1885 DYNAMITE EXPLOSION - Douro-Dummer, ON
Posted by: 
entogeek
N 44° 22.151 W 078° 13.454
17T E 721162 N 4916626
Historical plaque located on the SE corner of Hwy.28 & Co.Rd. 8 describing a massive 1885 dynamite explosion at the time of the building of the Trent-Severn Lock at Burleigh Falls.
Waymark Code: WM9KN6
Location: Ontario, Canada
Date Posted: 08/30/2010
Views: 22
On September 4, 1885, James Simmons and George Morton were
hauling a load of dynamite from Tweed to Burleigh Falls Ontario with
a horse drawn steel rimmed wagon. The dynamite was to be used for
opening the Trent-Severn Lock at Burleigh Falls. They stayed
overnight at a hotel in Indian River, Ontario and proceeded the next
day toward Burleigh Falls via the Douro-Otonabee Township line and
current Hwy# 28. At approximately 9:45 AM the area residents and
the entire area were alarmed by a large dynamite explosion on
Highway28 approximately 4.1km North of County Rd#4.
Messer's Morton and Simmons were never seen again. Ten-foot deep
craters were found at the site of the explosion and the horses and
wagon were found lying 50 feet on each side of the craters. Only
fragments of the men, horses and wagon remained. They were
described as 'mangled beyond description'. Pieces of wood and steel
from the wagon were found 100 to 200 yards away.
The blast was heard in Lakefield and at distant places including
Peterborough, Warsaw, Young's Point and Madoc. Large crowds soon
gathered around the explosion site some searching for remnants of
the victims. 'Every few minutes something more fresh and sickening
befell them'. More than 1000 people and 300 carriages visited the site.
Group that erected the marker: Erected by the Township of Douro-Dummer with support from the Ontario Heritage Trust.
Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary:
SE Corner of Hwy.35 & County Road 8Ontario Canada
URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: Not listed
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