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THE DISAPPEARANCE OF MR.
CATERER.
THE BODY FOUND.
CAUSE OF DEATH UNKNOWN.
The mystery of the disappearance of Mr.
Frederick Caterer, the well-known school-
master of Glenelg, who has been missing since
Monday, was solved on Friday. Search parties
organised by the police and the friends of the
missing man have been at work since Tuesday,
but made no discovery. Late on Thursday night,
however, Inspector Doyle, of Port Adelaide,
was informed that a man had been seen
wandering about the Grange on Wednesday.
On Friday morning he instructed Mounted
Constable Eaton, of Fort Adelaide, and Lance-
Corporal Kelly, of the Semaphore, to proceed
to that locality to search for the missing gentle-
man. They went towards Sir Samuel Daven-
Davenport's farm, near the house of Mr. F. E.
Bucknall, (and on their way were informed by a
milkman that he thought he had seen
the body of a man under a tree in
the vicinity. A little farther on they
discovered the body, which proved to be that
of Mr. Caterer, life being extinct. Mr.
Caterer's tracks had been followed beyond
the Grange to the Convalescent Home
at the Semaphore by the troopers and
trackers, so that he must have doubled
back again. The corpse, which was fully
dressed, was lying on the ground with the
cape of the overcoat over the head. One of the
constables returned toPFort Adelaide and
obtained a conveyance, and the body was
removed to the police-station. Information was
sent to the coroner, who issued instructions
that a post mortem examination should be
made. An inquest will be held at the Jetty
Hotel, Semaphore, at 11 o'clock this morning,
and the funeral will take place at the Brighton
Cemetery to-morrow. The remains will be
removed from the Semaphore to the school at
St. Leonards, and thence conveyed to the
grave.
The late Mr. Frederick Isaac Caterer was
the youngest son of the late Rev. Isaac Caterer
of Pebford, Oxfordshire, England; and arrived
in South, Australia about 22 years ago. He
started a school at Norwood with his brother,
Mr. Thomas Caterer, but later on he re-moved
to Glenelg, where he started the well-known
grammar school. Recently he transferred his
school from New Glenelg to St. Leonards,
whither he was proceeding on the day
of his disappearance. Mr. Caterer was
devoted to his family and was of a most
charitable disposition. He was extremely
popular with all classes of the community, and
by those who passed through his school his
death will be deeply regretted. The cause of
death is so far unknown.
A gentleman who was intimately acquainted
with the late Mr. Caterer has sent us the
following:—"Profound regret will be enter-
tained by all the acquaintances of the late Mr.
Frederick Caterer at his untimely end. Mr.
Caterer was a man whom to know was to respect
and honor from his upright principles, principles
which governed him in all the duties with
which he was connected. The deceased gentleman's
circle of friends was not confined to fellow
residents at Glenelg, where be had conducted
the Glenelg Grammar school for the last 22
years. In the capacity of headmaster of the
school he had earned for himself, through his
pupils, a grand distinction in the ranks of
educational principals. Many of the boys whose
intellects were cultured by him are now occupying
very important positions in professional
life. In the annual report of the school's
progress, which was presented at each Christmas
vacation, abundant references were made
to the success which had attended the efforts
of numbers of the boys who have received
instruction in the old sohoolhouse. From his old
and present scholars will be echoed a lament
the depth of which will be almost unfathomable,
and many will recall the good advice and
encouraging words of one whose life has ended
so unfortunately. Born of a good family and
after a sound educational course the deceased
gentleman came to Glenelg at the age of 30
years and then established the Glenelg
Grammar School, near where the Globe
Hotel now stands. It was not long
before the numerical strength of the school
necessitated his seeking more commodious
premises, and the school was next conducted
in Byron-street. Further increase in the roll
register rendered a larger schoolhouse
necessary, and accordingly one was built in
Partridge-street. In this quarter the school was
very prosperous until about three years ago,
when the numbers became so diminished that
Mr. Caterer removed to St. Leonards, occupying
the house lately tenanted by Mr.
W. F. Stock. The deceased gentleman found
it compulsory to leave this house and give up
the boarding school about two months ago,
removing to New Thebarton, whence he was
missed on Monday morning. Mr. Caterer
many years ago contracted debts through land
speculation, which for the last four or five
years he had strove manfully to honestly
discharge. Rather than take recourse to what
the law provides Mr. Caterer had worked hard
to honorably keep his engagements, but the
worry which this and other matters
involved upset his mental balance with
unfortunate results. For many years he has
not taken an interest in public affairs, but in
the early days of Glenelg he was as active
municipal worker. Mr. Caterer was also at
one time superintendent of the Congregational
Sunday school, in which capacity be was very
much beloved and respected. Apart from
official work be also possessed the goodwill of
all the residents. Mr. Caterer leaves a wife
and 10 children to mourn their lose, besides a
brother and sister engaged in similar duties to
these in which he was engaged previous to bid
melancholy death.
Our Glenelg correspondent writes:—The
news that Mr. Caterer bad been found dead on
the sandhills near the Semaphore on Friday
morning created a profound sensation at
Glenelg, where the deceased schoolmaster had
resided for so many years. The melancholy
occurrence has been the general subject of
conversation, and deep sympathy is expressed for
the family. It has been arranged that the
funeral shall start from the school, and the old
scbolars have called for a meeting to-day in
order to have a representative gathering at the
grave.
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