KANOWNA’S BARROWMAN

-JAMES BALZANO-

(1859 - 1948) THE EARLY HISTORY OF KALGOORLIE'S GOLDRUSHES

A COLLABORATION BETWEEN GEORGE COMPTON and RON MANNERS

"Our fathers (G. Spencer Compton and Charles B. Manners) both had a great deal to do with James Balzano. Both encouraged him to complete his first-hand observations of the beginning of one of the world's major mining regions."

2015 Address:

Mannwest Group Pty Ltd

Unit 3/31 Hood Street Subiaco W.A. 6008    ^

Tel: +61 8 9382 1288

Email: ron.manners@mannkal.org www.mannwest.com

ISBN 0 85905 176 5 © Mannwest Pty Ltd

Cover design by Susan Ellvey of Designpoint, Perth.

The front    cover    oil    painting    of    James    Balzano, based    on    the P.    Ill    photo,    was

made available for reproduction by Mrs Joan Lyons of Cadoux WA. Mrs Lyons is the daughter of Jack Allen, both good friends of James Balzano at Kanowna. (See P. 12)

Mrs Wendy J Allen, daughter-in-law of Jack Allen completed the painting in 1991.

Hesperian    books    are    available    direct    from the    publisher    but    see    your    local

bookshop first. For a full catalog of Hesperian books on Australiana, natural history, exploration, Aboriginal ethnography, bush verse and gold prospecting please forward a self-addressed stamped envelope to the above address.

"Kanowna's Barrowman" James Balzano, pushed his barrow around the W.A. Goldfields from early 1895, recording the history of the people and events as they happened He then settled in Kanowna where he focussed his pen and prospecting until his death in 1948, aged89.

James Balzano in action on his Kanowna/White Feather lease. Photo taken by M Crofton & Co. of White Feather at 10.52am 11th May 1896.

Balzano's remarkable life is also mentioned in:-"Kalgoorlie - The Golden Years to 1966" By Charles & Nancy Manners.

NOTES

1.    Government policies for inflating the currency have made it difficult to convert the figures quoted, into today's purchasing power. The Australian pound (£) was converted to $2.00 in 1966. The pound consisted of 20 shillings (20/-) of 12 pence (12d) each. The shilling ("bob") was divided into sixpence (6d) and threepence (3d). As a guide, the male average weekly wage in 1912 was £3.

2.    All measurements have been left as Imperial.

One inch    =    25.4 millimetres

One foot (12 inches)    =    304.8 millimetres

One chain    =    66 feet

One yard (36 inches)    =    0.914 metre

One mile (1760 yards)    =    1.609 kilometres

An acre    =    0.405 hectare

One gallon (8 pints)    =    4.546 litres

One pound    =    0.4536 kilogram

One hundredweight (112 pounds) =    50.8023 kilogram

One ton (20 hundredweight)    =    1016.05 kilogram

110°F (Fahrenheit)    =    43.3°C (Celcius)

Gold weighing is still carried out using troy weight.

24 grains    =    1 pennyweight (dwt.)

20 pennyweight    =    1 ounce troy

12 ounces    =    lib troy

1 troy ounce    =    31.1034 grams.

GLOSSARY

to supply prospectors with provisions & equipment, in exchange

grub-stake

Hannans

navvy

Old Camp

phthisis

plat

rising

roll up

slug

stope

tocsin

tribute

waddy

waddied

weight

White Feather winzing

for a profit share.

old name for Kalgoorlie.

labourer, usually employed in excavating.

former term for Coolgardie.

tuberculosis (T.B.) - silicosis.

a staging area for each underground level.

working upwards from a level in a mine.

a meeting of "diggers" called to resolve issues.

a name often given by prospectors to a nugget.

an underground excavation from which ore has been extracted.

a bell used to sound an alarm.

the tributing system operated on the Golden Mile for many years. Companies allowed parties of miners to work privately on certain underground sections. The miners did not receive wages but got the gold they won, after paying the company for materials supplied, cost of treatment and a royalty on gold recovered, a club or fighting stick.

involves an assault with a handy piece of wood.

short for pennyweight, also referred to as dwt, l/20th of 1 troy oz.

original name for Kanowna.

working downwards in a mine.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Notes/Glossary    IV

Illustrations    IX

Part I    Background

"I Remember Balzano" - Introduction by Ron Manners    1

"Barrowman Without Peer" by G. Spencer Compton    5

"Analysing Balzano" by George Compton    9

"My Friend Balzano" by Jack Allen    13

Part II    "Pushing A Wheelbarrow" - Balzano's Writings.    23

Lake Darlot    23

Sixteen Mile Soak    24

Lyons' Grave    25

Wilson's Creek    25

Doyle's Well    26

Robert Craig's Grave    26

Bawden Range    27

Diorite King    27

Mt. Malcolm    29

Bummer Creek    29

Kilkenny Soak    30

Bricky Soak    31

Pendennie    31

Mt. Margaret    34

Lake Carey    34

Red Flag    35

Hawk's Nest    39

Farley's Grave    41

The Jump Up    44

Pykes Gully (Lake Carey)    45

The Eucalyptus    47

Lake Rebecca (Lake Raeside)    47

Yerilla    48

Mt. Catherine    49

Queen Of The Earth Mine    52

Black Gin Rocks    53

Donkey Rocks    54

Wangie Soak    55

Split Rocks    55

A Grotesque Dream    56

Broad Arrow    56

Bardoc    57

Signal Hill    62

The Bardoc Murder    63

Black Flag    65

Kalgoorlie    70

The Discovery Of Kalgoorlie    71

The Discovery Of The Golden Mile    72

Pearce Finds The Great Boulder    73

Who Discovered Kalgoorlie?    75

Kalgoorlie Townsite    85

The Londonderry & Great Boulder Mines    86

Lake Gamballie    87

The I.O.U. (Bulong)    87

Lake Lapage    90

Kumalpi    91

The Discovery Of Kumalpi    93

Jack Ready    96

Mulgabbie    96

"The Wail Of A Dry-Blower" (Poem by H. Galthrop) 97 "Happy Jack" John Simmons    98

Ready's Condenser    99

Ready's Secret Gets Out    100

White Feather (Kanowna)-The Wheelbarrow Rests 101 Part III "Kanowna's Early History" by James Balzano    105

McAuliffe's Reward (White Feather)    105

Topography-Geology-Flora-Main Reef Line    113

Opening Ceremony Of Mine (30/09/95)

- Lunch And Speeches    115

Let On Tribute (1906)    129

Blatchford-Jutson Report (1911)    139

Biographical Sketches -

Jeremiah (Jerry) McAuliffe    141

Olive Campbell/Arthur Anderson    144

Elizabeth Ryder/Robert Thomas    146

The Story Of The Golden Eagle Mine 1893-1941    147

Asher & Party 1938-9    153

The Italian's Party 1939-40    154

Richard Renfrey & Sons 1940-41    154

The Story Of Sailors Gully 1893-1935    154

(William John (Jack) Allen alias "Sailor Jack")

The Death Of "Sailor Jack"    156

Stephen Lorden (The Inventor Of The Dry-blower)    159

The Devil's Nugget Episode    159

The Pitman & Walsh Murders    159

(Coulter, Treffene and Clarke)

The Old White Feather Township 1893-5    164

"New Australia" In Paraguay    164

One Day In Early Kanowna (1894)    165

The Progress Committee (1894)    166

The German Woman (Mrs Kiene) And Annie Mclnnes 167 (The "White Feather Fairy")

Annie's Message To The Pioneer Men    168

The Golden Cement Story    171

Origin of the Golden Cement (Harry P. Woodward 1895) 172 The Blue Spur Golden Cement (N.Z.)    173

George Lawrence's Version/ Maori Bill's Version    175

McManus Versus Stewart    178

Wittenoom's Telegram    18 0

Martin's Battery (Part I)    184

Biographical Sketches -

George Sutherland/Peter MacArthur    193

William Weir (Maori Bill)    193

Benjamin Brandt    196

George Lawrence/Warden Jephson    197

Augustus Roe/John Withnell    199

Death Of James Aubrey Withnell    201

The Murders Of Anketell & Burrup    201

Homig/Post Script    203

The Story Of The Main Reef    205

Captain Bissenberger    205

Nat Harper/Archie Graham    210

Gordon Burnside/William Pollard/William Roberts 215 Samuel Willmott/Alex Roberts    216

James Henderson/Edward Gou rley    217

Sir John Forrest/Sir Arthur Stepney    227

Herbert Hoover    229

The Story Of Bissenberger Gully    233

Hydrothermal Springs    233

Corroboree & Fights    234

Harry Langenbach/Louis Annert/Mark Bunker 235/8 Part IV Goldrush Stories by James Balzano

Lake Darlot Diggings & Prospectors-1895    239

Some Events And Scenes    240

The Roll Up    241

Lake Darlot Visit July 14, 1895    242

The Soak    242

Deaths At Lake Darlot    243

The Funeral Of George Bishop    244

The Funeral Of Robert Elver    245

The Mount Black Rush    245

(The Memorable But Futile Goldrush)

The Rise & Fall Of Woodarra Townsite (Lake Darlot)    249

Mystery Grave Of Henry Petersen    249

The Bicyle Mail    251

J.H.C. Bamlett/Pioneer Cycle Express    253

A Bush Funeral (Kambalda's First Registered Death)    255

Martin Walsh Discovers Water In Coolgardie    255

(His arrest, his death in Central Africa)

Dorham "Dorrie" Longford Doolette    257

("At all times, the two ends, and centre of a good fellow")

Tragic Death Of Sarah Jane Wilson    261

John Joseph Ready (Another Legend) by George Compton    265

Alfred Burgon (Another Mystery) by Ron Manners    271

Kanowna - The Deep Leads 1897-1899 by George Compton 275 Billy Brown's Tree by Jack & Terry Allen    285

Martin's Battery (Part II) by James Balzano    291

Conclusion & Acknowledgements

by George Compton & Ron Manners    299

Appendix I Balzano References    301

Appendix II Bibliography & Recommended Reading    307

Appendix III Martin's Tribute & Battery Crushing Statistics 308 Appendix IV Accidents At Main Reef & Bamlett    315

Appendix V Newspaper Cuttings    363

Index    369

Balzano Painting (particulars on page II) Front Cover

Kanownas "Barrowman" James Balzano(EGHS)

III

Balzano's Passport (C & M)

XI

James Balzano in Action (EGHS)

XI

Camped at North Fremantle, Feb 1885 (Battye)

XII

Roxburgh Mining, NZ (Battye)

XII

Camp near Roxburgh NZ (Battye)

XIII

At Zeehan (Battye)

XIII

At Dunedin NZ (C & M)

XIII

Book Presentation (Frances Steinberg)

XVI

Photo, 1945 (Frances Steinberg)

XVI

Balzano Grave 1992 & 1993 (C & M)

4

Letter from Mrs Evelyne M. Stubbs (EGHS)

8

Miner's Right (C & M)

11

Jack W. Allen (J T Allen)

12

James Balzano at 80 years (C & M)

19

Coolgardie Goldfields Map, 1896 (Mitchell Library)

20

Balzano's Barrow Travels - Map (C & M)

21

Gold obtained by James Balzano (C & M)

22

Tommy Windich, 1874 (Battye)

36

Hawk's Nest, 1902 (Battye)

38

C J Moran MLA (C & M)

38

Camped at the "General Lee" Lease, 1896 (C & M)

69

The Modem Barrowman - Lawrie Wright, 1992 (GMJ)

69

Geological Map - Kanowna 1912 (Geological Survey WA)

104

Jeffers Brothers - Kanowna 1894 (J.P. Jeffers)

107

The Victoria Gold Mine (C & M)

107

Kanowna Main Reef Line 1912 (Geological Survey WA)

108

How to Find Water - 1895 (C &M)

118

Gindalbie -v- Vosperton (C & M)

123

Tom Doyle & Family (Battye)

126

Map from Balzano's notes

151

Kanowna's Street Map & Hotels (C & M)

170

The Kangaroo and it's Origin

182

MrMartin's Battery 1909 (EGHS)

84

PAGE

Alice Hannah Jones Memorial 1911 (Battye)    191

Insane in Church    192

Lodge Master 1922 - 1923 (C & M)    204

Sixty One Dogs Desptached (C & M)    220

"Kanowna Dust is Vile, Kalgoorlie dust is Viler" (C & M) 225 Sir John Forrest 1899/Balzano's Claim 1901 (C & M)    226

Herbert Hoover, Kalgoorlie 1898

(Hoover Presidential Library-Museum)    228

Main Reef Mine, 1926 (C & M)    228

White Feather Main Reef Mine, 1939 (C & M)    236

Page reproduced from Balzano's Diary (C & M)    247

Cycle Mail Stamps (Clyde Maxwell - USA)    252

Death at Red Hill (Kambalda)    254

Bullfinch Bullsters & Bankrupts    259

"She Deserved a Better Fate"    263

Ready's Gravesite    264

Kanowna North Lead Map 1899 (Geological Survey WA) 274 Cobb & Co. Map (C & M)    283

Billy Brown's Tree (EGHS)    284

Mayor J L Martin & Kanowna Councillors (Mrs L James) 290 Balzano's Last Photo (C&M)    297

One Birthday (GMJ)    298

Another Birthday & Sketches by Balzano (Battye)    300

ABBREVIATIONS

C&M    =    Compton & Manners Archives

EGHS    =    Eastern Goldfields Historical Society Inc.

GMJ    Goldfields Mining Journal

Battye    =    Battye Library

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THIS PASSPORT IS NOT IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES AVAILABLE BEYOND FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE OF ITS ISSUE. AFRESH PASSPORT MUST THEN BE OBTAINED.

Bolzano’s Prospecting success was modest, but provided him with an extended world tour in 1913 (See page 14).

Balzano camped for a while at North Fremantle (Feb 1885) on his way

to New Zealand.

Pictured with fellow workers in New Zealand (Nov 1890) Rene Provost, the Manager is on the verandah. "About three yards at the right of the clear spot opposite the chimney stood Balzano's camp, on the slope a little above Treviot Bridge".

BACKGROUND

During July 1890 at Hercules Flat (New Zealand) Balzano read "Stanley's Travels in Africa" and this inspired him to continue his travels.

His first "affair" with a wheelbarrow was on Monday July 21, 1890 at Hercules Flat when he let Joseph Kitto take over his shovel while Balzano started wheeling stones in a barrow which he perfected to suit his purposes.

At this time he went to Roxburgh and borrowed £10 from Mr Goldsworthy, the Bank Manager, and used these funds to build a "better wheelbarrow".

DEDICATION

This book, published for the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Centenary Celebration is dedicated to all diggers and dealers who have kept the flame alive for prospecting, investing and mining for the 100 years 1893 -1993.

"I Remember James Balzano"

by Ron Manners

Forcing my memory back to about seven years of age brings a vision of Sunday morning church, a quick lunch at Mrs Scott's "G.M. Dining Room", and, with my sister Frances, being "dragged" by my parents 12 miles out to Kanowna to "see Mr Balzano".

My initial memories of Mr Balzano was that "there must be more to life than sitting here in this semi-dark shed/house with an old man every Sunday afternoon", but this initial reaction was always submerged by the sense that there was something special about the white-bearded, softly spoken Balzano in whom my father invested so many Sunday afternoons. I clearly recall my father's insistence that Balzano summarise his "boxes full of daily diaries" into narrative form and it was this highly readable, summarised version that was so elusive over the 44 years following JB's death.

When Charles Manners and Alan McEwan, as honorary Executors, guided many of the detailed daily diaries to the Battye Library, they thoughtfully steered the narrative version and other Kalgoorlie Goldfields material in the direction of the Eastern Goldfields Historical Society and its President G. Spencer Compton.

After a protracted search the documents were "rounded up" from several sources in 1991 and 1992 and form the nucleus of this volume. Further input and encouragement from Peter Bridge of Hesperian Press completed our resource base.

My father and Balzano had a common bond with Dr J.S. Battye (after whom the Battye Library was named) through their Masonic Lodge participation and I can also recall my father persuading Dr Battye, a frequent visitor to our home, to spend an extra day during one visit, to travel to Kanowna and become acquainted with "Balzano the historical figure", as distinct from his role as Masonic Lodge Master.

This "new identity" Balzano reinforced the cement in the bond with Battye, and explains why the Battye Library holds the bulk of Balzano material¹ from outside Western Australia.

The self-reliant nature of Balzano was typical of those times, before it became fashionable to seek a Government grant before attempting any

Appendix 1 lists Balzano material included, and not included, in this book. Amongst material not used is a first hand account of the original Red Hill (Kambalda) gold discovery.

challenge. His self-reliance is evident in his use of the word "we" whilst he travelled alone, indicating that he was his own companion.

Balzano never married, even though blessed with the gift of respecting and worshipping certain women,¹ and he also had the warmest empathy with children that I have ever experienced. My sister Frances and I were always looking for objects to take out and "give to Mr Balzano as a present" because we knew we would be affectionately rewarded with a simple story from his colorful past. Balzano's ability to give time to the younger generation flowed from his basic life-style, simply being free of the need to "earn a living" and similar pressures that confronted the other adults with whom we were in contact at that time. James Balzano made a valuable contribution in recording the history of an era where most people were preoccupied with living the events rather than recording them. This was appreciated by Goldfield's historians of that time, and some limited recognition of this was made at the time of his death in 1948. However during the subsequent 44 years, during which time Kalgoorlie has alternated between obscurity and fame, Balzano had himself slipped into oblivion as can be seen by the condition of his gravesite in 1992 (See P.4).

I have asked George Compton to collaborate with me on this "Balzano Project" for several reasons:-

•    We have successfully prospected and explored the Kanowna area together over many years and I know that George has developed a special feeling for Kanowna.

•    We are both keen observers of Goldfields' history and the contribution (both positive and negative) of so many of the colorful characters who have come and gone. Some have given much to the texture of the community, even in a quiet and modest way, as was Balzano's style. Some can be likened to Napoleon, as they came on the scene rapidly, were incredibly successful short term, then departed suddenly and left the area poorer for their efforts.

•    We both have a desire to rescue Balzano from undeserved obscurity.

Suggestions :- :

•    Many local residents have voiced their dissatisfaction at Kalgoorlie's "Town Square" being named after St. Barbara, a figure who may not even have existed, and if she did, was certainly not the Patron Saint of Miners.

"Balzano Square" would be a better name and a way of honoring the most prolific historian of the original gold discoveries.

•    With Kanowna's "1992 rebirth", due to the exploration success of    the

Kanowna Belle Partners (Delta Gold & Peko Gold), it would    be

appropriate to stage an annual "Balzano Memorial Barrow Race" from

Kalgoorlie to Kanowna.

Several writers referred to Balzano's Italian origin, but his Death Certificate (P.306) shows his place of birth as Montevideo - South America, and while his name may sound Italian, what of his given names, Alexander James? Then there is further confusion when we find that his original New Zealand Miners' Right (P. 11) was issued in the name of Anthony Balzano.

Balzano's N.Z. Naturalisation Certificate dated 11/5/1889 is in the name of Anthony James Balzano. This shows his birthplace as Pietrapertosa, in the province of Potenza, in the region of Lucania also called Basilicata (Southern Italy), which has a population of about 2,000 people. It was often stated that Balzano was Australia's first naturalised migrant but a State Archive search of this document does not confirm this belief.

Balzano may be the true International Man because in his story of the Devil's Nugget he speaks of his time as a 15 y.o. youth in Mackinac Island and Mackinaw City, on the northwest end of Lake Huron U.S.A.

So as with many studies of old documents, the search leaves many mysteries unanswered, and we leave it to others to answer the questions of Balzano's beginnings and his family. However one small mystery has already been solved for me. Some 25 years ago my daughter's names were chosen from the old Coolgardie Cemetery headstone of "Sarah Jane Wilson". We have often wondered who this original Sarah Jane was. Now Balzano details the life and sad ending of this lady (P. 261). Perhaps this is my small prize for all this rummaging.

Meanwhile, let's step back in time and travel the early Goldfields with Balzano and his barrow.

R.B. Manners

[Editor's Note :

To assist those interested in W.A. Goldfields History, we have assembled a comprehensive index at the rear of this volume. This index also covers the Appendix IV summary of early mine accidents, and will help readers trace early settlers and visitors to these Goldfields ]

George Compton & Ron Manners at Balzano's Grave 1992 (#10524 Presbyterian Section - Kalgoorlie Cemetery)

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The story, without peer, about wheelbarrow men is that of James Balzano; who fashioned his conception of a barrow (call it “a contraption”) with a tomahawk and thongs, from bush sticks and a little case wood at the far-away Darlot Find, 300 miles east of Cue and 300 miles north of Cool-gardie, in 1895. From 4th August, '95, he wheeled this thing with a wobbling wheel up hill and down dale, across sand patches, over rocky ridges into gullies and along dry creek beds, through thickets and every other difficulty on very meagre rations and less water, from Darlot to an unsatisfying "Rush” at Pendennie ( 1 70 miles) : and on again to a host of other temporary objectives of little worth.

Eucalyptus; to Yerilla, Bardoc and Broad Arrow, places in the goldfields outback. From Broad Arrow to Black Flag; he spent a few days for Christmas, 1895, at Hannans (Kalgoorlie). Then again with the barrow, eastwards this time to Bulong and Taurus, to L. La Page, Kumalpi and finally to White Feather (Kanowna) ; where the hardy barrowman came to rest (for a time) on 18th January, 1896, after 560 miles.

pltiuijenuioltba

r

Two years later he made a better barrow; to push south to L. Lefroy and Red Hill to Widgiemooltha and Norseman; so that he could eventually get to Esperance and enjoy a period of respite at that place of which he had heard so much.

But not enough to push and plod through the long wearying and rough miles; with summer weather to add its greater trials!

Balzano recorded his day-to-day experiences; the stories of each field and find, mine or claim visited; and tales of many of the men encountered; or of those whose graves he passed, with the tale of the tragedy. Balzano was a Barrow-man. But a complete and detailed Historical Recorder. Down the years of the future his recording will be of great value.

"Analysing Balzano"

by George Compton

Balzano's manuscript speaks adequately of the circumstances during the period 4 August 1895 to 18 January 1896... of his journey, but only gives oblique glimpses of Balzano himself. It appears helpful to the reader if comment is provided concerning the general circumstances in the area at that time, and something of what can be perceived of Balzano's personality... as derived from other sources.

The collapse of the Eastern Australian Land Boom in 1891, and the subsequent failure of a great many banks in 1893, had projected into the infant West Australian Goldfields a great number of men with scanty resources who needed to find gold... or perish. The country in which discoveries had been, and were being made, was extremely difficult; sparse supplies of water, generally undeveloped and unprotected in an arid climate, a complete lack of food supplies, rudimentary tracks, and most importantly, quite inadequate resources of alluvial gold. Further, although numerous discoveries had been made of gold contained in bedrock, in the form of leaders, reefs and lodes, at the time of Balzano's journey, few of these potential mines had been capitalised and sufficiently organised to provide wages employment.

Because of the passage of time which has changed the relative values of gold price and currency, it is helpful to note that with wages approximately £150 per annum, and gold at £4.15.0 per ounce, each man needed to acquire some thirty ounces a year if he was to usefully survive.

Balzano's previous experience had made him a competent traveller, bushman and prospector, but lacking the resources which might have provided horses and the capacity for independent travel and independent search, he could only follow in other men's footsteps from discovery to discovery... and gather the crumbs of those discoveries. However, the crux of Balzano's journey seems to lie in the fact that he was forced to build a barrow, and forced to make the journey, if he were to survive. As a "professional", I believe he felt degraded by having made a "bad guess" when he exhausted his capital in paying £80 to move a ton of stores from Coolgardie to Darlot... and failed to obtain a reward of even one grain of gold. I suggest that it was only in later years... when he wrote out his manuscripts... did he realise that "SURVIVAL" is an essential part of the human condition, and in itself is virtuous.

Geoffrey Blainey has commented on that queer aspect of human nature which drives men to surrender whatever security they may possess to go adventuring: and which later permits them to abandon adventure for a very modest level of security. Balzano's life appears to be an example of that pendulum effect: he left some form of secure existence, journeyed to New

Zealand to seek gold, prospected through the Eastern States, and then sought to try his luck in Western Australia. Perhaps his journey to Darlot marked the "end of adventure". At some time during his Barrow Journey, the journey ceased to be "a survival march", and became a mere mode of travel; much of the latter part of his recorded journey seems to have been sparked by curiosity rather than by any desperate need to travel, or any concise hope of reward.

We know too little about Balzano to be able to discern what caused his pendulum-swing, what caused his longing to visit "The White Feather" (Kanowna), and what provided the attraction which led him to spend the rest of his life at that centre, sharing the greater part of its rapid growth, and its gradual decline; a particular person, a particular social group, or a perception of some (unrealised) opportunity?

His manuscripts indicate a man whose reading and experience had given him a knowledgeable and compassionate attitude; he valued the benefits and responsibilities of mateship; he admired coinage, competence and honesty. He seems to have been contemptuous of poses and poseurs. Very much the individualist, and always innately curious, he spent much of his time in his later years in gathering together in his camp at Kanowna (the old Candlehouse of the Main Reef) all the books, papers and plans abandoned as Kanowna disintegrated. In many ways his efforts were in vain: on his death (1948) in the Kalgoorlie District Hospital, the persons who demolished his camp abandoned much of the conscientiously accumulated paper to the four winds, before his appointed Trustees had completed their task of distributing the several tonnes of paper to his nominated recipients.

Sergeant Major Jack W. Allen leading the Wooroloo Anzac Day March past the Wooroloo Station (which no longer exists) to the Hall. Circa

1961.

J. Terry Allen of North Beach WA kindly made available his father's writings which completes our background picture of James Balzano.

Jack Allen himself was typical of the early Goldfields pioneers. Born 1894 in Burnley, Lancashire. He left school at an early age and worked in a quarry - "it was dark when he left home in the morning and dark when he returned".

At the age of 16 he set sail from Tilbury Docks with his father on the S SArmidale arriving at Fremantle in October 1910.

Shortly after arrival, his father was killed, before his mother and brothers sisters had arrived in Australia.

A Gallipoli veteran with periods at Kanowna before and after his further military service in World War II. He developed a close friendship with Kanowna identities, Bill Lennell, James Balzano, Bill Asher and his wife Irene and son Bill, J U Smith and his wife Melita, Jim Scherini, Tom Fitzpatrick and many others.

Before his death in 1964 Jack Allen found time to record carefully and affectionately an outline of some of the lives of those² who were typical of their time and in their lifetime saw the rise and fall of the once vital town of Kanowna.

"My Friend Balzano"

by John (Jack) William Allen (1894-1964)

Jim Balzano was a short, sturdily built man of Italian extraction. Straight forward in all his dealings; kind of heart and generous.

He was bom around 1859, and early in life became something of a 'rolling stone'. For some time he was in New Zealand, afterwards moving to the Eastern States of Australia.

Living and working conditions were tough those days and Jim, like many others in the same humble walk of life, found the struggle for existence very hard at times. When the exciting stories of the wonderful gold discoveries in West Australia became headline news throughout the world, towards the close of the last century, Jim and thousands of other men believed it was a heaven-sent opportunity to gather some of the wealth just waiting to be picked up in the vast auriferous areas of the West, and thus enjoy some of the good things of life that gold could procure for them. Like many other gold seekers from the East, Jim landed at Esperance. On arrival there he immediately commenced to make preparations for his long journey to the Fields.

With bush timber, case wood, odds and ends of wire and old nails he contrived to make a wheelbarrow. Even the wheel was made from old boards and bits of timber. Though the wheelbarrow when finished appeared to be a somewhat shaky job it carried Jim's possessions over more than 400 miles of tough and often times heartbreaking country. Through patches of loose sand plain, across gibber [stone] country and over stony gullies, the wheelbarrow held together, and by Jim's strong muscles and determination moved steadily onwards towards the Eldorado.

Jim's outstanding memory of Esperance was the unwelcome friendliness of the numerous sandflies. They stayed with him many long miles on the track before finally bidding him goodbye. For many days Jim plodded onwards, carefully husbanding his scant supply of tucker and sometimes waiting hours for a slow-making soak to give him a few pints of precious water. Though the going was hard the track was easy to follow. Many had gone ahead of Jim and left evidence of their passing in the form of discarded gear and a well-defined trail.

Sometimes as a long day ended Jim would camp with others who were following the lure of the magic yellow metal, and as they sat around the camp fire many were the stories told of the rich finds being made in many parts of the outback. Though many of the stories were improbable and fantastic they served to keep the listeners excited and eager to push onwards. At last with calloused hands and tired body Jim reached the fields where already many men were digging for gold. Jim joined in the digging and dry-blowing and though his returns were poor his interest never flagged. He followed the crowd to new finds and tried out his luck on many diggings, but without much success.

Finally, in the early 1890's he arrived at Kanowna and there, with the exception of a holiday overseas, he stayed for the remainder of his long life. He watched with pride the growth of Kanowna into a prosperous town of thousands of people. He worked in the Main Reef and other mines and put in many years of work with his dry-blower on the many alluvial runs around the town. For a time too he was employed at the hospital.

His luckiest break was the finding of about 70 ozs of gold in one small area on Red Hill. The gold was embedded in quartz and hard porphyry. The proceeds from that find enabled him to take a trip to Europe. He kept a careful record of the places he visited. The memoiy of that wonderful holiday remained with him always, and gave him a great deal of pleasure to talk about it. His listeners too, found his descriptions of the many sights he had seen, to be of absorbing interest.

Jim was very fond of reading. His books were many and covered a wide range of subjects, from archaeology to pantheism. As time passed, impressed with the rapid growth of Kanowna from a collection of tents and shacks to a prosperous town, he set himself to the task of recording its history. This self-imposed task actually became a labour of love. He delighted in gathering items of information concerning all branches of the town's activities. The names of prominent citizens, and the parts they played in the development of the town were all carefully recorded. How the mines were discovered, and the amount of gold they produced and the names of the owners - all details were entered in his book of words.

He described the commencement of crushing operations on two of the big mines, the Main Reef and The Lady Robinson. That was quite a festive occasion! Both mines started their batteries on the same day, the Main Reef in the morning and The Lady Robinson in the afternoon. Nat Harper and other well-known mining men were present, and to celebrate the "dropping of the stamps" a banquet was held at the Main Reef, and to keep up the good work another feast was partaken in the afternoon, at The Lady Robinson . Many years have passed since those hectic days, and all that now remains are the mullock dumps and the heaps of tailings - the latter gradually being levelled out by old Mother Nature to blend with the surrounding country.

Jim was a starter in the Sacred Nugget rush in the late 1890's, but he did not complete the distance. He battled along on foot for two or three miles and then returned to Kanowna in the company of a twelve year old boy who had gamely set out with the crowd of diggers to peg out a claim - but like Jim had found the going too hard. Jim's happiest recollection of that episode was the delicious drink of cool water he had given to him at the brewery on the left of the Kurnalpi road, on the way to the supposed find.

On one occasion whilst working in a show on Nemesis Hill, Jim had a narrow escape from injury or possible death. A heavy cloud-burst over Kanowna covered the area with flood waters and he just managed to climb out of the shaft a moment before the rushing waters tore out the ladder timbers and caused the sides of the shaft to cave in.

Over the years many discussions (some of them quite heated) have taken place concerning the name White Feather and how the later eventual name of Kanowna came into being. Jim's questing mind brought forth the following accounts.

Shortly after Jerry McAuliffe's discovery of the field, and before it became widely known, a few dry-blowers were at work in a small alluvial gully, running down a very rich leader which later became known as the Gentle Polly. The dry-blowers were doing well and winning quite a lot of gold, when suddenly a dispute arose between two of the men regarding the ownership of a claim. The dispute developed into a fierce quarrel and finally a fight. The fighters were not evenly matched; one was a big man and the other quite small. However after the fight had been in progress for some time the big man admitted defeat and told his small opponent to keep the claim as it was not worth fighting for! Meanwhile the other diggers had gathered around to watch the fight, and one of them, an Irish man named Monaghan called out as the scrap ended. "The big fellow has shown the white feather, we'll call this place "The White Feather" and for some time afterwards Monaghan made it his business to advise newcomers that the name of the field was "The White Feather".

The White Feather continued to attract crowds of diggers as new finds were made at last and to cope with the ever increasing population the Authorities sent a surveyor to mark out a townsite. The surveyor (his name is said to be Anderson) planned quite a big area for the town, and on completion of his work he approached Tom Doyle - a well known and prominent figure - to ask him to suggest a name for the new town.. Before coming to W.A., Tom had spent some time on a sheep run in S. A. The name of the sheep station (as near as can be learnt) was "Canoona" and Tom said he would like the town to be given that name. The surveyor agreed, and said he would submit the proposed name to the proper quarters for consideration and approval. Now Tom Doyle had a rich Irish brogue and his pronunciation of the word "Canoona" sounded to the surveyor to be "Kanowna" and that is how the famous field gained its name.

One of the highlights of Kanowna's history was the discovery of the rich deep leads. Near the leads some fairly large deposits of a kind of clay were found to be carrying gold. This gold-bearing clay became known as the Kanowna Pug. Because of the extremely sticky nature of the pug it was very difficult to extract the gold from it. Many methods were used and many experiments tried but none proved successful.

At last two brothers announced that they had discovered a way of successfully separating the gold from the pug, and that on a certain date, they would give a public demonstration of their method of extraction. This news caused a great deal of interest in Kanowna, and a crowd gathered on the appointed date, at the big water shaft south of Red Hill where the brothers had erected their special treatment plant. The plant consisted of an iron tank into which some pug from the lead had been put. Some so-called chemicals were then tipped into the tank and water from the shaft was added and the whole lot was stirred vigorously, as more water was poured into the tank to wash the dissolved mud away, more of the secret chemical mixture was carefully added.

When the washing-off process was finished the brothers collected the residue at the bottom of the tank, in a dish, and then in front of the interested onlookers proceeded with the panning off. The amount of gold recovered from such a comparatively small amount of pug astounded the spectators. The brothers then stated that having proved the success of their method of treatment they intended to form a Company so that a suitable plant could be erected to cany out extraction on a big scale.

Quite a number of the town's business people hastened to buy shares, and the brothers had a busy time collecting money from would-be shareholders in the new Company. Finally the brothers explained that they would have to leave Kanowna for a day of two to purchase stocks of chemicals they required for their secret process, and Jim sadly shaking his head as he finished his story, said, "the brothers never came to Kanowna again".

Long years have passed since the brothers disappeared with their ill-gotten gains, but traces of the pug can still be seen near the old water shaft where the shrewdly worked swindle was carried out. Even during the past 30 years or so the Kanowna Pug has been a source of profit for others involved in unscrupulous Company promotions.

Jim often talked about the rich Golden Cements; on one occasion a dray load of pay dirt from the Cements was tipped at the battery, and the owner L. Martin, who was standing nearby picked up a 4 oz slug which had rolled down to his feet as the dray was tipped. A prospector (known as Maori Bill) working the Cements, got such a rich return from a single bucket of dirt that he was able to enjoy a long holiday.

The latter part of the 90's and the first few years of the new century saw the peak of the boom times for Kanowna, and then the decline rapidly set in. Many of the mines had been worked out and most of the prospectors shows and rich alluvial runs had been cleaned out. And so, many of the diggers set out in search of new fields. Inexorably the years passed by and Kanwona's reign of glory was over. A few prospectors with wives and families battled along for a while, and the old-timers, too frail to seek new fields, fossicked over the old dumps and spent many hours yarning with each other about the "good old days".

Jim battled along, doing a bit of diy-blowing and fossicking and occasionally working for wages, but always on the alert to seek fresh items for his records. When the Main Reef mine closed, Jim bought the old change room, and converted it into a camp which became his home for the rest of his life. The new camp was quite a big one, and Jim was delighted to have plenty of room for his beloved books and his ever increasing files of records.

Time passed pleasantly for old Jim, he had his congenial self-appointed task on hand all the time, his many Kalgoorlie friends paid him frequent visits, and he would always attend the little socials and parties that were held locally. On one occasion when a party was held at the solitary surviving hotel to farewell a popular school teacher who was being transferred, Jim joined joyfully in the proceedings and helped considerably in making the party a success. The party ended close to daybreak as the tired, happy revellers departed in ones and twos for their respective camps, Jim stood on the doorstep of the hotel for a long time watching the guests leave. He wore an old fashioned overcoat trimmed with many capes, and an ancient flat, broad brimmed hat. His beard, which he had been growing for more than 60 years was luxuriant and impressive and in his right hand he held a sturdy walking stick. Standing there as the first glimmer of dawn showed in the eastern sky, he resembled a figure from the last distant past returned to life again.

A few days after the party, a friend calling on Jim, asked him if he had enjoyed the festive night. Jim said he had found it most enjoyable, and then he went on to say that he had been to many, many parties in Kanowna, but the last one was the only one he had known that did not end in a free fight! He admitted that he had lingered on the doorstep of the hotel at the conclusion of the party expecting it to culminate in the same "free for all" as the others he had seen!!

A prospector who had spent a weekend in Kalgoorlie with some friends, was about to set out on his return to Kanowna, when the lady of the house gave him a beautiful big fruit salad to take home for his lunch. It was a very hot morning, the salad was carefully packed in ice and covered with plenty of damp cloths. On arrival at the camp the salad was quite cold and fresh with most of the ice still intact around it. Wishing to share the delicacy with his friend Jim, the prospector put a goodly portion of the salad into a dish, covered it with the remainder of the ice and damp cloths and hurried down with it to Jim's camp, a half mile or so distant. With many thanks Jim accepted his gift and said he would immediately make some milk hot to pour over it! Leaving Jim stoking the fire to prepare the hot milk, the prospector returned to his camp sorrowfully pondering over an icy cold fruit salad being subjected to the indignity of having hot milk poured over it on a day when the shade temperature was 110 degrees! !⁴

When war broke out to ravage the world in 1939, little remained of the once fine town of Kanowna. Only one hotel, school, hall, store, post office, and a few houses and camps. The younger men gradually drifted away to enlist, then the school was closed, the post office (where seven people were once busily employed) was dismantled, and the materials used in the construction of buildings at the Parkeston Staging Camp.

The ranks of the old-timers thinned out, but Jim diligently carried on with his work, in the course of which he used many bottles of ink and much writing paper, but persisting always in the search for items to add to his precious records. A year or two after the ending of the war Jim laid down his pen to go to hospital in Kalgoorlie and then at the age of 89, happy in the belief of a job well done, he died.

Jim Balzano has passed on, as all men must pass on, but to those who had the privilege of knowing him, a memory always will remain of an honest and lovable old man; searchers seeking data for Goldfields history will surely profit by delving through Jim's painstaking life story of Kanowna, the Golden Town!

"Pushing A Wheelbarrow"

Balzano's Journey 4 August 1895 - 18 January 1896

(From Darlot, Red Flag, Pendennie, Bardoc, Kalgoorlie, Bulong, Kurnalpi, Mulgabbie - Kanowna)

Dear "Non Com" ³

Of later years, there has been in Australia some wheelbarrow pushing. There was one in Victoria, another in Queensland and another between the Boulder City and Kalgoorlie, and recently another from the Eastern States.

All these were done for prize and applause. The wheelbarrows used by these fellows, I presume were made of selected timbers built by carpenters. Moreover they pushed it upon formed roads. Now according to my humble opinion the names and puerile performance of these cheap heroes are no more worth handing down to posterity than the swaddle in which they were wrapped in while they were suckling mites.

As far as my poor reading goes the greatest wheelbarrow pushing hero was "Blondin". Fame records him having pushed a wheelbarrow on a tight rope across Niagara Falls, carrying a woman on it as a passenger. It is also said that this man offered to give the Prince of Wales a piggyback on the same rope (of course not the same one who acted the part of Mark Antony by stepping down from his duty to follow a modern Cleopatra). The genuine Prince who became King afterwards and suggested that England and France should be more friendly.

Even I in the unalterable early days of the Eastern Goldfields pushed a wheelbarrow. Not for a stunt nor for a prize and applause. Purely from a stem necessity.

It so happened in the year 1895 having found myself stranded at the Lake Darlot rush wherein my efforts to locate an ounce or two of gold proved unsuccessful.

My provisions which I had taken with me from Coolgardie on camels at a rate of £80 per ton was getting fast depleted and no prospect of obtaining a further supply, unless I struck a little gold very soon.

Typhoid Fever was fairly in evidence at Darlot, and after having attended two funerals in one day I thought I might get a bout of fever myself if I stayed much longer.

I decided to go to the Pendennie Rush. A distance of 170 miles and there were no other ways to carry my outfit, but to make a wheelbarrow. I had no tools, save a tomahawk, and no idea how to make one. However I fashioned a grotesque wobbling thing, in about three days. I made the wheel out of meat cases. All the other parts were of Mulga wood. For want of a chisel I could not mortice the cross pieces, hence causing the barrow to wobble very much.

1 will now relate how I progressed each day till I reached White Feather.

The narration will be devoid of rhetoric as I am writing with the same frame of mind as when 1 pushed the barrow 45 years ago. I make no excuse for any syllogism and discrepancy in measurement as I was not furnished with a tape line, foot rule and aneroid.

16 Mile Soak

Sunday August 4, 1895 Passed a cold night. Got up at 7.00am. Cold morning and fairly warm day. Breakfast at 8.00am:- porridge, damper, jam and a mug of cocoa. After breakfast I piled up my outfit on the wheelbarrow which consisted of the following things:- the tent, blankets, provisions, pick and shovel, sieve, two prospecting dishes, two waterbags, and the shaker. Amongst the many sundries are four books, namely:- Shakespeare's plays and sonnets, Lord Byron, and Sir Walter Scott's poetical works, and Thomas Paine's theological works. This done I then went to say goodbye to George Reilly of Bendigo. Paid the shilling which I owed him then presented him with a tin opener.

At 10.05am I started for Pendennie which is 170 miles from Lake Darlot. I found the load intolerably heavy, so after travelling about three miles I plunged the shaker in the bush, even then the load was still heavy. A little further on I noticed that I was walking on a trail of sugar. It was rather too late when I discovered that the wheel had tom a hole in the tucker bag and I had lost most of the scanty quantity I possessed.

I must strive to reach the soak before nightfall and camp with the party of men, with two horses and a cart going to the Pendennie Rush namely:- Jack McTamaray, Samuel Keenan, James Bell, Thomas Malcolm Carmichael and Rowland Anderson.

Arrived at the soak at 7.05pm which is 16 miles from Lake Darlot. At 7.35pm I ate some damper, a bit tin mutton, a bit onion and cocoa. I chatted with the men by the fire till 9.00pm, then I laid to sleep at 9.05pm. It is glorious moonlight and calm. Felt very tired.

P.S. The country I passed through today is flat with poor soil and dwarf Mulga. The 16 Mile Soak is situated in a sandy watercourse about five chains wide. It has nearly a dozen holes, each with a few inches of water. There are a lot of Cork trees growing here. Some of them are about 20 feet high. Grevillea is the botanical name.

23 Miles From Lake Darlot

August 5, 1985 I passed a good warm night on the Cork tree leaves bed, although it froze a little, I felt not cold. I got up at 6.35am. Chilly morning and pretty warm day. Breakfast at 7.15am; porridge, damper, jam and cocoa.

Lyons' Grave

On leaving the 16 Mile Soak this afternoon (August 5th) I noticed a grave. It is situated about four chains west of the watercourse. The grave is surrounded with Mulga saplings in the form of a stockade, over four feet high. About six feet away at the eastern side stands a high Mulga. At the head of the mound, stands a Mulga sticks cross with a piece of box nailed on it and inscribed:

R.I.P. In loving memory of our dear brother W.J. Lyons who died May 8, 1895 aged 28 years.

P.S. I heard George Reilly say that the Lyons were three brothers. The day they buried him, while one sewed the body in a blanket the other dug the grave.On account that Carmichael could not find his horse till about 1.30pm we made a late start. I started at 2.15pm. They passed me on the track. Reached where they camped at 6.00pm. Did a little repairing to the barrow and laid down at 9.00pm. Lovely moonlight night, calm. Dinner 12.00pm; damper, boiled tinned mutton and cocoa. Supper 6.50pm; porridge, a bit cheese and cocoa. Did a little writing by moonlight. We crossed a little dry creek several times. The country we passed is alluvial and chiefly Mulga bush. A man joined us at the soak this morning. He is carrying a light swag and a sieve going to Pendennie. He is cockney and a cobbler by trade. Is named Tom Bentley.

Wilson's Creek

August 6, 1895 Passed a sleepless night. Yesterday morning while mending the wheelbarrow I struck a blow on the thumb nail of my left hand. It festered and caused a terrible pain. At 3 o'clock this morning I lit the candle and scraped the nail with the knife. It burst out, a good deal of matter flowed out and I had little sleep afterwards. I arose at 6.35am. Chilly morning and warm day, cold last night.

Started at 8.40am and camped at 5.50pm on the Wilson Creek about 300 yards from Robert Craig's grave and about 20 yards from the track. We are now 40 miles from Lake Darlot. I passed about two miles of sand and Spinifex and found it a bit hard pushing the wheelbarrow. Passed some quaint basins (with Gum trees) about 15ft to 20ft deep from level to level and eastward I saw a table mountain. Made my bed of Mulga leaves. Done a little writing by firelight and retired at 8.15pm. Breakfast 7.15am; porridge, damper, syrup and cocoa. Dinner 1.00pm; damper, boiled mutton and cocoa. Supper 7.00pm; rice, damper, bit beef sausages and cocoa. I finished my water at dinnertime. Carmichael gave me some.

Camped 7 Miles From Doyle's Well

August 7, 1895 I passed a warm night, chilly morning and warm day. After breakfast Samuel Keenan, Carmichael's mate went out to look for water as we intended to steer eastward for Pendennie. He returned at 9.30am. He said, "no water". We resolved to go by Doyle's Well.

We started at 9.40am. We had not a drop of water left. We had had a little this morning. We travelled over 12 miles before we came to a soak in Wilson's Creek. We reached it at 2.35pm. Pushing the wheelbarrow I got very thirsty and I drank like a horse. I had dinner at 3.00pm and I drank a billy full of cocoa viz. two quart. While we were having dinner, three men arrived with a handcart. Just then three stray horses came to the soak to have a drink. They caught one and attached it to the handcart and off they went. They were going to Coolgardie. Two of the men were named Jack and Archie.

We started again at 4.40pm. We travelled four miles or thereabouts. Camped at 6.10pm, about seven miles from Doyle's Well. We travelled about 16 miles today. We are 56 miles from Lake Darlot. We made a big fire. I baked a damper from 8.10pm to 9.00pm, used about 41bs flour. Retired at 9.15pm. Beautiful moonlight night. Did a little writing by moonlight. At 7.20am; porridge, damper, syrup and cocoa. At 3.00pm; damper, beef sausages and cocoa. At 7.10pm; rice, damper, cheese and cocoa.

Robert Craig's Grave

This morning while Samuel Keenan was looking for water I revisited Robert Craig's grave which I had seen before. It is located in a little flat surrounded with Salt bush, about 200 yards from the Main Creek and about 50 yards from the small creek. The grave is fenced in. It has four comer posts and 12 rails about two feet apart, all of Flood gum. The mound is indeed neatly done up. It is surrounded with 26 lumps of glassy quartz. A little board is nailed on a post, about three feet high at the head of the grave, inscribed;

Robert Craig aged 25 years died May 20, 1895

P.S. Wilson's Creek has a quaint and pleasant scenery to behold, on its banks flourished Flood gums in line, as if planted by the hand of man. Its geology is very interesting. There are iron and quartz blows and cliffs. Wilson's Creek is indeed a beautiful creek. Among the Mulga I saw Sandalwood, Quondongs and leafy Kurrajongs.

Bawden Range

August 8, 1895 I passed a pretty warm night. I got up at 7.00am. Slightly chilly morning and pretty warm day. Breakfast 7.30am; porridge, damper, syrup and cocoa.

We started travelling at 8.20am. We arrived at Doyle's Well 11.55am. It is also known as Cutmore's Well. It is situated in an open pleasant grassy plain, about two miles from the Bawden Range. Roughly about 64 miles from Lake Darlot and 236 miles from Coolgardie.

The well is 70 feet deep and has three feet of water, good sweet water. The scale of charge is as follows; camel 1/6 per drink, horse and bullock 9d per drink, horse 5/ per week, sheep 2/6 per score, carting 5/ per 100 gallons, travellers Id per gallon. There is a woman here, a Mrs Howie. She lives in a tent about a chain from the Well. She has two little children. I could not discern at a distance whether they are boys or girls. I bought two gallons water, paid 2d. We had dinner here 12.45pm. I ate porridge, damper, syrup and cocoa. After dinner we travelled about two miles and camped at 3.15pm, about four miles (or so) from Bawden Range and two miles from Doyle's Well. Supper 5.30pm; porridge, damper, bit cheese and cocoa.

P.S. A mile or so after leaving Doyle's Well we passed a kind of hill extending north and south. Formed of iron blow and slate, and a lot of little green trees and plenty flowers. It made a beautiful scene. The country about here is flat with Mulga and Sandalwood.

Diorite King

August 9, 1895 I passed a fairly warm night. I got up at 7.05am. Slightly chilly morning and warm day. 36 years ago today, I first breathed this mundane air. For my birthday gift I got a good gruelling. The barrow wobbled most viciously today. The axle dropped off the wheel at 2.00pm. Took me 35 minutes to put it on.

I started at 9.20am and the track on both sides of the Bawden Range for nearly nine miles is the worst IVe ever encountered so far and the sudden jerks caused pains in the joints of my elbows. The track is very strong indeed.

At 3.45pm I started to cross the Bawden Ranges. Got over at 5.00pm. There are two men named Robin and Stanton. I presume the lease they are working is called the Diorite King. The man at the windlass said that the shaft is 99 feet deep and the gold is looking well. He picked up two pieces of rock mixed with quartz and diorite and showed me the gold. This he said came out of the reef at 90 feet deep.

After this the track has been a little better. I walked at a smart pace. At 6.05pm when the shades of night were falling fast around me I came to two dray tracks, one leading south, the other east. I was puzzled which was the right one. I followed the latter. At 6.35pm I reached the party's camp. None of them said a word. At last Jack McTamaray said "you had a rough road today". I said "yes". I boiled a little rice. After supper I made my bed of Mulga leaves. Did a little writing by firelight and retired at 8.05pm. I travelled over 15 miles today. I am now two miles or so from the Diorite King and 83 miles from Lake Darlot. I like the country I passed through today. If I had provisions I would do a lot prospecting. I am eating now very sparingly. My provision is getting to the end of its tether. I have only 5/8^ left and that will not buy much provision. Somewhat through a sudden jerk one of my waterbags burst today and I lost much water. It annoyed me very much.

Bawden Range Soak

August 10, 1895 I passed a fairly warm night. Got up 6.35am. A bit chilly, windy and warm day. After breakfast I made some wedges for the wheelbarrow.

The party started at 8.15am and I at 8.30am. I overtook them at about 9.00am. At 9.40am we crossed a beautiful creek like the Wilson Creek. Lovely scenery and plenty of Flood gums, a good indicator for gold about here. At 12.00pm we halted in a small creek. We had dinner at 12.30pm, seven or eight miles from the last camp.

We started again at 1.30pm. After travelling about 500 or 600 yards Tom Carmichael picked up a nice specimen showing a good bit of gold. I stayed behind for a while specking, found nothing. I wished I had a fair supply of tucker. I would like to do some prospecting about here. At 3.15pm we crossed the Bawden Range again. From whose summit we saw a track leading northward. The range seems to run north and south a little. At 3.50pm we came to a soak about three feet deep, dug by the hand of man, lying in a shady and sandy place. Here we camped. It is about 13 or 14 miles from the last camp. Immediately set to work mending the awful barrow. She is giving me a terrible time. Partook of the evening meal. Baked a little damper; 3lbs flour.

Did a little scribbling by firelight. At 8.30pm laid down to rest on a bed of Mulga boughs.

P.S. At 7.15am; porridge, a bit damper, syrup and tea. Dinner 12.30pm; a bit damper, sausage and cocoa. Supper 6.30pm; rice, bit damper, bit cheese and cocoa. The country we passed through is a real good country for prospecting for gold. It has plenty Mulga, Sandalwood and Quondongs and other trees and bushes.

Six Miles West Of Mt. Malcolm

Sunday August 11, 1895 I passed a pretty cold night. A strong wind blew all night. I got up at 6.40am. Chilly morning and warm day.

We started at 8.15am. After travelling three and a half miles we came to the main road from which we branched off yesterday. Here I noticed written upon the ground; Water 3 1/2 miles. With an arrow pointing to it. At 10.10am we crossed Station Creek five miles from our last camp. It is a large and beautiful creek about two chains wide. Its banks about six feet high. At 11.25am we passed at the right hand of the road a beautiful table blow. At 12.15pm we had dinner. At 4.30pm we came to a little creek with a good water hole. We camped here for the night. It is about six miles west of Mount Malcolm and about a 114 miles from Lake Darlot. The country we passed through today is good for prospecting. I saw a lot Sandalwood, Quondongs and poor Mulga and scrubs. The soil is poor. The water hole on which we are camping is about one chain long and about two yards wide and about one foot deep.

Six Miles West Of Mt. Malcolm - August 12, 1895 I passed a cold night. I got up at 6.30am. I was the first to get up. I lit the fire. Cold morning and warm day. After breakfast Tom Carmichael and the rest of the party decided to halt all day and do a little prospecting. Jack McTamaray and I went out together westward of the camp. When we got a good way out we parted. I went out over three miles prospecting found nothing. Although the country looked very promising. I got back at 12.05pm. None of the party specked anything. I laid down to have a rest and finished to read Sir Walter Scott's "Lady of the Lake". I baked a little damper; 3lbs of flour. Carmichael gave me about 21bs oatmeal this morning. I am eating as little as possible now. If I do not get some gold at Pendennie I shall eat very much less. I washed a pair socks and a handkerchief. At 7.30am; porridge, damper, syrup and cocoa. At 12.30pm a little porridge, a bit damper, boiled beef and cocoa.

Camped East Bummer Creek

August 13, 1895 I passed a pretty cold night. Got up at 6.30am. Chilly morning and warm day.

We started at 8.00am. At 10.00am I reached Mt. Malcolm. The track lead on northern side of the Mount. Left the wheelbarrow and climbed to the very top of the Mount. Got there at 10.10am from which I obtained a splendid prospect of the surrounding country. I think this Mount is 300 feet high, over two miles circumference at the base. The top is flat (with a cairn) about a mile around. If I am correct Sir John Forrest named this Mt. after Sir Malcolm Fraser. It is situated about 120 miles from Lake Darlot and 10 miles east of Mount Leonora. Quartz and iron are its principal rocks. Mulga, Sandalwood, Quondongs and scrubs abound about it. At 1,45pm I crossed Bummer Creek. It is about five yards wide. Whose banks are about five feet high and whose bed covered with sands. At 5.30pm we camped on the northern side of a hill about 131 miles from Lake Darlot. The country we traversed today is a bit hilly in place, soil pretty poor, vegetation - Mulga, Sandalwood and Quondongs, Salt bush and other scrubs. At 7.30am; porridge, a bit damper, syrup and cocoa. At 2.55pm; damper, a bit of tinned boiled beef and cocoa. At 6.15pm; rice, damper, syrup and cocoa. Scribbled by firelight. Retired 7.15pm.

Kilkenny Soak

August 14,1895 I passed a pretty cold night. A strong and cold wind blew all night. I got up at 6.35am. Cold morning and warm day.

We started at 8.00am. About one mile after leaving the camp, we began to go across a watershed dipping south. At 9.45am we came to a creek and also to the Frenchy Soak. They were both dry. Then we steered due north. After travelling over two miles we noticed that we had lost our way. We turned back at 10.00am and picked the right track. We halted for dinner at 12.15pm and started again at 1.50pm. We travelled hard to get to the water. At 5.00pm we thought that we had passed the water. At same time we noticed a cart wheel track and blackfellow's footprints leading due west. We decided to ¹ follow it. At same time McTamaray, Rowley and Keenan walked ahead at a quick pace to explore. At 5.30pm we met our three men coming back with the news, that they had found two prospectors with two black gins and were informed that the water was three miles from where we had turned off, so we turned back and reached the Kilkenny Soak at 7.20pm which is situated about 148 miles from Lake Darlot. The Kilkenny Soak lies in a sandy creek, pretty well flat ground all around it. There are three or four holes, from four to five feet deep with a little water in them. We travelled over 17 miles today. All good looking country for prospecting. We passed today vegetation - Mulga, Sandalwood, Quondongs, Cotton and Salt bushes, a few Orange trees (not the real ones), some Kurrajong trees. The most stately one was standing by the track and being about 25 feet high and it is the most glorious beautiful and noble one I ever seen. Its beautifirl leafy branches, they out spread from the main trunk and gracefully droop. It was getting dark and I could not take much notice of it. I have had a very trying day pushing the wheelbarrow over rocky hills and sandy plains. At 7.15am; porridge, damper, syrup and tea. At 12.15pm; damper, bit boiled beef and cocoa. At 8.05pm; rice, bit damper, syrup and cocoa. It is over 34 miles since left the last water. Too tired tonight to make a bed, only a bag under me to sleep on.

Bricky Soak

August 15, 1895 I passed a middling warm night. I got up at 6.50am. Chilly morning and warm day. We could not start early today as Carmichael had to fill his tank as the Kilkenny is making water very slowly. When I got up this morning I noticed a party of three men were camped by the soak. At 7.30am or a little after, three black gins (and one buck) arrived. The gins accosted one of the party and he led one of them in the bush. Probably he gave her a piece of damper. This action inspired one of our own crowd named Tom Bentley, better known the "Snob", he too led another one in the bush. When he came back we chaffed him about his action. He said the promenade was as good to me as a feed of cabbage. I gave her only a three penny bit.

We started at 12.50pm and travelled only eight miles. We camped at the Bricky Soak at 5.10pm. This so called soak lies in a watercourse, running north and south. There are several holes sunk to a depth of five to six feet with not a drop of water in any of them. There are six big Cork trees here. One of them is over 20 high. The trunk is over one diameter. At the northern side is a stripped patch of bark on it is imprinted an "Arrow", under is marked B.82. I had a fairly good road today for the barrow. Mostly level country with dry creeks, good horse feed. Passed some hills at the left. Passed Mulga, Kurrajongs, Sandalwood and scrubs. Everytime I had a spell this afternoon I read a stanza or two of Sir Walter Scott's Lady of the Lake. We are about 156 miles from Lake Darlot and about 14 miles from Pendennie. This evening I baked four little Johnny cakes of my last half pound of flour. At 7.45pm I laid down to rest on a Mulga leaf bed.

P.S. At 7.30am some soup made of dry vegetables, a bit damper, syrup and teas. 12.10pm; rice, damper, mutton and cocoa. At 6.15pm; porridge, a bit damper, a bit boiled mutton (tinned) and cocoa.

The Bricky Soak named after Bill Ebsary and Bob Horetop, two bricklayers.

Pendennie

August 16, 1895 I passed a fairly warm night. Got up at 6.45am. Chilly morning and warm day.

I started before the party (8.00am) and travelled very hard. Save from 1.00pm to 1.45pm for dinner. Arrived to Pendennie 4.45pm. I think I travelled over 15 miles today, that makes over 170 miles from Lake Darlot. It has taken me 13 days to span that distance. After leaving Bricky Soak the road led over a great deal of granite country. About seven miles from Pendennie the road runs along a chain of cliffs extending about east and west and are honeycombed with caves and they make a beautitul sight. Scraggy pines and Mulga and scrubs abound in the cliffs. About five miles this side of Bricky Soak I passed two gnamma holes in granite rocks, one them is about six or seven feet deep about 10 feet across and about 15 feet around. The other one is about three feet deep and about 10 feet around. The country I passed through today is slightly hilly and poor of horse feed (poor soil). I passed Sandalwood, Quondongs, Mulga, Kurrajongs, Salt bush and other scrubs. This is the provision which still I have with me; about four oz of sugar, about five oz tea, two tins meat, about two oz syrup, about two oz cocoa, one tin Nestles milk, two cakes of compressed vegetable (these are veiy flavourless, made by Swallow and Ariel), lib rice and 5/8^ cash.

Here I pitched my tent. I went to the only storekeeper here. He has his goods in a tent. He is French Switzer and a real Jew. I asked him to sell me 21bs of oatmeal as I cannot afford to buy a full bag. He let me have a burst bag for 2/6. It has about 41bs meal. He gave me half gallon (gratis) water. He is the only one who has flour on this field. He has 10 bags of lOOlbs each. He declined to sell it by the lb. He says if there is a rush to the Hawk's Nest he will get £3 per 501bs or £6.per 100 lb bag. However I got 21bs flour for two shillings. He said was only obliging me at that price. The old fellow has not a pair of scale but he measured the flour in pannikin. He said his pannikin hold just a lb but through the largeness of his heart he allowed me a couple of spoonful flour over the 21bs....

