| Notes |
- Inquest.
Police Report, June 6th 1874, Warrnambool Police Station:
"Sergeant Archibald reports for the information of the Coroner that William Bristow, Huntsman of the Warrnambool Hunt Club, was killed this day at Wangoom, in leaping a fence during a hunt.
The body lies at the residence of the deceased's father, off the Allansford Road, awaiting Inquest."
Inquisition on 8th day of June 1874 at Wangoom before the Deputy Coroner and a jury of 12 men.
Their verdict was "that William Bristow came by his death at Wangoom on the 6th day of June, 1874, owing to having been thrown over the head of his horse, and the horse falling upon him, when urging his horse to leap a 3 rail fence and acting in the capacity of Huntsman to the Villiers Hunt Club. we believe his death to be purely accidental."
Deposition from John Henderson, horse trainer of Warrnambool:
"I was present at the hunt of the Villiers Hunt Club on Saturday last. First we threw off from Mr Tozer's paddock and had crossed several fences and one lane before arriving at Mr Carey's paddock, which was enclosed by a stiff 3 rail fence about the usual height.
The deceased was acting as Huntsman to the Club and riding a horse that he usually used in the hunts. He put his horse to the fence on two or three occasions, but his horse refused to jump the fence. At this time somebody present called out for us to come back as the hounds had thrown up their heads, or overrun the scent.
I turned back and when last observed deceased he was again running his mare at the fence. The mare in attempting to jump, struck the top rail with her knees, when deceased was thrown to the ground on his face and stomach, and the mare made a complete somersault and her hindquarters came across the head and shoulders of deceased.
Mr William Allan was the first to pick up deceased. I then arrived. Mr Allan and myself laid deceased on his back. He appeared quite insensible, breathing very heavily with a rattling sound from within his chest. The only bruises I saw were one over the left cheek and one on the temple.
We immediately sent for the Doctor, and another message to Mr Tozer to send a conveyance to take him home. On the road I found the blood choking him as he was lying on his back. I rose him and the blood then ran from his nostrils and by the time Doctor Bradford had arrived, who rode beside deceased in the trap - on our reaching his father's house deceased was dead.
All the horses which ran at the fence refused to take it except Mr ? who struck and broke the rail and so got through.
Deceased never spoke or regained consciousness after the fall. I was present at deceased's death which took place at his father's residence at 20 minutes to 4pm on the 6th June instant.
Deceased was perfectly sober."
Deposition of Arthur Bradford, duly qualified Medical Practitioner of Warrnambool:
"I was sent for the deceased William Bristow on Saturday last between 3 and 4 o'clock.
I found him in one of the byways of the Allansford Road. He was lying in a waggon in which he was being conveyed to his home. He was insensible whenI arrived and died in a few minutes.
I examined the deceased. I found extensive bruising on the face and head. I found fractures of 3 or 4 of the ribs on the left side and there was injury to the lung caused probably by the fractured ends of the ribs.
The cause of death was fracture of the ribs and rupture to the lungs."
"Warrnambool Standard", Tuesday June 9, 1874:
A lamentable accident occurred at the meet of the Villiers Hunt Club on Saturday last, resulting in the death of the huntsman, Mr William Bristow, a fine young man, about 30 years of age.
The hounds threw off at Mr Francis Tozer's paddock, Wangoom, and the party had crossed several fences, and were approaching the farm of Mr Carew.Here Bristow attempted to take a three-rail fence, which his mare (a well-known piebald) refused. He strove several times to make the mare jump, and at last she struck the fence with her knees, throwing her rider, on whom she fell with her hind quarters.
Poor Bristow was picked up insensible and conveyed to his father's residence, before reaching which he expired.
An inquest was held yesterday before Mr J. H. Craig, the district coroner, at the residence of the deceased's father, Dry Lake, near Allansford, when a verdict of accidental death was returned.
John Henderson, horse trainer, sworn, deposed:
"I was present at the hunt of the Villiers Hunt Club on Saturday last, the 6th instant. We threw off at Mr Tozer's paddock, and had crossed several fences and a lane, when we arrived at Mr Carey's paddock, which was enclosed by a three-rail fence, about the usual height.
The deceased was acting as huntsman to the Club, and was riding a horse he usually rode at the hunts. He put the horse to Carew's fence two or three times, but the animal refused to jump. At this time some one called out for us to come back, as the hounds had thrown up their heads or overrun the scent.
I turned back, and when I next saw the deceased he was still trying to induce his mare to jump the fence. In a final attempt the mare struck the top rail with her knees, and turned a complete somersault, throwing deceased off on his face and stomach, and falling upon him with her hind quarters across his head and shoulders.
Mr William Allan was the first to go to deceased's assistance, and when I came up we laid deceased on his back. He appeared to be quite insensible and was breathing very heavily, with a rattling sound coming from his chest. The only bruises I saw upon him were one on the right cheek, and one on the temple.
