The was completely destroyed by fire late Thursday night. Of the large main building in which all the manufacturing was carried on nothing remains except a lint portion of the inactive stone wall and a great heap of smoking debris.
Part of Mr. Crierson, the Superintendants home, also fell prey to the flames, but the office and shipping room, store houses and a few other outhouses wore saved by the excellent and effective work of the firemen. The damage amounts to one hundred thousand dollars, covered by insurance to the extent of 50 thousand dollars. The fire originated at about 9.4.1 p.m. in the boiler room, and was first noticed hy Mr. Cardinal, nightwatchman, on his return from one of his hourly rounds.
A time clock is used and registered upon every hour as the watchman makes a complete inspection of the entire plant. He had just returned to the waiting quarters in the boiler room and had gone to the adjoining department for a handful of waste when the fire was spotted.
Though at times it seemed that the flames would get beyond the rear of the main building where there were a number of storehouses in which are kept large stocks of wool and other raw material it did not. The cloth from the shipping room was all removed to places of safety. Danger to the wool was immediate and serious, and, and the firemen did all they could do to hold down the danger at the east and north ends, the chances of cutting off the -wool losses seemed’ remote.
Extra precautionary measures were taken in this direction and all put in readiness with men and teams to remove the wool in short order. The arrival of the Perth Fire Brigade relieved the situation. They had been summoned and made the journey from Perth to help. When they came they saw a small smouldering fire in a wood pile which stands in the boiler room. Deciding that they could extingnish the blaze quite easily with a sprinkling of water, they went to procure pails and found upon their return that the flames had developed out of control, reaching high up the wells and all around the boiler room.
The alarm was given and quick help at hand, but so sudden and furious had the burning grow that it was impossible to do anything of an efficient nature. The mill firefighters were situated inside the building, but the raging flames prevented this being brought into service.
In a few minutes devastation hail spread east and went to the spinning and carding departments and westward into the finishing room. The last room of all to come to ruin was the weaving. Bursting from their confinement it hit the interior of the building, the flames passed out and over to the dye room and curled in the direction of Mr. Grierson’s house.
The situation was one of keeping control with Perth by means of relays of teams at points along every few feet. The Fire Captain (placed his engine at the Clyde Bridge on George Street), laid hose along Hillier St., caught up around the rear of the building anil joined with Captain White’s Lanark men in forming a complete barrage which cut off the danger from the wool stock anil outbuilding.
Stubbornly the flames shot and roared towards the superintendent’s home, lint equally stubborn and the ascendancy ebbed and flowed for nearly two hours before the flames showed signs of subsidence. In the mill itself large quantities of wool were stored amongst quantities of goods throughout the mill in various stages of fire.
In the scouring house downstairs a miscellaneous assortment of goods were ready for the machines and these were recovered. Thousands of dollars were in stock everywhere and had a strong wind prevailed even this might have been a vain effort, and when the fire spots came along they were quickly extinguished.
Precautions taken in this way saved the fire from spreading and the Fire Brigade was doing splendid work The fire engine stationed at the bridge, no more than one hundred feet distant from the burning building, worked along at full capacity and sent four strong, steady streams of water, distributed to the heat advantage, along the north sides of the building. This was a great task that demanded courage and perseverance.
About an hour after the first alarm the roofs began to weaken and fall, cracking and splitting with the terrific heat, broke off in sections and came down. The centre section of the mill was raised to the ground, disclosing fantastic shapes in twisted and gnarled machinery. A few years ago a brick storey had been added to tho mill, which is all gone, as well as about one-third of the eastern and western sections of the substantial old stone walls which enclosed the plant.
The destruction is so complete that all the order and form of this industry, which was Lanark pride and main support, has passed into the elements, and nothing remains but the slag of the ruin. The fire was all around and as far away as Smiths Falls the glare in the sky was noted. Crowds of people gathered from all quarters. Scores of automobiles came from the towns and villages and countryside. The fire alarm rang in Perth as soon as word was received there, end in a short time the engine and hose were ready end on the way.
