There is an unfortunate association between cricket and suicide, explored in depth in David Frith’s fine book “Silence of the Heart”. Frith catalogues over 100 cricketers who took their own life, including Albert Trott, Stoddart, Gimblett and David Bairstow. He does not however include any Canadians. In the course of researching a completely different topic I came across a long article in the Harbor Grace Standard of 23 August 1892, headlined “FS Dickey’s tragic death”. The article recounts in detail the apparent suicide of Frank Dickey, who while representing Ottawa in the Halifax International Cricket Tournament shot himself in the head.
The full article is transcribed below (Harbor Grace is a small town on the island of Newfoundland and the article undoubtedly was taken from a Nova Scotian news source). The Halifax International Cricket Tournament involved Ottawa, Halifax and the Gentlemen of Philadelphia. Dickey had played in Ottawa’s opening match (which his team won by 16 runs), bowling 8 overs for 11 runs and one wicket in the Halifax first innings, but making a pair, caught in both innings for a duck, and not being asked to bowl in the second innings. This match took place on the 3rd and 4th of August.
His team-mates were apparently concerned about Dickey, who also had consulted a doctor earlier, and it was decided he would not play against Philadelphia on the 5th. He was not told this directly but on the following morning kept to his bed in the hotel, and a substitute played in his place. The Ottawans lost heavily by an innings, and Dickey did not make an appearance until after the match had ended on the 6th. He came down for tea, then returned to his room. The team was on the point of leaving, and Dickey was called- he replied he would be there in 10 minutes, but then two shots were heard from his room. He had shot himself in the head with a gun left behind in the room by a previous occupant, and died shortly afterwards.

Dickey was around 28 at the time of his death, and was one of the best cricketers in Canada. “His bowling was effective and of a peculiar delivery which often puzzled the batsman” and he also had made some important scores with the bat.
His distinguished family was from Nova Scotia- his father was Robert Barry Dickey, who attended the Charlottetown Conference and the Québec Conference as a member of the Nova Scotia Legislative Council. After Confederation, he was one of 12 Nova Scotians appointed to the Senate. Frank’s brother was a Member of Parliament (and also died tragically, drowning in an accident 8 years later).
Frank attended University of Toronto and by 1886 was representing the city against the West Indians, picked mainly as a bat. His bowling improved, and in 1889 he took over 100 wickets in the season including 14 wickets for just 28 runs for Toronto against Ottawa. The following year he took 5 wickets for 5 runs in an innings for Toronto against Trinity University. In 1891, he played for Canada against the United States (taking four wickets in a narrow loss); and for Toronto against Germantown (Philadelphia) taking 12/38. He also was a team-mate of Canada’s greatest cricketer, Jack Laing, representing Western Ontario against Lord Hawke’s XI – a touring team of mainly first-class cricketers from the English counties.
The same year he made a “splendid” 54 as well as taking 6/23 for Toronto against the “Sawbones”. Between 1891 and 1892 he had moved to Ottawa it seems, and thus was part of the team picked to play in Halifax.
The Harbour Grace Standard suggests the cause of his death was a mystery, but reproduces the note written by a Truro doctor to the coroner that states he was depressed due to the loss of his eyesight, and other matters. It is perhaps possible that, for a young man whose life had revolved around cricket, that failing eyesight- confirmed by his inability to score a run in two innings in his last match – was a prospect too awful to contemplate.
David Frith concluded that despite the large number of suicides that he documented that there’s no specific link between the game itself and self-harm. In this case however, it may be that Frank Dickey felt the prospect of not being able to play the game he loved so deeply made life unbearable. Frith quotes two verses from a poem by Imogen Grosberg “The Cricketer’s Farewell”. Dickey did not leave a note- perhaps these verses might stand for one

I think I have played my last
At England’s greatest game
And life, now all that has passed,
Will never be the same

Not that, for I cannot live
Without our summer game;
A coward. I ask ‘Forgive’.
My life runs out today.

