Content Warning – there is an article in this post, describing a death by drowning in a tub.
All articles originally appeared in the Oshawa Vindicator
July 2, 1862, page 3
Slavery– Mr JA Maitland, a highly talented gentleman who has for some years been literary editor of the Richmond Enquirer, and who was made his escape from the rebel capital about two months ago, lectures tonight in the Corinthian Hall, at 8:00 o’clock. He is an able speaker, an Englishman by birth has now seen slavery as it is, and will doubtless give the facts of the case.
Page 3
Yesterday morning, while Mr. James Gibbons, teamster to McElroy’s Hotel, was passing down street with a horse and waggon (sic), the horse became unmanageable, and when near Mr. Wellington’s Cabinet Factory, shied off into the ditch among some old buggies, &c., which were brought to the blacksmith’s shop for repairs. The driver was thrown out and had his collar-bone broken, besides being more or less bruised in various parts of his body. When first taken up he was quite insensible, but soon became conscious, and is now in a fair way of speedy recovery.
July 9, 1862, Page 2
Cedar Dale Factory
Decidedly the biggest thing in the shape of a pic-nic ever got up in Oshawa or vicinity, was the demonstration connected with giving to the new works of the Oshawa Scythe, He, and Fork Company the name which heads this article. Preparations were made by the committee upon a pretty broad scale, and numerous invitations sent out, the first of them only two days previously, but their calculations as to the turn out of people were exceeded by a hundred per cent. The company of citizens of Oshawa and vicinity, which took part in the celebration, numbered fully one thousand, according to the most careful estimates. To feed such a crowd of people a large supply of provisions was necessary, but abundance for the purpose was brought by those who participated , and all seemed to enjoy themselves to the full. Three tables, each running the whole length of the storehouse, were decked with almost everything in the shape of provisions which could please the appetite, and hosts of vases of flowers, to please the eye, while at the head of the center table stood a most gorgeous boquet (sic), presented to Messrs. Whiting & Tuttle by Mr. & Mrs. Corbet. Each table was set to accommodate eighty persons.
Page 3
Gone to Europe – Four young men from Oshawa started for the old world, by the Canadian steamer “Jera,” which left Quebec on Saturday last. – We allude to Mr. Samuel Pedlar, well known throughout Canada as the “Glebe agent;” Mr. George Blamey, for some years past in the employ of Messrs. WH Gibbs & Co, of this place; and Frank and William Gibbs, cousins, the former a son of TN Gibbs, Esq., and the latter of WH Gibbs, Esq. – They intend, as a matter of course, to see everything to be seen in the grand International Exhibition, if possible, and visit their relatives in different parts of England, returning in the fall.
Property Unclaimed
Used at the late picnic, and now at the office of AS Whiting & Co.: – 11 white plates; 10 plates of different patterns and colors; 1 tea saucer; 1 tin plate. The owners are requested to call and claim their property. Thanks for their use. AS Whiting & Co.
July 16th, 1862, Page 2
New Style of Fanning Mill
Our advertising columns contain an announcement respecting a newly patented fanning mill, recently invented and now being manufactured by Mr. Martin, in Oshawa. The mill differs in appearance very much from the ordinary fanning mill, and the inventor claims that it differs equally in the quality of its work – effectually separating oats from wheat, for instance, by one run through the mill. The show is not half the size that it is in the common fanning mill, and does not shake violently, or sideways, by moves slowly and easily forward and back, without any jerking motion. In fact the whole machine is almost noiseless in its operation, and runs much easier than any fanning mill we ever took hold of. The crank is at the opposite end of the mill from the drum and fans, and the latter are operated by means of a belt, instead of cog wheels. Mr. Martin has built four of these mills, and is now at work on two dozen more, with some farther improvements added, which, he thinks, will render his mill so perfect as to run all others out of the market, upon a fair test of their relative performances.
An Orange Celebration
The Orangemen of South Ontario celebrated the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne on Saturday last, by assembling at Greenwood, with the exception of the Columbus brethren, who went to Prince Albert. A first-rate dinner was served up, shortly after their arrival, at both the hotels – Shaw’s and Stirling’s – after which an impressive address was delivered by the County master, Bro. J. Weir, in which, though standing on the portico of a hotel, he dealt some heavy blows upon what he justly considered the curse of the Order – the use of strong drink by its members. He was followed by WF McBrian, of Raglan, in a very appropriate speech, also by HJ Macdonell and T Moody, of Whitby. An appropriate and interesting sermon was also delivered by the Rev. GB Viner, the English Church incumbent of Greenwood and Duffin’s Creek, in front of his own residence, which was listened to with marked attention. The different Lodges separated for home at an early hour, and the Oshawa brethren arrived about nine o’clock, well pleased with the manner in which the day had been spent.