The party with horses and cart did not overtake me today. At 7.15am; a bit damper, a boiled mutton and tea. At 1.00pm; a bit Johnny cake and cocoa. At 6.40pm; ditto...

Pendennie - August 20, 1895 I do not know how this place was named Pendennie, probably it was named from Pendennis the hero of Thackeray's novel or else after the Pendennis Castle at Falmouth, England. Anyhow it was discovered by a party of five men about the middle of last month or thereabouts whom it is said they applied for a reward claim and got 10 men's ground. It is said three of the prospectors are named R. Woods and a M. Slater or Slattery, another named Lindsay. I am not certain of these names. The ground consists of one main gully. It runs about north and south. Roughly the top end is about 139 yards wide. The bottom end about a 150 yards wide, about half a mile long. Its bottom is cement. Very little gold has been found outside the prospectors' claims. At the east side of the gully is a high iron blow. From its top Mt. Margaret can be seen. There are a lot Kurrajongs about Pendennie. There is here also a fair mob of blacks. The poor creatures are hungry and the gins are offering their sable bodies for what they can get. The only dress they wear is castoff dirty shirts barely reaching below the navel. Some base white

32

lotharios have initiated in the vile trade, a very young girl. She wears a dirty tattered coat down to her ankles. Most of them are still naked.

I met Tom Carmichael and he told me that Jack McTamaray has gone to the Hawk's Nest Rush. I have decided to try my luck on that field myself. It is 35 miles from here. I only found about four grains of gold since I've been here and I have now only four penny left and there is little prospect of me getting a few Dwts gold. There are still about 100 men, whereas last month there were between 500 to 600 men. The water here is the same price as at Lake Darlot, 4d a gallon. I am told that the Pendennie Soak is eight miles south of the field.

Camped Near Lake Carey

August 21,1895 I passed a pretty cold night. Got up 6.30am. Chilly morning and warm day. As soon as I woke up I went to see Jack... who promised me a little flour yesterday. He was just partaking of his breakfast. He said the flour is inside the tent, help yourself. I said how much shall I take? As much as you want he said. I took 3 or 41bs. I said I might do such for you some day. He climbed on a big Mulga tree and he indicated to me the direction to Mount Margaret. He also gave me about three pints of water. At 7.05am I ate a bit porridge, 2 or 3ozs damper, a little syrup and tea. Kneaded the flour, baked the damper from 8.45am to 9.30am. Meanwhile I repaired the wheelbarrow.

At 10.55am I started for Mount Margaret, 25 miles from Pendennie. After travelling about two miles west on the same road which I came from Lake Darlot, I then steered due north through the thick bushes. I got my hands scratched and the flies flocked on them like a swarm of bees. Been a warm day. They picked at my eyes. At 12.15pm I had a bite to eat; a bit damper, syrup and tea.

Started again at 12.55pm. After sunset at 5.30pm I struck the road and camped. I think I have travelled about 13 miles today. I have had a terrible day through the thick bush, the heat and the flies worried me very much. Above this the thirst to added to my discomfort. I left Pendennie with about three pints of water. I lit the fire, made by bed under a Mulga tree with some Mulga boughs. At 6.45pm I ate a bit damper, bit onion, bit tinned beef sausage and about three tablespoonfuls of water. I am very thirsty. I have only a little drop left for the morning. When I left Pendennie this morning, I had the damper (baked this morning) about 21bs oatmeal, one tin meat, four onions (not lbs) a little syrup, a bit sugar and tea, and about three pints water. The country I passed through today is level with thick bush, Mulga, Kurrajongs, Quondongs, Sandalwood and other bush (scrubs). Done a little scribbling by firelight, retired at 8.30pm.

Mount Margaret

August 22, 1895 Passed a fairly warm night, but tormented by the thirst all night. My tongue got so dry it seemed to me like I had a piece of wood in my mouth. Craving for water it kept me awake all night. Had a little sleep towards morning. I got up at 6.40am. Chilly morning and warm day. At 7.15am I ate a little damper with syrup and drank last drop of water, about two tablespoonful.

At 7.35am started travelling as fast as I could. At 8.30am I began to cross some arms of Lake Carey. At this stage the perspiration was so great that I felt like I had water in my boots. At 9.10am I reached an Afghan camp, there were four of them with 17 camels. They were just starting to load the goods for Mount Margaret. I asked for a drink of water. They pointed out a little bucket. I drank like a horse. I think fully five pints. Meanwhile I felt a little ill so I sat down for a little while they filled my four pints billy can and I thanked the Afghans and walked on. At 10.15am I met two men on horse back. I had a talk with them. They said that a pool of water is a quarter of mile ahead and they also put me on the short road to Mount Margaret. At 10.25am I reached the Cement Creek with a beautiful pool of fresh water about three chains long and about 15 feet wide, depth unknown. Here I had another drink and filled my two waterbags. Had another drink. Had chat with a chap.

Started again at 12.00pm. At 12.20pm had lunch, damper, bit beef sausage and tea.

Started again at 1.15pm on the newly surveyed road. From 2.41pm to 3.30pm I crossed the northern part of Lake Carey. At about 3.45pm I came to a very steep piece of the road. They call it the "Jump Up". I had to muster all my strength to push my barrow to the top. I reached the Mt. Margaret Reward Mine at 4.30pm and immediately I interviewed the manager "Captain J.J. Paul". I explained to him my hard luck. I said, "If you will be kind enough to let me have some tucker I will work for it." He said, "Alright old man, you shall have it. We might be all like you some day." I thanked Mr Paul. I pitched my tent, lit the fire, had supper at 7.00pm; porridge, damper, bit beef sausage and tea. Made my bed of Mulga boughs and retired at 9.15pm. I travelled 12 miles today or perhaps more. The Cement Creek is seven miles from the mine by the surveyed road.

P.S. As I am writing 45 years after the event related above, I may state that the Mt. Margaret Reward Battery was started on Monday September 21, 1896 as soon as the engineer Mr McKay set the machinery in motion. Mrs Paul cracked a bottle of wine on the flywheel. Both residents and the employees of the company, by invitation of Mr Paul were present. See the Coolgardie Courier of October 10. 1896.

Mt Margaret - August 31,1895 From August 23 to August 31, that is today, I have been chopping firewood for Mr Paul at rate of £4:: per week. The timekeeper (as well as the storekeeper for the company) made up my time. It comes to £5.6.8. so I got nine shillings and three pence in coins. The rest paid for goods which are as follows; 501bs flour, £1.16.6, two bags of oatmeal (71b each) 11/-, 51bs sugar 5/-, six tins Nestles milk 9/-, 31bs potatoes 4/6-, two tins baking powder 3/-, nine tins meat 14/-, 51bs rice 5/-, 21bs salt 2/-, half pound tea 1/5-, two tins jam (of 21bs tin) 5/-, two lbs onions 3/-, one pound dry vegetables 2/6-, two boxes matches 6d.

Although I have had a tough job chopping up Mulgas, Gidgis and gums on account of the axe being full of gaps I have received much kindness since I have been here. I have been camping near a young man named William Ryan. He is 25 years of age. He is from Taranaki, New Zealand and he is an excellent young man indeed. He works at the mine. Tomorrow is Sunday and I will ascend once more the summit of Mount Margaret which is about two miles or so from the mine.

P.S. The mine which Mr Paul is the manager is called "Westralian" that is West Australia which is a Reward claim. It has already four shafts whose depth are 66ft, 70ft, 80ft and 110 feet.

Red Flag

September 2, 1895 I passed a middling warm night, a shower of rain fell during the night. I got up at 6.30am. It looked like rain, though kept dry and a little cloudy all day and a light cool wind blew all day from south to north. Breakfast at 7.30am; porridge, damper, canned mutton and tea. Baked a damper from 8.30am to 9.15am with about 51bs flour. Meanwhile repaired the wheelbarrow and loaded it.

At 11.00am I bid goodbye to Billy Ryan and started for the Red Flag which is 12 miles from Mount Margaret, also I have too much on the wheelbarrow. At 12.30pm I had lunch; damper, canned mutton and water. Just then Mr J.J. Paul from the big quartz hill came along on horseback. He stopped to talk to me. I again thanked him for his kindness to me. He said I might want some tucker myself someday. He wished me good luck and passed on. I started again at 1.15pm. At 5.15pm I came to an alluvial (worked out) patch of ground with two roads, one leading south-east, the other due west. Got puzzled which one to take. I followed the south-east, after I travelled a mile or so I noticed that the sun had gone down and left a clear sky and a streak of golden clouds in the westerly region. I felt very anxious to meet a human being. At 6.05pm I came to a very high hill of iron boulders. I ascended to the top of it. Saw no sign of camps, fire and smoke. Nothing but flat country over which deep silence pervaded and the sombre form of Mount Margaret loomed afar. Returned to the wheelbarrow and camped.

Tommy Windich was 29 years old when he was relieved of his duties as native Constable to join John Forrest in his first expedition in search of Dr Leichhardt. He was John Forrest's constant companion and usually rode with him at the head of the party. He was a first-class bushman and invaluable as a water finder.

Tommy Windich

In appreciation of his loyal service, John Forrest, named WINDICH SPRINGS in Tommy's honor. After Tommy Windich's death, John Forrest wrote,

"This faithful and intelligent native has passed away, he was still a young man and for the past 10 years had been closely connected with every exploration in this colony. Twice he crossed from Perth toAdelaide and took a prominent part in the exploraitions. He has died away from all his old friends, but his name is almost a household word.

I will take steps to have his grave marked".

The headstone is in the Esperance Museum and it states,

"Erected by John and Alexander Forrest in memory of Tommy Bom near Mt. Stirling 1840.

Died at Esperance May 1876.

He was an aborginal native of West Australia of great ingelligence and fidelity".

At 6.20pm lit a big fire against a big Mulga, made my bed of Mulga boughs. Supper 7.05pm; damper, cooked mutton and tea. Retired at 9.10pm. The country passed through today is flat, poor soil covered with Mulga, Quondongs, Kurrajongs, Sandalwood and scrubs, plenty of quartz and ironstone about.

P.S. I am camping about 200 yards below the ironstone blow. It is calm and a fine moonlight night. I travelled fully 14 miles today.

Red Flag - September 3, 1895 I passed a fairly warm night. Got up 6.40am. Chilly morning and warm day. Breakfast 7.10am; damper, canned beef, onion and tea.

Puzzled about the whereabouts of the Red Flag, started travelling at 8.00am. Met a man with a horse and cart, with a tank of water coming from Windich⁴ Brook, which is 14 miles from the Red Flag. He informed me that I was upon the wrong track, that I had passed it yesterday and I was now seven miles from it. I got a surprise. He gave me some water and I turned back and reached my destination at 1.10pm. Feeling tired travelling over rough ground I pitched my tent against a Mulga tree facing east at the north-west of the well which is situated about midway between the Red Flag and the Hawk's Nest.

These mining patches are in line and about three miles apart. Boiled the billy and had dinner at 1.50pm. Same as per breakfast. Afterwards got the loan of a rope from the man I met on the track and went to the well to fill my waterbags, which is 90 feet deep and makes very little water. It took me nearly two hours to get about four gallons. Supper at 6.55; porridge, damper, apple jelly and tea. Passed the evening by the fire, retired at 9.40pm.

Red Flag - October 2, 1895 It will be a month tomorrow since I came to the Red Flag and Hawk's Nest. After working very hard and spent long hours at the well getting water I have managed to get about 14 Dwts of gold. I got mostly outside the other men's claims on the pearling ground. Some days I do not feel well at all. I have decided to go down near Coolgardie and get underground work in one of the mines now that the hot weather is drawing near. I have a very forlorn hope of striking a few ozs gold outside the claims. Today I only got a half grain of gold.

As the memory of most men is both short and defective I will get down a few things about this field that is both the Red Flag and Hawk's Nest as far as I have heard by the camp fire at night in case I might get a fit of curiosity in future years to know aught of the past.

Red Flag According to what I heard by the camp fire at night this Goldfields the diggers named it Red Flag after an iron quartz blow which is naturally streaked with red and white and it is situated three miles east of the Hawk's Nest, 10 or 12 miles from Mount Margaret, over 210 miles from Coolgardie, over 100 miles from Lake Darlot, about 150 miles south of Mount Shenton. They say that this field was discovered by Jack Fouracre, Jim Cable, Duncan and Ross about Xmas 1893. They specked 103 ozs of gold and that the rush took place between May-July 1894 and began to be deserted about August. The alluvial gold has been found in several patches, which is already worked out. The two mile gully lies about one mile west of Red Flag and was rushed in June 1894 by about 200 men. About the beginning of August the bulk of them left for the Eucalyptus Rush.

Below this gully there is a patch with a big quartz blow. The Slug Gully which is about a half mile from the Two Mile Gully was found about the beginning of October 1894 by Dan Brown, Mick Camford and another name unknown. It lies west of the Red Flag quartz blow, one end of it reaches nearly the foot of the blow. The prospectors of this gully got very little gold on the upper portion of the gully but those who pegged out below them got the best of the gold. It appears to me that in past ages there was a heavy flow of water in this gully. Nearly to the bottom of the gully a diorite bar lies across it and above this bar all the nuggets were found by a few men. There were eight good claims. The claims above these and below the bar were very poor. The gold being nearly all nuggets. The biggest being 74 ozs, 30 ozs, 20 ozs, 12 ozs and 4 dwts. A young man named Armand Debetay, a native of Vevey, Switzerland got out 50 ozs of gold off his claim. At one time there were 13 men camping in this gully, at present no one camping there. Roughly Slug Gully is about a quarter of a mile long, two chains or so wide, it runs about east-west. The bar runs about north-south and is about a foot or so high. The digging was from a foot to about three feet deep. Nearly in the centre of the gully there is a block of virgin ground. At the eastern end of Slug Gully (it was also called Burglars Gully) rises the Red Flag which is a big blow composed of iron and quartz, so streaked to give the appearance of a flag, hence the name for the place. Roughly it is between 20 feet to 30 feet high, on whose top is a trig station and a surveyed line running east-west. The blow is covered with Mulga and scrubs. On the east side is a high quartz blow and nearly north there is a red ironblow, both these blows lie about 500 yards from the Red Flag blow. There is a grave in Slug Gully. We shall refer to it further on.

Hawk's Nest

The Goldfield is situated three miles west of the Red Flag and here I retell its brief story as I heard by camp fire. It is said that it was found by three brothers named Webb from the Murchison about May 1894 who specked 26 ozs of gold in specimens. It is also said that previous to the Webb brothers a young man named Rathray who was with a prospecting party for W.R. Wilson is supposed to be the first person who specked gold at the Hawk Nest. Rathray died shortly afterwards of fever at Mt. Shenton a 150 miles north of the Hawk's Nest and buried there. The rush took place shortly afterwards which brought over 600 men on the field and by the month of September it was pretty well worked out. It is said that a 56 oz nugget was the largest found here. A man named Alf Pessie and his mate Jack Capel (both New Zealanders) informed me in after years that they got 300 ozs of gold in four days and two hours work. There is a chain of hills running north and south, of slight elevation composed of granite, quartz and ironstone with a watershed eastward. The diggings have been on both side of these hills. The main gully is worked for about a quarter of mile long, from 10 to 15 yards wide and to about three feet deep. It was here just about a yard from the track where the Kurrajong stood. It is said was about 15 feet high and about a foot in diameter on whose branches the Hawk's Nest hung. Hence the diggers named the place after this object. When I visited this place I found no trace of the Kurrajong. It had been cut down by the diggers and destroyed. At northern side of the gully, about five minutes walk the main camp used be, all deserted now, great number of empty tins and cast off clothes and boots left there. Nearly to the top end of the gully someone left a piece of solid ground. Another digger set in to work and found a 56 oz slug. A few minutes walk west is a little gully worked out and south of this a lot of digging has been done. Half a mile further on is Flanagan Gully. A few chains further is New Gully. About two miles north of the Hawk's Nest is Flower and Party's Reef. It is said that it was this party who sunk the well at the Red Flag. This party sold their Reef lately to Wilton Haik for £7,000. He came to take charge of it in the middle of last month. Three miles west of here is Flanagan's Reef. Four miles over the Hawk's Nest Hill is Slug Gully. About the end of July 1894 two wounded men were brought to the Hawk's Nest Main Camp. They had been attacked by a mob of blacks at the "Brook". They had defended themselves bravely and broken the spears as they were thrown at them. A roll up was called and a party of 15 young men armed with rifles and revolvers with some tucker went on horseback after the black culprits and delivered unto them the goods they deserved.

Somewhere in a gully near the Hawk's Nest is the grave of James Hunt, died in September or October 1894 aged 60 years.

P.S. There were about nine claims in the Hawk's Nest Gully besides Pessie and Capel. They yielded from 100 ozs to 200 ozs per claim, it was shallow ground.

The Well

The well that lies midway the Red Flag and the Hawk's Nest, that is about a mile and a half from each place. It is said that it was sunk last

December (1894) by Flower and Party. The same who hold the Hawk's Nest Reef which was sold lately to Wilton Haik for £7,000. The well lies in a flat ground surrounded with Mulga, Sandalwood and thick scrubs it is 90 feet deep and it yield from 30 to 35 gallons water in 24 hours. It is timbered for nearly 15 feet or more to within three feet of the bottom. Its dimension is five feet x three feet. The portion below the timber is about 3 1/2 feet x 2 1/2 feet. There is a drive at the bottom (north side) three feet x two feet and about 10 long. The upper formation is a reddish clay, the rest greyish ground. There are 23 tents pitched near the well, mine stands 97 yards north-west of the well.

This morning September 29, 1895 two Irish men lowered me down in the well to recover my piebald line and little billy can. I sent up every drop of water and I got a bagful (2 gallons) for my share. This job lasted from 8.55am to 9.30am.

A Roll Up

Yesterday evening (Sunday September 29, 1895) at 7.15pm a man named James sounded the tocsin by beating a digger's dish with a little stick and at same time he cried "Roll up, roll up". 21 men in all (including myself) turned up. We stood in a circle around a blazing fire and the man with the dish said "Well, there is a chap named Proctor very bad with scurvy three weeks, and he wants to go down to the Coolgardie hospital but he has no money so I leave it to you what to do." A voice, "He has a mate." "Yes - but his mate is not getting any gold." Then the dish was passed around, some put in silver coins, others piece of gold, myself too contributed my mite, thus nearly £6 was collected today September 30th. The men camping in the New Gully contributed £3.5 - total £9.5.0. Proctor is leaving for Coolgardie tomorrow.

Farley's Grave

Today Sunday September 22, 1895 Armand Debetay came along to show me William Farley's grave. He is buried about one mile west of the Red Flag and about one mile off where he died (in Slug Gully) and 28 yards south of the road which leads from the Hawk's Nest to the Brook. The grave is in a cement blow of diverse colours and the mound about one foot high. The grave is enclosed with Mulga timber with six forks, one at each comer and two in the middle. They are about three feet high and they support six sticks as rails. The ground is enclosed by this rustic fence. Is about 10 feet x seven feet. At the southern side of the grave lies a big block of white quartz weighing about a ton. Mulga and other bushes abound around the grave. On the fence is nailed a piece of an old box inscribed thereon:-

William Farley of Halcombe, New Zealand died December 5, 1894 aged 26 years R.l.P.

P.S. An Irishman full of wisdom from South Ireland who had left his camp early and returned late in the afternoon when informed that Farley had died that morning and was already buried. He said, "Oh! you buried him when he was only half dead". This expression caused some annoyance and even a little scare to those concerned in the burial of the young man and they lost time that evening to draw up a report which is as follows:-

To Warden Finnerty Coolgardie

One Mile Camp West Red Flag Mount Margaret

December 5, 1894

Sir, we the undersigned testify that William Farley of Halcombe, New Zealand died this fifth day of December 1894 after three weeks illness (of fever), died about daylight this morning, and was buried the same day by our mutual consent. Buried at 9.00am.

In our presence the deceased made known a request that his belongings, consisting of silver watch, a revolver and 8 ozs of gold should be forwarded by his mate Jack Dillon to his parents in New Zealand. Apart of the above mentioned articles, there was nothing of any value. We at the same time wish to attest to Jack Dillon's most careful attendance to his late mate during his illness.

Signed:- Armand Debetay, Jack Dillon, Larry Bennett and Magueney. (Three other men signed the above report but I failed to get their names.)

From the grave Debetay led me to the spot where Farley died. About half a mile west of the Red Flag, about 300 yards below the Red Iron Blow and about 100 yards from the centre of Slug Gully opposite the solid block ground. The bough shed used by Farley, his boots, his hat, and discarded things are still there. The day before he died he got up and walked about. He told Debetay that he was getting better.

Mount Margaret

October 4, 1895 I passed a warm night. Got up at 6.30am. Chilly morning and warm day. At 7.30am; porridge, damper, boiled tin beef and cocoa. At 8.00am Armand came to say goodbye. While he was going to work he told me that yesterday he set in to work where I knocked off and that he had not been digging five minutes when found a 5 Dwts piece of gold. So you are leaving gold behind. I said good luck to you Armand if I had struck that piece it might of induced me to do a lot of dead work for many days and we might have had many more talks by the camp fire at night but as I do not feel too well some days so I have decided to go. We parted to meet no more. I went at once to the well. It took me till 9.00am to draw a half gallon water.

I started at 11.00am. I have a pretty heavy load on the barrow; tools, shaker, sieve, pick and shovel, some tucker, waterbags and sundries things. At 12.10pm had lunch; damper, boiled beef and tea. Started again at 1.10pm. Arrived at Mount Margaret Mine at 5.00pm and camped along side Billy Ryan's tent. Had supper at 5.45pm. Billy gave me some stew, bread and two pannikin tea. I presented him with a little nugget of gold weighing two or three Dwts. He refused to take it so gave me 8/6 in silver and some flour. He baked a damper and after took it out I baked a damper too in the same ashes from 8.00pm to 9.30pm; 41bs flour in it. Meanwhile done some scribbling by moonlight. Billy went to bed at 8.45pm and I at 9.45pm.

P.S. Today I had several spells on the track for a few minutes at time. 1 read in each spell a few lines from a book titled Andy Andy by Samuel Lover. I picked up this amusing book on a deserted camp at Pendennie. At 1.50pm a camel team passed me on the track laden with provisions for the Red Flag. Poor Procter for who they made a collection tin at Red Flag and on September 29 is camping near Billy Ryan and he looks the picture of death. A teamster refused to take him to Coolgardie for fear he might die on the way and get in a fix to have a dead man on his wagon.

Camped About 3 Miles West Of Lake Carey

October 5, 1895 Slept quite well last might. Up 6.00am. Slightly chilly morning and warm day. Breakfast at 7.00am. Billy Ryan gave me some stew made of tin meat and potatoes, damper and a pannikin of tea. Before breakfast I went to Mr Paul. He gave me a note to take it to the condenser man who filled my two waterbags. Mr Paul let me weigh the gold I got at the Red Flag. Was just 14 Dwts. I gave him a piece of gold nearly two Dwts with a bit quartz on it and again thanked Mr Paul for his kindness to me.

At 8.00am bid goodbye to Mr Paul and Ryan, and off on the track once more. At 8.45am I passed the jump up and thence across Lake Carey. At 9.10am I came to a stick about three feet high and a piece board nailed on it inscribed thereon

To the Pride of Mount Margaret half mile

with an arrow on the ground. I rested for a while on a big block of quartz about eight yards around about two feet high. A little further north stands two more quartz blocks. At 9.50am I got over the Lake.

At 11.30am passed Cement Creek (before that the spot where I had dinner on August 22nd).

At 11.50am I got on the main road to Coolgardie and here I had lunch; damper, boiled tin mutton and tea.

Started again at 1.10pm. At 2.30pm I passed two men with two camels going up. At 2.35pm I passed where the Afghans gave me a drink on August 22nd. At 5.00pm I passed where I camped on August 21. At 5.25pm I came to a new road leading to the Pendennie Field, at least I think so. It branched off south-east and at 5.30pm I camped three miles or so west of Lake Carey. I think I have travelled 14 miles today. From Cement Creek up to here the road has been too sandy for the barrow and took every ounce of my strength to push it this afternoon. I lit the fire and while the billy was boiling I made my bed under a branchy young Mulga (with boughs and two sheepskins) about eight yards off the road. Supper at 5.50pm, same as per lunch with piece onion. Done a little scribbling by firelight. Retired at 8.45pm.

The Jump Up

This steep piece of road is correctly named the "Jump Up". On August 22nd it took all my strength to push up the barrow to the top and today it took all my strength to hold it. The road goes across this steep place is about 39 yards long and about 107 feet wide and over a mile from Mr Paul's mine. Near to the base of the Jump Up is a natural curiosity. It is an ironblow like the remains of a wall of some building. It lies about east-west. It is about 12 yards long, about 18 inches thick and over three feet high. Nearby to the west end of this wall is a natural little bridge about three feet wide and two feet high. About four chains to the west of the Jump Up is a large ironblow almost conical shaped. A minutes walk to the east is the base of Mount Margaret.

If a person chance to stand on the summit of Mount Margaret and has a little liking for geology both the Mount and Lake Carey will regale his eyes with a geological feast. We presume that Sir John Forrest named this Mount after his own wife.

P.S. This afternoon (October 5th) when I came to the crossroad I hailed a man on horseback driving two horses. He indicated to me the road to Pendennie and he said if you want water there is a soak where I am. We have a reef one and a half miles west.

Pendennie

Sunday October 6,1895 Passed a good warm night. Got up 6.00am. Chilly morning and warm day. Breakfast 6.30am; damper, jam and cocoa.

Rolled the things, loaded the barrow and started at 7.00am and arrived at Pendennie at 2.10pm. Very bad road for the barrow, sandy nearly all the way. I think I have travelled 12 miles today. I camped 52 yards south where I had camped before. Made my bed against a Mulga tree. Bought a gallon water 6d. Had dinner and supper combined at 3.50pm; porridge, damper, tinned mutton and tea. After meal took a walk about. I see that there are only about a dozen men left here now. All the blacks have levanted for some other field and Messrs Slater, Woods and party, the original prospectors of this field are applying for a 12 acres lease below the reward claim. The notice posted on one of their pegs is dated September 5, 1895. They are going to sink a shaft where there is cement and quartz below. Pendennie appears to me a dismal place. They have cut down the Kurrajongs where I camped last August. I returned to my camp at 6.45pm. I read three chapters of the book Andy Andy (by Samuel Lover) six to eight chapters and retired at 8.30pm.

Pyke's Gully (Lake Carey)

October 7, 1895 I slept well last night, warm. I got up 6.30am. Chilly morning and warm day. Breakfast at 6.50am; some meat and potato stew, damper and tea. After breakfast I went to the store and sold my bit of gold 9 Dwts and 18 grains. I received £1.14.10. I bought the following goods:- two tins meat 3/-, two lbs rice 2/-, two lbs sugar 2/-, one tin milk 1/6, lib candles 1/6, half tin cocoa 1/5, a tin curry 1/, small bottle ink 6d, lib potatoes 1/6, one gallon water 6d. Got cash £1.0.1. This done I left Pendennie at 8.25am and I arrived at Pyke's Gully 12.15pm which is seven miles east of Pendennie and one mile and a half from Lake Carey. Had dinner at 1.00pm; damper, plum jam and tea. After meal I pitched my tent. At 3.00pm I went out to look around the place. I met two Victorian chaps. They gave me a drink of warm tea. Had a talk with them for about 15 minutes. Got back to my camp 6.45pm. Supper at 7.30pm; damper, boiled mutton and tea afterwards. Went to get a gallon water 6d - and baked a damper 31bs flour from 8.55pm to 9.30pm. Retired at 9.45pm.

October 8, 1895 Passed a cold night and awake for hours before I fell asleep. Arose 6.30am. Chilly morning and warm day. Worked all day making a shaker. Finished after tea then read some pages from the book Andy Andy and retired 9.20pm.

P.S. Boiled mutton and potato stew and cocoa for breakfast (7.00am). At 12.00pm; damper, plum jam and tea. At 6.15pm; rice with milk, damper and tea. Bought one gallon water 6d.

October 9, 1895 I slept well last night. Got up 6.30am. Slightly chilly morning and warm day. I worked very hard from 8.00am to 5.00pm on the large patch at the east of the Bare Hill and I raised, two fine colour of gold. There are about 20 men there and I have very poor chance of getting a few Dwts outside their claims and I feel certain if I stay here too long I will get hard up. So I will be on the track again tomorrow while I have the little provision and the few shillings. After I knocked off I made a Johnny cake for supper. Afterwards baked a damper (over 31bs flour) from 9.00pm to 9.45pm and retired at 10.00pm.

P.S. At 7.15am; porridge, damper, boiled mutton and cocoa. At 12.00pm; damper, boiled mutton and tea. At 7.50pm; potato and meat stew, Johnny cake and tea. Bought two gallons water one shilling.

Pyke's Gully Goldfields

This field was found by a prospector named Pyke it is said in June or July 1893. It is situated on the west of Lake Carey. The main gully called Pyke's Gully starts from a hill of slight elevation and it runs west. Roughly it is 10 chains long and 10 yards wide. Besides this gully there are other worked out patches. Pyke is supposed to have specked gold a mile and a half from here. There are here a lot of little hills, quartz and ironblows and like Mt. Margaret they seem to me to have risen from the vast bottom of Lake Carey in the far bygone ages. At about north-west of the gully is the main camp. At base of hill of conical shape composed of ironstone fragments and roughly is about 60 feet high, about one mile north of the main camp stands a big ironblow about a 100 feet high. At the base of this blow lies a lot of opal boulders. It might take aeons before they become iridescent. On the eastern side of the head of the gully some leases have been taken up for reefing. The surface of this place is strewn with iron and quartz fragments above which thrive Mulga, Sandalwood, Quondongs, Kurrajongs and scraggy Gum trees and scrubs. It is situated seven miles from Pendennie and 20 miles or so from Mount Margaret. Originally the foregoing was scribbled while the damper was maturing in the camp ashes on the above date.

Pendennie Soak

October 10,1895 I was awake for hours last night before I could get any sleep. I got up at 6.30am. A rather mild morning and very sultry all day. Very warm indeed and the flies very troublesome all day. Breakfast at 7.15am; potato and roast mutton stew, damper and cocoa. Loaded up the barrow and started on the track at 8.15am. At 10.05am I met two men going to Pyke's Gully with two horses and dray, with a tank of water on it. Asked to sell me half gallon water. They gave it to me gratis. At 11.50am I halted for lunch. Bit of roast mutton, damper and cocoa.

Started again at 1.05pm and I arrived to Pendennie Soak at 3.25pm. As I was approaching the soak, huge clouds began to roll up from the west. I hastened to pitch my tent 300 yards west of the soak. At about 3.45pm the wind arose to such a high pitch in another moment a mighty cloud of dust enveloped the whole place and it seemed like a dark night. You could not see a yard ahead. The storm was accompanied by successive loud thunders and lightning flashes which momentarily illuminated the darkness. At 4.00pm a few big drops of rain fell and the storm was over. It rolled eastward a few miles south of Pendennie and by 4.30pm was all clear. Supper 6.30pm; rice, mutton, damper and jam and tea. After meal, took a walk about the place. I retired at 8.25pm.

The Pendennie Soak This soak is situated in an open and wide level country extending around the soak for many miles. Nearby to the east I noticed some hills. Nearby to the south-east of them are two high hills. They look like quartz blows. The soak consists of five or six holes, five feet to six feet deep and a foot in circumference and each of them has a little water in it. There is a heavy drain. It supplies Pendennie, Pyke's Gully, the Eucalyptus and prospectors about it. Horses and camels are also watered here. They say that the natives call this soak Lindgi Myah but I am not quite certain that this is the correct spelling. They say that Kumalpi lies 60 miles south-east from here. There are two stores here in little Calico buildings. The Pendennie Field is eight miles from here and Pyke's Gully 12 miles.

The Eucalyptus

This alluvial and reefing patch lies seven or eight miles east of the Pendennie Soak. It was named on account of the Eucalyptus trees flourishing thereon. The rush took place in August 1894 and it has not been a good field. They say the natives call the place Brangorie. I am certain of this spelling.

Lake Rebecca⁵

October 11,1895 It was pretty cold last night. I got up at 6.30am and warm day. Breakfast 7.05am; porridge, damper, plum jam and cocoa. Started on the track at 8.25am. After travelling about a mile a young man named Parry Ryan with three horses and dray going to the Southern Cross overtook me, offered to carry my heaviest things on the dray and I pushed the barrow behind. At 12.30pm we halted for dinner. I ate damper, boiled beef and tea.

We started again at 3.00pm. After travelling 11 miles at 5.00pm we came to the junction of two roads, one leading west to Niagara thence to Menzies. Parry said this is my road so took down my things. We shook hands and I thanked him and we parted. The road for over three miles had been bad enough but now it began to get terrible for the wheelbarrow. Nothing but quicksand which it buried the wheel to its axle. After leaving Ryan I went over a sandhill then across a sand plain, a portion of an ancient lake, then over a sandhill again, then down, then up again. The sweat was pouring out of me. like if I were taking a turkish bath. I found progress almost impossible and had to take a spell every two or three yards. At 6.15pm I felt awfiilly fatigued and as the shade of night was encompassing me I decided to camp for the night. Just then I beheld a light at a distance. I made up my mind to get there. This time got a rope around my chest, the two ends tied to the front of the barrow and dragged it as if it were a sleigh. At 6.30pm I reached the firm surface of Lake Rebecca. Got behind the barrow again and travelled at smart pace. At 6.45pm reached Michael Burke's condenser and done my cooking on the condenser fire. Supper 7.50pm; rice, boiled beef, damper, jam and cocoa. After a little chat with Burke and his mate I laid down to rest at 8.25pm.

P.S. I travelled 17 miles today from the time I parted with Parry Ryan. A westerly wind began to blow and by the time I reached the condenser, was blowing hard and when I laid down on my sandy bed the wind was blowing very keen and icy cold and I shivering with cold.

The Condenser

Burke started condensing water on this lake about four weeks ago and he sells it at six pence gallon. He has one shaft six feet by three feet and 17 feet deep. He told me that a gallon of water in this lake weighs about lOlbs and it has 2 or 3 lbs salt in it. Whereas a gallon water from a soak or rain water weighs 81bs.⁸ The country I passed through today is about similar to that between Pyke's Gully and the Pendennie Soak. Some good patches of soil then the rest sands.

Lake Rebecca Was named by one of Fitzgerald's mates after a lady of his own heart. It is situated 17 miles south of Pendennie Soak and 10 miles north of Yerilla. It is dry and its surface is of hard clay saturated with salt and good for travelling. The lake is surrounded with sand dunes which slope gently inside the lake. Mulga, Salt bush and other scrubs abound about it. It appears the lake is formed of two runs, one north the other south. At the western side where the road crosses the lake there rises two hills, about a half mile apart. Burke's condenser is at the southern side.

U.S. gallons were often used in mining textbooks.

48

Yerilla

October 12,18951 passed a middling warm night. A keen westerly wind blew over the lake all night and I could not get any sleep. I got up at 6.30am, cold morning, a bit windy and warm day. Breakfast 6.55am. Mr Burke gave me some fried bacon (and two pannikin tea). I ate it with my damper. He also gave me lib and a half of Lake Rebecca salt and also filled my water bags with condensed water all gratis. I thanked him and his mate for their kindness. At 7.30am I started on the track again. I had a terrible road all the way for the barrow. At 2.00pm I reached Yerilla (10 miles from Lake Rebecca). I camped about 50 yards on the south of the condenser. There were four young men by the condenser, one of them had a bicycle. Here they saw me drawing near pushing the wheelbarrow. They burst out laughing because I looked anything but a picture of beauty. I travelled 10 miles today. After I had a little rest I walked about. I picked up a few scraps of newspapers, returned to my camp 5.45pm and cooked my supper. Partook of it at 6.35pm; rice and boiled beef (tinned), damper and tea. After supper I read the bits of newspapers and turned in at 9.30pm.

P.S. My arms had a tough time today pushing the barrow over a rough road. Lunch at 11.30am; damper, boiled beef, a potato and cocoa. The wind began to blow when I turned in to sleep.

Yerilla - October 13, 1895 (Sunday) I slept pretty well last night. Got up 6.05am, chilly morning and pretty warm day. Breakfast 7.00am; boiled beef, potatoes, damper and cocoa. Afterwards I walked about specking.

At 8.50am I left for Mount Catherine which is five miles south-east of Yerilla and arrived there at 10.25am. I found at the camp two young men and I refrained from asking their names One gave me permission to go to the top of Mount Catherine and when I came down I had a chat with him. He invited me to have dinner with him "at 12.00pm". I had for dinner Sydney tripe with sauce, damper and two pannikin tea. He gave me also two gold specimens from the Mount Catherine which the buyers of the mine think it will go two ozs to the ton. But the finders of the mine say it will yield over five ozs per ton. At 12.35pm I thanked the young man for his kindness and left for Yerilla. Arrived 2.35pm. Rested for a while. Supper at 5.10pm; rice, boiled beef, damper and tea. Baked a damper (used 41bs flour) from 7.00pm to 8.00pm. While the damper was baking a chap named Thompson from the Red Flag came over to my camp to have a chat by the campfire. He went away at 9.00pm and I retired at 9.15pm.

P.S. Bought one gallon water 6d.

Mount Catherine

The discovery of this gold mine was fraught with great excitement. The Coolgardie Miner of that period published the account of the new find as a "Mountain of Gold", and soon afterwards another sensation was piled upon it and that, the said lucky prospectors had chastised some blacks for having looted their camp at the Eucalyptus Field during their absence on December 27, 1894. The authority tried to prosecute them but for want of evidence Warden Finnerty dismissed the case.

This discovery of Mount Catherine is briefly this:- In the month of November 1894 a prospecting syndicate consisting of eight persons was formed in Coolgardie. Two them were backers stayed behind - the other six namely:-Michael Fitzgerald, Sidney and William Perry (brothers), Michael Gilbert, Charles Pigler and Edward Trothiez, went to the Eucalyptus Rush on the first day of December. It is said that whilst prospecting one day he noticed a camel's track. He thought there might be a party of prospectors somewhere. He was determined to locate them. Whilst on this quest he passed through a thick stretch of bush and on emerging from it he beheld in front of him an immense outcrop of quartz. Napping at the boulders shed from the main outcrop found great delight that some of them contained coarse gold. Following the line of the reef he reached a bold peak whose height towered far above the surrounding country and overwhelmed with amazement to see so much all over the outcrop. Staggered by the magnitude of the reef and its wonderful richness he hastened back to the camp as quickly as possible and to the delight of his mates displayed the golden pieces of quartz which he had brought with him which were thickly studded with fine gold. At first his mates were rather incredulous at the size and richness of the reef. He led them to the scene and here they arrived upon the spot they were suffused with delight at the sight of the great find. The reef was 14 feet thick, outcropping right to the top of the mountain which was about 70 feet high and they reckoned that at least 10,000 tons of payable ore was in sight ready for treatment purposes. Without delay they shifted the camp near the find and started to extract the gold with the primitive appliance called the "pestle and dolly pot". Fitzgerald who made this discovery on the 7th of January 1895 and next day was granted the privilege to name the find which christened "Mount Catherine". Another member of the party named the dry lake "Rebecca" and still another one of the party named the reef which they discovered some distance from Mt. Catherine, the "Daisy Bell".

My visit to this find is recorded thus:-

October 13, 1895 I left Yerilla for Mount Catherine at 8.50am and arrived at base of it at 10.25am. I reached the top at 10.30am. It is a huge quartz blow. It runs north and south. It is 250 yards long and 70 feet high. It appears there is gold in all the stones and few can see some stain in some them.

This great outcrop of quartz is something like a Dromedary's back. It has a watershed east and west and a slight depression in the centre. There are a lot blocks on the top of the Mount. The biggest one is on the northern side is about nine feet wide. The vegetation on the Mount is scanty. There is a Kurrajong about eight feet high some of its branches have been cut off. There is a Mulga, some black Oaks, Cotton bush and other scrubs. Methinks where the Mount now rises in the countless ages of the past was level ground. Nearly to the northern side the ground is quite level. With exception of this flat the rest of the country around the Mount is slightly hilly. The Mount Catherine Lease consists of 56 acres of ground. Below the highest point of the Mount (east side) is the shaft 35 feet deep with a west drive 24 feet long. The shaft is about six feet x three feet. I have been informed that Messrs O'Driscoll and Thompson have bought the Mount Catherine Mine for £15,000 cash with an interest in shares worth £1,000. The young man who entertained me to dinner today and showed me some of the visible gold on the outcrop and gave me two little gold specimens and allowed me to go up on the top of the Mount is one of the six prospectors and his name is Edward Trothiez. He said that he is expecting O'Driscoll any day.Roughly Mount Catherine is situated 120 miles in a straight line north of Coolgardie, about 80 miles (or so) north of White Feather, 30 miles south-west of Eucalyptus, about 40 miles N.E. of Goongarrie, about a 115 miles from Kurnalpi, 55 miles nearly north of Peake's Find, 24 miles south of Pendennie Soak and five miles south-east of Yerilla.

P.S. Edward Trothiez died on September 10, 1896. The prospectors camped on the western side near a little watercourse.

Yerilla

This goldfield was discovered by Jerry McAuliffe about four weeks after the discovery of Mount Catherine. The feature of this field is briefly thus:- it is a kind of flat (with a few Salt bushes) trending north and south which is about 200 yards wide. It has a northerly watershed. At the west of this flat the ground rises very gently for a mile or so. It ends in a ridge running north-south for miles and strewn with quartz and ironstone and covered with Mulga, Oaks, and other bushes. It is nearly midway the flat and the ridge where the townsite is proposed. It is not yet surveyed but there are already two stores. Wilson's Store and the Mutual Store and one hotel called the Yerilla Hotel owned by Hugh G. Umphray. There are two or three little alluvial patches already worked out. They say a specimen was found on these patches weighing 30 oz. On the top of the ridge I noticed two quartz outcrops trending nearly West-east for a few chains and boulder of quartz is about five feet long and three feet wide and about 30 inches high. There are about 50 leases taken up here. They say McGregor's Lease called Queen of the Earth and McAuliffe's Lease are so far the best. Yesterday when I landed by the condenser Jerry

McAuliffe was talking to a man who asked him if there was any gold in his lease? and Jerry replied with a forceful emphasis:- gold in my lease! why - even the trees in my lease have gold. It made me laugh the way he said it. McAuliffe was the discoverer of the White Feather arid now as for the name of this place "Yerilla", this name was given by a follower of prospectors foot-steps named David McGregor who said that it is the native name for quartz. McAuliffe said "The native name for quartz is Waboo and Yerilla is the name of the station in New South Wales whence McGregor came to Western Australia." In the flat by "Baxter's Reef' are some quartz outcrops. One of them is about seven feet high and about 10 yards around. Another one, five or six feet and eight yards around.

Queen Of The Earth

The late John Marshall died in Kalgoorlie September 22, 1908 aged 49 years. He compiled a little book Battling For Gold on which he wrote an account of the finding of this gold mine at Yerilla and somewhat I see fit to make an excerpt from it. Which is as follows:- The thriving mining and pastoral town of Cobar in New South Wales was excited by the visit of a man named Evans who had been mining in Western Australia and who had come back on a visit bringing with him a large number of splendid specimens of gold bearing quartz. A company was formed called the West Australia Prospecting Company with a capital of £3,000 in 60 shares of £50 each. Three men were chosen to go over to West Australia and prospect there for gold, namely Archibald Roxburgh (as a leader), David McGregor and Fred Weston. They arrived in West Australia in the latter part of 1894 and prospected in the Kanowna district for four months but without the smallest degree of success. The only gold obtained being a speck worth probably 3d. About this time the "Mount Catherine" discovery was made, and described as a Mountain of Gold. Attracted by the fame of the Mountain of Gold the party agreed to obtain four camels and prospect the Catherine district. On arriving there they heard that Jerry McAuliffe had found a leader carrying gold. McGregor determined to find out the locality where this leader had been obtained and taking some food and his waterbag he set out and struck across the country. He had prospected all day without any luck and was getting tired when he came across a quartz reef which he traced for a couple of hundred yards by the outcrop on the surface. He napped stone all along the line of reef but there was not a sign of gold. Although in places the quartz looked "kindly", tired out and thoroughly dispirited by the constant ill luck which he had experienced he sat down to ruminate. What would the shareholders think of the party being out so long and never getting a colour? It was hard luck indeed. After "bullocking” as they had done, looking lazily along the line of reef he saw a boulder on top of which there was something glinting in the sun. Can that be gold? he thought.

No, it is not likely. Curiosity however promoted him to rise and examine the shiny substance and to his astonishment and delight he found that it was gold. The stone being immensely rich. Lying all around were pieces of stone fairly impregnated with the yellow metal. As he stooped to pick them up the thought flashed through his mind that he might be only dreaming or that maybe he was insane. It seemed too good to be true, the dreams of 20 years had at last been realised and at his feet there lay a golden treasure that might eclipse anything ever previously found in Australia. At last however, startled by the thought that some person might come on the scene and secure the treasure spot he hastened to peg out a 24 acre lease. Luckily Weston his mate, found him out that night. McGregor made his bed on the top of the treasure spot and night and day he guarded it with jealous care for nearly 16 months. It had been arranged beforehand that the one who struck it rich should name the find. McGregor named it "Queen of the Earth" after his favourite song which he was wont to sing around the camp fire by night. Although they were eager to sell out the property for which they demanded no less than a £100,000 and one-fifth fully paid up interest in any company that might be formed to work it but owing to the petering out of the Londonderry Golden Hole in that year, buyers of Mining Leases were not supposed to pay such great sums. John Marshall their agent, thought they might get £50,000 if they had been satisfied with that amount. After waiting 16 months for a buyer to come along, which never came, at last, tired of waiting they now decided to sink a shaft on the gold which they had been afraid to do before that for fear that it might turn out like the Londonderry. On the surface there was about £2,000 worth of gold visible, on the face of a magnificent piece of quartz. Under this they sank the shaft down to a depth of 10 feet. The stone improved in value but below this it became poorer and ultimately it was impossible to get a colour. At a depth of 21 feet there was a fresh make of stone but this proved to be only a patch. At 30 feet deep however about £5 worth of gold was obtained and after this the reef became absolutely barren. From the surface to a depth of 21 feet there were in 29 tons 13 cwt; 2,938 oz of gold and silver valued at £10,767.3S 7d. Nearly the whole of this money was put back into the ground to prospect it.

All the foregoing is from John Marshall's book Battling For Gold. The following is the official record of this mine up to October 1, 1923;

No.70R. Queen of the    Earth    277.25 tons for 3,099.58 oz.    fine gold

No.590R. Queen of the    Earth    15.00 tons    for 26.80 oz, fine    gold

No.704R. Queen of the    Earth    32.50 tons    for 19.12 oz. fine    gold

No.89R. Queen of the    Earth    49.15 tons    for 46.95 oz. fine    gold.

Black Gin Rocks

October 14, 1895 I slept very well last night. I got up at 6.30am. Chilly morning and warm day. Breakfast at 7.00am; stewed potatoes and

boiled beef, damper and cocoa. Left Yerilla at 8.00am. After travelling two miles (or more) at 9.20am I came to a little sandy dry watercourse about five yards wide and three or four feet deep. Here I was compelled to stop. The wheel was just parting in half and the load most intolerable to carry it any further so I threw away most of the outfit. The shaker and upper, pick and shovel, the sieve, two prospecting dishes and other articles.I repaired the wheel and started again at 10.00am. At 10.50am (3 1/2 miles or so from Yerilla) I came to a signboard, written on it:- To the Ovens and Beechworth, the arrow was pointing west. At the south of the board (nailed on a Mulga) was written Fletcher and Dalgliesse's Camp. I pushed on and I halted at 12.00pm and boiled the billy and had lunch; damper, green-gage jam and cocoa. Whilst partaking of my lunch three diggers with two horses (one grey) and dray came along. They halted and boiled their billy on my fire and had their lunch. They were coming from the Eucalyptus.

I started again at 1.10pm and they a little after. One of them walked in advance of the other two horses and dray. We walked together chatting as we marched along. At 3.35pm we came where two men with horses and two wagons were resting. The man stopped to talk to the wagoners and I pushed on. When I had gone 200 yards one of the wagoners called me back. He said I will give you a lift on my wagon. We will travel in the cool of the night. So I thanked him for it. His name is Alfred Pearman. He has five horses and one hack. So I cooked my meal and had supper at 5.00pm; rice and tinned beef sausage, damper and tea. After supper I read the 18, 19 and 20 chapters of the book Andy Andy by Samuel Lover. I am now 10 miles from Yerilla and about 10 miles from the Black Gin Rocks. We started travelling at 8.30pm.

Donkey Rocks

October 15, 1895 Travelling last night was awfully unpleasant, cold all night. The sudden jerkings and bumping of the wagon nearly every five minutes was intolerable going along the unformed road. Three times during the night I had to get down and help Pearman to put the horses and wagon on the right track. First at about 1.00am, second at 1.30am and third at 3.30am. We had to pull the wagon backward to right it on the track. I nearly lost my hat several times. The branches of the trees brushing over my face and head. This morning we reached the condenser at 6.30am. I was told it is 28 1/2 miles from Yerilla. This condenser is conducted by Thomas Gibson and is situated in a dry salt lake which is two or three miles in circumference. He has a very shallow shaft, only a few feet deep. He kindly supplied me with water gratis. We passed the Donkey Rocks at 9.05pm last night. They say lies 17 miles south of Yerilla. There are some rocks and a little soak with very little water in it. They are sinking a well there now for fresh water. A man named Tassy Yuras is keeping a store in a little canvas building. It is said that these rocks got their name from a man known by nickname as "North Australia" who camped there with some donkeys. The country between Yerilla and the Donkey Rocks is mostly sandy and the vegetation is Mulga, Oaks, Quondongs, Sandalwood and other bushes. 12 miles below the Donkey Rocks is a road bearing to The 90 Mile which is distant about 40 miles. Passed the time sleeping and re-reading some chapters of Andy Andy. We started travelling at 8.00pm.

Wangie Soak

October 16,1895 Last night, after leaving the condenser at 8.15pm and the Donkey Rocks at 9.05pm. After we travelled for a while probably two or three miles both of us fell asleep. It was 12.55am when I woke up and called Pearman and he started the horses again. After going about a mile at 1.10am the wagon came to a sudden stop. The horses had pulled it right against an oak tree. We hooked a horse behind it and pulled it backward to the road and we made another start. After travelling two or three miles the two of us fell asleep and we woke up at about daylight viz. about 6.00am then we made a good start. We travelled till 9.05am. We halted for breakfast. I ate tinned beef sausage and damper and cocoa. We watered the horses out of the tank and started again at 10.25am. We reached Wangie Soak 11.55am. Pearman allowed me five minutes or so to have a look at it. The soak is situated on Flat Rocks about 10 chains wide N.S. and about 20 chains long E-W. It lies on a clear patch. There are 12 holes roughly averaging about seven feet deep and only one them had water (it appeared about 10 feet deep). It had only a few gallons. The Wangie Soak lies 20 miles south of the Donkey Rocks and 10 miles from the Wiladdy Soak. We pushed on and we halted at 1.55pm in a spacious flat just about midway between Wangie and Wiladdy soaks. I had dinner at 3.00pm; rice, beef sausage, damper and tea. I spent the afternoon reading the 24 and 25 chapters of Andy Andy book by Sam Lover. Supper at 5.45pm; damper, green gage jam and tea. We started to travel again at 8.00pm.

P.S.l. Rough travelling and cold last night and warm day. The country we passed through last night and today is pretty well all sand with fairly dense vegetation, tall Mulga, Sandalwood, Oaks trees, scraggy Gums trees in patches and scrubs. We passed several belts of Spinifex, pretty tall and dense. The last two nights have been very unpleasant indeed. Full of bumping and jerkings. Whenever I chanced to lift my head above the sideboards of the wagon I would get a scratching on my head and face and even so to my legs.

P.S.2. The Skull Rocks lies about 12 miles above the Wangie Soak.

4 Miles South Of Split Rocks

October 17, 1895 We travelled all night. We passed the Wiladdiy Soak at about 9.00pm. We camped 7.24 o'clock this morning, four miles south of the Split Rocks, about 18 miles from Wiladdy and about 10 miles from Broad

Arrow. I was aroused three times during the night, at about 1.00am, 2.00am and at 5.00am. Each time the horses had left the road and jammed themselves and the wagon among thick bushes and each time Pearman used a fair amount of profane language. He told the horses that they were bastards, but as the poor things did not understand even a glossed Billingsgate language they did not contradict him. I got down three times to help him to right both horses and wagon on the track. As this is the veiy best feeding ground for horses I have seen on the Goldfields, so we are going to camp here till tomorrow morning. So I made my bed under a young Oak tree about 12 feet high. During the day baked a little damper. Used the last bit of flour about 2 l/21bs. Had a good rest after having passed a rough night. I read from the book Andy Andy up to the 34 chapter. The country we passed through last night and this morning abound with Gum trees, Mulga, Sandalwood, Quandongs, Oak trees also called Sheoaks and other bushes. In some places the ground is clear. Breakfast 8.20am; potatoes, beef sausage, damper and cocoa. Dinner 12.50pm; rice, boiled beef and tea. Supper 6.20pm; damper, green gage jam and tea. I turned in at 7.15pm.

P.S. During the afternoon I mended my trousers.

A Grotesque Dream

Past midnight (last night) I thought I stood in the Dunedin Octagon (N.Z.). Therein was a fairly big crowd of Salvationists of men, women and children standing in a ring in the midst of which stood a Salvation Army recruit, beating a very large drum with a thundering force. At each terrific blow he cried "by Jesus Christ" and it lifted the crowd round him off their feet (including myself). The women's Hallelujah bonnets seemed to part from each head as they were lifted off their feet and bended forward, but every time they regained their poise, and even so Robert Bums the Scottish poet's squat statue yielded at each blow on the drum for it bended forward and quickly regained its poise till the next blow. I marvelled and even thought the dmmmer a blasphemer for uttering his master's name in such a provoking manner:- next instant I woke up and perceived the vanity of the dream. I discovered that it was not a Salvationist beating a drum but the team had left the beaten track and drawn the wagon into a thick bush and Pearman was kicking hard the belly of the horse in the shaft trying to back the wagon to the track. At each kick the horse was shaking both the wagon and the tops of the nearest trees. The operation was being done to a vamp of profane words. I jumped down and assisted him. We hooked a horse behind the wagon and pulled it backwards to the track and resumed travelling once more. After a while again rested my head on Morpheus' breast. This time I thought I was sailing upon the ocean waves and the ship was tossed about by the billows. On waking up I found out that the jerking and bumping of the wagon was agitating the water in the tank.

Broad Arrow

October 18, 1895 I passed a good warm night. Got up at 5.15am. Mild morning and warm day. Breakfast at 6.20am; damper, green-gage jam and cocoa.

We started for Broad Arrow at 8.10am which is 14 miles from the Split Rocks. At 10.10am we overtook a man carrying on his back a heavy swag, pick and shovel, a sieve, a tucker bag and a waterbag. Pearman let the man place all these on the wagon and the man walked ahead of us with only the waterbag in his hand. We reached Broad Arrow at 12.20pm. I thanked Pearman for the ride, we shook hands and parted. I camped against a Gum tree about 300 yards south of the township. I picked up some scraps of newspapers and read them. Dinner at 2.10pm; boiled tinned beef and cocoa. This done then I took an exploring walk about the field. I returned to my camping place 6.30pm. I pitched the tent and went to Carlyle's Store. I bought lib cheese 1/6 and one gallon water 6d. Supper at 7.35pm; damper, cheese and tea. Done some scribbling and retired at 10.30pm.

Travelling By Night

While approaching Broad Arrow today Pearman related an incident that happened to two teamsters last July. They were taking machineries to Peake's Find which lies about 60 miles north of Kumalpi. They intended to travel through the cool of the night when they came to the Galvana Soak 25 miles from Peake's. One of the teamsters watered his horses and went on and was overtaken by the other about two or three o'clock. As they were both weary they sat down to have a few minutes rest and both fell asleep. When they woke up the sun was high in the heavens and the horses still standing in the same place.

Broad Arrow Field

Broad Arrow is situated 22 miles north of Kalgoorlie. Reison and son, they say first discovered gold here in August 1893. Got a six acres protection area instead of a reward. The township stands on level ground. I am not quite sure whether it is surveyed or not. It has a watershed west and a gully east. The main street is very wide and very long, and in the street there are some tall gum trees. The business buildings are constructed of timbers and canvas and consist of Carlyle's Store and Post Office combined. Next to Carlyle is the Arrow Hotel owned by C. Brown. These two buildings stand on the west side of the street. On the east side is a place for refreshment and cool drink shop. Another building has this sign board:- Bakery - Hop Beer - Ginger Beer and Shandy Gaff, and another building is a store conducted by A. & E. Flavelle.

These are all the business places I have noticed. As for the contour of the field is formed of level ground, hillocks and gullies. Its vegetation consists of Gum trees, Mulga and Sandalwood, Quondongs and other trees and scrubs.

As for the mines there are a fair number of leases taken up. The very best so far is McDonald's Hill End Mine. Now about 300 yards more-or-less to the eastern side of the townsite rises a talcy hill about a mile in circumference at the base and about 50 feet high. It lies about north-south, on the west side it slopes gently, on the east side is slightly cliffy. It is on top of this hill which the best Broad Arrow mine stands and known as McDonald's "Hill End Mine". I was told today that it yielded up to 14 oz per ton and that Alfred McDonald and party had crushed 80 tons of ore for a yield of 3000 oz of gold by means of a three stampers battery. Dr Simon came along and purchased the mine for £25,000 for a British-French syndicate. They have now six stampers working driven by steam. The battery stands inside a building and on the door they have a notice "No admittance except on business". A 100 yards or more on the east side of the Hill End Mine stands a jagged talcose slate hill capped with ironstone and lies about north-south. In the middle is a little gap, about 50 yards further on is another little hill also capped with iron ore. A little higher than the former ones it has a little cave hewn by the elements. About 50 yards south another one, higher than the last one capped with big blocks or iron ore heaved up by a Diorite Dyke over a 100 yards long. At the western side of the townsite is Reison Gully. Runs about north and south. It has been worked for alluvial for about half mile along the widest part is about 20 yards wide and the working from about two feet to seven feet deep. On the brow of the eastern side of a hill are sinking a shaft on the St. George Lease. On the top of the hill is another worked out alluvial patch called the half mile and other patches besides. They are worked out and deserted. I saw only one dry-blower today. A young Scotchman working the Lorden machine. I also visited Reison's protection area also styled the Reward. It is now sold. Visited a few more leases besides.

As for the origin of the name Broad Arrow. There are two versions;

1)    that Charlie Reison (Junior) having registered his claim on his return journey to the find by himself made the Arrow marks on the ground to guide his father who was to follow him from Kalgoorlie.

2)    this version was denied by young Reison. That an Irishman named O'Meara made those arrow signs on the ground to guide his nephew (not cousin).

It is said this is very doubtful. One fact remains that these arrow marks were    only made within a few miles from Reison's Find. Later on, the

Government changed the name from Broad Arrow to Kurawah, somewhat this name did not take roots.

P.S. It is said that after the Reison's sold out their claim, and old Reison died, his son Charlie intended to return overland to South Australia but the Blacks murdered him somewhere in the region of Lake Darlot in 1895. They burnt his body and speared his camels. Moreover fame hath there a digger at Lake Darlot bought of a Blackfellow 80 gold sovereigns for a few tins meat. It is thought that they belonged to Charlie Reison.

P.S. About seven months after I wrote the foregoing I found in the Kalgoorlie Miner of September 24, 1932 that a Mr Pat McKinley claimed to have provided the name for the new find discovered by Reison and son in August 1893. McKinley says that he and his cousin named Pat O'Hara formed a party of four in Kalgoorlie. His cousin and the other two went ahead with camels to Reison's Find, himself was to follow later with a horse and cart carrying provisions as pre-arranged. They marked their track with a broad arrow for him from time to time in order to follow them. This is how Broad Arrow got its name.

Bardoc

October 19, 1895 (Saturday) I could not get any sleep last night until about

1.00am. I was pretty warm all night. I got up at 6.00am. Mild morning and pretty warm all day. After breakfast I mended the wheelbarrow and after I bought off the store a gallon water 6d. a loaf bread 9d.