Many of Perth’s folk came along in cars and other rigs.The building was originally a store owned by tlie Main, at that time a prominent business family in Lanark. A few years later the property was acquired by the late Boyd Caldwell and converted by him into a Woolen Mill. From time to time improvements end additions have been made.
When the wheels first turned that gave Lanark a standing as an industrial village there was general rejoicing. Caldwell’s Tweeds have honored Lanark for as long as it has existed. At the same time, it seems unthinkable that the place which has been the voice of inspiration for fifty years of successful effort and uninterrupted business policy, should be abandoned lightly. In the meantime plans have been in motion for recovering as fast as possible.
Appleton will take care of the finishing until machinery can be installed in the Perth plant. The Aberdeen Mill in Lanark will be doubled up in capacity by overtime.
All my sister’s children are sick with the measles, and she has a stepson 14 years old
who is now delirious. I think he had a setback, no doubt caught cold with it. I have
an idea he took a cold bath I am not sure tho’ because I heard him say that if any
one should get sick, they bathe in cold water and will always get well.
He heard some Indians talking in that fashion and no doubt believed it, because one day, I was cooking dinner and he came in the kitchen and was trying to get warm and his hair was wet. and I asked him where he had been and he said, he was down to the creek, so I scolded him because he was not well enough to go to the creek. But that is always the
way that the Indians talk, and now it will be no doubt a death to the little orphaned boy.
Her next letter of October 29 reveals that the young boy is dead. The letter is
rich with the significance of that death to her personally and talks about how
Margaret’s family purifies themselves and their property in response to that death.
What is shocking is that a white doctor is charging $50 to treat Indian patients
during the midst of an epidemic :
Measles has been raging at our house now for six long weeks. My own little niece
that lives with me has taken down for the last four days, and she is the last child of
the bunch to have it. And I hope to goodness, I never hear of measles again. My
sister had a relapse and we had to have an American doctor come up and he
charged us $50.00 for one visit, but she pulled through all right. He said she had
black measles. So we had to wean the baby, while the other two kids were sick a bed
too. “Believe me”, we had our hands full. I mean my brother in-law and I. I am in
hopes he does not get the disease. The little boy I was telling you about, my sister’s
stepson died a few days after writing to you. I am almost positive he took a cold plunge
in the creek.
You know how superstitious the Indians are. I had to clean house and rake the
yard and burn everything which the boy came in contact with. My sister wanted me
to burn the single buggy and I wouldn’t do it. So now I will only wash the thing with
rose bushes, which they claim drives the evil spirits away, of course I do not believe
all that, but I will have to do it to satisfy them. I even had to wash the milk cow with
rose bushes, so she will not fear me to milk her. Ain’t that funny, but my sister is
thoroughly Indian, more so than Julia and I. She is the one whom my aunt raised.
I told you about her before. And the funniest part of all this deal is that I feel creepy
to go outdoors alone at night.
The day that the boy died, I went to the post office, with the thought I would call
a priest to come and see him since he is of the Catholic faith, and it was night when
I was on the way home. I wasn’t thinking much of anything when I saw a bright
light flash up a tree, which attracted my attention and I saw a flimsy white form go
up towards the heavens, and then I was so frighten, even my horse was afraid, and
when I reached home, he had been dead fully half an hour and that was about the
same time. I had the presentment. Ain’t that stränge? but it is true Big Foot. The
the little boy always thought so much of me. And he knew I think that I went to town
for his interest, poor fellow. He was a very good boy. He was as innocent as a small
child. And I think God wanted him away from this evil world and took him away.
By November 19, 1917, she could write that all was finally well, although clearly
she had not yet recovered from her own near death experience.
During the severe winter of 1917–1918, many troops were housed in crowded and poorly heated wooden barracks or tents. Many recruits had experienced measles as children and were thus immune; however, many others, particularly families from the rural areas had not been infected and were immunologically susceptible. During the winter of 1917–1918, there were large outbreaks of measles and nearly 2,000 measles-related deaths, mostly in mobilization camps and aboard troopships bound for Europe. Most measles-related deaths among soldiers were caused by secondary bacterial pneumonias.
