1906 - Corporal Briggs’ Sad End

 

To be horribly mangled beneath

 the wheels of a train when within a few hundred yards of his home, which he was hurrying to reach so that he might get to work on time, was the terrible fate Corporal E. W. Briggs, of Dundas met this morning when his life was crushed out by the Michigan Central special returning from Windsor.”

Hamilton Times. May 25 1908

 

“The news of the accident spread rapidly through the cars and cast a shadow of gloom where mirth and pleasure had reigned a few minutes before at the prospect of being home once more.”

 

Witnessed by Private Gordon McNair, a Times press room employee, Corporal Briggs jumped from the train which was proceeding at approximately twenty miles an hour. The soldier landed on his feet, but immediately lost his balance, and slipped forward under the wheels of the train. 

 

Private McNair quickly signalled for the train to stop. Corporal Briggs’ legs were almost severed off and he was only breathing faintly when the two doctors on board the train reached him. They determined that they could do nothing for the young man and Briggs, just 20 years old, died.

 

The young soldier had decided to leap from the train as he wanted to get to his place of employment Webber’s hardware store as soon as possible.

 

“ ‘A peculiar coincidence was that he came to me just the other day and asked me to loan him my plaid until he had a picture taken. He remarked that it might be the last chance he would ever have to be photographed in uniform.’

 

The horrible accident happened on Friday May 25, and by Sunday May 27, extensive preparations had been completed for one of the largest funerals in the history of Dundas:

“ ‘The muffled drum’s sad roll has beat, 

     The soldier’s last tattoo.’

“With full military honours and services impressive in their simplicity, yes remains of Corporal Edwin W. Briggs, Co. G., Ninety-First Highlanders, were laid at rest yesterday afternoon in Grove Cemetery, Dundas.

“It was one of the largest funerals in the Valley City’s history, over three thousand people gathering along the route of the procession, and at the grave to pay a last tribute of respect to the dead soldier and show their sympathy for the bereaved parents. The scene as the soldiers, with heavy Highland tread, followed the remains of their departed comrade to the cemetery and at the grave, when the buglers sounded Last Post, was most pathetic.”

“Last Post for Corp. E. Briggs”

Hamilton Times May 28 1906

The funeral itself was began at the Briggs family home on Hope street from which the casket was carried by hearse to St. James’ church which was packed for the service.

The procession from the church to graveyard was solemn and impressive:

“With drums muffled and to the sad dirge of the pipes, the Highlanders marched with arms reversed to Grove Cemetery. At the entrance, the casket was removed from the hearse and six of the soldiers carried it on their shoulders to the grave. 

“ The seven as the funeral procession marched slowly up the winding hill was most picturesque and impressive.

“At the close of the services, the buglers sounded the first part of the general salute, and Last Post, while three volleys were fired over the grave by the firing party surrounding it.”

Although still a young man, just twenty years old, at the time of the fatal accident, Corporal Briggs was a very popular figure in Dundas and a much-esteemed colleague of the members of the 91^st Highlanders.