At 10.30am started for Bardoc with the intention of going by the Six Mile. After travelling for a while I came to two roads. I got puzzled which one to take. I followed the north-west. At 11.10am I came to the St. George mine. There I saw a young woman. She looked rather fresh considering she is feeding on "tinned dogs". I said "Will this road take me to Bardoc" She said "I think so", then I said it is a warm day. Yes it is warm day she replied. Then I saw a man. He said that I was on the road to Bardoc. After travelling about four miles I came almost to the end of the road I met another man. He said that I was on wrong road. He directed me to strike across the bush and get on the right road in a mile. I had a great treat travelling through thick bush and rough ground. When I got half way, to my surprise I met a young man who I had met at Mount Margaret. He had at that time a sick mate. We had a talk. We shook hands and parted. I first met him on August 23rd. I struck the road at 2.10pm and halted for lunch. Started again at 3.15pm. Reached Bardoc at 5.00pm and I had quite a job to find a clean spot to camp. Night soil and filth everywhere. Camped about 200 yards west of L. J. Dudley's Bardoc Hotel and about 300 yards southwest of Mount Eva which is a high ironblow. I had a look about the place and went to buy a gallon of water 6d. 41b flour 1/9 and lib rice 6d. After tea I read some scraps of newspapers. I retired at 10.30pm.

P.S. The distance between Bardoc and Broad Arrow is 10 miles, but by taking the wrong track I pushed the wheelbarrow today no less than 13 miles. For breakfast at 6.30am, for lunch at 2.15pm and for supper at 7.35pm ate bread, cheese and tea only.

Sunday October 20,1895 I slept pretty well last night. I got up at 8.00am. I think this is the latest morning I ever got up since I been in the Goldfields. Mild morning and warm day. After breakfast I started to read a lot scraps of newspapers which I picked up at Broad Arrow and also baked a damper 41bs flour from 12.30pm to 1.05pm. After dinner I took a stroll to the cricket ground. They were busy playing a cricket match thence I went up on the top of Signal Hill. There I sat down and enjoyed a splendid prospect of the Bardoc Field. But here I saw a gathering of men at the north-west corner of the cricket ground. At once I rushed down and joined the crowd. They voted to the chair a Yank named Barnard Leslie. This man he is almost similar to the man that figure in Grants Great Mining Drama.

Leslie explained to the crowd that the meeting had been called for the purposes to establish the hospital which was badly needed. Then a lively discussion took place. Some wanted the hospital to be built at Bardoc. A speaker said we won't be able to support it. An Irish chap yelled out we won't be able to keep a "rat" whilst others advocated to co-operate with the Broad Arrow people. After a little more discussion the chairman put the vote to the crowd and by the showing of the hands and those who want to establish a hospital jointly with the Broad Arrow were in majority. The meeting lasted from 4.50pm to 5.30pm. Of course the meeting (like the tinewald of Isle of Man) was held in open air and there were no seats. There were eight men present including myself. There were no women at the meeting. As far as I know there are two of them at Bardoc; Mrs Dudley and Mrs Pond. Of all those on that crowd I only knew the following by name Messrs Paul Webster Mine Manager, Barnard Leslie, Dudley, the Hotel keeper, Jack O'Brian, Charlie Hansen, Samuel Baker, Pond and Martin Storekeeper. After the meeting I asked Mr Webster for a job. He told me to go to work to the Mount Eva Lease tomorrow night at 12 o'clock. Wage £4.10 per week. I thanked him very much for the favour. Mr Webster's company has taken three leases on option namely the Mount Eva, the Ennaminca and the Austrian. For the latter the prospectors are to get £5,000 if the company takes it up. For the other two I don't know what price for other leases. So I returned to my tent, had supper at 6.30pm, read some scraps of newspapers and retired at 8.30pm.

Sunday December 22, 1895 I passed night. My left leg was very sore all night. I got up at 9.05am. Very hot day. Stayed all day in the camp and applied hot wet flannels to my leg without a bit good. I also read the Coolgardie Courier of 18th December. At about 3.00pm I went to Cross's store (formerly Russell and Cross) bought two gallons water 1/8 and 21bs onions 1/4.

I retired 7.30pm. For both breakfast 10.00am and supper 6.00pm had damper and tea and for dinner 2.00pm; stewed beef sausage, potatoes, onions and tea. P.S. As Mr Webster is not certain whether there will be any work on those leases after the exemption, so I have decided to leave Bardoc on December 26th and as I have learnt a good deal of history of Bardoc by the camp fire so I will make a note of a few items.

Bardoc also spelled Bardock, Bardook and Barduk. Bardoc means in English "Wild Black Fellow" and therefore is not the name of a place. It was learnt by diggers at Broad Arrow from an Aborigine many weeks before Bardoc was discovered. The Bardoc fields contour undulating hilly country for miles around. The hills are mostly Ironblows or at least capped with iron ore. The most prominent of all those hills is Signal Hill covered with Ironstone and roughly it stands about 200 feet above the level ground.

Bardoc is situated about 10 miles north of Broad Arrow, about 32 miles north of Kalgoorlie, about 50 miles north of Coolgardie, about 22 miles north of Black Flag, via Broad Arrow about 20 or 25 miles south of the 90 mile, 12 miles northwest of the 45 mile, about 14 miles nearly west of the 42 mile, about 31 miles southwest of Wiladdie Soak, about 37 miles north of White Feather (Kanowna) about 28 miles east of Siberia (Waverley) via 54 mile.

The story of the discovery of Bardoc is this:- in the early part of July 1894 the natives looted some of the Digger's camps at Broad Arrow and on Sunday July 15th six young men namely: - Robert Pym, McDonald, Conway, Connell, Bunbidge and Ferguson mounted on horseback went in pursuit of the robbers. They climbed on the summit of Signal Hill. They found that the Blacks had been camping on top of that eminence and on scenting the coming of the whitefellows they lost no time in levanting. The party decided to pass the night on the hill and resume the pursuit of blacks next day. On the morrow so luck willed they specked about 30 oz of gold on the surface of the ground about 200 yards west of Signal Hill. Of course all thoughts of pursuing the Blacks any further was abandoned.

They pegged three leases namely: the Grand Jewel, the Mount Pleasant and the Bank of England.

Soon after the Martin Brothers (three them) pegged the Excelsior. This lease was subsequently sold to McDonald and Company for £6,000 and they turn floated it in London for a £100,000. Besides those mentioned there a lot more leases taken up the same day (July 16, 1894) on which they specked the gold pegged out the leases. They decided to call the new find Bardock or Bardoc being the name for the wild black fellows which they had obtained from a native at Broad Arrow. Probably the natives had a name for Signal Hill but no one ever bothered his head to obtain it from them and consequently it is now lost for all time.

A day or two after the discovery of Bardoc, McDonald went to the White Feather for provisions and reported the new find and over 600 men rushed to the field. After a few weeks the rush subsided. During the influx of so many

61

men McDonald and party kept a little store, then Smith and Co. set up a store. Then a young solicitor named Dwar started a store and kept the Post Office as well in the gully between the Mount Pleasant and the Mount Eva leases. One night last April he imbibed rather freely at Dudley Hotel and started to play with the revolver and shot himself in the leg. It is said that 12 men carried him to the White Feather Hospital on a hand cart. Not certain whether Dwar or Dewar his name.

The Martin Brothers opened a store, then a Jew named Reuben opened a store about the middle of October and sold out to J. Leyden. Martin Brothers sold out to Cross and he put in a man named Alf Russell to manage it for him. Dudley's Bardoc Hotel was opened on Saturday April 13, 1895 whilst the hotel was being built Mrs May Dudley arrived at Bardoc on March 18, 1895. Meanwhile she lived in a tent on the south slope of Signal Hill. On account of being the first white woman on this field (Bardoc) the boys celebrated the occasion with bonfire and songs on the summit of Signal Hill and drank to her health. Amidst this rejoicing they discharged a volley of 30 shots from Winchesters and revolvers. A chap named Charlie Grant who camped on the Nerrin Nerrin lease about two miles away wishing to know what was the hullababoo about. He came along and on nearing the top of the hill a volley was fired somewhat this scared Charlie. He turned back without joining the festive boys.

Charles John Moran, first member for the Goldfields visited Bardoc on November 16, 1895 and Barnard Leslie bestowed much flattery on him. Sir John Forrest visited Bardoc on November 26, 1895. Accompanied by a policeman and two reporters. He arrived at 7.45am and left at 11.00am. A petition for requirements of Bardoc was presented to him.

The Water Supply

During my sojourn at Bardoc that is, from October 19th to December 25, 1895 Bardoc had no water supply of its own. It had to be carted from the 45 Mile Dam, from the Black Flag and elsewhere and the price paid for it was as follows: up to October 28th 6d per gallon, from October 29th to November 1 9d per gallon, from November 2 to December 17th at lOd per gallon after then at 1 Id per gallon and even at that price was not plentiful because we were only allowed to buy two gallons per day. On November 12 and 13 the water was very scarce indeed. On the 18th a Mr Grant came in with a camel team laden with water in canteens. On that occasion a young woman, the wife of Harry William Pond who had arrived at Bardoc the first week in November and started a soft drink shop. Owing to her good looks and a fine set of teeth (I had not the privilege to look into her mouth to verify whether they were natural or false), however she was allowed to buy 35 gallons of water. She turned it into hopbeer and retailed at 6d per glass. Up to December 25th no one had yet struck water at Bardoc to set up a condenser (if salt). About June or July two or three men started a water shaft, afterwards they formed a syndicate of 40 shareholders at £10 per share. They let the sinking on contract at £3.2.6 per foot. After sinking about 88 feet they gave it up. They could not make it pay. Then Robert Pym and party took the contract at £4.2.6. After sinking to 120 feet and meeting with no water the shareholders decided to go no further.

Signal Hill

The highest elevation on the Bardoc Field is the ironblow locally called the Signal Hill, from whose summit one can obtain a splendid prospect for miles around the field. In shape almost an oval form and by a poor guess about 200 feet high. It slopes on all sides. Scraggy Gums, Sheoaks and scrubs thrive on it.

Whose top is quite flat, about 25 yards long north-south, about the same east-west, about a 100 yards at the southern side stands Dudley's Bardoc Hotel. Near to the base at the eastern side is Cross's Store (formerly Martin Brothers) a little further east is the Excelsior Lease and next to that is Mt. Pleasant Lease, about 200 yards west is the small alluvial patch wherein the six young prospectors specked about 30 ozs of gold on the 16th of July 1894 but subsequently they got another 30 ozs from 2 oz up to 5 oz pieces. Over 400 yards to the south-east on a gentle rise about 300 yards long north-south and 50 or 60 yards wide east-west lies the new townsite. It has a watershed on all sides. The selection of it was agreed at the open meeting held on Sunday October 20, 1895 and the surveyor arrived on December 23 to lay out the blocks. Already there is a notice posted on it applying for a block dated November 30th. Size of the block 66 feet x 165 feet and signed E.C. Hardwick.

The first sports held at Bardoc took place on Easter Monday April 14, 1895 on a spot about 100 yards north-west of the Hotel. The cricket club was formed last September. The Bardoc progress committee was formed on September 30, 1895. Chairman - Barnard Leslie. Committee - Messrs Pym, Craig, Laidlaw, Matherson, Hill, Morighan and Hack.

The Bardoc Murder

A tragical event has been imposed upon this field and styled the Bardoc murder. In reality the scene lies about nine or 10 miles west of Bardoc and about four miles east of the 42 Mile Dam. I visited the site of this foul crime on the 19th of December 1895. The day being very hot and was fraught with nasty unpleasantness. Whilst standing by the grave (8.10am to 9.10am) taking notes I spilled the last little water I had in a little bottle. A little later on I nearly trod on a coiled up snake over five feet long. On top of these incidents I lost my way to Bardoc and suffered greatly from thirst.

The story of the Bardoc murder is briefly:-

On the 12th of September 1895 three men namely; Isaac Mullard, Mogford and Glazier. They were bound for Grants' Rush which lay one mile and a half south-east of 42 Mile Dam. This alluvial patch had been found by a surveyor Alex Grant who had been sent out by the Government to lay out the 42 Mile Dam. He specked 15 to 20 ozs of gold about the end of August and beginning of September 1894. The three men came across a man who was working by himself. Ere he saw them coming he went to meet them. Asked if he was on gold. He said he was not doing any good but his mate was on gold and volunteered to show where he was working. He led them down the gully for some considerable distance. He failed to locate his mate because he was not living. The party pursued their way to the rush.

Dissatisfied with the field they left the place. On their way back, curiosity led them to view the spot where they had seen the man working. Mullard set to work removing the loose earth from the hole. He and his mates were horrified to discover a dead man in it. They reported the ghastly discovery at Bardoc. Henceforth it has always been styled the Bardoc murder, whereas already has been stated the crime was perpetrated about nine or ten miles west of that field and about four miles east of 42 Mile Dam. And the actual scene is situated in a dismal gully surrounded with dense scrubs and a very short distance west of a dry watercourse and about a mile west of Lindsay Soak. This soak is about 5 feet deep and about 20 feet in circumference (was dry at time of my visit December 19, 1895). At the north of this gully rises a quartz hill. About east of this there rises a higher hill with a little gap on it. The track to Bardoc and Broad Arrow passes over it. A little below the foresaid gap lies Lindsay Soak.

The policeman and party exhumed the victim and they found that a pick had been driven into his head, moreover they also found that years before, the man had been operated on by a doctor. (I refrain to state on which part of the body). [He had his cock cut off - for the pox.] It is said that the description of the murdered man tallied with that of a Geelong Blacksmith named Jack Hasselt. It is also said the West Australian Police Department did advertise in the Eastern States newspapers the description of the victim and that a doctor answered the advertisement stating the name of his late patient and that he had performed the operation on him.

The police re-buried the body in a fresh grave dug by their party about eight paces east of the original one and about 10 yards west of the dry watercourse.

At the date indicated above the grave was marked with four little forks and four little sticks as rails. The mound was surrounded with 30 fragments of quartz. On top of the mound there were inserted upright 18 sprigs of Mulga and Eucalyptus, and a bunch of wildflowers at the foot of the mound all withered. The original hole in which the victim was found buried lay east and west and shaped like a tennis racket. It is between eight feet to nine feet long west end for about six feet very narrow, east end two feet or so wide. A quantity of fair quartz had been broken from that hole. Whether by the victim himself, or by the murderer it will remain a mystery for all time. From time to time much has been written and said and many theories advanced upon this foul act but I have no space to record any more here, only that a working man at the St. George Lease in 1896 told me that he knew the man who had committed the crime but one fact points out almost to certainty that the murderer was a German.

Somewhere between the above grave and the 42 Mile Dam lies the grave of Peter Fumiss - died on Sunday July 28, 1895 aged 72 years. A buggy was sent out to take him to the Coolgardie Hospital. It was found that he was already buried. It was said of this man that many years before he came to these Goldfields he made a "rise "of £10,000 in Gippsland (Victoria).

Bardoc - December 26, 1895 Mr Paul Webster has told me that it is very doubtful whether the company will do any more work on the leases under option after the exemption is over next month so as I am not encumbered with anything in Bardoc tomorrow I will be on the track again pushing the wheelbarrow. I returned the book titled Eldorado to Mr Barnard Leslie and had a long chat with him.

Broad Arrow

December 27, 1895 Last night I slept well. Got up at 7.00am. Warm day. Breakfast 7.30am; a cake fried in dripping and cocoa. Afterwards I went to Cross's Store to get a gallon water. I only got half a gallon. He charged me 1/3 for it. He said the water was very scarce hence the price 2/6 per gallon. At

11.45am I partook of some pea soup and drink tea. At 12.45am I left Bardoc for good. At 1.40pm I passed the Government Bore. They are putting it down at the Junction of the Bardoc Wiladdi, Yerilla, Pendennie and Mt. Margaret Roads. There was nobody at the bore.

Arrived at Broad Arrow at 4.45pm. 10 miles from Bardoc. Camped 200 yards south of the old townsite and 18 yards east of the Black Flag Road. Pitched the tent against a withered Oak tree. Bought off Flavelle Store one gallon water 7d, one lb potatoes 1/. one lb onions 7d. Partook of supper at 6.55pm. After supper lit the candle and read the Coolgardie Courier dated December 28th. This paper is always dated ahead of its time.

P.S. This morning when I went to say goodbye to Jack O'Brien (and to Frank the Austrian) he told me that Charlie Jansen got drunk on Xmas day at Dudley's Bardoc Hotel and was robbed of all his money £14. He is now swearing that he will set fire to the pub.

Black Flag

December 28, 1895 I got up at 6.00am. Breakfast at 6.30am; 3 pieces of cake fried in dripping and cocoa. Afterwards I went to Flavelle's Store bought a gallon water 7d. Had a brief chat with one of the partners named Bill.

At 7.45am I started for the Black Flag 11 miles south-west of Broad Arrow and reached at 12.45pm. The road was fairly good for the wheelbarrow and the country I passed through with exception of some rises is pretty well level ground, fairly timbered with White Gum trees and Sandalwood, Quondongs, Kurrajong, Cotton and Salt bushes, Ironstone, quartz and Diorite rocks form the ground. I camped on the east of the brow of the hill under a Kurrajong tree, 250 yards off the Black Flag Hotel and about the same distance off the store. The Kurrajong is 15 feet high. The trunk measures 28 1/2 inches around and 65 inches high to the first branch.

At 3.00pm I left for the Flag End, distance two and a half miles off townsite. Arrived 3.45pm. Here are situated both the Proprietary Mine and the alluvial workings. I had a look at both and passed on to view the Dead Finish which lies one mile north of the Flag End and 3 1/2 miles north of the townsite. Here I met two men; Hansen and Windmill.

Left Dead Finish 5.15pm. Passed Flag End 5.30pm. Reached the townsite 6.15pm. Bought a tin apricots at Evan's Store 1/7. Boiled the billy and had supper at 7.00pm. Afterwards had a chat with Evans the Storekeeper till 8.15pm. Then read the Coolgardie Pioneer of December 25th. At 9.45pm retired on a bed made up of old bags. It has been a very warm day. It is now (9.45pm) a lovely cool and moonlit night.

Lunch at 2.30pm. Supper 7.00pm; a piece of fried cake, a tin of apricots and a drink of tea. I have been told a few bits of history about this field today. I will write them down tomorrow.

Black Flag Field

Approximately the Black Flag field lies 30 miles north of Coolgardie, 21 miles north-west of Kalgoorlie, 22 miles from the White Feather, 11 miles south of the Broad Arrow, 21 miles south of Bardoc, 12 miles south of the 42 Mile, 10 or 12 miles east of the 25 Mile, 9 miles north of the 21 Mile, 14 miles from Barker's Find. Briefly the contour of this field is of high ground abounding with ironstone and quartz and a waterless salt lake named Mabinapuce abounding with quartz, ironstone and Diorite blows. The very first prospectors to discover alluvial gold on this field were John Meiklejohn and Bill Cottingham in 1893 and the first prospectors to find gold in the reef were Bill Henckley and party finding the prospect not high enough to left it for the Kumalpi rush. From there they heard that someone had struck a rich reef. It was the very one they had abandoned, and pegged out by a man named

Yarrity. The reef is a big quartz blow on Diorite hill about a mile long south-north-west and about 300 yards wide. This mine was floated in London in July 1895 under the name the "Black Flag Proprietary" for £600,000. The working capital being £75,000. A man named A.A. Naumann is the local director of the company. The spot where this mine stands is called the Flag End.

Among the other mining leases about the Black Flag are; Lady Bountiful, St. David, King Solomon, the Royal Standard, Four in Hand, the Talisman.

One mile north of the Flag End is situated another auriferous patch called "Dead Finish". It is supposed the first prospector who picked up gold on the surface here was named McPherson in 1893. There are two alluvial patches worked out here. The main one is a gully about 20 chains long. It runs about east-west and a couple chains wide and from four feet to five feet deep. At the eastern side of this gully is the Windmill Lease and at the southern side of the gully over the little hill about 200 yards or thereabouts is Hansen's Lease and from here to the high hill is over 700 yards. Besides these leases there are two parties who have leases here namely Chipper and party have a six acres lease and Moncrieff and party holds a 11 acres lease. It is said the name of this place originated thus. Those who pegged out claims outside the prospectors' claims, they got no gold and they said it is a Dead Finish. Even the prospectors themselves could not get anything outside their pegs. They also said it is a Dead Finish.

P.S. In the year 1895 the following gold nuggets were found on the Devon Consuls 303 ozs 10 Dwts - 73 ozs 13 Dwts - 51 ozs 16 Dwts - 37 ozs 18 Dwts and 10 ozs 15 Dwts.

Black Flag Townsite

Is situated on a portion of a dry lake locally known as Mabinapuce. The lake abound with salt, quartz, ironstone and Diorite blows and lake bushes and weeping willows. About 100 yards to the east rises a hill some 40 feet high covered with Mulga, Kurrajongs, and Salt and Cotton bushes. At the north side is broken up in flats and some little hills. At the western side about a mile away is a uniform ridge which trends nearly north and south for a long way. At the southern side lies the bulk of the lake. The mining leases lie around the townsite. The nearest is about a half mile distant. The Flag End is 2 1/2 miles distant and the Dead Finish 3 1/2 miles distant.

The townsite was laid out about May 1895 and consists of two main streets. The one that runs east and west is named Evans Street. The other which runs north and south is named Tucker Street. Both streets are named after two storekeepers Evans and Tucker who started business August-September 1894.

There are two hotels here - the Proprietary Hotel kept by F. Palhill in Tucker Street was opened about May 1895, and the Black Flag Hotel in Evans Street kept by Molly and Jones was opened a little later. There are also two hopbeer shops and a bakery and one dozen condensers - water is 6d per gallon. Three of the condensers are by the townsite and their water shafts (salt water) are 30 feet, 40 feet and 70 feet deep. The very first man who started condensing water here was named Smith and now as for the origin of the name Black Flag one version hath it that the prospectors marked the location of a waterhole which they had discovered at the north or north-west of the townsite in early days by hanging an old black coat on an upright pole. Another version hath that the place was named in allusion of the black vitrified cinders which abound in the lake and a third version hath that the place was meant to be named the Black Slag⁶ but the first report sent in to the newspapers they changed the "S"into "F" hence Flag instead of Slag.

P.S. The Black Flag - Declared townsite July 2, 1897 - situated in Lat.30.S.33 Long 127.E.13.

James Balzano seated in front of Bush Camp at his "General Lee" Lease 33 miles from Coolgardie photo taken at 4.50pm 1st December 1896

A modern day Tribute to our Pioneer Barrowmen.

Prospector Lawrie Wright with his wife Heather and grandson Daniel Head, push their replica barrows in the Coolgardie Day procession on September 20th 1992 (part of Coolgardie's Centenary Celebrations).

Black Flag - December 29,1895 (Sunday) I slept middling well. Got up at 7.00am. Very hot day. I went to get a bag water 6d. Breakfast 8.00am; porridge (Avena) and milk, a drink Cocoa. Afterwards took a stroll as far as St. David Mine. I called at the St. David Consolidated Mine. Here I met a Swede and a man from Victoria named Thomas. I had a chat with them. The latter said that there is a man at the White Feather named Mort Hare. He knows who committed the Bardoc murder. They gave me a drink water and I came back. The St. David Mine lies one mile south of township. Dinner at 1.40pm; a plateful of good soup made of tinned peas, onions and minced mutton and a drink Cocoa. Got another gallon water 6d and went for a stroll north and north-west of the township. Bought a loaf bread lOd. one lb cheese 1/7 and another gallon water 6d. Supper 6.10pm; bread, cheese and tea. Read a little of the Coolgardie Pioneer. At 6.50pm I started down the road with the wheelbarrow. Reached Jack Larkin's condenser 8.00pm. Two miles south of the Black Flag township. Camped here for the night. Had a chat with Larkin. Wrote this by moonlight and retired at 10.15pm.

P.S. Lovely cool and moonlight night.

Kalgoorlie

December 30, 1895 I got up at 6.00am. Rolled up my things and loaded the barrow. Breakfast 6.50am; bread and cheese and cocoa. At 7.25am started for Kalgoorlie short cut 18 miles. A young man from New Zealand named Mawson came along with me a half mile to show me the track. I thanked him and we shook hands and parted. Alas for eight or nine miles the track turned out a vile one for the wheelbarrow. It led alternatively across dry lakes and sandhills, ups and downs it tried my strength to the utmost. At 12.00pm halted for a spell and ate at 12.25pm. Been very hot day. Out of the gallon water I bought this morning at Larkin's condenser 6d I drank very sparingly, the most of it evaporated. Everytime I took a mouthful I lost several spoonfuls of it by oozing out through the upper part of the waterbag. I drank the last drop at

1.00pm and after that the thirst began to worry me, the heat very oppressive. Anon I took a rest under the shade of a tree for a few minutes at time. At 4.20pm I struck the Black Flag - Kalgoorlie Road, four miles distance from Kalgoorlie and hereabouts I saw three mining pegs. On one of them there was a notice paper dated October 6, 1895 applying for a 24 acres lease and signed P. Matthews and party. In vain I searched the bushes for the prospector's camp. I cooeed twice - got no response. Feeling very tired and thirsty, planted the wheelbarrow and everything in the bush. Made a mark across the road with my dried up water bag.

Started for the town at 5.15pm. I came to the Mount Eliza Claim. Here I met a chap he had very little water but he very kindly gave me a good drink

and I was relieved. He said the town was about three (3) miles distant and that he was waiting for a second mining expert to report on his quartz claim. He had got gold specimens already. After resting for about 10 minutes I went back for my things and wheelbarrow. Reached there 5.45pm and started again at 5.50pm. And repassed the good man's camp. If he had water I would passed the night there so I had to push on and arrived at Kalgoorlie 8.10pm. Camped 100 yards west of the hospital. I was so knocked up, I got a man to go to town for a bag water (one gallon 7d) and a tin of apricots 1/6. I let him keep the change 1/5 out the 3/ I gave him to buy the water and apricots. I boiled the billy and had supper at 9.00pm. A tin apricots and cocoa only. The man too had a drink cocoa. He stayed talking to me till 10.00pm. As soon as he went away I fell on my back asleep.

P.S. The vegetation about the lakes and the sandhills I crossed today are Mulga, Oaks and plenty of Salt and Cotton bushes and lake scrubs. This side of the lakes the timber is mostly Gum trees, Oaks, Quandongs, Sandalwood and other bushes. The man told me that the heat today was a 107 degrees in the shade. It is no wonder that I felt it very much pushing the wheelbarrow and being short of water. It is now lovely moonlight and cool night. The breeze is blowing from south to north. The stranger during his talk he related to me his great sufferings he endured when he went to the Mt. Black Rush.

Kalgoorlie - Sunday January 5, 1896 Somewhat I have an urge to go to the White Feather [Kanowna] instead of looking for work on the Kalgoorlie mines and whilst the exemption is on I have decided to visit the I.O.U. and Kumalpi before I go to the White Feather. So tomorrow I will write down a few items about this great mining field which I have collected during the last few days.

The Discovery Of Kalgoorlie

A second thought has occurred to me to alter the items which I intended to write down at first as stated in the foregoing paragraph because I am writing in the year 1940 not in the year 1896.

The contour of the Kalgoorlie district is a strip of an elevated land arising on the great West Australia plateau. 1240 feet above the sea level. 24 miles east-northeast of Coolgardie and 375 miles from Perth. Mr Harry P. Woodward the geologist writing in the year 1895 stated that this great field extends over six miles from north-north-west to south-south-east near the township of Kalgoorlie and encloses countless number of lodes. The line of this break is marked by low Ironstone covered hills. Diabase dykes seem to have played an important role in the formation of the gold deposits here and it is probable that the gold emanation in the rich and extensive Kalgoorlie district took place in the period following these diabase eruptions.

The gold deposits here consist principally of a network of lodes and veins striking in different directions, upon which a great number of leases are worked by parties and syndicates. Judging from ore deposits already exposed Kalgoorlie will become one of the richest gold mining centres in the Goldfields of Western Australia.

P.S. The Kalgoorlie Goldfields has a watershed almost in all directions and is surrounded with flats and dry lakes. Some of its hills are named Mount Charlotte, (on whose summit the scheme water reservoir stands), Cassidy, Red, Pearce and Maritana Hills.

The Discovery Of The Golden Mile

Mr Samuel W. Pearce published his account of the Discovery of the Golden Mile in the magazine called Life June 1, 1909 from which I make an excerpt as brief as possible. He says when we reached Kalgoorlie I left Brookman to put up the tents and took my pick and started prospecting for a reef in amongst the crowd of the dryblowers at the foot of Hannan's Hill. In less than half an hour I had struck a leader carrying gold. Evidently one of the numerous spurs responsible for shedding the huge quantity of alluvial gold won at that particular spot. But we had not come all that distance (viz. from Adelaide) to work a six inch leader. Leaving Brookman to follow it down a few feet I started next day prospecting south towards the Red Lake. Huge ironblows or outcrops were much in evidence and took my fancy as in nearly every instance during my explorations where I have found payable gold reefs they have been associated with iron. Brookman and I started for the same locality the next morning early (Sunday) and in returning home struck off the camel pad into the bush and soon came on some huge blows of iron. We decided to move camp and prospect this portion of the country which until then had been undisturbed by white men. This was about the centre of the wonderful auriferous belt now known as the "Golden Mile", and about three and a half miles south of Kalgoorlie.

Without making our intention known to anyone Brookman and I started with pick and shovel before daylight for a Salmon Gum tree, standing alongside a camel pad on which the previous evening I had marked with the pick "P.P." (meaning Pearce prospector) this tree was allowed to stand for two or three years but eventually went the way of most trees and other things too - up in smoke. From this starting point we struck east into the scrubs for a half mile and came to the spot now known as the "Ivanhoe". The bushes Black Oak and Sandalwood were so numerous that it was impossible to see many yards in any direction we therefore had no fear of being observed. My attention was drawn first to several white quartz leaders running east and west and before long I discovered rough gold showings in one of them. This we proceeded to open up having first pegged out a prospecting area of 300 yards square in my own name as this leader did not seem to improve in width on sinking, although the gold still held out. Brookman agreed to keep on getting quartz whilst I endeavoured to trace it eastwards over the hill where I expected it to join a north and south reef or formation. I had left him barely half an hour when I suddenly came on to what I was seeking, a big north and south formation of quartzite and iron enclosed in diorite walls and the gold showing freely in every stone broken or picked up. After gathering in my arms about half a hundred-weight of the gold bearing matrix I returned with it to my mate and throwing the lot down at his feet exclaimed, there Brookman, is what I promised to find before leaving South Australia. You need not do any more here. We have got what we came for. He remarked. It is a lucky job too for there is only £7 left of the capital. We had not left home a month so that there was no time lost. This was the Ivanhoe reef which is still proving a mine of wealth and profit to the fortunate shareholders. After satisfying ourselves as to the value Brookman was despatched to Southern Cross to telegraph the gratifying news to our expectant shareholders in Adelaide. In my report I stated that the rock when put through the battery should average between three and four ounces to the ton and that the reef was from six to 10 feet wide. This estimate eventually proved correct.

In the meantime Captain Oats of the Fraser's South had been wired by our directors to proceed to the Ivanhoe and verify or condemn my report. The genial old Captain without recitation condemned my estimate saying that I had under estimated. His opinion of the value being at least 10 ounces to the ton. But the good old Captain had only been used to handling about three pennyweight stone and to see it sticking out in minute specks right through the hard blue quartzite was too much for him.

Pearce Finds The Great Boulder

Brookman had been away nearly a fortnight and I began to feel lonely. My drinking water ran out and to crown my misery the clerical manager as he was styled had taken all the cash with him and the only weapon we possessed, a revolver. The blacks were coming in from eastward in great numbers. The intense loneliness began to tell on my nerves. It was on Saturday evening, just a fortnight since I had been left alone, a memorable evening for myself as well as thousands of others. I had been working all day in the Ivanhoe shaft so I climbed out of the hole, took my pick and went for a walk towards Pearce's Hill, as it was afterwards called, about 200 yards east of our prospecting area. It was rather late in the day to be hunting for a reef. The sun had set and the twilight was darkening but after getting to the top of the ironstone blow, taking the north and south direction I followed it up carefully for about 50 yards until I came upon a small quantity of slate and diorite sticking up about six inch above the sand. There was not much of it, barely a bucketful, but what was my surprise and delight to see the glint of gold showing between the crevices. I got down on all fours for a closer examination and found scattered about several stones that had weathered away showing the precious metal. My first impulse was to leave the small outcrop alone until morning; but on second thoughts I got the pick under and raised the block in one piece from the yielding soil then carefully concealing the lump under my coat and with furtive glances around to discover any watchers as two men had been dryblowing in the vicinity previously. I made my way quickly back to my lonely camp and placed the treasure carefully away under the pillow of my bunk. Of course there was no sleep for me that night. When I was not listening for the footsteps of my mate's horse or what I dread more, the noise of the blacks away to the westward, I was busy calculating the value of my new find, however all nights come to an end no matter how long they seem. At daylight I picked up a spare post which we kept for an emergency like this. I placed it in the ground about 150 yards north of my find together with the legal notice taking possession of 24 acres on behalf of the Coolgardie Gold Mining and Prospecting Company of Adelaide. I then went home satisfied to breakfast feeling that No. 2 was going to enhance my own reputation and fill the pockets of the shareholders. But must admit that in my wildest dreams I never came near the value of that Saturday evening's walk, "The Great Boulder". About 9 o'clock on Sunday morning whilst building airy castles and wondering if I had better have tinned dog or horse for my dinner in honour of the occasion my quick ears detected the jingle of hobbles, and bell, and in a few minutes my lost mate had returned. My treasure was then produced from the tent and we were soon engaged in completing the pegging out. As I was the discoverer Brookman asked me to name it, which I did - "The Great Boulder" in honour of our alluvial claim in South Australia. (Near Kangarilla known as the Glen Taggart Rush.)

We soon started to work the new find. I next directed my attention to Pearce's Hill which was capped by huge ferruginous boulders. The presence of which suggests the name of the mine. We sent a bulk sample to Adelaide, about 80 pounds weight and in a short time we received the welcome news that the result of the treatment was something over 70 ounces to the ton. Only imagine our feelings when we knew there were thousands of tons of the same lying on the surface ready for the battery. From this date it was plain sailing for me. As far as finding gold mines was concerned I consequently turned my attention to the country on the east side as being likely to carry parallel reefs or lateral shoots and was not long in finding Boulder East, Lakeview, Australia, Royal Mint, Iron Duke and several others.

As I am not writing a book on the Golden Mile I have therefore omitted much of Pearce's account of the discovery of it. He also found the Horseshoe Mine. He only got about £4.18 from it. Altogether Pearce pegged out nearly 500 acres of ground for the Adelaide Syndicate in less than four months from leaving South Australia. For sometimes these great leases were ridiculed as wild-cats and as Brookman's sheep farm by the public and newspapers.

These phenomenal gold mines were taken up on or about the first week in July 1893 and for nearly three years whilst development was taking place they encountered gold bearing "lodes" a kind of ore unknown to the mine managers of those early days and it was tipped over the mullock dumps as worthless. As they only knew about quartz reef and quartz veins. This went on until an assayer and mining engineer named Arthur Holroyd assayed a sample from the mullock dump of the Block 45 mine raised from the 108 feet level and found in what appeared worthless mullock, a rich gold bearing "telluride". He published the result of his discovery in the Kalgoorlie Miner on June 1, 1896 and towards the end of the same year a man named Modest Maryanski arrived in Kalgoorlie from Cripple Creek, Colorado, United States of America and he confirmed Holroyd's discovery.

In a supplement of the Coolgardie Pioneer of July 3, 1897 a low-bred artist depicted Maryanski as an old woman dressed in a female garb, under it printed 24 lines of doggerel which ridiculed his names.

P.S. The Adelaide Syndicate that despatched Samuel Pearce and William Brookman to Western Australia was formed in the first week of June 1893 with a capital of £150. There being 10 shares of £15 each and five free shares which were allotted to Pearce and Brookman. The principal promoter of the said Syndicate was a brother of Brookman named George. They left Port Adelaide in the boat Australia on the seventh of June and after landing at Albany they journeyed to Perth to obtain a copy of the Mining Act and Miner's Rights. At York they purchased a spring dray and two horses on which they carried provisions and mining outfit and walked to Kalgoorlie. As for the finding of those great mines by Pearce, the discovery was both free from hardship and hard work. The gold had been lain there throughout the countless aeons of the past, long before a Eucalyptus sprig had made its appearance in Australia. Pearce being a practical prospector by possessing knowledge of both geology and mineralogy coupled with good luck found them by walking over the ground.

Originally there were 15 persons connected with this historic Adelaide Syndicate namely:- George Brookman, William Brookman, Samuel Pearce, John White, John Dick, W.E.J. Brocksopp, E.N. Wigg, Colin Templeton, F.D. Hadge, J.M. McBride, George P. Doolette, Dr J.A.G. Hamilton, R. McEwin, W.B. Wilkinson and Charles De Rose. Both George Brookman and George Doolette were knighted afterwards.

Who Discovered Kalgoorlie?

We have seen how the Golden Mile was discovered. We will now likewise briefly probe the truth of who was the real discoverer of this wonderful Goldfields. By the perverse idiosyncrasy of some persons the discovery of Kalgoorlie has been accredited to one named Hannan. They made a hero of him and honoured him adnauseam. They styled him a prospector. To designate him by a such epithet would be insulting the memory of that galaxy of genuine prospectors. To name only a few at random such as Hargreaves, Philosopher Smith, Bayley and Ford, Jerry McAuliffe, Jack Ready, Hall and Slattery, Wells, Anstey, Cutmore, Lockhart and the Peake brothers. This so called prospector never faced the unexplored bush, even for a mile, alone in search of Kalgoorlie or any other field. He suffered no hardship, no thirst and nor had to contend with hostile natives as many of the genuine prospectors had to do. Hannan was not all alone, he had two mates with him Thomas Flanagan and Daniel O'Shea. Indeed a rumour and the movement of a crowd of men contributed to the discoveiy of Kalgoorlie and the real facts are these:- on or about the beginning of June 1893 news was circulated in Coolgardie that gold had been found at Mount Yuille (also spelled Youle, Yule and Ewel) it was about 50 miles from Coolgardie. Forsooth it was a phantom mount. No one knew its situation, however Jack Ready sent out two teams in the charge of a man named Hatcher. John Lyons stated that this first party consisted of about 60 men travelling with Ready's teams nearly all a foot.

The first night they camped at Binduli, just past Mungari, also called the Nine Mile Rock with a gnamma hole holding water. Next morning they beheld Mt. Charlotte looming ahead and towards it they travelled that day. Their progress was slow through the trackless bush which up to that day was in its pristine state, untrodden at least by white men's feet. That evening they camped on the hill where the Maritana Bridge stands near the Railway Station. Finding no water they named the locality "Dry Camp" hence they remained two days in order to ascertain if there was any water ahead. Three days after the departure of this crowd and Ready's teams, Hannan and his mates with horses left Coolgardie and followed their tracks. (Hannan himself admitted it, that he left Coolgardie for the Mount Yuille rush three days later, June 7, 1893. According to a statement made by one Robert Maxwell seven years later (June 13, 1900) about eight teams with about 92 men left Coolgardie the same day as Hannan and mates did. On this it appears there were 10 teams and over a 150 men bound for the Yuille rush in the first batch only a few days after the rumour had spread in Coolgardie. We have now reached the critical stage of the discovery of the gold in Kalgoorlie. It is alleged that Hannan and his mates each claim to have picked up the first gold and each one has his version which somewhat differs from the other but as Flanagan was an integral man and far more reliable than the tale told by Hannan.

Flanagan's Version

I picked up small pieces of gold close to the camp next day. I walked along the base of Mount Charlotte and Cassidy Hill and when crossing the bed of a small creek I saw several pieces of gold lying on the sand. I was afraid to pick them up as I might have been seen by men higher up the hill so threw a bush on it and walked on. I told Hannan and Dan O'Shea of my discovery and we decided to get our horses and start apparently for Coolgardie. We did so but made a detour and watched the party until they left (for Mount Yuille). We then went to where I saw the gold and picked up about nine ounces. We dry blowed some of the sands along the creek and the results were so good we decided that Hannan should go to Coolgardie and apply for a Reward Claim. He was away three days and during that time Dan O'Shea and I specked about 100 ounces of gold.

By this unimpeached fact we see that Hannan's part in the discovery of Kalgoorlie is that his mates dispatched him to Coolgardie to apply for a Reward Claim whilst they stayed behind to guard the ground against any newcomers. He was away three days and during that time Hannan being of mean intelligence and devoid of frankness, but a sly fellow in applying for the Reward Claim he succumbed to his susceptibility of being thought a great prospector and thus arrogated all the credit of the discovery of Kalgoorlie to himself. In support of which he told lies and stuck to them right through. He could not very well deny that he had two mates but he silhouettised them, made them appear a kind of supernumerary. It was a mere chance that brought him into the limelight and the subsequent undeserved honours bestowed upon him.

Hannan stated that he applied for the Reward Claim on Saturday June 17, 1893. Next day being Sunday he stayed in Coolgardie. The news of the new find became known and a rush took place. A man named Syd Ward carrying a 901b swag and a gallon of water claimed to have been the first to reach Kalgoorlie, arriving there at 7 o'clock on Monday a.m. June 19th. Hannan also is supposed to have returned on this date. A man named John Lyons records thus:-

My mate F. Dugan and I had been prospecting and were going to Coolgardie for rations. Met Hannan returning to the new find. Told us of the discovery. We went with him and helped to peg the Reward Claim and then pegged an alluvial claim adjoining it. During that day the five of us represented the population of the future Kalgoorlie. At dusk many of the prospectors' friends arrived. Among whom were Cassidy, Paddy McGrath, Keefe and Tim O'Shea (brother of Daniel O'Shea). Meantime Jack Ready went on horseback to recall his teams and the big crowd of men going in search of the phantom Mount Yuille. How far they had gone we have no record of it and neither we have any record of the amount of the gold got out of the reward claim. After it was worked out the three mates separated. Flanagan went to the eastern colonies, he died there, but when and where not known.

Daniel O'Shea died in Perth September 8, 1908. He was a native of the Country Cork, Ireland where he was bom in 1837. A sketch of his life was published in the Kalgoorlie Miner of September 12th but we have no space to insert it here. Towards the end of his life the West Australian Government granted him an annuity. Only three disbursements are known to me namely:-1907 £100, 1908 £100 and 1909 £19. The latter small sum probably represented his funeral expense. Between Kalgoorlie and the Boulder City there is an obscure and short street named O'Shea (or Shea). I am not aware whether it is named after him or not. At the same time Hannan was granted an annuity of £100 but this was raised afterwards to £3 per week which he drew till he died. He lived at Brunswick (Melbourne) and died November 4, 1925 aged 83 years. He left his estate of about £1,500 to James Lynch. From the year 1921 until he died he engaged Miss Mary Lynch to look after him and nurse him. Apparently he thought her service was only worth the food. He paid her no wage. She brought an action against James Lynch (the executor of his estate) for £500 as recompense for her four years' work. The case was heard before Mr Justice Mann in the Melbourne court The judge awarded her £364. He assessed Miss Lynch's service at 35 shillings per week. I am not aware whether James Lynch and Miss Lynch are related.

During the centenary celebrations of Western Australia in 1929 the mayor and councillors of the municipality of Kalgoorlie asked the public to subscribe £400 for a memorial to Paddy Hannan in the form of a drinking fountain.

Surmounted by a figure of Hannan holding a waterbag they brought the Governor from Perth "Sir William Campion" to unveil it. The event took place on September 5, 1929. Besides the Governor, the principal speakers were Ben Leslie, Mayor of Kalgoorlie, Munsie, Minister of Mines, Coath, Mayor of Boulder City and Cunningham, Minister of Water Supply. These fellows belched out much gas. They lauded their hero to "Ad nauseum". They styled him a great prospector, a benefactor, a white man. Strange to record that either through their gross ignorance or through perversity of their will, none of them said a word of the fortuitous events which led to the discovery of Kalgoorlie and not one of the speakers had the decency to couple on this occasion the names of Flanagan and O'Shea, not a hint about them. As desserts to the fulsome eulogy of those men, a woman named Blair poured out her own quota in verse thus:-

To Paddy Hannan

A monument we have writ here thy fame.

That men soft stepping backward through the years.

May read the record, honour still thy name.

See in thy story that of pioneers.

Who dreaded not the toils of heat and thirst The long days march, who onward grimly pressed.

Who never like the weakling fell and cursed along the way; who never looked for rest until they reached the object of their goal.

Through them today we have our country heritage.

Spirits like theirs have made our country's soul.

The hardship included heat and thirst as alleged Hannan went through being the stillborn foetus of Blair's imagination. Kalgoorlie (or Dry Camp) was found in the middle of winter. There was water at the Nine Mile Rock. The distance from the new find to Coolgardie being only 24 miles. He went on horseback. It even came on to rain that day. Hannan did not blaze a track. Ready's teams and the crowd of men bound for Mount Yuille did that for him so he could not miss his way to go and fro. He was no bushman.

He being a creature of shallow intelligence, he easily succumbed to his susceptibility of being thought of as a great prospector and the sole discoverer of the gold on the Kalgoorlie field and he arrogated all credit and backed it with lies right through thereafter and those who should have known better before bestowing so much honours and furs upon him. They have so overrated his part that O'Shea and Flanagan's names are made to appear as a mere flitting pale shadow in the discovery of Kalgoorlie.

Facts Rebuff Paddy Hannan And Those Who Bolstered Him Up

W.B. Kimberley in his history of Western Australia after mentioning that Billy Frost and mate had discovered gold in May 1893 at the 90 Mile also called the Roaring Gimlet and still later called Goongarrie. He reached the discovery of Kalgoorlie thus; the next rush in June 1893, "Mount Yuille Rush" was reckoned to be 50 miles north-east of Coolgardie but no one knew where that mount lay. Between 50 and 100 men with cart and dray hurried off to the site the way thither lay through stunted scrubs (not exactly so) and was almost devoid of water. Via Mount Charlotte but it was soon alleged that the report of the rich gold there was circulated in the interest of the storekeepers who were unable to sell provisions and equipments at high prices. At any rate those who went so far as Mount Yuille returned disconsolated. The small exodus to Mount Yuille led to the second important discovery on the Yilgam Goldfields and the foundation of a mining field that has proved the wealthiest in Western Australia. A few of the men who set out for Mount Yuille camped at Mount Charlotte. Among them was Pat Hannan, Tom Flanagan and Dan O'Shea. There was feed but no water at this spot which was named Dry Camp and as the horses could not proceed without a drink. The men remained here for two days searching for native wells or rock soaks. Hannan returned for water at the Nine Mile Rock. It was whilst in his absence Flanagan found gold in the neighbourhood of Mount Charlotte in the first week of June 1893. When Hannan arrived Flanagan advised him to prospect in a week after the teams and men had resumed their journey to Mount Yuille. They picked up 100 ounces of alluvial gold on the surface. For discovery they did not whisper their secret to anyone and passers-by. On June 17, 1893 Hannan applied at Coolgardie for a Reward Claim. According to usage the application for leases were posted up at Registrar office and anyone could peruse these documents. The notice was posted at 9.00pm in the evening. The fact was soon observed by one and another and before many hours elapsed the news had spread throughout Coolgardie. The history of the exodus from the Southern Cross to Coolgardie was repeated during the night and from daylight on Sunday. There was a stampede from Coolgardie to the locality of the new find, reckoned to be 25 miles east-north-east of Coolgardie. The rush continued. There was scarcely 50 men left in the old camp. Some lost their way and arrived days later than they hoped and some were inadequately equipped for such an emergency. In a few days stores were opened at Kalgoorlie and men were scattered over the district scanning the surface and digging for alluvials. Leases were pegged out in every direction. Within three days there were 750 men in the field. At first there was a dearth of water but rain soon fell and the earth became too moist for dryblowing. To obviate this fires were lighted and the stuff burned before being submitted to the process. There was no sensational quartz as at Bayley's and only alluvial diggings was carried out at first. The early diggers were oblivious of the precious reefs which lay near there but while some searchers were getting rich gold, many were not finding sufficient to subsist them.

Hundreds went to the field with only enough money to last them in the journey and with insufficient food and mining necessities because of the scarcity and high rate of the provisions they would have been in a very serious straits had it not been for the fine fellowship which existed. Men were constantly being met in the bush who had no money, no food and no rich claim to sell. They lived on the charities of the strangers until they got employment or happened on a little gold. In setting out in the waterless and foodless desert without wherewith to sustain themselves they acted in the manner which would appear impossible to some men.

From The Cyclopedia Of Western Australia

The Cyclopedia of Western Australia, edited by James Sykes Battye, Librarian of the Public Library of Perth Vol. II page 357 contains the following about Hannan:-

.. but his advent in Coolgardie in 1892 marked the commencement of an era of prosperity, striking a fair alluvial proposition. A year later he trekked east and in company with his old mate Tom Flanagan prospected the country surrounding Kalgoorlie and within a week of arrival reported gold June 17, 1893. The report caused great excitement and was the signal for the biggest rush that had yet occurred on a

Western Australian field. After remaining for about a year during which time he received a reward claim from the Government, he returned to the east to recover his health which was seriously impaired... and again in Vol. II page 877 Battye states thus:-

... on June 1893 a prospector named Patrick Hannan applied for an alluvial claim on a spot 380 miles east of Perth and a rush set in to the scene of his discovery which was named Hannan's Find. This was the genesis of perhaps the most famous gold mining town in the world's history. When the original prospector discovered his claim and located himself on the spot no more desolated region could be described. Sand stunted scrub and rock, one of those stretches of country all too frequent in the desert portion of the interior of Western Australia - were the salient features of the landscape, but today on the same site is a modem city and no creation of the fictionist brain.

The foregoing account of the discovery of Kalgoorlie is the very antithesis of the unimpeachable facts known of the events that led to the discovery. The scribe who framed this was at the time either afflicted with gross ignorance of the discovery of this great Goldfield, or else a wilful falsifier of the truth. In order to enhance the credit of this pseudo hero the scribe ignored the fact that already there was an exodus to Mount Yuille and that he followed Ready's team and men to Dry Camp. The scribe depicted the country between Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie a desolated region of sand stunted scrub and rocks, indeed it was not exactly so.

I never met Flanagan and neither Dan O'Shea but I met Harman personally. A sly looking fellow, a mixture of both boorish and sheepish type of man. He was known at the Southern Cross and Coolgardie as "Pig Dung" Hannan. It was a mere windfall of good luck that flung him into the limelight. But hero-makers are a despicable breed of the human race who pile up honour on many of their fellows as benefactors whereas they are quite the reverse. Take for instance in Russia they parade to the public the ghastly carcass of a monstrous criminal to revere in the Red Square (Moscow) and in Kalgoorlie too they display the incongruous and uncouth figure of Hannan for admiration of the public who swallows the lie that he discovered Kalgoorlie. According to my opinion those men who blazed the track between Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie (of which Hannan availed himself when he went to apply for the Reward Claim as he was not a bushman) should have their names inscribed on a monument of some kind: At least Jack Ready deserved it for his teams blazed a track visible for anyone to follow. Hannan pointed out the spot where he alleged specked his first gold (and the Mayor and Councillors of Kalgoorlie concentrated all their meagre talent and planted a pepper tree on it) but he lacked honesty to point out where the very first gold was specked on the Kalgoorlie field by Tom Flanagan. One can gauge the mentality of this spurious and so called prospector of the Kalgoorlie field how Miss Mary Lynch had to go through the court to recover her service rendered to him in his last years of his life.

How Dan O'Shea Became Mate Of Hannan

An anonymous writer contributed the following to the Kalgoorlie Sun of January 24, 1909.

I asked O'Shea how he became mate of Paddy Hannan? The following is the reply:- When Jack Ready's teams and swampers were packing up for the Mount Yuille rush, (Hannan) came to my tent in Coolgardie and enquired it I was going to the rush? I said I was and then he asked me if I had any objection to Flanagan and himself travelling with me as he was not much of a bushman. I agreed and we started and caught up to the team (probably Dwyer's team meant here) and camped with them that night at Claypan. The next afternoon we came to the team (viz. Ready's team) who had started early. Camped a little north of what is now called Piccadilly on Dry Creek. Most of the men were searching for water. We noticed a spring cart track going over the end of what is now called Mount Charlotte and I follow it. I was in front of Hannan and Flanagan following. I happened to look around and saw Flanagan pick up something and put it in his pocket. I sang out is that gold? and he said it was. It turned out to be a five dwts piece. We turned then and camped a little bit away from the others. Teams and men kept coming in to camp. (Viz. Dry Camp) till late and some who had been looking for water came back with red water (Claypan water) and reported water in Claypan about four miles northeast. Next Monday morning I was about early and picked up a six ounce piece close to the camp.

The other diggers were pulling down their tents and preparing to leave. I showed Hannan and Flanagan what I had found and Hannan asked me what I intended to do? I replied I would go back to Coolgardie and get a bit of canvas and ask my brother Tim to come with me and prospect this bit of country. For it was no good running away from gold and I could pack water from the Claypan twelve miles back. It was then that Hannan, Flanagan and myself became mates and Paddy said he would go back as he knew where he could borrow some 10 gallon waterbags from the Barlow brothers and also bring some canvas if there was any in Coolgardie. Meanwhile we went into the bush where our horses were feeding and tied up the tongues of their bells. Shifting them to the gully running down from Maritana Hill. After all the others were gone, we pulled down our tents and shifted to what was afterwards called Red Hill [Probably later "The Monte Christo"] and where the tree is planted in honor of Paddy Hannan. Hannan then left for Coolgardie and went with him to the 12 miles Claypan and back to pack water and give the horses drink. That was the time you met him at Nine [Mile] Rock. Tim came back with him. My brother was the first to find the water in Lake Gamballie. If had not been for Charlie John Moran and Mulga George Taylor and two other I would have been left in the cold. Give honor to him to whom honor is due.

Tim O'Shea Contradicts Hannan

In the Kalgoorlie Sun of January 10, 1909 Tim O'Shea wrote thus:-

Hannan's statement is untrue and a slight on my dead brother Dan O'Shea. Not one called to see my brother while he was in his bed and not one of whom followed the remains to the cemetery. The only person to show him the last respects was a gentleman from Leederville. Hannan asked me to remove a false impression. I definitely state that I have no false impression to remove. I repeat that my brother the late Dan O'Shea discovered Kalgoorlie but he was pushed back by the more enterprising Hannan. Hannan states that he and Flanagan started out alone from Coolgardie and that when they arrived where Kalgoorlie now stands, they saw Dan O'Shea pass them on the way to Mount Yuille. He adds that he and Flanagan went down and found gold on the side of Mount Charlotte. He further states: I proposed to my partner (Flanagan) that we should follow Dan and ask him to join us and take a share. If they made such a great find is it likely they would go 90 miles out of their way, to ask a comparative stranger to share wealth. Besides if they had followed my brother, all the rest of the party on the way to Mt. Yuille would have turned back. As I said before there is not a word of truth in Hannan's statement.

Why does he not tell the truth, and say that he, my brother, and Flanagan left Coolgardie together and travelled as mates with the others on the way to Mount Yuille and that they camped at where Kalgoorlie now stands. When the crowd struck camp next morning to continue their journey the three were the last to leave. My brother was leading, Hannan second and Flanagan last. Flanagan specked a five Dwts piece of gold and called out "Turn back, I have found gold" and they turned, camped, went specking each in different directions. Dan O'Shea was the man who found the first nugget weighing six ounces. My brother travelled 18 miles for water and it was through Hannan applying for the Reward that his name was mentioned first (he put himself first of course) and the public naturally thought he had found the place.

P.S. If there is a word or two of discrepancy in the foregoing we deem it venial because Tim O'Shea wrote it from memory 16 years after the event.

One of the early Editors (and probably a shareholder) of the Kalgoorlie Miner in the year 1896 spent two hours in Hannan's company. The pseudo discoverer of Kalgoorlie, and of course he published the result of the interview in his paper. Here is a piece of it:-

I spent a couple of hours walking (with Hannan) over the alluvial workings in the vicinity of Maritana Hill, Mt. Charlotte and Cassidy's Hill whilst he talked freely to me of his great discovery, answered my questions readily and frankly. The appearance of the countiy had evidently undergone considerable change. Most of the trees had disappeared. The gullies and hills are scarred with mine workings still when I asked him to show me the place where he first found gold he seemed to have no difficulty or hesitation. He glanced at the hills and with a bushman's unnerring instinct he brought me and pointed to what he told me was the exact spot.

Hannan took great care not to point out where Flanagan had discovered the very first on the Kalgoorlie field and nor where Dan O'Shea had picked up a six oz nugget. Dan O'Shea contradicted Hannan's version but the Editor of Miner who had concentrated his intellect on Hannan's story during the two hours walk with him turned a deaf ear to Dan O'Shea's version.

How The Mt. Yuille Rush Started

The same anonymous writer who wrote about Dan O'Shea has contributed the following to the Kalgoorlie Sun of January 24, 1909. How the Mount Yuille rush started. He states thus:-

The blacks about Coolgardie talked about plenty picking up gold and pointed on the direction of the mythical Mount Yuille. Which was shown on the early charts North-East distant about 40 miles or as the blacks called it "two sleeps". The writer Jack Colreavy, Harry Bleavine and George Cox immediately formed a party and started with pack horses about the middle of May 1893 taking a route via Canegrass swamp. Near Mount Burgess thence we struck north-east and to where the Black Flag now stands there we were surprised to hear horse bells. We camped and had a good look round. We met Billy Frost and Dyson and two other mates whose names I forgot., Next day Billy Smith and Harry Page came across. They were returning from the "Roaring Gimlet Rush" (now called Goongarrie) on their way to Coolgardie. Frost and party were working alluvial in the lake four or five miles from their camp. We prospected for a few days. We went back to Coolgardie for fresh supply. We met Hannan at Nine Mile Rocks. It was Saturday June 17th and he told us that Jack Ready's teams with about 40 swampers were following us out as we were reported to be on good gold at Mount Yuille and that they were camped about 25 miles further on and that he thought it was a hoax. That he had turned back and expected the others to do the same. It was raining, our party invited him to stay in their tent that night but he said he had a good feed and was fresh so preferred to go to Coolgardie to his good camp. Next morning we saw in the distance a swagman. We stopped him and to our surprise we found out it was George Bolger the bookmaker carrying the largest swag I ever saw. He told us an old Irishman (Hannan) going to the Warden the previous night (Saturday) with a lot of gold and reporting a rush 30 miles north-east of Coolgardie. We wished him (Bolger) good luck and pushed on. Between there and Coolgardie we passed about 100 men all walking with a load - all the available flour at the time was portioned out at lOlbs per man. The weighing being done by the late James Paisley, the pioneer baker, storekeeper. We purchased what we could get and hurried to the rush. Arrived June 24, 1893 and there I made my acquaintance with Dan O'Shea. About three years ago in Perth, I asked O'Shea how he became mate of Hannans?

(See earlier pages 82, 83)

Kalgoorlie Townsite

Declared September 7th 1894. Situated in Lat. 30 S45 Long 121 E30 and 1240 feet above sea level. 380 miles east of Perth, 24 miles Coolgardie and 12 miles from the White Feather [Kanowna]. Roughly lies at the base of Mount Charlotte and Maritana Hill. It has a good watershed west. Its streets are as wide as those in Coolgardie. The Main Street which runs about east-west is named after the pseudo discoverer of Kalgoorlie. The Maritana Street runs north-south. It crosses the main street at right angles. At the east of this central street lies Porter Street, at west is Cassidy Street, south side is James McDonald's leading condenser. He sells water at six pence per gallon. The leading stores of which I have bought my commodities are Fimister and McKenzie. Kalgoorlie was declared municipality February 16th 1895 and they had their first election on the 4th of May. There were four candidates for mayoralty namely:- John Wilson (polled 43 votes), W.G. Brookman (35), L. Geogham (32), W.H. Knight (7 votes), Wilson won the seat. There were 16 candidates for the councillors but six of them were elected as follows:- J.W. Fimister (polled 22 votes), R.D. McKenzie (also 22 votes), S.E. Ward (20), E.J. Roberts (17), J.P. Lee (17) and H. Waddock (12 votes). A.H. Bartlett was appointed town clerk.

Before the municipal election the affairs of Kalgoorlie was attended to by a progress committee of which Geogham was chairman and Charlie Cutbush was secretary.

There are two hospitals in Kalgoorlie, the government is the principal one. The first Dr. was named Martin and the present one is named George Walter Barber. The first matron was a Mrs Alderdice. The present matron is Miss Way. Charlie Cutbush is the chairman of the hospital committee. The other is Mrs Becham's private hospital.

P.S. Mrs Becham's private Hospital was burnt down March 8, 1897. Damage £500.

The Londonderry And The Great Boulder Mines

The Londonderry Mine near Coolgardie was only a pot hole bubble a few feet deep. It only enriched the prospectors who found it. After they won some £30,000 worth gold they sold it for £180,000. It also gave crumbs to a number of Lazaruses but no town sprung up whereas the mines pegged out by Samuel Pearce and Bill Brookman are giving the impetus to build a town "Kalgoorlie”.

