1951, Thursday August 30, The Almonte Gazette front page
Mrs H.H. Houston Is Fatally Injured In Traffic Accident
As a result of injuries received when a half-ton truck in which she was riding with her husband collided with another vehicle of the same description on Highway 44 at the intersection with the Carp-Stittsville road, Saturday afternoon, Mrs Harry H. Houston died in the Rosamond Memorial Hospital, Almonte, at 3.15 Monday morning. Mr and Mrs Houston set out to visit the exhibition in Ottawa shortly after one o’clock, Saturday afternoon. When they reached the road leading from Carp to Stittsville another half-ton truck driven by Ray Bell, going in the direction of Stittsville, collided with Mr Houston’s truck.
Terrific Crash
Those who got to the scene of the accident son after it happened say that both machines hurtled some fifty feet, landing in the ditch that would be on a driver’s right hand side as he headed toward Highway 17. Mr Houston’s truck ended up facing back toward Almonte and the other one faced in the direction it was going, towards Stittsville. Strangely enough both cars came to rest on their wheels. So far as can be learned there was only two eye witnesses to the actual accident, and they were linemen working along the road. It is thought Mr Houston was thrown clear of the truck and the same is probably of Bell. It was obvious from the first that Mrs Houston was the most seriously injured.
Render First Aid
Dr W.G. Robertson of Carp was the first medical man to reach the scene and shortly afterward he was joined by Dr Charles Daykin. A few minutes later, Dr J.R. Fraser of Almonte, on his way to Ottawa, stopped at the scene of the accident and did what he could to help the injured. By this time there were a good many people from here trying to be of some assistance, including Mr Houston’ right bower on the local Fire Brigade, Assistant Fire Chief Derward Washburn. Mr and Mrs Houston were removed to the local hospital while Mr Bell, who is a son of the partners in the McCoy- Bell Construction Co. Stittsville, was removed to the Civic Hospital, Ottawa. He was 27 years old.
Injuries Fatal
An examination of Mrs Houston substantiated the grave forebodings of the doctors who had rendered first aid at the scene of the accident. No hope was held out for her from the first. Broken ribs pieced her kidney and lungs and she had a broken arm and ankle. Add to this were other internal injuries and concussion. As stated before, she lingered until 3.15 Monday morning. Mr Houston, who is still a hospital patient. suffering from broken ribs and other injuries of a minor nature is reported by his physician, Dr H.H. Cole, as being on his way to recovery. It was possible for him to be taken home, Wednesday morning for a short time before the funeral. He was then returned to the hospital. Mr Bell’s injuries consisted of some broken ribs and a bruised kidney. He was able to leave the Civic Hospital, Wednesday, and is now at his home in Stittsville.
People Shocked
The accident shocked the whole community where Mr and Mrs Houston were so well known. Harry followed Mr J.H. Martin as fire chief, here, some 20 years ago and has conducted a plumbing and steam fitting business for about the same length of time. It is no exaggeration to say he is one of the best known men in the town and district. He is also a veteran of the First World War where he was on active service in France as a very young man. While mourning the death of Mrs Houston, who was a splendid women with a lovely disposition, a host of friends were relieved to know that Mr Houston would recover from the accident. Mrs Houston was the former Jean Mae Illingworth and was born in Almonte a daughter of the late Robert and Mrs Illingworth. She was in her 54th year at the time of the tragic mishap that ended her life. She is survived by three sons: Douglas and Donald of this town and Gordon of Ottawa; by her mother in Arnprior and by two sisters, Mrs D.J. McKercher of Arnprior and Mrs Pearl Clarke of Ottawa. Provincial officers who patrol highway 17 and the Carp- Stittsville area investigated the accident. Dr J.A. McEwen of Carleton Place, a Lanark County coroner considered the case and upon learning that law enforcement authorities had laid a charge of reckless driving against Bell, decided that such action made an inquest unnecessary. A postmortem to establish cause of death was performed by Dr K.H. Running of Carleton Place. The funeral which was very largely attended took place on Wednesday afternoon from the family residence on William Street to the Auld Kirk Cemetery. There was a service at the house at 2 p.m. and one at the grave conducted by Rev H.C. Wolfraim of Almonte United Church. Firemen from Almonte and Carleton Place attended in a body and marched in the cortege to the boundary of the town from where they were conveyed to the cemetery in cars. Pallbearers were Messrs H.B. Kirkland, Lorne C. James, Derward Washburn, M.R. Young and Wilmer Illingworth of Almonte and Arnold Illingworth of Carleton Place.