Obituaries Australia

A very sad accident happened yesterday morning at the Imperial Hotel, at the corner of George and Adelaide streets, the victim being Mr. Arthur Brooke, a gentleman engaged in pastoral pursuits, and well known in squatting circles. Mr. Brooke, a single man and 41 years of age, was in Brisbane on a visit. He retired to his bedroom on the second floor of the Imperial Hotel, where he was a guest, at the usual hour on Tuesday night, and in his usual condition of health. Shortly after 4 o'clock yesterday morning the inmates of the hotel appear to have been aroused by the noise of a heavy fall, and subsequently Mr. Brooke was discovered lying on the footpath in Adelaide Street, just below his bedroom window. The Ambulance Brigade were at once called, and on examination they found that the unfortunate gentleman had received a compound comminuted fracture of both ankles and an injury to the spine. The general impression is that he was the victim of a nightmare, and rising hurriedly from his bed he had mistaken the window for the door, and walked right through without realising where he was going. The window, which is between 30ft. and 40ft. from the ground, and larger than the ordinary size, was found wide open. The injured gentleman was conveyed to the hospital, where he died yesterday afternoon.

From Mr. A. D. Walsh, of Messrs. Dalgety and Co., we have been able to acquire the following particulars concerning the unfortunate gentleman:—Mr. Arthur Thomas Brooke, was engaged in pastoral pursuits on Liverpool Plains, with his brother. They had recently disposed of their property—Milchengowrie station—and early in the present month the firm of Brooke Bros. had purchased Quambetook, in the Hughenden district. It was their intention to largely develop this property. Mr. Brooke only returned from Hughenden on Tuesday last. He had taken his passage for Melbourne, intending to leave by yesterday morning's mail train, with the principal object of saying good-bye to his sister, who is leaving for England on Friday or Saturday. It was then Mr. Brooke's intention to return to the new station without delay.

During the forenoon yesterday, though suffering very great pain, Mr. Brooke was quite conscious, and desired Mr. Walsh to call upon him. Mr. Walsh immediately proceeded to the hospital, and in the course of conversation was able to gather that Mr. Brooke had mistaken the large open window for the door. When Mr. Walsh left there was nothing to indicate that anything beyond a lengthy detention would ensue from the accident, but at 2.30 p.m. the sufferer began to show signs of collapse, and, as stated above, the end came at 4 o'clock.

Mr. Brooke was a fine, healthy looking man, and was a well-known member of the Australian Club in Sydney.