson and Cook been diving from the rowboat:

“It was suggested that the oars be placed on the shore and the boat used for diving from. The victim was a fairly good swimmer, and when the craft had been taken a considerable distance out, he dived from the bow.

“No particular notice was taken of his plunge by Cook, until he shouted and remarked on the splendid condition of the water. Getting no response, he looked about, but his companion was out of sight.”¹

Eventually becoming alarmed at the continued absence of Pearson, Cook dived repeatedly into the bay to look for him:

“The water at the point of the bay is none too clear, and because of that, he was greatly handicapped. After searching about for some time, Cook took particular notice of where the boat was located at the time of Pearson’s disappearance, and hurriedly returned to the city side of the bay, where employees of Bastien’s were notified. The police were communicated with and soon they were at the scene of the drowning.”¹

For the second time in two days, member of the Hamilton police had to employ grappling hooks.

As reported in the late edition of the Times, it was a difficult search:

“Although Constable Reynolds, O’Mahoney, Lalond and Bucket have been trying to recover the body, their efforts have been fruitless. Up to press time, they had not got a trace of the body, and it is the opinion of the men in charge of the work that the body has become fastened in the numerous weeds surrounding Willow Point.”²

A week later, the body of Harry Pearson had yet to be located. Some details which had been mistakenly reported in the rush to cover the matter on the day of the drowning were corrected.

Harry Pearson was not 26 years old when he died, but 33. He was unmarried, not married as had been reported. He had been in the employ of the Hamilton Cab and Bus company and had also worked at the Aitchison’s lumber yard. At the time of his death, he was working at the Ontario Lantern company.

For almost a week since the drowning, Fred Pearson had been searching incessantly for the remains of his brother. Once he had spotted the body, but, as he was alone, he was unable to bring it to the surface using grappling hooks.

Finally, about 8 a.m., July 17, 1914 some berry pickers working on the north shore spotted Pearson’s body floating on the surface of the bay, about a hundred yards out.

Their sighting was reported to the men working in a nearby business:

A man, named Anderson, employed by the Hamilton Bay Ferry company put out from shore in a gasoline launch and towed the body to the James street docks. The police were then notified and Pearson’s body was taken to Dodsworth’s undertaking parlors.”³

³ “Body Recovered : Bay Gave Up Remains of Fred Pearson This Morning.”

Hamilton Spectator.  July 17, 1914.

It was considered that the drowning was accidental and no coroner’s inquest was deemed necessary.

Survived only by his parents, and his brothers Percy and Fred, Harry Pearson’s funeral which took place the following Saturday was private.