Page 3
Child Drowned in a Tub – On Saturday afternoon the infant daughter of a man named McMillan, residing on King street west, was drowned by falling into a tub in which there was some water about five inches in depth. The mother left the child at the door of the house while she proceeded to hang out some clothes on a line for drying. On returning towards the house a short time afterwards, she discovered the child in the tub, and on lifting it out found it to be dead. An inquest was held on the body by Coroner Scott, when the jury after hearing the facts, returned a verdict of “accidentally drowned.” – Leader1
July 23, 1862, Page 2
Wounded Canadians – the Saint Catharines Journal says: -Among the severely wounded in the recent engagements before Richmond, was Mr, AE Samson, son of Mr. Gilbert Samson, of this town (St. Catharines). Mr. Tenbrœck and Mr. H Wilson – both from this town – were in the same battles, but escaped unhurt. The latter took ten prisoners alone. Both are lieutenants in one of the regiments in Heintzelman’s division. In the list of wounded, in the late battle before Richmond, is the name of Lieut. Frederick G. Sanborn, of the 5th Maine, late of Sherbrooke. His name also appears among the killed. Thomas Senior, formerly of Niagara, was wounded in the action before Richmond of July 1st, and is now in the hospital at Annapolis.
An Ugly Picture
Almost in the heart of our village stands, or rather leans, just now, about the ugliest and most dangerous specimen of what was once a respectable building, which in the eyes of many of our villagers have ever been beheld. The store recently occupied by Mr. J Hyland, likely a good many useful buildings still standing in Oshawa, was once one of the best structures of which the village could boast; but as a business stands, it has lately been pretty nearly eclipsed by the more handsome and spacious structures of modern times period it stood, also, too much in the background, so its proprietor thought-it being several feet further from the edge of the sidewalk than some other buildings in the same row. So Mr. Hyland preceded to have it moved forward, and by the advice of some of his back-street friends, he was induced to place it plump out against the sidewalk, several feet closer up on the street then the general line of buildings to the east and west- leaving, in fact, not an inch of room for the erection of steps upon which to ascend to the front doors. The unusual encroachment upon the walking space of the sidewalk, and the inappropriateness of an old building occupying so extra prominent opposition, excited a good deal of dissatisfaction in the minds of the neighbors and people generally, and it is said that the keeping of a strict watch upon the building, was the only thing which prevented it being put farther out into the street. Some thought it ought to go farther out, and others farther in. Finally, it having been definitely asserted that the proprietor would neither move it in himself, without compensation, nor allow other parties to move it out- which it would seem they were prepared to do gratuitously- some of the leading businessmen prevailed upon him to allow them to hire the carpenters to move it back a couple of feet. This was done, at a cost two a few liberal minded individuals of the sum of $20, and the stone foundation was progressing, and in another day or two would have been completed. But on Thursday morning last, at a few minutes before 2:00 o’clock, a crash like that of the loudest thunder was heard by some who slept in the neighborhood of the building, and on rising in the morning, the first intelligence of the day was that the building which had been the cause of so much remark, had been tipped into the street! Crowds gathered about the now sorry looking wreck, at all hours of the day and evening, and discussed the manner in which it was, or might have been, upset, the reason it was done, the probable parties that did it and their number, the possibility of raising it again, etc etc; and much sympathy was expressed with the unfortunate owner, as well as with those who had invested their funds in moving it back for him. The building was not completely thrown down, so doubtless that was the intention of the parties who put it out of the perpendicular; yet, one corner of it being in the cellar, it leans over the sidewalk at a most unpleasantly dangerous angle.
So much for the history of the matter. And now that ever ready question comes up, what’s to be done? As the building now stands, and has stood for a whole week passed, it is liable to fall, at any moment, upon the heads of innocent passersby. Is it to be left there for another week to jeopardize life and neighboring property? Or will the Council put enforce the ordinance respecting nuisances, and obstructions upon the streets and sidewalks, or somehow see that the ugly and dangerous picture is removed? A fitting reward, also, should have been, ere this, offered for the discovery of the parties who upset, or rather down set the building under cover of darkness, for if such deeds are suffered to go unreprehended by our Village Fathers, there is no knowing to what dangerous lengths they may be carried.
- This incident unlikely happened in Oshawa as this article was originally published in a newspaper called ‘The Leader.’ The location of this paper is unknown at this time.
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