John Howard McNabb McGregor

Other Events and Attributes:

• FindaGrave Memorial ID: 232186151
• _UID: 9829C390CCBC4334B13FBE881CD5E30F2C18

Notes:

FindaGrave Memorial ID:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/232186151

Died:
1893, Friday May 12, The Almonte Gazette page 4
DEATHS
Drowned ? At Almonte, May 6th, John Howard McNabb, only son of P.C. McGregor, principal Almonte High School, aged 8 years 7 months and 23 days.

1893, Friday May 12, The Almonte Gazette front page
Sad Drowning Accident
Howard, Only Son of Principal McGregor, of our High School, Falls off a Boom ? the Body Recovered a Day Afterwards.
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Not for years past ? probably not since the drowning of the late Dr. Mostyn and J.W. Manning, jr. ? has an accident occurred here that more deeply stirred the sympathies of our citizens generally than the unfortunate drowning of little Howard McGregor on Saturday afternoon last. Howard, aged 8 years and 7 months, the only son of Mr and Mrs P.C. McGregor, had been playing with some companions on a boom that is stretched at a very dangerous point above the falls near No. 1 Mill and opposite the factory cottages, and by some means the little fellow fell in on the upper side of the boom. In answer to his cries "Pull me out! Pull me out!" one of his comrades made a strong but unsuccessful effort to reach him, and while some of the boys ran to give alarm the plucky little swimmer was carried by the current down and around the pier that stands a short distance above the main fall. Mrs Walter Scrimgeour, who lives on the river bank opposite the boom, had been watching the boys at their dangerous pastime, and was just in the act of going out to warn them of their danger when she noticed the accident. With great presence of mind she called to her daughter to bring a pole that stood in the yard, and taking a garden rake herself, they ran to the shore in the direction which the current was taking the unfortunate boy, at the same time John Buckham, a high school pupil, was coming in the opposite direction ? down the stairway leading from the C.P.R. track. By the time they reached the nearest point to the drowning boy (Half-way between the main fall and the sluiceway leading through Mr B. Rosamond's grounds) the little fellow strength had given out, after making a gallant attempt to swim to shore, and he remained a few seconds on the surface of the water ? just a few feet beyond the reach of the pole Mr Buckham held out to him ? then sank in the circling waters. Had Mr Buckham had been able to swim he might have saved the young life, but he had not learned that useful art. As it was, his wading into the water so dangerous a point was a great risk to himself. A crowd quickly gathered, and soon many willing hands were at work with grappling hooks in search of the body. The water was usually high and turbulent, and the spot at which the body sank was just where it was impossible to tell whether, in case it did not directly to the bottom, the undercurrents would take it over the falls or through the branch stream running through Mr Rosamond's property. The general opinion was however, that the body went to the bottom near where it was last seen, and there, as well as in every part above the falls where it was though possible to find it, the river was dragged continuously throughout the evening and night, but without success. Meantime the agony of the parents can be but imagined. To them poor little Howard, who was a more then usually bright and clever boy, was a source of joy and pride, and, as was natural, they had been building bright hopes for his future; and the shock they received on learning of his sudden death was a severe one. On Sunday morning the sluice was dammed sufficiently to permit a thorough search being made of the stream through Mr Rosamond's premises, men wading every foot of it in their fruitless endeavours. Quite a number of dynamite cartridges were exploded in the water, and every possible means taken to recover the body; but it was not until seven o'clock Sunday evening that success crowned the efforts of the workers. At that hour Messrs S. Davies and J. Edmonds caught the body while dragging twenty yards in front of the "Point". When the shout went up that the body was found it was welcome news to the hundreds of people who were ranged along the river banks. The probability is that the current carried the body through the branch stream and down a quarter-of-a-mile to the point where it was found. Fortunately there were no disfiguring marks ? the little fellow's features were almost as natural as in life. After being taken to the undertaker's the body was removed to the home of the parents, and from that time till the hour of the funeral there was an almost continuous stream of sympathizing callers. Some handsome floral tributes were presented, among other very neat ones from the scholars of the high school and the companions of the deceased boy. The funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon, and was one of the largest ever seen here, all denominations uniting to show their sympathy with the sorrowing parents. Mr McGregor's fellow elders of St. John's church attended in a body, as did also the members of the Board of Education and the teachers and pupils of the high, public and separate schools. Rev Messrs, Mitchell and Grant conducted the funeral services, which was deeply impressive. The remains were interred in the eighth line cemetery.