HISTORY OF BOWMANVILLE
Part 38
By Mr. J. B. Fairbairn, P. M.
I could name several other persons who have come under my notice who are indebted to Mr. Robert Beith, ex-M. P. for the same kind of help that he gave William Cator. I will name one, Goddard Fleming, who started out with every prospect of a happy course before him in the race upon which he was entering. I even now, feel like dropping a tear when I think of the sad ending of his bright hopes. He came into my office very young in years, a particularly bright, nice looking, well bred gentlemanly boy . It only took him a short time to pick up enough of the science to enable him to work fairly well and when he got a steady place on the great C. P. R. railway, I had hoped for his own sake as well as that of his mother and other friends, that a bright sky would be over all his efforts, but God willed it otherwise, and he sleeps where no sound can awaken him to duty again. He was a devoted son and longed for his mother’s sake that he might have been spared.
William Cator obtained a position as operator and, as I predicted, all he wanted was a foothold and he was sure to step out into a steady march toward the goal of his ambition. His worth was soon recognized by hose in charge of this huge corporation. He wrote me a letter on November 4, 1890, stating that he had passed the ordeal of a strict examination by the superintendent of the telegraphs but did not say where it took place. He thought it was hardly a fair one as he had to copy an order of a hundred words with that gentleman at his elbow. It seemed to him that they were rubbing it in pretty thick on a green youth. They concluded that he would do and sent him to Donald, British Columbia. When he reached there no one met him and no one was in sight. He had to break open the door to get in and when he did, he found them calling to make a crossing for two passenger trains. This he accomplished . It was the first work he did for the company. Not long afterwards they sent him
to the celebrated Roger’s Pass. He was given full charge and afterwards became post master and express agent. It was a lonely gorge in the mountains and at the time no other residents but the men engaged about the depot. The only relieft to the terrible monotony was the passing of the railway trains. He stuck closely to it and wisely saved every cent he earned and during the first four years of his probation, he managed to accumulate quite a sum of money. This he sent to be invested for him to Mr. George McGill who was then manager of the Ontario Bank, Bowmanville.
A few words are interjected here about Mr. McGill, who so long filled a big space in the life and esteem of his fellow workers in Bowmanville. When Mr. McGill finally decided to leave this place, this universal feeling which was shared by all ranks of the people found an outlet in a demonstration and presentation which took place in the new Town Hall. Mr. McGill is missed in more quarters than one. He was so generous and benevolent ever lending his help to any movement that was inaugurated to help others to a better mode of using their opportunities here as well as leading them to seek the better life beyond. He must have been a resident over forty years.
When the time came, Mr. Cator having the money necessary to do so, he went back to England to see the place where he was born as well as those related to him and to renew his acquaintanceship with any of his former associates who might be left. He enjoyed the trip very much. On his way back to resume his duties after the termination of his leave of absence he paid a visit here. He had previously made all the necessary arrangements to fulfil his engagement with the object of his attachment. They were married and set off for the far west filled with the fairest hopes of a long life together. They reached the place in safety and at once combined their energies to accomplish what was their great desire to make their way rapidly so that they could soon return to Ontario. She brought her abilities into play. Her good training in all matters pertaining to all household duties was of the utmost value. She first began to take a few boarders. This turned out to be an important forward moveme
nt and let to their opening of a kind of eating house which she managed to perfection. You can understand how well they succeeded when I say that the estate turned out to be worth at least $7000. How fair and radiant was the outlook after all he had come through. With youth on his side and in the enjoyment of good health, a happy home with two dear little children to brighten it, the vista of years ahead in which they hoped to enjoy all the delights of married life.
January 31, 1899, the morning dawned on the world and on Roger’s Pass as well and as the great luminary arose, reaching higher and higher, it began to throw its golden light on the mountains that towered in majestic grandeur toward the sky _ _ _ _cking their immense peaks with millions of sparkling gems, having all the tints of the rainbow oscilating and changing with every transition as the great orb of day moved on in his western course. In the valley below lay the little hamlet, its inhabitants going about their usual occupation with a calm sense of security. This day, similar to the hundreds they had already spent at the foot of the giant mountain which dominated the place, with no idea of an impending calamity. The position in which the bodies were found shows that Mrs. Cator was standing by the stove with a biscuit cutter in her hands. He tow dear little kids were playing out on the verandah. William had been out a the _ _ _eds and was on his way towards the station
house which he never reached Hark ! What a sound is that that reaches his ear? How eagerly his eye would scan the oceans of snow that covered the heights above. The awful agony of thought that pierced his soul as he saw the danger and made a mad rush to reach the dear ones and a place of supposed safety, but with lightning rapidity, the rumbling increased to a roar and down came the awful avalanche, thundering, tumbling with death and destruction in its path. They were buried beneath thirty feet of snow. Merciful God how can those things be if there is no hereafter an no recompense for what we have suffered here? Forced into the world without any solicitation of our own and forced out of it against our will. Follow this record step by step, if you wish. Call it from circumstance to circumstance if you like, but what power created the circumstance? Not the actors in the drama. They were passive creatures, moved hither and this by some almighty energy along the whole road from first to last.
The greatest minds the world has every known are just as much in the dark as the humblest child if left to reason it out. Thank God, it has been revealed to us through Christ our Saviour that the time will come when this great mystery shall be revealed and we shall know they way and wherefore of it all. Let us look up where, face to face, with the dread reality to our heavenly Father with faith and anticipation, making the sentiments so beautifully expressed by Whittier our own:
The Night is mother of the Day,
The Winter of the Spring,
And ever upon old decay
The greenest mosses cling.
Behind the cloud the starlight lurks.
Through showers the sunbeams fall,
For God who loveth all his works,
Has left his Hope withal.
The Cator household all perished, including the Chinese cook with one exception, a woman who was employed by them and who was busy in the upper story of the building, the timbers of which had been so placed in the general smash that she was sheltered by them and saved from immediate death. She was badly injured but I believe is still liing. The little canary bird that I suppose had cheered their hearts by its warbling notes, was spared through the great catastrophe and is still alive in the home of the Scott’s in Manvers. I think the name of the pass should be changed to that of Cator, for whatever hardships the original explorer underwent in going through from depth to height this mountainous region, it could not be compared to the awful passing of poor Cator and his household from the lower depths of earth to greater heights above. When I received the bare, bald telegram which was phoned from the station that Cator, wife and children were dead, I was stupif
ied, and it was some time before I realized its awful import. The remains reached here embalmed as no embalmer could do it, by the extreme cold of that northern clime turned into marble. In death they were not divided. Did the angels weep or rejoice? Let us hope the latter and that they together entered the pearly gates into the new Jerusalem. They rest in God’s acre so beautifully kept by our local authorities, there to await the coming advent when the angel with one foot upon the sea and the other on the shore shall declare that "Time shall be no more."
Next - Bowmanville and Darlington History Part 39
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