100 Years Later: “The Grindstone Disaster of 1911″ by Thomas Clark

Here’s a followup article  to my previously published series about the Grindstone train wreck on July 28, 1911 that involved William Linton Duncan and his son Alexander Noel Duncan. The Duncans were traveling on the train, playing with the Presque Isle Band, and were both injured on the excursion train that had carried passengers to the coast of Maine for a day in the sun at the sea. The train returned late the same night on a stormy trip that ended in one of the worst train accidents in New England, killing nine men mostly from Aroostook County. “The Grindstone Disaster of 1911″ was written by Thomas Clark and clearly describes what happened for those of us far removed from the familiarity of train travel. This centennial remembrance of the disaster helps us to consider the devastating influence the loss of life and health has on community, even many years later.

A shorter version of the article appeared in the August 3, 2011 issue of the Star Herald, Presque Isle, Maine’s local weekly newspaper.

The Fraser Story: The Early Days

This PDF includes Chapters 3 and 4, describing the Scotch Colonists arrival in St. John, their trip upriver, and difficulties in the early days of the Colony. Download the PDF to read about it. The description includes the following:

The Fraser Story

Date: April 29th, 1949
Creator: Mary B. Reinmuth in collab. with Donald Fraser
Source: CDEM Fraser Companies, Limited Collection
Collaborator(s):

Description: Mrs. Mary B. Reinmuth wrote a history of Fraser Companies Limited. She relates the families’ arrival on the Castalia in Saint John, New Brunswick, in 1873. She describes the hardships encountered by the first settlers in Kincardine, New Brunswick, among whom were the Fraser and the Matheson families.

Subject: New Brunswick,Forests, Logging

A Druggist’s Life: Interview with William Cumming, 1972

William Henry Cumming (1892-1992), pharmacist of Houlton, Maine, talks about his career and travels. What a priceless recording! Amazing that it is online! Here is the link to listen to the interview with William Cumming.

William also talks about a trip he took to climb Mount Katahdin with his brother and cousin in 1924. In another part of his interview, he discusses his fascination with keeping weather statistics for a number of years.

William was the grandson of Thomas and Mary (Jack) Cumming of Kintore, New Brunswick and son of Alexander and Maud Mary (Jordan) Cumming of Houlton, Maine. He married Margaret Martin and had three children.

The Fraser Story : Log of the Castalia

The events of the 14-day Atlantic crossing on the boat Castalia, from Glasgow, Scotland, to Saint John, New Brunswick, in 1873 are remembered by the Fraser family in this account. Download the PDF  of Chapter 2 to read about it. The description follows:

The Fraser Story : Log of the Castalia

Date: April 29th, 1949
Creator: Mary B. Reinmuth in collab. with Donald A. Fraser
Source: CDEM Fraser Companies, Limited Collection
Collaborator(s):

Description: Mrs. Mary B. Reinmuth wrote the history of Fraser Companies Limited. She relates the events of the 14-day Atlantic crossing on the boat Castalia, from Glasgow, Scotland, to Saint John, New Brunswick, in 1873.

Subject: New Brunswick,Forests, Logging

David Duncan 18/4/73 Stonehaven Notebook A Voyage from Glasgow to St. John’s on board the screw-steam ship Castalia

David Duncan

18/4/73

Stonehaven

Notebook

A Voyage from Glasgow to St. John’s on board the screw-steam ship Castalia

Friday, April 25^th. Started from Stonehaven about nine o’clock forenoon, and after a capital journey to Glasgow we arrived in Glasgow, about 2 o’clock at Buchannon Street Station, and then went down to Mavisbank Quay, where the Castalia was lying. She had only arrived at Glasgow the night before and was getting her cargo aboard, we then got aboard and into our berths, and got dinner. They got the bell for the Church, and the press and type for  “The New Kincardineshire.”

Bell was present of the Anchor Line Company. The Rev. Mr. Adams delivered and

impressive address to colonists. We then started down the river and I went to bed.

Saturday- When I wakened in the morning we were lying at the Sail of the Bank opposite Greenock. The Government Inspector came on board in the morning, and after he left, we started down the river for St. John’s. I greatly admired the beautiful scenery going down the Clyde. It was a very fine day, and we passed a lot of vessels going up and down the river.

Sunday- I did not rise at all because I was sick but I did not vomit much but we were out of sight of land, we passed a large bargue in the afternoon. I did not eat any all day.

Monday- I rose up in the morning all right but a little light-headed with the rolling of the ship, saw to large ships in the forenoon, went to bed early.

Tuesday- It was a little rough, and I was sometimes amused to see the men on deck when a big wave came, rolling and tumbling about. They were playing at skittle and quoits,

Wednesday- Still rough and rainy and the wind right against her ship rolling terribly and when taking our meal if the ship gave a heave everything went rolling about. There was a girl born in the afternoon and it is to be baptized Castalia Brown, after the name of the ship and Captain Brown who is to be godfather to her. The ship stopped in afternoon to sort some of her machinery about half an hour, there was a terrible screaming of the children when she stopped and everybody ran on deck to see what was the matter.

