Edgar Landry

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: 1921, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
• Cause of Death: 8 Feb 1940, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Occupation:
The Citizen, January 31, 1921

Fireman Nelson Poirier '96 Died January 31, 1921

FALLING WALL KILLS FIREMAN '96 FACTORY FIRE

Explosion During Blaze at Sachs Bros.' Warehouse on Queen St. West Has Fatal Result; Two Injured

LOSS OF $70,000 IN BUILDING CONTENTS

Spontaneous Combustion Is Given as Cause; Firefighters' Narrow Escapes

SATURDAY'S FIRE

THE DEAD: Fireman Nelson Poirier, No. 7 station.

THE INJURED:

Fireman Edgar Landry, No. 7 station, four broken ribs, injuries to chest. Likely to recover. In Ottawa General Hospital, Water Street
Fireman Albert Hudson, No. 7 station, slight injuries to head and knee. At his home, 352 Flora Street.

SCENE OF FIRE

Sachs Brothers, rag and junk factory, 160 Queen Street West. Cause: spontaneous combustion, Loss: Building $20,000, contents $50,000, Insurance: $6,000.

Fireman Nelson Poirier, 12 Beech Street, from number seven fire station, died at a local hospital shortly after being admitted, from
terrible injuries sustained at a fire which broke out at 7 o'clock on Saturday night at the Sachs Brothers rag and junk factory,
160 Queen Street West, when a rear wall of the building was blown out by a smoke explosion.

Poirier and another fireman from the same station, Edgar Landry, 136 George Street, were buried under piles of debris. Landry was
rushed to the Water Street Hospital, where an X-Ray examination by Dr. Quinn, surgeon for the fire department, disclosed that he
is suffering from four broken ribs and injuries to his chest. He is stated to have an excellent chance of recovery.

Another of the firemen, Albert Hudson, from the same station, residing at 352 Flora Street, was also knocked down by the blast
and received minor injuries to his head and knee, but he was able to be up and about on Sunday afternoon.

The fire, which it is stated was caused by spontaneous combustion, completely wrecked the four-storey building, which was filled to
the roof with bales of rags and paper, and caused a loss estimated by Mr. J.M. Sachs, one of the partners in the business, at $70,000,
divided as follows: Building $20,000, contents $50,000. The only insurance carried was $6,000 on the building.

The alarm for the fire was turned in to the department from box 16 by Mr. Thomas Culbert, 91 Sherwood Street, who was leaving
his home to go to a theater when he noticed a lurid reflection in one of the rear windows of the Sachs factory. By the
time the firemen arrived on the scene, smoke was pouring from all the windows of the building, but no flames were visible.

Rear Wall Blown Out

The men from number 7 station who arrived, first, stretched a line of hose from Broad Street in a yard at the rear of the building,
after which Firemen Lachance and Prevost of number 7 hook and ladder company, ran a seventeen foot ladder to a second storey
and carried up a stream. A twenty-five foot ladder was then raised to a third storey window by Sergeant Paquette and Laddermen
Poirier and Landry, and Fireman Hudson was mounting to break in the window with an axe. Poirier and Landry accompanied by Sergeant
Paquette, were about to leave the yard to get another ladder, when without any warning, a terrific explosion occurred, and the
whole of the rear wall fell out. Lachance and Paquette, who were near the entrance to the yard, managed to get clear, but
Poirier and Landry, who were closer in to the wall, were buried under the tumbling masonry and debris, while Hudson was hurled
from the ladder landing some distance away.

Quickly Extricated

When the explosion occurred, Sergeant Paquette caught a glimpse of the two men going down under the rain of debris from the wall
and he, with Firemen Lachance, Prevost and DeBellefueuille, rushed to their assistance and in a few seconds succeeded in digging
them out, when it was discovered that Poirier was terribly injured. His left leg was practically severed below the knee,
by a jagged cement block which had fallen on it. The sole of his right foot was mutilated and he had sustained a fractured skull.
A hose wagon was requisitioned upon which he was tenderly placed, and rushed to the hospital where Drs. Webster, Lemy, Chevrier and
Paquin, decided that an immediate operation was necessary in order to give him a chance for life.