Dave Liverman
Information on suicide prevention

From the Harbor Grace Standard
F. S Dickey’s Tragic Death.
As the reader may remember, a late dispatch contained the mournful intelligence that a son of Senator Dickey had put an end to his own life in a Halifax hotel on Saturday fortnight. The following are the gruesome particulars :
“All right I’ll be with you in ten minutes” So far as known these were the last words of Frank S. Dickey, of the Ottawa cricket team. Before the ten minutes had elapsed the young man was dying from a bullet sent into his head by a pistol in his own hands. the terrible tragedy sent a thrill of horror through all who heard it on Saturday night, and the news spread like wild fire. Mr. Dickey was one of the Ottawa cricket team which arrived in the city last Sunday morning to take part in the tournament, and he was one of the most useful men on the team, with a good cricket reputation extending beyond the boundary line His bowling was effective and of a peculiar delivery which often puzzled the batsman. He put up at the hotel with the other members of the team, and on Wednesday afternoon began the bowling against Halifax, after his own team had been put out for 35 runs. He finished the match, but did not again appear on the field.
THE TEAM WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH DICKEY’S WORK, not because he could not play, but because his habits for some days are said to have been such as to unsteady him. On the conclusion of the match the Ottawas decided they would have to play a substitute for him in the contest with Philadelphia. But Captain Little had a disagreeable duty in acquainting a man who was ordinarily such a favorite in the club with the decision, so he put it off and the task was never performed. It was just as well, for next morning when play began be was not on the ground, and Mr. Fleming took his place. He never again left the hotel alive. All Friday and up to noon on Saturday he remained in bed. About one o’clock his uncle Colonel C. J. Stewart, in answering a request, called to see him, and again at 3. in the afternoon. Colonel Stewart’s Interview and his impressions are given in the evidence at the inquest, held soon after. About four o’clock a Mr Thomson, who came here on the new fishery cruiser Curlew, called to see him. The two young men had been acquainted in Toronto, and a pleasant hour was spent. Mr. Dickey did not leave his room Saturday till about six o’clock when he came down to tea; and his appearance caused no remark. Shortly before seven the cricketers began to pack up for their journey homeward and were getting their cricket gear, etc, on the carriage. Charles Panet, who had come from Ottawa with the team to see the matches, called out to him in his room.

“Hurry Up, Dickey,”. The reply came ‘all right, I’ll be with you in ten minutes.’ Before that time a pistol shot was heard, quickly followed by a second report. The story of the discovery of the dying man by Mr. Clark and the hotel porter is told in their evidence before Coroner Hawkins, the inquest beginning at the morgue at 10 o’clock. Drs Jones. Cameron and Black were quickly on hand but nothing could be done to save the life that was rapidly ebbing away. The fatal shot was fired shortly after 7 o’clock, and at 8:45 poor Dickey was dead. Undertaker Snow was summoned by telephone, and Coroner Hawkins ordered an inquest.

WHAT CAUSED THE TERRIBLE ACT will probably forever remain a mystery. He may have been chagrined at remarks made about his conduct and his non-playing, but none are known to have been made to him personally. Regret at the loss of the match by his team coupled with despondency caused by his habits the past few days may have been the cause, but he betrayed no sign which would indicate that this was the case. The fatal pistol belonged to the former occupant of the room, who is now absent from the city. It was left in a drawer in the bureau and was unfortunately noticed by the poor fellow. Mr Coste, who was the only member of the Ottawa team in the city yesterday, thinks the act may have not been premeditated, but that it was either accidental, or a sudden frenzy or momentary fit of insanity caused him to fire the terrible shots. Instances have been known of an inexplicable desire to end one’s life when apparently perfectly sane in all other respects, and for no cause whatever. Mr. Coste thinks the pistol not being his own Dickey may have killed himself accidentally. But whatever the cause the fact is that the weapon was one which Dickey accidentally found in the room. Dickey never recovered consciousness and left no clue as to the cause of his act. The following telegram from Dr W. S Muir, Truro, to Mr. A. B. Sheraton, is self-explanatory and worthy of ample consideration. “Dickey subject to worry and mental depression due to the loss of eyesight and other things for two months I saw him on Friday evening. Not due to alcohol. Expected him here yesterday.”
The young man was a universal favorite, about twenty-five years old. and admired for his warm-hearted disposition by all who knew him. He studied at King’s College and began his cricketing there. For some years he had been engaged in journalism in Toronto and Ottawa, occupying a position at one time on the Empire. He is a son of Senator Dickey, a brother of A B. Dickey. M. P. for Cumberland county, and a nephew of Colonel C. J. Stewart, of Halifax.