David A. Scott

Other Events:

• Interesting: misfortune, accident, poison, life story
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-252794
• Residence: 1861, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Misfortune: 1878, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; accidental Morphine Poisoning

Notes:

Melancholy Death in Galt

"In the midst of life we are in death." How terribly these words have been brought home to us during the past two days! From an active, vigorous life, to the cold embrace of Death, was but as it were a few moments and even yet it is hard to realize that the great conqueror has done his work so thoroughly, and that a well-known face has been taken from amongst us, never more to return.

The death to which we allude is that of Mr. David Scott, eldest son of our well-known townsman, Mr. Adam Scott and the circumstances attending the death are of the most melancholy character. For some short time past, it appears, Mr. Scott has been troubled with what he thought were neuralgic pains in the head. On Tuesday morning last, his young child being threatened with an attack of croup, Mr. Scott called in Dr. Lundy, and after the child had been attended to Mr. Scott mentioned to the Dr. the occurrences of these pains in his head, which came on and left him at regular intervals. The Doctor told him that he thought these pains must be neuralgic, and that is so, from 10 to 12 grains of quinine, in a couple of doses, would probably relieve him; and further told him that if they came back again in that way, to send down to his office and he would give him what was requisite. Nothing further took place at this time; but during the afternoon it would appear that the pains returned for shortly before 4 o'clock Mr. Scott wrote out the following order, and sent it to Mr. Lutz's drug store

"Galt, April 16, 1878,
Mr. W. Lutz,
Please give the Bearer 10 grs. of Morphine, and oblige.
D. Scott"


The order was filled by the assistant in the drug store, who put a label upon the package endorsed - "Morphine - Poison - Dose from 1/8 to ¼ grain" - and cautioned the girl who got the morphine as to its dangerous character. When she returned with the medicine, the label was red out to Mr. Scott by both herself and by Mrs. Scott; but the deceased merely made light of it and said "He should follow the Doctor's orders and not the Druggist's." He then took the package and mixed a dose for himself, which he took. A few minutes after taking it he felt much relieved of the pain, and remarked so to his wife as he was playing with his child on the floor; but a few minutes afterwards he made the remark that "he couldn't stand this any longer, but must lay down and have a sleep." He threw himself on a bed; and in a short time his wife noticed him breathing very heavily. She immediately went to him and endeavored to rouse him but found it impossible; and becoming alarmed she went to some of the neighbors, who came to her assistance. Finding all their efforts to rouse him in vain, medical aid was immediately sought; and in a very short time Drs. Philip and Brown were in attendance, Dr. Lundy arriving some time after. These gentlemen did all that human power could do to counteract the effects of the fatal drug, but all in vain. Mr. Scott never recovered his consciousness; and at 9: 40 on Wednesday morning he breathed his last. Both Mr. and Mrs. John Scott were absent from home when the fatal dose was taken, the former being at the town of Waterloo and the latter at the farm; but they were both summoned home, and arrived at the bedside of their dying son in a very short time.

We may say her that there can be no doubt that Mr. Scott made a mistake in the name of the medicine spoken of by the Doctor, and wrote "morphine" instead of Quinine." We can only say in conclusion that the family and parents of the deceased have the earnest sympathy of their friends both in town and country in the terrible blow which has fallen upon them.

Galt Reporter Apr 19 1878 pg 2

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-252791
• Occupation: 1851, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; inn keeper
• Occupation: 1861, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; ?isstone Miller
• Residence: 1861, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Church of Scotland

Notes:

"The Sir William Wallace Hotel", built on the site of Willard Cleaners probably about 1845 by Adam Scott was operated by him until 1858, by James Burns, 1859-60; then as a Temperance House again by Mr. Scott till 1873, and by James Murphy Sr., in 1864.


Le Rue De Commerce, Other Times Other Customs Other Days Other Ways, Winfield Brewster 1954

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Dreadful Accident from Lightning at New Hope

It falls this week to our lot as public journalists to record one of the most awful, sudden and frightful catastrophes, by which in the twinkling of an eye, unthinking mortals are occasionally hurried off the busy scene of human life, which we recollect as happening in our immediate neighbourhood. On Sunday last, about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, and when the heavy thunder storm which visited this quarter on that day, was raging at its height, just as three men, Frederick Long, Henry Barnhart and a German known as the "Little Waggoner" were in the act of leaving the stoop of the tavern in the Village of New Hope, kept by Mr. Adam Scott, a terrific flash of lightning struck the party and felled them all instantaneously to the earth.

Melancholy to relate, Long was found to have been killed on the spot, his shirt and skin across the breast being most severely burned and singed and part of his clothes rent and torn into shreds by the fearful, yet incomprehensible violence of the electric shock. Barnhart was discovered to have been struck completely blind and has remained so ever since, besides being otherwise severely stunned, burned and injured. The other person, who seems only to be known by the cognomen of the "Little Waggoner" (being a wagon maker in New Hope), was only slightly affected in the foot, in which, however, he experienced a strange, yet painful sensation. Dr. Ebert and Mr. Klotz soon arrived from Preston, but all attempts at reviving Long were tried in vain. Barnhart, who is a brewer in Preston, has since been conveyed home, but notwithstanding every attention medical and otherwise, the poor fellow enjoys little hope of recovering his eyesight, if indeed, his life be spared as he now lies in a precarious condition. Long was 24 years of age, and son-in-law of old Mr. Barnhart and head cooper to Mr. Hespeler, of Preston and had lately been employed at Mr. H's Mills at New Hope. He leaves a wife and child to lament his untimely end, and the bereavement of a kind husband and fond father.

At the time and place where the lightning struck, an extremely strong, sulphurous and suffocating smell pervaded the surrounding atmosphere and even clung to the bodies of the killed and injured, so much so that for some time there was great difficulty in breathing in the vicinity of the spot where the dire calamity occurred.

The Niagara Chronicle of 8 Aug 1850
Picked up and reprinted from The Dumfries Reformer, Galt Ont

Adam — Ellen. Ellen was born 1816, , Ireland; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Ellen Scott
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-252792
• Residence: 1861, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist