FATAL TOBOGGANING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13455, 6 April 1907, Page 2 (Supplement)

FATAL TOBOGGANING.

Cornt Jules de Bylamjt, of the Hague, has been killed under distressing circumstances while toboganning on the famous Cresta Run, near St. Moritz. The count was the first to go down the run on the day of the accident, and at a point known as the junction encountered a plank, said to have been negligently placed on the course by some workmen. Into this barrier Count de By land t crashed with appalling violence, and r.o doubt the heavy steel framework of his toboggan completed the mischief, already serious enough; for the walls of his client were hopelessly fractured, and the heart itself was ruptured. Death must have been instantaneous from such terrible injuries. The whole community of St. Moritz is saddened by the sudden* loss of one of its most popular and respectid members. Count Jules de Bvlandt was me of the best specimens of the younger nobility ol Holland, and his fame in many different kinds of sport was well known both in this country and elsewhere. He was last in London as a member of the Dutch team of swordsmen, who did »o well in the international fencing tournament at .he Crystal Palace a year or two ago, and :io one who met him at the various dinnerparties occasioned by that pleasant reunion af fencers will ever forget the quiet charm of manner, the beautiful English, and the keen eyes of the distinguished-looking gentleman who then bore his pari so wellHe had marched ovei the Continent of Africa no fewer than thiee times, and his reputation as a hunter oi l>i£ game was world-wide. The accident to Uie count w<w the second fatality that has occurred on the Crota Pun this season, the first being te Captain Peine 11, V.C., on January 19 Previous to this there had been no fatalities luring the 23 years the run has existed*