CYCLING NOTES.
[“By Mud Guard.”]
It is my painful duty to have to record the sudden death of one of our club members, Mr Robert Falconer, at the age of 25. Poor Bob. — A more genial good-natured, jolly fellow never was. Always the same, and always a smile on his face. He took a great interest in cycling, and during the 10 months he has been with us, made many friends by his kind obliging disposition. Quite a gloom was cast over the place when news came in on Thursday morning, in fact, it hardly seemed creditable after seeing him in town, looking so well the afternoon before. I offer the sincere sympathy of the Vincent Cycling Club to his relatives in this sad trouble. Though gone from us, his memory will ever be green in the minds of his club mates. -Cromwell Argus, 8/6/1897.
Accident. — A very sad accident happened at Lowburn, Cromwell, on Thursday morning. Mr Robert Falconer was working on Mr McLay's dredge, and during the dark hours of the morning he fell into the Clutha River. Particulars are very scanty. The river of course has been dragged, but to no purpose. A wire from Clyde on Saturday stated that the body had been recovered, but it was not so. Deceased was well known here, and was exceedingly popular. He was formerly manager of the Edina dredge, but left that position to go to Cromwell. What makes the fatality doubly sad is that he was to be married shortly. "Bob," by which name he was best known here, took a strong interest in athletics, and was a member of all the local clubs. He successfully piloted the Roxburgh Cycling Club through its first sports meeting a little over 12 months ago, and his resignation as secretary was received with regret. His people will have the deepest sympathy of all who knew him, and they were many. -Otago Witness, 10/6/1897.
The body of Robert Falconer was found within a few feet of McLay's dredge (on the 8th) in shallow water. The manner of his death is quite a mystery, as he was a very good swimmer, and a few strokes would have landed him on the bank. It is surmised that he fainted after his mate showed him his injured hand (he had previously done so at the sight of blood) and struck his head somewhere and, thus being rendered unconscious, he was drowned. His death is a sad loss to the district, as although not long here, he was very popular and a great cyclist. -Mt Benger Mail, 18/6/1897.
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