Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1861-01-30 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT AT ST. VINCENT'S ROCHE, BAIATOL.—A painful state of excitement was produced on Thursday afternoon throughout Clifton, in consequence of a rumour that a middle-aged man of respectable appearance had committed suicide by throwing himself off the Lion's Head Cliff, the loftiest of the chain of gigantic rocks which skirt the northern side of the river Avon at a little below the Clifton Hotwell Baths, and which are popularly known as the St. Vincent's Cliffs or Rocks. Upon inquiry being made on the spot, it was found that the report was quite true so far as the horrible death of the man was concerned, although there is no evidence as to whether the fearful catastrophe was the result of accident or design. The Lion's Head Cliff rises to the height of some 300 feet above the level of the sea, and it has been the scene of more than one similarly fearful occurrence. It is not very long ago since a young lady, the daughter of a clergyman, who was on a visit to a family of respectability at Clifton, met with a fearful death at the selfsame spot. The apex of the cliff is level with the farfamed Clifton Downs, and as from it a view of almost unapproached variety and beauty is commanded, it happens not 'unfrequently that persons, especially visitors, are tempted, despite the precautions used, to venture out to dangerous poeitions. At the base of this cliff' on the river side, is a shrubbery and mass of trees, which have been planted to fill up the gap of the old quarry, and at mid-day on Thursday, as two boys were walking along by the side of the river, they saw in this shrubbery something which attracted their attention, and which on their examining it more closely proved to be the mutilated body of a man. The boys were naturally much alarmed, and lost no time in giving notice to the police' and policeconstables 115 and 121 hastened to the spot. They found that the unfortunate man's head had been beaten to pieces by dashing in its descent against the different points of the rocks. His clothes were so much soiled and torn that it was difficult to decide with certainty even the probable position in life which the deceased had occupied, and the only thing that in any way pointed to his idendity was the name " Pomphrey,'• which was found written on the lining of his hat. One of his boots, which was off, was found lodged half way up the rock. The constables removed the body to the General Draper Tavern, near Rownham, and engaged in endeavouring to ascertain who the deceased walOrith a view to thebody being identified at the coroneeelisquest. It is said that a lady, while ascending the Zig-seg, a winding path leading from the Hotwell-road to the Downs, witnessed the occurrence and fainted, but the officers have not succeeded in discovering who she was.—The inquest has been held since the above was put in type :—The body of the man was identified at the inquest as that of William Blanning, a journeyman shoemaker of Bristol. His wife deposed that he had for the last few weeks complained of pains in the head and dizziness of vision, and that he left home on the morning of the day of his death, stating that he was going to apply to be admitted as an out-patient of the Infirmary. The poor fellow, instead of doing so, rambled to Clifton, and there fell from the rocks in the manner already described. The jury, in the absence of any direct evidence to show whether death was occasioned accidentally or intentionally, returned an open verdict.—" That the deceased came to his death by falling over St. Vincent's Rocks."