We immediately sent for a doctor, and some one went to Mr Tozer's for a conveyance to take deceased home. Deceased was put into the conveyance, and whilst we were going along I found that the blood was choking him. I lifted him up when the blood gushed from his mouth and nostrils, and by this time Doctor Bradford arrived. By the time we reached deceased's father's residence deceased had expired.
All the horses which ran at the fence refused to take it except Mr St. Quintin's who struck and broke the rail, and so got through. Deceased never spoke, or seemed to regain consciousness after the fall.
Dr W. A. Bradford deposed having been called to attend the deceased whom he found being conveyed to his father's residence in a waggon, in a state of insensibility. On examination he found extensive bruises about the face and head, and fracture of three or four ribs of the left side, with injury to the lungs caused probably by the fractured ends of the ribs. These injuries were the cause of death.
The jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased came by his death through injuries sustained from being thrown and his horse falling upon him, whilst endeavouring to leap a three-rail fence, acting in the capacity of huntsman to the Villiers Hunt Club. They were of the opinion that death was purely accidental.
Hamilton Spectator (Vic. : 1870 - 1918), Wednesday 10 June 1874, page 3
WARRNAMBOOL(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. ) June 7.
In to order to qualify their horses for the Villiers Hunt Club Cup, to be run at the Warrnambool Winter Steeplechase meeting on Thursday next, several members of the club named took the hounds out for a run on Saturday last, the throw-off taking place in one of Mr. Tozer's paddocks about 2 o'clock. Shortly after starting, the dogs ran across a lane, the whole field following over the double, a post-and-rail and a log fence. Some scrub was then entered, on emerging from which the hounds made across another lane, on gently ascending ground, where a stiff three-ruled fence presented itself. All the horses put at this baulked, but as the dogs threw up the scent at the other side of the lane, and retraced their steps, it became un necessary to surmount the obstacle. Mr. Wm. Bristow, the master, however, persevered, and again put the little piebald mare which he rode at the fence, but unavailingly. On being a third time run at the jump, the animal hesitated, rising when a considerable distance off and striking the top rail heavily with her knees. Bristow was thrown over her head on his face, while she came down with her quarters on his head and shoulders, and with such force as completely to crash in his ribs. The injured man was picked up, placed in a buggy, and driven towards home, a messenger being sent for Dr. Bradford, who met the vehicle, and at once pronounced poor Bristow's case to be hopeless. The opinion was but too correct, for about an hour after the accident, and within twenty minutes of being placed in the trap, the master of the Villiers hounds had departed to the happy hunting grounds of spirit land. Mr. Bristow — who was, I think, about thirty years of age— was well known as a bold steeplechase rider, and will particularly be remembered in connexion with a match between The Deer and Reindeer at Ballarat some years ago, in which he rode the former horse, the winner. He was, happily, unmarried. This sad occurrence will cast a damper on future meets of the Hunt Club, and will, no doubt, affect the races of Thursday next, in one event of which deceased had, I believe, arranged to ride. It was indeed a sad sight to see him a maimed and shattered corpse, with the life-blood oozing from his lips, carried home to his poor mother's house, which only that morning he had left as fine and manly a young fellow as could be found in the whole country side. He had, it seems, some presentiment of misfortune, for he observed to his sister, early on Saturday, that he hoped the hounds would not go out that day, as he felt low spirited. An inquest will be held to-morrow, at eleven a.m. It is noteworthy that on each of the last three Saturdays a violent death has taken place on or near the Allansford road – Thomas Nolan, Thomas Shehan, and William Bristow being successively thrown from their horses and killed. The accident to the latter is ascribed to his riding a mare not up to his weight. However, it is certain that, under any circumstances, hunting possesses an element of danger which lends to the sport many of its charms. As in the present case, the best rider's judgment sometimes errs, and overweening boldness leads him to the fate from which caution diverts his companion in the chase. It is a pastime in which Hercules and Lichas often unknowingly stand on equal terms, and in it "the greater throw may turn by fortune from the weaker hand."
- Event Memos from GEDCOM Import...
Inquest
Police Report, June 6th 1874, Warrnambool Police Station:
"Sergeant Archibald reports for the information of the Coroner that William Bristow, Huntsman of the Warrnambool Hunt Club, was killed this day atWangoom, in leaping a fence during a hunt.
The body lies at the residence of the deceased's father, off the Allansford Road, awaiting Inquest."
Inquisition on 8th day of June 1874 at Wangoom before the Deputy Coroner and a jury of 12 men.
Their verdict was "that William Bristow came by his death at Wangoom on the 6th day of June, 1874, owing to having been thrown over the head ofhishorse, and the horse falling upon him, when urging his horse to leap a 3 rail fence and acting in the capacity of Huntsman to the VilliersHuntClub. we believe his death to be purely accidental."
Deposition from John Henderson, horse trainer of Warrnambool:
"I was present at the hunt of the Villiers Hunt Club on Saturday last. First we threw off from Mr Tozer's paddock and had crossed several fences andone lane before arriving at Mr Carey's paddock, which was enclosed by a stiff 3 rail fence about the usual height.
