Construction railway claims another life

behind in Mammola, Calabria, while Iannizzi, living in Thorold, worked long and hard to save enough money to pay for their passage to Canada. In February 1925, Iannizzi was finally reunited with his wife Elisabetta Romeo and youngsters, Domenic Antonio, 9, and Giuseppa, 2.

The family’s new life together lasted less than six months.

On Thursday, July 30, 1925, Iannizzi was fatally injured when he was crushed by a train at the Arrol Dump in Section 2 of the canal.

Iannizzi died about 1:30 a.m. the next morning at the Construction Hospital following surgery to amputate his badly mangled right leg.

ini- tially reportedthatIannizziwasworkingalongsidethetrackandbecametangled in a cable that was connected to the train as the cars moved past him. According to the article, Iannizzi was “thrown over a pile of stone and onto the track directly in front of the train.”

Most of this information would come into question at the coroner’s inquest held on Thursday, Aug. 6.

It became clear at the hearing that Iannizzi was not working at the time. Rather, according to testimony, Iannizzi had finished an overtime shift and was planning to ride the construction train back up to Thorold, apparently a common practice for workers who were heading home. It was about 6:45 p.m.

Several workers were called to give their accounts of how the accident happened. The only worker to see the accident was C.G. Iganto. He told the jury that Iannizzi was at the side of the tracks picking up his coat and lunch pail as the train went in reverse. Iannizzi was caught by a cable protruding from the train and was dragged under the cars.

Unfortunately, Iganto spoke little English and was unable to adequately reply to further questioning by the Crown attorney.

Profile No. 52

Rocco Iannizzi Age: Born:

Died: Cause of Death: Occupation:

Following Iganto’s testimony, the Crown attorney recalled the train conductor, Leo Hearn, to the stand. Hearn had testified earlier in the day. At that time, he told the jury that, although he hadn’t seen the accident, it was likely that Iannizzi fell under the cars when he slipped on some loose rocks as he tried to step on to the moving train.

When Hearn returned to the witness stand, the Crown attorney asked him if it was possible that a cable caught Iannizzi. Hearn’s answer disputed the accuracy of Iganto’s testimony. According to Hearn, an examination of the train following the accident determined that there “were no projections of any kind that could have caught Iannizzi.”

The jury briefly deliberated before returningwithaverdictthatIannizzi’s death was accidental.

More tragedy awaited Iannizzi’s family later in 1925. Elisabetta Iannizzi was five months pregnant with twins when her husband was killed. In November, the infant boys, one of whom was named after their father, died shortly after birth. Rocco Iannizzi and the babies are buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Thorold.

As for Iannizzi’s widow, life carried on in her newly adopted home. She remarried and had another two children with her second husband, Stefano Zoccoli.

33 Jan. 27, 1892 (Mammola, Calabria, Italy) July 31, 1925 (from an accident that occurred July 30, 1925, in Section 2 between locks 3 and 4)

Crushed by train Labourer for Sir William Arrol Ltd.