[Index]

Archibald NICOL

Children	Self + Spouses	Parents	Grandparents	Greatgrandparents
John Martin NICOL (1866 - 1917)	Archibald NICOL + Unknown CRAIK

+. Unknown CRAIK

Near Relatives of Archibald NICOL
Relationship	Person	Born	Birth Place	Died	Death Place	Age
Self	Archibald NICOL
Spouse/Partner	Unknown CRAIK
Son	John Martin NICOL	1866	Victoria, Australia	1917	Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia	51
Daughter in Law	Flora GALE			1939	Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia

Events in Archibald NICOL's life
Date	Age	Event	Place	Notes	Src
1866		Birth of son John Martin NICOL	Victoria, Australia	Note 1	52
1917		Death of son John Martin NICOL (aged 51)	Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia	Note 2	60

Note 1: John Martin Nicol in the Victoria, Australia, Birth Index, 1837-1917 Name: John Martin Nicol Birth Registration Date: 1866 Birth Registration Place: Victoria, Australia Father: Archibald Nicol Mother Maiden Name: Craik Reference Number: 13214

Note 2: John Martin Nicol in the Victoria, Australia, Coroner Inquest Deposition Files, 1840-1925 Name: John Martin Nicol Gender: Male Death Place: Australia Inquest Date: 9 Jun 1917 Inquest Place: Wangaratta Cause of Death: Drowned The Argus (Melbourne) 8 June 1917 SERIOUS FLOODS. KING RIVER TRAGEDY. SIX PEOPLE PERISH. DRAY DISAPPEARS IN TORRENT. WANGARATTA, Thursday. — Wangaratta is the centre of a great flood in the Ovens and King rivers, and, unfortunately the visitation his been attended by loss of life. Six deaths are already reported, while several other persons are in imminent danger. Warnings had been extensively given, but no one anticipated such a great rise in the river. All previous records were exceeded. The King River has no gauge attached to it, and accurate comparison cannot be made, but the extent of the country covered by the water, and the marks reached, indicate that the river was never within 2ft. of its present height. The Ovens River also has broken the record, and here the gauge can be consulted. The river rose 7ft. last night, and continued rising gradually all day until this afternoon it reached 17ft. 9in., and was still rising slowly. The previous record was 16ft. 1½in., in September 1912, and as the river is now many miles wide, the effect of the increased height of 1ft. 7½in. can hardly be imagined unless seen. Residences along the rivers never before affected by floods are now isolated, and no definite news is ascertainable regarding them, while many houses have water running through them. Boats in the hands of the police and others have been busily engaged all day in rescue work, and by this means and in other ways, several lives have been saved, but there is an insufficiency of boats, and in order to relieve anxiety additional boats have been telegraphed for. Near the junction of the Ovens and King at the southern end of the town where Wilson road leads on to the King River bridge, there are a large number of residences and in this locality tragedies occurred during rescue work. The King River rose greatly throughout the fore- noon but little difficulty was experienced at first in rescuing families as only a small stream was running over the approaches to the bridge. As the afternoon progressed however the volume of water increased until the roadway was covered for the whole length to a depth of 3ft. Mr. John Nicol, contractor who is a member of the borough council was engaged all the morning helping people to re- move to safety using his own horse and spring-dray, and at 3 o'clock he had on board a party which must have been intended as his last load. These comprised James Lee, Mrs. Richards (wife of A. Richards, bootmaker) and her three young daughters; Donald McNicol (son of Mrs. McNicol, boarding house keeper), and two boys (grandchildren of James Lee, an aged invalid residing with his son Edward). In nearing the fenced approach to the King bridge the horse driven by Councillor Nicol was swept off its legs by the swirling current. As there is a large depression at this spot there was little hope for the horse, which struggled for several yards until it disappeared and left the occupants of the dray struggling in the water. Many spectators were watching the rescue work, among them being several relatives of the persons in danger. Florence Richards and the boys Percy Lee and Donald Nicol kept afloat until rescued by the police in a boat, the girl remain- ing afloat on a box of clothing, and one boy swimming to a tree and the other to a fence. Councillor Nicol, Lee, Mrs. Richards, Gladys Richards and Lily Richards were not seen after the horse and cart disappeared. There was not the slightest possibility of rendering them assistance. An hour or two later this sad occurrence was followed by another fatality within a few yards of the same spot. Thomas Rhodes, son of Mr. A. Rhodes of Killawarra, in company with two other men were engaged in driving horses along Wil- son road through the flood, and in endeavouring to keep the animals on the road way they left the metalled track and were thrown into the water by the force of the current. Rhodes endeavoured to swim back to the road but after a few minutes he became exhausted and disappeared. Meanwhile Warr, who is an elderly man swam with the current and managed to reach a fence where he remained until rescued by a boat which was in the vicinity. Great loss has undoubtedly been caused by the flood and the full effect cannot yet be judged. Many Chinese gardeners suffered very heavily and several had narrow escapes of drowning until rescued by boats . The loss of life caused much grief in the town and special regret is felt at the death of Councillor Nicol, who was a greatly respected resident and helpful in times of need in public matters.

Personal Notes:

birth reg of son

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