Radial Accident - December 1918

It was seemingly to be a normal trip to Hamilton from Brantford along the electric radial railway line that connected the two communities. After the train had left the Ancaster stop on the line, there were thirty people on board.

At first, the story seemed to be that the air brakes on the car had become inoperable, and the conductor had no control once the car started the steep descent from the top of the escarpment to the lower city. Some of the passengers, not knowing about the problem with the brakes, accused the motorman of driving excessively fast:

“Car 603 left Brantford on time and made the regular stops on the line. Some place between Ancaster and the scene of the accident, the automatic air brakes with which the car is fitted became useless. From Ancaster there is a heavy downward grade, and the motorman, unable to control the car, was forced to allow it to proceed at its own speed. He stated that Queen street was a regular stop, but there were no passengers to be discharged at this point, and had there been he would have been unable to stop. Both the airbrake and the reverse failed to check the speeding car. After leaving Queen street, the line passes through a private right of way to Hess street. There are two curves between the streets and the car made these safely but came to grief as it rounded the curve which brings the line into Hess street.”¹

Once, however unsteadily, the car was on Hess street, the situation went from bad to worse: “After the car left the rails at the curve, it travelled about seventy feet along the roadway, across the sidewalk and onto a lawn before turning on its side. The trucks were disengaged from the body and the forward truck went some distance ahead of the car itself. The inside of the car gave one the impression that a cyclone had swept it. Almost every window was smashed, both the front and rear vestibules were completely demolished, and near the center of the car, the roof and side were crushed in.

“It was very fortunate that no pedestrians were on Hess street where the car struck the sidewalk. It is said that, so great was its speed, it would have been impossible for a passerby to avoid being struck.”¹

The response from both the Hamilton Police, from a doctor who lived nearby and from a Hess street resident were remarkable:

“The city ambulance and the police patrol wagon, with a squad of men under Sergeant Steward, hurried to the scene, and arrived there five minutes after the accident took place. The majority of the passengers were able to extricate themselves, but two women, one who fainted and one who received serious injuries, were carried from the car. The woman who had sustained injuries about her arms was bleeding profusely. It was later learned that she is Mrs. Elizabeth Bryson, 102 Mary street.

 “Officials of the company were soon on the scene and those who had been injured were attended to by the company’s doctor, Dr. Silcox., who resides close to where the accident occurred.

““Mrs. Bryson who was returning to the city from a visit in Brantford, and who sustained very serious injuries, was carried from the car into a nearby house, and later removed to the city hospital, where it was found that her right arm had been severed above the elbow. She was in a very serious condition, and for a time, it was feared that she might succumb to shock, but her condition improved later, and every hope is held for her recovery now. ”¹

Mrs. Bryson was quickly attended to by two passengers after the car had stopped moving :

“Robert Hatch was on his way from Brantford, where he worked to sped the weekend with his family at Guelph. His right arm was crushed and he sustained a bruise over his left eye. He was also shaken up. His club bag was smashed. He sat behind Mrs. Elizabeth Bryson. Mr. Hatch said he perceived something was wrong after the car had crossed Queen street, when the speed of the car was not slackened as it neared the corner of Hess street. Then the car skidded, left the rails, and lurched towards a wooden fence on the east side of Hess street. Mr. Hatch heard a crash of glass in front of him, caused by Mrs. Bryson’s arm being shot through the window with great force. A grinding noise followed, then the car toppled over on its side.

“In front of Mrs. Bryson was Mr. Day, R.R. No. 1, Brantford. He was coming to this city on business. He escaped with bruises and a shaking up. Both Mr. Hatch and Mr. Day were somewhat dazed, but quickly recovering, soon freed themselves, for both were between the seats. Simultaneously, both men noticed the pitiable plight of Mrs. Bryson, lying unconscious with one arm severed. She was held as in a vise between the car window and the smashed seat where she had sat. In a few minutes they had freed her and carried her onto the veranda of Mrs. Booth’s residence, 207 South Hess street. Until the arrival of the police ambulance, everything was done to stop further loss of blood. The severed arm was later picked up by one of the city firemen. Afterwards, Mr. Hatch left to catch the C.P.R. Guelph train, while Mr. Day proceeded cityward.   

The Herald reporter managed to speak to the motorman :                  “Motorman McEwan, who has been in the company’s service for six years, stuck to his post and did his utmost to bring the car to a standstill. He was badly shaken up when a Herald reporter spoke to him after the mishap. From the time of leaving Brantford, until a short distance before reaching the Aberdeen avenue and Queen street intersection, he found no trouble in stopping his car. The greasy state of the rails, due to the thaw, had made him exercise every care during the trip. Mr. McEwan, during his six years’ service, has proved himself a trustworthy and careful employee.¹

¹ “B. & H. Car Jumped Rails on Hess Street : Got Beyond Control and Crashed Into Fence : Mrs. E. Bryson Lost an Arm and Several Others Were Hurt.”

Hamilton Herald.    December 09, 1918.

With the accident occurring at about 3 o’clock Saturday afternoon, and with no Sunday newspapers published, it was not until the following Monday, December 9, 1918 that Hamiltonians learned the details of the accident, and the nature of the injuries suffered in it.