Extra Information From Quiz Committee: The dead included Reeve Francis, Councillors J. Peers and Dr. L.H. Swan, plus 8 other passengers. Mayor Karn, Councillor J.
Martin and several passengers were severely injured. Unfortunately, J. Martin soon died from his injuries and the Mayor remained a cripple for a long time.
The Sentinel-Review later reported that an estimated 25,000 persons watched the mile-and-a-half funeral procession pass along Dundas on March 4, 1889,
' the most imposing spectacle ever witnessed here'.
On Feb. 27, 1889, Woodstock Mayor D.W. Karn, Town Clerk G. Eden, Reeve (and Weekly Woodstock Times editor) A. Francis, and four councillors took
the St Louis Express to attend a meeting at Queen’s Park, Toronto. The ‘Electric Light Bill’ was to be presented to the Legislature about a change from gas
to electric lighting. As the train neared the trestle bridge over the frozen Grand River, a mile south of St. George village, an engine wheel broke loose
and began to tear up the ties. The engine, baggage coach and smoker crossed safely but the next two cars derailed: one fell to the bottom of the 60-foot
canyon; the other nose-dived down. The majority of the passengers in these two coaches were either killed or severely injured. The last car, the diner, was
left dangling over the edge.
Sources:
- Doug M. Symons, “The Village That Straddled A Swamp,” (Oxford Historical Society)
- Williams and Baker, ‘Woodstock Bits and Pieces,’ p.96 ((Oxford Historical Society; Woodstock Public Library)
- Woodstock Museum, “St George Train Wreck Memorial (1889)”, Drawer 4, Item X998.6.