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Note: Tried sending for a birth certificate as found in FreeBMD: Sept 1854, Newport, Monmouthshire, 11A, 153. This was not our Robert.
Excerpt from The Weekly Standard, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, Thursday, October 10, 1901
STRUCK BY AN ENGINE
Two G. T. R. Sectionmen Seriously Injured
(From Friday's [October 4, 1901] Standard)
A serious accident occurred about 8 o'clock this morning on the G. T. R. a short distance east of Merriton station, by which Robert Smith, a section hand, is probably fatally injured, and Fred Nunnamaker, section foreman, sustained injuries, which, while not necessarily fatal, are decidedly serious. The two men were engaged in making an inspection trip along the line on a "jigger" or hand car, and had reached a point about half a mile east of Merriton station, and 200 yards east of the iron bridge, on which the Welland division crosses the main line, when pilot engine No. 235 in charge of Engineer Turner, dashed out from the tunnel and ran into the men, throwing them from the track and down the embankment.
The engine was light, and was returning from St. Davids when the accident happened. After striking the men, who are supposed to have been on their feet endeavoring to remove the hand car from the track, the locomotive proceeded to Merriton, where Dr. Vanderburg was summoned. Hastily boarding the engine, the doctor was hurried to the scene of the accident where he found Smith lying unconscious at the foot of the embankment about 40 feet from the track, and Nunnamaker lying near the track on the north side. The hand car was shattered and gave evidence of the force of the collision.
Both men were placed on the engine and it made all speed for the Welland station in St. Catharines where the ambulance was in waiting to convey them to the hospital. On arrival at that institution, it was found that Smith had sustained severe injuries about the head and groin, while the injuries of Mr. Nunnamaker were chiefly about the head.
Drs. Merrit, Sheahan and Oldright were in attendance at the hospital, and their opinion is that Smith cannot live, while Nunnamaker has a fair chance of recovery.
Robert Smith lives in Merriton on Almond Street, across from the residence of the late Joseph Holden, and has a wife and little daughter, 4 or 5 years old. [Reporter got it wrong!] Nunnamaker lives at Jordan and is a married man.
Station agent McCraw proved himself to be a hustler, and no time was lost in getting Dr. Vanderburg to the scene of the accident. It is impossible to learn how or why the collision happened, but the engineer of 235 had applied the emergency brake when the "jigger" was struck. Merriton certainly seems to be a bad berth for a railroad man.
(From Saturday's [October 5, 1901] Standard)
The accident which occurred on the G. T. R. near Merriton has resulted fatally, and one of the injured men, Robert Smith, of Merriton, was the victim. His wounds were considered serious, but he was also injured internally, and, after lingering until after two o'clock Friday afternoon, he breathed his last.
The deceased, who was 47 years of age, formerly resided in Port Dalhousie, and had lived in Merriton about two months.
He was an honest, sober, industrious man, respected by all his friends, and leaves a widow and three small children, the youngest of which is two years of age. To the bereaved wife and family will the sympathy of many friends be extended.
The deceased was a member of the Wage earners Association, which organization will take charge of the funeral tomorrow. He was also a devoted member of St. James church, where he will be missed.
After a conference with the Crown Attorney, Coroner Goodman decided that no inquest was necessary.
F. Nunnamaker, the other injured man, is doing as well at the hospital as can be expected.
This is the bill for Mrs. Robert Smith from McIntyre and Son Undertakers, Corner of St. Paul and Chestnut Street, St. Catharines, ON, Nov. 2, 1901:
Oct. 4, 1901 - Coffin and outside case and hearse to cemetery - $30.00
2 carriages - $6.00
TOTAL $36.00
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