Murder and Mayhem in the Brandon Cemetery
Brandon Sun, June 2, 2014
David McConkey
Why are we drawn to tales of murder and mayhem? Of course, these
dramatic events are fascinating. And there is something deeper.
These stories remind us of life, of community, and of the
uncertainty we face each new day.
There are 20,000 stories in the Brandon
Cemetery. Here are a few of murder and mayhem . . .
CYCLONE, JUNE 30, 1912
Sunday, June 30, 1912, was a sweltering day in Regina. Then, at 4:50
in the afternoon, a great storm hit the city. At the time, it was
called the Regina Cyclone. Today: an F4 tornado. The tornado touched
down close to the Legislative Building in the park by Wascana Lake.
Heading north, it left a swath of destruction through the capital’s
finest residential neighbourhood. In minutes, it was all over. The
tornado killed 28 people, the deadliest in Canadian history.
Two of the people in the tornado’s path were Francis and Marjorie
Harris. They were renting a room at 2138 Lorne Street. Marjorie, 36,
was from Brandon. Her maiden name was McKinley.
After the tornado struck, the injured couple was pulled from the
wreckage of the house. Marjorie died soon after in hospital. Francis
was taken to a temporary shelter in a nearby church. Two days later,
Francis had recovered sufficiently to accompany Marjorie’s body to
Brandon for interment.
Marjorie Harris is buried in the Brandon Cemetery, Section 1, Block
CE, Plot 24. “Marjorie Ellen McKinley, the darling wife of R. W.
Francis Harris,” her headstone reads, “killed in the Regina Cyclone,
Sunday, June 30, 1912.”
HANGING, JUNE 20, 1902
In July 1900, Walter Gordon, a 22-year-old Boissevain farm worker,
shot and killed farmer Charles Daw during an argument. When a friend
of Daw’s asked questions, Gordon killed him, too. Fleeing the
province, Gordon volunteered to fight in the Boer War. He was
arrested in Halifax hours before shipping out for South Africa.
Gordon was brought back, found guilty, and sentenced to hang.
“The penalty paid,” the Friday, June 20, 1902 Brandon Daily Sun
said. “Walter Gordon the murderer hanged this morning. Displayed
wonderful nerve, did not make any statements.”
Gordon was one of four people hanged in Brandon. Two were buried in
the jail yard, Gordon and one other in the cemetery.
Walter Gordon is buried in Section 16, Block B, Plot 25. The grave
is only identified by his initials on a simple marker.
CRASH, JANUARY 12, 1916
Wednesday morning, Jan. 12, 1916 in Brandon was bitterly cold. After
a fierce blizzard, snow was being removed along the CPR tracks. A
freight train collided with another train doing storm cleanup; 19
men were killed.
All but one of those killed were day labourers. Born in what was
then Austria, they spoke Ukrainian or Polish and lived in the North
End. They were buried in a row in Section 20, Block B, Plots 4 - 21.
Most of the graves are not marked. Their names: Joe Dryla (Plot 4),
Stephen Batycki (5), Joseph Bielawski (6), Anthony Jarnowski (7),
Mike Robeck (8), Tony Rutkowsky (9), Wasyl Balicki (10), Alex
Meskowski (11), Harry Moroz (12), John Lisawski (13), Shenik
Lowestian (14), Wasyl Sojczik (15), John Lacarski (16), Antoni
Rzemyk (17), Stephen Greskow (18), Ignace Kucharsky (19), Michael
Balawyder (20), Andrew Malnozok (21).
The other man killed was Scottish-born George McGhie, a CPR section
foreman. Back then, Brandon’s citizenry was split between those who
were English-speaking and those who were from eastern Europe. Even
in death, the train wreck victims were divided. George McGhie is
buried apart from the others, in Section 16, Block C, Plot 46.
The 1916 crash – Brandon’s worst – is in danger of being forgotten.
As noted here before, there could be a community recognition like
the Dugald
train disaster plaque in Winnipeg’s Brookside
Cemetery.
Storm of the Century: Regina Tornado of 1912 on Amazon.com
Every Stone a Story: Manitoba's Buried History on Amazon.com
Reflecting on Life and Death along the Camino de Santiago
Get to Know Your Local Cemetery
Writing Your Own Obituary Offers Chance for Reflection
Live Well, Do Good
More From Obituary Guide:
- Writing Your Own Obituary Offers Chance for Reflection
- How to Write a Legacy Letter (Ethical Will)
- A Family History Writing Workshop
- Helping Families "Most Satisfying Work" for Funeral Celebrant
- Be Prepared: Will, Health Care Directive (Living Will), and More
Books You May Find of Interest:
Not Quite What I Was Planning:
Six-Word Memoirs

Writing an Obituary Worth Reading:
A Guide to Writing a Fulfilling Life Review

Find the Good:
Unexpected Life lessons From a Small-Town
Obituary Writer

Having the Last Say:
Capturing Your Legacy in One Small Story

Obit:
Inspiring Stories of Ordinary People Who Led Extraordinary Lives
For All Time:
A Complete Guide to Writing Your Family History

Thrive:
The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of
Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder

Press Ctrl + D to Bookmark this page