The Life of Fred Archer 123 
Fred, had a sensitive and highly-strung nature, that he told his 
father he did not think he could ride on the morrow. 
WiUiam Archer the elder, however, is said to have insisted 
that his son should fulfil his engagement. Indeed, he had no 
real excuse for refusing to do so, and young William, finding his 
fears ridiculed, went down to ride next day, after, as has been 
said, pulling the blinds down. Young William is said not to 
have been nearly so good a jockey as the rest of his family, 
though on no other occasion did he show any distaste for riding. 
The race in which he took part was a selHng hurdle race of 
£^ each. There were only three runners, these being Mr. 
Quartley's Neptune, aged, J. Jarvis ; Mr. Palmer's Woodcote, 
aged, C. Archer ; Mr. Thomas's Salvanie, 4 years, W. Archer, jun. 
Salvanie, when just opposite the grandstand, stumbled at 
a jump, threw his rider heavily, and fell upon him with his 
entire weight. Taking place in full view of the spectators, the 
accident evoked a cry of horror, and so quietly did the injured 
man Ue that the gravest fears were entertained. 
These fears were more than justified by the examination 
of the surgeons. Young Archer was taken to the residence of 
Captain Cotton, and there he remained unconscious until an 
early hour on the following Saturday, when he died, his 
recovery having from the first been hopeless. 
In the Cheltenham Grand Annual Steeplechase Handicap 
of this year Lord Marcus Beresford was second on Captain 
Paget's Pilgrim's Progress, while the winner, Duellist, was 
ridden by Charlie Archer — the third of William Archer's sons. 
A WTiter in the World, May 28th, 1879, thus describes 
Heath House, where Archer received his training from the 
famous Mathew Dawson : 
" Quiet at night, at least for several years past, Newmarket 
is especially delightful as the shades descend upon Sunday. 
All is clean and neat — and stiUest, neatest of all, is Heath House. 
The trees are daintily pruned, there is a spice of primness in 
the fresh gravel, of trimness in the accuracy with which the 
