Fergus Ferguson, (1856-23/7/1882). "like a young widow"

DISTRESSING FATAL ACCIDENT.

BALCLUTHA, July 24

At about eight o'clock on Sunday morning Fergus Ferguson, teller of the Colonial Bank, and Robert King, of the National Bank, went to bathe in the river, which was flooded with snow water. They swam across above the traffic bridge, and proceeded to return. When near the centre of the river Ferguson was swimming strong and all right, but King felt indications of cramp, turned on his back, and ho was carried by the current to the bank which had left, which he reached with great difficulty, having sunk twice. King missed Ferguson shortly after parting with him, and he was not seen afterwards. He must have got cramped and Busk. The police, with two boats, have been dragging for the body over since without success. After getting ashore King became insensible, but recovered in two hours, and is now all right. Ferguson was unmarried. His father is a clergyman in Glasgow.  -Evening Star, 24/7/1882.

FERGUS FERGUSON.

Died July 23, 1882.

'Twas eve, 

A winter Sabbath eve, the bells 

Summoned the worshippers; who thronged 

With thoughts devout, each to the house of prayer.

The cold, clear moon shone overhead; half cast

In shadow; — like a young widow, beautiful yet sad, 

Chastened with trial; smiling through her tears; — 

Since last she rode o'er the swollen river, 

Silvering with cold, clear ether 

The flood, in calm majestic motion, stealing

Onward, still onward; gliding to the ocean,

And bearing deep within its tawny waves 

A sleeper, beloved of many; a manly youth; 

Whose anxious parent's heart yearns from afar

For future fame: his son's reward. 

Alas! His place no more known amongst men; 

His memory only cherished. The seal

Of Death upon that manly brow; and his rich locks

Inwove with tangled weeds and sand; 

The only shroud of that rapacious torrent 

Whose resistless waves still defy search, 

And cause Love's labour fruitless. Clutha! 

Since first thy nameless stream came issuing forth

From far-off mountains, rifted caverns icicled,

To where it wanders midst expansive plains; 

Since first the noble savage, with feet unsandalled, 

Trod thy banks, and sacrificed with horrid rites

The foe he conquered; till now, 'mongst fairer scenes

Art-wrought; bespeaking science, culture, wealth 

And industry; thy waves claimed no such victim.

Flow on! remorse o'ertakes thee not, cruel chastener!

Yet thou shalt shrink amid the "war of elements";

And thy proud waves be lapped with liquid tongues of flame: 

Thy latest captive then stand forth, changed to new life, 

Triumphant over thee and Death.

Balclutha, July 26, 1882.  -Clutha Leader, 28/7/1882.

BALCLUTHA. this day. The body of Mr Fergus Ferguson, accountant of the Colonial Bank, recently drowned while bathing, was found this morning in the river Little, below Stirling.  -Auckland Star, 2/9/1882.

Our Stirling correspondent writes: — Early on Saturday forenoon a boy, named Andrews, observed the body of a man floating down the river past the Matau Bridge. He shortly afterwards informed Mr McKissock, who sent one of his sons, who found it floating in an eddy below the English Church, Inch Clutha. By this time, Messrs R. McKenzie, Hunter, Mitchell, and McKinlay had manned a boat. They proceeded down and recovered the body, which proved to be that of the late Fergus Ferguson, who was drowned in the river about six weeks ago. The police were communicated with, and the body convoyed to Balclutha, where an inquest was held in the afternoon. The remains were interred in the Balclutha Cemetery on Sunday, and a huge number of friends of the deceased followed the funeral procession.   -Bruce Herald, 5/9/1882.

Balclutha Cemetery.