Warnings failed to save labourer from falling piling
Even though canal construction was winding down, five deaths were recorded in 1932, the year the canal was officially opened.
The last three on-site deaths occurred between Oct. 18 and Nov. 3 — John Hawthorne was, unfortunately, one of those last victims. He was also one of 30 canal casualties who were born in Ontario — 22 per cent of the total number of fallen workers.
On Oct. 18, 1932, Hawthorne was laying tile in a ditch at the mouth of a culvert under the abandoned third canal where it intersected with the new Welland Ship Canal. Other workmen were unloading 36-inch vitrified sewer pipe off a flatcar of the construction railway on top of the embankment, near the swing bridge used by the railway.
At about 10:50 a.m., a piece of wood piling, about 1.3 metres long and 45 centimetres in diameter, rolled off the car and bounced wildly down the embankment. The workmen above shouted and whistle blasts signalled a further warning of the impending danger.
Five or six men narrowly escaped serious injury, while William Daniels of Port Dalhousie was struck and suffered leg injuries. Hawthorne, however, would not be so lucky.
He lay down in the bottom of the ditch, presumably thinking the piling would pass over him, but instead he was struck on the head by the heavy projectile.
Dr. Eldon D. Coutts, whose practice was on James Street in St. Catharines, responded immediately to the call for medical aid. Sadly, Hawthorne died in the hospital ambulance while being transported to St. Catharines General Hospital.
Coutts reported the death occurred at 11:15 a.m. as a result of a severe fracture of the skull and
laceration of the brain.
Hawthorne’s remains were interred three days later in Victoria Lawn Cemetery. The funeral was held under the auspices of the Loyal Order of Moose, Lodge No. 936, St. Catharines, of which Hawthorne was a member.
In addition to the accident details, other surviving documents reveal that the hospital invoiced the Department of Railways and Canals for $4.50 for the ambulance and $5 for an operating room at the morgue, while Coutts invoiced the department $10 for first aid at Lock 3 and for accompanying the ambulance that conveyed the injured man to the hospital.
Hawthorne had been employed since June 4, 1932, working 5½ days a week at a wage of $15.84 a week.
He had for many years been a sailor on the Great Lakes, before being hired by the government to work on the canal. He had lived in the vicinity for some 30 years. He left behind his wife Emma, daughter Irene, and son George William, all of whom were living at 192 Ontario St. at the time of his death.