Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.

Charles Daniel Sheryer[1]

Male 1853 - 1919  (~ 65 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Charles Daniel Sheryer 
    Born Dec 1853  Cobham, , Surrey, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    FindAGrave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/127574356 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-131002 
    Died 19 Aug 1919  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I131002  Generations
    Last Modified 6 Apr 2024 

    Family Elizabeth Bruce,   b. 28 Apr 1854, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight Unitary Authority, Isle of Wight, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 28 Dec 1920, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 66 years) 
    Children 
     1. Mabel Gertrude Maria Sheryer,   b. 23 May 1888, Plumstead, , Kent, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Sep 1960  (Age 72 years)
     2. Lucy Benedicta Sheryer,   b. Between 1894 and 1895, , England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
    Last Modified 7 Apr 2024 
    Family ID F56613  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • One Killed, Two Seriously and Five Slightly Injured in Explosion at C. C. Felt Plant

      Mr. August Houtschild Fatally Injured by Falling Debris. Cause of Explosion Not Known. Occurred in Solution Mixing Room.

      AN INQUEST IS DECIDED ON.


      As the result of a serious explosion at the plant of the Canadian Consolidated Felt Company this morning one citizen has lost his life and a others were more or less severely injured. The man who lost his life is Mr. August Houtschilld [Haufschild] of 21 Pinke street who was killed in the blowing- out of a wall.

      The following official statement has been issued by the company on the accident.

      "At 10.20 o'clock this morning a gasoline explosion in the fire proof room called the coolskin solution mixing room occurred. In the room there was a mixing kettle jacketed with steam in which a solution was being prepared and over that an iron collecting hood connecting with an exhaust fan to remove the gases. Next door was the drying room for felt after it was impregnated with the solution. Both rooms were fire proof. There were two men in the mixing room at the time, one man in the drying room, and three men outside the door of the mixing room. Nobody was smoking. There were several witnesses testified to this. We don't know how it happened. The explosion blew the roof off the mixing room and off the drying room and smashed a galvanized iron garage next door to the drying room. The dead are August Houtschild, 21 Pinke street, married. The injured are. Mr. Charles Sheryer, 20 Gateman lane, severely burned; Harry Trebelcock, 227 Victoria street severely burned; Norman Plauntz, 14 1/2 David street, slightly injured on right leg, employed by D. Christner coal firm. who was delivering coal at the time the explosion occurred; Adam Bauer, 22 Pinke street, injuries to head leg and back, not thought to be of a serious nature. S. Linder jr., S. Growski, S. Boichuck injuries of a minor nature. Larry Mason, who was in the room at the time explosion occurred, was blown through the door, across the lane and up against the coalbin and was uninjured. Arrangements have been made by the Company at the hospital to spare no expense, special nurses have been engaged. The officials of the Company are visiting the families effected this afternoon and the service-nurses of the company are at the home of those injured. A staff of physicians is at work The company wishes to express appreciation of the splendid work and the prompt response of the fire department and the prompt attendance of the doctors and all others who assisted. As soon as the explosion occurred the factory buildings were cleared in less than three minutes by the fire drill. The factory fire company saved the life of Mr. Scheyer before the fire department arrived keeping a wall of water between him and the flames. An inquest will be held. The factory is not running this afternoon but will be in operation tomorrow morning.

      One of the worst accidents

      The explosion was one of the most serious accidents that has ever occurred in this city. When the fire alarm sounded at about 10.20 o'clock this morning it was not long before the intelligence was spread throughout the city that an explosion of a serious nature has occurred. When the firemen and others arrived on the scene it was immediately learned that there were lives at stake and that seconds would count in the saving of the same. Accordingly they set about and did heroic service with the employes and members of the company in rescueing the men who were buried in the debris.

      The explosion as stated above occurred in the mixing room behind the original building facing Maragaret avenue and east of the big new building on Breithaupt street, with coal bins to the east of the same. The force of the explosion completely demolished the solution mixing room, which was built of brick, concrete and steel, lifting the roof into the air, blowing out the walls of the building breaking most of the glass windows in the big building which was about sixty feet to the west of the scene of the explosion. Timber pieces which were ripped loose by the explosion were hurled several hundred yards into air. Parts of the high water tank over the factory were torn loose and brought down. The concussion of the explosion was so great that it was not only heard many blocks away but was also felt. Residents around Frederick street report having felt the shook.

