Peart's Fatal Dive.

Hastings Standard, Issue 23, 22 May 1896, Page 3

Peart's Fatal Dive.

F nrther pa rt i culars relating toPenrt's fatal dive at Fitzgerald Bro.-?'. Circus on the night of the 7th instant show that for a few minutes previous to taking his daring leap into space, Peart remained poised on his fragile platform, which was as usual erected high above the heads of the- people-, the elevation being, as estimated, from the tioor of the tent. A Oft deep concrete tank had been provided, such as Peart had boon used to dive- into. The unfortunate man seemed to hesitate longer than he had been wont to do during his previous performances. When he made his dive, however, th" splash of the water to indicate to the audience that the hazardous feat (which was the last item on the programme) had once more been successfully performed. The circus staff saw at once that this was not the case. It was apparent immediately to them that this time- the dt cent into the centre of the tank had not been accurately effected, and Peart had, instead of striking the water direct, struck the concrete wall. Peart was taken out of the tank only semi-conscious, and he was conveyed to St. Vincent's Hospital, where a superficial examination was made by the members of the medical staff in attendance. Peart, however, never rallied, and succumbed at a little before 1 o'clock in the morning, the immediate cause of death being the internal injuries and shock to the system.

The City Coroner, Mr J. C. Moore, held an inquest at the St. Vincent's Hospital that day on the body, when Daniel FitzGorald, one of the proprietors of the circus, deposed that the dec-eased was a single man, about 21 years of age, and was a native of England. Peart was of temperate habits, and was known as Professor Peart, the champion high diver. lie had been engaged by witness in London 111 August last. The circus performance took place as usual on Thursday night. The last item on the programme was the dive of the deceased from a height of about SOft into a tank containing aft Gin of water. The tank was dug out of the ground, find was about Hft long by about Gft wide, and had been constructed under Peart's supervision. "Witness had the tank filled and afterwards more water was put into it, so that the depth of water must then have been about 4ft. After Peart had examined the tank he was pulled up to the platform, which had also been fixed under his supervision. On the platform ho said that the tank looked small, but that was only professional talk to cause more sensation. The remark had often been made by him. He chose his own time to leave the j'bitform, 110 signal beinggiven. Deceased jumped ol'f as usual, but evidently misjudged his distance, as in his descent lie struck the side of the tank and then struggled over into the water. Deceased managed to get out by himself and stand up, and to witness, who gave him his hand, he said that he would soon be all right. He was then removed to the dressingroom. J)r McCarthy was summoned, and he recommended his removal to St. Vincent's Hospital. Deceased was accordingly taken to that institution, where lie died shortly afterwards.

Dr McCarthy deposed that he was at the performance on Thursday night. Peart, whom he had seen dive before, seemed to be hardly the same as when he saw him on a previous occasion. He seemed to be fidgety, and when he saw the tank ho ordered more water to be put in. Seeing that Peart had struck the side of the tank, witness went to his dressing-room. Peart was lying on his back, and witness then believed that the case was hopeless. Stimulants were administered, and the man rallying, he was conveyed to the hospital. Witness remained with him up to the time of his death. He was conscious almost to the end, but said nothing about the accident, and blamed 110 one. Death was due to shock to the system.

The jury returned a verdict of death from injuries accidently received. The remains of the deceased were honored with a funeral such as few, except the very first public men in the colony, have had. All along the line of route from St Vincent's Hospital to the Waverley Cemetery was thickly lined with people. Behind the hearse walked Messrs Tom and Pan FitzGerald, and eight of the performers acted as pall-bearers. In the wrtcj'j

v.; iv Mr Bland Holt and other wellknown members of the theatrical profession. Tito services was conducted by the ivov Father Birch, and a requiem, composed for the sad occasion by Mr Wallace, was sung by a quartette from the Lyceum Theatre.