MOURNING DOVE’S CANADIAN RECOVERY YEARS, 1917-1919
“We were walking on dead soldiers … I saw poor fellows trying to bandage their wounds… bombs, heavy shells were falling all over them … it is the worst sight that a man ever wants to see.” — Canadian soldier Frank Maheux
Casualties:
1.) Pte. Ronald Gamble, killed in action. Much sympathy is felt in town for Mr. and Mrs. James Gamble in the death of their son Ronald Gamble who was on Monday officially reported killed in action between the 3rd and 4th November. Evidently it was his first time to go in to the trenches as in one of his last letters he said his unit was on the march and that he would write again when he reached the front lines. In one of his last letters he said “we have been traveling around the country and have seen some lovely scenery. There is so much dust here as it has done nothing but rain this week and we are over the boot tops in mud where ever we go. We will likely be meeting our friends across the way in a few days.” Ronald enlisted with the 240th Battalion on the 10th September, 1916 and left Canada for overseas with this unit on the 25th April, 1917. He went to France this past September and thus was there but a brief period before he was added to that long list of Canadians who have their last resting place in France. He was but 18 years of age and a very fine young man. Before enlisting at Perth he was employed in the printing and box making department of the Henry K. Wampole Co. (transcriber’s note, a letter from this company was not transcribed.)
2.) Pte. George Leggatt Killed in Action
Mr. and Mrs. James Leggatt of town are mourning the loss of their eldest son George Leggatt, aged 20, who has given his life on the fields of Flanders. The telegram conveying this sad news was to the effect that he was killed in action between the 3rd and 4th November. He went overseas with the 240th Battalion in May last and to France with a draft for the 21st Battalion only last September. He was but a short time in France and it was perhaps his first time in the trenches. Before enlisting he was employed in the Caldwell Company at Appleton. The last word received from him was in a letter written to Rev. D’Arcy Clayton which was written on the 1stNovember in France in which he stated he was well. He leaves to mourn his loss his parents, three brothers, albert and James at home and Gordon at Belleville and four sisters, Bessie, Millie, Francis and Helen at home.
3.) Pte Bruce Hope Dies of Wounds
Word was received here on Saturday of the death in a hospital in France on the 3rd November of Pte. W. Bruce Hope, only son of Mr. and Mrs. William Hope of Edson, Alberta and formerly of Perth, from wounds received a short time previous. The deceased was about 20 years of age and went overseas with an Edmonton battalion. Peter Hope is an uncle of the deceased.
4.) Pte. Craig Greer Dies While a Prisoner Of War
On Monday, 12th November, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Greer of Maberly were notified by the Record Office at Ottawa of the death of their son Craig while a prisoner of war in Germany. He was a military policeman in Perth while the battalion was recruiting. He went to England with the 130th Battalion and to France with a draft of the 76th. After the Vimy Ridge engagement on the 9th April, he was reported missing and later a prisoner of war. Shortly afterwards his parents were notified of his removal from Limberg to Dummen at which place he stated they were allowed to write two letters a month and a card every Sunday. His parents received a letter early in June stating that he was in a run down condition in health and was in need of money. About the same time a letter to Mrs. (Rev) Coles of Maberly (then deceased) was written saying he was not getting enough to eat. In his last letter home dated 13th July, he made no mention of his physical condition but wished to be remembered to all and further stated that he knew but one sergeant in the place. Possessed of a humorous and genial disposition Crag was a favorite with all in his community. His brother George died in France of pneumonia on the 6th October and another brother James is training at Witley Camp in Surrey, England.
