In 1864, life in the town of Acton was feverish. Great activity reigned businesses were prospering as more than 250 people worked at the copper mine.
Following a forest fire that took place in June 1864, the company Grand Trunk Railway wanted to be grateful to the people of Acton Vale.
Indeed, after a forest fire, employees of the copper mine Acton property for several years Jefferson Davis, while fighting against forest fire saved a large amount of wood belonging to the railway Grand Trunk.
It as a reward offer people a free trip Acton Vale in field picnic Otterburn Park near Beloeil.
They left by train from Portland in the night headed for Otterburn Park. An atmosphere of joy floating in the air, as many took the train for the first time.
Dr. Mount and daughter aged 13 were taking place both in a car to go picnic together.
But arrived at the Beloeil Bridge, the festivities turned into a nightmare.
During the night, a terrible accident occurred in Beloiel bridge, a train had fallen into the Richelieu River since the swing bridge was opened to let a trawler.
They were horrified to see the hole filled with fragmented debris of a train. Several cars and the locomotive were stacked on top of each other.
Farmers carrying the dead and wounded on the beach of the river.
Dr. Mount and his young 13 year old girl who had attended as amateur nurse immediately began to help and relieve the wounded.
Ms. Mount Duckett, become a member of the Canadian Railroad Historical Association, recalled 65 years later heartrending scenes details of the night of June 29, 1864.
Text taken from an account of the Canadian Railroad Historical Association October 1954
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