[The next part appears upside down to the rest of the page.]

Atlantic. But still the winds were against us, a fine sunshiny day in the afternoon there was

hardly any wind  filling the sails which made the ship roll fearfully just about supper- time. You would I thought she would tumble over for everything went rolling about – the water pails which were newly filled were all emptied on the floor, the seats were tumbling over and men and women were lying on the floor and holding on by anything they could get hold off. But Captain Brown and the carpenter came down and got everything sorted up and got the children quieted with apples.

Friday- Rough and terrible rainy, but a fine fair wind, the ship going at a fearful rate, the waves about 30 or 40 feet high, saw a large whale in the afternoon.

Saturday- When I wakened in the morning, the first thing I heard was the seats and tin dishes rolling about, and when I got up to the deck the waves were like the Bervie Braes, saw two ships in the afternoon.

Sunday- This morning saw a large iceberg and three ships, The wind turned by noon in our favour and the ship was going at a good speed. I attended divine service in the saloon in the evening.

Monday- Terrible misty and we have to sound the fog signals frequently, signaled to a bargue in the afternoon. We had capital dancing and singing in the evening in the fore part of the ship.

Tuesday- Ship going fine, but terrible cold, passed some ships in the forenoon and a schooner with a little boat behind her. We spoke to a lot of fishing [? smacks] from St. John’s in the evening.

Wednesday- We passed a large Anchor Line steamer bound for Glasgow in the morning.

Diary of the Voyage

from Glasgow to

St. John, N. B.

America

David Duncan

[The diary of David Linton Duncan was shared by Sandra Everett Duncan in July 2011. She is his granddaughter.]

July 9, 2011 Cumming/Duncan Family Reunion

July 9, 2011 Cumming/Duncan Family Reunion

Presque Isle, Maine

Family and friends of the Cumming and Duncan families gathered at the Presque Isle Snowmobile Club’s spacious new facility near Aroostook State Park at noon on Saturday July 9, 2011 for their annual clan reunion and pot-luck lunch. Chieftain Richard Duncan, great-grandson of William Duncan and Elizabeth Linton Duncan, greeted the attendees as they signed the guest book.

Several tables were filled with a variety of dishes for the meal including haggis, mashed turnips, and potatoes.  Jeff Griffiths, nephew of the chieftain, gave a special reading, “address to the haggis.”  Cousins renewed old acquaintances and lots of new friends were made. Guests traveled especially for the reunion from many far-off places such as Texas, Florida, New Brunswick, Pennsylvania, New York, and New Hampshire, as well as from many parts of Maine.

After lunch, the chieftain conducted a brief business meeting. Greetings were read from some unable to come to the reunion. A moment of silence was observed for those who are no longer with us. A collection was taken to defray costs of the reunion. Cheryl Clark Cumming, great granddaughter of William Spence Cumming and Annie Rae Duncan Cumming, will be the 2012 chieftain. Hollie Umphrey, great granddaughter of David Linton Duncan and Catherine Chapman Duncan, will be the 2013 chieftain.

Miss Kimiye Gamblin, age 14, entertained the clan with her wonderful fiddle music. She will be traveling to France later in the summer with the group called Celtic Discovery.

The clan was privileged to hear Darlene Morton play the bagpipes for us. She recalled that she had played for the clan picnic more than twenty years ago. She remembered that her baby daughter played near her in the grass as she played at Melvin Barclay’s farm in Kintore, New Brunswick.

The meeting closed with the clan singing  “Auld Lang Syne” accompanied by the fiddle.

Inducement for Emigrants

Published online from the newspaper article originally in the Star in 1873, this short excerpt is from the National Library of New Zealand.

Star , Issue 1708, 18 August 1873, Page 2

Inducement for Emigrants.- By this mail we (Bruce Herald) have a letter from an old colonist from Laurencekirk, in which he says:- “Great inducement is at present held out here by agents from North America for emigrants to proceed to that country. On 25^th April I saw a special train pass with 800 emigrants, bound for New Brunswick, there to establish a new colony, to be named New Kincardineshire. Each party of five is given (free) 200 acres of land, with four acres cleared, and a log-house 25 ft long x 15 ft erected thereon. Their passage from St. John’s to New Kincardineshire- 160 miles- is also paid for them. Several of the party had been over to examine the district, and upon their return reported most favourably; hence the large number who are leaving.”

AN EMIGRATION EXPERIMENT

The following newspaper account of the 1873 emigration of the Scotch Colony to New Brunswick, Canada is published online by the National Library of New Zealand.

