Jefferis Donald Evan D’Angelis, grandson of once well-known Madras hotelier, Giacano D’ Angelis, lives in Chile and from there has been researching his family history. His latest find is information about the tragic death of his uncle Carlos D’Angelis (also surnamed Wilme). And this he found related, to his surprise, in some detail in the Straits Times, making him wonder why a Straits Settlement newspaper should record this death in some detail unless it was because the Hotel D’Angelis was a well-known hotel in South and Southeast Asia at the time. The report, headlined ‘HOTEL PROPRIETOR DROWNED – Peculiar Fatality on a Shooting Trip’, stated:

The death has occurred owing to an accident while on shooting of Mr. Carlos D’Angelis of the well known firm of Messrs G. D’Angelis and Son, owners of the Hotel D’Angelis.

Mr. Carlos D’Angelis left the hotel early on February 22nd on a shooting trip with Mr. F. Willow of The Madras Mail staff. They started at about 6 a.m. by motor car and drove up to Panapakkam tank in Saidapet Taluq, about 20 miles from Madras. At Panapakkam there is a large tank or jheel where duck, teal and snipe are to be found in the early morning. Mr. D’Angelis seems to have entered the boat, his own, having sighted some duck on the tank, while Mr. Willow followed him along the bund.

Mr. D’Angelis fired two or three shots and then the boat suddenly capsized. Mr. Willow, after doing all he could, went in search of help, which in that desolate place was not available. He sent the car back to Madras in search of help. The driver having reported at D’ Angelis Hotel, the manager, accompanied by Inspectors Upshon and Moss and Sub-Inspector Govindarajulu, proceeded to the scene, where they spent a whole day in vain efforts to recover the body.

Subsequently, the body was recovered and at the inquest the evidence of a shikari who had been with the deceased for some years showed that the latter was thrown out of the boat by the premature explosion of his gun, and was probably stunned, which accounts for the fact that he sank almost without a struggle and without shouting for help.

A verdict of accidental drowning was recorded. The remains were interred in St. George’s Cathedral Cemetery.

Editor’s Note: A search at St. George’s Cemetery did not reveal Carlos D’Angelis’ last resting place. The tombstone was possibly covered by later burials. But a book kept in the cemetery recording burials in it has his name (see picture).