HomeMy WebLinkAbout467"Article taken from the Toronto Daily Star, Saturday, May 29, 1943.
Greater Toronto and Nearby Centres
TRUCK PLUNGES INTO STORE IN $20,000 DUNBARTON FIRE
House and Post-Office Destroyed After Transport
Hits Gasoline Pump
TWO IN HOSPITAL
Illustrations:
- STORE, HOUSE AND TRANSPORT TRUCK BURNED IN DUNBARTON
COLLISION
- WRECKAGE LEFT BY BLAZE FED BY GASOLINE FROM DEMOLISHED P
UMP
- SYDNEY MOORISH
His Store Burned
- WILLIAM STACEY
In Hospital
Dunbarton, May 20 - Two persons one a Toronto Man, were severely Injured when a
store and a house were burned to the ground on Friday following a collision between
two transport trucks and two automobiles. In front of the store on the highway here.
A heavy transport truck glanced from the side of another transport and crashed
through a gasoline pump into the front of the store setting it afire.
The injured persons were taken to Toronto East General Hospital. Another was
severely shaken up.
They were William Shishke of Dunbarton, 30, and Briton Henry, Balsam Ave.,
Toronto. Injured and William Stacey, Ashdale Ave. Toronto, badly shaken.
""While traveling west on the highway, Shisken applied the brakes of his truck to go
into a store operated by Sydney Morrish when his truck went into a spin.""
said Provincial Officer Gilbert Robertson of Scarboro. ""His truck forced another
large transport which was driven by Henry into the side of two motor cars,
and then into the front of the store.""
The store owner's daughter, Marie Morrish 17, and a clerk, Hazel Farrel,
said they were both in the store serving customers when the huge transport plunged
into the front window. The customers were Hugh Hubber of Dunbarton and his son Bob,
and Mrs. Norman, also of Dunbarton.
Miss Morrish said: ""I was serving the customers when there was a sudden crash
and the truck seemed to come right through the window, showering glass even to the
back of the store.""
Saved Stamp Box
Mr. Morrish said he was at his garage at the rear of the store when he heard the crash.
""In a minute or two the store was completely filled with flames.
The only thing I could save in the post-office was the stamp box,” he said.
Some of the furniture in the house was saved by the fire fighters from Scarboro and
Pickering.
Almost the entire body of the heavy transport truck entered the store and post-office.
The vehicle was loaded with army supply parts and the fire destroyed the entire load,
valued, according to the driver at $ 17,000.
Figure $20,000 Damage
Fire Chief F.J. Prouse and Mr. Morrish estimated the fire damage in both store,
dwelling-house and stock, at about $ 20,000. Mr. Morrish said only part was covered
by insurance.
Flames leaped 100 feet high as the truck, car, store and house blazed fed by
bursting tanks of gasoline.
The houses to the south of the fire were cleared of furniture as the blaze threatened
to spread.
Dr. H. C. Pierson of Dunbarton was on the scene shortly after the accident and
administered first aid to the injured persons. He ordered them removed to hospital.
Hospital authorities said Shishko suffered fractured ribs, possible puncture of the
lung and head lacerations, Henry suffered a fractured bone in the check and was
given a facial operation. Their condition today was described as being improved.
"