SAD DROWNING FATALITY.
Quite a gloom was cast over the town and district on Sunday evening when it became known that Mr Frederick Ricardo, a sawmiller, had been accidentally drowned in the "scour." It appears that in company with his son Albert, a boy fourteen years of age, and three other men, named respectively Peter Romari, George Douglas, and Natale Bronco, he left on a fishing excursion in the afternoon about two o'clock. After about an hour's fishing near Kerris' bridge, the party returned to the "scour" to have a swim. Deceased was first into the water and shortly afterwards sank in the middle of the "scour," his companions - none of whom could swim - trying to render assistance by sending the boat adrift towards the spot where deceased went down, and also using the oars to try and bring him to the surface. One of the party also waded in and got to within three yards of the place, but then returned owing to the water being up to his neck. They were unsuccessful in their efforts, however, and returned to the town and apprised Constable Dent of the
sad occurrence, who immediately repaired to the scene. A number of townspeople also went out, and diving operations were commenced by Messrs Tyers, Bryant, A Bazeley, Lambden, and Plant, the former bringing the body to the surface after it. Deceased, who was forty-six years of age, had resided here for about 18 months, and was a hard-working and temperate man. He leaves a widow and family of nine to mourn their loss. A magisterial enquiry was held before Mr E. W. Hill, J.P., at the court-house on Monday afternoon, when the following evidence was adduced:-
Margaret Ricardo, deposed that deceased was her husband, and left home shortly before two o'clock on Sunday to go fishing, her youngest son Bertie accompanying him; he was in good health and spirits; did not see him again alive; saw the body that morning and identified the remains as those of her husband; he had informed her that he could swim; she knew of no reason or cause that would lead him to take his life; their domestic relations were very happy.
William Arthur Tyers, telegraph messenger stationed at Nagambie, deposed that on Sunday evening, about seven, p.m., the boy Ricardo passed the house where he resided; he was crying, and said his father was drowned; witness went to the "scour," and, with others, dived to recover the body which he found in about 7ft of water; brought the body to the bank, and life was extinct; knew deceased personally; as far as he could judge the body was recovered about
twenty minutes to eight.
Albert Ricardo, son of deceased, deposed he was fourteen years of age; left home with his father about two o'clock; went down the river in company with four others and his father; one of the men worked for his father and was present in court; after fishing for an hour near Kerris' bridge they started to home; called at Pienelli's, where the men had a glass of wine, but took none with them; then went back to the "scour" because George Douglass wanted his father to go back for a bathe; his father asked him where there was a good place and Douglass said at the " scour"; on arrival they tied the boat up about 14ft from where the men went in; his father, Peter Roumari, and Douglass went in the water, the former first his father swam about near the bank for a time, and then Peter asked him-to go across and see how deep it was; his father started to walk across, and when he got near the middle he sank; he came up again a second time, and then disappeared altogether; was quite sure he came to the surface twice; he did not call out; Peter went in up to his neck, end then came out; Peter and Natale Banco got in the boat and the latter put an
oar down where his father had sunk; they also looked about but failed to see any sign of him; they searched for about five minutes and then rowed to the town to report the matter to the police; knew his father could
swim, but only saw him in the water once - on the day he was drowned; he splashed in the water for about four or five yards; was then struggling.
Peter Komari deposed he was a laborer residing at Nagambie; had known deceased for three mouths, and worked for him for a month; went out in a boat with him on Sunday as far as Kerris' bridge; stayed there for an hour and then came back to Pienelli's vineyard, where witness had two glasses of wine and deceased one glass; deceased asked where there was a good place to have a swim, and Douglass said the "scour"; witness asked them to come home, but deceased
wanted to go for a swim; arriving at the "scour" deceased went in the water first, and swam along the edge for a few
yards, where the water was 2ft in depth; witness asked deceased if he could go across and he said yes; he went about a yard and witness asked him if he was on the bottom, to which he replied yes; next saw deceased in the centre, where he sank; witness could not swim, but went in up to his neck, and was then four yards from where he sank; pushed the boat over and told Brosco to try if he could feel him with the oar, but he could not; then went for assistance; never saw deceased rise a second time; they did not take any wine away with them from Pienelli's.
George Douglass, laborer, deposed that deceased never came up a second time, and they searched for five minutes; there was a piece of rope attached to the boat; deceased sank about three yards from the bank; he was 18 years of age and could not swim; the accident happened about a quarter to six o'clock; he was in the boat with Bronco and
tried with an oar. Natale Bronco said that only he and another, who was not present, were in the boat when they tried for deceased with an oar; Douglass was not in the boat at the time.
Dr Reid deposed that he identified the body as that of Frederick Ricardo, aged about 45 years; he had known him for the last twelve months as a hard-working, honest, and temperate man; there were no marks of injury or violence on the body, but it was of a very dark color, due to hypo-static congestion; death could have been caused by drowning.
Constable Dent deposed that when the body was recovered it was quite cold and limp reckoned the depth of water where it was found at about 8 feet; about 9 feet from the northern bank, and 12ft from the southern; it would be quite possible that deceased got cramp on the sudden immersion in the very deep water, and not being a good swimmer, and having his under-pants on, collapsed with fright when he got out of his depth; the body was recovered about 7.25 p.m., and had been in the water about an hour and a half.
A verdict of accidentally drowned whilst bathing was returned.
The remains of deceased were interred in the local cemetery on Tuesday afternoon and were followed to their last resting place by a number of relatives and friends. The Rev. T. Riding officiated at the house and grave in a most impressive manner. The coffin-bearers were Messrs Taylor, A. and J. Millett, I. Caelli, J. Beretta and Bell. The mortuary arrangements were most efficiently conducted by Mr H. R. Band.
Source Nagambie Times, 10 Feb 1899, Page 2.
Note The "scour" was an opening cut in the bank of the Goulburn River to allow a fresh supply of water to come in for the Nagambie town. The "scour" was about 12 feet or 14 feet wide, with slippery banks.
Chris Korte's New Zealand Genealogy Project
![Frederick RICARDO [Frederic Sidney RICARDO]](photos/thumb_Frederick%20RICARDO.png)
1852 - 1899 (46 years)
Has 6 ancestors and 20 descendants in this family tree.
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