Shortreed, Thomas

Death of a Former Halton Man.
On Wednesday last an accident occurred in the stone works of Messrs. Shortreed and Laidlaw, Toronto, which resulted in the instantaneous death of Mr. Thomas Shortreed, for many years a resident of this County. Mr. Shortreed was superintending the lifting by derrick of some heavy blocks of stone, when by some means the derrick got out of order and fell with a crash upon deceased with above result. He might have saved himself but delayed, his flight from the falling machinery long enough to give warning to his workmen of their danger, and the anxiety to save the lives of his men cost him his own. He was a prominent man and much respected by all. Mr. Shortreed was well-known to residents of this County some years ago in the lumber interests. He built the original mill on the site lately known as Coxe's, below the mountain, and owned another near Milton. At the time of his death the firm of Shortreed & Laidlaw, of which he was the head, had great lumber interests both in Canada and the United States, carrying on a business that involved vast amounts of capital yearly. Referring to him the Toronto News says:- "A giant in stature, it was said of him that his great personal strength was only exceeded by his great personal worth."