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Above and Below: These two Ottawa "cab men's rests" were modelled on the "cabmen's shelters" which were introduced in London in 1875. They were compact lunch counters where cab drivers (and anyone else) could get a cheap hot meal. For more about cabmen's shelters, see Bloomsday for Cab Drivers: The Cabmen's Shelter.

Source:

Top: Cab Men's Rest on Wellington Street, March, 1893 [East Block of the Parliament Buildings in the background]. (Topley Studio / Library and Archives Canada / PA-027283). Bottom: Cab Men's Rest, corner of George and Sussex Streets, March, 1893. (Topley Studio / Library and Archives Canada / PA-027284).

Last Trip: The Death of Alfred Bonenfant / 18

The American House

William Gascon, encumbered with a fare, was no more eager than Henri Fern to take responsibility for the injured man so he decided to call the Landreville stable for help. He and Fern drove the cabs to the nearby American House, the same hotel that Alfred Bonenfant has stopped at on his way to Hull. Gascon persuaded Fern to stay with Bonenfant while he went inside to use the telephone.

While Gascon was talking to Fern the young man who had ridden inside the cab walked off into the night and was never seen again. It was now about ten minutes to eleven o'clock.

George Boivin and Louis Cyr responded to Gascon's call. Before they got to the hotel several passersby looked inside Bonenfant's cab but none of them offered assistance.