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DEATH OF MR. H. Y.
SPARKS.
A great sensation was caused at Glenelg
on Sunday when it became known that Mr.
H. Y. Sparks, one of its best known and
most popular residents, had passed away
during the night. To all appearance Mr.
Sparks had been pursuing his ordinary avo
cations in the best of health, and although
he had consulted Dr. Verco on Saturday
morning he had been about for the rest
of the day and evening. He was believed
to be suffering from a slight attack of in
fluenza, so that it came us a terrible shock
to his wife on going to her husband's room
about 9 o'clock in the morning
to find him dead. Dr. Giles was called in,
and later in the day Dr. Verco, from Ade
laide, and although there was nothing at
all suspicious in the appearance of deceased
Dr. Verco decided before a certificate could
be given that a post-mortem examination
would be necessary. This will take place
this morning. Mr. Henry Yorke Sparks
was born of English parents in Monte
Video during the prolonged blockade of
that town. His father, a Liverpool mer
chant, settled in Monte Video, suffered
from the disasters of that epoch, and char
tered the Barnard to proceed to South-
Australia with his young family. Mr.
Sparks arrived in Adelaide as a boy in 1852,
and joined the school which had just been
opened by Mr. John Whinham, the fourth
master of St. Peter's College. After carry
ing off for two successive years the lead
ing honors in classics and mathematics, he
entered the office of Sir John Morphett,
and in time those of the Bank of South
Australia, Elder, Smith, & Co., and the
Mortgage Company of South Australia, in
the latter of which he filled the office of
manager since its foundation in 1880. On
June 26, 1894, he was appointed manager
of the South Australian Company, in suc
cession to Mr. W. J. Brind, and held that
position up to the time of his death. He
also filled the positions at various times of
director of the Executor, Trustee, and
Agency Company, director of the Glenelg
Railway Company, chairman of the City
Land Company, member of the Adelaide
Society of Accountants, and was a
life member of the South Australian
Cricketing Association, the Adelaide
Rowing Club, and the Glenelg Oval
Association. From boyhood he evinced
an unflagging interest in athletics, and was
the founder of the Adelaide Oval, the Ade
laide Amateur Athletic Club, and the
Glenelg Oval. In 1898 he was elected mayor
of Glenelg, of which place he has been a
resident for many years. He was an en
thusiastic amateur gardener. Mr. Sparks
was in his 56th year, and leaves a widow
and five daughters.
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