Wright, Robert

FATAL ACCIDENT AT SIXTH LINE
Robert Wright Fatally Injured: Mil-dred Bessey Sustains Fractured
Thigh and Arm
WAS RUN DOWN BY G.T.R. TRAIN
One of the most deplorable railway accidents that has ever taken place in this section occurred at the sixth line, Esquesing, last Friday afternoon during the heavy snow storm which was prevailing.
Robert Wright, one of the best known farmers on the seventh line, Esquesing, whose home is at Ashgrove, was driving home after attending Mr. Arthurs' sale at Limehouse. He reached the school at Henderson's on the seventh line just as the scholars were leaving for home. As he would drive past Mr. Bessey's gate he kindly invited Mildred Bessey aged 15 years, and her sister, Pearl, who is a couple of years younger, - daughters of Mr. John W. Bessey - to ride with him to get home and out of the storm sooner. The girls' brother, Ray, aged 9, and David Masalas, who is 10, rode on the back of the buggy.
Owing to the driving snow storm Mr. Wright had the top of the buggy raised and the sides on. As they approached the G.T.R. crossing he told the children to look to see that no train was approaching. Unfortunately the high winds and heavy snow storm, deadened the sound of the train rushing down from the west - the passenger due at Acton at 3.30 o'clock, until they were almost on the crossing. Mr. Wright pulled up the horse and the noise of the locomotive evidently frighted it, and it bolted straight ahead and in front of the train.
The result was that the horse was killed instantly, and the occupants of the buggy, with the exception of the two boys behind who had jumped off, were thrown a considerable distance. Mr. Wright's back was fractured; Mildred Bessey had her right thigh fractured, her left arm broken, and other injuries, while Pearl escaped with a painful bruise on her knee.
The train was stopped as quickly as possible after the engineer had seen that he had run into something and the passengers and train crew assisted the injured ones into the rear of the train and conveyed them to Georgetown. The coach was uncoupled, and was attached to the west-bound train due at Georgetown about five o'clock and taken to Guelph. While waiting at Georgetown, Miss Clara E. Bessey, a trained nurse, and an aunt of the injured girls, who was engaged on a case in Georgetown, was summoned and she accompanied the injured ones to the General Hospital Guelph, Mr. and Mrs. Bessey following by next train.
Just after the train had pulled into the Guelph station, and as they were about to remove him to the ambulance, one of the physicians discovered that Mr. Wright had passed away. He was alive when the train arrived. It was later discovered that his back was broken, and he was otherwise seriously injured. His remains were taken to the hospital, where they were taken charge of by Dr. Savage, coroner, who ordered an inquest to be held at 1.30 o'clock Saturday afternoon.
Mr. Wright was twenty-seven years of age, and was married a year ago last June. His bereaved wife has the sympathy of all. Mr. Wright was a cousin of Mrs. Palmer Martin, of Acton.
The funeral on Tuesday afternoon was one of the largest ever held at Ashgrove.
Miss Bessey is making fair progress toward recovery. She was unconscious for the first few hours, but on Saturday morning revived and has since been quite bright and cheerful. An inquest was held Saturday afternoon in inquire into the death of Mr. Wright. The only evidence taken was that of Dr. McAndrew, of Georgetown, and Roy Bessey, one of the boys who had jumped out of the back of the buggy and escaped injury. The little fellow claimed that the engine did not whistle and did not ring the bell until after the accident had happened.
The inquest, over which Coroner Dr. Savage presided, was adjourned until Monday, the 16th, to allow of the train crew and other witnesses being present.