SINGULAR AND FATAL ACCIDENT IN VICTORIA.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 14, Issue 1131, 1 March 1870, Page 3

SINGULAR AND FATAL ACCIDENT IN VICTORIA.

A shocking occurrence took place on Saturday afternoon at Kenny's Baths, St. Kilda, resulting in the death of Mr. Atcheson Ffrench, an old colonist of 31 years standing, residing near Hamilton, but recently on a visit to Melbourne. Mr. Ffrench had lunched with Dr. Barker in Melbourne, and in company with his daughters left the doctor's house at about 3- o'clock and drove down to Sfc. Kilda ' Beach. Mr. Ffrench then went into Kenny's Baths, giving his daughters directions to drive about until he was ready to rejoin them, and after undressing was seen to dive into the water, head first, from a plank known as the lower " running header." A person named C. P. Goslett, who saw him just entering the water, remarked to a friend that " whoever that was he must have touched the bottom," and a lad named Robert King, seeing that Mr. Ffrench did not como up properly, thought that something was wrong, and going to his assistance took him to the landing-steps. He was not dead, but his body was paralysed, and he died in about five minutes, before a medical man could be obtained. The body of the unfortunate gentleman was then removed to the Prince of Wales Hotel, in Fitzroystreefc, where ifc was determined to hold an inquest immediately, as the relatives were desirous of obtaining the body, and, if put off at all, the inquiry would have to be postponed until Monday. By dint of great exertions on the part of Sergeant Farrell, a jury and the witnesses were collected, and Dr. Youl, the city coroner, having been sent for, held an inquest at once, when the principal of the above facts were elicited. Mr. G. T. A. Lavater, who arrived at the baths just as the deceased was being taken out, stated that there was a scale showing the depth of water in the baths, and also a notice posted up, drawing attention to the scale. The lad King stated that the water was about four and a half feet deep where deceased jumped in, and that there was usually six feet of water in that part, but that the tide was unusually low. Dr. Barker found the cause of death to have been dislocation of the neck between the third and fourth cervical vertebrae. There was a slight abrasion of the skin on the forehead where deceased had struck the bottom. The jury found that deceased accidentally dislocated his neck by diving into shallow water, in Kenny's baths. Mr. Ffrench was 57 years of. age,, of a, somewhat stout and heavy build, but in excellent health. A person might dive from the height whence the deceased jumped into four and a half feet of water without touching the bottom, if the precaution were adopted of diving in a slanting position, with the hands stretched oixt in front and inclining upwards ; but it was said, though ifc did not come out at the inquest, that deceased placed his arms flat by his side, and consequently must have gone almost vertically to the bottom, head foremost. The young ladies were naturally very much shocked on hearing of the accident, as they immediately recognised their father from the description given of the deceased. The deceased belonged to the old family of the Ffrenches, of French Castle, and was a first cousin of Lord Inchiquin and Mr. Smith O'Brien. He arrived in this colony in 1839, and settled near Mount Macedon. In 1841 he removed to the Grange, now called Hamilton, where he was appointed police magistrate. He resigned in 1850, and retired to his station, " Monivac." During his residence of 30 years in the colony Mr. Ffrench earned the esteem of a very large circle of friends. He leaves a widow and 11 children to lament his loss. The funeral of Mr. Acheson Ffrench took place on Monday, starting from the residence of deceased's son-in-law, Mr. Rudd, Ascot Vale, Flemington, at 1 o'clock, and proceeding to the new cemetery, where the body was deposited in a bricked grave. The coffin was a threeshelled lead one. About 30 of the friends of the deceased gentleman followed his remains to the cemetery, including Sir Redmond Barry, Mr. Matheson of the Bank of Victoria, and Dr. Barker. The funeral service was read by the Rev. H. H. P. HandfielJ, of St. Peter's Church, Melbourne. — Australasian.