5.) Lance Corporal George Cordick Dies of Wounds—Mrs. Robert Cordick of town received a telegram Monday conveying the sad information that her son had died of wounds on 8th November in #3 Casualty Clearing Station in France. They consisted of a gunshot wound in the head and chest. He was twice wounded. The first time was in August of 1916 and he was in England following this until May of this year when he returned to France where he has been up to the time of his death. Before enlisting he had been living in Halleybury(?) for six years and was 26 years of age. He enlisted with the Canadian Grenadier Guards in April of 1915 going overseas shortly afterwards. In the last letter received from him dated 31st Oct., he states that he was well. Those left to mourn his loss are his mother, the five brothers Samuel, Richard, William and Robert at home and James of Saskatchewan and five sisters Myrtle to home, Mrs. Bionee(?) Bionce(?) of Perth, Mrs. R.P. Donnelly of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, Mrs. James McParlan and Mrs. S.P. White of Stanleyville.
6.) Pte. Elmer Boles—In the list of those who have fallen in France this week is the name of Pte. Elmer Boles, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Boles of Fallbrook and formerly of Maberly. He enlisted with the 130thBattalion and had been a year in France. He is survived by his parents and two brothers one in France and one in Winnipeg and three sisters, Mrs. Thomas Ferguson of Manion, Mrs. Benjamin Avery of Fallbrook and Mrs. Ferguson of Vancouver.
7.) Pte. James Wilson—photo accompanies article—The telegram wires are constantly carrying messages of sorrow these days and no more regretful message was received in Perth this week than that arriving on Wednesday stating that Pte. James Clyde Wilson, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. John Wilson, had fallen in action in France. He enlisted in November of 1915 with the 130th Battalion going overseas this year. He fell on the 7th November and had been one yaer in France, attaining his 20th birthday in July last. In the last letter from Clyde received by Mrs. Wilson, he was expecting to take part in a big advance; this was received on Wednesday. Clyde attended the public schools here and was attending the Perth Collegiate Institute when he enlisted. He was in the headquarters office of the battalion while recruiting was going on. He was a manly young fellow whose death is deeply regretted by all. Three brothers, Herb, Tom and Creighton, are overseas.
Wounded:
1.) By telegram relatives in Canada were informed of the wounding of Pte. Fred Lappin of the Princess Patricias. He was admitted to the 1st Western General Hospital in Liverpool on the 4th November with a gunshot wound in the collarbone. He was slightly wounded before in the hand.
2.) Mr. John McKay of town received a telegram on Tuesday with the information that his son Corp. John Allen McKay of the medical service had been admitted to the #149 Field Ambulance on the 10th November with a gunshot wound in the shoulder.
3.) Peter Kantlakon(?) of Perth received notice on Friday from the Record Office in Ottawa that his brother Pte. James Kantlakon(?) of Smith’s Falls is officially reported admitted to the 6th Field Ambulance Depot on the 6th November with a gunshot wound in the hand.
4.) Peter Stafford of Lanark received word that his son Pte. Harry Stafford, infantry, had been admitted to the #6 Field Ambulance Depot on the 6th November with a gunshot wound in the thigh and legs.
5.) Mrs. Arthur Turner of Appleton received word a week ago of the wounding of her brother Lance Corporal William Service who was shot through the hand. This is the third time the young man has been wounded. He enlisted with the 8th Montreal Rifles in Ottawa in January of 1915 and spent two years in France.
6.) James Palmer of Perth received word that Pte. Arnold Warner, infantry, was admitted to the #1 Field Ambulance Depot on the 6th November with gunshot wounds in the left shoulder, leg and back. He went overseas with the 130th Battalion Band making his home before he enlisted with Mrs. James Palmer.
7.) News was received by Mr. A.F. Craig of Brightside on Monday that his nephew Corp. C.C. Craig had been wounded though not seriously. His is a son of Alfred Craig, formerly of Watson’s Corners but now of Wetaskiwin(?), Alberta.
8.) George C. Fredenburg of Westport was officially notified that his son Sgt. Wilfred Fredenburg had been wounded by gunshot in the side and left arm on the 7th November.
9.) A telegram was received by George Shire of the Delta station that Pte. Harold Shire had been admitted to the 1st Eastern General Hospital at Cambridge on the 14th November as dangerously ill.
10.) Lt. William Hope was wounded and gassed—photo accompanies notation
Lt. William Hope, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hope of town was this week reported wounded and gassed but exact particulars have not been received although cabled for.
