A FATAL FOOTBALL ACCIDENT.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3810, 1 October 1883, Page 4

A FATAL FOOTBALL ACCIDENT.

An accident having, unfortunately, a fatal termination occurred on tho afternoon of the loth instant at the Western Oval, Ballarat, during the progress of the football match Albion Imperial v. Ballarat Imperial. The game was a very fast one, and whilst it was at its heirrhfc young Mills, who captained tho Ballarat Imperial, a blow in tho abdomen, whilst, it is said, marking the ball. Ho did not at first feel any bad effects, and played throughout the game. On its conclusion ho complained of feeling very ill and went home. Dr. Ochiltree was called in, but gave very little hopes of his recovery from tho first. Hot ■water baths were ordered, and on Monday a cabman proceeded to young Mill's residence in Howard street to take him to the city baths. The young man was assisted into tho cab by his brother, and then appeared to be very bad. Tho cab stopped at the baths, and when tho driver went to lift tho poor lad out it was found that life bad fled during the short journey down. There was a pitiful scene at homo when the dead body was removed into tho house of his parents at Soldier Hill. The sad news quickly spread throughout the city, over which it cast quite a gloom. Tho flag at tho City Fire Brigade was flying at halfmast during tho day. It is stated that a doctor's certificate lias been obtained; but it is felt that an inquiry must be held, as otherwise tho innocent may bo blamed as being tho cause, directly or indirectly, of this lamentable affair.