Amongst all those mines the Great Boulder present is in evidence. It is truly said that at the 150 feet level the lode is about 12 feet wide and of good grade ore. At that level on the eastern or footwall side is a seam about two feet wide which simply glistens with gold. The stone in places being simply hidden by the coating of gold which overlies it. In the crevices of the rock are deposits of almost pure gold in masses of fine particles. While solid lumps of gold up to 10 ozs in weight are at times knocked out. Last month (December 6th 1895) the Kalgoorlie Miner published the following crushing from the Great Boulder Mine;

August 1894    -    30    tons    for    155    oz.

April 18, 1895    -    30    tons    for    331    oz.

May 9, 1895

128

tons

for

1,289

oz.

May 24, 1895

142

tons

for

1,276

oz.

June 8, 1895

126

tons

for

1,017

oz.

June 22, 1895

161

tons

for

1,282

oz.

July 6, 1895

157

tons

for

1,227

oz.

July 20, 1895

190

tons

for

1,706

oz.

August6, 1895

176

tons

for

1,896

oz.

August 20, 1895

160

tons

for

1,310

oz.

September 3, 1895

392

tons

for

2,212

oz.

September 17, 1895 -

403

tons

for

2,595

oz.

October 1, 1895

345

tons

for

1,879

oz.

October 15, 1895

357

tons

for

1,753

oz.

October 28, 1895

285

tons

for

1,455

oz.

November 10, 1895

345

tons

for

1,879

oz.

November 24, 1895

200

tons

for

1,212

oz.

Total    3,079    tons    for    23,873    oz.

Lake Gamballie

January 7, 1896 I slept middling well it being a cold night. Got up 6.00am. Pretty warm day all day. Breakfast 6.35am; three buns and cocoa. Afterwards went to town to buy some stores from Fimister and Co. a tin Nestles milk 1/1, lib pressed potatoes 1/1, a tin apricots 1/7, a two gallon water bag 2/6, two lb onions 1/2, a loaf bread 1 Id, one gallon water 6d. Left half of my things with ...too heavy to carry it, went to the hospital. The secretary supplied me with a list of all those persons who have died in the hospital up to date. Dinner 12.30pm; bread, cheese and tea. At 1.00pm I started for I.O.U. with the wheelbarrow. I passed the Great Boulder Mine 2.30pm. I reached the Six Mile Patch, here I had a chat with two chaps dry-blowing. At 3.55pm I reached Lake Gamballie which about 8 miles south Kalgoorlie. Here I camped about 600 yards north of Lakeview Hotel owned by F. Dwyer. Here are a lot condensers, probably over a dozen of them. The salt water is very shallow, in place 12 feet deep and upwards. They sell water at 4d per gallon. I made some stew of potatoes, onions and minced beef. Partook of it with bread and tea at 6.00pm. After supper had a look over this morning Kalgoorlie Miner. Went to the Hotel for a while. Retired at 9.00pm. The country between here and Kalgoorlie is pretty well timbered, mostly Gum trees. From about the Great Boulder Mine to here the ground gradually runs in to a flat strewn with ironstone, salt bushes and other scrubs.

I.O.U.¹⁰

January 8, 1896 I slept pretty well last night. Got up at 5.00am. It being a gloomy morning with sign of rain at 5.30am. A few drops fell then cleared up and pretty warm all day. About 4.00pm began to get cloudy. The wind first started to blow from the north-east then changed gradually to the west. At 5.30pm a dust storm arose from the west and lifted great clouds of dust and finished up with a few drops of rain. Then remained cloudy. About 7.45pm another little shower of rain fell, lasted about 5 minutes. After I got up went to buy three gallons water off one of the condensers at 4d per gallon. Breakfast at 5.30am; bread, half tin apricots and tea. At 5.55am I think I started for the

I.O.U. which is about 22 miles from Kalgoorlie (east). On the road I met a chap going to Kalgoorlie with a water bag only and another one carrying a swag, a waterbag and a billy can going to Kalgoorlie also. At 11.30am horses with four wagons passed me going to Peake's Find. They stopped for lunch at

II.45am and I stopped too and had dinner at 12.00pm; another half tin apricots, bread and tea, I started on the road again at 12.55pm while the wagoners were still resting. Three of them had six horses each and the other had five horses to his wagon in all 23 horses. Two men in a trap with one horse overtook me about nine miles from the I.O.U. They pulled up to have a

10 I.O.U. was the early name for Bulong.

87

little chat and they repassed me on their return journey to Kalgoorlie about three miles from the township. At 1.30pm I passed the Kumalpi Road. At 2.30pm I reached the I.O.U. I halted about north of the new township and about 300 yards from the Bulong Hotel kept by C.H. Reid. I bought one gallon water off Reid 4d and as I started to make some stew, presently I saw the chap named Rowley (one of the party we travelled from Lake Darlot to Pendennie) coming towards me. We had a chat. At 5.30pm a shower of rain came on. We pitched the tent in hurry. The rain put out my fire. I lit it again. I offered Rowley some stew, he refused it. He went away at 6.45pm. After supper I pitched the tent properly, sat down on the bed. 7.50pm wrote the foregoing. Had a look through the Sydney Bulletin. Blew out the candle 9.00pm.

LO.U. - January 9,1896 I slept middling well. It has been a pretty warm day. Some flying clouds were hovering today. At 9.00am I went to Carry's Store in the old township site, bought a tin apricots 1/9, a tin curry powder 1/-. At 10.00am I went to the Bulong Hotel owned by Mr Reid to get water. He told me to get it behind an unoccupied hotel. I got seven gallons free. I washed a pair of trousers and a flannel shirt. Passed the rest of the day at the camp. Done a lot reading. Coolgardie Courier and Bulletins. Also washed a handkerchief. Retired at 10.20pm. Breakfast 7.30am; bread, tin sardines and cocoa. For lunch ditto (tea) at 1.00pm. Supper 5.45pm; stew and tea.

P.S. I got up at 7.00am.

LO.U. - January 10,1896 I slept middling well. Up 6.00am. Very warm day. After breakfast I took a walk to the hospital. I noticed an old chap there sick and another man (also sick) named Bell. I had a long chat with the latter. Thence I strolled to where McIntyre and party won £9,000 worth gold out of a Mullockey leader. Thence to my camp. After dinner took a walk over John Mahor's Gully and thence to B.J. Carry's Store. Bought a packet oatmeal 1/6, a lb sugar 7d, a tin meat 1/1, thence went to get a gallon water at Mr Reid. A little girl named Amy filled my water, paid 4d. Stayed all the evening in camp reading scraps of newspapers which I picked up during the day. Retired 9.45pm. Breakfast 7.30am; half tin apricots, bread and cocoa. Dinner at 1.05pm; stew and tea. Supper 5.00pm; the same what I had for breakfast. LO.U. - January 11, 1896 Slept well last night. Got up 7.00am. It being a gloomy morning, overcast it cleared up and turned out a very hot day. At about noon was thundering in the east and looked like raining. On the west black clouds began to rise and at 4.45pm came on to rain heavy. The shower lasted till 5.00pm then again from 5.45pm till 8.30pm. After breakfast this morning I went prospecting towards Lake Yindarlgooda and as I walked along kept an eye on the ground right and left hoping to pick up a piece of gold but no such luck. I reached the Lake 11.00am which is about 4 miles south-east of the township. I had a chat with Samuel, Tom Carmichael's mate. He has a condenser here with two other men. I started again for the township 12.00pm and arrived at 1.00pm. In the afternoon I bought off Carry's Store a tin fruit 1/9, a tin peas 1/, a tin honey 1/6 and off the baker Otto Vetter a loaf bread 9d and a browney (lib) 1/6. At 4.45pm came on to rain. I managed to boil the billy in the rain. Read some scraps of newspapers. Retired 8.30pm. At 8.10am; porridge and milk, At 2.10pm; stew and tea. At 7.00pm; half browney and tea.

LO.U. - Sunday January 12, 1896 Slept well last night. Got up 7.40am. It has been a gloomy day, threaten to rain but it has kept dry. After breakfast I took a stroll towards the township. From there to Mystery Mine. From thence back I met Rowley by the old township site. Came to my tent. Wrote down notes of what is known about the I.O.U. After dinner we went to Mrs Page. We had a drink Hop Beer. I paid for it 1/. There I left him. I went to Mr Carry. Supplied me with some notes about the I.O.U. thence went to Mr Paisley. Got some more from him. He is a married man. He has a wife and a little daughter named Ida or Ada aged about nine years or thereabout. From there I went to attend a meeting at the Bulong Hotel. Mr C.H. Reid was voted as chairman. It being an open air meeting the object of the meeting was to protest against the Mine Department removing the register of the leases from the I.O.U. and transferring it to Perth. There were present between 40 to 50 men. After the meeting I went to have supper. Afterwards I went to the hospital. Stayed there till 9.00pm. Had a talk with Mr Jay the hospital orderly and Mr Ramsden and John Walker. I wrote down some notes about this field. Returned to my tent and retired 10.00pm.

P.S. It being a darksome night, clouded and wind blowing from north-south. Breakfast 9.10am; porridge with milk and cocoa. Dinner at 1.00pm; Browney, bread, honey and tea. Supper 7.00pm; stew and tea. Bought off Carry a tin milk 1/, a loaf bread off Otto Vetter 9d.

The Discovery Of The I.O.U.

I met Mr John Mohar in 1896 and he favoured me with the following account of himself:-

I was born at Mitchelstown County Cork in Ireland in 1862. Migrated to New Zealand in 1872. In 1880 went to New South Wales thence went to Kimberley, Western Australia. Stayed there three years then went to Northwest, Cossack and Pilbara. From there went to Ashburton and to the Murchison thence I came down to Geraldton and to York thence to Coolgardie. Arrived at Coolgardie ten days after it was found. Fortnight after Kalgoorlie was found I travelled East about 18 miles with my brother Thomas, a black boy and 11 horses. I camped on the top of the hill of Mohar's Gully. I got 21 lbs of gold by specking. Half oz was the biggest piece in 28 days. When I left Coolgardie I was going to prospect about The Pinnacle. I came back to Kalgoorlie. I bought McKenzie's claim for two oz of gold. In five weeks got 150 oz of gold. Three months after finding the first gold I went back to the I.O.U.

and in nine days I specked 50 oz of gold. Then I was found out by Kelly and Campbell. (Kelly was speared by the blacks at Mt. Ida 12 months afterwards.) Then I left for Taurus two days after. I got a few ounces of gold there then I went towards Lake Lefroy and where Widgiemooltha is now, one mile east of Cardiff Castle. Got about 30 oz of gold then I went to Siberia. Got 40 oz of gold in six weeks thence I went towards Lake Barlee but I lost my horses and tracked them to the Southern Cross. (I walked all that distance) thence travelled to York. There left them in George Leake's paddock and rode the horse called Tiger to Perth. There spelled for seven weeks. After joined Smith and we drove 1,040 sheep and cattle to Coolgardie and started butchering in February 1894 in a bough shed in Fly Flat. After we built this place (in Bayley Street) of timber and iron we shifted into it on the 18th of March 1895. The present building is 18 feet x 30 feet.

P.S. Mohar had brother named Thomas with him when he discovered gold at the I.O.U.

I.O.U. Townsite

The I.O.U. was declared a townsite on the 29th November 1895. It was then the name was changed to Bulong, also spelled sometimes in those days Boolong. Its position lies in Lat 30.S.46. Long 121.E47 distant about 22 miles from Kalgoorlie. The first municipal election took place on December 21, 1896. The first Mayor was McCartney and the first Councillors were Messrs Bart, Carry, Brewer, Walker, Waldock, Vetter and Burmeister. Bulong flourished as a pleasant township for many years whilst the mines yielded gold and then declined and was pulled down. It is now a ghost town. Its best mines were the Queen Margaret, the Melbourne United, the Great Oversight and the Mystery.

Lake Lapage

January 13, 1896 Slept middling well. Got up at 5.20am. Gloomy morning threatening to rain all day. Now and again a few drops of rain fell and cool day. At 5.55am; partook of breakfast; bread, honey and cocoa. At 6.35am I started for Kumalpi which is 40 miles from the I.O.U. and 84 miles from Coolgardie. At 9.25am (and about 6 miles from the I.O.U.) I came to a very beautiful Kurrajong tree standing a yard away at right hand side of track. Is about 18 inches thick and about 20 feet high. It has four main branches. It stands on a flat ground and east of a hill. At 11.45am 13 miles or so from

I.O.U. I halted and boiled the billy and had lunch at 12.00pm; bread and tinned roast beef and tea. Started again at 12.45pm. At 1.45pm I reached Lake Yindarlgooda approximately 17 miles from the I.O.U. This lake has romantic geological scenery. Amongst the sights there are two table top hills near each other. They seem like if they were heaved up from the bottom of the lake but may be more probably that the whole lake at one time was a high land and it subsided at some remote geological period and these hills being hard core were left standing. I am not quite certain. I think the one on the Kumalpi side is named Mount Yindarlgooda and the other on the I.O.U. side is named Mount Magnet. I have no aneroid to measure their heights. They seem over 200ft high and composed of diorite quartz and iron and covered with scrubs. The lake is four miles wide where I crossed it. For the wheelbarrow I found in places very soft and hard in other places. At 2.00pm I passed the table top hills. At 4.10pm I passed an old shaft about 20 feet deep. On a board nailed on a stick was written this:-

To the Jean [Editor's Note: Queen?] Lapage Mine - east hand track 3 miles S.E. Mullis andA.H. Brown.

At 4.20pm I reached the opposite side of Lake Yindargooda. At 5 .00pm I reached Lake Lapage. About 3 miles from Lake Yindarlgooda. Good track for the wheelbarrow. At 5.37pm I got over Lake Lapage. For half a mile or so being awfully soft I nearly bursted myself pushing the barrow. After I crossed the lake I travelled for a while and camped at 6.12pm about 3 miles east and about one mile north of Lake Lapage and about 29 miles off I.O.U. I felt very tired indeed. I pitched the tent and lit the fire. Made some soup out of a tin peas and tinned roast beef. Partook of it at 7.10pm with a drink tea. At 7.45pm I laid down to sleep on a bed of Mulga boughs and other bushes.

P.S. The country between I.O.U. and Lake Yindarlgooda is broken in a lot of hills and interspersed with long stretches of flats. Pretty well timbered. Salmon Gums, Sheoaks, Mulga, Kurrajongs, Quandongs, Sandalwood, other trees and scrubs such as salt bushes. Between Lake Yindarlgooda and Lake Lapage the country is flat, composed of Ironstone and middling timbered (mostly Sheoaks and some gum trees, salt bushes and other scrubs).

Kurnalpi

January 14, 1896 Slept middling well. Got up 6.05am. A very gloomy morning threatening to rain. At 11.30am a light shower fell. Lasted 15 minutes. After then kept dry all the afternoon and no sign of the sun both yesterday and today. Breakfast 6.45am; bread, honey and cocoa. At 7.10am I started for Kurnalpi. At 8.30am I reached the Cane Grass Swamp. Here I had chat with a man (who is condensing water), for half an hour. Started again at 9.00am. At 10.50am I came to Success Mine. It has a 4 stampers battery situated on a bit of rise. It started crushing about April 1895. At 11.30am came on a little shower of rain. I halted and boiled the billy. Had lunch at 11 45am; bread, Sydney tinned roast beef and tea. I being only two miles and a half from Kurnalpi at this spot. Started again at 12.20pm. When within a mile and a half from Kurnalpi came to a condenser run by Cocks or Cox. Here bought two gallons water 4d per gallon. At 1.25pm I reached Kurnalpi. I camped below the new townsite, under the large gum tree and about 200 yards from the Kurnalpi hotel and off the Coolgardie road. After I pitched the tent I went to the old township , half a mile away south-east of the new one. There I bought one lb preserved potatoes 1/2, 1 l/21b onions 1/, one tin meat 1/, a loaf bread 1/, returned to my camp. Done cooking. Supper 6.10pm; stew and a drink tea. Afterwards read scraps of old newspapers found in abandoned camp site. Retired 9.30pm.

January 15, 1896 I slept middling well. Got up 7.00am. Gloomy morning. About 2.00pm began to clear up. The black clouds began to disperse and it came on very hot. About 6.00pm began thundering and lightning from the east and black clouds began to gather. About 9.00pm a light shower of rain fell for two or three minutes duration. After breakfast I strolled over the alluvial workings such as Shannan and Mentor Gullies, over Social Flat, Burgler Gully and Deep Lead. The Reward Claim and many other places. At 1.00pm I took a stroll to the Cemetery Gully one and a half miles from the townsite. There are six graves, five nameless and the other only has "Mountain" imprinted with black letter on a little board nailed on a stick. Thence went to the store at the old township. Bought a gallon water 5d, one lb pressed potatoes 1/2, half lb candles. At the baker Bugleons a loaf bread 1/ and information about Kurnalpi. Got back to my camp 4.00pm. Done the cooking. After supper went to Reid's Store to get two tins meat 2/ and when I left to come back it was pitch dark and I done a good deal of wandering in the bush before I found my tent. (10pm looked through some old newspapers and retired 11.30pm.)

P.S. Breakfast 8.00am; Avena porridge with milk. Dinner 12.00pm; half tin apricots, bread and tea. Supper 6.00pm; a plate stew, half tin apricots, bread and tea.

Kurnalpi Goldfield

The Kumalpi Goldfield at time of its discovery was called Billi Billi⁷.

Is situated 40 miles east of Kanowna and about the same distance from the I.O.U. by the old track and lies in Lat. 30.32 south Long. 122.15E. Declared townsite January 25, 1895. It flourished for many years. When at its best it had a post office, money order office, telephone, mining registrar office, police station, miners institute, two hotels; the Kumalpi Hotel kept by Martin Lardner, the Exchange Hotel by McLeod, a chemist shop by Jay, a boarding house by Miss Bell Kelly, a butcher shop by William Docwra, two stores; Lavis and Hall; and Lardner and Co. Kumalpi is 440 miles from Perth. The affairs of the district was watched by a progress committee. No vestige of all the buildings now remain - only a few old men are camping upon the deserted field.

The New Cemetery is now situated the midst of thick scrub, a mile or so south where the townsite stood. There are eight graves all in line, seven of them are nameless but one has a cast iron fence and a fine marble headstone inscribed thereon thus:-

In loving memory of Beatrice Morris who died April 12, 1900 aged 22 years, fit is said that she was a barmaid in one of the hotels). The last buried here was Owen Ellis).

The Discovery Of Kurnalpi

Among the genuine prospectors who penetrated the trackless unknown region of Western Australia in quest of gold and who unlike the pseudo and much bolstered up hero of Kalgoorlie, neither applied for a reward claim and nor paraded himself in the limelight was John Joseph Ready the discoverer of Billi Billi (afterwards called Kurnalpi). Ready died in Kalgoorlie September 4, 1933 aged 69 years. Buried in the Roman Catholic portion of the cemetery. The number of his grave is 7653 and with him carried his life's story and the true account of the discovery of gold at the Billi Billi. I camped with Ready on January 17, 1896. He was then mnning a condenser seven miles east of White Feather at a spot still known as Ready Soak. At left of which a road led to the Camilia also called Kalpini 18 miles, the other at the right to Kurnalpi and nearby is the Perkolilli Automobile Racecourse. On the said date Ready very willingly supplied me with a brief sketch of his life and how he discovered gold at Billi Billi and unfortunately I lost that paper and I only possess a few scraps of items about him. As are known to the man in the street, and for what they are worth are as follows:- (1) that before Bayley and Ford (it is said) Ready, Patrick Cherry, Michael Hogan and Charlie Johnson started from Parker's

Range with horses. Went out prospecting as far as the Pinnacle thence down the Hampton Plains to Lake Lefroy. There they got payable gold. Running short of provisions they returned to Parker's Range. (2) Bayley on one or two occasions declared that before he went down to the Southern Cross to apply for his Reward Claim, Ready sprung up at his camp suddenly and even so suddenly disappeared. It is not known whether this happened whilst going out to the Pinnacle or coming from Lake Lefroy. (3) When the Mount Yuille rush broke out Ready was carting water from the Gnarlbine Soak to Coolgardie. He dispatched two teams to take the swampers to that phantom Mount in charge of a man named Hatcher and which ere the Kalgoorlie rush broke out he went after the teams and men, to recall them. (4) It is said that after Jerry McAuliffe discovered the White Feather, Ready came to this new find and being a shrewd as well as a good bushman, he showed some pieces of gold to some natives. With help of his black boy Joe as interpreter he made a lavish promise of tucker if they would show him the place where to pick them in plenty. They led him to "Billi Billi" and they specked a lot of gold for him and he in return fed them well. As at that time the natives did not know the value of the gold, they thought he was mad to engage them to collect those yellow stones and they wondered what he was going to do with them. It will never be known what amount of gold they gathered for him (of course he specked some himself) one man in the street says 500 oz, another says 1,000 oz and still another 1,300 oz. They say that he carried his gold in a water tank before he deposited it in the bank. One thing is quite certain, Ready did not do any digging. All his gold was picked up on the surface and he had the field all to himself till a man named Slater came upon him and he in turn obtained a lot of gold and a Reward Claim as well; according to Charlie Menz the rush to Billi Billi took place on or about the middle of February 1894. For he with Frank Cridland, threw up their job at the Bissenberger Leases to go to the rush. They failed to strike gold and returned broke and were re-engaged again. Amongst the hundreds that rushed to this new field was a one armed man named Jamie Mavor. I do not know if he ever got any gold but I imagine he got plenty of discomfort with one arm. When he returned he took a contract on the sanitary work at the Boulder Mines (or Boulder City) later on engaged gardening. It is said he died in Perth.

Mavor was a married man and reared a family of six, three boys and three girls namely:- James (eldest) the other two were twins named Len and George, the girls were named Annie (eldest), Lizzie and Jessie.

Briefly the contour of Kurnalpi is mostly formed of gentle rising hills capped with Ironstone, gullies, and flats. Covered with thick scrubs and gum trees towering above these. The Kurnalpi diggings was very shallow and the gold mostly coarse nuggets. A great number were unearthed. None of them were even a third of the weight of the Welcome Stranger found by John Deason and Richard Oats (in 1869) at Moliagul, Victoria, weighing 2,316 oz valued at £9,553 yet the Kumalpi nuggets or slugs were fairly big. It is said a man

94

named Baker found one weighing 261bs⁸ (or 27 lbs) another one weighing 221bs⁹ both these found in Minter's Gully. A man known as Happy Jack (Simmonds) found one weighing a 130 oz in the Cemetery Gully and a host of other big and small were unearthed. Social and Spud Flats, Cemetery, Burglar, Minter, Slater's Gullies all yielded coarse gold. It is said that 2,000 men rushed to this field and in the first six months about 20,000 ounces of gold was unearthed but in reality no one ever knows the actual amount of the gold taken from the Kumalpi field.

The place called the Six Mile was found by Arthur and Robert Evans about the first week in June 1894. One of the first to peg out there was Bill Gunn and Tom Burgess. Happy Jack found here a 108 oz slug. Amongst the many unlucky ones who failed to get any at Kumalpi, we instance a man named Tom Burgess. It is related that he had a claim in Slater Gully and worked hard without striking anything. He was disgusted with his claim and one day three jaunters came along. They were in the act of going to attend an auction sale, and on the spur of the moment Burgess told them that they could have his claim. He lifted his tools and walked off the lease, leaving a little patch (called by the diggers a paddock) he had stripped which he intended to dryblow later on. The men later found three large slugs, the smallest weighed 75 ozs. Amongst this roll-up that took on this Goldfield (Billi Billi) is one in particular recorded (in John Marshall's book Battling For Gold) not on strict historical line but, related in an exaggerated vein. It was about two men who were mates. Their names are given as Bull and Winter. They are either fictitious or guillotined. They had a claim in Mentor Gully. Winter cheated Bull of 20 oz gold. Another version declared that he cheated his mate of 5 oz however at the roll-up Winter was adjudged guilty. Compelled to make good the share of gold to his mate and ordered to quit Kumalpi. Bull got the whole claim also. It appears that Bull was a lazy-bones whilst Winter was a hard worker and seems to have done a good deal more work than his mate and probably thought he deserved a little extra for his effort. This Roll up took place about 47 years ago. It is said that Winter's true name being William Winterbottom and the other Turnbull. I do not vouch for the truth of those names.

If a scribe of lively imagination had written down every concise account of the incidents that happened in the first few months on the Kurnalpi diggings and also if a painter could have stood upon an high eminence overlooking the whole of the Billi Billi Field, gullies, flats and gentle rising hills and delineate with his pencil on broad canvas whilst the diggers were delving for gold by day amidst the pristine bushes and by night say from about sunset till about the hour 11.00pm gathered in big and tiny groups around so many camp fires telling of the varied anecdotes whilst their dampers were baking either in camp ovens or amidst the live ashes. What an interesting picture they would have made.

Jack Ready

Whilst writing the foregoing my memory has been refreshed with a few items of what Ready told me on January 17, 1896 and which I wrote down on four pages of paper and which I lost sometime afterwards;

1.    that he discovered the soak 7 miles east of the White Feather.

2.    that it was from there that he went to the field called by the natives Billi

Billi (Kurnalpi) with horses (two or three) and spring    dray    with

provision and a little tank of water. He had no white man for a mate.

3. having shown some pieces of gold to the natives he told them that if they showed him where to pick up plenty of them he would give them "plenty tucker".

I do not know the number of the natives that accompanied him to the scene. The distance from the soak was indicated to him by the number of the "sleep down" and the sun going down so many times he quite understood that the place was two or three days walk. As for the gleaning of the Golden Harvest here the first was shown to him lying upon the ground. He set to work. He dug no holes, used no pick and shovel. The gold was gathered up by specking. He improvised a large rake of Mulga and Gum boughs in the shape of a harrow and harnessed a horse to drag it along exposing the gold that lay under the dry bush and grass with natives behind to pick it up. This was the principal means employed, and he prospected it in narrow long strips.

Mulgabbie

Mulgabbie is situated about 36 miles north-easterly of Kurnalpi. It is entirely outside of the trail of my wheelbarrow and has no place in it. My concern is only to rescue from oblivion two personal items namely:- a man named John Simmons better known as Happy Jack and a humorous poem titled the Wail of a Dryblower which was composed at this place and published in the Kalgoorlie Western Argus in 1898.

The Wail Of A Dryblower

I am a digger at Mulgabbie and I'd like to rise and say Dryblowing is a swearfiil game to most diggers anyway.

You work for days without a color, then have a lengthy swear that takes two solid windy days to cleanse the atmosphere.

If an angel down from heaven had to dryblow for a crust got his aureola discolored and his white wings red with dust and panning off his prospect found he had not raised a grain no doubt he'd proved a failure, but he'd try to be profane.

When you haven't a color and your mouth is full of dust and with dirt in you turned the color of a terracotta bust and your boots are full of pebbles, like a pilgrim to a shrine then it is not for resignations, but for eloquence you pine But you have your compensations if you barely make a crust If of food your belly is empty, it is always full of dust.

If your luck is hard and rocky, let this thought your spirits cheer you are opening up the country, you are a bally pioneer.

I guess the recording angel, when he draws my balance sheet.

Will grin, and put my swear words down to the damper and tinned meat. Hard luck, and flies, and dust, and things, and say, things were rather tough, and reckon that language had failed me and hadn't sworn enough.

I am full up of pioneering for my hat is full of holes, and the upper of my boots are sadly parting from the soles,

For really it's no wonder that at times your spirits flag, when your pant's a piebald garment that is mended with bag.

So I am giving up prospecting, going give dryblowing best, give my system and my swear words both a long much needed rest.

going where there's decent tucker, tender streak and juicy chop.

Going where there's beer in plenty - and I am going to drink a drop

H. Galthrop Mulgabbie W.A March 31, 1898

Happy Jack

John Simmons (Happy Jack) went to the Billi Billi rush. Besides many small pieces, he unearthed two big nuggets of gold. A 130 oz and a 108 oz. The latter he found at the Six Mile in December (or in the latter end of November) 1894. Whilst sinking a shaft at Mulgabbie a falling drill smashed his skull and when he emerged from the hospital we find him in court on February 15, 1905 before Warden Finnerty. He applied for six months' exemption on the two leases No. 265X and 266X. He was granted three months. He said that he met with an accident on lease No. 266X by a falling drill and smashed his skull and paralysed one side of his body and that £900 had been spent on those leases. Although so handicapped he stuck to mining to the end of his life. He died at Mulgabbie July 12, 1940 aged 71 years and buried next day by A. and J. Kyle undertaker Kalgoorlie in the Presbyterian section of the Kalgoorlie cemetery. No. of grave 9042. At time of his death Happy Jack had £2,000 at his credit in the bank. It is said that his brother died years before him, left him £3,000. Besides this he received money from other sources. He left two horses and a cart when he died and yet he preferred to bake his own damper at an outpost like Mulgabbie. I only met Happy Jack twice. I noticed that his locomotion was this - he used a pace with his left foot with a slight pause to drag close to it the paralysed one then again another pace and so forth.

Happy Jack's Second Accident

After I had written the foregoing about Happy Jack I discovered in the Western Argus of January 23, 1906, page 11 that he had met with a second accident which is as follows:-

Jack Simmons familiarly known as Happy Jack who about two years ago his skull was penetrated by a falling drill which came down from the surface to the 190 feet level into the shaft on his property at Mulgabbie. After hovering between life and death for months he left the institution (White Feather Hospital) in a partially paralysed condition. He sustained an injury in the shape of a broken leg last week while driving a water cart from Mulgabbie to the dam near Galvalley soak. It happened the horse shied and he was thrown from the cart and one of the wheels went over him. The poor fellow after recovering consciousness crawled some distance to a tree to escape the great heat. After waiting over 30 hours he was found by some prospectors on their way to Pinjin. They heard his cries and they promptly went to Mulgabbie for assistance where Mr Robb procured a dray and conveyed

him to Kumalpi where Martin Cable provided a vehicle to convey him

to the Kanowna Hospital.

Lake Yindarlgooda

January 16, 1896 I got up at 4.55am. It being a gloomy morning, threatening to rain. It kept off, clouded and dry all day. Breakfast 5.20am; bread, honey and cocoa. At 5.40am left Kumalpi for the White Feather pushing the wheelbarrow. At 6.10am I passed Cocks'condenser. At 8.00am I came to the Cane Grass Swamp. At 11.30am I came to the spot where I camped on January 13 on Lake Lapage. Here I halted and boiled the billy. Dinner at 12.05pm; stew of beef and potatoes, bread and tea. Started again at 1.30pm. At 3.00pm crossed Lake Lapage. I found it very wet indeed for the wheelbarrow. Here (Lake Lapage) at the condenser of Taylor and Downey I bought a gallon water 4d. At 5.00pm I started crossing Lake Yindarlgooda. Beautiful scenery on this lake. When I got half way across I left the I.O.U. and Coolgardie Road to the left and took the road to the right leading to the White Feather. At 6.20pm I reached the opposite side of the lake. At 6.25pm I camped for the night. Just at the edge of the lake feeling tired. I travelled about 22 miles today. I lit the fire and cooked the supper. Meanwhile I made my bed of Sheoak boughs. Supper 7.30pm; stew and cocoa only. I retired at 8.10pm.

P.S. Too tired to pitch the tent. The country between Kumalpi and here is pretty well all level. Gough's condenser is situated at the Cane Grass Swamp.

Ready's Condenser

January 17, 1896 A shower of rain fell last night. I got up at 11.45pm and pitched the tent but it kept dry the rest of the night. I got up at 5.35am. A gloomy morning threatening to rain but cloudy and dry all day. Breakfast 6.10am; Avena porridge and drink cocoa only (milk both in the porridge and cocoa). At 6.55am left Lake Yindarlgooda. Reached Proctor and company's condenser 8.30am. Here I bought a gallon water 4d and pushed on. At 9.30am I passed a swagman going to Kurnalpi. At 11.00am I halted and boiled the billy. Lunch at 11.30am; stew of minced mutton and potatoes, bread and tea. Started again at 12.10pm and reached Ready's condenser at 5.20pm which is situated on the Lake Gwynne 7 miles east of the White Feather and 33 miles from Kumalpi. Here I camped for the night. Supper at 6.35pm. The same stew and cocoa only. After supper I went to Mr John Ready's camp. Got a gallon water for nothing. I asked Mr Ready for some information. How he discovered Kumalpi and about Mt. Yuille and a little sketch of his life. He very willingly supplied them. It filled the four pages of sheet of letter paper. I thanked Mr Ready and retired at 9.35pm on a bed of Mulga boughs. Today I travelled about 20 miles or so.

How Ready Was Found, Specking Gold At Billi Billi (Kurnalpi)

After I had written down the best excerpt from the paucity of the information about Jack Ready and Kurnalpi, my memory, somewhat got a little refreshed and I remembered that I had among my things a written    account of

how Ready was found, specking gold on a new field by himself.

The account is by Jack Drake and is as follows:-

Jack Ready the prospector of Kumalpi has returned to Parker's Range which district he assisted to open with Bill McIntosh.

What scenes, with the recalling of that paragraph.    They    re

unfold vistas of old times.

Ready was absolutely unique as a prospector; without any white companion, being attended by his faithful nigger, Ready had penetrated as far North-East as The Pinnacle, twelve months before Bayley and Ford's memorable discovery in the fall of 1892. Making another tour of the country crossed during his previous trip when he specked gold upon the historic spot of Kumalpi. He was at that time, almost the only prospector who had gone out beyond the Feather and I.O.U. His find (Billi Billi) happened in the month of November 1893 and he had a good time specking unmolested. His term of secrecy would have been much longer but for a little ebullition of temper, which caused him to thrash his black fellow. The nigger took the sulk and broke camp making down to the native pool called "Coolbundie" about a couple of miles east of the end of Lake Lapage. Here he was accosted by the late Mr Anderson the manager of the Hampton Plains estate. Anderson was on camel back on a visit to the late Mr P.W. Goddard who at the time was camped at Jurangie Hill, carrying to a completion the survey of the Hampton Plains blocks. Mr Anderson gave the nigger a feed and a nip from his flask. This made him loquacious and informed Anderson that he was Ready's nigger and he had cleared out for being waddied.

Ready was described on gold, picking up in lumps on the surface. Being asked how much was getting, the nigger said, oh! plenty fuller; fill em pack bag. To the query any big ones? the nigger's reply was pointing to a small frying pan slung over Anderson's saddle. All the same that feller. This was enough to intercept Anderson's journey to the surveyor. Mounting one of the sandhills in the vicinity the nigger pointed to the north-east head of Lake Lapage. Returning hurriedly on his tracks to Goddard’s Dam where he had a confidential man named Alec Slater employed. He apprised him of the discovery and taking him and his mate (Angus McIntyre) into the Hampton Homestead fixed them up with a camel outfit and dispatched them to a share in Ready's good things. By this time the Mulga telegraph got into operation probably started by Slater himself who was an old Kimberley and north-west pioneer and a number of mounted diggers got away and ultimately found Ready’s specking bonanza.

Slater was lucky and gave his name to the gully which turned out moderately well. Ready belonged to a school of horsemen, rarely pegging the ground to hold it. Contenting themselves with fruits of specking and "lousing" that is raking the surface over with fingers or sticks to disturb any lurking slugs and as soon as the getting of gold was exhausted by these primitive means took themselves for a spell to some permanent or semi-permanent water or seeking a fresh field and pasture new.

The foregoing by Jack Drake appeared in the Golden West of 1936, page 7 to page 10 with a slight discrepancy and a little omission. His account of how Ready was discovered specking gold is historically true. I remember now clearly that the night I camped at his condenser I asked him how they found him out on his new find? His reply was, my black boy made "it public".

P.S. Drake arrived 10 days later at the Billi Billi rush.

White Feather (Kanowna)

January 18, 1896 I slept pretty well last night. I got up at 5.45am. Cloudy morning though cleared up a little later on and slightly warm all day. Breakfast at 6.30am; bread, honey and cocoa. Afterwards rolled up my things and loaded the barrow. Waited till Mr Ready got up. Bought a gallon water 4d and asked him for some more information which he kindly supplied. Thanked him. At 8.08am I started for the White Feather. At 8.20am passed an ironblow about 25 feet high and about 15 chains around the base and pretty sharp at the top. At 9.15am I got over Lake Gwynne. At 9.35am I reached the top of the High Hill [Four Mile Hill] which rises with fairly abrupt face fast by at the south of the road. From whose summit I had a good prospect of Lake Gwynne and part of the White Feather field. There is a cairn on top of this hill. Probably a surveying party raised it.

And now Mr Ready told me last night (and pointed out to me this morning) that he thinks this hill is the Mount Yuille which caused the Will-O-Wisp rush and which resulted in the finding of the Kalgoorlie field, but some other person located this "phantom mount" 10 miles east of Bardoc. When Ready went to recall his teams and the crowd of men as well, they told him that Mount Yuille was situated 25 miles due north of the White Feather [At the time of the Mt. Yuille Rush, the "White Feather" was yet to be discovered ] Now whilst standing on this hill (whether to designate it Mount Yuille or Mount Cairn I am not quite clear about it.) I roughly guess it rises 300 feet or 400 feet above Lake Gwynne. Composed of diorite and quartz. Its principal vegetation are Mulga, some poor gum trees, Quondongs, Sandalwood, some Kurrajongs, some Sheoaks and scrubs. The summit is uniform for about half a mile. The southern portion is broken into hills. The northern side is abrupt. Distant from the White Feather about two miles and from the lake a mile or thereabouts. I returned to my wheelbarrow and resumed the journey and reached White Feather 12.20pm. I have been longing to come to this field for many long days. I had even to overcome my strong desire to come here straight from Bardoc when the exemption started. I do hope fortune has something good in store for me here. I camped in Black Fellow Gully amidst a clump of Sheoaks about 150 yards north of the cricket ground and roughly about 600 yards or more north-east of township and roughly 500 yards south of Red Hill. 300 yards or so west of Nemesis Lease and roughly 300 yards east of the White Feather Hospital. I went to the township, bought the following articles off Messrs Brimage and Church's store in the main street called Isabella Street east side; lib of pressed potatoes 1/3, 1 tin meat 1/, 2 loaves bread 1/8, 1 tin Nestles' milk 1/, 1 tin peas 1/, 1 gallon water 6d, 1 tin apricots 1/7, 1 cake pressed vegetable 8d. They are selling this stuff at 4/per lb so I got a cake for 8d. Returned to the camp and had dinner at 1.25pm, half tin apricots, bread and tea. Afterwards pitched the tent and whilst resting read the Coolgardie Pioneer dated January 8th. Supper at 5.50pm; a plateful of stew and tea only. Passed the rest of the evening reading the Pioneer. Retired at 9.30pm on the bed made of Sheoak boughs.

Contour Of The Country

Between Kumalpi and Lake Lapage is flat and sandy soil mixed with ironstone and between Lake Lapage and Lake Yindarlgooda (4 miles) is pretty well timbered to the very edge of the latter lake. Mostly Sheoak trees, salt bush and cotton bush but a little distance off the lake there are plenty of gum trees. This side of Lake Yindarlgooda there is a little lake whose area (roughly) it 10 to 12 acres on which is situated Proctor and Company's condenser. Three miles or so this side of Proctor there is another big lake. (Hills and spinifex are about here.) This lake is six to seven miles long and where the road crosses it, about half mile wide. From here to three mile or so of Lake Gwynne, the countiy is formed of hills and flats and well-timbered mostly Mulga, Sheoaks, Sandalwood, Quondongs, Kurrajongs, sparsed gums and scrubs. Lake Gwynne is a large one, where the road cross it. More or less is three miles wide. Ironstone and rock blows rises in it like islands. To the west of it rises a massive elevation with five hills on top. Mr Ready thinks that this is Mount Yuille (already noted above) one of the hills is detached from the main elevation at the east side above the road. The other four are in line north-south with a little hollow between them. The widest is to the extreme south.

This concludes the narrative of the wheelbarrow pushing.

The End

The Wheelbarrow (Mark II)

Excerpt from James Balzano's diary September 17, 1897 at Red Hill (Kambalda). I started the construction of the wheelbarrow on September 10 and finished it today. The wheel is 5 foot and 8 inches in circumference and 2'A inches wide, made out of whiskey cases. The axle is 16'A inches long and 1 inch thick at the thinnest end. The handles are 6 foot 3 inches long l'A inches thick.

The mortise (3) 10 inches, 17 inches and 23 inches and 1 inch thick. The legs (2) 8 inches long and about 1 inch thick.

The spars over the wheel (4) 2 foot 4 inches long and about 1 inch wide and about 1 inch thick.

The wheelbarrow is all made of gum timber except the wheel, and it is a model of the one I made at the Lake Darlot rush over 2 years ago.

New Year

Excerpt from James Balzano's diary Kanowna January 1, 1899 Placed timber on the fire at 7.45am - hot breakfast and piece of cake and tea.

Until dinner time read Western Argus October 27 - December 12 then boiled mutton, potatoes (4), cabbage, bread and tea.

Maggie came just then and gave her a bit of meat and cabbage and potato before she went away.

In the afternoon read my Truth October 18 - November 7 till 5.00pm.

Ethel Bahan came just then so 1 gave her half tomato and bit of bread and we drank tea, then continued to read Truth.

Maggie came again at 7.00pm and stayed until 7.30pm then I took her hand and gave her a ride on my shoulder until within 100 yards from her place. Got back 8.00pm. I ate a few dates and retired 9.00pm.

A Glorious Sunset

At 7.00pm this evening I was attracted by the most magnificent sunset that I have ever seen. My pen is not facile enough to endeavor to report its glory. As the sun sank deeper in the western side, behind it was left streaks of thin clouds looking like pure gold while still above were other thin clouds looking like flames of fire. The scene was a phenomenon of beauty for all those who have memories of the good things of this world.

Even I appreciated it as a poor and miserable wretch but I was fortunate to behold it.

Refer also to Geological Maps on pages 108 & 274 104

The History of Kanowna

By James Balzano "Topography - Geology - Flora - Main Reef Line"

Topography The Kanowna auriferous district (as all other mining centres of the Eastern Goldfields) is situated upon the great plateau of Western Australia.

It is mostly formed of flats and shallow gullies and interspersed with low gentle rising hills but the most notable elevation in the district is the one on which four of the principal mines (old) are situated namely:- the North White Feather, McAuliffe's Reward, the famous Red Hill and the Golden Crown. It is a long sinuous elevation extending about south-east and northwest. If anyone was to stroll upon the mullock dumps of the old Gentle Polly and Kintore Mines, on rises behind where the North White Feather battery stood, and even on the old Golden Crown, his or her eyes would be regaled with an immense prospect and fair idea of what the great plateau looks like. According to some geologists this vast region is still in a cycle of erosion.

About a mile south of the townsite rises a big squat hill on which gold has been mined. Two miles or so to the east rises another large (but non-auriferous) hill. None of the hills in this district ever got an official name. In due course we shall refer to them again.

Flora and Gold The whole face of this district was clad with vegetations. Among the stunted growth flourish the salt bush and the cotton bush. Above these rose the scented Sandalwood on which grew smooth shell-nuts with insipid kernels. The Quondong bearing a small niggardly fruit somewhat resembling a cherry. Its dinted nuts covered with a thin pulp fairly palatable when ripe, the Wattle, the thorny Karrah, the Honey Suckle from whose blossoms the birds and some insects suck the honey, some stunted native pine. Above these rose the sombre Sheoak trees and the graceful Kurrajong with its fronds surpassing in green hue all other foliage in this region. Besides the main roots that sustain its form upright, it has watery roots near the surface, hung on woody strings like sausages. One of the most stately of its species was seen by us in the fading twilight on the desert shore of Lake Lefroy years ago.

Towering above all those trees flourished the Gum trees (Eucalyptus) in various stages of their life. There were those hoary with age whom in their long annals had witnessed the passing and repassing processions of the seasons. Others, hollow and gnarled with a protracted existence showing life with a tuft of leaves at the tip of their branches and others from mere old age, unable to defy the elements any longer had been laid down by the wind, and still others in the meridian of their life in perfect symmetry rose above the

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saplings and nascent of their species. We almost had forgotten to state that the Mulga trees flourished among the other trees yielding an excellent fuel. It is almost needless to state that Spinifex still thrive in the district - useless to man and beast.

Almost the whole surface was embossed with outcrops or quartz, porphyry, diorite, ironstone and cement, and the whole area strewn with fragments of these rocks. Moreover, besides the immense wealth of gold that lay hidden beneath the ground almost everywhere particles of the precious metal, from the size of a pinhead to a large nugget lay on the surface. Besides specimens of the aforementioned rocks it looked like they had been dropped from the clouds, in the form of a wavering shower.

The Brooding Spirit The ageless and somnolent spirit of solitude, loneliness and silence who had lain brooding (undisturbed) over these pristine scenes from primordial time and aeons before the appearance of man on earth, and ages before the first Gum tree germinated on the Austral Continent. Its long reign terminated with the arrival of the first prospectors (in quest of gold) in the month of October 1893. An event that allured a multitude of men, whom, alike a devastating hurricane overturned the surface, riddled it with shafts, costeans and potholes, uprooted the vegetations; and then departed to enjoy life amid pleasant scenes. Countless of them rich with spoil from the ground and otherwise, save those who are mouldering in the cemeteries.

Geology Several geologists have pried and commented on the geology of the Kanowna district. The earliest of them all (in 1894) was Samuel Goczel. He said The country rocks are of coarse grained diabase.

Brown (1896) stated that The country rock was a decomposed argillite and Kaolinised Felsite with quartzite and boulder conglomerate rock.

Montgomery in 1903 said that The country in which the quartz veins occur was mostly greenstone, quartz, porphyry and felsite and that there was also a conglomerate formation with a matrix of schistose material, very like ordinary greenstone schist but that the enclosed boulders were thoroughly rounded and consisted of dense felsic rock and granite. Both of different varieties from any he had yet seen in situ in the state.

In 1908 Montgomery divided the rocks of the district into three groups namely:- (1) ancient crystalline and sedimentary rocks with intrusive dykes of probably Archaean age forming the main bed-rock of the district, (2) older sedimentary beds, and (3) Tertiary to Recent alluvial deposits.

The first formation he states comprises massive and schistose diorites, igneous dykes of later date penetrating these, some schist which may possibly be of sedimentary origin, extensive beds of conglomerate of indubitable sedimentary origin and large belts of quartz porphyry which may be either intrusive dykes and sills or possibly ancient lava flows. Secondly he states that it is quite clear that the conglomerate is a sedimentary rock and not as has

Edward Jeffers & J.P. (Paddy) Jeffers, two early prospecting brothers at Kanowna 1894.

Refer also to Geological Maps on pages 104 & 274

been sometimes held, a friction breccia. [The "Conglomerate" is most probably a Tuff,:or Agglomerate, an eruptive product of Volcanic activity formed when fragments are "Vent Milled" by rising gas streams ] Thirdly at the south end of the field in going from the old Bonnie Charlie Shaft to Bennett and Thom's workings near the Standard Brewery, three beds of conglomerate are passed over. Each of which lies on the edge of a belt of quartz porphyry. These occurrences so far as I have seen them are consistent with the theory that the quartz porphyries are lava flows intercalated among the sedimentary conglomerate beds. The whole series being subsequently turned up on edge, or with them being intmsive dykes which have been pushed up through the highly inclined sedimentary beds, penetrating these for preference along the bedding planes.

The Kanowna Main Reef Line is the longest ore channel in the district. It runs north and south and is three miles long or thereabouts. Its watershed dips east and the reef also dips east. Some of the best ore shoots plunged north. Its source (is very small and of no value) lies in a shallow alluvial gully towards the north-east end of the Federal Hills and a few yards east of the Government Dam Road and nine hundred yards (or thereabout) south of the Lily Australis Mine new main shaft. On the north dying out about 535 yards north of the North White Feather mine main shaft. There it disappears into a gully. Apparently it carried value to the very end as there are four shafts, two with big and two with small mullock dumps. In its pristine state this line of reef must have been a pleasant sight to behold. It outcropped in many places, a little to the south of the Lily old main shaft. In Bissenberger Gully a little to the north of the Golden Cement and the most prominent of all is the one from the Reward Main Shaft to the boundary of the North White Feather mine, approximately 225 yards long and six feet wide.

In the year 1911 Blatchford and Jutson, Government geologists made a geological survey of this reef and titled their report (Bulletin No. 47) the "Kanowna Main Reef Line", in 95 pages from which we shall make some extracts.

They stated thus:-

The main reef of the district which for description purposes has been called the Kanowna Main Reef is delineated on the accompanying large scale map (plate second). It has been worked principally by the mines known as the Lily Australis, Main Reefs, White Feather Reward (marked "McAuliffe's Reward") and North White Feather. This was the only line of reef examined and therefore our remarks will be restricted to it and especially to the mines worked thereon. The reef runs from the Lily Australis Mine, northerly through the Main Reefs Mine, but before reaching the Cement area it apparently comes to an end. This is not certain as the ground here is so covered with recent superficial deposits that the reef may continue without being exposed at the surface. About five chains north and further east, it is picked up again on the northern

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side of the cement area of the porphyry dyke, crossing that area thence it is traceable north-easterly through the White Feather Reward and North White Feather Mines. The reef may be thought to be faulted at the cement area but the dyke just referred to crossing the latter shows no evidence of faulting and as the reefs are apparently subsequent to the dykes we cannot assume that the reef is faulted. A better explanation is that the lode channel from the south has simply run out and that another (practically acting as a continuation) a little to the east has taken its place. This may be due to the porphyry dyke having acted as a bar to continuous Assuring. Practically no faulting was seen at the surface nor in the mines inspected.

The length of the reef from the Lily Australis Mine to the cement area is about a mile and from the Cement area to the North White Feather Mine somewhat over half a mile. The probable dying out of the Kanowna Main Reef to the north has already been discussed under the zone of Brecciation. Sufficient evidence has not been obtained to discuss its southern continuation. The Kanowna Main Reef at places on the surface, notably just north of the White Feather Reward Main Shaft has prominent outcrops fully six feet wide. The reef as a whole varies from a thickness of about eight or ten feet to a mere string or thread of quartz. The underlie (of the reef) is to the east at moderately high angles and the lode channel is generally well defined. The reef has subsidiary reefs running off it in different directions. The Kanowna Main Reef is wholly in conglomerate country although in places very close to some of the porphyry dykes. It will be observed that it keeps to the main mass of porphyry at Red Hill. The vein stone is as a rule ordinary white vein quartz, somewhat glassy in places. It is little mineralised although some pyrites and galena are found. In addition to the principal mines, a fair number of small workings, occur between the Main Reef Mine and the White Feather Mine.

The foregoing has fairly indicated the ground upon which we aim to bestow our labour and in compiling this history we shall not take any subject at random, but for convenience sake in sections from north to south vice versa. Also we shall deviate a little from the general run of history by relating the story of each subject (or topic) whether it be that of a gold mine or of a person in one continuous narrative from beginning to end as far as practicable and buttress each article with date as far as we have been able to obtain the same.

As the first gold was specked and the first mine was pegged on the Main Reef Line and the first township (or rather the main camp) stood here and also the first names given to this district was suggested therein. We deem proper to make this section our starting point. Beginning with the story of the White Feather Reward Mine also styled McAuliffe's Reward.

The Story Of The White Feather Reward Mine

Discovered By McAuliffe. Situation Of The Reef Sold And Formed Into A Company. Site Of The Plant Ceremony Of Opening Of The Battery. The Luncheon And Speeches.

October 1893 The precise account of the discovery of the White Feather Reward Mine (like many others of its kind) is both much disjointed and meagre. Nevertheless the essential facts are not lacking in this case. Our information is chiefly derived from two versions supplied to the press by McAuliffe some years after the event in which he makes it appear as if he was all alone whilst prospecting, whereas it is asserted that he had a mate named Michael Breen and an aboriginal boy with him whom he called Monkey. A rather injudicious epithet because it has been asserted that it was this blackfellow who found the reward reef. In another chapter we will embody those two versions in full - suffice in this to quote from them briefly.

Jeremiah McAuliffe states that it was in the beginning of September 1893 he specked a six weights piece of gold somewhere on the Federal Hills. Failing to find any more he extended his quest further east as far as the Queen Victoria Springs. Finding nothing there on his return journey discovered the Reward Reef. He staked four acres as a reward claim, and other claims on both ends of it along the line of the reef. This event took place in the month of October 1893.

About the same time two horsemen namely Percy Larkin and Thomas O'Connor (Tassy) arrived upon the scene. McAuliffe showed them his find and they in turn led him to show him their own find which lay about four hundred yards west of the Reward Reef. This spot became known afterwards as Red Hill. As the parties were satisfied that the two finds were apparently of equal value they decided to amalgamate them. They also decided to increase the party. McAuliffe took Michael Breen and Mulcahy in as mates. Larkin took his brother Thomas and David Heppingstone. O'Connor took James Hilder. As they had a month's grace to man the claims, they employed their time specking gold on the surface without any exertion whatever, only by walking over the ground. McAuliffe states by that mode they specked two hundred ounces of pure gold besides the specimens as already stated in the preamble. The country was then in its pristine state. It only had been trod by the unshod feet of the aborigines whilst in search of food.

It is not given to every man the great pleasure to tread upon unsullied primeval scenes and pick up lumps of gold on the surface of the ground that had lain there for aeons past and the pleasure of having first sighted the snow white quartz outcrop on the Main Reef Line as the privileged party of prospectors that discovered the Reward Mine and the huge porphyry belt of Red Hill.

We have not the exact day of the month when McAuliffe and party went to Coolgardie and applied for the leases. We assume that took place on or about the beginning of November (1893) and immediately the rush took place and by a fortuitous incident the new field got the name "White Feather". On a future chapter we shall relate both the origin of the White Feather and the Kanowna.

1894 In this year the Reward claim (four acres) with the other claims was sold to the West Australian Goldfields Company Limited for six thousand, five hundred pounds (£6500). The promoters floated the mine into a company in London. In order to attract the public the company changed the name of the mine from "Day Dawn" (the name given by the prospector McAuliffe) to McAuliffe's Reward. There was no Reward granted to McAuliffe. He paid a pound per acre as he did with the other leases. The mine became known also as the White Feather Reward Mine. Of course there was a prospectus issued when the mine was floated in London. We presume it would be a very interesting document indeed. Its content would greatly embellish this story. We regret never seeing it but nevertheless we gain a little information from the Kalgoorlie Western Argus of the ninth of April 1896.

It states: "The White Feather Reward held the half yearly meeting on the fourteenth of February. The company was registered on August 25, 1894 to acquire the mine well known as McAuliffe's Leases at White Feather for the discovery of which a Reward claim was granted (January 10th 1894). The purchase was complete August 29, 1896. In January 1895 the West Australian Goldfields Limited had acquired the Golden Eagle property namely Claim 255X and 256X at the White Feather, an extension of the Reward claim reef deemed it advisable to acquire these claims. The price being 10,000 fully paid up shares. The Golden Eagle contained 24 acres and comprised 2000 feet on the line of the reef.

The capital of the company by the creation of 20,000 new shares of one pound each, namely 10,000 for purchase price and 10,000 for additional work capital. Of the latter only 5000 have been issued and all at considerable premium. The creation of the new capital was sanctioned at the Extraordinary General Meeting on January 25, 1895 and at the ordinary meeting February 13, 1895. The effect of the resolution was to increase and to authorised to increase the capital to £80,000. The premium on shares issued by this company amounted to £8,535 in addition two, five acres claims were pegged and taken up by the company. Expenditure in purchasing and equipping the mine up to October 31, 1895 has been charged to the capital, after deducting proceeds of the sale of gold and cost being £74,198 the actual cash in hand on October 31,

1895 was £5,399 while the amount uncalled on shares was £3,106 making £8,415. While the debts of the balance sheet were £1,327. The crushing returns to date (February 14, 1896) have been 489 tons for 1,037 ounces of gold".

Site Of The Plant Towards the south of the quartz outcrop there is a little flat top hill running about south-east and north-west, roughly a little over a hundred yards long and sixty yards wide. It slopes on three sides, on the east it has a little valley heading from the quartz outcrop and it widens into a flat towards the Kurnalpi Road. On the west McAuliffe's Gully whose head lies near the top of Red Hill and ends near the Kurnalpi Road. A great amount of alluvial gold was won from this gully. On the south it juts out towards the Kurnalpi Road. It was on this hill that the company erected the whole plant and sank two main shafts. The first about thirty yards east of the outcrop to a depth of 300 feet on which they erected the poppet heads. The second one called the new shaft was sunk to 530 feet and on the south slope about a 100 yards from the old one. On this very small hill, poppet heads were erected. The reason why this new shaft was found necessary is because the reef dipped east and got away too far from the old shaft. [Although nothing has been definitely stated, it is probable that the New Main Shaft was sunk because the original shaft had collapsed at about the 200ft level.] The battery and ore bin was also erected on the south slope and connected with an aerial tramline. The boilers stood between the battery and the new shaft. This elevation afforded a very pleasant wide prospect of the country east and west, more so southward.

Opening Of The Battery Monday September 30,1895 The event is recorded

in the Kalgoorlie Miner which is as follows:

The Reward claim at White Feather which was discovered by McAuliffe and party, and adjoining block, the Golden Eagle comprising 58 acres which was floated in London by Saunders, Member of the Legislative Council., has been thoroughly opened up. The Main Shaft is being put down to 190 feet and three shafts down 100 feet. At 100 feet level the reef has been driven on for a total length of 450 feet. £9,000 has been spent opening up the property. On the 150 feet of back rising to the surface throughout this length is still untouched. The south and main workings have been connected by the Reward reefs which is of great size and good grade, although its average width is about seven feet, but of course varies in values. There is enough stone of good grade lying in sight to keep the battery going for some years to come. The work of mining up the claim is rapidly exposing the ore to view.

The machinery erected over the main shaft is perhaps the finest on the Goldfields, consisting of two, 10 inch cylinder winding engines with a 20 inch stroke attached to six feet drums and capable of sinking to a depth of a thousand feet. The pump is a 15 horsepower Cornish lift. The six inch columns, two splendid steel boilers each of 25 horsepower supply steam and work alternately, one operating while the other is cleaned. This is rendered necessary owing to the mineralised water of the mine being used for steaming purposes.

The whole plant was supplied by James Martin and company of Gawler South Australia, and a credit to the makers and the colony from which it came. The splendid poppet-legs rising fifty feet in the air, give the needed elevation to facilitate trucking to the battery. This done by means of an elevated tramway which delivers the stone to the rock-breakers. The ore passes over the screens before reaching the crackers and the stone is thus separated from the ore, with breaking before being sent to the battery. After passing through rock-breakers and screens it is delivered into a well-constructed elevated bin and from there gravitated to the Challengers feeders which are specially imported from California. These divide the stone to the boxes of ten head stamp mill in the necessary quantities for treatment.

The battery is run by a 45 horsepower engine, the steam for which is supplied from two steel boilers, in every respect similar to those in use at the Main Shaft. The battery engine and boilers are splendid specimens of engineering skill and are superior to anything yet erected in Western Australia. The whole of the plant was turned out by James Martin and Company Limited of Gawler of South Australia who have secured the huge advertisement by the work they have put in them.

The Opening Ceremony The opening ceremony was performed by the acting Warden Percy Fielding. The managing director of the company, the Honorable Saunders, Member of the Legislative Council, in calling upon Fielding to perform the ceremony, welcomed the visitors to the mine. This was the first battery to start on the field and he was pleased to have the privilege of welcoming to the district the distinguished company he saw round him. He was especially glad to welcome the acting warden, who has with difficulty tom himself away from his official duties to take part in this gathering. He hoped he would successfully carry out his function of starting the battery on a career of success. The acting warden (Percy Fielding) expressed his pleasure at being present on that important occasion. He hoped the mine would be successful, in fact; he felt assured that it would be after overlooking the splendid machinery with which it was equipped and the rich pile of stone at grass. He then turned the steam on and the engine started, breaking the bottle of champagne so placed as to be struck by the crank, at its first revolution. The machinery started without a hitch and ringing cheers were given as the stamps for the first time pounded on the rich quartz with which the battery was fed. One of the features of the plant is that the stone is never handled from the time it is loaded into the trucks underground, until it is deposited in the tailings pits, denuded of its golden treasure. All the processes it passes through are entirely automatic.