District Casualties:
1.) Mrs. Ella Halford of Balfour, Manitoba who is at present visiting with Mrs. A. Lashley of Watson’s Corners was informed on Tuesday that her eldest son Pte. John Thomas Halford, infantry, had been killed in action between the 26th and 28th October.
2.) On October 30th, Pte. Arthur Templeton of the Princess Patricias, youngest son of Robert and Mary Templeton of Belleville had been killed in action in Flanders, aged 23.
District Wounded:
1.) Pte. Robert E. Gilbert of Appleton
2.) Pte. G.E. Malone of Almonte
3.) Pte. H. Keill, Sharbot Lake
4.) Pte. Herbert Patterson, Christie’s Lake
5.) Pte. S.A. Minnsfield, Smith’s Falls
6.) Pte. A. L. McNab, Merrickville
7.) Pte. E. L. Boulton, Smith’s Falls
8.) Pte. F. Moorhouse, Renfrew
9.) Pte. R.S. Shields, Smith’s Falls
10.) Pte. W. Wilson, Cobden
11.) Pte. Herbert Davidson, Beachburg
12.) Pte. S.(?) L. Perry, Franktown
13.) Pte. W. P. Meagher, Smith’s Falls
14.) Capt. Demming T. McCann of Westport
15.) Pte. A.T. Burgess of Pakenham
16.) Pte. C.L. Watt of Merrickville
17.) Pte. Charles Hogan of Merrickville
Died of Wounds:
1.) Pte. H. McVeigh, Sharbot Lake
2.) Pte. E. B. Galbraith, Yorker (Yarker?), Ontario
3.) Pte. E. W. Gemmell, Galbraith, Ontario
Gassed:
1.) Pte. Edgar W. Burgess, Pakenham
2.) Pte. John Hill, Carleton Place
3.) Pte. Alexander McNaughton, Cobden
4.) Pte. W. P. Banks, Smith’s Falls
5.) Pte. Allan Thrasher, Forrester’s Falls
6.) Pte. Russell Riddell, Clarendon
7.) Lance Corp. R.E. McPherson, Oso Station
8.) Pte. William Eroy(?), Almonte
Further Casualties:
The following additional casualties are of young men from this district:
1.) #410771, Pte. C.N. Henophy, Cardinal, killed in action
2.) #639280, Pte. Charles A. Hurlburt, Kemptville, killed in action
3.) #204240 Pte. Morvin(?) Miskelly(?), Merrickville, killed in action
4.) #639417 Acting Lance Corporal C. Watts, Cardinal, killed in action
5.) #639946(?) Pte. F. Barton, Spencerville, wounded
6.) #650175 Pte. C. Hogan(?), Merrickville, wounded
7.) #745093 Corporal W. Jones, Prescott, wounded
8.) #639821 Pte. L. W. Todd, Cardinal, wounded
Mr. and Mrs. Neil McCallum were informed by telegram on Monday of the wounding of their son Fred by gunshot in the face and left arm. He was admitted to the #3 Australian Casualty Clearing Station on 17thNovember. No further particulars have been received but it is thought he was assisting with the wounded when injured. He has been in France upwards of a year and a half going overseas with the 52nd Battalion of Calgary.
Casualties:
Killed in Action:
Pte. Joseph M. Seeley who for several years made his home with John Kerr, town clerk, has been reported killed in action. His parents are residing at Beamsville. While at Perth he attended the separate school, Perth Collegiate Institute and later the Federal Business College. From Perth he went to Hamilton and enlisted early in the war with an infantry unit. After training for some time in England, he was taken ill and spent several months in the hospital. After coming out of the hospital his unit had been drafted elsewhere; he was drafted to a Highland unit before going to France. He was 20 years of age and is well known in Perth, a brother Arthur is with the Royal Flying Corps and his eldest brother Charles is also overseas.
Pte. G. A. Tennant, only son of Mrs. F.J. Tennant, Toronto, and nephew of Mrs. J. Lestor, 10th Line Lanark, where he was well known, is reported killed in action.