The deceased was acting as Huntsman to the Club and riding a horse that he usually used in the hunts. He put his horse to the fence on two orthreeoccasions, but his horse refused to jump the fence. At this time somebody present called out for us to come back as the hounds had thrown uptheirheads, or overrun the scent.
I turned back and when last observed deceased he was again running his mare at the fence. The mare in attempting to jump, struck the top railwithher knees, when deceased was thrown to the ground on his face and stomach, and the mare made a complete somersault and her hindquarters cameacrossthe head and shoulders of deceased.
Mr William Allan was the first to pick up deceased. I then arrived. Mr Allan and myself laid deceased on his back. He appeared quiteinsensible,breathing very heavily with a rattling sound from within his chest. The only bruises I saw were one over the left cheek and one on thetemple.
We immediately sent for the Doctor, and another message to Mr Tozer to send a conveyance to take him home. On the road I found the blood chokinghimas he was lying on his back. I rose him and the blood then ran from his nostrils and by the time Doctor Bradford had arrived, who rodebesidedeceased in the trap - on our reaching his father's house deceased was dead.
All the horses which ran at the fence refused to take it except Mr ? who struck and broke the rail and so got through.
Deceased never spoke or regained consciousness after the fall. I was present at deceased's death which took place at his father's residence at20minutes to 4pm on the 6th June instant.
Deceased was perfectly sober."
Deposition of Arthur Bradford, duly qualified Medical Practitioner of Warrnambool:
"I was sent for the deceased William Bristow on Saturday last between 3 and 4 o'clock.
I found him in one of the byways of the Allansford Road. He was lying in a waggon in which he was being conveyed to his home. He was insensiblewhenI arrived and died in a few minutes.
I examined the deceased. I found extensive bruising on the face and head. I found fractures of 3 or 4 of the ribs on the left side and therewasinjury to the lung caused probably by the fractured ends of the ribs.
The cause of death was fracture of the ribs and rupture to the lungs."
"Warrnambool Standard", Tuesday June 9, 1874:
A lamentable accident occurred at the meet of the Villiers Hunt Club on Saturday last, resulting in the death of the huntsman, Mr William Bristow,afine young man, about 30 years of age.
The hounds threw off at Mr Francis Tozer's paddock, Wangoom, and the party had crossed several fences, and were approaching the farm of MrCarew.Here Bristow attempted to take a three-rail fence, which his mare (a well-known piebald) refused. He strove several times to make the marejump, andat last she struck the fence with her knees, throwing her rider, on whom she fell with her hind quarters.
Poor Bristow was picked up insensible and conveyed to his father's residence, before reaching which he expired.
An inquest was held yesterday before Mr J. H. Craig, the district coroner, at the residence of the deceased's father, Dry Lake, near Allansford,whena verdict of accidental death was returned.
John Henderson, horse trainer, sworn, deposed:
"I was present at the hunt of the Villiers Hunt Club on Saturday last, the 6th instant. We threw off at Mr Tozer's paddock, and had crossedseveralfences and a lane, when we arrived at Mr Carey's paddock, which was enclosed by a three-rail fence, about the usual height.
The deceased was acting as huntsman to the Club, and was riding a horse he usually rode at the hunts. He put the horse to Carew's fence two orthreetimes, but the animal refused to jump. At this time some one called out for us to come back, as the hounds had thrown up their heads or overrunthescent.
I turned back, and when I next saw the deceased he was still trying to induce his mare to jump the fence. In a final attempt the mare struck thetoprail with her knees, and turned a complete somersault, throwing deceased off on his face and stomach, and falling upon him with her hindquartersacross his head and shoulders.
Mr William Allan was the first to go to deceased's assistance, and when I came up we laid deceased on his back. He appeared to be quiteinsensibleand was breathing very heavily, with a rattling sound coming from his chest. The only bruises I saw upon him were one on the right cheek,and one onthe temple.
We immediately sent for a doctor, and some one went to Mr Tozer's for a conveyance to take deceased home. Deceased was put into the conveyance,andwhilst we were going along I found that the blood was choking him. I lifted him up when the blood gushed from his mouth and nostrils, and bythistime Doctor Bradford arrived. By the time we reached deceased's father's residence deceased had expired.
All the horses which ran at the fence refused to take it except Mr St. Quintin's who struck and broke the rail, and so got through. Deceasedneverspoke, or seemed to regain consciousness after the fall.
Dr W. A. Bradford deposed having been called to attend the deceased whom he found being conveyed to his father's residence in a waggon, in a stateofinsensibity. On examination he found extensive bruises about the face and head, and fracture of three or four ribs of the left side, with injurytothe lungs caused probably by the fractured ends of the ribs. These injuries were the cause of death.
The jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased came by his death through injuries sustained from being thrown and his horse fallinguponhim, whilst endeavouring to leap a three-rail fence, acting in the capacity of huntsman to the Villiers Hunt Club. They were of the opinionthatdeath was purely accidental.
|
AIGS/FHC Member's - Family Trees
1843 - 1874 (30 years)