The Luncheon And Speeches Shortly after the opening ceremony an adjournment was made to the spacious marquee erected nearby where an excellent light repast had been laid out by Tom Doyle of the Kanowna Hotel. The chair was occupied by the Hon. Saunders, local director of the company who had on his right acting warden Fielding, Mister Vardan and Mrs George Gray, and on his left he was supported by Mister George Gray, and Mrs Vardan, while all the mine managers and mine owners of the surrounding district were present. There were fully two hundred quests assembled, including Mesdames Harper, Sinclair, Baldwin, Vardan, Harris, Jones, Leminston (or Seminston): Anderson, and Hickey, and the Misses McDonald, Jones, Wallace, Hickey, Harris, Donellan, Zoby (five). The chairman having given the usual loyal toasts, the acting warden proposed success to the McAuliffe Reward Company Limited. They had seen the starting of the plant, and the whole of it had gone without a hitch. He hoped shortly to see the name of the company figuring on the dividend list, and also hoped to see all the mines of the district (locality) supplied with crushing works within a very short time.

The property was evidently a good one, in good hands and from the careful inspection of both mine and the machinery he felt that the success of the company was assured. The chairman in responding as a managing director of the company welcomed the visitors to the property. He was also very much in debt to the acting warden for journeying out to start the machinery of the pioneer company of the White Feather Field. (Hear, hear). The property had been secured from the prospectors by the West Australian Goldfields Company Limited about fifteen months previously and since then the company floated to work it, and had spared neither labour nor expense in bringing it to its present pitch of perfection. In all about twenty thousand pounds (£20,000) had been expended on it and he was convinced from what he had seen during the day that the money had been wisely spent.

The Railway was about to be extended to Kalgoorlie and he hoped it would be carried on to White Feather without delay, as nothing was so calculated to assist in developing the mines. He had been surprised at the very rapid progress made by the town of Kanowna since his previous visit and he was assured that the expansion had been the result of the healthy growth. Not booming the Reward like other properties in the district, was opening up splendidly and they had sufficient water to work the battery so everything looked promising. The only melancholy feature of the gathering was the death of Mister Thompson: the chairman of the company, who had expired suddenly in London. He had been a good supporter of mining in the district, and although he had previously held a considerable interest in South Africa he had been induced to invest in Western Australian stocks with great success. He was deeply in debt to the superintendent engineer of the company Mister Backhouse, the manager Captain Smith and the engineer Mister McKay. To these officers he had been compelled to leave mostly the work of the company

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and he was glad to know that he had round him, a splendid staff of officers. They had done their duty splendidly and he had much pleasure in giving the toasts of the officers and the mine coupled with the names of the gentlemen mentioned. Backhouse in replying said "He was glad that the Australians had had a chance of demonstrating that they could produce and erect a plant equal to anything in the world" (hear, hear). He was proud of the mine and the plant, and he was deeply in debt to his fellow officers for the splendid work they had done.

Captain Smith and McKay, also responded suitably. George Gray gave the toast of the mining industries coupled with the names of Captain Oats, Varden and John Harvey who suitably responded.

John Wilson gave the toast of the town White Feather, to which Jack Dwyer, Henry Gray and Batho responded.

The toasts of the ladies and the press were also honored. Sidney Edwin Hocking responded to the latter on behalf of the Kalgoorlie Miner.

Monday October 14,1895 It is probable that the White Feather Reward Battery will be run for a month before cleaning up. The company has sufficient water to run about ten hours a day, and the mill is kept going for this period every twenty four hours. The crushing is said be about up to the expectations so far - Kalgoorlie Miner.

November 7, 1895 Two miners employed at the Reward mine, fired a charge (today) and ascended the shaft after waiting some time and supposing all safe, the two men (names not recorded) went below again. Just as they reached the bottom of the shaft the charges exploded and the men received frightful injuries - Kalgoorlie Miner.

Wednesday December 18, 1895 Mister Backhouse, superintendent engineer of the White Feather Reward, he reported that the mine is looking well, whilst splendid ore is being raised from the stopes, the stone showing gold freely. The battery is working very smoothly, almost sufficient water being obtained from the shaft to run the stampers continuously. The plates are showing quite the average amount of gold. A contract has been accepted for sinking the main shaft another hundred feet, and to assure a further supply of water the main shaft has already passed through the reef at the two hundred feet level, and on attaining the depth of three hundred feet it will be necessary in order to meet the lode, to cross cut underlie of the reef, as indicated at present. The present prospect throughout is satisfactory - Kalgoorlie Miner.

Whilst writing the foregoing chapter a few items which should have made a kind of prelude to the opening ceremony of the battery, somewhat eluded our pen, however we subserve them here now into a postscript.

May 4, 1895 The foremost mine at the White Feather is the Reward Claim where machinery is now in the course of erection - Western Argus.

May 18, 1895 The Reward mine at hundred feet level, three hundred feet drive has been done. The ten head stamps are now in position. The masonry work of the boiler will soon be complete - Western Argus.

June 13, 1895 The poppet legs at the Reward are now being erected. There is quite a little township around the mine and Captain Smith has his hands quite full - Western Argus.

July 14, 1895 At White Feather Reward beautiful stuff (rich ore) has been struck at hundred feet level - Western Argus.

* dry as the inaide of an oyster j sbelL Then they let him go and follow him. i As a rale the coon makes a straight dive for the nearest water. Tney say that the men of their tribe will kill any savage who givea upjthe secret of these precious water holes.

!$. - * Away _ beyond. Idgerv a couple of pros-peotors—one of whom is a well-known Adelaide boy—got clean out of water, aod they feared that they had looked their last oAthe City of Churches, for they wera too for/out to hope to get bajk to any civilised camp before death woald pat in his claim.

As they lay dreaming at the flush of dawn a footfall soft as the caress of a snowflake on a seam of soot, broke the deatb-like stillness, a twig broke, and then a sable warrior and his gin glided into the white man's camp, and silently as ghosts began to loot it. Had the whites been sleeping they would never have heard the stealthy maraud ?rs. The diggers lay still and waited for a chance to spring. The* chance came, and the Adelaide man wound bis arms around the skinny legs of the ^warrior. The gin g-1 away and the ‘ buck ’ kicked and bit and fought, and got half strangled for bis pains.

“ Then he was fed on dry damper and salt fish, and tied to a tree until morning. At daylight he got another ample feed—3alt bacon this time—and was asked how far ii was from the nearest water-hole. He could talk a mixture of English and nigger dialect, and this is what he said :—*■* Gindah get up, white pillow walka walka walka, gindah tumble down, white fellow sit down, sleep, make'm plenty plour; gindth get up, white pel'ow walka-walka-walk?, gindah tumble down, white pellow sit do^o, sleep, make vm pleoty plour; giudah get up, white pellow walks walka-walka, gindah tumble down, white pellow get gabbing/ This being interpreted meant that the neareit water was three days travel from that spot. The whites would have to be on the move from sunrise to sunset. Gindah means the sun ; when gindah tumbles down it is sundown ; white fellow sit down means camp for night.

“The witnesses did not believe that tale, and they gave the darkie to understand unmistakably that they doubted his veracity, bat he refused to budge an inch, anl they soon saw that he had realised that th-y were far more in need of water than he was, and be made up his mind to sit the show oat.

“ At midday they shifted him from the shade of the tree and turned bis faoo towards the sun and left him to think things over, bound hand and foot to qaioken his mental faculties. At sunrise next morning be was as obstinate as form rly, and ihey were ba'f crazy from ta rst, bui they dimly undsrs'vood his little game. His gin had gone off for help to her t ib», and trouble was looming up for them.

“Then they opened bis mouth and P it half-fall of salt, and propped hie

with a Rtiok. He stood that fc,L threo mortal hours in the sun woilst ft ey stood revolvers in hand, waiting ia the shade watching for the tribp. At last the niggor came to the conclusion that he had better give in or be pickled, and he marmurpd haekily through his baked lips, ‘Me find 'm gabby/ Then they tied his hands behind his back, hobbled him with a robe so that he oould walk but not run, covered him with their revolvers, and invited him to proceed; and he did, and at sundown they were quenching their thirst at a good soak, and the black drank like a oamel after thirty days’ rbstinence.”

The West Australian January 21, 1895

The Reward Mine

From The Year 1896 to 1900. Saunders Versus Cohen. Saunders Versus Cohen Libel Case And Some Sparse Items Such As The Additional Ten Head Battery Amalgamated With Golden Cement

February 13, 1896 The Reward Mine Battery ran for 414 hours in January and crushed 230 tonnes of ore yielding 486 ounces' 13 dwts 16 grains of smelt gold - Western Argus.

May 14 For the past, most of the Reward battery ran for 535 hours, crushed 231 tons of ore, yielded 469 ozs of gold - Western Argus.

June 11 Several of the surface hands on the Reward mine went on strike on Saturday morning. The men applied for an increase of ten shillings to bring their wages to seventy shillings per week to meet the cost of the living. Marshall, the manager declined to act on his own responsibility, telegraphed to the directors, result unknown - Western Argus.

June 14th A shoot of gold has been struck on the Reward mine in the south stope at 100 feet level. A miner stoping drove his pick into a mass of gold that was held together with bands of stone. The reef is about six feet wide and no doubt the find will help the average yield of the mine going - Western Argus.

July 16th (Tuesday) The Reward Mine cleaned up last Friday. With the month return, Stone treated 209 tons for 474 ozs of gold. Backhouse is the consulting engineer - Western Argus.

July 24th A man named Beardow jumped leases 9X and 10X for none working it on June 3,4 and 5. Marshall said I have been manager of the mine for about seven months and the leases were worked. The Warden decided against Beardow.

August 6th The 200 feet level is regarded highly satisfactory. Driving south on the reef which is from two feet to four feet wide showing gold in it. Bulk sample showing four ounces per ton. Sinking the main shaft is very slow owing to the hard nature of the rock - Western Argus.

October 1 Additional ten head battery being erected making twenty head stamp. Will be crushing about the middle of November. The cross-cut from the mine, the Golden Eagle block 10X has opened up a body of water making at rate of 2,000 gallons per day. The main shaft in the Reward is 250 feet, cut new lode at depth of 250 feet level -Western Argus.

Saunders Versus Cohen

Wednesday August 4, 1897 The editor and publisher of the Kanowna Democrat is cited to appear before the local court at Kanowna this morning on a charge of criminal libel brought at instance of the Honorable Henry John Saunders, member of the legislative council and Mayor of Perth and managing director of the White Feather Reward mine. The alleged libel is contained in an article accusing the directorate of issuing false returns in connection with the mine. Mister Hare will appear for Saunders, and Harvey for the defence - Kalgoorlie Miner

Kanowna August 4, 1897 Before Warden Patrick Troy, McNaboe and Gray justices of peace in the Kanowna court yesterday, John Cohen, Bernard Murphy and Rosser Proprietors and publisher of the Kanowna Democrat were charged with having criminally libelled Henry John Saunders, managing director of the White Feather Reward Gold Mining Company. Mister Hare appeared for Saunders and Harvey for the defence. Saunders said, in the issue of the Democrat of April 7th last, unlawfully and wickedly and maliciously wrote and published a false scandalous defamatory matter to the following effect: -

"We have neither fear nor hesitation in making the broad statement that while no blame attaches to the local manager in obeying his orders, the returns furnished are absolutely false, (meaning thereby that the informant had lied to the public, as to the returns of gold from the mine called the White Feather Reward). We have not received our information from Mister Marshall, and nor from the bank where we saw the ingots of gold, yet we challenge whom all it may concern to contradict the statement we have just made. It is a lamentable circumstance, that one holding so exalted a position as Mister Saunders, (meaning thereby the said Henry John Saunders, as a member of the legislative council of the colony and also Mayor of Perth) should think of lending himself to a statement so misleading to the English public and so damning to the character of the White Feather Mines in general the correct returns and we again challenge the directors to bring us up

for criminal libel if they dare - are 1008 ounces out 724 tons crushed for the month, false return nearly 17 dwts, 14 grains - correct return nearly one ounce 7 dwts, 21 grains. We cannot help again remarking that we are more than astonished that, the controllers of this grand mine should have recourse to such debasing method whether for a purpose of bulling or bearing our mines in London, or for any other reason (meaning thereby that he Henry John Saunders was suppressing the returns of the mine for the purpose of his own dealing on the Stock Exchange) in this there is no patriotism unless in the words of a great statesman, patriotism may be defined as the last refuge of a scoundrel which it is not (meaning thereby that Henry John Saunders was a scoundrel).

John Rayfield said "He was an engineer and resided at Menzies. Some time in April he was in Kanowna."

Hare: "The Democrat alleges that you furnished them with the return that 724 tons from White Feather Reward realised 636 ounces 10 dwts, is that correct?"

Rayfield, "No. The information I offered was the latest yield of 636 ounces, not mentioning the tonnage."

Hare: "They allege should have shown 1008 ounces. Is that correct?" Rayfield "Certainly not, the difference between the 1008 ounces and the 636 ounces was got by the scraping and cleaning the plates, which so far as I am aware, had not been cleaned since the battery started and had accumulated for over two years."

In the face of this statement by the prosecuting Council.. Saunders does not press for anything more than a nominal penalty. The court (Troy) the cost of the case against the Editor of the newspaper Cohen. No order will be made with respect to the other two charges... We omit the rest of the case.

Kanowna August 10,1897 A meeting presided over by De Cean was held last night at the Miner's Institute for the purpose of raising funds to defray the cost incurred by John Cohen in the recent libel case of Saunders versus the Democrat newspapers. Some fifty persons were present at the meeting. It was announced at the meeting that £70 had already been promised. A committee was formed to collect subscription, Cray and Gleeson were appointed treasurer and secretary respectively. The meeting which was of an enthusiastic character ended with the usual vote of thanks to the chair. It was Cohen, in his Democrat to be the very first to broach the idea of public battery on the Goldfields.

Kanowna August 29, 1897 A meeting was held at Haack's Hall. John Cohen and Bernard Murphy, De Cean, Saunders, Hilton, Kaneen, addressed the meeting to urge the Government to erect batteries for the prospectors. George

Waite occupied the chair. It was also decided to canvas the various mines for Democrat fond.

Kanowna October 12, 1897 John Cohen, the Editor of the Kanowna Democrat, was arrested and lodged in the local lock up this evening for refusing to pay a one shilling fine and £130 costs in the recent libel case.

Kanowna October 13th Mister Stawell, solicitor representing Parker and Parker, Perth received an instruction this morning to cancel the warrant in connection with John Cohen's arrest, owing to the absence of the Warden. No further steps have been taken in the matter and Cohen is still in the lock up.

Kanowna October 18, 1897 John Cohen was released during yesterday afternoon and received many hearty congratulations from the town's people. He does not know on whose authority he was liberated. He stated emphatically that if he were ever so wealthy he would never pay the fine imposed and the costs demanded. £55 was subscribed for Cohen to defray the expenses for the defence, and on the night of his arrest £31 was handed over to his wife.

November 3,1897 The Reward crushed 480 tons for 240 ozs.

February 14,1898 The Reward crushed 611 tons for 280 ozs 11 dwts.

December 19, 1898 One of the boilers at the Reward collapsed last week and another one has been ordered.

May 9,1899 New boiler for the Reward mine has arrived.

June 27, 1899 William Trickett, who has for some time managed the Reward Mine has resigned owing to the fact that the amalgamation of the Reward and Golden Cement has been accomplished.

November 17, 1899 Owing to the theft of plates the proposed starting of the battery has been postponed. A parcel from the White Feather Consolidated is awaiting treatment.

P.S. The Kalgoorlie Sun of September 17, 1899 had this:-

The Reward and Golden Cement have amalgamated Driving north (at Reward) on the 300 feet level and on the south 300 feet level is the chief work on hand. The reef prospect low grade from five dwts to six dwts per ton and an occasional patch half ounce per ton. William McCaw, late of Dwyer and Shamrock has been appointed mine manager.

The Christmas number of the Western Mail of November 1899 had thus:-

The Reward and Golden Cement have amalgamated under a company. William McCaw is now the manager of the Reward, (late of Dwyer and Shamrock) at the Reward. The necessary capital is being raised to prospect both properties to a depth. A fine 20 head battery, has arrived on the field and is in position on the Reward ground and has until lately been crushing for the public.

April 2, 1900 The Reward is now being worked systematically. Over fifty men are employed. At the 300 feet level the reef is being driven upon.

July 12, 1900 The Reward output for June was 700 tons, yield 334 ounces 14 dwts of gold.

admirers among ’field* 3 osner ference to Vospe

I teries,.;

I irigly unpopular,

I -did not‘think

I aa Vosperton, Vosper’-quote* P “Government /T.GazetteA-.Mai authority I interjected : “TKS 1 Ghvejiimet j very likely to ba^tisefi&feWhi I you,” and theHpuseviaugK; I mueh that Sit J6hn,S.>$finals 1 merit, that “the Governmer

cognises the native ■ namely most’-loSt.-

From The Year 1901 To The Year 1907

Sinking The New Main Shaft The Kalgoorlie Sun Comment On The Reward Mine. Let On Tribute. The Reward And Main Reef Amalgamated 1906. Official Record Of Gold Yield From 1895 To 1907.

The New Shaft

January 30, 1901 Is to be put down to the 600 feet. 11 feet x 4 feet in the clear - Kalgoorlie Miner.

February 4th The contract for sinking the new main shaft at the Reward has been let down to the 100 feet level. The work is to be commenced tomorrow - Kalgoorlie Miner.

February 22 The contractors abandoned the work after going a few feet, in consequence of the ground becoming very hard - Kalgoorlie Miner.

March 4 On Saturday the majority of the hands employed at the Reward were paid off. The battery which has been running almost continuously for over 12 months has been closed down. The new main shaft is to be put down.

March 6th The new main shaft at the Reward which was abandoned by the contractors, has been re-let yesterday to Greig and party for £4.16. per foot - Kalgoorlie Miner.

May 22 The new main shaft at the Reward is down 85 feet.

June 13th The new shaft at the Reward is down 110 feet.

July 21, 1901 The air compressor at the Reward has been put in position.

January 30, 1902 The Reward's new main shaft is now down 430 feet, but as yet the supply of the water which has been the outcome of the presence of several lateral leaders in the workings, is small; the 20 head battery is still idle.

March 31, 1902 Bailing operations are in full swing at the new main shaft which has been unworked for a short time. Is henceforth to be sunk to 600 feet. The present depth is but 430 feet, but on the completion of the bailing which will probably accomplished today, the work of constructing a plat at the 400 feet level will be followed.

April 11, 1902 The plat at the 400 feet level (new shaft) has been cut. As soon as the timbering above the portion of the shaft is complete the work of sinking to the 600 feet level will be resumed.

May 7, 1902 The Reward new shaft is now down 462 feet, and at present rate of progress, the contractors for the work will have completed sinking to 600 feet level shortly after the close of this half year - Kalgoorlie Miner.

June 30, 1902 The Reward new shaft is now down about 520 feet. The pumping plant on the old shaft has been removed to the new shaft.

September 15, 1902 The new shaft at the Reward is now complete to the 530 feet level. The necessary connection with the new pumping plant has been accomplished. The heavy water influx encountered some time ago - Kalgoorlie Miner.

September 23, 1902 The new pumping gear at work and draining the new shaft has been accomplished. A start has been made to the 500 feet level to cross-cut west for the ore body. This is now about 20 feet.

November 11, 1902 The recent strike at 500 feet level after crosscutting west for a distance of 90 feet. The ore body, the strike made at 55 feet and met with the reef which is 15 inches wide is well mineralised and averages two ounces five dwts per ton by fire assay. A start has already been made to drive north in the eastern cross-cut.

March 31, 1903 The Reward mine after sinking the new shaft to a depth of 530 feet and opening up the ground at lower levels, the twenty head mill is now being overhauled. It may be safely said the mine has been under a cloud but will again be one of our permanent gold producers - Kalgoorlie Miner.

April 7,1903 The Reward battery is still idle for want of stone.

Tom Doyle Mayor and Publican of Kanowna with Kate Doyle and children Harold & Tom.

October 19, 1903 After working for considerable time the White Feather Reward and opening up the property to the 500 feet level new workings, it has been decided to discharge all hands. An application for exemption has already been made for the group which has been worked more than fully, for a length of time. The first battery erected in Kanowna was on the Reward in 1895. There is a very large quantity of ore in the mine, unfortunately a little too low grade - Kalgoorlie Miner.

October 23, 1903 The twenty head mill on the White Feather Reward which owing to the poor nature of the ore raised since crushing operation started will close down shortly. It has been leased by Tasker who for some time was in charge of the Robinson battery - Kalgoorlie Miner.

November 4, 1903 Before Warden Dowley Resident Magistrate, the Manager of the Reward Mine applied for six months' exemption on the White Feather Reward Group. The application stated that the leases which had been worked continuously since 1899 had shown a loss of working. The sum of £46,500 had been spent during that period, while a value of the gold won was only £29,000. There was little chance of obtaining more funds from London. At present it was intended to let the property on tribute. The application was recommended - Kalgoorlie Miner.

Kalgoorlie Sun's Critical Comment

October 25, 1903 The White Feather Reward, the scene of Jerry McAuliffe's first gold discovery. After more than nine years of muddling and manipulation, looks like being on the verge of finally passing in its checks. The company was one of the earliest gold producers on the fields as it started crushing with a ten head mill in November 1895. Everything possible was done to boost the show by exhibiting rich specimens in London and on the Continent by grossly understating the tonnage treated in order to show a high average and by and by increasing the real gold contents of the reef by a judicious admixture of very rich stone from the leaders on the Red Hill. Tom Doyle [See photo] has recently extracted over three thousand ounces. In November 1900 an extra ten head stamp was ordered, but before it could get to work the rich stone on the Red Hill petered out and nothing but buck quartz remained in the mine. The original mill closed down and the concern collapsed. After the final clean up the plates were scaled, and owing to the local paper (Democrat) having discovered and published the fact and have accused the attorney (Saunders) of withholding part of the gold, and of having therefore published false returns the Editor was prosecuted for libel and fined one shilling and costs. As he refused to pay and preferred posing as a martyr, he was jugged, but after one night of woe his friends squared the deal and assured his freedom. Since that exciting incident the Reward has led a very humdrum existence, only varied by various reconstructions to enable operations to be continued. Last year a new main shaft was sunk to test the reef at the 500 feet, but the result has proved a fiasco as the same buck reef, which exists in the upper levels was found below.

The mine is now offered to tribute parties, but the barren nature of its reef is so fully established that no one is likely to be tempted by most specious offer. Since its initiation nearly £120,000 has been spent on the property, while the whole value of gold won from start to finish was about £45,000 of which fully half was won in the first twelve months of crushing. The genius who was responsible for this wildcat being foisted on the Great British public, and since nourished by them, is no less a person than Allan Stoneham, whose recently presented statue of the late Queen Victoria was unveiled in Perth the other day. It will remain a lasting monument of his many wildcat creations and shareholders in these, when gazing on the statue may find consolation in the thought that they helped to pay for such a noble work of art.

January 9,1904 The Reward battery has been leased to a small syndicate.

February 26, 1904 The Reward battery leased by a syndicate. Fifteen out of the twenty head have resumed operation. Lancaster and party are going to crush here twenty tons.

March 15, 1904 Butt and party (tribute) have cleaned up 90 tons at the company's battery for 64 ounces of gold - Western Argus.

Bewick Moreing

April 18, 1904 The Reward (has been taken over by Bewick Moreing and Company) on which the first battery was erected in the Eastern Goldfields in 1895. It produced a fair amount of gold in the old days but of later years the developments has been somewhat disappointing. The twenty battery was hung up about a year ago. Recently a syndicate leased the mill but it is understood the firm will not grant an exclusion. The main shaft is 500 feet at which the value of ore was rather low - Western Argus.

April 28, 1904 To William Pollard: by this morning's mail we have received confirmation that we are to look after the property of the White Feather Reward. Will you please therefore look after the property generally. Yours faithfully Pritchard.

May 3, 1904 The Reward crushed at Martin's battery 40 tons for 32 ozs 15 dwts.

August 2, 1904 Butt and party (tribute) on the Reward and crushed at Martin's battery 46 tons for 58 ounces. Another parcel of 53 tons yielded 30 ounces.

November 25,1905 New tributes have been given over portions of the Reward Group. William Trickett formerly manager of the Reward has taken a tribute.

The Reward Let On Tribute

In the year 1906 the Reward was let on tribute to several parties. Of these we have very scanty records before us and these few will suffice.

Reuben Denman Lease 72X No. 1. crushing 8 tons yielded 7 ounces 10 dwts value £24.3.10. No royalty due. No. 2. crushing (lease 9X) 29 tons yielded 28 ounces. Bank advanced £95. Royalty £9. Ore broken above 60 feet level. Nicholls and party Lease 72X No. 1. crushing 26 tons yielded 3 ounces 5 dwts £11.7.6. No royalty due. No. 2. crushing 6 tons yielded 14 dwts 9 grains value £2.13.9. No royalty due. Ore taken from the stopes.

Louis Giraurd and party Lease 72X crushed 21 tons yielded 7 ounces 3 dwts £25.10.1. No royalty due. The foregoing is the only information available about tribute for the year 1906.

May 31, 1906 We have started cross-cutting as instructed by cable. It is costing £2.2 per foot to take the broken dirt to the shaft then put into buckets and haul to the surface with a whip horse.

June 15, 1906 Have let a contract at £2.2.0 per foot for cross-cutting west at 174 feet level in the Reward shaft and have driven 78 feet from shaft.

Amalgamation Of Reward - Main Reef -1906

Before Mister Justice Warrington in the chancery March 23, 1906 Fuller versus the White Feather Reward Limited. Mister Cave, King's Council, with Mister Martells instructed by Greenip Snell Company he said:- "This was a motion for an injunction that defendant might be restrained until trial or further order from carrying into effect an agreement dated January 5, 1906 between defendant appearing for plaintiff Fuller." Company and the White Feather Main Reef Company (1906) Limited, in the alternative from distributing 140,000 of five shillings shares (three shillings and six pence paid) in the White Feather Main Reef (1906) to the shareholders in the White Feather Reward, from selling any of the shares not applied for by member of defendant company the defendant company had attempted to reconstruct and had thrown a liability on the shareholders without going through the form of Section 161 of the Company's Act. The Plaintiffs point is that the whole transaction was ultra vires, and an infringement of the shareholders rights. The company wanted more capital and entered into an agreement under which a new company was to be formed to take over the defendant company and the White Feather Main Reef Limited. With £75,000 in five shilling shares created with three shillings and six pence paid, 14,000 shares to be allotted to the shareholders of the White Feather Reward. The effect of the proposed scheme of reconstruction was that the shareholders had a pistol held at their head if they did not take these shares. With a liability of eighteen pence on them they would get nothing, and Plaintiff said that was contrary to the provisions of the Companies Act. Messrs Terrell, Gore, Browne (King's Council), with Mister Cozens-Handy appeared for the defendant, instructed by Messrs Vallance and company, Mister Terrell said:- "There was not one word in the agreement as to the distribution of shares. The company had by its memorandum power to sell its undertakings. The agreement was that a company should sell its undertakings in return for partly paid shares in another company. That might be valuable consideration. The question was could a company or could not a company with the power such as it had here sell its property for partly paid shares in another company (Main Reefs Company). The company could sell shares for what it could get, and what it got would be part of the assets. He submitted that the question was covered by authority in his favor.

The further hearing was adjourned - Western Argus

(We have not the final result of case but the following);

June 11, 1906 Main Reefs - Reward Amalgamation - After a period of quietude on the mine (Reward) due to the fact that the desired amalgamation of the two companies was not thoroughly effected until a few days ago, work has been resumed at the White Feather Main Reef. At present only a few hands are employed. The work consists of boiler cleaning and also the pumping of water from the lower levels. Mister Boyd Aarons who managed the Main Reefs successfully for sometime has been placed in charge - Western Argus.

The Reward Mullock Dump July 1, 1906 Martin crushed 28 tons from the mullock dump yielded 5 ounces of gold valued £17.10.0 royalty 17/6-

July 20, 1906 Waltham crushed 25 tons from the same dump yielded 3 ounces 5 dwts. Did not pay the battery expense.

The Reward Gold Yield From 1895 To 1907

Year

Ore

Gold

Rate per ton

crushed

therefrom

1895-1896

3,071

5,379.28

1.75

1897

6,692

3,672.38

.55

1898

2,269

1,202.83

.53

1899

275

82.68

.30

1900

8,491

2,937.13

.35

1901

1,420

1,798.40

1.27

1902

770

1,832.10

2.38

1903

5,738

1,663.24

.29

1904

5,417

1,362.70

.25

1905

5,006.75

1,511.22

.30

1906

3,370.50

727.81

.22

1907

247.50

85.46

.32

Total

42,767.75

22,255.23

.52

Number of the leases held by the Reward Company IX, 9X, 10X, 72X, 43IX, 83X, 180X, 200X, 201X, From Bulletin No. 47. Compiled by Blatchford and Jutson (1911).

March 1908 Watson and Presgrave Lease 72X treated three parcels of ore aggregated 99 tons, yielded 30 ozs 6 dwts £85.9.4 No royalty due. For the year

1907 we have no information at all.

The Ten Men Tribute

Names Of The Tributors. Progress Of Their Work. Tonnage Of The Ore Raised And Gold Yield From September 1908 To May 1910. Royalty. Footage. Their Crushings - Twelve In All

1908 A party of ten men namely:-Frank Barber, Joseph Palmer, James and Arthur Irvine (brothers) William and John Manning (brothers) Jerry Sullivan, Teddy George, David Lemon and George Wanliss took a tribute on the Reward Mine. On the Lease 72X comprising the ground within the two main shafts and battery site. The undertaking was fraught with hard work, disagreement and meagre reward for their exertions. It lasted from September 1908 to May 1910. Only five of them persevered to the end. Whilst the others abandoned their interest during the progress of the work - the object of that tribute was to locate on the fifth level (500 feet level) the chute of the pay ore which had been worked by the company from the surface to the third level (300 feet level) which had an average length of about 340 feet. The account of this tribute was written down (for the directorate of the two amalgamated companies, the Reward and Main Reef) by George Gunton, the then manager. The documentation is rather too long to transcribe it here but the essential part shall suffice. The record state thus:-

September 24,1908 The Reward and mine lease 72X, part of the Main Reef let on tribute to Barber and party on the 14th, of instant and the 17th they were making preparation to couple the three boilers for winding and pumping. They have not yet started bailing operation owing to the non-arrival of the rope for the winding engine - George Gunton.

October 1st, 1908 They have started bailing from the old main shaft. We have had some trouble in keeping party going; the cost of putting the required machinery in repair being more they anticipated. Also after bailing was started it was found somewhat difficult to prevent the waste water doing damage to some adjacent properties. Preparations are also being made for bailing from the new main shaft - George Gunton.

October 8, 1908 The party were making very fair progress with the unwatering the old main shaft, until a depth of 30 feet below the No. 2. level was reached. Where it was found the shaft timber had caved away, as the cost of repairs to the shaft to enable bailing operation to be continued would be very heavy, and in view of the fact that most of the work proposed to be done will be through the new main shaft, consequently the putting a small winch on the new main shaft has been discontinued, and a start made to shift the winding engine from the old to the new shaft - George Gunton.

October 15, 1908 The party are now busy fitting the winding engine together on the new main shaft, good concrete foundation has been put in and the engine should be fitted up, and all preparation completed for bailing from this shaft on or about the 20th instant - George Gunton.

October 22th The party have started bailing from the new shaft -

George Gunton.

October 29th The party have got the water out to a depth of 370 feet. The water is draining through from the old workings almost as fast as it is being got out of the new shaft. The party have put in bed logs and covered same. Preparation to shift compressor (three drill compressor) from the Main Reef shaft. The compressor being required by the party more for the purpose of ventilation than for running of the rock drill, until connection has been made with workings of the old shaft - George Gunton.

November 2 The work of unwatering the new shaft which is now within fifty feet of completion has been more arduous than was expected. As nearly all the shaft skids which were underwater were found to be loose many them being detached. The fastening being rendered useless probably by the actions of the acids in the mine water - George Gunton.

November 5th They have got the water out down below the cage piece of the bottom level plat set - George Gunton.

November 12th They have got the water out of the new shaft. The work of putting the pump in order and placing the compressor in bed is now in hand. A new line of air pipes will have to be put in before work can be started in the face as the line which was water is useless - George Gunton.

Owing To Disagreement Among Themselves

November 19th Two of the number have withdrawn from the party. One being Frank Barber who signed the provisional agreement on behalf of the party and who was also their foreman. Consequently they decided to reorganise and a new provisional agreement will be necessary. The air compressor has been placed in position. The work of connecting the steam and air pipes in the shaft being carried out. The party have also made the arrangement to have two anti-collapsing rings placed in registered boilers No. 3107. This will give an increase of twenty pound in on the working pressure at present a pressure only of 45 pounds - George Gunton.

November 26th They have not yet got sufficiently advanced with the rearrangement of the party to be ready to sign the provisional agreement. The anti collapsing rings have been put in and they are according specifications supplied by the inspector of the boilers Lee - George Gunton.

December 3 The tributors have settled the difference they had among themselves. The provisional agreement has been signed. The pipe lines from the compressor to the bottom have been connected. The rock drill compressor tarts going tomorrow - George Gunton.

December 10th Lease No. 72X Reward tributors 500 feet level, new main shaft 25 feet north, rise from stope 75 feet up, started to work. Advanced six feet in country. This rise is being put up on the hanging wall side of the reef. The country being softer than the reef. The object is to get through as quickly as possible to drain the working of the old main shaft - George Gunton.

December 17th The party have completed the building over the winding engine and compressor. The water from the workings in the old main shaft is draining through to the new main shaft very slowly. There being still 50 feet above the No. 3 level - George Gunton.

December 22, 1908 500 feet level, 25 feet north, rise from stope 75 feet up, advanced 17 feet, total 35 feet. Still going up - George Gunton.

January 14th 1909 500 feet level, 25 feet north, rise from stope 75 feet up, advanced total 62 feet, width of reef 18 inches, no samples, main south drive advanced 4 feet, total 175 feet, width of reef 3 feet, no value - George Gunton.

January 21 500 feet level, 25 feet north, rise from stope 75 feet up, advanced total 68 feet, width of reef 10 inches, value by pan traces (of gold) - George Gunton.

January 28th 500 feet level, 25 feet north, rise from 75 feet up, advanced total 71 feet, width of reef 12 inches, no value - George Gunton.

February 11th 500 feet level, 25 feet north, rise from stope 75 feet up, advanced to total 87 feet, width of reef 20 inches, value by pan 8 dwts, main south drive advanced 4 feet, total 196 feet no value - George Gunton.

February 25 500 feet level, 25 feet north, rise from stope 75 feet up, advanced to total 104 feet, width of reef 20 inches, value by pan 8 dwts, main south drive advanced to 209 feet - George Gunton.

March 11th 500 feet level, 25 feet north rise, from stope 75 feet up, advanced total 108 feet, at this point the rise "holed" into the underhand stope from the No. 3 level in the old main shaft; the men have started stoping off this rise - George Gunton.

April 1, 1909 500 feet level, 25 feet north, rise from stope 75 feet up, the reef has now been broken down for the full distance of the rise, average width 13 inches, value by pan 8 dwts. The party have started crushing about 200 tons - George Gunton.

May 20, 1909 500 feet level, south drive off 20 feet north, rise at 147 feet up from level started and advanced 14 feet, width of reef (average) 14 inches value, by pan 7 dwts. North drive off same rise advanced 12 feet, average width of reef ? inches, average value by pan 5 dwts -George Gunton.

June 1st 500 feet level, west x-cut off main south drive at 162 feet south, advanced 9 feet in country, total 30 feet in country. South drive off 25 feet north, rise at 147 feet up from level started and advanced 14 feet, average width of reef 14 inches, average value by pan 7 dwts. North drive off same rise at same distance from level started and advanced 12 feet, average width of reef 14 inches, average value by pan 5 dwts - George Gunton.

June 10th In x-cut east off the 500 feet level main south drive, the party cut through 24 inches of quartz having pan value of about 3 dwts -

George Gunton.

June 17th 500 feet level, main south drive advanced 7 feet total 218 feet, width of reef 24 inches, value by pan 4 dwts - George Gunton.

July 1, 1909 500 feet level, main south drive advanced to 248 feet, average width of reef 7 inches, no value - George Gunton.

July 8th The vein of quartz on which the party were driving at No. 5 level being cut right out. The party have again discontinued prospecting work in this level. They are now stoping a small block of stone over the 300 feet level south drive. We understood they would start sinking a winze from No. 3 level, but the men now state that owing to want of funds are unable to do so at present. It is now their intention to beat out whatever payable ore they can find above the No. 3 level, hoping by this means to be able to raise sufficient money to enable them to carry on -George Gunton.

July 22 300 feet level, (old main shaft) winze 276 feet. Started and advanced 4 feet, width of reef 42 inches, value by pan 6 dwts - George Gunton.

July 29th 300 feet level (old main shaft) 276 feet south winze advanced 5 feet total 9 feet, width of reef 60 inches, value by pan 3 dwts - George Gunton.

August 26, 1909 300 feet level (old main shaft) winze 242 feet south, started and advanced 4 feet, width of reef 36 inches, value by pan 9 dwts - George Gunton.

September 1, 1909 300 feet level (old main shaft) 276 feet south, winze advanced 2 feet total 11 feet, width of reef 66 inches, value by pan 4 dwts - George Gunton.

September 30th 300 feet level (old main shaft) 242 feet south, winze advanced 3 feet total 14 feet, width of reef 30 inches, value by pan 9 dwts - George Gunton.

October 1, 1909 The Reward tributors are getting out about 90 tons of ore per month. Most of which from block left in the company's old workings, which a portion is from the 242 feet south winze and from underhand stopes taken off⁻ each side of the winze - George Gunton.

October 7th 300 feet level (old main shaft) 242 feet south winze advanced 3 feet total 17 feet, width of reef 38 inches, value by pan 9 dwts - George Gunton.

October 28th 300 feet level, (old main shaft) 120 feet south winze started and advanced 9 feet width of reef 30 inches, value by pan 11 dwts - George Gunton.

November 18,1909 300 feet level (old main shaft) 120 feet south winze advanced 6 feet total 31 feet, width of reef 30 inches, value by pan 4 dwts - George Gunton.

November 25 300 feet level (old main shaft) south drive off 120 feet south winze at 26 feet down started advanced 18 feet, average width of 18 inches, value by pan 10 dwts - George Gunton.

January 6, 1910 The Reward tributors are devoting the whole of their time to stoping out blocks of ore left on the company's old workings just above the No. 3 south level. The shallow winzes put down by the party prove that payable ore exists below this level, although just here about values seem to be over short lengths. Sinking each winze was discontinued immediately non-payable ore was met - George Gunton.

February 1, 1910 The Reward tributors have just put through another crushing of 138 tons from blocks left over the No. 3 level south drive and the result was unsatisfactory. They made less than £2 per man per week. This party have not yet been successful in locating the payable chute on the bottom of No. 5 level but comparatively little work has been done with this end in view. They having put in most of the time in sinking shallow winzes from the No. 3 south level and picking crushings from blocks of ground left over this level by the company. All of which work returned them less than wages. They have now started two men to further prospect No. 5 level - George Gunton.

March 3, 1910    500 feet level, east x-cut south drive at    179    feet    south,

advanced 3 feet    in country total 7 feet - George Gunton.

March 23 500    feet level, east x-cut off south drive at    179    feet    south

advanced 2 feet    in country total 9 feet - George Gunton.

March 31, 1910 500 feet level, (new main shaft) east x-cut off south drive at 179 feet south, advanced 3 feet in country total 12 feet. On the 17th of March they lost a bailing tank by breaking of rope - George Gunton.

April 1, 1910 The Reward tributors of this party which originally consisted of ten (10) men, only five now remain in the tribute prospecting for the south shoot on the bottom level. It's the only work now being done by them - George Gunton.

April 7th 500 feet level, (new main shaft) east x-cut off south drive at 179 feet width advanced 8 feet in country total 20 feet - George Gunton.

April 21 500 feet level, east x-cut off south drive at 179 feet south advanced 2 feet in country total 28 feet. A bore hole was put in from the face, a distance of 12 feet in country. The men have discontinued in this x-cut - George Gunton.

April 28, 1910 500 feet level (new main shaft) 236 feet south rise started and advanced 6 feet width of ore 14 inches, value by pan 4 dwts -

George Gunton.

May 5, 1910 500 feet level, 236 feet south rise advanced 3 feet, total 9 feet, width of reef 20 inches, value by pan 4 dwts - George Gunton.

May 12, 1910 500 feet level (new main shaft) 236 feet south rise advanced 3 feet total ? feet width of reef 15 inches, value by pan 4 dwts -

George Gunton.

We have followed almost closely the doing of this party tributors on the Reward mine which dwindled from ten to five of them. We will now notice the footage, ore raised, and crushings and gold yield from their work.

Footage Driving 117 feet, x-cutting 52 feet, rising 120 feet, winzing 59 feet, total 348 feet.

Ore Raised 1239 tons of ore 440 ounces, 18 dwts, 2 grains, value being £1,555.16.11 or slightly over £1.5.4 per short ton, total royalty paid by the party was £5.8 (another version £12.17.6).

Their Crushings Are As Follows

April 15, 1909 - No. 1 Crushed 277.5 tons of ore yielded 50 ounces 8 dwts, bank advanced £175. No royalty due.

May 20th No. 2 78 tons for 21 ounces, 16 dwts £74. No royalty due.

June 17th No. 3 69 tons for 18 ounces 3 dwts £69. No royalty due.

July 16th No. 4 63 tons for 22 ozs 16 dwts 12 grains £77. No royalty due.

August 12th No 5. 90 tons for 45 ozs 12 dwts 6 grains £159. No royalty.

September 9th No. 6 90 tons for 43 ozs 17 dwts £153. No royalty.

October 21 No. 7 139.5 tons for 51 ozs 18 dwts £179. No royalty.

November 11th No. 8 49.5 tons for 31 ozs 16 dwts 12 grains £108. Royalty at 5% £5.8.

December 22,1909 58.5 tons for 46 ozs 6 dwts £161. No royalty.

February 1, 1910 No. 10 138 tons for 52 ozs 15 dwts 12 grains £182. No royalty.

March 10,1010 No. 11 150 tons for 44 ozs 12 grains £154. No royalty.

May 12,1910 21 tons for 10 ozs 15 dwts £35. No royalty.

We copied the foregoing as we found them written down. According to Palmer, the first crushing contained only 130 tons of pure ore, the balance mullock. He also stated when they abandoned the tribute, the reef at the 500 feet level was 30 feet long, 15 inches wide, worth from 4 to 6 dwts and at both ends tapered to about an inch wide carrying no gold.

June 10,1910 Evans and Denman (tributors) crushed 48 tons for 13 ounces 18 dwts.

1911 Blatchford - Jutson (Field Geologists) Comment Little can be said about this mine, only the first level at the old main shaft was accessible at the time of our visit (end of 1911). Here the main reef underlies to the east. It is as much as eight feet thick, but thins out rapidly in other parts, the lode channel is well defined, the hanging wall near the shaft consists of the western boundary of a dyke of porphyry. Along the drives, the metamorphic conglomerate can be seen but it is usually highly decomposed. Such decomposition however services to bring out the character of the conglomerate very distinctly (Figs 6 and 7). Figure six shows a very coarse boulder-conglomerate interbedded with comparatively fine grained ore. The inclination of the beds represents probably an abnormal dip to the south due no doubt to local disturbance. Figure seven shows the somewhat sub-angular nature of some of the pebbles. It is difficult to obtain sections underground, so as to bring out the nature of the conglomerate clearly.

Only in the highly decomposed rocks such as those represented by the photographs referred to, can the structure be clearly reproduced, and in the drive where such photographs were obtained, want of space allows little room for selection. Sections practically do not exist at the surface....

Too long to quote further.

Besides the foregoing by the geologists we have no other information about the Reward mine of the year 1911.

The Reward And Main Reef Mine Acquired By The North White Feather Company

No. 1 Level Old Main Shaft Sampled By The New Company. Items From The Kalgoorlie Press. The Whole Reward Plant Dismantled And Poppet Legs And Ore Bin Sold.

1912 After the five men (out a party of ten) abandoned their tribute in May 1910, we have no further information about the Reward mine until the year 1912. In that year we find that the North White Feather Company which owned the Lily Australis had acquired both the Reward and the Main Reefs.

On what condition unknown to us. Thereafter these four mines were styled as the "North White Feather".

Ore Samples We find recorded that the new company assayed seventy one samples from the No. 1 level at the old main shaft on the Reward mine. As these are too long to transcribe here a few of them will suffice. The highest sample was taken from 205 feet north of the main west x-cut stope, width of reef 30 inches, assayed 13dwt 8 grains value 58 shillings eight pence. The highest below this assayed 4 dwts six grains value 19 shillings six pence taken from one feet south of the main west x-cut. Width of reef 40 inches. Four samples assayed a shade over two dwts two grains value 13 shillings 7 pence. In one place the reef being 70 inches wide assayed six grains, value two shillings six pence. In another place being 74 inches wide, assayed one dwt two grains value five shillings one penny. Needless to quote any further.

A Boiler On March 26, 1912 A boiler was removed from the Main Reefs to the Reward mine. On this occasion the manager wrote to the directors thus:-The boiler is now on the ground and the foundation ready to receive it, so that we should not be long before we are able to start bailing operation, after carefully examining the engine I found it necessary to put in two new cross heads as it was not safe to haul with. I have also made a new bailing tank for this shaft. These repairs of course take time and money. We shall require two new ropes for the work here.

May 10, 1912 A start will be made on Monday (May 12th) to unwater the old main shaft of the White Feather Reward which lately acquired by the North White Feather mine. The work of building the boiler and the erection of the smoke stack has just been completed - Western Argus.

June 11, 1912 Early in the year this lease (the Reward mine) together with the machineries thereon was acquired by the North White Feather Gold Mine. For ten years prior to the sale no development of any note has been done. The company being satisfied to retain the property as long as the tributors fulfill the labor conditions. The purchase of the lease by the above company was and is still considered the best thing that could have happened for the local mining industry and the community generally. The record of the Mines Department show that up to the end of December 1910 22,255 ounces of gold were won from 42,767 tons of ore with object of further development of this property. Vigorous policy is indicated for already a powerful boiler has been installed and the unwatering of the workings almost completed.

The Main Reef Leases have also been purchased by the North White Feather Gold Mine but at present no forward movement is

indicated as tributors are fulfilling the labour conditions. The record to the end of 1910 show that 90,406 ounces of gold were won from 145,504 tons of ore, yet notwithstanding these returns and the fact that a highly payable ore shoot was left at the 850 feet level, not one inch of development has been done since the White Feather Main Reefs Company downed tools as large employers of labour. No diamond drilling has been done to test these leases...- Western Argus

Besides the foregoing we have no further information about the result of the later operation underground on the Reward Mine.

Dismantling Of The Plants May 1920 The whole machinery and buildings were dismantled and taken away. The manager's house was bought for £30. The two sets of poppet legs and the ore bin was sold to Alexander Norton for £8. After stripping it of some useful timber he resold them to Samuel Charles Willmott for £15. Both skeletons of the poppet legs were still standing in January 1942. But the frame of ore bin built of massive gum logs had fallen down in 1941 and also an older boiler was still in position at this date. The other two boilers, one was removed in November 1919 and the other (on the shaft) in December 1921.

Biographical Sketches

Jeremiah McAuliffe A Great Prospector. (Discoverer of the White Feather Reward and Yerilla Mine, and hotel keeper. His Death.)

1896 We promised in the second chapter to record in full Jeremiah McAuliffe's account of the discovery of the White Feather Reward Mine (also called McAuliffe's Reward) as related by himself. In this we transcribe it as it appeared in the Western Argus of December 17, 1896.

Interviewed on his arrival in the old country by the British Australasian he said:- I was bom in Ireland. I went to Australia in 1875. I have had experience on the Gympie, Charters Tower, Attridge, Palmer, and Croydon. I have also been prospecting in New Guinea. In 1889 I went to the north-west of Western Australia and was one of the first prospectors in the colony. The principal fields of which were Bamboo Creek, Nullagine, Pilbara and Marble Bar. From thence to the Murchison district prospecting for several months with a fair amount of success. Later on I prospected down towards Coolgardie; after suffering many vicissitude owing to the scarcity of water and molestation on the part of the natives. After meeting with success at Coolgardie another prospecting party started out, of which I was one of the first to the 90

Mile district known now as Goongarrie. Returning prospecting to Coolgardie then left for Lake Lefroy where I got a little alluvial gold. Not satisfied with result I started back for Coolgardie and arrived just one day after Hannan had reported the discovery of Kalgoorlie. Within twenty four hours I was on my way to Kalgoorlie and was successful. I was obtaining alluvial gold. Remained there five weeks and my next move was to the I.O.U. (I owe you). There I found the brothers Mohar were working alluvial. After picking up several ounces of gold I started again going out east, about a 100 miles of Queen Victoria Springs.

Finding that district was non-auriferous it was on the very return journey that I found the White Feather. I worked in this district for some time and I took up a quartz reef. Now known as the White Feather Reward and as I had grace without being compelled to put it under labor condition, myself and party devoted ourselves to alluvial mining. We obtained two hundred ounces of gold in the month and meanwhile sold the White Feather to the West Australian Goldfields Company Limited. A week after the sale I started off prospecting again. It was then I found the Yerilla about 130 miles north east of Coolgardie. I opened up several of the claims a bit, but after about a month we were compelled to leave it owing to the scarcity of the water. It was several months after when I went back over the country. After experiencing much delay on account for the drought I arrived only to find that some of reefs on which we worked had been taken possession by other parties. One of the reefs which had many floaters, on which I had dollied good gold five months previously being one of them, but knowing there was some good looking reefs about six miles to the westward I camped along side those men. I was fully aware that if I went forward they would not give me time to prospect but come after me. The consequence was I had to walk six miles morning and afternoon with result that I discovered the Yerilla claims and picked up several ounces of the alluvial gold. Subsequently I went to Coolgardie and applied for claims. Of course there was a rush of alluvial diggers immediately. They picked up on the surface about six hundred ounces of alluvial specimens. There are four distinct reefs in the leases I pegged. I sent several parcels to Coolgardie to be crushed and some went seventeen ounces to twenty one ounces to the ton. I crushed some specimens in Coolgardie which went as much as two hundred and three ounces to the ton. I have brought some specimens from the Yerilla leases with me.

The McGregor and party who discovered the "Queen of the Earth", they picked 750 ounces of alluvial gold in specimens on the cap of the reef and several hundred more ounces were obtained by dry-blowing. A couple days before I left Coolgardie I met Archibald Roxburgh, one of the shareholders of the Queen of the Earth and he

informed me that they had got as much as £30,000 worth of gold out the claim.

Reward Claim I did not make claim for a Reward of the White Feather so called Reward. Before I left Western Australia I visited the so called Reward. The shaft was down about two hundred feet. At 100 feet level they had 400 feet of drive, and they were starting opening out at 200 feet level. The stone crushed had come out from the 100 feet level shafts. When I left they were crushing with ten head stampers.

1897 From the Kalgoorlie Miner of Tuesday October 19, 1897 we tell the second version how Jerry McAuliffe found the White Feather. It stated thus: Mister McAuliffe arrived at Kanowna from a trip to the old country, accompanied by his wife, Mister and Mrs Thompson. They put up at McManus Hotel (the White Feather Hotel). Interviewed by the Kanowna Democrat he said "It is over four years ago I prospected about Kanowna. It was the beginning of September 1893. I only specked a six pennyweight of gold two miles from the present two (namely on the Federal Hills) and I scoured the country but could not find no more. Then I went along with Michael Breen, as far Queen Victoria Springs, 200 miles east of Kanowna. Found nothing there. Came back again to the Feather and this time I found splendid gold near the site of the Reward Battery and were joined by Thomas O'Connor (Tassy) and Percy Larkin, afterwards and we did very well.

We never got a Reward from the Government. We paid £1 per acre just like any lease. We called our lease the Day Dawn. When the company bought it they called it McAuliffe's Reward though it has no claim to that title, and why it was called the White Feather, the name originated by two men fighting over a claim after the rush set in.

One them showed the White Feather (we shall refer to this episode in full in another chapter).

There is a little discrepancy in McAuliffe's account of going out prospecting towards the Queen Victoria Springs. The first he makes it appears as if starting from the I.O.U., the second from the White Feather district, another account of his given to Duke Stewart in January 1896 also different from the foregoing but there are two incidents worth noticing which happened during his prospecting movement namely:-

A Dear Drink Of Condenser Water Which is recorded in John Marshall's book Battling For Gold, too long to copy the whole, briefly is this:

McAuliffe leaving Kanowna the first day of February 1894, accompanied by his black boy (and eight horses) set out to prospect the country about 100 miles north-east of Kanowna and known afterwards as Peake's Find and at present day "Edjudina". On the way the water he had been carrying gave out and where he expected to find a fresh supply he found that the water holes were dried up. He made haste to reach Kurnalpi, before reaching that newly opened Goldfield. He, the black boy and horses endured a great thirst. Thomas Elliott one of the condensers, with aid of other condensers supplied a drink for the horses. That drink cost McAuliffe £15.11.0. On paying the amount he remarked that it would take a prospector with a bank at his back to pay such prices for water.

The other incident happened later on when a treacherous blackfellow without cause in cold blood murdered a young prospector named Phil Mack. In consequence of this crime, McAuliffe joined the punitive party of prospectors on horseback which went to administer to the culprit his well-deserved deserts. His Death In 1898 McAuliffe built of stone the National Hotel in Kalgoorlie and sold it to a man named Pearce (from Ladysmith, South Africa) in the beginning of December 1903 for £6,500. In later years he conducted the Goomalling Hotel, at Goomalling, and died there on May 22, 1922. The funeral took place in Perth (May 26) in the afternoon in the presence of a large gathering of relatives and friends. The cortege moved from the Cathedral of the Imaculate Conception Victoria Square, where a Requiem Mass was celebrated by Father Moss and proceeded to the Roman Catholic portion of the Karrakatta Cemetery where the remains were interred. Monsignor Verling conducted the last rites. The chief mourners were his wife, their four sons, namely: Jerry, Patrick, Dave and John and his two daughters: Peggy and Lister, Mary Joseph, the pall-bearers were Lavan, Williams, O'Dea (two), Goodhill, Hills, Buckley and Slater.

Olive Campbell (Kanowna's First Girl)

A little girl who lived with her parents (William and Maria Campbell) at the Reward mine. For sometime in after years whilst still attending school she wrote her experiences of her sojourn at the White Feather and published it in the Xmas number of the Western Argus of December 15, 1903 under the title Original Stories Of The Goldfields' Life.

We deem her production is entitled to a place in the History of Kanowna and therefore we transcribe most of it here. She wrote thus:-

We have arrived in Fremantle in 1894 and four days later we arrived in the Southern Cross by coach, on a Sunday. Life in Southern Cross - our refreshments were plum pudding and biscuits, needless to say the makers were Swallow and Ariell... (thence to Coolgardie). Our greatest misfortune on this stage of the journey was losing our best friend the "waterbag"...

Coolgardie at that time was only a huge camp of tents well covered in dust. The dust seemed to have the habit always getting into your nose and making you sneeze. Having stopped in Coolgardie two or three days, waiting for Mister Gray's Mail Coach. It took six hours from Coolgardie to Kalgoorlie where once more the pleasure of getting our ears, eyes and nose stuffed with dust. Going from Kalgoorlie to White Feather took five hours coaching till we arrived at our longed-for bungalow, on the White Feather Reward Mine. After being settled, I had the pleasure of being introduced to Sir John Forrest and Mister Moran. In their trip to White Feather I can just remember it, being very young then. In the Feather we were visited by a terrible dust storm accompanied by a heavy fall of hailstones as large as marbles and just as hard if they hit you. The hessian canvas, were poor shelter. The hail came through the hessian like paper.

My brother being a little older than myself had a little shaker... made by the men on the mine . I used to go with him on what is known at Kanowna as the Red Hill, to do some dry-blowing. It is the same place as Mister Doyle got a rich claim or close to it where I specked a nice piece of gold myself and still have it. We used to get a little gold when shaking. I have a ring made of it. One day in the bungalow whilst my father was playing the accordion his attention was drawn to the tail of a snake coming out of a box where my brother sat. Supposed the smell of music played by my father must have charmed the snake, for "music hath charms" ... It was soon dispatched. This was the first snake I saw in West Australia. I can safely say that I was the first girl in Kanowna as the town at the time was down on what was known as the old cement lead. Fever was very bad in Kanowna at this time and one man on the Reward put an end to his suffering by taking his own life. [See postscript]

My father made a safety cage while on the Reward mine, and with my mother, I went down in it and had a look all through the mine... A lot of young people died in Kanowna, while I was there and funerals very constant. We were very lucky as we never got a fever. People were coming to the Fields in hundreds and everybody seemed to have a gold fever, or else the typhoid fever.

I saw a fight between the blacks. I was taken to see a black's corroboree, but we kept a good way off as they looked very savage in their warpaint... My mother was also with me. As there was no school in Kanowna, my brother and myself occupied our time in sinking a shaft. Ours turned out composed of a small windlass and a clothes-line for a rope and a billy can for a bucket. Also my father made me a small pick. Our shaft was down eight feet, this having taken us five months' work but it was not a duffer altogether, having got fine gold in the bottom, but it was not payable. After this time we left Kanowna and

shifted to Kalgoorlie. My mother and myself went to New Zealand. On arriving here my schooling started in earnest. I have been to school ever since and at present I am in the fifth standard.

Postscript In after-years, Olive Campbell returned to the Goldfields as a violinist and taught music in Kalgoorlie. Both her parents died in Kalgoorlie in the same month and year. Her father died July 4, 1934 and her mother July 31, 1934. Both were buried in the Presbyterian portion of the Kalgoorlie Cemetery by William Strother, director of funerals.

Sir John Forrest and Charles John Moran were at the White Feather on Sunday and Monday November 24 and 25, 1895. Probably it was on that occasion when Olive was introduced to them. The man mentioned by her taking his own life at the Reward was named Arthur Anderson.

Arthur Anderson

Arthur Anderson employed as a book keeper at McAuliffe's Reward Mine - shot himself with a revolver on Tuesday afternoon April 30, 1895. The bullet entered his left temple. He lingered in his tent for three hours. He was about 25 years of age. Just as having recovered from Typhoid Fever. He was a native of Goulbum New South Wales -Western Argus

Ryder Versus Thomas

A young man named Robert James Thomas, storekeeper at Kanowna was brought at Kalgoorlie Court on Friday April 26, 1895 for committing assault on a married woman named Elizabeth, wife of Bernard Ryder. Bail was granted in his own recognition of £200. The alleged offence was committed in a tent near McAuliffe's Reward Mine in the absence of her husband. The case was tried before Warden Jephson and Thompson Justice of Peace on Thursday May 2nd. It was learnt there was no foundation for the charge of criminal assault and Thomas was discharged. Mrs Amy Knight and Constable Peake were witnesses - Western Argus

The Story Of The Golden Eagle Mine

Its situation. Purchased by the West Australia Goldfields Company Limited. Sold to the White Feather Reward Company. Let on tribute to Chisholm and to other tributors. The New Shaft sunk by the Main Reefs Company Closed down and dismantled.

The Golden Eagle Mine consisted of two, twelve acre leases numbered 9X and 10X situated on the Kanowna Main Reefs line. It was bound on the north by the White Feather Reward, on the south by the Golden Cement, on the east by the Kurnalpi Road, and on the west by the Nemesis Hill. It lay astride the Sailor’s Gully and along Paraguay Gully.

It is said, it was pegged out towards the end of 1893 by a man named Wills. We know nothing about this man beyond his surname. Whether he pegged out those leases for a Syndicate or on his own account? Probably he had a mate or mates whose names are unknown to us. The leases were acquired in January 1895 by the West Australian Goldfields Company Limited for £7,500 as already stated in Chapter VIII. This company in 1896 sold the Golden Eagle leases to the Reward Company for £10,000 fully paid shares of £1 share. We have no record of how much gold Wills got out before he sold out, nor what amount the company produced.

The earliest reference known to us about these leases is that in the Western Argus of December 1, 1894 wherein it stated thus:-

Captain Hocking is still battling with water which shows no sign of diminishing in the number one shaft in the Golden Eagle. [It is quite impossible now to locate any of Hocking's Shafts ]

As at the period we are writing (1942) there are a series of shafts both vertical and underlays extending almost the whole length of this defunct mine. However there is one conspicuous deep vertical shaft with a large dolerite mullock dump (with an underlay to the west dipping into it) situated just at the northern edge of the junction of Sailor and Paraguay Gullies and roughly about two hundred yards south of the Reward Old Main Shaft on lease No. 9X. Both these shafts were sunk long years after Hocking had left the district. The underlay became known as Chisholm Shaft and the vertical as the New Shaft. On these the greatest amount of work had been done, the richest chute of gold had been mined and the deepest shaft sunk on the Golden Eagle.

