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“Saturday’s sad fatality on Caroline street north, in which a fine young boy lost his life when his sled dashed into an automobile while the children were coasting down the hills of the intersecting streets, should be a warning as to the dangers of this practice.”

Hamilton Times.    January 11, 1915.

The Hamilton Times had warned about the danger just recently, but its worst fears had been realized nonetheless.

Coasting down busy streets, on large toboggans or on smaller sleds, had been a danger for many years, as youngsters took advantage of snow-covered hills for use as their runs, little thinking about the dangers:

“It is only a few days since the Times called attention to a similar danger in another part of the city, but the warning does not seem to have been heeded by the boys.

“The great danger of a sled shooting down a steep hill on a side street and crossing a greatly used main street should be apparent. Nothing can stop the sled when once it gets underwat.”¹

¹ “Very Dangerous : Saturday’s Fatality Emphasizes Oft Repeated Warning.”

Hamilton Times.   January 11, 1918.

The sad incident happened about 7 p.m. on a cold Saturday evening, January 9, 1915.

Walter Berryman, the 11 year son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Berryman, of 146 Hess Street North was out with several of his friends using the steep grade of Mill street to propel their sleds quickly over the snow-covered thoroughfare.

At the bottom of the street was the busy Caroline street, on which H. P. Cartmell, a chauffeur was travelling in charge of a large automobile :

“The chauffeur was driving a party south on their way from the Grand Trunk Railway station. The boy on the sled arrived at the corner simultaneously with the auto, and before the chauffeur had time to stop or divert the car, a wheel passed over the little boy’s chest.”²

² “Sled Dashed Into an Auto : Little Walter Berryman Killed On Caroline Street”

Hamilton Times. January 11, 1915.

Chauffeur Cartmell immediately brought his vehicle to a stop, and he and the other occupants jumped from the car, rushed over to the boy and rushed him to the nearby office of Dr. McRobbie.

Dr. McRobbie ordered that the boy be placed in the car, and after picking up the boy’s parents, the car hastily made its way to the City Hospital on Barton street.

In spite of everything that could be done to help, Walter Berryman passed away about 8 o’clock, just an hour after the accident.

The boy’s family and friends were devastated by the death of Walter:

“Mrs. Berryman is prostrated over the death of her youngest son. Yesterday, many of his playmates called to view his remains in a tiny casket, and on Tuesday, when the funeral service is to be held, the cadets of Hess Street School, which he attended, will turn out in a body.”²

(To Be continued)