Articles

Thomas Gatenby, Young Orangeman Drowned at Toronto Yacht Club, September 1887

The following is an account of the drowning of Thomas Gatenby, a member of Medcalf L.O.L.781, from the Globe, Sept 20^th, 1887.

“Thomas Gatenby, a young man employed by the Toronto Yacht Club to look after their boats met with his death Sunday September 18^th last by drowning. It is not known exactly how the young man fell into the water, as there were no eye-witnesses to the occurrence, but all the facts go to prove it was accidental.

He returned to the boat-house Sunday about 9 o’clock in the evening after attending church, and relieved Beaumont the care-taker of the clubhouse. At 11 o’clock a young man returning from the Island found an empty dingy floating about, and tied it up at the wharf.

In the morning another man came along and found the gas in the club-house burning and all the doors open. He extinguished the lights and went away and it wasn’t until noon yesterday that Gatenby was believed to have drowned.

Mr. Thomas McGraw, president of the club, was notified, and he sent for Esplanade Constable Williams who at six o’clock, after a few moments dragging, found the body close to the club-house wharf. The theory was that the unfortunate young man was stepping into the boat and fell into the water, as he had his pipe still clenched in his hand. Gatenby was described as a steady, honest fellow who gave the club every satisfaction. Unmarried, his relatives are said to be resident in England. Coroner Johnson decided that an inquest would not be necessary.”

Sources: The Globe, Sept. 20/1887

                Death was reported in “Report of Proceedings” of the Grand Lodge of Ontario West, 1888

Submitted by John Wells – County Secretary – February 15^th, 2011