Lacock
Sept. 20
My Dear Charles
Did you see in the papers the lamentable accident which has happened at Cambridge? Mr Purkiss <1> the Senior wrangler of your year, was drowned while bathing in the Cam. Your friend Gillespie <2> was the principal witness at the Coroner’s inquest – He was bathing in the same place. The Cam is a dangerous river, accidents very frequently occur – We have had the finest weather lately, today inclusive.
Your affte
Father
Notes:
1. Henry John Purkiss (1842–1865), BA (Senior Wrangler and 1st Smith’s Prize), Trinity College, Cambridge, 1864; he was also Principal of the Royal School of Naval Architecture, 1865 and Editor of The Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin Messenger of Mathematics. Drowned in the river Cam on 17 September 1865. [See Doc. No: 08797 and Doc. No: 08561].
2. David Gillespie (1841–1912), BA (10th Wrangler), Trinity College, Cambridge, 1864; admitted as Advocate to the Scotch Bar, 1868 and was Sheriff Substitute of Fife, 1880.