Show Posts
1
Canada / 1913 Ottawa train disaster
« on: Tuesday 25 June 13 19:44 BST (UK) »
100 years ago today the Canadian Pacific Railway express from Montreal to Winnipeg derailed at what is now McKellar park west of Ottawa. Eight of the many Scots and Irish immigrant passengers lost their lives in the accident, including my great-uncle Pat Mulvenna (then aged 27).
He had just arrived in Canada (from Co. Antrim) to start a new life in Sudbury, Ontario. Very sad.
The CBC Ottawa morning radio programme did a 10minute feature on it this morning with some contributions from me, including a song I wrote to commemorate my great-uncle's tragic journey into the west.
The eight fatalities were:
The origins and approximate ages of the deceased have been pieced together from online sources in recent days, namely:
None of Patrick Mulvenna's family could be in Ottawa for his funeral and it is reported that there was a "goodly number" from the Ottawa AOH lodges present (Ancient Order of Hibernians). I've contacted the AOH in Canada to see if they have any minutes from Ottawa lodge meetings in their archives as I'd be interested if they corresponded with my great-grandfather back in Glenarm somehow.
My great-uncle was travelling with a friend, John DONNELLY (1890-1960) also from Glenarm. The Ottawa Citizen lists him as one of the injured (nearly drowned under a seat). He and Pat were the only two passengers on the manifest whose destination was listed as Sudbury. It is my understanding that John lived out his life in Sudbury. It would be great to hear from any of his relatives.
He had just arrived in Canada (from Co. Antrim) to start a new life in Sudbury, Ontario. Very sad.
The CBC Ottawa morning radio programme did a 10minute feature on it this morning with some contributions from me, including a song I wrote to commemorate my great-uncle's tragic journey into the west.
The eight fatalities were:
- Patrick Mulvenna (27) Glenarm, Co. Antrim, Ireland
- Mrs Margaret McClure (59), Riverside Street, Antrim Town, Ireland
- John McClure (5), Riverside Street, Antrim Town, Ireland
- Matilda McClure (10mths), Riverside Street, Antrim Town, Ireland
- John Hogg (26), Caheny, Aghadowey, Co. Derry, Ireland
- John Moodie (17), Sanday, Orkney, Scotland
- Mrs Jane McNeilly (40), Glasgow, Scotland
- John Peace (21), Anniesland, Glasgow, Scotland
The origins and approximate ages of the deceased have been pieced together from online sources in recent days, namely:
- Coverage in Ottawa Citizen newspaper
- The passenger list on the SS Pretorian
- 1911 census for the McCLUREs
- 1911 census for John HOGG after his origin was given as "Ciheney, Monedeag, Grivigh" in his funeral notice
None of Patrick Mulvenna's family could be in Ottawa for his funeral and it is reported that there was a "goodly number" from the Ottawa AOH lodges present (Ancient Order of Hibernians). I've contacted the AOH in Canada to see if they have any minutes from Ottawa lodge meetings in their archives as I'd be interested if they corresponded with my great-grandfather back in Glenarm somehow.
My great-uncle was travelling with a friend, John DONNELLY (1890-1960) also from Glenarm. The Ottawa Citizen lists him as one of the injured (nearly drowned under a seat). He and Pat were the only two passengers on the manifest whose destination was listed as Sudbury. It is my understanding that John lived out his life in Sudbury. It would be great to hear from any of his relatives.