Unconscious when picked up, Poirier rallied at the hospital for a few minutes sufficiently to receive the last rites of the church
which were administered by Rev. Father Plante, and to ask for his wife and children. A taxi cab was dispatched to his home to
bring them, but he sank into unconsciousness before they could arrive, and passed away peacefully with Chief Graham at his bedside.

Landry, who was taken to the Water Street Hospital in one of the fire department motor trucks, was suffering intensely, and had a
bad gash on his head, in which Dr. Quinn had to place three stitches, as well as other minor injuries to his body. On Sunday
morning an X-Ray examination was made of his chest, when he was found to have sustained four broken ribs, but Dr. Quinn states
he has a good chance of recovering.

Hudson fortunately escaped with minor injuries to his head and knee and was conveyed to his home by Chief Graham.

Another Wall Fell

Shortly after the accident, while the men from numbers 1, 2, 11, 7, 3, and 8 stations were directing streams on the Broad Street
side of the building, the wall there collapsed suddenly, the falling masonry striking an electric light pole and bringing down
a number of live wires, luckily without hitting anyone, causing the big crowed which had gathered, to scatter to safety.
Employees of the Ottawa Electric Light Company, summoned by telephone, shut off the power, and removed the wires which
hampered the firemen in their efforts to fight the fire.

Firemen Ordered to Street

When the explosion occurred, flames swept high in the air and belched from every window of the doomed building, sending up a
reflection to the sky which could be seen for miles around. Realising that the floors of the building were liable to
collapse at any minute, also the front wall of the building, Chief Graham ordered all his men out on to the street from
where they directed six streams on the fire which was burning fiercely amongst the inflammable material, and which gave
off a terrific heat. It was due to this precaution that a number of other members of the brigade were not either killed
or seriously hurt, as they had barely got clear of the ladders upon which they had been directing streams through the
windows of the factory, when the Broad Street wall collapsed with a crash, smashing two ladders and cutting a quantity of hose.

Cut Way to Safety

When the explosion occurred, Lieut. Langdon and the crew from number one station were in the building on the stairway leading
to the second floor, and they had to cut their way out to safety. When the shock came, they were thrown to the ground and
the door through which they had entered was slammed shut, and jammed so hard through the shifting of the building that
they had to use their axes to cut their way out.

Chief Graham believes that the fire must have been smoldering for some time before it was discovered, and that the building
had become filled with smoke to such an extent, that the back draught caused an explosion, as the men from number
seven station had not been at work more than five minutes when it occurred.

That more men were not injured was a miracle, as District Chief Burnett and six other firemen who were in the rear yard
with Poirier, Landry, Paquette and Hudson, had only left the yard barely a minute when the explosion happened.

Owing to the inflammable nature of the material, with which the factory was filled, the fire was an exceedingly
difficult one to handle, and it was fully three hours before it was brought under control, with the aid of six
streams, and then some of the apparatus had to be left on all night duty in order to quench incipient outbreaks,
which occurred from time to time amongst the bales of paper and rags.

Concrete Block Building

The burned building, which was badly gutted and is minus two walls, was built in 1910, is owned by the Sachs Brothers,
and was constructed flimsily of concrete blocks. It was three stories in height, with a basement, and was full of junk
from cellar to roof. It was steam heated and electrically lighted, and at the last official fire inspection which was
conducted in April a year ago, was rated O.K. The records at the fire department place a valuation of $17,000 on the
building, and $40,000 on the stock.

To The Citizen, Mr. J.M. Sachs, one of the partners, stated he left the factory at 5:30 on Saturday afternoon,
when everything seemed to be in order. He could give no reason for the origin of the fire, unless it was due to
spontaneous combustion, which Chief Graham states it undoubtedly was.

Mr. Sachs places the loss of himself and associates at $20,000 on the building and $50,000 on stock, and stated
that the heavy stock carried was due to the fact that no shipments had been made for some months.

