Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Husband of Mrs Mary Ellen Hilleard, Parramatta, New South Wales

ACCIDENTS AND CRIMES.
LONGREACH. October 28.
A death occurred here last night when a man named Arthur John Hilleard, woolcasser, 41, while swimming in the local baths, expired from heart failure. The deceased bad been swimming about previously. He came out and dived in and did not appear again. The caretaker brought the body, to the surface, and, despite great efforts for resuscitation, life  was pronounced to be extinct. A subsequent post mortem disclosed that heart failure was the cause of the death. The funeral this afternoon was largely attended. The members of the Oddfellows' and Returned Soldiers' Association were present. The deceased was well known in the district. He was a native of New South Wales and a married man.

Longreach Baths
Fatality.
HEART FAILURE WHILE DIVING.
Late on Wednesday afternoon Longreach was stirred with the news of the death of a man named Arthur John Hilleard (commonly known as "Sam" Hilleard) in the Lonreach Baths. It appears that Hilleard secured the services of Harry Coomber's hire car at about 5.20 p.m. on Wednesday and made for the baths from the Commercial Hotel, where he was  staying. He asked Mr. Coomber to call for him at 6 o'clock. Before entering the baths from the shallow end Hilleard smoked a cigarette. Later, after swimming around for about  five minutes he got out and dived in from the bank, about half way down the Western side of the baths. Several school boys who were there at the time noticed Hilleard enter the water on this occasion, and on not seeing him rise to the top, their fearswere aroused. They informed Mr. W. J. White (lessee of the baths) who immediately divested himself of  his boots and then dived in fully clothed, but although he and the boys searched desperately for several minutes, they were unable to locate him. Eventually Charlie Hitzman (a school boy) touched the body with his foot and immediately informed White. Deceased was in the water for about ten minutes before he was brought up. For well over half an  hour Dr Farquhar Fraser worked untiringly in an endeavour to restore life by artificial respiration, but he was unable to bring the unfortunate man round. Death was pronounced to have been caused from heart failure. Apparently deceased expired immediately he entered the water as there were no signs of his having inhaled water into his lungs. Deceased  was to have left for Arcturus Downs, tomorrow (Saturday). He was highly respected by all who knew him, and much sympathy is felt for his widow, who resides in Sydney.  Deceased, who was only 36 years of age, was a native of Wagga Wagga. N.S.W. and served with distinction in the war. He followed the occupation of wool classer and had been in the Central districts for about fifteen years, being considered an excellent man with wool. His geniality and good heartedness was known far and wide and it is understood that he spared no efforts in placing young men in good billets; they were always certain of a helping hand from "Sam."