Alfred Pratt Hely, died 1890

An In Memoriam card formatted as a carte de visite commemorating Alfred Pratt Hely who drowned at Putney when his sailing boat was upset by 'a sudden squall on the evening of the 8th July, 1890.'

Several newspapers reported on the accident:

'A GENTLEMAN DROWNED OFF PUTNEY BRIDGE — On Tuesday four gentlemen were in a sailing boat proceeding up the river, and when near Putney Bridge the vessel capsized and threw the occupants into the water. Two gentlemen on the shore who witnessed the occurrence put off in a boat and rendered every possible assistance, but, although three of the gentlemen thrown out of the boat were able to swim and reached the shore, the fourth gentleman was found in the boat, which was bottom upwards. He was quickly taken on shore, and, a medical gentlemen being in attendance, efforts were made to restore animation, but without avail. The deceased, whose name is said to be Healy [sic], was a clerk in the employ of a large brewery' (Pall Mall Gazette, 10 July 1890).

'DEATH BY DROWNING — A boating accident occurred last evening, about 8 p.m., at Putney. A party of members of the Ranelagh Sailing Club were out in one of their sailing boats when it overturned. All the occupants were immersed, but G. Gibson, of Putney, and J. Finn, of the Beehive Rowing Club, quickly launched a boat and picked up two. The third was picked up by M. Robinson, waterman, of Putney; the fourth was afterwards found in the boat entangled in the rigging, and expired despite the medical aid afforded (Nottingham Evening Post, 9 July 1890).

According to his baptism record, Alfred Pratt Hely was the son of Alfred Augustus Hely, a glass manufacturer, and his wife Elizabeth Maria Hely. He was born on 14 October 1857. By the time the census was taken in 1881, Alfred père had become the 'Director [of an] Ornamental Glass Co.' and Alfred fils was working as a 'Clerk [at the] Department of Works.' The family was living at 6 Landsdowne Gardens in Lambeth.

Photographer unidentified.