Upon being acquainted of the accident, Mayor Frank Plant, accompanied by Mrs. Plant and Chief Graham, visited the Ottawa
General Hospital, Water Street, on Saturday at midnight, and on Sunday morning also called at the home of the dead
fireman, to offer any assistance possible to the bereaved family.

Chief Graham, in paying a tribute to the dead fireman, stated he was one of the most efficient men on the force, and was
well liked amongst his comrades, with whom he was a general favorite. He also expressed deep appreciation of the
kindness and consideration shown the department by the Ottawa General Hospital, Water Street, authorities, who did
everything possible for the injured men and their relatives.

Fifth Death by Fire in Dept.

Chief Graham stated that during the forty-seven years of its history as a paid department, the fire brigade had been
singularly free from deaths due to accidents at fires. In all there have been only five during this period, viz.,
Captain Francis Graham, number three station, father of Chief Graham, who died from injuries sustained while fighting
a fire at the E.B. Eddy plant on July 7, 1877; Captain John Lowery, number 7 station, who fell from a hose reel and was
killed at a Victoria Island fire on August 12, 1896; Ovila Lachance, number three station, father of Fireman Lachance,
who was in the fight last night, killed at a Clarence Street fire on August 16, 1898; Bernard Thomas, number three station,
killed in a collision between a hook and ladder truck and street car in August 1914, and Nelson Poirier last night.

Incidentally, Poirier was injured last fall, when he was thrown from a hook and ladder truck while responding to a
false alarm turned in from Somerset and Preston Streets.

Building a Menace

In speaking about the construction and character of the Sachs factory, Fire Chief Graham voiced the opinion that such
buildings constituted a menace to the city, and should never be allowed within its limits.

"It is a wonder to me that the walls did not bulge with the weight of the material stored in the building," said Chief Graham.
"The walls were built merely by plastering cement blocks one upon the other. There were no supports in the building
with the exception of the joists and crosspieces for the floors. The walls had no bond like that which would be found
in a solid twelve-inch brick wall."

Chief Graham stated it would be impossible for Sachs Bros. to attempt to rebuild the present factory, which would have
to be torn down.



* * * *



LATE NELSON POIRIER FEARLESS FIRE FIGHTER

Leaves Widow and Eight Children '96 Funeral To Be Held on Tuesday

Fireman Nelson Poirier, of number 7 station, residing at 12 Beech Street, who was killed at the fire which destroyed
Sachs Brothers' factory at 160 Queen Street West on Saturday night, was 37 years of age and had been a valued member
of the fire department for seven years. For two years prior to this he had acted as a substitute fireman, and prior
to joining the brigade worked for the Ottawa Corporation as a laborer.

He was first attached to number eleven station, and later transferred to number seven, and had always been considered
as a very efficient fireman, and Chief Graham rated him as one of the best men on the force. A fearless firefighter,
he was always ready when the call came, and was always to be found in the thick of the fray. He was born in the town of
Alexandria, thirty-seven years ago, and came to Ottawa with his parents when he was but six years of age. He received
his education at La Salle Academy on Sussex Street, was a Roman Catholic in religion, and a staunch adherent of
St. Jean Baptiste church. He leaves to mourn his untimely demise, a widow, formerly Mrs. Alma Fortin of Aylmer, Que.,
four stepsons, Albert, Harry, Ernest, and Alcide Fortin; one son Oswald, and three daughters, Maude, Antoinette and Georgette.
His mother, Mrs. Poirier Larocque, resides at 32 Broad Street, a sister, Mrs. Annie Lalonde, lives at Burwash, Ont.,
and two stepbrothers, Joseph and Frank Larocque, reside in the city.

The funeral will take place from his late residence on Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 to St. Jean Baptiste Roman Catholic
church, and thence to Notre Dame Cemetery, and will be attended by detachments from the police and fire departments.

Payments to Widow

As a result of the death of her husband, Mrs. Poirier, with eight small children, is left practically penniless,
except for the money she will draw from the city and the Firemen's Benevolent Fund.