      Blown out but not Injured.

      The accident has its tragic side, and to those who got through it safely it recalls the fact of a narrow escape. Among those who went through it is Mr. Larry Mason of 227 Breithaupt street who was blown through the door across the lane and up against the coal pile and escaped with practically no injuries. Slight bruises on his shoulder were the extent of the same. He was not incapacitated in the least but within a few seconds after he found out what had happened went to the rescue of those who were less fortunate than he and he performed splendid service in first aid work.

      Questioned by the Record Mr. Mason said that he was in the southeast part of the building, the solution mixing room, near the door which faced the coal bins across the lane running parallel to the main line of the Grand Trunk railway. Charles Scheryer was in charge of the mixing kettle at the northeast corner. They engaged in boiling a solution of boiled linseed oil, resin and gasoline. Mason was standing near the door talking with Sam Linder who was just outside the door, behind him was Sandy Boischuck, nearer the coal bins. Further to the northeast, outside, was Stanley Potavrkt. In the northeast rear outside was Adam Bauer, driver and the deceased man, August Houtschild, yard man who were loading garbage on to a wagon to which was hitched a horse. Soherer said to him to turn on a little more gasoline as there was little in the mixture so far. He went over to the rear wall and was reaching for the tap but had not yet reached it when the explosion occurred. He next found himself outside being thrown back from the coal bins. He rushes to the building away at the rear another one of those outside running with him in the excitement not knowing what had happened. They turned around and saw the ruins. They rushed back and heard and saw Mr. Bauer at the rear who was underneath the roof, his moaning indicated that he was seriously injured. They had to remove the roof to get him out. He was then removed to his home.

      HELP CAME FROM OTHER FACTORIES

      Among those who assisted in the removal of Mr. Bauer to his home was Mr. J. Schnurt who noticed the explosion from the third storey of the Wunder furniture factory. Immediately he rushed down by the fire escape and went over to the scene. His first aid knowledge came in useful; he, as is known, has been overseas. He assisted bringing Mr. Bauer to his home.

      Dead Man Hidden Underneath Ruins

      Mr. Mason said that he did not know how the other men got out. Scheyer was in the northeast corner badly burned and scalded. It was evident that his injuries were very serious. He was finally brought out. Mr. Trebelcock his foreman who was in the drying room at the rear of the mixing room also was pinned underneath the bricks and was later brought out by the fireman and others who were on the scene. Linder was also found underneath bricks and timber in the south west corner. Where Norman Plantz was he did not know. Efforts were immediately directed after getting Scheryer and Trebelcock out to Adam Houtschild who was buried and hidden underneath the ruins. The firemen and others set about to remove all material and they succeeded in about three quarters of an hour later but unfortunately it was found that life was extinct, his skull and face having been severely injured, the wall and falling material evidently striking him with fatal results. He was removed to Schreiter's undertaking rooms.

      Asked as to whether he thought it was the kettle or the gasoline tank that exploded, Mr. Mason said it was his opinion it was the kettle. It might be stated this is heated by steam.

      Coroner Honsberger and several other Twin City doctors soon were on the scene. It has been decided to hold an inquest. The first sitting was held at four o'clock this afternoon.

      Besides the Fire Chief Guerin and his men, valuable assistance. was rendered by Mr. C. Pritschau. the employs of the company and members of the latter and by others.

      Those in Hospital

      The injured men at the hospital are Mr. Trebelcock and Mr. Scherver M. Plauntz was at the hospital only about an hour. It seems his team ran away and that in being thrown off his leg was injured. He went to the hospital to have it attended to but was able to leave for his home soon afterwards. Fortunately no fire broke out in the demolished building.

      The News Record 14 Aug 1919, Thu Page 1

  • Sources 
    1. [S3108] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, 022306-23.
      Alfred John Stock, 26, occ. Laborer, b. England, res. 291 Mill St. Kitchener, son of Alfred Stock (born England) and Elizabeth (Surname Not Known) married Lucy Benedicta Sheryer, 28, occ. Domestic Servant, b. England, res. 291 Mill St. Kitchener, daughter of Charles Daniel Sheryer (born England) and Elizabeth Bruce, Witnessed by: Edith and John Davies both of Kitchener, 1 September 1923 in Waterloo

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - Dec 1853 - Cobham, , Surrey, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 19 Aug 1919 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth