Earl Watson Garbutt

1898 - 1907  (9 years)

• Name	Earl Watson Garbutt
  Born	30 Mar 1898	Muskoka, Muskoka District, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Residence	1907	Church St., Ayr, North Dumfries, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-339339
  Died	28 Jun 1907	Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	Cause: Cause: Drowning
  Buried	30 Jun 1907	Ayr Cemetery, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Person ID	I339339	Generations
  Last Modified	9 Jun 2025

  
  

  Father	Albert Edward Garbutt,   b. 11 Nov 1862, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. 3 Aug 1932, Tilbury East Twp., Essex Co., Ontario  (Age 69 years)
  Mother	Jennet Wales,   b. 27 Oct 1868, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Family ID	F58952	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Boy Drowned in River With Nine-Year Old Earl Garbutt The Victim - Between ten and eleven o'clock last Friday forenoon the community was startled by the announcement that Earl, the nine-year-old son of Albert Garbutt, Church St., had been drowned while bathing in the Nith, opposite the new park. It appears that several Garbutt brothers, accompanied by Bert Walton, a boy of about twelve years, went down the river for the purpose of bathing. At the spot where they decided to go in the water was about four feet deep. Two of the Garbutt boys (both older than deceased) remained on shore while Earl and young Walton undressed and plunged in. One report says they took cramps, but this has not been verified. At all events Earl Garbutt sank, and the boys on shore, not being able to swim themselves, gave the alarm. In response to the cry for help, some bigger boys responded, among them Irvine, son of Mr. John Ennis, Swan street. He pluckily sprang to the rescue of Walton, who was then going down for the third time, and succeeded in getting him ashore. The other lad, unfortunately, was at the bottom of the river, and the water being rily the body was not discovered for some time - possibly half an hour. In the meantime Dr. Woolner was summoned, and was accompanied by Dr. Wilson of Plattsville, who happened to be in the village. Both doctors worked for a good half hour in a vain effort to bring about resuscitation. The spark of life had fled its casket of clay and could not be wooed back. All that mortal hands could do was to convey the little body back to the home left but an hour or two, previously full of life and activity and the Joy and hope of a vigorous boyhood. Mr. Garbutt, who is employed on the C.P.R. as a section man was working at Galt that day, but was sent home by means of the lorry as soon as word reached him. The mother, of course, was grief stricken under the trying circumstances, but bore up well. Interment took place on Sunday forenoon, and a fresh mound in the beautiful Ayr cemetery now marks the resting place of a loved one thus suddenly removed by the inscrutable hand of divine providence. Of young Ennis' heroic to conduct it is impossible to speak to strongly. This lad's promptness and fearlessness undoubtedly saved Bert Walton's life. In that case he is entitled to a Humane Society medal, and The News suggests that the facts be brought to the attention of the proper authorities. The Ayr News Jul 4 1907 pg 8

  
  

• Sources

  [S367] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Ayr - Ayr Public CC#4489 Internet Link . Brother/ Earl W./ son of/ A. & J. Garbutt/ died/ June 28, 1907/ Age 9 Ys 3 Ms/ Gone but not Forgotten

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 30 Mar 1898 - Muskoka, Muskoka District, Ontario, Canada Died - Cause: Cause: Drowning - 28 Jun 1907 - AYR, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - 30 Jun 1907 - Ayr Cemetery, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth