William SWINDON [3344]

  General Notes:

William aged 24 farmer and Louisa aged 28 wife arrived at Port Phillip, on the ship the Roxburgh in 1856 along with Thomas Henry infant.

The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954) Thu 10 Apr 1879 Page 2 NEWS OF THE DAY.
A strange accident occurred last night at the Melbourne Hospital. At about eight o'clock a patient named William Swindon, suffering from pneumonia, had occasion to go to an apartment off the ward. He was attended to the door by a female nurse, and she missing him, it was discovered that he had jumped from the window on to the path below, a distance of about twenty-five feet, where he was found. Several wardsmen at once carried him into the casualty ward, where he was examined, and it was ascertained that he had sustained a compound fracture of the leg. Considering the state of Swindon's health, the nature of the injuries he has sustained, and the shock he must have experienced, it is feared that the accident will end fatally.
The necessity of fitting the window with iron bars is now evident.

Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1859 - 1929) Fri 11 Apr 1879 Page 2 TOWN TALK.
On Wednesday night, about 8 o'clock, a patient in the Melbourne Hospital, named William Swindon, who was under treatment in a ward in the upper portion of the eastern wing of the institution, eluded the vigilance of his nurse, and precipitated himself out of a window on to the footpath beneath, a distance of 25ft. The unfortunate man (says the Telegraph) was found on the pavement, and was, with all promptitude, conveyed to the casualty room, where it was ascertained that he had sustained a compound fracture of his leg. It is feared that the injuries received, together with the shock to the nervous system, will result fatally.

The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Sat 12 Apr 1879 Page 8 Family
The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954) Sat 12 Apr 1879 Page 8 Family Notices
THE friends of the late Mr. WILLIAM SWINDON
are respectfully invited to follow his remains to their last resting place in the Melbourne General Cemetery. His funeral will move from the residence of his son, Mr. Thomas Swindon, No. 100 Palmerston-crescent, Park-Street cast, Emerald-hill, THIS DAY (Saturday), the 12th inst., at 2 o'clock precisely.

The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946) Sat 12 Apr 1879 Page 21
An accident of a somewhat extraordinary nature occurred at the Melbourne Hospital on Wednesday evening, William Swindon, a patient on the medical side of the house, who is suffering from pneumonia, left his bed and escaped from the ward without attracting the attention of any of the nurses. He went to a small apartment immediately adjoining the ward, and succeeded in throwing himself out of a narrow window, which, strange to say, was without any protecting bars. The unfortunate man, who was in the early stage of delirium, fell to the ground below, a distance of about 25ft., and sustained a compound fracture of the leg besides internal injuries. He was discovered almost immediately afterwards, and was removed to the surgical side, where his injuries received prompt attention. Taking into consideration, however, the nature of the ailment from which the man was suffering, and the shock to the system consequent upon the injuries resulting from the fall, there is but a remote chance of the patient recovering. At a late hour last night the case appeared to be hopeless.

The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946) Sat 12 Apr 1879 Page 21 ACCIDENTS AND OFFENCES.
An accident of a somewhat extraordinary nature occurred at the Melbourne Hospital on Wednesday evening, William Swindon, a patient on the medical side of the house, who is suffering from pneumonia, left his bed and escaped from the ward without attracting the attention of any of the nurses. He went to a small apartment immediately adjoining the ward, and succeeded in throwing himself out of a narrow window, which, strange to say, was without any protecting bars. The unfortunate man, who was in the early stage of delirium, fell to the ground below, a distance of about 25ft., and sustained a compound fracture of the leg besides internal injuries. He was discovered almost immediately afterwards, and was removed to the surgical side, where his injuries received prompt attention. Taking into consideration, however, the nature of the ailment from which the man was suffering, and the shock to the system consequent upon the injuries resulting from the fall, there is but a remote chance of the patient recovering. At a late hour last night the case appeared to be hopeless.

The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Mon 14 Apr 1879 Page 7 INQUESTS.
INQUESTS.
THE ACCIDENT AT THE MELBOURNE
HOSPITAL.
Dr Youl held an inquest at the Melbourne Hospital on Thursday upon the body of William Swindon, aged 49 years, the patient who threw himself out of a window on Wednesday evening Thomas Henry Swindon, son of deceased, deposed that he last saw his father alive in the hospital on Sunday last, the day after he had been admitted. Deceased was rambling in his mind at times He was a temperate man, and had never attempted to destroy himself. Maria Barnes, attendant Melbourne Hospital, deposed that she had charge of the ward in which deceased had been on the night in question.

There were 27 patients in the room At about half past 9 o'clock on Thursday night deceased got out of bed and went out of the room Witness followed him at once. The window in the bathroom was open Deceased had disappeared. Witness at once went down, and found him lying insensible on the ground beneath the window. Deceased was in the habit of getting up, as his breathing was very bad It was impossible for him to have fallen out of the window. He must have squeezed himself through it. Peter Bruce Bennie, surgical locum tenens, Melbourne Hospital, deposed that deceased was suffering from acute inflammation of the lungs. he had no delirium tremor, and there was no history of drinking. The window out of which deceased threw himself was so small that very few men could possibly get through it. Deceased was sinking fast on the morning of the accident, and would probably have lived about two days. Alexander D Henry, surgeon, Melbourne Hospital, attended deceased after the accident. He never rallied, but died at a quarter past 4 the following morning. The cause of death was pneumonia and shock to the system.

The Jury found that the deceased died from acute inflammation of the lungs, accelerated by throwing himself from a window of the hospital a distance of more than 25ft.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Immigration: on the ship Roxburgh Castle departed London, arrived Melbourne, Jan 1856, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ³³⁴²

William married Louisa NORTH [9449] [MRIN: 3094], daughter of Thomas NORTH [9578] and Louisa EVE [9579], on 15 Sep 1853 in Holborn, Middlesex, England ³³³⁶.^,3337 (Louisa NORTH [9449] was born about 1827 in London, Middlesex, England ^3342,3343, christened on 30 Sep 1827 in London, Middlesex, England,³³⁴⁴ died on 1 Feb 1867 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and was buried on 2 Feb 1867 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.)