PEART’S FATAL DIVE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1265, 28 May 1896, Page 18

PEART’S FATAL DIVE.

Tho City Coroner, Mr J. C. AYooro, held ail inquest at the St. Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, on Alay 8, on tho body of Peart, when D. Fitz Gerald, one of tho proprietors tho circus, deposed that tho deceased was a single man, about 24 years of ago, and was a native of England, Peart was of temperate habits, and was known as Prof. Peart, the champion high diver. lie had been engaged by witness in London in August last. Tho circus performance took place as usual on Thursday night. Tho last item on the programme was tho dive of tho deceased from a height of about 50ft mto a tank containing 3ft Oin of water. Tho tank was dug out of tho ground, and was about Bft long by about 6ft wide, and had been constructed under Peart’s supervision. Witness had the tank filled and afterwards more water was put into it, so that tho depth of water must then have boon about 4ft. After Peart had examined tho tank he was pulled up to tho platform, which had also been fixed under his supervision. On tho platform ho said that tho tank looked small, but that was only professional talk to cause more sensation. Tho remark had often been made by him. Ho chose his own time to leave tho platform, no signal being given. Deceased jumped off 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 got out by himself and stand up, and to witness, who gave him his hand, ho said that ho would soon bo all right. Ho was then removed to the dressing-room. Dr McCarthy was summoned, and he recommended bis removal to St. Vincent’s Hospital. Deceased was accordingly taken to that institution, where ho died shortly afterwards. Dr McCarthy deposed that he was at tho performance on Thursday night. Peart, whom he had seen dive before, seemed to hardly bo the same as when ho saw him on a previous occasion. He seemed to bo fidgety, and when ho saw tho tank ho ordered more water to bo put in. Seeing that Peart had struck tho side of tho tank, witness wont to his dressing-foom. Poart was lying on his back, and witness then believed that tho caso was hopeless. Stimulants were administered, and tho man rallying, he was conveyed to tho hospital. A ltnoss remained with him up to tho t ime of his death. Ho was conscious almost to the end, but said nothing about the accident., and blamed no olio. Death was due to shock to the system.

The jury returned a verdict of death from injui ies accidentally received. Tho remains of the deceased were honoured with a funeral such as few, exc< jit the very first public men in this colony, have had. All along the lino of paite from St. Vincent's Hospital lo tho Wavei ley Cemetery was thickly lined with people. Behind the hearse walked Alossis Turn and Dan Fitz Gerald, and eight of the piTiormi'is aeled as pa 11-bearers. In tho enrtegv were Air Bland Holt and other nidi -km mil nii'Uil 'CI s of the theatrical profession. The sia vice was conducted by the Rev Father Birch, and a requiem, compered for the sad occasion by Air Wallace, was sung by a quartette from the Lyceum Theatre.