The Chisholm Tribute This block of ground was let on tribute to Chisholm and party in the year 1903 (or the year before, we are not certain). One of his mates was named William (Bill) Horn. Bill informed us that Chisholm's first name was George and that they had worked the tribute on an underlay shaft to water level, to 120 feet deep (another version to 140 feet) and that they hauled ore and mullock by means of whip-pole and horse.

The reef was rich and it crushed up to four ounces per ton (another version up to eight ounces per ton) and that one day they struck a patch of pure gold (free from dross) "twenty ounces". Among which being an eight ounce nugget. Horn could have supplied us with much more information about this tribute if only we had availed ourselves by asking him.

For same we have before us only the record of three parcels of ore crushed by Chisholm;

1.    on December 22, 1903 cleaned up a crushing of twenty five tons of ore, yielded nearly two ounces per ton.

2.    April 25, 1904 cleaned up 59 tons for 35 ounces.

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3. May 31, 1904 37 tons for 22 ounces - 13 dwts.

Those three crushings lack details. Anyhow they serve as a kind of sample among all the other crushings which the Chisholm party raised from the underlay shaft.

Other Tributors

1906 Waltham - 5 crushings from Lease 9X, total 138 tons yielded 40 ounces 4 dwts 6 grains. Received £135.13.0. Royalty £3.

1906 Cosens and Party - Lease 9X, 29 tons for 6 ounces 6 dwts. Received £ 19. No Royalty due.

1906 Denman and Party - Lease 9X, 25 tons for 28 ounces. Received £95. Royalty £9.

1907 Partridge and Party - Lease 10X, 44 tons 18 ounces 2 dwts. Received £58.3.1. No Royalty due.

1907 Watson and Party - Lease 9X, 74.5 tons for 41 ounces 11 dwts. Received about £130. Royalty £3.11.0.

1907 Denman and Party - Leases 9X and 10X, 23.5 tons 22 ounces 5 dwts. Received £76.11.0. No Royalty due.

1907 Joseph Nicholls and Party - Lease 10X, 65 tons yielded 18 ounces 13 dwts. Received £60. No Royalty due.

1910 Cuttland and Party - Lease 9X, 22 tons yielded 3 ounces 4 dwts. Received £11.0.0. No Royalty due. This party sunk a shaft due east of Chisholm Shaft to a depth of 36 feet. They raised the foregoing tonnage (22 tons) on the 30 feet south drive. They started April 19th and finished June 15, 1910.

The New Shaft 1925 - The story of the New Shaft on the Golden Eagle old leases is briefly this:- Whilst the last Manager (Willmott) of the Main Reefs Mine was driving north at the 400 feet level on Lease 12X he took up the Golden Cement ground which had been abandoned for many years, in case he happened to locate a new chute of payable ore. It would extend into that old famous Block of ground. It so happened that here Willmott had secured the old Cement Lease. A German came along and asked for a tribute on that lease, stating that he knew where there was good gold and refused to show the spot unless he granted him a tribute. At first Willmott demurred somewhat and he made a special arrangement and allowed the man to go on the lease.

Strange to say the man only stayed on the lease three days. He failed to strike the good gold as he thought. The next thing he did, he wrote a letter to the Directors of the Main Reefs Mine and told them that Willmott had no chance of striking gold where he was until he reached the Golden Eagle old Leases 9X and 10X. Undoubtedly the man had in his mind Chisholm's underlay shaft. The Directors sent a copy of that man's letter to Willmott and true enough failing to find any value at the Main Reef he closed down that mine and advised the Directors to sink a new shaft on the Golden Eagle leases. (He thought there was a good prospect for a new mine because it had only been

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worked down to a shallow depth). The Directors fell in with his idea and the requisite capital was raised for the purpose. The State Government was also asked to assist financially.

Accordingly the Golden Eagle (as the Golden Cement had been abandoned for many years) was taken up afresh in one block of twenty acres and renumbered 146IX. It was decided to sink the new shaft just between two old shafts (which stood sixty six feet apart, namely, at west lay Chisholm's underlay shaft 120 feet deep, at the east Cutland's vertical shaft thirty six feet deep). Its dimension being seven feet by three feet six inches in the clear. It was timbered and ladders hung on it as the sinking progressed, and equipped with a Holman's Hoist a line of pipes from the head of Sailor's Gully supplied the compressed air (from the Red Hill pipe line).

In the first week of November 1925 two miners named James Cook and Robert Swanson were engaged and started the sinking of this new vertical shaft. Detractors declared that the site of the New Shaft was injudiciously chosen, put down too close to the underlay shaft, one version stated that it passed through Chisholm's workings at 110 feet, another version at 140 feet. At 170 feet level he cross-cut to the old workings. There he extended the old drive from 40 feet to 70 feet. North from this drive he put up a rise and broke into the level above where Chisholm had knocked off stoping and here Willmott stoped out 66 tons of ore which yielded 89 ounces of gold over the plates and 8 dwts in the sands. Here too he struck a patch of specimens which yielded 18 ounces of clean gold. He also stoped out another two tons of good ore which was never crushed as the parcel was too small to take to the batteiy. It was eventually stolen.

After he worked out this small block of payable ore Willmott failed entirely to locate another one and further prospecting work for a payable reef was carried on in a spasmodic manner. It ceased operation three times;

1. on November 17,1926 no value in sight and too much water to cope with.

2. on April 21, 1927 he closed down on account of a cable from London that the Chairman of the company had just died. On the receipt of a second cable he resumed work, and

3. on June 9 closed down a third time on account of influx of too much water from the Reward Mine.

However he started working again and plodded along (with novice Italian miners who could not speak English) for another six months less two days. At end of which grim facts were facing him that he had been battling there for over two years and the only payable ore he got was the small block left by the Chisholm party. Already stated above, the influx of the water from the old Reward Mine was worrying him and moreover at this stage he was a sick man stricken with Miner's Phthisis. [Pulmonary T.B.] The going down and

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climbing up the ladders six days in the week and panting for breath every time he landed on the top shaft taxed his declining energy. He could no longer stand the strain so on the 7th December 1927 he closed down the Golden Eagle for good and undoubtedly he did a wise thing.

It saved a further waste of capital as at the time he closed down the shareholders were still supplying him with funds and the State Government was also assisting financially. Willmott's report of the progress of his work to the Directorate of the company is not available to us. William Asher stated that Willmott did 325 feet driving and sank the shaft to a total depth of about 215 feet and the very last work he cross-cut four feet at the bottom of the shaft and struck a four inch reef where it took a bend and knocked off. If he had followed it for 15 feet he would come to where the reef widened to 12 inches carrying payable gold. We are not certain whether Asher's statement is quite correct or not.

New Shaft Dismantled 1929 - Among the plant left at New Shaft (at mercy of the thieves) when it closed down on December 7, 1927 being the following:- Holman hoist with 250 feet of wire rope, little camp 8 feet by 8 feet, two large buckets made of conveyor belts, anvil weighing 139 lbs, three inch pipe vice, four inch bench vice, 120 feet of two inch air pipes in the shaft to water level and 50 feet of three inch air pipes above the shaft, small compressed air receiver, 200 gallon tank, 100 feet of 10 lbs rails, 100 feet of two inch air pipes in the shaft to water level, 50 feet of 3 inch water pipes, 1200 feet of one and a half inch pipeline branching off (from the Red Hill pipe line) at the head of Sailor's Gully, one trolley and sundries.The drum with 150 feet wire rope off the Holman hoist, the 200 gallon tank, two buckets and some sundries were stolen. All the pipes, the air receiver and what was left of the Holman hoist were bought by George Brown for Horsefield and Brackleman Company who had a foundry in Kalgoorlie. Brown started to remove this plant on September 24, 1929. The rails (in 19 pieces) and the trolley were removed to the Kalgoorlie Government District Hospital on October 11, 1931. The anvil was purchased by William Reid (or Read) and removed to Feysville on March 26, 1931. Reid paid 15 shillings for the anvil. The vices were removed to the Main Reefs' store room..

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"A Balzano 'Mud-Map"' 151

Death of Cook and Swanson

As a postscript to this chapter we deem proper to record the death of the two miners who started and sank the New Shaft on the Golden Eagle, probably to more than half of its depth. They left towards the end of March 1927.

James Cook went to Victoria and died in Melbourne in the year 1930.

Robert Swanson stayed in the Kanowna district and was found dead at 8 o'clock on the wood heap in front of his camp (at Kanowna) on the morning of November 18, 1934. As he was found prone on the wood heap we assume that as he stooped to pick the fuel for the morning fire he dropped dead. He was badly stricken with Miner's Phthisis. We saw him three days before he died, sitting in front of Smith's Store, breathing with great difficulty. His body was taken to Kalgoorlie and interred in the Presbyterian section of the Kalgoorlie Cemetery. He had £70 at the time of his death. He was a gruffy sort of fellow but good to the bottom. We were mates for a while at the 300 feet level at the Main Reef and he also camped close to us for about 18 months and we found him an ideal neighbour. He was a practical miner and a good worker.

The Chairman's Address to the Shareholders A report from the Mining World

After Willmott the Golden Eagle was worked by three different parties; by Asher and Party, by an Italian Party, lastly by Richard Renfrey and sons.

Whilst the work was progressing at the Golden Eagle there appeared two reports about the mine. One was an Address by the Chairman to the Shareholders, the other one first appeared in the Mining World and was reprinted a little later in the Kalgoorlie Miner (March 20, 1926 and April 20, 1927 respectively).

The Chairman's Address Addressing the annual meeting of the shareholders of the North White Feather Limited in London on February 16, 1926 the chairman (Reginald Taylor) said that when it was considered that in the old White Feather Reward work was only carried down to 500 feet and by the tributers only about 120 feet in the Golden Eagle it would be seen, and bearing in mind the depth the companies had gone in Kalgoorlie not far away, that the prospects this company had if it persevered were enormous. He thought the shareholders had every reason to expect that their patience would be rewarded. The principal items in the account were £3,206 for expenditure on mine development and £1,000 for assistance given by the State Government whose attitude towards the property was appreciated, the Board of Directors had acceded to the strong recommendation of the manager (Willmott) to attack the Reward Reef, much further north where the shoot of ore had run off 400 feet

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and was worked to water level by the tributers. The manager (Willmott) advised that a shaft should be sunk a little to the east of the line of the old tributers shaft (Chisholm Shaft) and that at 150 feet depth a Xcut should be put out to intersect the reef from the 400 feet level. The point of attack was about 1500 feet north. The work was now in progress and the shaft was down 136 feet. Water was coming in the New Shaft. Was being sunk near an old shaft known as Chisholm Shaft from which very high value was taken very many years ago. It had only been worked at water level 120 feet. It was on record when the Reward Reef was worked at 500 feet level it was 30 inches in width, and yielded 45 dwts to the ton. It was not reasonable to suppose that the 400 feet of reef which were now investigating died out at water level. The Main Reefs yielded 350,000 ounces of gold, only a little gold from the 830 feet but the most of it was obtained from the sixth and seventh levels.

P.S. On the 21st of April 1927 Willmott received a cable from London that the Chairman of the company had just died. We are not certain whether was the same one (Taylor) who addressed the foregoing annual meeting of the shareholders or some other gentleman. We have no mean to ascertain it at this stage.

From Mining World Another attractive low price share in Western Australia Market. The capital authorised is £112,500 in five shilling shares. 90,000 being issued. Assets consists of a twenty stamp battery, cyanide plant and a large property containing several mines (namely: the Reward, the Golden Eagle, the Main Reef and Lily Australis). A New Shaft in one of the latter (the Golden Eagle) has reached the depth of 180 feet and has proved gold at the depth of 120 feet, 150 feet and 170 feet levels. A trial crushing has yielded 89 ounces of gold from 66 tons of ore. The company has capital in hand to continue development without selling any gold. The present low price of one shilling to one and two is said to be due to the fact that the merits of having not been placed in front of the public. Although speculation in shares gave attractive possibilities Captain Jamrack is leaving London for West Australia at the end of May (1927). He is taking a well-known mining engineer with him who will visit and thoroughly inspect the property of the North White Feather Mines.

P.S. We have not a word of information of Captain Jamrack's visit and inspection of the North White Feather Mines especially the Golden Eagle.

Asher And Party After Willmott closed down the Golden Eagle for good on December 7, 1927 the ground lay open for several years until William Asher and Ernest Style and party took it up in July 1937 according to what Asher told us. They worked the leases for 14 months. They worked the one shoot underhand stoping from the 170 feet level where Willmott knocked off to a depth of about 34 feet. At first the width of the reef was about 30 feet but it narrowed down to about 10 feet and where they knocked off the reef was about nine inches thick carrying a value from one ounce to about four ounces per ton. During the 14 months they raised 22 tons of ore which yielded 39 ounces 16 dwts of gold. Besides this they dollied 70 ounces, total 109 ounces 16 dwts for the 14 months. Asher said that he lost £1,200 in the Golden Eagle. We do not vouch whether his statement is perfectly true or not.

The Italians Party When Asher and party withdrew from the Golden Eagle an Italian party with a backer took it up and worked it until they were interned when their country declared war on England and France on the 10th June 1940.

Richard Renfrey And Sons When the Italians were shunted off the Golden Eagle, Richard Renfrey with his two sons Frank and Len continued the working of the leases under the same person who had backed the Italians. They too in turn closed down the mine for good.

The Story Of Sailor's Gully

Preamble. The Prospector of Sailor's Gully. How we met Sailor Jack. Death of Sailor Jack. Ebsary and Tregurtha. Tregurtha's account Ebsary's account Stephen Lorden. The Devils Nugget episode.

1893 Preamble Of all the alluvial diggings within the Kanowna district whether gullies or open patches Sailor's Gully is the most renown of them all. Forsooth an historic ground; it was here the earliest alluvial digging activities took place. Before any other reefs and auriferous gullies and patches were located (besides the Reward and Red Hills) and that the great part of the first township site or main camp stood here (and along the Paraguay Gully) and many little scenes incidental to those inalterable and stirring days were enacted therein.

Sailor's Gully was rich in gold and shallow ground. The sinking to the wash dirt being from about three feet to six feet and the gold bearing wash from a few inches to over two feet in thickness according to "Sailor Jack" (our informant). It was a very pleasant task indeed to work the wash before one could dry-blow and pan off a few dishes lull of dirt. One would sit down and pick up the big pieces of gold from the face of the wash, like picking raisins off a plum pudding. Although the earliest diggers apparently worked out their claims to a finish, yet gold was won from their abandoned claims for many long years afterwards even as late as May 9, 1935. A man named Skepper and his mate working a dry-blower dredge found a nugget weighing nine ounces and 16 pennyweights besides a fair amount of pennyweight pieces and fine gold.

The head of this gully lies at the northern end of the Nemesis Hill and fast by at the south of Red Hill. Like McAuliffe's Gully it stretched north and south near to the Kurnalpi Road. At the north they are nearly a half mile apart, towards the south end about two hundred yards. The gold in both gullies petered out before reaching the Kurnalpi Road.

The landscape of both Sailor and Paraguay Gullies when in their pristine state were a pleasant sight. All the original trees such as Mulga Gum, the scented Sandalwood, the Quondong, the Kurrajong, the Sombre Sheoaks have disappeared. The keen edged axe had made havoc of them, not even a stump is to be seen about, save a stout Sheoak is still standing at south edge of Sailor's Gully and south of the Golden Eagle Main Shaft.

The Prospector Of Sailor's Gully - October 1893 The first gold obtained from Sailor's Gully was got by McAuliffe and party by specking it on the surface and under the surface by Jack Allen. Familiarly known as Sailor Jack it is conceded that he was the very first digger to sink a hole in this gully to the gold bearing wash and struck payable alluvial gold and thus the gully was named after him. Another version gives the credit to Jim Reid, Bill Minter and Jack Ralph. We know nothing at all about these three men save Reid we knew him only by sight at the Lake Darlot Rush in 1895.

How We Met Sailor Jack March 21, 1934 On this date we journeyed expressly to Kalgoorlie to visit two patients in the Government Hospital namely Thomas Phillips and Alfred Burgon. The latter accidentally mentioned that Sailor Jack was also in the hospital. We lost no time in visiting him. He was lying supine on his bed at the east end of the verandah (north verandah) of the medical ward. We found him affable, an attractive personage and congenial to us and fain to have had a few hours' conversation with him, but as he was very ill and we quite apprehensive that a long talk might have annoyed him. So we very reluctantly made our interview last about ten minutes and even in that brief space of time we obtained Multum in Parvo information.

He said that his full name was William John Allen and that he was bom at Ripon, Yorkshire, England on January 4, 1854. As for the discovery of Sailor's Gully of which we were most anxious to obtain information he said:-

I knew Jerry McAuliffe and by chance met him when passing through "Dry Camp" (Kalgoorlie) on his return journey from Coolgardie on his way back to his new find, known afterwards as the White Feather. He told me about the rich Reef he had discovered, besides the amount of alluvial gold he had specked on the surface of the ground. I formed a party of men I knew namely William (Bill) Watt, James

Pavency, James Reid and Sailor Charles Hayden and we were very soon on his track. Yes, McAuliffe had gone to Coolgardie to apply for a mining lease which was called afterwards McAuliffe's Reward.

I was the first man to sink a hole in Sailor's Gully and strike payable gold about the end of August (October) 1893. My mates decided among themselves to call it Sailor's Gully. Before I took to mining I had been a sailor. How did the gully look like in its pristine state? Beautiful, the principal vegetation were gums, Sheoaks, Sandalwood, Quondongs and Mulga. Yes, there were some Kurrajongs. Sailor's Gully being shallow ground I struck the gold bearing wash at depth of three feet. We had five claims, each 50 feet x 50 feet. How did the wash look like? If you cut a plum pudding in half showing plenty raisins or currants you will get an idea how the wash looked like in the face. It being from six inches to three feet in thickness. The gold being from the size of a pin's head, to grains, to pennyweights and to ounce pieces.

At this stage we desisted to importune the patient with any further questions as we hoped to have a longer interview later on which was not to be. Any discrepancy of what he told us is entirely excusable. The information given was both from memory and from his sick-bed and long years after the event. As for him having discovered gold in Sailor's Gully at the end of August 1893, is rather an anachronism. It is an historic fact that McAuliffe and party were the first prospectors at the White Feather in October 1893. More likely Allen (Sailor Jack) discovered gold in Sailor's Gully towards the end of October (1893).

Sailor Jack in 1931 The Kalgoorlie Miner of September 4, 1931 had this paragraph about him:-

" Sailor Jack" (Jack Allen) an octogenarian prospector who has covered all the Goldfields of West Australia has come from Larkinville to enjoy the spring racing carnival. His first prospecting experiences date back to the Kimberley rush in 1886. When he voyaged hither from New Zealand. The Pilbara, Ashburton, Gascoyne, Murchison and every other field have been traversed by him. He was the prospector of Sailor's Gully at White Feather (Kanowna) before he took part in the first rush to Kumalpi.

Death Of Sailor Jack William John Allen (Sailor Jack) died in the Kalgoorlie Government Hospital on Sunday April 15, 1934 and Kalgoorlie Miner of April 18 published the following obituary

"Passing of a pioneer"

There died in the local hospital on Sunday last, one of the oldest and best known members of the gold seeking brotherhood born at Ripon on Yorkshire over eighty years ago. William John Allen better known as Sailor Jack" was the son of a Colonel in the British Army who fell in the Crimea. The boy took to a sea life and in that avenue spent his youth and early manhood coming to the west in the late eighties. He was among the first at Kimberley, the Murchison, Coolgardie and other centres. Sailor's Gully at Kanowna called after him will perpetuate his memory. The Larkinville Field was the scene of his latest efforts. There he laboured despite his great age until overtaken by illness which closed a career of unceasing endeavour. He was a fine representative of the old brigade whose ranks time is so sadly depleting of a tireless industry. His remarkable virility evoked the frequent compliment that this likeable old man was "good stuff'. To the last he could read without the aid of glasses and his full head of hair was but slightly flecked with grey.

Tregurtha And Ebsary

Besides those names already mentioned in the foregoing James Tregurtha and Samuel Ebsary both promising prospectors were among the earliest to peg out a claim in Sailor's Gully and both have recorded the gold won from their respective claim as their account was given from memory long years after the event is rather loose and without date. We let them speak for themselves.

Tregurtha's Account A couple of days later I was awakened about two o'clock in the morning by Percy Larkins. He had ridden through the night from Kanowna to Broad Arrow to tell Dave Brodie, Jack Miller and myself about the new find. That evening we camped at a clay pan about six miles west of the new find. There we joined up with Ted McGrath and Jack Samuels. We arrived on the find early next morning on Friday. An unlucky day. Samuels took charge of our horses. Miller, McGrath and Brodie pegged alluvial claims in a gully running down on the west of the Reward claim (called afterwards McAuliffe's Gully) and I pegged a claim in Sailor's Gully between Dan Pryke and Mick Breen. Below Breen was Jim Quinn, Harry Stone, Jim Reid, Jerry McAuliffe, Tassy O'Connor and Sailor Jack, the discoverer of the gully.

About a dozen claims in this gully yielded over two hundred ounces each sinking about six feet. My claim was on a shallow bar.

Brodie helped me to work it out. We got about 25 ounces and it had to be divided between five of us.

Two things connected with Kanowna stand out very clearly in my memory. The first was the extremely bad water, the second was the game little black kid Monkey. He was about ten years of age and very small so that when he was hunched up on a horse with a man's coat wrapped around him and his feet tucked in the stirrup leathers he looked very much like his namesake. All the same he was a game little kid and generally led three horses loaded with water. We were camped at Tassy's camp. Samuels was packing water from a claypan to the west and Monkey was packing water from one about ten miles south. The water was very dirty and when cleaned with kopi it yielded about halfwater and half-sediment.

Ebsary's Account Hortop and I went to Black Flag. George Withers and party came in to Black Flag from Coolgardie whilst we were there and he told me that Jerry McAuliffe and Tassy O'Connor were working on gold at what is known as White Feather. They said they were going to see how they were doing and we followed them on horses. We found O’Connor on the reef. Hayden finding the first gold by dry-blowing in the gully. A mate named Seller came on to him and said down with a hole and at four and a half feet they found good prospects of coarse gold. We all pegged out claims up and down the gully (Sailor's Gully). At this time we were getting our water from a place called Lignum Swamp about ten miles from Sailor's Gully. This gave out and my mates packed water from Waladdi about 35 miles from the gully. We made a large canvas tank and rigged it up on the lease. Horeop and a mate went to Siberia Rush leaving me to work out the claim with the water available. I worked at it at night breaking out and in the day time blowing off, no shaker or dryblower being in evidence. I stayed a fortnight and recovered sixty ounces of gold and then walked from there to Coolgardie, water bag in hand. When I got to Coolgardie the Siberia Rush was on and almost all the people had left for the rush. There was a scarcity of water at Coolgardie. The supplies at that time coming from Raeside (soak). Going to Raeside I picked up my mates and pack horses at the soak. Hortop and I went to Perth for a few weeks' spell. We took our horses down as far as Leake's Station... Ebsary and Hortop were bricklayers by trade and Brickey Soak about 14 miles from Pendennie was named after them.

Stephen Lorden

The great plateau of Western Australia on which the Eastern Goldfields is situated is a remorseless region with a meagre rainfall and it has no permanent surface water, save in sparse soaks with limited supply and claypans, gnamma holes and shallow hollow in some channels. All the latter (include some of the soaks) hold water for a short time after the rain and as for those saline depressions called lakes not one of them has any permanent water either fresh or salt save after heavy rain, but it soon evaporates leaving them dry as ever.

Owing to this climatic condition the ground is dry all the year round except for a few days after the rain and to this fact the whole of the gold bearing alluvial ground has been treated by dry-blowing (except an infinitesimal quantity panned off in water in some place). At first miners' dishes and sieve were used. This process was very slow. A little later someone invented the shaker and very soon the dry-blowing machine appeared and much later the shaker dry-blower combined appeared. We do not know who invented the shaker and shaker dry-blower, but it is a fact that Stephen Lorden was the inventor of the dry-blower machine which bore his name and which was extensively used on the Goldfields in the early days and others copied from him.

According to Alfred Burgon (our informant) Lorden conceived the idea of a dry-blower machine at the Nickol Goldfields about ten miles from Roeboume where Burgon personally first met him in 1889. Lorden was also at the Nullagine Rush. Afterwards he established a workshop in a loft in Packenham Street, Fremantle and he employed some carpenters and manufactured the Lorden dry-blowers which he sold at £25 each.

Stephen Lorden was found drowned in the Swan River at Fremantle on Friday November 24, 1922. Burgon said that Lorden was subject to fits. He was a married man with a family. A digger named George Lawrence informed us on January 2, 1936 that James Holden was the very first to import a Lorden dry-blower to the White Feather. With a mate named Bill Ennis, worked on one or two of the abandoned claims in Sailor's Gully. They were getting from 20 to 25 pennyweights of gold per day. They deemed it too poor so they shifted to Kalgoorlie where they expected to get far more gold. Holden was subsequently employed in the mining office at Kurnalpi where he caught the fever. They brought him to the Kanowna Hospital in which he died in 1895-6 and was buried in the old cemeteiy.

The Devil's Nugget Episode (Coulter and TrefTene murder Walsh and Pitman)

According to my opinion, iron, of all metals has been the most serviceable to mankind. Among the manifold things manufactured from it we cite a needle to sew garments, scissors to cut cloth, shears to shear sheep and Angora goats, a hoe to till the ground, an axe for hewing and chopping, a blade for cutting small things and household utensils, a nail to fasten two pieces of timber in order to build a house and ship, a hammer to drive nails, a saw to cut timber to any desired length, a gimlet to bore a hole for a peg and etc. But here men with base passion and base motive began to fashion deadly weapons of destruction then iron (with some of its cognate metals) ceased to be a guiltless commodity.

As for the gold, since it captivated the eye and fancy of man and its lustre appraised both for adornments and as wealth. Since that time neither elements such as fire, air, water and frigid ice and tropical heat and the long centuries have been able to deteriorate its lustre and value. Never faded (like the whorl of a rose out of season) from the sight of man at least from civilised society.

Of all the ancient religious creeds if they ever consorted at all with gold, as far as we know their devotees in order to obtain it ever stooped to wanton butchery of men. History records that it was left for the adherents and agents of a new creed (Christianity) which supplanted all other creeds with vile devises and plagiarised the best from them. Even the days of their festivals they turned to their own use, under new names. As for those ancient and defunct creeds which had flourished for many ages around about the Mediterranean shores. Have the frigid and pernicious creed of the Jews known as Judaism all other with all their faults were fairly good tolerant and gave their devotees consolation as for Christianity though not coeval with gold an immeasurable gulf of time lies between their respective appearance on earth. The latter fruit sprung from the upas tree of Judaism. When it appeared it seemed a harmless green fruit. When ripened it opened like the prickly pericarp of a chestnut and like the Pandora box let loose many evils. Only a sedate of lees of good left behind it claimed to be a creed of poverty feigning to despise things mundane and yet the reputed founder whilst still in the manger deigned to accept gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh from the hands of the magi (Matthew Chapter II Verse II).

In Christendom and whenever the banner of the cross has been planted, gold and Christianity have marched down the centuries together like the Siamese twins and have accused more sensations, mischiefs and indelible crimes than any other metals and creeds under the sun. Out the myriads of them we pick only two. It is like choosing two particles of sands on the seashore or more like picking one on the Sahara and the other on the Gobi.

On the sixteenth of November 1532 slaughter of unsuspecting and innocent Peruvians took place in the square of Catamarca. The butchers in that cold blood carnage were not of heretical type such as those burnt at the stake. For instance as Giordano Bruno and thousands of others and nor were they Buddhists or Confucianists. But an execrable horde of Roman Catholics led by the foulest and blood thirsty Pizarro and as a dessert to that carnage on the

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twenty ninth of August 1533 they executed Atakvalpa. The elaborated trial and crucifixion of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Gospels fabricated from a great mass of legends of pre Christian saviours and heroes and from the Jewish Bible, modelled in the form of a drama and to form a sell for the Christian religion and to rouse compassion and emotion in the breast of the devotees (and bring grist to the mill) is a pure figment. But the burlesque accusations, trial, suffering and death of Atahualpa the last Inca at the hands of the Roman Catholics is purely historic. It was written by the Spaniards themselves (and not by the enemies of the church). These crimes were perpetrated for the great zeal of the cross (where the trade-mark of confession and absolution stood). The lust for bloodshed and the conquest of the country. But the ulterior motive behind these was the insatiable appetite for gold and for the goods produced by those industrious and peaceful people.

The two serpents that strangled Laocoon and his two sons in their coils is a myth. But the two slimy reptiles Pizarro and the Friar Valverde who coiled themselves on Atakvalpa from the sixteenth of November 1532 till they murdered him on the twenty ninth of August 1533 are real historic persons and devotees of the cross.

On the 28th of April 1926 a heinous crime was committed in the bush seventeen miles southwest of the Boulder and about thirty two miles from Kanowna by two dealers in crook gold (stolen gold) by William Charles Coulter and Phillip John Treffine, both Christians, Coulter a Presbyterian and Treflfene a Roman Catholic. The victims were Detective Inspector John Joseph Walsh and Sergeant Alexander Henry Pitman. They cut up their bodies, burnt all they could, threw down the rest in to the Miller's Shaft on the Pride of Sydney Lease about six miles south-west of Kalgoorlie. The remains were discovered on the 12th of May and accorded a decent burial.

By this misdeed Coulter and Treflfene incurred a debt which they paid off on the gallows in the Fremantle Jail on October 25th 1926. There was a third man connected with this crime, a Pommy named Evan Clarke but as he turned a crown witness a free pardon was granted to him and as having had enough of Western Australia, he and Florrie his wife left soon after for England.

It does not concern us to know how that blood thirsty monster Pizarro (and his sanguinary gang of butchers) felt as the immense treasure was laid to his blood sodden hooves exhorted from the terrorised Peruvians among which being the beautiful Indian artistically made in gold, and in a multitude of others whom in various ways have throughout the ages struck it rich.

As for ourselves and as for the reason for the foregoing dissertation is to record for all, for what it is worth, our own experience when a delusive stone which at first sight appeared to us a huge mass of gold and for a while it imposed upon us the needless sensation and the vain hopes of a fortune.

It so happened that the southern end of Sailor's Gully had proved too poor for the early diggers to work it. Only trial holes were sunk here and there.

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On this solid ground we pegged out an alluvial claim and at depth of over six feet we struck a well defined gutter with wash carrying a trail of gold, even the drift above this showed an odd speck of gold. We followed the gutter for a fortnight getting a few grains each day and about 2 o'clock in the afternoon of September 25, 1919, we struck the pick into a hard substance. Strange to relate on roughly exposing the front edge of it, at first sight somewhat the hard object appeared as yellow as gold. We inserted the pick under it and tried to lift it out. It budged not. It was embedded into a little depression right in the middle of the gutter covered with a thick layer of wash and black sand showing specks of gold and fully six feet of drift on top of it. At this stage our hope became very ebullient and our heart beating at top speed. Convinced that we in reality had struck a solid mass of gold. Surpassing the weight of the Welcome Stranger nugget found at Moliagul (Victoria) by John Deason and Richard Oates on February 5, 1869. Its weight being 2,315 oz, 17 dwts, 14 grains.

After a feverish work of about ten minutes we got out our find from its age long seat and next moment we got disillusions far more quickly that the morning sun can dissipate the mist and our great expectation blasted. Our find turned out to be only a solid mass of quartzite and iron concreted with silica. Almost in the form of a square block fully four feet in circumference about eighteen and a half inches long about fifteen inches wide and averaging about two and a half inches in thickness. Undoubtedly the ingredients of this strange stone originally were in a semi-liquid state and whether they had coalesced on the spot where we found it or further up the gully and then carried down by a great volume of storm water we cannot say. However the underside was smooth and upperside jaggy with a hollow with a capacity to hold about a cupful of water. A big lump of pure white quartz was laying behind against the stone.

After our day's hard work and excitement over the delusive stone when we reached our camp that afternoon our first thought was to re-read the passage in Shakespeare "All that glisters is not gold". We cite it in full. It is from The Merchant of Venice, Second act, Scene VII.

Morocco - O hell! What have we here?

A carrion death. Within whose empty eye There is a written scroll? I'll read the writing "All that glisters is not gold".

Often have you heard that told:

Many a man his life hath sold.

But my outside to behold:

Gilded tombs do worms infold Had you been as wise as bold.

Young in limbs, in judgement old.

Your answer had not been inscrolled.

Fare you well: your suit is cold.

Cold indeed: and labour lost:

Then farewell heat: and welcome frost Portia Adieu! I have too grieved a heart.

To take a tedious leave: thus lovers part exit.

The Devil The name of that shadowy and intangible being, personified by the Christians of Pan. The Greek rural god partly of its form and attributes coupled with the goods and good things of this world has been very serviceable to the church. He has been a shillelagh in the hands of the priests and other teachers of that faith. They made him ubiquitous so to be near at hand when his name was required to brandish it in to the heads of the unsophisticated - but all these services have been a mere bagatelle. The church has exalted him to the rank of chief of all cooks and a special kitchen has been assigned to him. A region of everlasting fire. Wherein for the glory of the prince of peace to grill the souls of those who have declined to "kow-tow" to the cross and supply the church mill with grist.

Alike many other children bom in the country where the cross prevails the pernicious Doctrine of two unseen regions was unfolded whilst still in our infancy. One of bliss presided over by a loving father and son: and one of extreme woe presided over by a malevolent being called the Devil. According to the Gospel of Matthew XXV Chapter 32-33.41.46 verses the division of the tuture dwellers of those places are designated sheep and goats otherwise saved and damned.

As for knowing that the Devil owned any property on the surface of the earth besides his vast souls-grilling dominion underground, we remained in blissful ignorance till the age of 15 or thereabouts when two lovable children, a boy named Joseph and his youngest sister (whose name we have forgotten) led us to see the Devil's cave. Situated on the outskirts of the town of Mackinac also spelled Mackinaw. At north-west extremity of Lake Huron United States of America the only impression our mind retains at this distant stage is that the cave was near the lake and stunted vegetation about it and above it rose steep ground. However this cave strongly whetted our desire to see more of the Devil's properties. Our curiosity was gratified long years afterwards at Whakarewarewa. A mile and a half from Rotorua, New Zealand we beheld the Devil's reception (also called the Frog's Pond). A seething mud volcano and at Tikitere twelve miles from Rotorua we beheld the "Inferno"... and about three miles from Launceston, Tasmania we saw the Devil's punch bowl. And six miles from St. Heliers, Jersey Isle we saw the Devil's hole called by the French Trou Du Diable and in the Lake Killamey, South Ireland we beheld the Devil's island.

The Story Of The Old White Feather Township

Its site. One day in early Kanowna. The progress committee. The German woman and Annie Mclnnes. Annie's letter.

Its Site 1893-5 An alluvial flat called Paraguay Gully which opened out from Sailor's Gully, just opposite the Golden Eagle New Main Shaft and mostly situated between the Nemesis Hill and a low Hillock. It trended parallel with the Main Reef line for nearly a 150 yards. It then turned southward and crossed the Kurnalpi Road. It is fully half a mile long. It was very rich in alluvial gold. We have no information who held the best claims. A 24 ounce nugget was found in one of the claims. Gold was discovered in this gully shortly after Sailor's Gully by those who pegged outside the claims. It owes its name Paraguay Gully to the fact that two or more diggers from Queensland who had claims in it and that those men had been members of that malcontent band of men who went to Paraguay, South America to found a Social [Socialist] colony with the title "New Australia". The scheme proved a fiasco and a lot of them came back to Australia. As we write this of that event we only remember the name of one person "William Lane" as his dictatorship over the "New Australia" proved a failure also. He too returned to Australia and when he landed he was warned by John Norton to behave himself or else he would be on his track.

And now the first township or main camp on the White Feather field was situated in Paraguay Gully. Of course it was not in any way a surveyed townsite. Any one in those early days could squat down, pitch his tent or open a business. On the ground the Golden Eagle Lease No. 10X, the business buildings were approximately situated in the following order:- (1) James Paisley's Pioneer Store stood on the non-auriferous spot at the southern base of the Nemesis Hill close to Sailor's Gully and about two hundred yards west from the Golden Eagle New Main Shaft. It was a popular store in the charge of George Baker. (2) Next to Paisley a little further down stood William McDonald's Store. (3) Opposite McDonald's stood the German woman's (Mrs Kiene) Restaurant. (4) Next to Mrs Kiene stood a Billiard Saloon (name of owner unknown). (5) Further down just over the Kurnalpi Road stood William Henry Batho's Store. We have been informed that Harkness opened (at Batho's Store) a branch of the West Australian Bank on or about June 1894.

The buildings of those business places and others, consisted of big tents and hessian with bough sheds. All of them could be erected in a few hours. They served their purpose till the new townsite was laid out and whose history we hope to relate in future chapters. The only vestige (and a very poor one indeed) of the old township site which so far has escaped obliteration and is still visible at the time we are writing (July 1, 1942) consists of a heap of ash where the Baker, Felix Bartle had his oven, on the slope of the Nemesis Hill approximately 50 yards west of Paisley's Store. Bartle converted a big iron tank for his oven. Before Paisley (and the other) opened his store on this field provisions were supplied by dealers arriving with wagons and camel teams loaded with stuff and selling straight off.

Owing to lack of sanitary arrangements coupled with hard living, sickness and typhoid fever and death too, made its appearance a few months after the rush set in.

Of many little scenes enacted at the old township while it existed, only two special incidents lie before us to record. They were not borrowed from any old plays nor rehearsed, but were incidental to those stirring and inalterable early days of the White Feather Field. The first is told by John Meiklejohn "One day in early Kanowna" and the other by myself "The German Woman and Annie Mclnnes".

One Day In Early Kanowna 1894

A couple of young Victorians blew into camp one morning with a spring cart loaded with fresh vegetables, only a week old at least. Every man on the field was troubled with Barcoo rot. So the half withered green food received a cordial welcome and the whole consignment was quickly bought up. Prices were 2/6 for a cabbage, 2/6 per pound for onions and so on. Nothing was under 2/6 but no one grumbled at the extortion as vegetable food of any kind was badly wanted. In fact the enterprising young merchants had such a pleasing way they won the hearts of all at once.

It appeared that a camp concert had been arranged for that same evening and when it became known that the young strangers had been connected with a popular comic opera company back east and that they had consented to sing at our beano, our hopes for a pleasant evening ran very high. It would certainly be a change from the old "come all ye's" we usually got. Stimulated with an enjoyable evening meal of real vegetables the whole camp gathered for the occasion in front of Paisley's Store. The weather was clear and cool and a bonfire had been built to shed light and warmth and close to hand was a huge pile of wood that had been supplied by willing hands. Mister Bissenberger, Chairman of our Progress Committee opened proceedings in his hearty bland way and announced the items. There was no musical accompaniment so each performer had to struggle along as best he could. A few regulars started off and individually wrestled with their selected chestnuts. Some, in time, and others out, but all were lustily encored as a matter of good fellowship. I sang a couple of rollicking sea songs. I started a bit too high, so the rollick a bit wobbly. But the crowd cheered to the echo to encourage my acrobatic attempts to reach the top notes. Tom Doyle had no more voice than a frog and did not sing but his interjected absurdities and lively witticisms always created a laugh. We were certainly a happy crowd and readily forgave each other's shortcomings. The star turn happened when the young visitors stood up. Their voices were a treat to hear. They were trained singers and every note came out beautiful and clear with all the expression that a true artist knows how to put into his work. They sang old favourites in solo and duet. Such songs as Sweet Genevieve, In the Gloaming etc. and they rendered each item in such splendid style that the audience was absolutely carried away. They applauded until the surrounding bush re-echoed again and again. After having responded time after time to encores they retired for a spell behind their spring cart. Shortly after they were noticed working among the crowd, each with a bottle in one hand a tin pannikin in the other serving drinks round. They reached my mate and me and handed us a pannikin containing some liquid, f took a gulp, felt the fiery stuff scorch my palate and my pulse gave a kick. They whispered as they went "This one is on us in good fellowship. If any man wants more we have a limited quantity which we will dispense at one bob per tot."

Billy my mate always took a paternal interest in me. He took my arm "Come along now Jack" he said. "It is time we got back to camp" and he led me away. Early next morning I visited the scene of the concert. It looked like a recent battlefield. Men were lying about like corpses. Still unconscious from the vile liquid. A few were sitting up, bewildered, faces were flushed. Many of them bruised and blood smeared. Empty whiskey bottles strewed the ground. Silent witnesses of the wild orgy that had passed. Dave Smith the condenser man always temperate was not in his tent. So I called aloud for him. To my surprise he put his head from out of an empty three hundred gallon tank in answer and spoke while rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Ma Certy, John that was an awful drunken time we had last night, every man was as drunk as a fiddler's besom, an talk o' fechtin! ah. Never saw the like o' it: ah had tae take shelter in this tank or I'd a' bin slaughtered like a sheep." That was the only occasion when Kanowna departed from sobriety before the hotels were built. Our young visitors never returned. John Meiklejohn, in the Dolly Pot, Western Mail September 29, 1938.

1894 The Progress Committee

Internal passages in the foregoing clearly shows that the fresh vegetables and concert episode took place some time after the seventh of July 1894 because prior to that date the Progress Committee was not in existence.

The White Feather Progress Committee was formed at Paisley's Store on Saturday evening on the seventh of July 1894. Frank Bissenberger as Chairman, George Bray, Secretary and Messrs Wright, Gahn, Doyle, Aplin,

Dwyer, Baldwin, Schriever and Meiklejohn. This body of the committee functioned until the first Municipal election in 1896. It was a judicious committee indeed. We shall refer to it again in full when we come to relate the story of the new town and the White Feather Hospital.

The German Woman And Annie Mclnnes -1894

Another incident which happened at the old township was caused by a German woman named Mrs Kiene and her servant girl. We do not know the month and nor the day when she arrived on the White Feather Field. But on the first issue of the Western Argus on Saturday November 21, 1894 her advertisement on the front page read thus:

Mrs Kiene - Restaurant and cool drinks - White Feather.

It appears that her first servant named Margery was not to her liking. So she went to Coolgardie to get a better one there . Indeed met with great success. She got hold of an ideal young girl just emerging from her adolescence named Annie Mclnnes. Amidst the setting such as those of the early days Annie's lissom form appeared to many like a little divinity and her movement about the place shone as it were a little divine orb shedding beneficent beams. She became so popular and much admired that they chose her birthday to hold the sports and when she left the district carried with her the epithet "White Feather Fairy".

In a letter to the writer she tells how she came to leave Mrs Kiene before the stipulated time. Before we transcribe it we will quote John Dwyer's impression of Mrs Kiene. He says:

Cannot think of the name but she was a German woman and the first sight I got of her was on a Sunday morning while the Two-Up school was in full swing. She was in the thick of it and enjoying herself immensely, her and her husband had arrived in the camp the night before and she got well known among the men and almost right away got going on a building and opened a boarding house not far from Paisley's Store. A little later she got a rather neat little girl who came on to serve and to work in the boarding house. Annie who was popular with the men, had some kind of dispute over wages with her mistress. The word was given round the camp and ropes were secured round the building. With plenty of men at hand the lady was given so long to pay up or over goes the structure. Of course she paid up and Annie departed for fresh fields - from a a letter dated May 21, 1938.

Annie Mclnnes¹ Letter

The Old Rectory 13 Eleanor Street Geraldton

August 8, 1939

Dear Mister Balzano

Your very welcome letter to hand this morning. Well now about the exact date that I arrived in Kanowna I am not quite certain only that it was early in September 1894. When I arrived there about 6.00pm after the worst 16 miles of the journey and the shortest day's walk but without nothing to drink on a scorching hot day. I arrived with Mrs Keane (Kiene) a German woman and found that there no girls or boys to talk to but there was an elderly lady named Margery working for her and when she saw me she said so you have taken my job and Mrs Keane said to her well I don't want you after tonight. Well for some few weeks I did not hear anything of Margery.

In the meantime all the men interested in sports held a meeting as to when they were going to hold their first sports. Now as I had become a great favourite with the men all of whom I loved as among those two or three hundred men, not one had ever said a wrong word to me and I had just the love for them as though they were all brothers to me. For I was just as innocent as at the present day as a child of nine years of age is. They decided to hold them on the eight day of October 1894 which was my eighteenth birthday.

Then I met Mrs Thishler a German lady with either two or three little children. Messrs Knight and Thishler had a claim together and Mrs Jim Wilson and her little baby. There was another lady living near Keane. I forget her name,... just after the sports, I should think a few days, Messrs Tims, Harry Beggs and Dwyer came to Mrs Keane and said "old Mrs Margery is down with Typhoid Fever and young Jimmy Tyson has been looking after her and it is no place for a young man too, so will you let that little girl go". She said "No she will not go". So I said "O do let me go Mrs Keane because the poor woman might die". So one of them said "Would you like to go little girl?" and I said "Yes I would if you will tell me what to do if Mrs Keane will let me". But she said "No you will not go. You have signed an agreement to work for me for six months". With that one of the men (by this time the room was crowded with men) said "Here go and fetch Mulga Taylor. He will soon settle this". So in a few minutes Mulga was on the scene. "Well what is all this about not letting the little girl go and nurse Margery". Mrs Keane said "She is not going to go". So he said "Oh well where is a box

to stand on?". So one of the men gave him one and he stood on it and laided his hands on to one the beams of the building and said "Now Mrs I will give just ten minutes, if you don't let her go then down comes this b....y house" and he shook the place. So she said "Go on, you can go". So I went to Margery's tent and stayed there for nearly two weeks.

During this time Margery was unconscious. She had just been conscious about an hour when a strange woman appeared on the scene. A Mrs Chapman who had arrived just a few days before. She insulted me and told me to go back to Mrs Keane. Well a few weeks after this I left the White Feather. But about two weeks before leaving a woman opened a sly grog shop and I heard the men call her Kitty. She was a most low foul mouthed woman and the late Tom Allen and Dave Smith were building Tom Doyle's Hotel. They were putting up the frame. About the week before leaving a young man, I have forgotten his name, said to me "Well little fairy so you are going to leave us". I said I am not a fairy they are fair and I am dark. So he said well we will call you our White Feather Fairy. You have been just a little fairy among us men. And so with many sad regrets I left Kanowna on the nineteen of December 1894 to go to Coolgardie to fulfil my promise made to a young man from New Zealand (a swamper) who was dying in the Coolgardie Hospital. I arrived too late. He had just been buried and I write to his dear mother Mrs George Maher.

There was no other girls or boys only more men and the following women; Mrs Wilson, Mrs Thishler, Mrs Keane, Chapman, the baby whose name I have forgotten, old Margery and Kitty, and there had not been any deaths. After nursing Margery there was a meeting and those interested wanted to pay all my expenses to go to the Women's Hospital in Melbourne for four years to learn to be a nurse, but it was not to be.

Now Mister Balzano if you want any proof of this letter, Dennis McManus of Boulder will verify it. There is a lot more I could tell you, but time will not permit just now. Should you meet any of those old pioneers of Kanowna please give my love to them and tell them Annie Mclnnes now Mrs Fitzgerald still thinks of them as I sit alone of an evening as I am a widow now.

I remains your sincerely

A.F.

P.S. There are two items to be added to Mrs Fitzgerald, namely her attendance at the Back to Goldfields Celebrations which took place from August 20 to September 21, 1938 and pen name competition December 28, 1938.

See P 104 & 108 for Geological, Location Maps

The Story Of The Golden Cement

Preamble. Origin Of The Golden Cement. Remarks. The Discovery Of The Golden Cement. Lawrence's Version. Maori Bill's Version. The Golden Cement Dispute. McManus Versus Stewart Wittenoom's Telegram. Decision. The Golden Cement Company. Six Months Exemption. The Golden Cement Let On Tribute. The Blue Spur Golden Cement.

Preamble One of the most remarkable gold deposits discovered by the diggers in the early days of the White Feather Goldfields, and which become known as the Golden Cement was situated about midway between Sailor's Gully and the Main Reef Mine. Distant only a few hundred yards from these places, the auriferous cement lay north and south in a little depression resembling a trough. Broad at both ends and as for its extent we refrain from attempting to give an exact measurement as at the period we are writing (end of July 1942) the whole surface is overturned and subsidence of the undermined workings has taken place. However the ground worked is roughly more or less three hundred yards long and sixty yards in width. The formation did consist of three stratum (1) reddish subsoil and clay of same which have carried alluvial gold, (2) a thick layer of semi-ferruginous cement. On its top crust lay embedded pieces of gold of various size, and (3) under this lay the rich gold bearing cement from which countless thousands of ounces of gold was won. The ground was shallow sinking. The deepest shaft being little above twenty feet deep.

In its virgin state the surface of the Golden Cement was forest clad with a pleasant landscape. Not a stump remains of the original vegetation, but about forty self-planted pepper trees have taken its place. These were imported by the Forestry Department soon after the scheme water reached Kanowna and they were planted about the town. Probably the seed from these was carried there cither by dust storms or willy willies. Many of them have already grown to a great size. Against these foreigner intruders, a poor Sheoak (also called Bull-oak) of about sixteen inches around at its base, about ten feel high is struggling to represent its vanished species. It has indeed a very precarious existence standing on the cement at the edge of an open cut. Besides this tree some scrubs. All of them began to appear after the gold-bearing cement was worked out but not Pepper trees (Schemus muller). They alone have found tire cement area a congenial ground to flourish thereon, largely ramose; but even exotic weeds found their way thither, such as the Double Gees whose seeds resemble Caltrops provided with three strong spurs or points (one less than a Caltrop) which will very easily adhere to one's barefoot and rubber tyre, and also the Bathurst Burr. A pest to the sheep. Besides these, during the autumn and winter of 1942 copious rain brought forth new kinds of weeds.

Among them the Milk (or Salt) Thistles. This one and the Double Gees are good for culinary purpose.

Origin Of The Golden Cement The Government geologist Harry P Woodward in his Mining Handbook Second Edition 1895 on page 109 has recorded his theory about the Kanowna Golden Cement. It is as follows:-

On one part of the lode (meaning the Main Reef line) the capping of same offers a very interesting feature. Since the diggers working that portion (meaning the northern end of the cement) are under the impression that they are working an alluvial deposit. Sharp cornered quartz fragments and similar pieces of altered country rock are cemented together by a green and brown coloured earthy mineral substance locally called "cement". The latter is in places very rich gold. The metal being obtained by crushing and dry-blowing. As already mentioned, the quartz fragments ranging from the size of a walnut to that of a man’s head are sharp cornered and located in this deposit without regard to size. The fragments, either singly or in groups are isolated by the cement; therefore they are not of alluvial origin. Since only hydrothermal activity can offer an explanation we have here evidently an extinct thermal spring. Small quartz crystals occurring abundantly in the cement are found to have their edges and comers smoothly rounded. This has been performed by the rise and fall of the waters. Similarly smoothed quartz and often also other crystals can be observed in active bubbling springs in many parts of the globe. The quartz lode was here broken and the water rising in the break deposited the suspended material which now forms the cement and also the gold held in solution. It therefore is not an alluvial deposit but the capping of a rich gold shoot in a large auriferous reef. There are several more shoots in this lode and most of them owe their origin to similar circumstance.

Remarks¹⁰ On the foregoing account of Woodward on the Golden Cement we (the writer) entirely agree with him. It was formed by the activity of a hydrothermal spring. Of this we have proof. Having found ourselves in Bissenberger Gully, one of the principal vents from which the cement was forced up by a thermal spring in a liquid state. We entirely dissent at his statement that the diggers were under the impression, working an alluvial deposit whereas according to him they were working the capping of a rich gold shoot in a large auriferous reef.

If Woodward was sincere when he made that statement he deceived himself for having placed the rich capping of a reef where it did not exist, but cement only. If a reef ever existed at all prior to the creation of the cement at that particular spot it was churned up (with the country on both sides) by the hydrothermal spring activity into an alluvial mud and solidified into cement afterwards.

Reefs or lodes have a definite channel in which they go deep down into the earth while cements are surface deposits, at least in the Kanowna district.

Woodward made that statement under stress of circumstance at the time when he was writing his book. A dispute was taking place over the cement. The diggers declared that it was an alluvial deposit whilst those on the capitalist's side avered that the deposit was a reef and not alluvial, hence Woodward's report about the cement found satisfaction. Whereas Warden Jephson (with his assessors) sided with the diggers. He was forced to resign from the Government Service by a creature named Wittenoom whom being Minister for Mines at that time. We shall deal later with the Golden Cement cases.

Blatchford and Jutson, both Government geologists have recorded their opinions of that portion of the Main Reef line of which Woodward declared to be the capping of a rich gold shoot in a large auriferous reef thus:-

Before the reef reaches the cement area it apparently comes to an end. This is not certain as the ground here is so covered with recent superficial deposits the reef may continue without being exposed at the surface. About five chains further east it is picked up again on the northern side of the cement. We cannot assume that the reef is faulted (at the cement). A better explanation is that the lode channel from the south has simply run out and that another (practically acting as a continuation) a little to the east has taken its place.

At this stage let's digress for a while merely to show that the Kanowna Golden Cement had a cognate in the Blue Spur Cement deposit in New Zealand.

The Blue Spur Golden Cement A cognate of the Kanowna Golden Cement was another immense rich deposit called the Blue Spur. Situated at the upper end of Gabriel's Gully near Lawrence, Otago, New Zealand. This rich Goldfield was discovered by Gabriel Read in June 1861. Although the Government Hand Book of New Zealand Mines 1887 among its 534 pages gives much information about this particular field we prefer to quote from IV instalment (of a Mister Avin of Tapanui) Gold Discoveries in the Mount BengerMail of August 6, 1924 which is as follows:-

At Blue Spur very heavy gold was found around the verge on Gabriel's side and some fair sized claims were granted by the Warden in anticipation of large water races being cut in from Tuapeka Basin and Waipori River. What was named Blue Spur was originally a huge cavity that became filled with gold-bearing cemented gravel with Gabriels on the west and Munro's Gully on the west. How this golden drift carried into the crevasse no one has ever explained. Although geologists had many a venture, no lode was ever discovered on higher ground above the Spur and the easiest solution is the Comishman's answer as to where minerals exist: Where it is, there it is. The crown of the alluvial bed was some forty acres in extent, comparatively level and a bullock track passed over it from north to south. The depth in the deepest part was about four hundred feet from tussock to bedrock. The cement, mostly blue, carried gold all the way. The bottom being exceedingly rich. One piece about the size of a man's finger carried three ounces of gold when washed out. The side of the drive in the golden claim where the pick struck looked like solid gold.

This latter incident was during the crushing period. Particulars of which will be given later. Passing the Spur eastward the dividing ridge bore no gold via the track to Wetherstone but a mile south nearer Lawrence, a quartz lode was discovered in the seventies and worked for a time. It suddenly "petered out" and though practical miners and several Lawrence Syndicates have spent large sums in prospecting, no further trace of it has been found.

Blue cement, its re-appearance on Wetherstone Flat on a larger scale than Blue Spur. A shaft three hundred feet deep was sunk in the middle of the flat in the sixties but payable wash was not met with although there was colour all the way down. The shaft sinkers ran out of funds, otherwise drives would have extended across the flat.

The whim used to lift the dirt remained for many years as a memorial to past enterprise. From Wetherstone towards the rising sun the cement could be found via Waitahuna, Glenmore, Adams Flat and to the ocean. Great conglomerate blocks were unearthed at Glenore. Perhaps in the dim and distant future enterprise may again arise when the cement deposits will disclose another Blue Spur and tons of gold.

The Discovery Of The Golden Cement And now concerning the discovery of the gold on the Golden Cement area we have two brief accounts told to us by two veiy old diggers namely: Alfred Burgon on March 24, 1933 and George Lawrence on December 11, 1934. Both of these men were at these dates drawing near to the tether end of their life therefore their account is meagre and imperfect owing to the elapse of many years and of never being written down in the first place. Yet they throw a ray of light on the early story of this remarkable gold bearing cement deposit. At whose cognate the "Blue Spur" we had a glimpse of it on the foregoing page.

Lawrence's Version He said: I arrived at the White Feather (as Kanowna was then known) in the month of April or May 1894. The diggers had already been working on the Golden Cement for two months or so. The prospectors of the cement were two brothers named Jeremiah and Patrick Shannon.

As near as I can tell you the spot where they struck their first gold as pointed out to me in 1894 is about 180 feet from the little bridge (across the Kumalpi-Gindalbie Road) on the site where Harry Came's shaft now is. There the Shannon's struck under the substratum formation a brittle pipe of cement carrying a fair amount of gold. It lay on a hard and smooth bottom, gradually dipping. They followed it for many yards. When the wash dipped under a thick and hard stratum of ferruginous cement they dug out as much as they could. About the length of their pick handle. The wash being about nine inches thick, there was no room to follow it down further. The hard deposit above needed blasting into a kind of winze or to sink a shaft further ahead as they required suitable mining tools, drills, a Gympie, a scraper and explosives then they feared the leaseholder might stop them so they sold their claim to Maori Bill for two ounces of gold. There were a fair number of rich claims on the cement.

There were two men at White Feather in those days named Montgomery (not related), but they were mates in a claim on the cement and to distinguish them the diggers nicknamed one Monte Carlo and the other Monte Cristo. One of their real names was Montgomery Black. These men sold their cement claim for £200 to two brothers known by the nickname "Port Darwin" on account that they came from the place. I do not recollect of having heard those men's real names but the claim they bought from the "Monties" turned out good. They got as much as ten ounces of gold to the bucket wash dirt. Beyond this I know nothing about the early days of the cement. After I had done a little work on the cement and elsewhere in the month of July (1894) I went to the I.O.U. (I Owe You) rush, afterwards known as Bulong.

Maori Bill's Version Maori Bill communicated his version of the discovery of the Golden Cement to his intimate friend Alfred Burgon in Melbourne in the month of November 1895. Where accidentally they met whilst both were on holiday and in turn Burgon retold it to us at Kanowna (as already indicated) on March 24, 1933. Every word from memory. It is as follows:*

James Newman and his mate were working the ground four feet deep, almost a hundred yards south of the present Kumalpi Road. It being a little gutter trending southward. They tracked the gold in this gutter. They were getting about three ounces per week by digging it out in a tunnel like manner for about ninety feet long then the trail of the gold dipped what it appeared to them into a low ground or basin which later became known as the Golden Cement. Hitherto the 90 feet had been a picking ground but now the gold had gone under a very hard ferruginous cement which it needed blasting. The wash when it dipped under the hard cement was worth an ounce to the dish. They then decided to sink a shaft about fifty feet ahead. There they went through the same picking ground as previously, carrying gold right through from the surface. At the depth of about three feet they again struck the hard ferruginous cement with gold frosted on it.

They then decided that one of them should go into Kalgoorlie and procure steel and blasting materials. Accordingly Newman went down to Kalgoorlie and procured it. At depth of fifteen feet they struck a phenomenal rich wash. It appeared to them like a jewellery shop. Now Jimmy being an old pal of mine and a very jolly sociable fellow who would willingly give anybody information about gold if it were in his power. But his mate was quite different, very reticent. There was not the slightest chance of him communicating to anybody how much gold he was getting. When they struck this good gold he enjoined Jimmy to tell it to nobody. Jimmy didn't adhere to that order at all but what could he do? Well I will now describe how he managed to let the cat out of the bag.

I was working at this time on an alluvial claim in Bissenberger Gully and camped on the site of the township by Sailors Gully which I used to cross the Golden Cement to and from work. One afternoon I was coming across as usual when I spotted Jimmy blowing a dish of wash. There was nobody close in sight and getting close up easily I could see the gold dropping from one dish to the other and by Jimmy's attitude (expressive) evidently he was anxious that I should see it. Well what I saw was quite enough for me to go ahead of Jimmy’s pegs and I pegged a couple of claims.

There were three of us namely: George Sutherland, Peter MacArthur and myself. I went down to Kalgoorlie next day on the same errand as Jimmy Newman namely to get steel and blasting materials. We sank a shaft further south away from Newman and about the same depth of fifteen feet we struck the rich wash from two to three feet thick and about ten feet wide, it being a gutter. About ten to twelve claims took up the basin, that is from north to south. Newman and mate got about three thousand ounces of gold out of their claim, and us three, two thousand ounces. The claim next to us got out one thousand ounces.

The gold was mostly fine. The biggest piece we got was fifteen pennyweights but further south a twenty eight ounce slug was struck. I never heard the biggest piece Newman got. While we were working our claims McManus the leaseholder took legal action against me. He said the cement was a reef formation but Mister Warden Jephson decided it was pure alluvial wash so I won the case for the diggers.

After we worked out our claims we gave the ground away to a man named Richard Riordan. (After this man got out a fair amount of gold, McManus bought him out for £100). I left the White Feather with six hundred ounces of gold clear, as my share and brought it to the Melbourne Mint.