AN EMIGRATION EXPERIMENT

 

(Otago Witness, Issue 1129, 19 July 1873, page 5)

 

The Scotsman [newspaper] of a recent date says :- “A special train left Aberdeen on Friday for Glasgow, with 200 emigrants from the north-east coast and intended settlers in the ’New Kincardineshire Colony,’ New Brunswick. Another large party of emigrants joined the train at Stonehaven, and other bodies of intending colonists were taken up along the route, till the company numbered between 700 and 750, the largest number of emigrants that have ever left Scotland at one time for one place. As the train left the various stations hearty cheers were given for the emigrants, who appeared in good spirits, by the friends left behind. Information just received per the Atlantic Telegraph [newspaper], by the secretary, states that the New Brunswick Government have kept faith with the colonists, and that the promised log house and four acres of cleared land are ready for occupation.”

The Pall Mall Gazette [newspaper], in noticing the above facts, remarks:- “This is the first attempt, it is stated, that has been made to take out so large a number of persons to one particular place, and to settle them down there, but from the liberal concessions of the Government of New Brunsiwck little fears are entertained of the scheme being a failure. Each of the emigrants bears a good character, and three teachers accompany them to their new home. Arrangements are also being made to send out a probationer of the Free Church ‘to superintend the Colony from a spiritual point of view.’ Farms have been allotted to each of the families going out, varying in extent from 100 to 200 acres, the land being given free, while the Government also build the log houses on the farms, clear from two to four acres per farm, according to size, and form the roads to a greater or less extent.”

July 9, 2011 Cumming/Duncan Family Reunion

July 9, 2011 Cumming/Duncan Family Reunion

Presque Isle, Maine

Family and friends of the Cumming and Duncan families gathered at the Presque Isle Snowmobile Club’s spacious new facility near Aroostook State Park at noon on Saturday July 9, 2011 for their annual clan reunion and pot-luck lunch. Chieftain Richard Duncan, great-grandson of William Duncan and Elizabeth Linton Duncan, greeted the attendees as they signed the guest book.

Several tables were filled with a variety of dishes for the meal including haggis, mashed turnips, and potatoes.  Jeff Griffiths, nephew of the chieftain, gave a special reading, “ode to the haggis.”  Cousins renewed old acquaintances and lots of new friends were made. Guests traveled especially for the reunion from many far-off places such as Texas, Florida, New Brunswick, Pennsylvania, New York, and New Hampshire, as well as from many parts of Maine.

After lunch, the chieftain conducted a brief business meeting. Greetings were read from some unable to come to the reunion. A moment of silence was observed for those who are no longer with us. A collection was taken to defray costs of the reunion. Cheryl Clark Cumming, great granddaughter of William Spence Cumming and Annie Rae Duncan Cumming, will be the 2012 chieftain. Hollie Umphrey, great granddaughter of David Linton Duncan and Catherine Chapman Duncan, will be the 2013 chieftain.

Miss Kimiye Gamblin, age 14, entertained the clan with her wonderful fiddle music. She will be traveling to France later in the summer with the group called Celtic Discovery.

The clan was privileged to hear Darlene Morton play the bagpipes for us. She recalled that she had played for the clan picnic more than twenty years ago. She remembered that her baby daughter played near her in the grass as she played at Melvin Barclay’s farm in Kintore, New Brunswick.

The meeting closed with the clan singing  “Auld Lang Syne” accompanied by the fiddle.

April 30, 1947 NATIVES OF SCOTLAND MARK 61ST WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

WASHBURN, MAINE April 30 [1947]- In 1873, David L. Duncan was a fourteen-year-old son of a Scotch family headed across the stormy seas to colonize a strip of land just outside Perth, N.B. On the same ship was Catherine Chapman, a lassie of five, whose parents were headed for the same destination.

Today, Mr. and Mrs. David L. Duncan celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary at their home on the Perham Road in this town, visited by a large number of friends and five of the six children born to them during their long and happy union. Both are in good health, both now Americans of many years standing.

They were married in 1886 in a Scotch Kirk just outside Perth, N.B., probably the first couple to take the marital vows at its altar. David L. Duncan had come to Washburn in the meantime, returned after he had established himself to the Scottish settlement to marry his erstwhile companion on the ship, now a lassie of 18.

The bridegroom of 61 years ago has lived in this town slightly more than 64 years, during which time he worked for the Phair Company, pioneers in the starch industry, the R.L. Pitcher Company of Caribou, besides serving as postmaster here for 13 years.

All six of their children are living and five of them were near enough today to come and see their parents. The are Mrs. Ernest Umphrey, Mrs. Malcolm Umphrey and Harry Duncan of Washburn, David Duncan of Presque Isle and Miss Bessie Duncan, who lives with her parents. The oldest daughter, Mrs. Ernest Hopper, lives on the West Coast.

The bridegroom is the only living charter member of Industry Lodge of odd Fellows, he and his wife are active in the Methodist Church, of which they were among the first members. He will be 89 in September; she will be 80 in January.

A host of friends sent congratulations and rightly so.

(above was transcribed from a newspaper clipping, newspaper unknown)