Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1886-11-13 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

CELEBRATED •  --- - JOCKEY. The suicide—by shooting himself in a paroxysm of madness and in the absence of his attendant—of Fred Archer, the celebrated jockey, created an immense sensation. The first public announcements were scarcely credited. He was riding at Lewes Races on Thursday, the 4th inst., and returned home, to Falmouth House, Newmarket, the same evening, having caught a slight cold, which developed into a I severe attack of congestion of the lungs, accompanied by high fever, respecting which the medical attend- I ants issued a very gloomy bulletin on the morning of the Bth inst. His death will be regretted by others' than the sporting world, for few riders were so popular as Archer. His first mount was on Athol I Daisy, at Chesterfield, in 1870. For 13 years in succession he has been at the head of the winning list of jockeys, having won 229 races in 1878, 197 in 1879, 120 in 1890, 220 in 1881, 210 in 1882, 232 in 1883, 241 in 1884, 246 last year, and 170 this season. Archer has altogether ridden 2749 winners. The deceased was the son of Mr. William Archer, of Cheltenham, where he was born about 29 years ago. William Archer, who was a celebrated steeple-chase ' rider, and won the Liverpool Grand National on Little Charlie in 1858, brought his son about I 1868 to Mr. Matthew Dawson, where he served his time. Very early in life he became a successful jockey,! but his name will be imperishably associated with that of Ormonde, whose brilliant qualities he soon recognised. His anxiety to give up all other mounts for the chance of steering him for the Derby will be easily recalled. It is much to Archer's credit that in spite of all inducements he preferred to wear the famous magpie colours of Lord Falmouth, in which he first won his renown. His latest engagement eras with the Kingsciere stable, in which the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Westminster, and Lord Alington are the chief patrons. He was for a considerable time in partnership with Matthew Dawson during the period immediately preceding that eminent trainer's retirement from active work, but the charms of the saddle were too petent with Archer, and there is little doubt that lie was not unwilling to retire from the drudgery of the Heath and the stable, and devote himself entirely to the pigskin. Fred. Archer was married in the early part of 1883 to Miss Nellie Dose Dawson, daughter of Mr. John Dawson. Royalty was represented in the presents which then poured in, and the value of which was I between £3OOO and £4OOO. The day after giving birth to a daughter Mrs. Archer, however, died, on November 7th, 1884. Archer was never the same roan since, and it was to escape from his grief that he I made a trip to America during the winter and spring succeeding his bereavement. He returned to England in March. The speculation as to whether again he would appear in the saddle was set at rest by his accepting the mount on Leeman for the Datthyany Stokes on the opening day of the season of 1885. Ft A Newmarket special correspondent writes that there was nothing in Archer's condition which led his medical attendants to suppose that he contemplated self destruction, and therefore his commission of the rash act was the more surprising. It appears that about iall-past two in the afternoon Archer's sister, Mrs. Coleman, who has acted as his housekeeper since the. death of his wife, was sitting by his bedside, when he suddenly got out of bed and obtained possession of a revolver, which, it would appear, he bad kept in his room. His sister, guessing his intention, endeavoured to frustrate it by force; but Archer, having seized her by the throat and overpowered her, deliberately placed the weapon to his mouth and fired, the bullet passing out at the hack of his neck. The shot did its work only too effectually, for Archer fell dead on the floor instantly; but so determined was his hold of his sister that in falling he dragged her down with him. The sound of the shot alarmed the household, and assistance being speedily at hand, Mrs. Coleman was released from her horrible situation. A messenger was instantly despatched for Dr. Wright, and as that gentleman happened to be on his way to the house at the time, he arrived within about three minutes of the firing of the shot, but on examining Archer's body he found life to be quite extinct. It is now just about two years ago that Archer lost his wife, and it is said that the bereavement preyed upon his mind that he then contemplated suicide, but was interrupted by his valet when about to carry his intention into effect. His motherless little girl, for whom much sympathy was expressed on all sides, was removed during the afternoon of the fatal occurrence to the residence of Mr. John Dawson, son the father in.law of the deceased. The sad event east quite a gloom over the town, and regret was universal that no promising a career should have been cut short in so tragic a manner at the early age of 29.