James Carter
Plot K, Section 31, Lot 7
Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto
Born in London, England Carter began his working career with the Great Western Railway after emigrating to Canada in 1867. On the morning of January 2, 1884 Carter was conductor on an ill-fated commuter train that was carrying employees from the city to their jobs at the Swansea Bolt Works plant on the waterfront just west of Toronto. Having picked up several passengers at the Parkdale station the train, which consisted of two “light” wooden coaches pulled by a small steam engine, proceeded west on a single track. Suddenly, as the small train approached the Ellis Avenue crossing a Toronto-bound freight came roaring out of a snow squall and slammed into it turning the coaches into matchwood with the escaping steam searing everything and everybody in its path. Carter, though, was fortunate. The sound of the approaching freight’s whistle had caused him to peer into the distance and, seeing what was about to happen, managed to jump clear of the train into a nearby snow drift. Carter was unhurt, but a total of twenty-nine passengers on his train died in the disaster. Carter died on September 15, 1907 at his residence, 122 Crawford Street.
Mike Filey
Mount Pleasant Cemetery: An Illustrated Guide
Second Edition Revised and Expanded