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STUCKEY
Vincent STUCKEY
an account of the Death of
Vincent.
19 March 1898
Border Watch newspaper Mount Gambier story:
FATAL ACCIDENT
To many in the South East and elsewhere also, who have had dealings with Mr
Vincent Stuckey, it will come as a shock, as it did to the residents of Mount
Gambier yesterday, to learn that he was killed on Thursday night by accident.
The facts are easily told. Mr Stuckey was in the town during the evening and at
about half past 11 o'clock started from the Town Hall Hotel with Mr Gustav
Kannenberg, both on horseback, for home. On the way home along the Casterton
road Mr Stuckey wanted Mr Kannenberg to push along, but the latter declined.
Then Mr. Stuckey left him and galloped his pony for a short distance, but soon
pulled up and Mr. Kannenberg overtook him. They turned the corner near the
South-Eastern Hotel towards Mr Stuckey's home and again the latter started his
horse off at a gallop. Mr Kannenberg jogged along slowly. Passing Mr. Stuckey's
the latter saw no lights, nor anyone about. Near Blumes corner his horse shied
at an object on the road and Mr. Kannenberg found that that object was Mr
Stuckey who was lying apparently hurt.
He called for and obtained assistance. Mr Blumes's man Geo. Dickson went for a
doctor, whilst Mr Blums and r. Kannenberg assisted the injured man, who was
still breathing. Dr MacDonald arrive about half an hour afterwards, but then Mr.
Stuckey was dead. The body was removed to his residence and there the doctor
found injuries about the head, he temporal bone and apparently the base of the
skull being fractured. It is surmised that the pony shied and
unseated Mr Stuckey, whose head struck the hard road, causing the fatal
injuries. There was evidence on the road for about half a chain that the
deceased was dragged by the stirrup for that distance after he fell. The pony
was afterwards found with the saddle on feeding in Mrs. Johnston's paddock, and
the saddle and stirrups were in perfect order.
An inquest was held yesterday forenoon by Mr. Ingleby JP, and a jury, and we
append a report of the evidence......
The deceased was born at the village of Fivehead, near Taunton, Sommersetshire,
in January 1856. His age was thus 42 years. He was the third child of a family
of 12. He came out to Australia when only 20 years and landed at Adelaide; and
after a brief visit northward came to Mount Gambier. For a time he worked with
the late Mr C.G. Smith and then a bakers business in the Mount becoming vacant
he took it although he knew nothing of the work. He carried on that business for
some years and prospered. Several years ago he purchased the block of land near
Williamstown formerly belonging to the late Mr. Thos. Wilson, and, erecting a
nice residence on it, made it his home and entered into the bacon curing and
potatoe (sic) growing business. In this also his shrewdness and good business
ability exhibited themselves, and he was rewarded with a considerable measure of
success.
In business he was thoroughly straightforward and reliable, whether in his
dealings with the pig seller on the one hand or the merchants on the other; and
yesterday the expressions of regret here re his untimely death was general,
while several telegrams of regret and condolence were received by his family
from business firms in Adelaide and
elsewhere. He was a most useful business man, one that a community can ill
spare. The deceased leaves a widow, a daughter of Mrs. Talbot of Mount Gambier
and seven young children. His only relations in Australia are two sisters, one
of whom is Mrs. W. Saunders, of this town. The other is resident in Perth.
Western Australia. The deceased was
a member of the Gambier East Council for the OB Flat Ward, and his death will
necessitate a new election. The funeral will leave his late residence at
11o'clock this morning.