Every fireman on the brigade is insured by the city for $1,000, in the Ontario Firemen's Superannuation and Insurance Fund.
In addition Mrs. Poirier will receive $560……………….


* * * *



The Citizen February 2, 1921

LATE FIREMAN IS HONORED IN DEATH


Remains of Nelson S. Poirier Are Borne to Last Resting Place

Borne on the motor hose wagon from number seven fire station, upon which he had often, during the past few years been wont
to take his place when the warning gong at his station sounded the call to duty; the casket profusely decorated with
flowers, the last tributes from his sorrowing relatives, comrades and other friends, the remains of Fireman Nelson S. Poirier
were carried to their last resting place in Notre Dame cemetery on Tuesday afternoon.

Respected in life as a worthy citizen of the Capital, and as a devoted servant of the department to which he belonged,
he was honored in death, the obsequies being attended by Mayor Frank Plant, and other civic officials, together with
detachments from the police and fire departments of both Hull and Ottawa; a large representation from the ranks of
labour, and a number of prominent citizens from all sections of the community.

Long before 2:30, the hour set for the funeral, the vicinity of the Poirier home, 12 Beech Street, was visited by
hundreds of persons, who later stood in reverence with bowed heads, as the casket containing the dead fireman,
was carried from the house by the pallbearers, Lieuts. Daignault, Lapointe, Charbonneau, Brennan, Nelligan and Burns,
(this Burns was my Great-Uncle, descended from Lawrence Burns and Margaret Doyle, pioneers in Osgoode Township ... Al)
and placed on the hose wagon, while the detachment of one hundred firemen representing all the stations in the city,
under Lieut. Dicks, stood at the salute.

On Preston Street, 35 men from the R.C.M.P., under Sergt. G.H. Coutts, 30 men from the City police force, in charge of
Deputy Chief Gilhooly, a detachment of the Hull firemen, under Chief A. Tessier; and 100 street railwaymen,
in charge of President F.W. McRae, with representatives from different labor unions, were drawn up, and when the
signal for the start was given, the cortege moved off with them in the van. Chief Graham followed in the department
car, with Mayor Frank Plant and Controller Champagne, after which came the motor hose wagon, piled with flowers,
bearing the remains, with firemen from number seven station in its flanks. Immediately behind followed automobiles
containing friends and relatives of the deceased, and one hundred firemen, headed by Lieut. Dicks. Amongst others
noticed in the cortege were Controller John Cameron, Aldermen Balharrie, Macdonald, Hunt and Slattery, E.P. McGrath,
Inspector J.C. Enright, ex-Ald. J.G. McGuire, A. Snowdon, C. Lewis and many others.

After leaving the residence the cortege proceeded to St. Gerard's Redemptorist church on Bayswater Avenue, where
the funeral services were conducted by the parish priest, Rev. Father Pintal. Interment was made in Notre Dame Cemetery.

As the funeral procession wound its way through the city streets to the cemetery, its passage was marked by silent
tributes of sympathy from many citizens, and Mrs. Poirier and the bereaved family were the recipients of a large
number of spiritual offerings and messages of sympathy, including one from His Excellency the Governor General.


______________________

And, from Leo Doyle:

I think you'll find him top right in the photo above.

Leo

E-mail Michèle Boisvert, David Smith, Leo Doyle and Allan Lewis

Cause of Death:
Myocardite

Buried:
Section: 24

Edgar married Marie-Louise St-Louis on 19 Jan 1912 in ON, Ottawa, Notre Dame, (Cathedral). Marie-Louise (daughter of Olivier St-Louis and Marie Goulet) was born in 1881; died in 1955; was buried in 1955 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Edgard C. Landry was born in 1914.
2. Antonio Landry was born in 1915; died in 2000; was buried in 2000 in Notre Dame, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
3. Louis-Edgar Landry

David married Julie Maillé. Julie was born in 1843; died in 1926; was buried in 1926 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Julie Marier
• Name: Julie Mayer