Blandford Weekly News. — 1886-11-13 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

SUICIDE OF FRED ARCHER.  The racing world on Monday received a chock by the news of the death of Fred Archer, the famous jockey. Having taken cold at the Lewes meeting last week, he returned to his home at Newmarket, where on Saturday it WRS found that he was suffering, from typhoid fever. There was nothing, however, in Archer's condition which led his medical attendants to suppose that he contemplated self-destruction. On Monday afternoon his sister, Mrs. Colenum, 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 had 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 month and fired, the bullet passing out at the back 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. Fred Archer was born January 11, 1857, and his first mount was on Athol Daisy, at Chesterfidid, 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 1880, 220 in 1881, 210 in 1882, 232 in 1883, 241 in 1884, 246 last year, and 170 this season. Archer has altogether ridden 2,749 winners. Very early in life he became a ' succemful 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 was with the Kingaclere 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 potent with Archer, and there is little doubt that he 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 Rose Dawson, daughter of Mr. John Dawson. Royalty was represented in the presents which then poured in, and the value of which was between £3,000 and £4,000. The day after giving birth to a daughter Mrs. Archer, however, died, on November 7th, 1884. Archer was never the same man since, and it was to escape from his grief that he made a trip to America during the winter and spring succeeding his bereavement.  A great sensation has been caused in German military circles by the disappearance of the new repeating rifle of a soldier in the fortress of Wesel. Treachery of some sort is naturally suspected. Complaints of the scarcity of herrings appear pretty general along the Sussex coast. At Worthing the season hos proved a dead failure. About 50 ' boats were equipped for the along-shore fl-thing; but up to the present time the sales on the beach have not realised more than £2. Up to a similar period last year the total wholesale value of the catches is said to have ts..s.c about £430.