Stanton Hudson, son of Daniel Hudson of Burritt’s Rapids and formerly of Perth is this week reported killed in action.
Wounded:
Pte. C.C. Forrest, Lombardy, next of kin Miss Jeannie Forrest, Lombardy.
James A. Smith—A telegram came to Perth this week directed to Thomas Lannin of Christie’s Lake, stating that Pte. James A. Smith, infantry, #225404 was admitted to the #9 Field Ambulance on the 17thNovember, with gunshot wounds and a skull fractured.
Presumed To Have Died:
Pte. T. J. Irvine of Perth is reported on Monday’s casualty list.
Killed in Action:
Pte. John English Douglas
Pte. D. Morrow, Renfrew
Pte. T. R. Hendry, Renfrew
Pte. T.W. Lett, Eganville
Pte. C.L. Portes, Renfrew
Cpl. N.R. Mc:Phail, Carleton Place
Died:
Pte. Percival Moore, Carleton Place
Gassed:
Pte. D.L. Fitzgerald, Renfrew
Pte. W. J. Harrasin(?), Pembroke
Died of Wounds:
Pte. Herbert Dowdall, Carleton Place
2.) Pte. J. T. Wilson, Pembroke
Wounded:
Pte. A. Conits, Rideau Ferry
Pte. H. Rouselle, Renfrew
Pte. C. McCreary, Smith’s Falls
Pte. F. L. Cahill, Smith’s Falls
Pte. D. Watkins, Ardoch
Pte. Elijah Thompson, Harlowe
Pte. Christie Halladay, Smith’s Falls
Pte. T. J. Charboneau, Westport
Pte. Cochrane Clayton
Pte. H. M. Main, Renfrew
Pte. Edgar McKarracher in a letter received by his parents Mr. and Mrs. Daniel McKerracher, Fallbrook, states that he was along with Clyde Wilson of Perth and Elmer Bales of Falls when they fell in action. Edgar also says that after this battle he and Dr. Scott’s son of Lanark were practically for four days without any food but at last reached a farm house where they obtained food.
Posted: 11 February, 2005-Christine M. Spencer of Northwestern University, Evanston, Il., USA.
He was born at Carleton Place Ontario (ON), the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Galbraith. He was educated there and at St. Andrew’s College Toronto. Along with at least two other Carleton Place young men (Stearne Edwards and Arthur Roy Brown), Galbraith went to Dayton Ohio and on 3 November 1915, obtained his private pilot’s licence from the Wright Aviation School there. Later, in November he signed on as a Probationary Flight Sub-Lieutenant with the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). He arrived overseas in December, reported to the main RNAS training establishment at Chingford England, and later was posted to No. 2 Naval Squadron based at Dunkirk, France. By 28 September 1916, Galbraith had destroyed two enemy aircraft and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) and the government of France decorated him with the Croix de Guerre. Late in October 1916 he transferred to a new squadron, No. 8, known as the Naval Eight, based at Vert Galand, France, which was formed for reinforcing the Royal Flying Corps at the Western Front. In November, Galbraith scored another three victories. The last of the three victories occurred on November 23rd east of Cambrai. He attacked single-handed six enemy aircraft. In the fight that followed, he shot the wings off one, drove another down out of control and forced the others to scatter. For this achievement, Captain Galbraith was awarded his second DSC. Early in December Galbraith was posted to England for a rest. His next posting was, in May 1918, to 66 Wing in Italy, which was engaged in attacking shipping in the Adriatic. In September 1918 he returned to England and was posted back to 11 (Irish) Group. He was there when the war ended in November 1918. Before returning to Canada he married Miss Nora O’Brien in Ireland. After returning to Canada, he and his wife and infant son lived first in Carleton Place and then in Almonte ON. Galbraith was placed on the semi permanent staff of the fledgling Canadian Air Force as a flying instructor at the School of Special Flying at Camp Borden ON. On the night of 29 March 1921, he was killed in a car accident on a sharp curve in the roadway, not far from Camp Borden.
lindaseccaspina 