BC Look up. George Byrd Dynamite Explosion 1911

[Sue_Afc]

Hi,
Hoping someone out there can help me regarding George Byrd. I have the following information:

DoB:-            20 Feb 1878     Bretforton, Worcestershire, England
Married:-       5 Aug 1908   to Gertrude Mary Heritage in Bretforton
 
On 14 Mar 1911, when aged 33 years, he sailed for Canada. I have a copy of the passenger list if required.
Port of Departure:-    Liverpool (don't know time)
Destination Port:-       Halifax, Canada, I think on March 22, 1911
Ship:-                        SS Grampian of Allen Line
Contract Ticket No:- 32305
 
On 25 Jun 1911 was killed in an explosion, somewhere in Ontario?.

Any information you could find out would be appreciated. Some facts would be of interest:
Are there any records showing how he got there?
1 -  Where was he living?
2 -  What was his occupation?
3 -  What was the explosion? Cause? Any records of it?
4 -  Are there any records and/or newspaper cuttings showing his death?


Many thanks, Sue 

[cosmac]

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/passenger/001045-119.02-e.php?sisn_id_nbr=12238&page_sequence_nbr=1&interval=20&page_id_nbr=122660&&&&&&&&PHPSESSID=0rojhavtouvm06okl6qrfu27b0
If you flip through this link until the upper right corner shows page 82493 you should find your George Byrd destined for Vancouver.

http://search.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/sn-1421A9B/gbsearch/Births,Marriages,Deaths
Your can search BC Vital Records here and view the brief details for his death at Point Grey

There is someone on this forum who has access to BC Vital Records for lookups and does a good job providing details on BMDs as required.

Debbie

[Sue_Afc]

Hi Debbie

Many thanks for the quick response.

Would it be possible for an error to have been made on his age. I have his birth year as 1878 and death in 1911 making him 33 and not 40?

Cheers, Sue

[cosmac]

I suppose it would make a difference who the informant on the death registration was.  If it was someone not related they might only have a reasonable idea how old the person was.  I guess the next step would be to get the registration and make sure that it is your George.

Point Grey was a separate village and then became incorporated into the City of Vancouver.  It was located around the present day location of the University of British Columbia.  I looked online for disasters taking place in that timeframe but nothing was listed.  This link gives an outline of things happening in Vancouver in 1911 and it mentions a fire but that occurred in July.
http://www.vancouverhistory.ca/sample_chapter_1911.htm

If this is your George perhaps someone with access to BC libraries could look up the paper that might give an account of this explosion.

Debbie

[J.J.]

Yes this was the explosion...just a brief account in the newspapers...seems they just guessed at his age....
If he was only months in the country and hadn't made close associates as yet, the informant wouldn't know...
http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/th/read/BYRD/2000-11/0973665992

[J.J.]

Nothing listed here for 1911   http://www.vancouverhistory.ca/chronology8.htm
so am guessing he was sole death, so not considered newsworthy enough to make big news I suppose...I imagine it might have been in a smaller local paper, but nothing online....
a William Paynter  died the same day so likely a second casualty...it says he was 39, but he was 52....sad bunch...

I suppose they could just as likely been the 2 Unknown Unknowns who died there July 3rd 1911....also both age 40...
perhaps they made SURE these deaths didn't hit the news....



I normally recommend a look up, but I'm afraid there likely won't be much more from the informant....
If you still want to try, then modify first entry subject line to read B.C. Look up
 

[Sue_Afc]

Can someone do a look up for me on the explosion that killed George Byrd

Lethbridge Daily Herald, The - June 26, 1911, Lethbridge, Alberta

[cosmac]

http://lethbridgeherald.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewer.aspx?img=68619341&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=0&currentPage=0

Link to the Lethbridge newspaper article

Debbie

[jfremont]

I picked up the death record for George Byrd, 1911 at Point Grey, Vancouver, It would appear this is the right person since he died from a "dynamite explosion, about 10 minutes". In 1911 the death records normally have 2 pages with medical on one page. In this case no physician attended so no medical page. Informant was coroner and gave George Byrd's age "about 40 years". Little else for information.
If you wish a copy of the records, send a PM with your email address and I will send it along.
John