Although the two foregoing accounts of the discovery of the Golden Cement almost resemble up to the time when the trail of the gold dipped under the hard ferruginous cement deposit. Yet it appeared to us that Maori Bill's version is the most genuine of the two but not quite free of fault. The Shannon brothers may have sold a claim for two ounces of gold to some party but not to Maori Bill. It was said in those days that a man named Robert Watson went down the Shannon brothers' shaft at midnight and by candle light saw the wash glittering with gold and at morning he made it public that they were on rich gold and the cement area was ruled by the diggers.

The Golden Cement Dispute 1895 A public meeting was held here (at White Feather) on Saturday evening January 19, 1895 to consider the position of the cement claims holders and dry-blowers. Notice having been served on them to remove immediately. The Government having granted out of priority Lease No. 1187X to McManus, the applicant. It was resolved to form a league to be called the Alluvial Diggers Defence League to protest the interests of alluvial men in Western Australia. A committee was formed on the spot consisting of Mister Murray (Chairman), and Messrs Buckley, Johnson, Weir (Maori Bill), Kestan, Hancock and William Lowes as Secretary. It is the intention of the committee to send one of its members to I.O.U. (I Owe You), Kurnalpi, Broad Arrow, Bardoc and Ninety Mile. Subscription for defence was opened and a hundred and twenty pounds subscribed. Those who contributed are:- Weir (Maori Bill) - ten pounds, Buckley and Moore -ten pounds, Sheahan and Stewart - ten pounds, Sliwers and Steinholt -five pounds, Hart and Colguhoun - five pounds, Byers and Dunn - five pounds, Curran and party - five pounds, Underwood and party - five pounds, Henry Begg - five pounds, John McIntosh - two pounds, Drysdale - two pounds, Kite - one pound and ten shillings, Splinn - one pound, Benjamin Brandt - one pound, Routledge - one pound, Steines brothers - one pound, Moore and Lindsay - one pound, Tratteen and Thomas - one pound, Ford and party - one pound, Waters - one pound,

Budds and party - one pound, Fisher and Company - one pound and

Oldun - one pound Western Argus January 26, 1895.

McManus Versus Stewart 1895 On Thursday January 24, 1895 a most important case was heard in the Kalgoorlie Warden's Court before Warden Jephson, and Messrs Hare and Brookman assessors in which Peter McManus proceeded against Alexander Stewart for one thousand pounds (£1,000) damages for trespassing and for the return of all gold taken out of the lease held by plantifT on the cement working at the White Feather. There are thirty three (33) defendants in all and the case against Stewart was taken first and is considered a test one. Mister Davies and Henning appeared for plaintiff and Messrs Hare and Parsons for defendant. Mister Hare took the objection (1) that Mister Wittenoom's authority not proved (as he was the Post Master General), (2) that there was no proof that the Governor had approved of the lease. The Warden upheld the first objection but disagreed with the second one.

McManus stated he took possession of the land comprised in the lease and was in possession. In January 18th (1895) the defendant Stewart was there working for gold. Sinclair and Warr were with witness. Notice produced and was read out to them and stuck up on the ground. Defendant said he would stay on. Warr asked him to quit but he had been working there before January 18 th.

Defendant had no authority to go on the lease. Cross-examined McManus said he got possession of the present Lease No. 1182X by applying for forfeiture on 27th August 1894. Got notice of approval of forfeiture from the Minister. Being acquainted with lease for about eighteen months. Cement working began about last February 1894. Men working the cement since August. Shaft was worked by Stewart, next to my water shaft. Stewart had not started his shaft before I took up the lease. There are two reefs and have sunk down fifty feet and then made cross-cuts to trace them. The water shaft is in the centre of the lease and I am selling to a company. I consented to supply Begg with water, six or seven weeks ago. Pearce has an interest with me and I have promised Mister Sullivan and Mister Pilcher an interest if I got a good sale. They were not interested themselves in procuring the lease. Several of the thirty three defendants have come on the lease since August 27th. I think Stewart was not working there when I applied for the lease. I base my claim for one thousand pounds (£1,000) damage on the ground that a quantity of gold was taken from there. The previous holders of the lease were France, Spence and Radcliff.

Cement was not worked before February 1894.

John Warr deposed: I was present with McManus and Sinclair at the lease on 18th instant. Stewart was working on the ground for gold. Sinclair read notice in presence of defendant and I posted it on the ground. He said he intended working on the cement. I took the names of thirty two and of defendant who all refused to go. I rolled them up and read notice out. Could not identify defendant.

William Waldon deposed: Knew defendant Stewart by sight. Recognised Alford as being on the ground, also defendant. I received Leases from the Warden's office on 29th December last (1894). I am interested in the Lease as manager. Cross-examined; am interested in the lease only as manager. Have known lease since 28th of October when cement men were working.

Sinclair deposed: I am managing clerk for plantifFs solicitor on the 18th. I read out notice produced and told them lessee would take proceedings to put them off the lease. Said those remaining would be proceeded against for trespass. Saw Warr nail up the notice then went round and asked if they would remain or go off. Some went off, others refused. Warr took the names of those who refused including defendant. I identify defendant as one who refused. I drew up notice myself under instruction from Mister Prinsep. The notice was signed by Mister Davies. McManus recalled, said I was not employed on the lease before I applied for it. This closed the plantiff s case.

Alexander Stewart (the defendant): I went to the White Feather last February (1894). Have been there ever since. Worked on the cement on the beginning of August and ever since. Robert Menzies who had been there five months previously took me in as his mate. McManus was not on the lease before August but I had seen him about. When McManus started the water shaft he wanted an adjoining shaft that was already started. He spoke about the incivility of the diggers on account of him getting a digger's claim the Sunday previous by jumping it. He said he did not intend to interfere with the men on the cement. Cross-examined. I have obtained gold there. Five pennyweights was the lowest quantity got in a week and four ounces the highest. Last week got six ounces between the two of us and since about the twentieth of December that has been the average. Have bought no water since Christmas. To the Warden: Do not know of any reef on the lease only know water shaft been put down by lessee and don't know of any other working. Don't know of any being raised for crushing on the reef. I hold an alluvial claim. I thought I had a right to stop there, although told to move.

Henry Begg deposed: I have been working on the cement since last June 1894. I know Stewart. I saw McManus get to work on the water shaft. Stewart was there before that. McManus told me he never intended to put the cement men off. This was about four months ago. Arranged to buy water from him to work the cement and laid the water on. Heard no objection to me working on the cement before January 18th (1895). To the Warden: I never saw a reef on the ground. I hold an alluvial claim but it is not registered. I refused to go off the ground. I did not know McManus was applying for a lease as I would have objected.

William Pearce deposed: I am half with McManus in this lease and became interested in April (1894) when McManus applied for forfeiture. In

February there was no one on the lease and McManus said it was a valuable one. McManus afterwards jumped it. Cross-examined: There is a reef and an indication of another there. The cement is not alluvial. To Mister Hare: The walls have been reached. There was a hydrothermal deposit but this is not alluvial.

William Weir (Maori Bill) deposed: Have been at the White Feather since April 1894 and worked on the lease 1183X since June 1894 till now. McManus came to us and he said he would supply us with salt water at twelve shillings per hundred gallons if we would put up the fluming, and fourteen shillings if he would find the materials. This was in the beginning of November. He did not object to me being on the lease. Saw no notice stuck up. To the Warden: I saw no reef on the lease and I can swear there is no outcrop. Applicant for the lease has been searching for the reef. They would not register my alluvial in Coolgardie as it was on a lease. I did not know that McManus was going to apply for a lease till middle of August. We sent in two petitions against it. The gold is alluvial and we got it at the depth of seventeen feet. This is of wash about seven or eight feet wide and fifteen or twenty chains long. I signed a petition to the Warden objecting to the lease. The register of the application was then produced showing that lease was applied for on twenty seventh of August 1894. Area twelve acres. Rent six pounds (£6) per half year in the name of Peter McManus.

John Wilson deposed: I am managing clerk for Mister Hare at Kalgoorlie and as such I applied for the Warden's consent on McManus' behalf for the sale of water and it was granted the twenty second December last (1894).

Wittenoom's Telegram (1895)

Friday February 1 Mister Davies said I have heard that the Warden has received a telegram from the Minister for Mines referring to the case and he would be glad if the Warden would state the substance of the telegram. The Warden read it and read thus:-

Take no steps for ejecting alluvial diggers or restraining them from working alluvial on Gold Mining Lease 1182X until you receive letter from me posted this day. The Warden replied as follows: Case you refer to almost finished today before myself and assessors. Impossible to accept any instructions as to any of my decisions in Warden's Court. Messrs Davies and Henning both complained to the insulting and scandalous conduct of the Minister of Mines for taking such a step and they thanked the Warden for the manly stand he had taken. Messrs Hare and Parsons denied all complicity in the action of the Minister. Another telegram from the Minister read:-1 have neither the power nor the desire to instruct your decision nor did my telegram propose such course. What I intended was that if your decision went against alluvial diggers giving the forcible effect until received the letter which disclosed another view of the case. Messrs Hare and Parsons addressed the court on behalf of defendant and Messrs Henning and Davies for Plaintiff.

Decision After clearing the court and considering their verdict the Warden and assessor decided in favour of the defendant and refused to state a case for the Supreme Court. As the result all those men working on the cement before the issue of the lease will be entitled to stay on.

Through deciding in favour of the diggers Warden Jephson incurred the displeasure of his superior and Government of those days. He ran contrary to the Government geologist Woodward in whose report he said that the cement was a reef and not an alluvial deposit.

Shortly after the case Wittenoom visited the White Feather and inspected the richest claims on the cement and on the spot addressed about a hundred and fifty men present. The meeting of Jephson and Wittenoom on this occasion was not very cordial as he was forced to resign from his official service. Still later on Wittenoom figured more prominently in the Ivanhoe venture and Adeline deep leads. Disputed in those troublous events he showed himself to be a laughing stock legislator and a contemptible administrator of his department. They burnt his effigy and nick-named him Ten Foot Ned for having promulgated a new mining law that the diggers in future should dig no deeper than ten feet in a lease and yet they named a street after him in the Boulder City. Moreover he died with a Knighthood to his credit and so did William Walworth who murdered Wat Tyler on June 15, 1381.

The Golden Cement Company

Although the sequel to Warden Jephson's decision on the Golden Cement dispute is available to us in a fragmentary form, yet it will show the kind of result it produced. Soon after the case was over Wittenoom came up to Kanowna, inspected the best alluvial claims on the cement and addressed on the spot about a hundred and fifty men present. We have no record of even a word or two of what he told them. But immediately after his visit McManus brought the surveyor, a solicitor and his clerk. They spent a whole day surveying the claims and making detailed notes. After this, although the diggers were lawfully there to work out their claims he harassed them to the utmost of his power till he got rid of them. It is said that he bought them out but we have no record of what price the diggers got for their claims. As for Richard Riordan receiving a hundred pounds for his claim as told by Maori Bill to Burgon, we doubt that he ever got even a hundred farthings for it.

After this the Golden Cement was floated into a company and a prospectus issued. We regret of having never seen a copy of it. Undoubtedly it promised a rosy prospect to those who invested their money in shares. It was

TfiE KANGAKOO ANB ITS ORIGIN.

To the Editor.

Sir,—In your very instructive and interesting leader, entitled “Australia's War .'Plume,” you stated that “marsupials are not absolutely confined to the' Island Continent (viz.. Australia), for ip remote zoological epochs the kangaroo actually browsed in Europe." Now,. I will deem it a favour if you will inform me in what work on zoology' can I find the above paragraph; also,' if the word “Euro” is another, aborig-jinal name for the kangaroo? Yours, etc.,    JAMES    BALZANO.

Kanowna.    c    •    ’

J (1. Our correspondent will* not find the paragraph he quotes, as^above, in any zoological work; hut: the fact it sets out can be verified.jby.reference to Huxley, Owen*- or^-any standard encyclopaedia.’ The - evi-. deuce- is fossiliferoua.V'^All .extant marsupialsj with: the excepi^dh £of: the American' ppdssuma,^arq^hoyv: ^istralasianj^t^^^.remaii^bkVp

^marsupials at an d%the world’s zoological hiatdry^We^e^ery widely distributed ,over^’tlw£globe; but in course of ^ ages¹ thejrf disappeared before the^trongerjmammals. Their survival in AustraliaVis^ttri-bnted to the fact ; that ’the Island Continent was isolated from the rest of the world before' these’-*stronger mammalians could reach it. 2. In respect to the word “kangaroo,” there has been much controversy. Oaptain Cook got it from the aboriginals of the Endeavour River in 1770 near what is now Oooktown; but, as the word was not known to the natives of the east cpast of Australia, for 1000 miles south, the theory was propounded that when the aboriginal was asked, “What do you call that animal?” he simply replied, “Kang-anroo”—(“I don’t understand you”). This theory, hbw-' ever, will , not hold water. The 'generic aboriginal name for the animal was evidently “Waroo,” “Aroo,” or “Euro.” Hence South Australian blacks call one species “Wall-araoo,” and another “Euro.” Dr. Wilson, who explored portion of! the Darling Ranges in 1829, noted | that aboriginals he met in the hills distinctly pronounced the ¹ word “kang-aroo” without \ having ever heard a white man utter it, and also that they called the smaller kind “waroo.” It appears probable that , tlie prefix “kang”—which in seme ' aboriginal dialects means "big toe” i —-was applied distinctively to the largest kangaroo—the big-toed “aroo.” To the world in general, Macropus giganterus is a “kangaroo,” but the bush selector is ety-mologieally accurate when he styles it, for short, a ’“rbo.”—Ed. “Kal-goorlie Miner.”)_  ^

Woods' Great Peppermint -Cure, for Coughs and Colds, never fails,

1/6.    i:    x    *

asserted at that time the tailings alone left by the diggers on the surface were worth thirty thousands pounds (£30,000). The sole work done by the company was a costly two hundred feet deep shaft (a little north east and about opposite Newman and Maori's claims) sunk into a porphyry rock. The ground proved very difficult to work, caving in all the time and required close timbering. They struck a great volume of salt water and a valueless reef (quartz reef), tons of which is still lying on the mullock dump in our time.

Six Months Exemption (1897) On August 14, the Golden Cement Company applied for six months exemption on their property and it was granted. Both the amount of work and capital spent on the property was told to the Warden before he granted the six months' exemption but we are not in possession of that piece of information. Apparently the tailings worth £30,000 had evaporated.

The Golden Cement On Tribute (1898-1899) On or about February 1898 the Golden Cement Company let their property on tribute to several parties. We only have the names of two parties. One of them consists of six men namely:-Gresson, Oakley, George Sims, Frederick Cray, Charles Murray. Name of the other not known. The other party consisted of two namely:- Lambie and Mulligan.

This tribute lasted till about August 1899. The aggregated tonnages raised by those eight men (of course the bulk was raised by the six men party) was 5,284 tons. The gold yield (exclusive of 411 tons of which we have no record) was 1,929 ounces and nine pennyweights of gold. The cement being a surface deposit and very easily mined was crushed at the Shamrock battery. Distant to a mile or so from the cement.

Financially the Golden Cement Company proved a failure. The rosy picture painted in the prospectus turned out quite the reverse. No plant was erected to treat the cement deposit. But some returns were eked out by selling salt water from the two hundred feet deep shaft.

In April it was let to the Dwyer brothers. They used the water for their battery on the Nemesis Hill for which they paid the company fifty pounds (£50) per month, includes the use of the engine on the shaft. (The company treated the few tons of tailings left by the diggers on the surface and some tons from the best claims on the cement at the Dwyer brothers battery.) We have no record of the tonnages and nor of the gold yield. As for the Royalty received from the tributors on the cement we have before us only one item of thirty three pounds seven shillings and six pence (£33.7.6) and even this sum had to be extracted from Sims and Murray through a court case held on June 29,

Mrs Leila James ofShenton Park IV. A., holds a family photo showing her father Mr J L Martin J. P. (centre front row), Mayor of Kanowna and proprietor of Martin's Battery (photo of Mrs James taken 1992).

1900. Whatever was the total amount derived from those three sources? We venture the opinion that it was just enough to pay the expense for the management of the company and that on the winding up of the company the shareholders might not get back a trifle or perhaps next to nothing to what they had paid in. The only party who really made money out of the cement company was McManus and his associates. It was said that he cleaned up about forty thousand pounds (£40,000). This appears too large a sum and far from true. But in those early days of the boom on these Goldfields large sums were paid on many wildcats as the worthless mines were termed in those days. McManus was known as a "jumper" for he specialised in jumping claims. Besides the cement he jumped the Golden Eagle Leases (and others). He had a court over a lease with our James Spillane and yet Wittenoom (ten foot Ned) and the Government of the day at the head of which was Sir John Forrest and Woodward the geologist who reported that the cement were a reef and not an alluvial deposit aided such a brazen faced depredator McManus and compelled Warden Jephson to resign from his official service for having justly decided that the cement was an alluvial deposit and not a reef.

The Cement Company had more than one manager. The only one that has come under our notice was a John Daniels. They gave him a send off at the Exchange Hotel on the evening of May 16, 1899 and he left Kanowna next day for Newfoundland to take up the management of a mine there.

Let On Tribute To Martin Martin's Battery. Martin's Exploitation Of The Golden Cement. Martin's Ninety-Four Crushings. (1904-1909)

Of the goings-on at the Golden Cement after its amalgamation with the Reward Mine in 1899 which passed under the management of Nat Harper (and Faulkner) manager and accountant of the Main Reef Mine respectively is almost a blank to us for the few years that followed. If any record were kept during those years and is still in existence, they are not within our reach. The only information we have from 1899 to 1904 is that the company recovered £33.7.6 Royalty from Sims and Murray through a court case on June 29, 1900. They also sunk a shaft on the Cement and raised a big tonnage of ore and it is said that they crushed some of it and left the bulk on the spot. This is quite obvious. What happened to the original company happened to the amalgamated company, namely that they found it both unprofitable and inconvenient to deal with effectively and consequently in order to hold the lease they were compelled to let it on tribute as before. This time we find that the Golden Cement on the twenty first of March 1904 was already let on tribute to one Martin who owned a five head battery adjacent to the cement deposit and he exploited it to the uttermost, or in mining parlance he picked the eye out till about August 1909.

During that period he crushed ninety-four (94) parcels of ore and consequently cleaned up 94 times. Out of these only twenty-seven (27) are officially at our disposal. In order to make this tribute clear we will divide the information available in three parts.

First in full what the Correspondent of those days contribute to the Kalgoorlie Miner and Western Argus about Martin's battery and his tribute on the cement. Second Martin's exploitation of the Golden Cement and third about the official record of the twenty seven (27) crushings and clean up.

Martin's Battery (Part 1)^

Kanowna March 21, 1904 Regarding Martin's battery the additional five (5) head which will probably be used for customers work are being erected with full speed and a start with the plant will be made in four or five days. The original five head mill is still doing duty on the low grade ore from the Golden Cement which property is held on tribute by the owner of the battery.

March 29th Martin's battery now consists of ten (10) head; five for the public and five will treat low grade dirt from the old cement.

April 26th Martin's battery has had five more head added and now consists of ten head of nine hundred and fifty pounds (9501bs) stamps. The plates are very large being no less than twenty two feet (22ft) over all. The original oil engine which did duty for five head has been discarded and in place of which is now working a 14 horsepower portable boiler.

May 17th Martin has started on a large parcel from the old cement group which he has on tribute and is to be put through without delay. Although it is well known the grade is very low an average of three pennyweights (3 dwts) will show a profit as the dirt is easily mined and is adjacent to the battery.

July 14th Martin's battery will probably take no more public crushings for sometime as announced (by Martin) from the open cut on the old Golden Cement Lease (No. 83X) over which he holds a tribute. As much as the very rich runs were treated in the olden days of the Feathers. It is very easily treated and it is anticipated the ten battery will put through twelve hundred tons (1200 tons) of this alluvial each month without an interrupted run, Western Argus of July 19th.

August 23, 1904 The ten head battery was fully employed last month. Half stamp worked on the low grade dirt from the Golden Cement for twenty days run. Six hundred tons (600 tons) were put through. Average only three pennyweights (3 dwt) or ninety one ounces. Total tonnage included public parcels 839 tons for 4,823 ounces of gold. It is somewhat apparent that there is a mistake in those figures of which we have no way to correct them. 4,732 ounces from 239 tons of ore appears to us too high a yield. Yet not impossible and also 91 ounces from 600 tons also appears to us too low a yield. Yet not impossible. From August to December of this year we have nothing further to quote about the Golden Cement. From the Correspondent

Kanowna January 27, 1905 On the Golden Cement Group which for sometime has formed part of the White Feather Reward, Martin who holds a tribute over the property is developing the ground well in addition to working the low grade dirt from the open cuts. The old hands on the field will remember that the "old cement" as it was called was a veritable Eldorado near the surface in '94 (1894) very little success however was met with when the company which acquired the ground from the men was formed and the leases were practically abandoned prior to the amalgamation scheme with the Reward. Kalgoorlie Miner.

The last two items from the Correspondent are dated March and June 1905. He stated that Martin crushed 490 tons of cement for 114 ounces and 14 pennyweight of gold and 200 tons for 51 ounces and 18 pennyweights of gold respectively.

Martin's Exploitation Of The Golden Cement The foregoing articles by the Correspondent has given us a little insight of this one man tribute on the Golden Cement and his battery from March 1904 to June 1905. His dominant tone was that the cement being of low grade and averaged three pennyweights per ton. There were some small patches of low grade (of course not so low as three pennyweights) cannot be denied but to state that the whole cement averaged three pennyweights (under Martin) is far from true. The tonnage might be correct but not the gold yield. The low figures were supplied to him for ulterior motives. During Martin's tribute the cement was sampled by complacent officials of the company. Out of thirty three samples taken by William Pollard only one assayed six weights per ton. All the others were very poor and he told Martin that he could have the whole of the cement. At same time the accountant of the company from the largeness of his heart gave Martin the last three hundred tons of cement raised by the company. He said that it would have put the company in debt to crush it. Still later Julian Boyd Aarons took 44 samples, assayed under one weight per ton (and yet on the very face where Martin knocked off in 1909 seventy tons were crushed at the Government battery in Kalgoorlie. Yielded four weights over the plates two weights and fourteen grains in the sand).

Indeed the result of those seventy samples was very advantageous to Martin's interest. On top of this he had the advantage not only over any other tributors but even over the company itself as he could crush every ounce of ore at his own battery which was situated only about two hundred yards from the cement deposit, nearly half a mile from the manager's residence, employed his own men and therefore he was able to manipulate the gold yield and release any information to suit his own interest. It is indeed only fair to state that if a Mister Smith or a Jack Jones had been in Martin's place he would have acted on the same principle.

The previous tributors such as the party of six men (Sixtette as they were styled) and others were confined on the southern half of the cement. The northern half was reserved for the first and second company to operate, hitherto all ore mined on the northern half of the lease had been raised by means of windlasses from the shafts. Martin who concentrated his operation here adopted a better economical mode of exploiting it. In order to facilitate the going in and out from the bed of the cement he cut three tracks about three yards wide. One on the northern end where the diggers first struck gold, a second on the bank to near a point to the battery and the third further down. Also he made an open cut north and south almost in the centre of the deposit where there was a line of shafts. By removing the top stratum of the unpayable ferruginous cement and tipped in on the east and west side. All the rest was left standing on stout timbers and pigsty with sufficient room for horses and drays to ply under it. This preparatory work done, he then embarked on developing it at full speed. He knew quite well what values were there, and he was even apprehensive that the tribute might terminate abruptly any time. He employed over twenty men. Worked the battery three shifts of eight hours. He had four horses and four drays in and out of the cement carting ore. Being so near the battery it took about half an hour each trip and what the battery could not absorb in twenty four hours the rest tipped down on a clear space nearby. This heap accumulated up to 800 dray loads and when eventually crushed it yielded four ounces and five pennyweights to the ton.

Although hundreds of tons of rich cement had been broken and taken away from the face where the diggers had been compelled to leave after the court case; Martin found still a rich strip 70 yards long, 20 feet wide and six feet thick. The ore was evenly impregnated with fine and coarse gold. The coarse portion being from a few grains to pennyweights up to ounce pieces. A great temptation to those miners engaged to break it. On one occasion as a dray load being tipped down on the heap Martin happened to be present he specked a four ounce nugget of solid gold. Of course this was only one instance among many other coarse pieces picked out of broken cement. Another rich north and south strip lay along the west bank parallel with the eastern strip. The headings, that is the layer of the cement immediately under the ferruginous stratum were also very payable specks of gold were visible in it. And the bottom under the cement proper consisted of bluish clay five feet thick. Hundreds of loads were crushed from it. It yielded two ounces and five pennyweights per load. In order to hold the continuation (and exploitation) of the tribute over this profitable gold bearing cement deposit, so near the battery and so easily mined, and to adhere to the make-believe that the cement being a low grade dirt averaging three pennyweights per ton, and in order to procrusteanise the gold yield to fit a minimum royalty he used to have a private clean-up at night time and the regular clean-up took place in day time and was liable to the company for royalty.

The information of the latter part of this chapter (from after January 27, 1905) was communicated to us by Martin's foreman on March 21, 1936 and he repeated it on March 29, 1938. By that time Martin had been dead for many years.

Martin's Ninety-Four Crushings It is not till July 1, 1906 that we first met with any of the official record about Martin. At this date we find him not only still working the cement. Apparently by this time he had already worked the richest part of it or in mining parlance picked the eye out but he was also tributing on the Golden Eagle Lease 10X adjoining the cement leases on the north and only distant a few hundred yards from his battery. He continued to exploit these two leases till about August 1909. Altogether for over five years counting from 1904 and during that time he put through his battery ninety four (94) crushings also styled parcels. A few of them took place under Nat Harper and the other up to about sixty five (65) under William Pollard and Hope Nicolson. Of these we have no record at all and the rest under Boyd Aarons, Waite and Gunton. Those three have left a written account which are at our disposal. They consist of 29 crushings, numbered from sixty six (66) to ninety four (94) and development work.

These records begin rather abruptly. Indicate that they are a continuation of previous ones. We will transcribe them in the next chapter. We deem proper to notice Martin's development works and then his crushings and gold yield.

Martin's Tribute On The Golden Eagle Lease 10X

The Underlay Shaft On Lease 10X. Martin's Prospecting Shaft On Lease 10X. No. 1 Shaft And Winze. Martin's Prospecting Shaft On The Golden Cement. Martin On Lease 12X. Martin's Crushings From No. 66 to 94.

[Editors Note. All this section, with the related and detailed statistics, has been transferred to Appendix III.]

We have seen Martin's development works done on the Golden Eagle Lease 10X and on Lease 12X at the 397 feet level east reef and the crushings taken from those leases and also from the Golden Cement from July 1906 to August 1909. Somewhat the tonnage of ore in each crushing they appear to us rather too high and not correct. If this is so then it was so recorded in order to serve a purpose and to show the ore being of a low grade and make it appear why the gold yield was also low by such devise there would be less Royalty to disburse.

Martin's Windfall

At this stage we deem proper to append one of Martin's windfalls which happened all in one day down in one of the underlay shafts in the Golden Eagle Lease 10X. (Date and number of shaft unknown.) It was said that a previous tributor named William (Bill) Cozens had sunk the said shaft to the 80 feet level. Dissatisfied with the prospect he abandoned it. Martin deepened it to 100 feet level then followed the reef by driving north. After having driven a few feet more than Cozens had driven at 80 feet level, suddenly the small reef made into a bulge (a big bulge). The miner chipped off a few bits and found that there was more gold than quartz in them and in accordance to instruction beforehand, Martin said any prospect of that kind had to be appraised. His mate who was driving south was dispatched to tell Martin of the find. He found him sick and laid up in bed but the good news and the sight of the small but very fine specimens roused him from his sick bed and he walked down the shaft. They found the big bulge was a contact that several leaders (small veins of quartz) on the footwall had fed the small main reef with quartz and plenty gold. The bulge turned out to be a mass of gold. Martin stayed there till it was scooped out, bagged and taken to his house. That contact yielded to him nearly 900 ounces of gold.

Williams' Crushing To our knowledge after Martin's exploitation of the Golden Cement nobody else raised any crushings from that alluvial deposit until July 17, 1933 when Williams (an unfortunate man on crutches) pegged out the northern end of the cement with the help of his 17 year old son Jack. He raised 70 tons ore (on the very face where Martin knocked off in August 1909). It yielded four (4) pennyweights over the plates and two (2) pennyweights and 14 grains in the sands. Gold worth £3.14.9 per ounce.

From the Kalgoorlie Miner of Saturday November 11, 1916 we tell what happened to Williams.Serious accident to tram conductor - William H. Williams - Employed by the Kalgoorlie Electric Tramways as a conductor and residing at 1124 Robert Street, Kalgoorlie met with a serious accident at 12.45pm yesterday (November 10th). He had just turned the trolley of his car at the South Kalgoorlie terminus and was in the act of placing a bicycle on the rear net when the tram began to move backwards and he was crushed between the car and a truck attached to a repairing car. His leg below the thigh was severely jammed and he was removed to the Government Hospital. Late last night his condition was reported to be very serious.

Monday November 13th leg amputated - William H. Williams the tram conductor who was severely injured on Friday (November 10th) by being crushed between a tram car and a wagon attached to a repairing car had his right leg amputated on Saturday. Last night he was reported to be still very ill.

Balzano was a close friend of the Jones Family of Leonora and grieved deeply at the death of their 8year old daughter, Alice "kicked by a horse in a vehicular accident".

He built a cairn of stones and marked it with a sign; "In loving memory of Alice Hannah Jones who was killed on this spot September 20 1911 erected by her sorrowing friend A J Balzano".

VTJGUST 6, 1891.'

Balzano Diary Note

Hercules Flat

Roxburgh East (New Zealand) August 1891

"I read sadly of Mr Ben Denning We used to work a prospect at the Sherwood Corporation, and camp together at Council Chamber at Parramatta".

The cutting tells of Denning going insane while he was at Church.

Tan Dirt mi ot Coumt.—Persons libaly to have buiineu Id the next IMaWIot fcourt will do well toJjear in mind tluU the lut day for filing plaint* to be served at • distance further than 10 xni|^₍ Is the 10th lost.; that for others. Uje 10th ln*t.

f A Sssvtdi BtTKKhupTED.—On Sunday morning last the even tenor of the service at the Wesleyan Ohttroh, Macqunrie-street, Parramatta, was somewhat painfully interrupted, owing to Lhjd.Strnnpe tooduot of an elderly man, Jiiru Benjamin Deniiy-^ welt-known resident, and a native ofjhe town. Kflorts were made to silence    but    famonstrancea

proved UDavilliog¹, in faot only served to increase his voli^ility aod axciteaoect. Several leading members of the'Oburob bad at last to lead Mr. Penny but < and Messrs. Withers and Bparkea seeing that the case wss one of a we*k-euing intellect, took the man to the police station. As will be seen on, reference to our Police ooluumi, Mr. Denny was oh Monday \ sent to the Hospital for Insane.    'B*m

IsQUSfcS>i—-'On Tuesday morning the sudden i death prisoneran-*?wag reported from H. Jaf. Gaol, Parmpgn^ta.,, An inquest was bf    “*•    «*»«»»    a    i

833

w m    v    ii... ^

i the Wesleyan Church.

Kivr pE;vjile spquainted with that ocoonlrio old fellow, Bed, Denning, will regret to hear of the RtiSfortuha that has overtake^ him. He V*s altfayi regarded as peculiar, but recently his peculiarity breams mom pronounced, and fii' Sunday mowing hilt hie oehtrioor In the PtrminalU WesWjrSn'Chureh became so itrange thatihth^dth .WrlndUeed to lasra the aaorod precincts. 7* the coarse of the aerrlce he kept “““.‘‘.ntlng to hJmtolf and suddenly Jumped timing, "Dearc me alone,’ Some iis.cluMd among the oongregltlon, not know what the stir waa about, lr,'Mri^Tyinepear explained that It " i( had befallen our “poor _T_ —Ming." Whoa the old fefiow caught light Of toe constables 'at the ldckuphe (taftcd-into th* eourthoune, and gave Constable Muuro.h Chase round the dock. He struggled a good deal when being searched, and was a good deal excited when Dr. Wkngh called In to see nflo. Ben’s weakness was his antipathy. to,*0CfotT, Ik He appeared at the Wrrtrtatla Cotjrt On'_Mtfnday ‘Ja»t, and cbeOr-Saldted eTerybddy'he recognised, while at slimegulte fr eqdiy whh the constables, ittn he shook 1 arida., On,beinginformed VouMbe senl to Gladesvllle for ttcal-¹ rushed ni to the Benoh and shook Tfr.HlOt, the' Chairman. It is a '    • la mless life whloh podr old

■ '    <'V T    ■'

u HoxdXy, Aoourr 3,

(Before Mesers. O. T. Hunt and S. Wickham,

/ Bonjwnin Dem^rae bought before tho' P® on suspicion of being of unsound mind. 5 7 Constable Munto having giyou formal evid-1 SQOe.    -    i;j    J

Dr. Phillips and Garrett deposed that Denny waa of uneCnnd mind and teoommondod that he be aent tu the Hospital tfor Insamo for treatment. Ho was dealt With as rooom • u ended.    1    >

1 OT

Lewis' Crushing (1933-1934) Another man named William (Bill) Lewis pegged out the southern end of the Golden Cement towards the end of December 1933 and he raised thirty (30) tons of ore which yielded ten (10) pennyweights per ton.

In a semblance of a postscript to the story of the Golden Cement Chapters will be devoted to biographical sketches of a few men whose names are linked to that historic alluvial cement deposit.

Alfred Burgon¹⁴ The most interesting figure among those few which we are about to record. He was the very last of the old timer diggers to have camped and fossicked for gold on the Golden Cement. Apart from this, when the inevitable day was drawing near that he had to follow all the other diggers to the unknown field he wrote out a candid outline of his romantic life. Through which protrude the foibles of a human being, and the long train of names of persons and places which they will appear to view as each one takes its seat (as it were) in these pages.

Biographical Sketches George Sutherland

Was mates with William Weir (better known as Maori Bill) and Peter MacArthur in an alluvial claim on the Golden Cement and received his share of the two thousand (2,000) ounces of gold won from the claim. According to a writer in the Western Mail of September 29, 1938 (signed Economic) he said this:- another Goldfielder was George Sutherland. In the early days he made about £3,000 at Kanowna. He went to Esperance, bought a boarding house, took to drink, sold the boarding house for £70. Went to Albany and drank until he got in the blues. He then went out in the bush and perished. (It is said from thirst). The police found his remains a few miles out. Died 1903.

Peter MacArthur Mate of George Sutherland and William Weir (Maori Bill) in the Golden Cement claim. Got his share of the 2,000 ounces of gold and returned to South Australia. According to Alfred Burgon, MacArthur died at Millicent 32 miles south-east of Adelaide of an abscess on the brain about the year 1910.

William Weir (Maori Bill)

William Weir better known as Maori Bill has already appeared in these writings. He pegged out two claims on the Golden Cement in 1894 and had for mates George Sutherland and Peter MacArthur; whose real name was unknown to us until Burgon told us on March 24, 1933 and strangely even Bonney who wrote a little history of Coolgardie in October 1895 only knew this man as Maori Bill on page 35 of his book. Bonney stated that he received 1,000 ounces of gold as his share in the cement claim and also that Weir took action against McManus in the cement dispute. Whereas it was McManus who took action against Alexander Stewart. Weir told Burgon that McManus took action against him and beat McManus in the court and won the case for the diggers.

14 [Refer "Alfred Burgon - Another Mystery" P271 ]

193

This assertion conflicts with the record of the case in chapter XIII. [or Balzano's writings, refer Appendix I. Ed] Burgon first met Weir at Mallina Station in the north west in the year 1889. Again in 1893 at Kalgoorlie and again in Melbourne in November 1895. He was staying at one of the hotels in Spencer Street and wearing a watch chain made of ten little nuggets of water worn gold. The largest piece weighed three pennyweights and the smallest one half pennyweight. After spending an enjoyable holiday both returned to West Australia (in the same steamer Innaminka) in the month of July 1896. Weir bought two blocks of land at Beaconsfield near Fremantle. He built a four room cottage on one of the blocks. Jack McIntosh his old mate sank a well for him and struck a good supply of fresh water at depth of twenty (20) feet. Mrs Werry, Weir's housekeeper sold the water to the neighbours so much per week it helped the house expenses. Mrs Werry had two little sons, one them was named Eli, the foregoing information is from Burgon. Weir or Maori Bill died at Cue, West Australia January 6, 1933. The Cue Roads Board attended to the funeral arrangements. Burgon never met Maori Bill after the year 1896 so inquired about his old friend. We quote two out the four letters which he received in reply.

Police Department Commissioner's Office Perth

Western Australia

17th August 1933 Mister Burgon Post Office Kanowna

Dear Sir

With reference to your letter of 1st instant to the officer in charge of police at Cue relative to the late "Maori Bill" I have to advise that he [died] in the Cue Hospital on 6th January 1933 at the age of 73 years. He died under the name of William Weir and was buried in the Presbyterian portion of the Cue Cemetery. Grave No. 703. It is not known where he was bom. He left £17.17.6 in cash, a dry-blower, a camp, a tent, gun, watch and chain, and had an account in the Government Savings Bank. He had no relatives in this state and he died from heart failure. His estate was handed to the curator of intestate estates, Supreme Court, Perth.

Yours faithfully ARCHIBALD DOUGLAS

P.S. Commissioner of Police Douglas died on November 23, 1934 at his home North Perth. He was bom in the Rokewood district of Victoria in 1873. He came to Western Australia in 1896 and he joined up the force. When the Commissioner of the Police Mister Connell retired on 1st February 1933 Mister Douglas was appointed in his place.

March 25, 1934 Mister Burgon Cue

Dear Sir

With regard to your letter the following are the only particulars I am able to supply (1) Weir (Maori Bill) - He was ill for about a month. He caught a cold at Esperance and never lost it, (2) There were about fifty (50) people at his funeral, (3) He was English, and (4) As far as I know he had about £350 in the bank.

Yours faithfully ARCHIE BAKER

He also added this:-

If you see Bobbie Jones you may tell him we are all alive and things are looking up at Cue and Reedy's going ahead with development work and the Big Bell has started drilling again.

Benjamin Brandt

Of all the earliest diggers on the Golden Cement we actually met only two in the flesh namely Benjamin Brandt and George Lawrence. Brandt was only known to us by sight. The first occasion we noticed him was on the night of the first Kanowna Municipal Election held on the 27th March 1896 and saw him on several occasions in after years. As far as we can remember he was short of stature and stoutish of body and about 57 years of age at time of his death. He was better known as "Benny the Jew" than Brandt. It was said that he was well-connected with the Jewish congregation in Sydney and that he had some special service to perform about the Synagogue and that his sister used to send money to him. He used to drink and shout for other men.

He held a claim on the cement. We have no idea what amount of gold he won from it. According to a Mister Stevens of Allanbrae Farm, Popanyinning, Brandt got his living by having a row with partner and parting company then selling a share of the claim to a fresh mug. We remember the site of his camp. It consisted of a large bough shed and a tent and situated at the north end of the cement and approximately twenty feet (20 feet) south-west comer of the culvert on the Kurnalpi Road. On the spot a water meter was placed afterwards. Brandt erected his camp there before the road was formed and the culvert built.

We somewhat feel a furtive sympathy for this man (as well as for Judas Iscariot). He had a melancholy end and through drinking he collided with the police and was brought to court several times.

Friday May 1, 1896 Benjamin Brandt was brought before Warden Percy Fielding charged of being a disorderly person and having no lawful visible means of support. Constables Parkes and Smith spoke against him, of being a drunken thief but Robert Tonniges, Hugo Adolph and David Matchett spoke in his favour. Brandt said that he was one of the first on the Cement and he held a claim up to the time the cement lease was sold to the company. Since then he has been dry-blowing and prospecting. At the time of his arrest he was working for Mister Tonniges. He was cautioned and discharged.

September 20, 1897 Benjamin Brandt otherwise known as Benny the Jew was brought this morning before Mister Gray Justice of Peace. Was fined £5.7.0 cost or in default three months' imprisonment for having been disorderly and breaking in the door of the White Feather Hotel.

February 9, 1899 Brandt was charged for assaulting Solomon Joseph (a Jew) by refusing paying for his meal. He was fined £2 and for abusive language fined £1. The police said he had ten previous convictions.

March 20, 1900 Benjamin Brandt was fined ten (10) shillings for disorderly conduct.

It was said of him that at the disastrous fire on the east side of Isabella Street which occurred in the early hours of morning of 23 May 1902 he was seen looting some goods among which being a whole ham. If Brandt was really a Jew and ate the ham and found it quite palatable then he not only overstepped the Mosaic law but even dealt a well-deserved spank at Jesus' face for having wasted such a great amount of pork at Gergesenes by causing the destruction of a herd of swine which did not belong to him. See Matt VIII 31-32.

His Death 1904 On Sunday evening of September 11, 1904 Joseph Palmer had not seen Brandt about for two or three days and he called at his camp and found him dead, lying prone in a pool of blood and reported it to the police. Doctor Joice stated that the main arteries of the neck severed with a sharp instrument and death from loss of blood must have occurred. Who apparently suicided last Friday was buried quietly in the afternoon next day September 12th by John Hay undertaker.

The Western Argus of September 20th stated: Suicide of Benjamin Brandt known as "Benny the Jew" was found dead in his camp at Golden Cement. His head was almost severed from the body which work had apparently been performed with a razor. Which together with small looking glass was found in a pool of blood on the earth floor. Although recently released from lunatic asylum in was he was placed a few months ago. Brandt was well connected with the Hebraic Community in Sydney. Was about fifty seven (57) years of age at the time of his decease. Joseph Palmer was paid eleven shillings and eight pence (11/8) for reporting it to the police.

George Lawrence

Already (reported elsewhere in these writings) George Lawrence was at the Golden Cement in 1894 for a short time. He left to go to the I.O.U. rush. Later he returned and passed the rest of his years at Kanowna. He died in the Kalgoorlie Government Hospital February 23, 1939 aged 81 years. Was buried next day in the Presbyterian section of the Kalgoorlie Cemetery. The funeral arrangement was conducted by Kyle of Cassidy Street, the Reverend Tibbitt officiated at the grave. There were nine persons present around the grave. John Allen, Joseph Palmer, Joseph Willmott, William (Bill) Brown, John Pearce, Angus Clarke, John Urwin Smith, William Lennell and Balzano. His brother William Frederick who had also lived at Kanowna predeceased him. He also died in the same Kalgoorlie District Hospital March 26, 1934 aged 84 years. They were both bom at Penn's Bridge five miles from Bristol, England.

Warden Jephson

The story of the Golden Cement would be incomplete indeed, without a little sketch of Jephson's life as we have already seen earlier. The part he played in the cement dispute, through which he collided with despicable creature named Wittenoom (the ten foot Ned of the diggers) in consequence of which he was forced to resign his position from the Government Service. We are in debt to the Western Mail and Kalgoorlie Miner for the few items of his life which are as follows:-

Maynard Hugh Jephson was a Bachelor of Arts of Oxford (England) and came to Western Australia in the early eighties of last century. For some years he was a master of what was then the high school (now Hale School). He was later engaged farming in the Blackwood district and subsequently was appointed Warden of the Kimberley Goldfields being stationed at Hall's Creek. In 1894 he was transferred as Warden of Kalgoorlie, he being the first man to hold the position on that Goldfield. Gazetted in February 1895 Resident Magistrate of Kalgoorlie.

Protest Against Removal September 24, 1895 A committee has been formed for the purpose of convening a general meeting of those interested in mining and other residents of the district. To protest in the name of Kalgoorlie Township and Coolgardie Goldfields against the removal of Mister Warden Jephson. To meet at Waldocks Hotel Kalgoorlie on Thursday September 26th at eight o'clock.

Kalgoorlie September 27th Indignation meeting held on Thursday evening was largely attended of those interested in mining. The speakers were Messrs (McLeod Matheson was voted in the chair), Thompson, Geoghean, De Rose, Hare, Knight, Robert Pettigrew, Parsons, Chaplin, Captain Oats, McLeary and Harvey.

October 2 The petition to the Minister of Mines Wittenoom asking for the retention of Mister Jephson as Warden is receiving a great many signatures wherever it is circulated. Mister Parsons (solicitor) informed us (that is the Kalgoorlie Miner) that he was at I.O.U. on Monday and the miners there to a man signed the petition.

Friday October 11th The numerous friends of Mister Jephson will be pleased to learn that he has decided to relinquish his appointment as a member of the Civil Service and returned to Kalgoorlie. He has had a splendid appointment offered him by an English mining company but it is understood has resolved to enter into business on his own account. In his new venture our late Warden will have the best wishes of everyone in the district.

Wednesday October 23, 1895 The former Warden Jephson has returned to Kalgoorlie having relinquished the Government Service. He intends to enter business as a partner in the firm of Messrs Hamilton and Company mining agents and surveyors who have already worked up a big connection. It is probable Mister Jephson will leave shortly on a visit to England, retaining his interests in the firm.

Friday November 15,1895 Mister Jephson was admitted into Mrs Meecham's private hospital yesterday suffering from influenza.

Kalgoorlie June 9, 1896 Mr Jephson has handed in his resignation of the position of Justice of Peace which has been accepted by the Governor in Council.

June 15, 1896 Jephson, Davies and Bower, Solomon's Buildings, Main Street, Kalgoorlie, Mining Engineers, Legal Managers, Mining and General Agents, application lodged and Warden Court business transacted on all Goldfields.

The foregoing is all the information available about Jephson save a very much later paragraph in the Western Mail stating that after his retirement from the Government Service he again engaged farming in the Blackwood district and that a number of years before his death had lived at Kelmscott and Armadale. Died in Perth December 22, 1940 aged 81 years.

Biographical Sketches Augustus Roe. John Withnell. Death Of James Aubrey Withnell. The Murders Of Anketell & Burrup. Homig. Post Script.

Preamble The material to follow is purely drawn in this work through Alfred Burgon¹¹ who actually came in contact with the persons and places herein related. Although quite extraneous to the Kanowna district, they are historical events of the times. The account about Roe and the Withnells is taken from The Cyclopedia of Western Australia and the account of the murder of Anketell and Burrup is taken from Burgon's manuscript.

Augustus Roe

The Police Magistrate Augustus Sandford Keats Roe, was born in Perth January 7, 1852 and died in the same city March 15, 1921. He was the youngest of six sons, of the late Captain John Septimus Roe, for 42 years Surveyor General of Western Australia. He was educated at Hales Bible College, Perth. At the close of his scholastic career he was articled to the legal profession under Messrs Stone and Son. After being admitted to the Bar in 1873 and practising for about 12 months at Fremantle he became engaged in pearling pursuits at Roebourne (the town named after his father), for 12 years. During that period he was commissioned as a Judge and in 1895 he was then appointed Police Magistrate of Perth. His first wife was Mary, daughter of Edward Newman of Fremantle who died in 1909. His second wife is

Elizabeth, daughter of Mrs Cook of Tintem College Hawthorn Victoria. He has two sons. Burgon told us that he never repaid Mr Roe the two pound because he did [not?] need it.

John Withnell

John Withnell whose name is indelibly inscribed in the annals of the early settlement of the great North-west of this state was a descendant of the ancient family of Withnell, possessors of the lands, Withnell Fold and Withnell Croft in Lancashire where the name is still retained. John Withnell was born at Bolton in that county on March 24, 1825 and came to Western Australia with his parents in the ship Nancy in 1829. His brother Robert, whose birth occurred in August of that year was the first male European to be bom on the mainland of Western Australian.

John Withnell took up land at York where he carried out farming and grazing pursuits. In the course of time the young colonist married Emma Mary, a daughter of the late George Hancock of Beverley, formerly of Devonshire. As the outcome of the discoveries resulting from the exploration in the North-west carried out under the leadership of Francis Gregory in 1861, John Withnell with other venturous spirits ventured or undertook to pioneer the pastoral lands reported to exist in those remote regions.

John Withnell and his young wife, who disposing of the Hillside Estate at Beverley and Boranining Station on the Williams River, chartered the "Sea Ripple". A three mast schooner of 187 tons register and set sail from Fremantle for Cossack, then known as Walcott, with a 1,000 picked ewes, 50 choice rams, 10 cows, 10 draught mares, one two year old Clydesdale stallion valued at £250 and a big supply of station requisites - stores, clothing, tools, fire-arms, medicines and all the etc.'s necessary for the outfitters.

The party consisting of Mister John and Emma Withnell, their two sons; George and John, Mister and Miss Hancock, Mister Robert Withnell and two servants. At Cossack or Walcott, pitched camp on a sandy beach where wells were sunk to water the stock, however it proved brackish. Withnell made a trip up the Harding River. He discovered at Mount Welcome a small hill in the vicinity of a large fresh water pool in the river bed. So called, to express the joy of the pioneers in coming to the end of their search. Within a week the camp was removed to the foot, where the town of Roebourne now stands on the slopes of the hill referred to.

Later on Mister and Mrs Withnell explored the country east of their camp and they took land about Sherlock River and named their run the Sherlock Station. In 1879 the Mount Welcome Station was purchased by Mister Scholl. The Withnell family removing their stock to Sherlock Station where they continued for 11 years, selling in March 1890 with 20,000 sheep, 130 horses, 150,000 cattles6 and all plants, to four of their sons and to their son-in-law, Mr Meares.

Ill health compelled the retirement of the brave pioneering couple with their youngest children to Guildford (now Bassendean) where Mister Withnell died May 15, 1898 aged 72 years, honoured and respected by the whole community. A man of character, unflagging industry and great liberality. He was the first man to use the canvas waterbag which has proved such a boon to settlers and others. Mister and Mrs Withnell had a family of eight sons and three daughters, nine of whom were born in the North-west. Mrs Withnell resides at North Perth (that is in the year 1911) in the enjoyment of excellent health and although in her 74th year she makes frequent visits to the Northwest for pleasure and business. From the Cyclopedia of West Australia Volume II Page 180-2 of 1911.

Death of James Aubrey Withnell one of the best known pioneers of the North-west occurred at Fremantle on October 9th, 1939 at the age of 70 years. The late Mister Withnell came of pioneering parents on both sides, the Withnell and Hancocks left England for Western Australia in 1829 and his death marks the end of a pioneering era in the history of the state. He was a Justice of the Peace, one of the eldest members of the Perth Club, Chairman of the Roebourne Roads Board and the West Australian Turf Club. In his younger days he had been an excellent rider and had trained and raced his own horses. He retired from active pastoral pursuits in 1923 and lived in the city some time before his death. From the West Australian Mining and Commercial Review of November 1939 page 46.

The Murder Of Anketell And Burrup

We take the account of this tragedy from Burgon's manuscript as it was related to him at Roebourne in 1889. It is as follows:-

The murder of Anketell and Burrup, Union Bank employees, at Roebourne, West Australia in 1885, by some person or persons unknown. Both were highly esteemed and respected by all who had the honor of their acquaintance. In fact they always had a kindly smile and a word for all with whom they came in contact.

Mister Anketell, the manager of the Roebourne Branch of the Union Bank was always spoken of by the inhabitants of that town, as a most manly and straightforward fellow. Also the same applied to Burrup, the teller, who was described to me as being the most inoffensive of mortals imaginable, who wouldn't hurt a fly on any account. Mister Anketell, leaving Mister Burrup in charge had paid a visit to some of the stations and returned to town on the eventful evening of the murder. Met Mister Roderick McRae at the Roebourne Hotel, had a drink, and they strolled up to the bank premises together.

I became well-acquainted with Mister Roderick McRae afterwards, and he told me that after parting with Mister Anketell at the bank gate, he went to his room at the Mercantile Store owned by his brothers, Farquhar and Alick, and slept until morning. Rod, (as I always called him) had half share in the Croydon Station, situated fifty miles from Roebourne. His brother Duncan holding the other half. Nearly opposite the weather board Union Bank buildings, was Mister John McRae's (another brother, a pearler) house, and on the morning after the murder, was occupied by Mrs John McRae and Mrs Gillam, a sister of the McRaes.

Fairly early on this particular morning, Rod was taking his customary walk up to his brother John's house, and was greatly surprised on approaching within a few yards to his sister and sister-in-law, with opera glasses levelled towards the Bank, and they called out to him to go across and see if anything was the matter; because the stretcher on which Mister Anketell used to sleep outside, appeared to be upside down, and no sign of him being about, as was his custom. Rod accordingly strode over to the Bank, and was thunderstruck, and almost paralysed, to see his poor friend Mister Anketell lying on the verandah with the stretcher turned over on top of him, his head battered in, and quite dead. Rod then visited Mister Burrup's skillion room and found him dead, also lying on the bed, dressed in pyjamas as usual, and head battered in, exactly in the same way as Mister Anketell. The wallpaper being splattered with blood.

After telling his sister and sister-in-law the sad, and terrible news, Rod of course proceeded to the Police Station and laid the information. Sergeant O'Connell was the Officer in Charge, and being at this station proceeded at once to the spot to take charge of the bodies and investigated great mistake was then made. A crowd quickly gathered and before the Sergeant could do anything, all tracks were obliterated, thereby spoiling any chance of following the only apparent possible clue.

When Sergeant O'Connell made his investigation of the premises he found Mister Anketell's bunch of keys alongside his body, the Bank door open, his gold watch (duly wound up) and chain, and half a bottle of brandy. Being on the table just a large pile of papers was placed in a certain position, with about six inches of a candle underneath, which had the appearance of having lighted and gone out soon afterwards. It was not an ordinary candle, but the kind called a carriage candle, and the only similar candles known to be in Roeboume were in possession of Mister John McRae. This seemed a little possible clue, because John McRae had some wellsinkers employed at this time and had given them some of these candles, to use sinking. I believe the wellsinkers were placed under arrest, but nothing ever eventuated from that arrest. In fact I heard it was only too easy for anyone to have access to these candles. It appeared the night on this occasion was very tempestuous and blowing great gusts.No sound of anything going on at this Bank was heard by any of the neighbours, and a good watch dog owned by John McRae, who used to bark on the slightest provocation was quite silent on this night. Everything in Mister Burrup's room appeared to be undisturbed, and the duplicate key, necessary to open the safe, was in his waist-coat pocket, hanging on the wall of the room.

The theory accepted by most people was: that the murders were committed with the object of robbery. The person or persons not knowing the secret of the combination of the two keys was frustrated, and no doubt fearing discovery beat a hasty retreat, hoping the lighted candle would ignite the building and aided by the high wind would cremate the bodies. Of course this is all conjecture, but seems possible enough.

There was a German named Homig knocking about the town at this time and he used to go up to the Bank to exchange the latest novels with Mister Burrup, who was only too glad to oblige anybody in that way.

When Mister Anketell first went away, Burrup used to sleep with his bedroom door open. It was insufferably hot. Waking up suddenly one night, he distinctly saw somebody standing in the doorway, and on calling out the figure disappeared. But on investigating the premises he could not see anyone. After this occurrence he used to lock the door until the return of Anketell, because on the morning after the murders, the door showed no sign of having been forced.

Homig was afterwards hanged in Perth, for the murder of his mate at Hall's Creek, Kimberleys. On the day before the execution he volunteered to give some information if reprieved, about the Roebourne murders but the proper authorities decided to let the law take its course. So if the condemned man did know anything in reference to that tragedy, the knowledge died with him. Further Burgon stated that Homig appropriated a leather belt containing 100 sovereigns, also two horses belonging to his murdered mate (name of the victim and date of the crime not mentioned in the manuscript) and that two horsemen discovered the body and reported it to the Police and Homig was tracked 100 miles from the scene of the murder.

Burgon also stated that he visited Burrup's grave in the Roebourne Cemetery, and it had a suitable inscription on the headstone and that Anketell's body was exhumed and taken to Melbourne for burial.

P.S. A paragraph which appeared 48 years later, in the West Australian of October 5-6, 1937 stated thus:-

Portrait of Balzano as Master of the Golden Feather Lodge at Kanowna 1922-1923

The murders of Anketell and Burrup were committed by Rod McRae. Reason for the crime was that his brother John's station was mortgaged to the Bank, and that Anketell had visited the station on account of the mortgage a few days before. Rod committed the murder, not to rob the Bank, but to burn the deeds about the mortgage, which he burnt with other documents.

The Story Of The Main Reef

This is the last chapter relative to the story of the Main Reef Mine and set apart solely for Biographical Sketches of two groups of persons. The first of which in order shall be those whom were directly associated with the mine in active services. Here is meant those who composed the staff only. The other group is made up of visitors only, of course out of the large number of visitors (and officials of the mine as well) only an odd one has a place for a sketch.

The foremost person who claims our attention and he is heading this chapter is Bissenberger, the "prospector" who discovered the Main Reef and took up the four leases No, 12X, 13X, 14X and 15X, all of 12 acres each.

We have before us three important articles about him which we inscribe here in the following order. The first is from Kimberley's History Of Western Australia. The second is from Mrs Bass his daughter-in-law, and the third from Messrs Pengelley and Knabe of Adelaide.

Captain Bissenberger

Readers will probably be particularly interested in the biographies of those men who take an active part in the mining industry. They want to know what sort of men are prominent and what are their recommendation. Distance or business demands may prevent their discovering those things themselves.

This work (History Of Western Australia) includes sketches of the careers of the principal prospectors and experts. It is highly necessary in the interest of the future of gold mining in Western Australia that men of large mining experience should be at the helm of the different fields. Indifferent knowledge of geology and practical mining are of no avail. Men are required who have devoted long years of mining enterprise, and who are experienced in the following in other countries. Such men are then likely to attract capital and the capitalist has a right to demand before he invests, the credentials of those who administer his money.

"Captain Frank Bissenberger was born in Hungary in 1852 and as a youth studied geology and mining and served an apprenticeship in engineering, an Austrian subject. He was required to spend a period in the military service, and for five years he was in the Sappers, and Mining Engineer Corps. Then he became acquainted with the

theoretical and practical part of engineering and had an excellent grounding in mining, moreover, in after years he learnt much practical mining. In 1875 he left Austria and settled in Adelaide, South Australia for two years where he followed the occupation of an engineer, where upon he went to the Gawler Range, north-west of Adelaide and prospected for copper. At that time it was believed that copper deposits almost as famous as those at the Burra Burra, existed in the Gawler Range but though Captain Bissenberger found indication, nothing of any importance eventuated from his work. Next at Wooloo, near Mount Bryon, he followed gold mining in the alluvial for some months. This goldfield, like nearly all those in the Sister Colony, tantalising, for a while the prospects are excellent, the realisation is seldom alone mediocrity.

However Captain Bissenberger was able to pay his way and to invest in quartz mining on the same field. Then came the rumour of silver finds at Silverton, and Captain Bissenberger went to them. He spent some five years working among the silver and tin mines Barrier Range, and increased his money. At last tired of mining and looked envy on the quiet homes of the settlers at Mildura. He went down to that garden of the Murray, purchased a farm Chaffey Bros., and worked it. Subsequently he combined this work with an appointment which he obtained from Chaffey Bros. That of Engineering Inspector, but this secluded life soon galled, and after a few months Captain Bissenberger left Mildura and turned again to mining. The Teetulpa Goldfields were then creating excitement throughout South Australia and hopes entertained that a payable goldfield was at last discovered.

Captain Bissenberger spent six months at Teetulpa. When recognising that there was little future before it, he returned to Adelaide. He was not there long before he was appointed manager of the Countess of Jersey Mine at Wadaminga, in the north Gawler. Months later he relinquished the position to work the Earl of Kintore Mine on tribute. He did fairly well out of this venture and placed his money in the bank. It would have been just as well had he left the gold in the earth's storehouse, for the financial crisis and the closing and subsequent reconstruction of the bank absorbed his money. At Adelaide, Captain Bissenberger now organised a Syndicate and in 1893 came to Western Australia to endeavour to secure some good mines. He made his way to Coolgardie, whence after a few days he went to Kalgoorlie. In neither of those places did he see just what he required. He journeyed to White Feather and took four leases of twelve acres each. His first experiences there were not of the pleasantest. He arrived on a terribly hot and thirsty day, and water cost four shillings and six pence per gallon. But those leases formed the nucleus of his useful connection with the Goldfields of Western Australia. At first the four were worked

separately, one named the Bissenberger Mine and the others the White Feather Reef (Main Reef). They are now amalgamated under the title of the White Feather Main Reef Company and give promise of a lucrative career.

Since then Captain Bissenberger has been busy. He became connected as expert with the Henry Parsons Syndicate, a very strong Perth body. He purchased for them at low figure, the Robinson Gold Mine which with an adjoining property, has since been floated. In connection with Mr Parsons, Captain Bissenberger has acted as adviser, or expert, for a number of mines and with Mr J.S. Reid and others has assisted in the floatation of a large number of companies.

