HomeMy WebLinkAbout339"Article taken from the Pickering News, June 4, 1943.
$35,000 Loss, When Fire Sweeps Through Dunbarton Store.
Losses by fire reached a figure close to $35,000 on Friday forenoon last when S.G.Morrish's
store and residence were totally destroyed together with practically all contents including the
stock in the store and household effects and personal belongings of the members of the family.
Several vehicles were involved in an accident which ultimately led to the dosasterous fire.
A large Eastbound trailor -tractor transport coming down the grade at a reported high rate of
speed, into the village of Dunbarton failed to make the curve and ripped out several posts of
the guard-rail on the south side, then struck a vehicle driven by Mr Shisko of Dunbarton who it
was claimed skidded his car into the path of the onvoming transport. The trasport jack-knifed
in front of the store and landed on top of a car that was at the gas pumps and continued
onthroughthewindows abd front of the store. The story given, and evidence had been to
conflicting to state just what actually happened. Gasoline from one of the vehicles is thought to
have escaped, esploded or byrst into flames, eventually reaching the buildings.
In spite of the complex mixe-up affair that was responsible for the fire, Mr. Shisko,
was the only individual injured, but he was thrown from his car, to the roadway from where he
was picked up unconscious, suffering a skull fracture and several broken ribs, one puncturing
the lung, and is now in hospital in a very critical condition. Toronto daily photographers and
reporteds were on hand in numbers and have given a very complete picture of the affair,
doubrless the most disastrous fire that ever occurred in that neighborhood.
The transport truck was loaded with a valuable cargo of war materials, all of which was lost.
Our Pickering fire fighters are again being given great credit for their work in saving much of
the surrounding building and material. Mr Morrish's loss is partially covered by insurance.
"