Dr. Francis James Ewing

Francis James Ewing, MD Chief Surgeon

He was the Medical Superintendent of the Hospital Marine Services, for the Foley Bros., Contractors for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad

Dr. Francis James Ewing
b- Sept 1866 in Seaforth, Huron, ON
(b- ca 1868 per age 56 at death)
(b- Sept 10, 1871 per attestation papers)
d- June 28, 1924, Bowen Island BC
son of George and Jane Ewing, both born in Scotland.
His father was a butcher, per 1871 census in Seaforth
married Gertrude Elizabeth Ewing, nee ? (Russell?)
b- May 1883, MB
d-

1890- graduated from Medical Faculty of Trinity University, Toronto
Practised in Fort Williams, ON, after 1890

1906 he was Chief Medical Officer of the CPR doing construction work in Ontario.

Prince Rupert, 1909
Aug 10, 1909 he was removed as Medical Health Officer for Prince Rupert Townsite, and appointed Medical Health Officer for Prince Rupert District.

1911 he was living in Vancouver with his wife.
Hazelton, Jan 19, 1912
Vancouver, Nov 23, 1912
He used the gasoline launch “Telkwa” for the section along the Skeena to Telegraph Point, due to the fact there was no roads in this section, for men to travel to the hospitals.
He was in charge of the base hospital in Prince Rupert.

Enlisted in WWI, May 3, 1916 at Shorncliffe Camp, Kent, England, age 45
Major, Canadian Army Medical Corps

VANCOUVER - Dr. Francis J. Ewing, 66, prominent quartz light specialist, died suddenly last night at a camp on Bowen Island.
From the Winnipeg Tribune of 30 June 1924.

Around 27 mile, GTPR, at one of Bostrum & Kullonder's Camps, was the location of a Hospital for the Railroad Construction workmen.
Foley, Welch & Stewart collected $1 from each man hired per month, for medical services. This included Contractor and Sub Contractor's men.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Francis James Ewing who lived in Vancouver, and occasionally visited the worksite.

Dr. Kearney- at mile 23 East of Hazelton, with a 6 bed hospital.
He covered 50 miles of scattered work, with a saddle horse.

Dr. Sproule took charge of Mile 56 to 102, with a 8 bed hospital at mile 74.
He had a team of horses, and covered 46 miles.

Dr. Webb covered Mile 114 to 154, with a 24 bed hospital.
He covered 40 miles with a saddle horse.

They had a telephone throughout the line, and calls were responded to promptly.

2 other direct contracts:
A. McDougall with 100 men extending the yard room in Prince Rupert.
Bates and Rogers, had 2 camps, 190 men lining tunnels along the Skeena River.
Dr. Tremayne of Prince Rupert is in charge of both.
His patients were taken to the Prince Rupert Hospital.
On the whole west end, there was 1,716 employees.

“Dr. F. J. Ewing (M.D., C.M., Trin. Univ.Toronto, 1890), registered in BC on May 7, 1897.
Dr. Ewing had the contract for the medical and surgical work on construction of the Columbia and Western Railway,-Castlegar to Midway, 1898-99. Large numbers of the men on this work came from construction of the Crow's Nest Pass Railway and many were infected, with typhoid fever when they came upon the Columbia and Western work. Dr. Ewing had his headquarters and Hospital at Broklin, B.C.

In 1900 Dr. Ewing had the contract for the medical and surgical work on construction of the C.P.R. branch between Nelson and Proctor. On this work about 1,500 men were employed. During the years 1908 to 1914 Dr. Ewing was in charge of the medical work on construction of the Grand Trunk Pacific, Prince Rupert to Edmonton. On this work some 8,000 men were employed.” In 1916 he went overseas and served on the staff of the Quarter-Master General until the close of the war. He then engaged in private practice in Vancouver where he passed away rather suddenly in 1926. (Excerpt from Medical History of BC, June 1932)

GTP Railway Medical Service

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