He last year visited London on mining business. Altogether he has floated on the London Market mining ventures representing 1400 acres he is General Manager of the Easter Gift Proprietary Gold Mine Company, and Consulting Engineer to the English Exploration Company. His confidence in the future of Western Australian Goldfields is great.

Captain Bissenberger has therefore had a fairly extensive experience of mining. He is considered a practical miner, and his opinion is esteemed as worth having. There is every likelihood of his greatly extending his connection with local gold miners."

A student of geology and a practical man in one should be cordially welcome by local Goldfields people and by Kimberley's History Of Western Australia. Mr Jack Dwyer (of the Ullaring farm - Southern Brook near Northam) did own the book and wrote out for us the foregoing account about Bissenberger dated from that farm July 20, 1938.

109 Hampton Road Fremantle

19 August 1932 Dear Mr Balzano

In reference to your letter of July 27th I am afraid I can't give you much information concerning my late husband's deceased father Captain Bissenberger, at one time Manager of the White Feather Main Reef Mine.

On looking up some printed matter, there is reference to Captain Bissenberger going to the Goldfields in 1893, not being able to find something to suit him at Coolgardie or Kalgoorlie, he went on to what was then known as the "White Feather". Here he took up four leases of twelve acres each, which, for a time he worked separately. One called the Bissenberger Mine and the other the White Feather. Later these were amalgamated and called the White Feather Main Reef. It is here

that I can't give you much information as I don't know what money Captain Bissenberger received for the above leases, while I believe he floated in London in 1896.

Francis Bissenberger was bom in Austria in 1852 and died at Adelaide, South Australia 1908. My husband Frank Hugo was with his father in those very early days (although just a lad about fifteen years) until typhoid fever broke out, when he was sent home to South Australia.

My husband was speared by blacks in the north, near the Hunter River when trying to reach a mission station; after being shipwrecked in the year 1920.

I am sorry I could not reply sooner. I really could not settle my mind to the subject. Trusting that the information contained herein is satisfactory.

Believe me

Yours respectfully J. Bass

Pengelley And Knabe Funeral Directors And Cremators

210 Rundle Street Adelaide

26th March 1941

Mr J. Balzano

Kanowna

Western Australia

Dear Sir

In reference to your letter relating to the late Mr F. Bissenberger who died in Adelaide about 1908 we were fortunately able to get the following details:-

Frank J. Bissenberger, age 56 years, late resident Dulwich Avenue, Dulwich, South Australia. Buried at the West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide on 26th June 1908. (We presume that he died on the 25th June 1908). The officiating Minister at the funeral was Canon E.H. Bleby (Church of England Minister).

Later in the same grave was buried, Louise Marie Bissenberger (presumably his widow) age 70 years. Late resident Dew Street, Mile End, South Australia. Buried there on 14th February 1927 by the Rev. Ewers.

These two burials were in cemetery lease No. 14092 and the position there is Road No. 1, path 34, grave No. 10 west. Unfortunately we cannot tell you as to the obituary notice and the newspapers are out of print and circulation.

Trusting that we have made ourselves clear and this information suits your requirements.

We are Yours faithfully Norman E. Knabe Manager

Nat Harper

Briefly according to The Cyclopedia of Western Australia (Edit, by Dr.

Battye) Vol. I page 344;

"Nathanael White Harper was born in County Antrim, Ireland in 1865. At age of 18 years in 1883 went to New Zealand. For four years worked at Hydraulic Sluicing. In 1887 went to Broken Hill, worked at the Proprietary Mine for two years thence went to Zeehan (Tasmania). Was the manager of the Queen Extended Mine and the South Balstrups Silver and Lead Mines.

He came to Western Australia in 1892 and for three years was manager of Fraser Gold Mine at the Southern Cross. In April 1895 he took up the management of the White Feather Main Reef Mine (also the Robinson and Reward Mines). He resigned the management of the Main Reef March 22, 1904."

Archie Graham (A Kanowna Valedictory)

"Mr Archie Graham who has been connected with the White Feather Main Reefs for about six years and who resigned his position as underground manager a few days ago was entertained at the Royal Exchange Hotel rooms, Kanowna on Thursday evening (January 5, 1905) by a number of the mine employees and friends. The popularity of Mr Graham was shown by the fact that the spacious hall was too small to accommodate all those who attended but this difficulty was to some extent surmounted by placing seats in the adjoining enclosure. Mr J. Boyd Aarons, manager of the mine in proposing the toast of "Our guest" paid a very high tribute to Mr Graham, both as a capable underground manager and as a personal friend.

He was indeed sorry to lose such a sterling man from the staff but wished him the great success he deserved in the future. It was with heartfelt pleasure that he presented him with a purse of sovereigns and the massive gold albert and suitably inscribed locket, as he recognised in Mr Graham a man of irreproachable character and one who would do credit as underground manager of any mine. The toast which was drunk with full musical honors was supported by about a dozen of the employees and staff who recognised that by diligence and attention the guest of the evening had risen from the ranks to a good position.

In replying Mr Graham after duly thanking those assembled for their handsome presentation said he was not aware he had so many

friends amongst the mine employees and staff. He could say he had simply done his duty and while a miner did a fair thing his billet was secure. If on the other hand he did not do his "bit", it was a case of having to quit. (Applause). He was greatly pleased that the staff from the manager downwards had such good words for him and although it was improbable that he would return to Kanowna he wished the "Reefs" every success. The proceeding were enlivened by vocal items, which were creditably rendered at intervals by Messrs Turner, Taylor, Davis, Denman, Cox, Lardner and others. The function was brought to a close by the concerted singing of "Auld Lang Syne".

On Thursday morning another presentation in the shape of an elegant gold collar stud was made to Mr Graham by the members of the White Feather Hospital staff in recognition of his valuable services to the institution during the past few years.

Mr Graham accompanied by his four children, left for the coast by Friday's express for a well-earned and extended trip. He was wished bon voyage at the station by a large number of the mine employees and several prominent residents." - Kalgoorlie Miner January 7, 1905

The massive gold albert mentioned in the presentation cost 14 pounds (£14) and the purse contained seventeen pieces of sovereigns.

On the first day of September 1930 Graham revisited the Main Reef and beheld the great change that had taken place since the valedictory (on January 5, 1905). The Main Shaft with all its levels, drives, cross cuts, winzes and stopes were all submerged underwater. The poppet head, stripped of its gear. All the valuable assets had been sold out by the Government. Of all the men that had been working under him, had vanished from the district, save the author, alone, remained camping on the wreckage of the historic Main Reef.

Graham had been employed on the newly discovered mining field called "Patricia". He had resigned his position and he was on his way home when he revisited the Main Reef on aforesaid date (1st September). The time spent on it being very brief as he wanted to reach Kalgoorlie before sunset.

He died on the 10th of February 1932, either at his home at Bulls Brook or at Perth.

It is said that he was a Belfast man, North Ireland. We do not know whether he was a native of Belfast or not.

It happened in the year 1904 that the author being one of the miners employed at the Main Reef and stoping on the North Drive at No. 2 level East Reef. Strange to relate that a little episode took in this stope on December 29th and 30th 1904 on both afternoons of these two days at about 2.00pm. Graham came along on his round of inspection of the work. The veiy first words he uttered on the 29th "I have resigned my position of underground manager and I am leaving the district. I am tired of being told to keep down the working expenses of the mine. On the 30th as aforesaid Graham came on his round of inspection at about the same hour 2.00pm and the very first words he spoke "This is my last day on the mine", and alike the previous afternoon Graham again invited the author to sit down alongside of him and take a spell for a few minutes. The combined time extended to 25 to 30 minutes and the talk in the second afternoon was almost solely on family affairs which briefly is as follows:

That a brother Orangeman named Forbes who had been sick in the hospital, when able to leave that institution, from pure kindness Graham took the man in his house to be cared during his convalescence. At same time he was reserving a job for him on the Main Reef to go to work whenever strong enough to take it on.

Alas Graham soon found out that his pampered guest got rather too soon over-convalescent and lusty and his wife's inconstancy too apparent. At supper time (on a certain evening) he told his wife that there was some very important timbering work to be done on the mine and it had to be done during the night shift, to be safe for the men on the day shift to get in and break ore and that the shift boss on the night shift was in Kalgoorlie on some important business and he was taking his place and it gave him the opportunity to see that the work was properly done.

As he had to wait for the arrival of the shift boss on the day shift and give him instruction, he would not be able to get home until about eight o'clock and told her the kind of crib (lunch) he liked to take with him to the mine and partake it at crib time at 4.00am.

He also told her (of course Forbes was present at the table) that before meeting the men on the night shift at the Main Shaft he was going down the mine to inspect some of the faces before firing the holes.

He left home about 10.40pm. Forbes accompanied Graham to the Main Shaft and saw him stepping in the cage and disappearing in the void below. As they exchanged "good night" Graham said that it was not right for a sick man to be out at that hour of night and told him to get home and go to bed at once.

As Graham ordered the Engine Driver in the presence of Forbes to lower him to the 600 feet level, ere he stepped on the plat, gave the rise signal to heave to the No. 1. plat. There he knocked the cage to the surface and he sped along the west cross-cut at the end of which he turned south and thence up the underlay shaft to the surface. (There he was met by a reliable friend to accompany him). Thence he hurried to his house, roughly 180 yards distant (north from the said shaft) and good luck deservedly favoured him. His feet with soft pad shod, noiselessly he approached the house and ere he saw a light in the front bedroom and inaudible words spoken sotto voce. The impending and momentous happening was at hand.

As prearranged, precaution had been taken hence both the front and bedroom doors were opened whilst his friend held now the unmuffled Hurricane lamp and both his wife and Forbes were confronted in their night dress but disturbed in the act of... In vulgar parlance they were having a good time and enjoying themselves.

But in Dante's language the Paolo and Francesca of the Main Reef were weaving romance and kissing the book. See Hell Canto V. 112-138.

Graham, (like a host of other wronged husbands and vice versa) did not see fit to deal with his wife as a certain Jerusalem woman was dealt nearly 2000 years before his time: go and sin no more. See the Gospel according to St. John Chapter VIII. 3-11 and also justly ignored the voice of those drones who teach that a husband and wife are joined by God and death alone can separate them.

Divorce - Graham Versus Graham And Forbes

Perth Saturday December 5, 1903 the Supreme Court Act, Amendment Act was assented to this morning by his excellency the Governor (Admiral Sir Frederick Bedford) on behalf of the King and the provisions of the new act makes for the establishment of a Divorce Court at Kalgoorlie to be held by either a Supreme Court Judge or Commissioner specially appointed to facilitate the hearing of divorce cases.

Listed for hearing during the current session of the Eastern Goldfields Circuit Court a special commission to conduct the trial will forthwith be issued to Mr Commissioner Augustus Sandford Keats Roe. The special divorce suits listed for hearing before Commissioner Roe and Jury. The first of kind to be recorded in Kalgoorlie are those of Archibald Graham (petitioner) versus Sophia Graham (respondent) and Archibald Colin Forbes (co-respondent).

The petitioner suing for dissolution of his marriage.

The second case listed is that of Bruno Mueller (petitioner) versus Janet Mueller (respondent) and George Slee (co-respondent).

In each case the petitioner alleged that adultery was committed by the respondent and co-respondent on diverse dates. The cases will be called on Monday December 7, 1903. - From Kalgoorlie Sun of Sunday December 6, 1903

Graham Divorce

Kalgoorlie Tuesday December 8, 1903 Archibald Graham (petitioner) versus Sophia Graham nee Sophia Hendriks of Zeehan, Tasmania (respondent) and Archibald Colin Forbes (co-respondent) was the first

of the two divorce cases which Commissioner Roe was empowered to try under his new commission. In the absence of certainty concerning the time of the trial the great unwashed did not attend the Kalgoorlie Courthouse on Tuesday. Insufficiently large number to fill that portion of the Court set aside for the public.

The petitioner for whom counsel appeared was the only party to the suit who responded when called. His story of his wife's infidelity may be briefly put - She committed adultery with another man rejoicing in the same front name as himself to wit "Archie", at their own home at Kanowna. The man was Archibald Colin Forbes and an opportunity the night of July 16th last (1902) within half an hour of the petitioner leaving home petitioner caught the fair Sophia in flagrante delicto with the other Archie and made the pair then confess in the presence of a miner friend, how wicked they had been.

Commissioner Roe wasted no time in granting a Decree Nisi with costs against co-respondent. The petitioner to have the custody of the children.

Bruno Mueller divorce (too long to copy here) was also granted petitioner annulment of marriage with Janet (Jessie). She committed adultery with George Slee on May 21, 1902 and diverse dates. - From Kalgoorlie Sun December 13, 1903

Graham Divorce - Kalgoorlie July 4, 1904 before Commissioner Roe on Monday July 4th a Decree Absolute was granted in the divorce case of Archibald Graham (petitioner) versus Sophia Graham (respondent).

In which decree nisi was granted about six months ago. Mr L. Watson Breson or Brown, represented the petitioner. - From Kalgoorlie Western Argus July 12, 1904

Sophia Hendrik's excuse for being unfaithful to her husband was that he was too cold to her.

Graham got married again and years afterwards took to his home another sick man who died there. The account of the man's death appeared in the Kalgoorlie Miner of November 6, 1916 thus:-

Funerals The Late Gordon Burnside

The death occurred recently at Westonia of Mr Gordon Burnside, last shift boss on the Edna May Mine. Deceased was a native of Kilrea County Derry, Ireland where it is said his mother a very aged woman still resides.

He was well known in Kalgoorlie. For many years he worked as a machine drill man on Chaffers Mine. During the last twelve years by that company he carried out his duties of shift boss.

Some time ago he was stricken down with miner's phthisis and a lengthy stay in the Wooroloo Sanitarium failed to improve his condition.

He returned to Westonia where he was kindly cared for by Mr and Mrs Archie Graham at whose residence he passed away on October 25, 1916. He was a comparatively young man being about 37 years of age.

The funeral was largely attended and wreaths were sent by many old friends, including Mrs Nicholls and family, Mr and Mrs Ginbey, Mr and Mrs James Lang, Miss French, Mr and Mrs Cussworth, Mr and Mrs Harford, Mr and Mrs Archie Graham, and Miss M. Hudson, Kalgoorlie.

William Pollard

William Pollard was manager of the Main Reef from about April 1905 to October 1905. It was this man who having perceived that the best chute of gold and best stone were trending northward and receding from the Main Shaft. He proposed to the Directors of the company to sink a new shaft two thousand feet deep on the old lease called the Stillwater, a little east of Martin's Battery. He reckoned the new shaft would cost about £25,000. The shareholders got a shock and the spending of such a sum was out of the question. Then it was suggested by the Directors and some shareholders that the sinking of an underlay shaft from the surface to the East Reef would be far cheaper. This proposal proved also unacceptable.

Pollard like Bissenberger was a practical man and popular with the employees. He died at Sandstone either at the end of January or the beginning of February 1911.

William Roberts

Roberts was manager of the Main Reef (or North White Feather as it was called in his time) from about June 28, 1912 to October 1912. He died on November 2, 1912.

The account of his death appeared in the Western Argus of November 12th and is as follows

At Kalgoorlie Government Hospital William Aloysius Roberts dearly beloved husband of Lottie Roberts, eldest son of late John and Ellen Roberts of Scotsdale, Tasmania. Born at County Curragh, North Ireland 1861. He had resided in Kanowna for a number of years and was held in high esteem. At time of his death was filling the position of manager of North White Feather Mine (included the Main Reef) to which he had been promoted a few months previously (from June 28th) from the office of shift boss which he had filled for the preceding six years.

The funeral took place last Monday afternoon and was followed to the Boulder Cemetery by a large number of friends of whom journeyed from Kanowna to pay their last tribute of respect. He took great interest in the Church of England to which he belonged. He held a seat in the School Board management. The Reverend A S. Cracknell officiated at the grave side.

Samuel Willmott

Samuel Charles Willmott was the son of Samuel Willmott an Engine Driver. He was bom at Wood's Point, Victoria on July 17, 1872. He was educated at the local school. At age of about twelve years he entered in the service of the local Post Office as message boy and general assistant with intention of serving his apprenticeship for a permanent employment thereafter. On finding the Post Master an indifferent man who taught him nothing at the end of about nine months he left the Post Office and went back to school for a few months. On leaving the school for good he went to feed the battery of a mine called "Lock's Find". He went to work for another mine called the "Victor South" in which he continued until he left to come to Western Australia, arriving at Kanowna in March 1900. He got employment at the Ballarat mine. Subsequently transferred his service to the Main Reef Mine wherein he remained for many years and later on for a change we find him employed at the Lily Mine. On the demise of Roberts on November 2, 1912 Willmott was appointed (on November 7th) Manager of the Main Reef and Lily Mines which position he retained until these mines and the new shaft were closed down for good.

In December 1927 (after the new shaft was shut down) he went away for a holiday to Perth, returning to Kanowna about the end of January 1928. He stayed until the affairs between the government and the company that had owned those mines was settled or rather after Mr Gourley had completed taking the inventory of the assets of the Main Reef, the Lily and the new shaft on behalf of the Government.

Willmott left Kanowna for good for the coast in his own motor car. In Perth he bought a house for four hundred pounds (£400) in Gowle Street, West Perth, number 45 and there he passed the remaining years of his life. He died on March 11, 1933. Willmott married at Wood's Point, a Miss Martha Davies. Issue of marriage were two sons and two daughters namely; Edward, Samuel, Victoria and Ruth Elizabeth.

Alex Roberts

Main Reef August 4,1900 A roll up was called this morning for the purposes of presenting Mr Alexander Roberts the shift boss with a filled purse of sovereigns. Almost the whole of the men working at the mine turned up and Mr Smith (probably this man's real name was "Harry Schmidt") who was appointed chairman made the presentation with a few chosen words. The recipient suitably responded. Mr Roberts occupied the position of shift boss for about three years.

On August 10th Alex Roberts left today by express for a holiday to the eastern colony. After his holiday Roberts returned to the Goldfields and was appointed shift boss to the Robinson Mine and later on was appointed manager of the "Q.E.D." that is "Quod Erat Demonstrandum". In other respects "Which was to be Demonstrated" he stayed there till it ceased working. In a future chapter we hope to refer to that old mine again.

James Henderson

James Henderson was born November 2, 1865 at (a sea port town) Picton, province of Marlborough, New Zealand. Before coming to West Australia he worked in New South Wales and Victoria. On the Melbourne Wharf as an engine driver. There he met with an accident to one of his feet which he felt the effect of for the rest of his life.

On the Eastern Goldfields he was the last engine driver of both the Lily Australis and the Main Reef Mines. On the 7th December 1927 he brought a cooler to the Author's camp and said, "This is my last day at the Main Reef." On the 13th of same month he called again and brought some copies of the Kalgoorlie Miner. He stayed talking from 3 to 5 o'clock in the afternoon. He said, "I am going away for a holiday to Melbourne by the Trans train." From Melbourne he posted to the author a bundle of Melbourne Herald newspapers. After he returned to West Australia he spent the most of his working years as engine driver on the gold mine Norseman and when he gave up working he retired to live at Kalgoorlie.

We take the account of his obituary from the Kalgoorlie Miner of Monday June 12, 1944 "Octogenarian's sudden death after assisting his son to cut wood and load it into a motor car".

James Henderson (80) widower of Caledonian Bedrooms, Brookman Street, Kalgoorlie dropped dead beside the car yesterday morning. Accompanied by his father William Henderson Able Seaman of the Royal Australian Navy who is spending leave in Kalgoorlie drove out beyond Kanowna yesterday morning for the purpose of getting a load of wood. His father assisted in the work and related a funny tale after the car was loaded Henderson then walked about 15 yards away to pick up some tools and on looking round saw his father lying beside the car. The deceased had suffered from heart trouble for a number of years. The coroner was notified.

The funeral took place on Tuesday June 13, 1944. It started at 2.00pm from Strother's Private Mortuary Chapel for interment in the Presbyterian portion of the Kalgoorlie Cemetery. The cortege consisted of members of the Lodge Golden Feather, the Engine Drivers and Firemen's Union, and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and friends. The Reverend Bernard Morey officiated at the grave. His wife Hannah Annie predeceased him. She died November 12, 1942 and she was privately interned in the Presbyterian portion of the Kalgoorlie Cemetery on November 14, 1942. A. & J. Kyle Funeral Directors, Kalgoorlie.

James Henderson had four (4) sons namely William, James, Cyril and Charles. The latter "Charles" a mere boy died on August 4, 1917 of a gunshot wound accidentally inflicted. He was interred in the Presbyterian portion of the Kanowna new cemetery on Monday August 6, 1917. The funeral started at 3 o'clock p.m. from his parent's residence Mercer Street.

The funeral was largely attended by local residents. Work at the Lily Gold Mine where Mr Henderson was employed as engine driver was suspended and the scholars from the state school followed the hearse to the cemetery.

Edward Gourley

Preface:- Edward Joseph Gourley never was an employee of the Main Reef Gold Mining Company. His name is linked with this mine on account of him being the Inspector of Mines and by being commissioned by the government to make an inventory of the Main Reef assets and superintend the sale of same. During the interval between the inventory and the sale the author was employed under Mr Gourley as a caretaker of the whole plant and buildings.

Of his life from his school days up to 1928 when we first met him we know nothing at all. In this sketch we shall transcribe all articles in which his name appeared in the Kalgoorlie Miner and from the Inspection Book at the Main Reef and a few letters which he wrote to the author.

Main Reef January 29, 1914 I have this day inspected the working faces on the White Feather Main Reef Mine and found same in satisfactory condition. Plating on cage require new rivets, also spiral spring renewed. - E. Gourley Inspector of Mines

Main Reef March 2, 1914 I have this day inspected the White Feather Main Reef workings faces at intermediate level between the No. 2 and No. 3 levels. Robinson and party tributor also at No. 3 stopes over level.

This stope requires filling as soon as possible. Other parts of mine is in a satisfactory condition. - E. Gourley Inspector of Mines

Main Reef March 8, 1915 I have this day inspected the underground working faces on the Main Reef Mine. Robinson and party to timber their stopes over the level. Sanitary pan at No. 2 requires to be cleaned and some disinfectant of some kind to be used in future. - E. Gourley Inspector of Mines

Retirement Of Mines Inspector Gourley Kalgoorlie September 19, 1932 Mr Edward Joseph Gourley Inspector of Mines on these Goldfields since 1914 has retired from the service of the Government because he has reached the retiring age. The officers of the Mines Department in Kalgoorlie assembled on Monday afternoon (September 19th) for the purpose of bidding him farewell and wishing him the best of luck in his future enterprises.

Warden J.E. Geary who occupied the chair spoke of the good qualities of the guest of the occasion. The proof of their appreciation of Mr Gourley lay in the fact of their presence at particular gathering. Mr Gourley had done his duty conscientiously and honestly during the 18 years he had filled one of the Senior Inspectorships. He had received the commendation of his Superiors and brother officers alike. The Warden's remarks were supplemented by Mines Inspector A.W. Winzar and Mr E.E. Brisbane (Ventilation Officer) and Mr G. Moore Inspector of Machinery). The Warden then presented Mr Gourley with a smoker’s outfit in token of the esteem of his fellow officers. The recipient responded in characteristic manner. Mr Gourley shortly proceeded to fill the duties of managership of a mine near Norseman - Kalgoorlie Miner

Letter

Norseman

October 16, 1932

James Balzano Kanowna

Dear Sir

To a line to let you know that having resigned the government service I am now installed as the manager of the Dundas Gold Mining Company and the Norseman Gold Mine.I am getting on alright with every chance of a gold mine in the near future.

I have taken an option on the rock breaker at the battery and if it is not too much trouble I would like you to keep an eye on it for me. I will probably be up to see you before Christmas and it down and away. Hoping you are enjoying good health as this leaves me.

Yours faithfully E. Gourley

Kalgoorlie

July 30, 1933

Dear J. Balzano

Just a few hurried lines to let you know I am well and I trust this will find you also. You may have thought that I have forgotten you but I have had a busy time since I last saw you both in Norseman Mine which I put on the map for the company and then they sacked me. I have since been out at Grant's Patch on the Ora Banda Mines and I have a good chance of making a mine of it if they leave me alone but one can never tell with the Adelaide Sharebrokers. If you don't try to manipulate the share market they have no use for you and I will not do it for have lived too long, to go any other way now. We have often promised that we would take a run out on Sunday to see you but cannot do it for the reasons that I do not leave the mine until Saturday and when I arrive home the mail has to go over to, and my reports to write on Sunday. I have just finished them this evening ready for the air mail.

The family were chatting about you at dinner today and wondered if you had the usual crop of mushrooms this year and they hoped you were standing the cold weather well for we have had some very frosty nights. I live in a tent 10 feet x 12 feet from Monday to Saturday and while it is not like home I make myself comfortable.

The reef I am mining out there is east and west but it is very difficult to follow for we get north and south faults which cut it off and there is no regular indication for to pick it up again it is sometimes north and others south west. However the redeeming feature is that when we get the reef it is rich and I have three shafts down on it to 100 feet. One to 120 feet which is showing a little pyrite at that depth. I have to crush too at Ora Banda State Mill for the only machinery I have is a crude oil Predear winch which is very useful. It will pull from the 100 feet level about 80 tons of ore on a gallon of oil which cost about 1/4 on the mine. I have no car but a 30cwt truck to travel on it so rather rough but is most reliable in all weather. I have another geologist examining the mine at present. The previous one condemned it. But I crushed 155 tons for £4650 since and I have another 300 tons to crush now which will be a lot better. So watch the papers for results next month.

Kind regards

E.J. Gourley 44 Lyall Street KALGOORLIE

The Farewell

Grant's Patch

February 16, 1934

On the evening of Thursday last the employees of Ora Banda Mine (N.L.), Ora Banda Consols and A.M.E. met to say farewell to Mr E.J. Gourley who is retiring from the management of the above mines.

Numerous speakers testified to the regard in which Mr Gourley was held by the men in his charge not only at Grant's Patch but in some instances covering the period of war service and in others extending an acquaintanceship of 30 years. Two notable achievements of his were mentioned, one was that in the whole of his service in the A.I.F. he had never "crimed" a man and the other that in the period of his management of the Ora Banda Mine it had been started, developed and paid for out of the gold won from it in that time. Mr Gourley was presented with a wallet subscribed for by those present. In reply, he thanked the men for the present and for the assistance they had all given him while under his management: referring especially in this instance to Mr Bob West. Songs and recitation were contributed by many present and the evening finished with singing of "Auld Lang Syne".

Commercial Travellers Club (W.A.) Limited 69 and 71 St. George Terrace Perth May 20, 1934

J. Balzano Esq.

Kanowna

Dear Sir

I have been intending to run out and see you from Kalgoorlie for some time but I was never able to manage it. I hope you are keeping in good health as this leaves me.

I am in Perth for the last few days, making arrangements to go up to the northwest to Marble Bar to report on and sample some mines up there chiefly the Nullagine district of conglomerate and a river concession for sluicing for

I was to go by air plane but it is full for the next trip so I leave by boat, the "Centaur" on Tuesday for Port Hedland thence inland about 200 miles by car or truck. I expect to be away at least two months. I am doing the work for a London Mining Corporation for I got very sick of the Adelaide companies who only make use of you to boost shares which I cannot do. I have not seen much of Perth, been too busy on business but it is raining heavily today and so I am confined to the club premises. I do not see any news in the papers about the Kanowna mines so it looks as if there is no revival out there and the options at Bulong are not be gone with. I am told Kalgoorlie is quite good especially the values in Paringa bores. There is a good chance of one mine at Grant's Patch in the Ora Banda Amalgamated leases but they have to find £32,000 before the 1st July. So that it means at least a two shillings call. I sold my mine before shaft and made a fair profit. Little or no money in Perth for mining, in fact the city appears to be very quiet and business men I have spoken to say no money for the people to spend so shops are almost empty. I will try and come out for some mushrooms when I come back.

Yours sincerely E.J. Gourley Address at present unknown.

His Death

On September 12th 1936 at St. John of God Hospital, Kalgoorlie Edward Joseph Gourley dearly beloved husband of Mrs Mary Gourley and loving father of Muriel, aged 69 years interned in the Presbyterian portion of the Kalgoorlie Cemetery on September 13th 1936. A and J. Kyle undertaker.

The Funeral

Mr Edward Joseph Gourley for many, a prominent figure in Kalgoorlie, died at 10 o'clock on Saturday evening at the age of 69 years. The late Mr Gourley was well-known in mining circles, being formerly District Inspector of Mines at Kalgoorlie. Following his retirement from that position some years ago he maintained a very active interest in gold mining in this state.

He was a keen member of the Kalgoorlie Sub-branch of the Returned Soldiers League. His remains were conveyed from A. and J. Kyle's Private Mortuary, Cassidy Street, yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock for interment in the Presbyterian portion of the Kalgoorlie Cemetery and the large following denoted the respect in which the deceased gentleman had been by the community. The Rev. A.J.C. Tebbit conducted an impressive burial service. The pallbearers were:- the Mayor of Kalgoorlie Mr E.E. Brimage, and Messrs R.R. Gibbs (President of the Kalgoorlie Sub-branch of Returned Soldier's League), F. Berthold (Secretary), J. Mitchell and Kerry (members of the

^‘ fSatardayt^aB^gVnerftli^-admitted (jy the /Coldest fjjltabitants/waa the record unplea-, sant drty, ouehswrtiich ill asked theuiselves ' if 1 if e jttas diVi0g/ ''Thi? clouds of dustJWevaljffii¹ were, simply overwhelm-^lng,y&id' tl^streets/gave one the im-f'/yprejsum that tfiefold' hiim-drum days 'of f1'. th^Featll^^hmLJetuni^l, when it das' pos|iblet to^^/”e,the entinfuength of the street, ^nd^e^pdjYiug^thuig^it^^tbe !/•' exception. peri ^ps qf astrayunongreltdll

11* ■ k».m    /I    SnfllP/int

almost as bad as pjentioned.'^ It ia said j//that a 'few individuals endeavoured lo es-r f/ cape jthe,fiend by removing themsetv.es to r' Kalgoorlie by the^fternpdn; train, but

* hcte, they found'tliey*wpre/oUt' of/the

* frying' pan intp - the ■ fire, as .although Kanowna dust is vile, Kalgoorlie dust is viler, inasmuch tbat it is intermingled with coarser particles of ,au ironstone nature, which in coming in-con tact with

t the optics, ate V far*, .t'roiii /agreeable., - '.Much beer and bud'{ld%nagevtwere>'in-f idulged in, in efther-places^'and sundown, j was devon.tedJy~ph%^;^r^hs almost in-; : "variably- these' zephyMlose :their for00 at^ .“that time./ /n^as/hot|tq be however]/ s on ••• Saturday, '/as^fte//migbt’s /dark mantle had fallemrhattersbecatne worse,, as the dust wasinyjsibje,¹ and an invisible . assailant is .more /'to ’be, feared than a c yisiblei;/One,%1^8fiah:ill,wind that blows nobody.. good, and/although Saturday’s sample/wa$/andexceedingly ill one/ the

l .'it. J

James Balzano "on the job" June 27 1901 226

branch, A. Wilson (Senior Vice President of the Boulder Sub-branch of the Returned Soldier's League), Spencer Compton (28th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force) and Dr. B. Moore (Principal of the School of Mines), the late Mr Gourley is survived by a widow and a daughter.

Preface:- In the foregoing pages we have noticed some of the persons who had actually been employed on the Main Reef and thereby they had linked their names with this historic mine.

Apart from this and owing to the fact that the Main Reef was a very high mine in the Kanowna district and situated only a few hundred yards from the townsite anyone standing upon the brace above the main shaft would have obtained the whole prospect of the town and its environs.

A large number of men and women paid a visit to the Main Reef. Of the earliest distinguished personages only three names are available to us: Forrest, Stepney and Hoover. Another large number visited in the author's time of which we shall select some in due course.

Sir John Forrest

Visited the Main Reef on the 25th of March 1899. He and the party who accompanied him with the coach and four horses were photographed by the main shaft showing the first set of the poppet head. At this later hour of night whilst writing this we only can recognise a few of that party of men namely: Sir John, Nat Harper, Thomas Doyle, Charles Moran, Faulkner, Charles Cutbush and Randolf Beech. Sir John Forrest who in after years was raised to the rank of peerage and known as Lord Forrest was the most illustrious of the sons of his native land "Western Australia". Served his country as a Surveyor General, as an explorer, as a Premier from December 29, 1890 to February 14, 1901 and as a Post Master General in the first Federal Parliament.

June 23, 1898 David Syme of the Melbourne Age Journal and Zebina Lane and engineer paid a visit to the Main Reef Mine.

Sir Arthur Stepney

Kanowna January 31, 1904 Sir Arthur C. Stepney arrived here on a flying visit on Friday. The Mayor Mr McCabe and Mr Rees, the latter who resided for many years on the Baronet's Estate in the south of Wales accompanied by the Miner representative. The party drove to the White Feather Main Reef and inspected it. Thence drove to Red Hill and inspected the rich shows owned by Doyle and Fynney, Bailey (Kintore) and Lancaster (the Gentle Polly). The day was too torrid to permit of an extended drive and after driving to the Criterion, Sir Arthur Stepney returned to Kalgoorlie where he will remain for a few days.

Herbert Hoover (left) on a field inspection, Kalgoorlie Goldfields. Circa 1898

The Main Reef Mine as it looked on August 18 1926. 228

Herbert Hoover

Preface We do not know the exact date when Hoover inspected the underground levels and ore faces of the Main Reef and he condemned the mine as a worthless thing for Bewick Moreing and Company to have anything to do with it. Probably Hoover's inspection of the Main Reef took place when the aforesaid firm took up the management of this mine either in the month of March or April 1904.

We have at our disposal two sketches of the career of the famous man both of which appeared in the Kalgoorlie Miner Journal on different dates (August 9, 1917 - June 28, 1920) but originally published in Everybody's Magazine and Melbourne Age also different date.

An interesting sketch of the career of Herbert Clark Hoover at one time a well-known figure in mining circles in this state. Where he made his first big rise is contained in a recent number of Everybody's Magazine. Mr Hoover, prior to the entry of America into the war acted as Food Commissioner in Belgium and did such good work that he has now been requested by the Council of National Defence to take control of the food supply of the United States. He is a mining engineer writes Ernest Poole the author of the sketch.

Born in 1874 in Iowa. His early life marked by independence. He worked his way through the School of Mines at Stanford University and after one year more in Western America he went over to Australia where in four years his rise was so rapid that at the age of 26 he was called by the Chinese Government to take charge of its Bureau of Mines.

He left that position in a year to manage the mining properties of a Belgium Corporation in China and a year later at 28 he was made a partner in a great British mining firm. He had arrived in seven years... long before the war broke out he had become a millionaire and an engineer whose name was known in mining circles all over the world but his work since then for the people of Belgium has given him a fame more wide. His name is a great symbol now of generous deviation and tremendous energy in behalf of the victims of this war. His knowledge of food values and of organising works of relief on a scale hitherto unknown has made the belligerent nations come to him "again and again".

A few points have been omitted from the sketch. In order to maintain himself at the university young Hoover undertook any odd jobs that came his way during the vacations and after graduating he secured employment on the Plymouth Mine on which Mr C.A. Moreing of the firm of Bewick Moreing and Company had previously worked as a mill hand.

After a year on that mine he obtained an engagement with Bewick Moreing and Company and came to this state where he remained about four years. According to reports it was due to the astuteness of Hoover that the firm brought off one or two very profitable mining deals and eventually he became a junior partner in the firm. Later the partnership was dissolved. Mr

Hoover going into business on his own account". - Kalgoorlie Miner August 9, 1917

Who Is Hoover?

"After President Wilson, Mr Hoover is America's best-known citizen. To the rest of the world his name is familiar. His statements receive prominence in every leading newspaper. Hoover and the war seemed to arrive together. Most people know he was Belgium's Relief Commissioner and America's Food Controller. Beyond that surprisingly few people can clearly answer "Who is Hoover?".

Herbert Hoover is a thorough American of the seventh generation. His actions and methods proclaim his Quaker origin. He was reared in an atmosphere of "thee" and "thou". The blood of old and good families runs in his veins. He was bom in Iowa in 1874. One of a family of three. His father died when Herbert was only four. His mother tried to keep her home together and her children round her. The struggle broke her. She died six years after her husband. The home was sold. An orphan at 10, Hoover rotated round among his uncles. When thirteen he was supporting himself by performing odd jobs of all sorts, digging potatoes and hoeing com. When he was fifteen his uncle applied to Iowa Court for a sixty (£60) dollar grant with which Herbert might purchase a scholarship in a business college. He got the grant and the education qualified him for a real estate office.

He still lacked money but not industry and agility. When seventeen he was a candidate for admission to the Pioneer Class of Leland Stanford College. The examiner felt interested in him and made inquires concerning him. He learned that the lad was working as a carpenter for a dollar and a half a day. He was poor but respected in the community for his pluck and his eagerness for education.

Hoover failed in the examination but the examiner was so impressed with his personality that he passed him. On the paper alone he would have been passed out and Stanford College would have lost its most distinguished graduate. Hoover began college with a 40 dollar capital and he was one of 40 men who were working their way through. They lived in their own quarters. Their quarters were abandoned stables. They did their own marketing, washing, bedmaking and cooking. Hoover also took on a laundry agency, collecting laundry bundles wherever he could get them, sending the soiled linen away, delivering it when returned clean and taking his commission out of the proceeds. As a student he was poor in English, strong in mathematics and had no time for athletics. He was conspicuous for diligence rather than brilliance.

On quitting college he worked as a miner with pick and shovel in preparation for his profession as a mining engineer. His first job was with the Arkansas State Geological Survey. While so engaged a Syndicate preparing for operations in Australia visited America seeking "a young man of promise".

Hoover was recommended. So Herbert Hoover came to Australia, which paid him £3,000 a year and he started on his successful career.

In 1897 Hoover was in Western Australia as Chief of Mining Staff of Bewick Moreing and Company, and Manager of Hannan's Brown Hill Mine. The following year he was Manager of Sons of Gwalia and East Murchison Mines. From Australia he passed onto China in the practice of his profession. While there he took part in the defence of Tientsin against the Boxer Rebels. Later he became a junior partner in a famous London mining firm and although he had actually spent one third of his years in London he had also handled big mining concerns in Russia, Burma, Central America and Mexico.

The war came, immediately Herbert Hoover abandoned mines and money making and sought to render what service he could. For three strenuous years he served first in the interests of thousands of Americans stranded in Europe when the war began then as Chairman of the Commission for Relief of Belgium and finally as Food Administrator to the United Nations, and in every capacity he won gratitude and admiration for ingenuity in method efficiency in result but Herbert Hoover's personality cannot be fully understood apart from Herbert Hoover's wife.

She is not less noteworthy. Lou Henry Hoover first met her husband at Leland Stanford College. They were keen on the same subjects. Their courting was conducted in terms of geology and mineralogy. At an early stage Lou Henry fell out with her college friends over Hoover. The members of a girl's society did not object to a man who was working his way through college but they drew the line at him delivering laundry bundles. They said so to Miss Henry who instantly resigned in resentment of such snobbery. Only last year the society from which she resigned was in financial difficulty. It wrote to Mrs Hoover soliciting a contribution. It got one. The cheque it received was signed Herbert Hoover. The Hoover - Henry wedding took place when the bridegroom returned from Australia. Their home life has been happy and simple. Through her strength of character and scholarly hands Mrs Hoover does her own cooking and homework.

Her attainments are worthy of her husband. Evenings for 20 years have been spent in study rather than in social activity. The results of the study are substantial, together husband and wife translated Agricola's De Re Metallica, the standard mining treatise of the middle ages. It is a full and complete translation with all the technical terms resolved in their modem equivalents. Experts recognise the translation as a valued work of art worthy of a place in the world's renowned libraries. A place it has attained despite the modesty of its compilers. To Mr and Mrs Hoover it was a labour of love executed in night hours, weekends and holidays. Five years hard work was required. A degree to each from the Alma Mater was the reward.

With her husband Mrs Hoover was in the thick of the Boxer rebellion. By organising the Chinese into sanitary corps and teaching them how to care for their babies she averted an epidemic in the city of Tientsin. When bombardment was flattening the houses she was among the first to care for the wounded.

There are two Hoover boys aged thirteen and seventeen and wherever Father's profession takes him the family go. They have been reared in public schools, every cent they spent they first earned. They too have the specific tastes of their parents and their mother is their best chum. Frequently the family takes to the woods for a week in their old clothes. They tramp far into the west, striking camp at night and doing their cooking. Mrs Hoover is a handsome woman with no trace about her of the blue stockings though she is an excellent public speaker and is specially devoted to the higher educations of women.

The last six years have driven her onto high social altitudes but she never abandons her unconventional attitude. She always dresses tastefully but with never a scrap of jewellery save her plain wedding ring, even when she entertains distinguished company. She carves the roast herself and the plates are handed round. Her hospitality is lavishly homely.

In all these respects Mrs Hoover harmonises with her husband whose recent prominence does not in the slightest measure his private character. He is a man destitute of conventionals. He reveals his opinion of fashion by wearing in all seasons suits of the same model and cloth which he orders two or three at a time. He is a man of sparse speech and direct action. There has been frequent mention of Hoover's name as President but is not an aspirant and mainly because his wife does not want him (there) personally. She prefers the life of study, and simply the life of that is not at all, her real reason is her boys. She frankly says she fears that the automatic publicity of their father's probable presidency might be prejudicial to their still undeveloped natures. She prefers to rear her boys at the private family fireside.

So her husband continues his useful work, disdainful of the limelight, able, humble and unselfish. He represents a type of which America with all alleged materialism is curiously productive. In most countries the politicians are becoming discredited. A new class of statesman is being demanded. It is safe to say that the type most likely to find favour has an ideal representative in Herbert Hoover". Melbourne Age From the Kalgoorlie Miner Monday June 28, 1920

[Editor's Note Eight years after the above article was written, Herbert Hoover was elected as the 31st President of the United States of America.

Further local Hoover references are:-" Daughters of Midas” by Norma King "So I Headed West" by W.G. Manners "My Elusive Career" by Ron Manners]

The Story Of Bissenberger Gully

The Bissenberger Alluvial Gully is situated almost equidistant between the Main Reef, Main Shaft and the Lily Australis Main Shaft. It runs east west. At the head of which there is a kind of valley. At the south rises Mount Mangini and at the north Mount Pulvereay and Mount Tray. On the east for a distance of about 150 yards the gully has been worked for about 20 yards wide. After that it widens out into a large patch, all "cement". The narrowest part of the gully is where the Main Reef Line crosses it. (On the south side rise is Condenser Hill and on the north the mullock dump of the Underlay Shaft.) The barren reef outcrops just there.

Bissenberger and his associate Hoaley specked the first gold here in 1893, all on the surface. The only digger we know by name who pegged a claim here early in 1894 was William Weir better known as "Maori Bill". The digging was shallow. No indications of anyone ever sinking a deep hole in this gully, but the author (about 32 years after Bissenberger pegged out his four leases) decided to prove what prospect lay underneath the cement. Just at the junction of the narrow part of the gully and where it widened into a large patch, I started to sink not a pothole but what the diggers call a "paddock". Its dimension at top was 30 feet x 30 feet (it contracted going down). It sloped down to the bottom 21 feet. In gold the paddock yielded a small quantity and geologically it revealed the vent (one of them) whence the cement was thrown up when in a liquid state.

Hydrothermal Spring

The detail of sinking on this alluvial block of ground is as follows:- the first layer consisted of about three feet of old tailings from which the early diggers got their gold; the second layer of solid cement six inches thick; the third layer of rubbly cement six inches thick carrying gold; the fourth layer consisted of porphyry two feet thick; the fifth layer rubbly cement with trace of gold six inches thick; the sixth layer black cement flag of flinty nature six inches thick; seventh layer porphyry three feet thick; the eighth layer of rubbly formation with fragments of porphyry with trace of gold three feet thick; ninth, the main bottom had a layer of grey sand about two inches thick carrying a little gold. This layer had a thin hard crust like a flag cement.

Owing to poor health it took the author twelve months to reach the bottom. During that time I built eight wall like terraces to hold up the mullock as I broke it and shovelled it up. The paddock was a little over fifteen feet thick in the centre, that is from the surface to where it bottomed.

After I had cleaned up the bottom and extracted (by dry-blowing) from the grey sand what gold it contained the result was disappointing for I expected to find a layer deposit at the bottom. It being past noon in the month of September I sat down for an hour or so contemplating with mingled feeling (the unfulfilled expectation) and admiration of the shape of that "hollow". It resembled the "hulk of a ship" twelve feet long and two feet wide, at the bottom its sides were sloping for twenty feet or so. Quite smooth all over (on all sides).

It was quite apparent that the hollow had never been a "gnamma hole" but beyond doubt the seat of a "hydrothermal spring" whence the cement (with gold in solution) had been thrown up from the depth of the earth. If not in a state of fluid it was at least in the form of sludge.

It need not be a long stretch of imagination to understand the fact that this spring, in its active period had a vent right along the bottom trending north and south through which the aforesaid cement was forced up. The vent is now blocked with a little seam of ironstone about an inch and a half thick.

The huge gold bearing cement of the Blue Spur, New Zealand of which we have already noticed in Chapter XIII page 77 [Refer Appendix 1. Ed] of this work beyond doubt was of similar nature as the spring in Bissenberger Gully and the Kanowna Golden Cement at the north of the Main Reef. Not tiny as these but the Blue Spur once was an hydrothermal volcano of great magnitude. The same mighty force that threw up and filled the cavity with gold bearing cement also sealed the vent at the bottom.

Corroboree And Fights

On the very spot where the author discovered the ancient seat of the hydrothermal spring in Bissenberger Gully, in the month of April 1896 a big mob of Aborigines met thereon for the purposes of conference and corroboree. They also enlivened the occasion with fights (one of which was over a woman). The following account is from the Kalgoorlie Miner of April 29th (1896):-

Kanowna April 27, 1896 - (From the Correspondent) During the week there has been a meeting here of various tribes of blacks. There being quite three hundred (300) of all ages of both sexes - including visitors from Pendennie and the 90 Mile. They have engaged in frequent corroboree as well as fights; at daylight this morning a Pendennie native named Jimmy drove a spear into the heart of a Kumalpi black named Billy. Death resulting about immediately. The black Jimmy immediately left for fresh scenes and pastures new, is an old offender. 13 months ago he was in chains here for threatening to spear a digger at the cement. He then escaped by sawing through the chain on which he was handcuffed. There were several blacks injured in the fights, some had broken shins, others had spears driven right through their thighs and some through the fleshy part of their arms. During the afternoon the police collected the spears, numbering some hundreds.

May 1st - Inquires were made and it was elicited that one of the woman originally of the Kumalpi tribe had been taken away for Jimmy of the Pendennie tribe. This resulted in the Kumalpi and the Coolgardie blacks on one side, and the 90 Mile and the Pendennie on the other side. It was stated that Billy was the aggressor. He threw a spear at Jimmy and hit him on the leg and Jimmy threw it back at Billy with the result that it killed him.

Doctor Brown said the spear had entered the chest between the third and fourth ribs and had pierced the lung and penetrated the right pericardium. Death must have been almost instantaneous. The jury retired for about five minutes and brought in a verdict of justifiable homicide.

The author who was camping on the Nemesis Lease in 1896 visited the scene of the affray, about midday. It was then deserted but the corpse of the slain black was still there, covered with a dirty blanket. Although his friends had buried him in a sitting posture into a grave of the shape of a funnel and covered it with sticks, then bushes, lumps of cement and tailings (left by the diggers) but the police had ordered those concerned in the burial to exhume the body. We had no foot rule to make a measurement. Roughly the grave had been dug out about four feet deep, about two feet wide at the bottom and about six feet in circumference on top.

Some Residents

Harry Langenbach

About 30 yards or so west of the Kanowna Main Reef Line and about 60 yards or so north east of the deep underlay shaft at head of the Bissenberger Gully was situated the house of a very decent man named Heinrich (Harry) Langenbach who followed the occupation of a miner. He worked at Lily and other mines.

In 1906 he was still residing there but some years later he was conducting a greengrocer shop in Isabella Street (west) on Lot Number 24. He died of phthisis in the Coolgardie Sanatorium January 6th 1914. Langenbach was bom October 16th 1864 at Dortmund Westphalia Germany. He was buried in the Anglican section of the cemetery in Coolgardie.

His widow (named Pauline) with her three children; two girls, Alma and Lena, and a little boy named Harry struggled with the business until they could no longer make a living. She closed the shop, sold eveiything and left Kanowna in 1918.

The End of the "Original" Kanowna

[Editor's Note:

Balzano wrote with great sorrow and in great detail of the eventual "dismantling of the Main Reef' (not reproduced in this book).

He became the official caretaker for Kanowna and maintained a detailed inventory of every single item existing.

These items he allowed to be removed during 1911-1932, upon written authorisation being presented to him.

From reading his detailed log book of each item's removal it is as though another part of his soul was being removed.

His true feelings are summarised in his diary entry titled; a Metaphor.]

A Metaphor

Even the disappearance of an inanimate object, a tree, a rock, a building and of the rest which had shown an appreciable sight to an individual leaves he or she with some vague feelings, (if not a regret) at least for a little while.

As for the author who had seen the plant and buildings intact in former years and when in after-time was present and beheld from start to finish the dismantling of everything saleable by the Government.

In flight of his fancy a metaphor sprung upon the scene which animalised the whole Main Reef assets from inanimate things into an abnormal big ox upon which pounced a flock of birds of prey (the buyers) and dismembered the large carcass. An enormous sombre vulture. (Silverthome's Foundry). It engorged 50 tons less one quarter (of scrap irons).

Louis Annert

Louis Herman Annert's house was situated right in the upper part of the gully (south side), whose site is very clear. There is left portions of the brick-floor and useless lumber lying about the spot. Annert followed the occupation of a miner at Main Reef. He was employed as a pitman, at least he was employed in 1906. We have no date when Langenbach and Annert built and removed their houses from this locality.

Annert died in Kalgoorlie. His funeral took place on Monday May 8, 1916. It left his residence No. 64 Brisbane Street, Brown Hill at 3.30pm for the portion of the Church of England at Kalgoorlie Cemetery. A. and J. Kyle undertakers. The funeral was attended by members of the United Ancient Order of Druids and the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, Kalgoorlie Branch. The Reverend Eldershaw assisted by the Lodge Chaplain (Mr J. Cunningham) officiated at the graveside.

Mark Bunker

In the month of March 1931, a prospector named Mark King Bunker (with another man as a mate named Leslie Truman) put up a camp just on the spot where Annert's house stood in former years and he sank an underlay sixty feet deep at the head of the Bissenberger Gully on the Main Reef Line near on the south side of the old deep underlay shaft and where the reef outcrop. He raised a parcel of 15 tons of ore and crushed it on the 16th July at Hunt Brothers Battery Kalgoorlie. It only yielded one ounce and 19 pennyweights of gold.

Truman left and a young man named Clarence Wilson with his young wife Jessie joined Bunker. They worked in the same shaft for nearly two months without any success. On the 16th September Wilson pulled down his camp which stood near south side of Bunker and cleared out of Bissenberger Gully. Likewise seven days afterwards Bunker pulled down his camp and cleared out of Kanowna. Bunker deserved better luck, he had toiled very hard in that shaft.

Lake Darlot Diggings And Prospectors - 1895

(Written in 1941 by James Balzano, from his 1896-99 diary notes)

The Lake Darlot diggings are situated in the east of the Murchison Goldfields 300 miles east of Cue and a little less than 300 miles north of Coolgardie. The contour of this place is formed of gentle rising hills, gullies and flats, granite rocks and iron blows are about it. The highest landmark is an isolated range mostly composed of ironstone. It runs about east-west and two or three miles long and about 100 feet high. (This measurement is purely guess work, not quite correct.) The elements have in past ages undermined it a great deal and hewn some little caves on it, on the north side slopes. The south is steep, from whose top Lake Darlot can be seen at a distance. The vegetation is pretty stunted, among which are Mulga, Sandalwood and native thorns and scrubs. The bulk of the diggings are at the western side of this range and a small portion near the base of it. It being a shallow field from six inches to several feet in depth.

The gold was extracted from the ground by means of diggers' dishes, sieves, shakers and dryblowers but a large quantity was specked on the surface. A man nick-named "Bendigo" picked up two nuggets close by a granite rock 122 ozs. The spot was rushed. Dry-blowers around it only raised a few fly specks. It was surmised that the natives had carried them there as play things.

Horsemen Gully is said to have yielded a lot of big gold. It ran between two little ironstone hills - Scorpion Patch and Swampers Gully, so other gullies and patches were good.

The Prospectors Of Lake Darlot The first prospectors to discover gold at Lake Darlot were three namely:- Parkes, Lockhart and Rogers. The discovery took place July 28, 1894. They struck rich gold in some quartz veins. I don't known how much they got. Sometime later another party of three prospectors named Jim Cable, Bill Jenner and Jack Pickering, were camping at Granite Soak and were attacked by the blacks. Jenner received a spear wound on the ribs over the heart. He got over it in about three days. Jim Cable got a spear wound right through the thigh which caused him much suffering and great discomfort. This party were the first to discover alluvial gold at Lake Darlot on the "Scorpion Patch". Of course they did not sink holes to get it. (They might have afterwards.) They specked it: it being a virgin field, the surface of the ground was fairly strewn with gold. Cable had to lay a month in the camp. During that time he crawled on his hands and knees and managed to speck five ounces of gold around the tent. His two mates had the pleasant duty of gathering the great bulk. It appears that these two parties managed to keep the secret of their find till about January or February 1895. It is recorded the rush took place in the month of March of the said year. It was estimated that about 2000 men flocked to it. Among them were Nat Edwards, Bill Frost and Bob Bonner. These three found the reef which they named the Lass O'Gowrie. It is said from which they dug out 1500 ozs of gold.

P.S. Cable and Jenner were speared by the blacks about Xmas 1894.

Some Events And Scenes I was one of the very latest to go to the Lake Darlot Rush and therefore many of the little happenings incidental to a gold rush with a big crowd of men were missed by me. I left Coolgardie by camel team on May 29, 1895 and arrived on June 24th and by stress of circumstance I left for good on the 4th of August. Thus my stay amounted to about 44 days. From that brief sojourn I make some excerpt to be handed down to posterity, for what they are worth. These items are purely historic, buttressed with dates and many of them even with the hours of the day.

June 24th 1895 After being on the track for 27 days we at last arrived at the Lake Darlot diggings at 9.50 o'clock this morning and here the cargo was taken off the camel's back. George Collins pitched his tent and started to sell the goods. He is selling the flour 50 lb bag at £2.10 (it is £3 in at Mullaly and Medlicott's Store and at Cottman and Co. Store), oatmeal 7 lb bag 7/6, sugar 1/3 per lb, butter 3/- (but 5/- at the stores) meat 1/8 per tin, Nestle's milk 1/8 per tin, jam 3/6 per tin, tobacco 8/ per lb and so on. There is fresh beef on the field. They are selling it at 1/- per lb. No mutton, beef only. They sell their water at 6d per gallon. I pitched my tent almost in the middle of the workings about 100 yards from Cottman and Co. Store and about 400 yards from the range. Collins pitched his big store tent close to me.

June 27th A horse team arrived from Cue with boots, clothes, candles and salt, owing to a salt famine on the field there was a rush for it. The teamster sold it at 2/6^ per lb but I only managed to secure 1/2 lb for 1/3^ also a cyclist arrived today from Coolgardie and has brought the news of the Lake Cowan Rush, 80 miles from Coolgardie. He says a 1000 oz slug has been picked up there.

P.S. I have been told that the teamster sold out of his salt. He went to gather a lot of salt on the Lake Darlot bed and sold it as genuine salt.

July 1st A man from Cue named Youngman arrived last Saturday (June 29th) and he put up a shanty. He is selling grog. Last night two men got drunk at his shanty. At first there was a prelude of bad language and then blow upon blow followed it. Being a calm night, the thudding from their blows seemed to me like if they were fighting quite close to my tent. They spoiled my sleep.

July 4th A man working below me got an 11 oz and 9 dwts slug today.

July 7th (Sunday) They had a "roll up" this afternoon at Medlicott's Store. A thief robbed a young man's camp last evening of tucker and a revolver. He blamed a man nicknamed Cockney for the theft. The crowd appointed a committee and searched the suspected's camp. They found none of the stolen goods so they pronounced the man innocent.

July 9th Last night there were several men drunk at the Mullaly and Medlicott Store. I could hear them talking. I got up at 2.55am for two or three minutes. It being a bit chilly but a lovely moonlight night (full moon). George Collins and a big crowd of men left for Coolgardie today.

July 15th At 10.30am three wagons with horses arrived here today from Cue. They tell me that they have been nearly three months on the road (300 miles) on account of 10 of their horses dying on the way. They are selling the flour at £3 per 50 lbs bag. I bought 3 lbs rice off them 3/9^and a tin jam 1/6^. George Taylor's camels team arrived this evening from the Southern Cross. They tell me that they have been three weeks on the track (300 miles). They sold the flour at £2.10 per 50 lb bag. They could have sold a lot more if they had it. This team consists of ten camels and 3 or 4 little ones.

July 18th I saw a chap this afternoon pushing a wheelbarrow to the new rush at Mount Pascoe.

July 19th A team of 12 camels from Coolgardie arrived at 12.30pm laden with provisions. At 3.00pm I bought off them one lb of compressed vegetable 2/6, one lb of grounded potatoes 2/- and one lb cheese 2/-.

Sunday July 28th Two drays arrived last night from Cue. They had been on the road for some time. I bought from them two lbs rice 2/6, half lb salt 1/3, two lbs oatmeal 2/- and three candles 1/-. In the afternoon I went to the two funerals of Bishop and Elver. After supper I went to the Roll-Up.

The Roll Up At about 7.15pm I was aroused by the loud sound of a tocsin. Somebody beating with a stick rapidly on the back of a digger's dish and cried twice "Roll up, roll up". I went over to see what was about. Outside Mullaly and Medlicott's Store lay a big blazing fire surrounded by a middling big crowd of men. Here I arrived. A chairman was proposed and seconded. Presently a young man (I think his name was Jimmy Reid not quite sure of it) stepped in the ring and said:- "Well boys the reason of this roll up is this:- Here is a sick man named Ned Wilson. He is sick and destituted of money and tucker. It is better for us to make a collection and send him to the Cue Hospital. There is a team going tomorrow and they are taking him free. What we gather is to buy some tucker for him. This said, then they passed the hat around and emptied it into a digger's dish. The result amounted to £8.8.6. then a committee of seven was formed to attend to the departure of Wilson. The committee men were these Messrs Mullaly, Medlicott, Reid, Pope, Bonner, Trevenna and Oliver.

P.S. Wilson was working a shaker in Horsemen Gully. He was not seen for a day or two. Someone went to his tent and found him ill and without food.

July 29th A poor old man told me a thrilling story of his hardship on this field. He is trying his luck with a sieve he said "I cannot get any gold. Very little of it. I tried hard to get some tucker yesterday. I am bad in my head every night, a kind of giddiness".

July 31, 1895 As my provision and money are getting to the bedrock and I have not the slightest prospect of getting it replenished although I have been working hard and long hours since I arrived here I failed even to strike a few dwts, let alone a few ounces. I can only get a few fine colours of gold. If I stay on this field much longer I surely shall get into a very sore plight. So I have decided to clear out from here and try my luck on the Pendennie Field discovered lately, which is 170 miles distant. The only way to carry my outfit is to make a wheelbarrow.

Lake Darlot

I visited this lake on Sunday July 14, 1895 and my impression of it is nearly 46 years old. Herein I give an excerpt for all what it is worth. The eastern side of Lake Darlot is about seven miles from the diggings and the western side 10 miles (more-or-less). It runs north-south. The spot where I reached appeared to me to be the south end. There is a big basin three miles (or so) in circumference, quite dry and pretty well covered with salt. There are some islets on this part of the lake on which grows Mulga, Sandalwood and scrubs and a profusion of immortal pink and white hue which made a beautiful scene. These wild flowers are also called Everlastings. At the edge and even inside the lake grows some very beautiful lake scrub bearing a kind of berry. About the southern end stands a sandhill, roughly 20 feet or 30 feet high on the south top of which I rested from 1.40pm to 2.00pm.

P.S. I don't know after who this lake was named but on or about the beginning of March 1895 a vessel called the Vixen sank in the Swan River. Amongst those drowned was a Mr Darlot. It was either named after him or after a relative of his.

The Soak On returning from the lake this afternoon (July 14, 1895) I came (at 5.00pm) to the huge granite outcrop which is situated five miles (or so) about west of the diggings. They lay about north-south, about a quarter of a mile long and roughly about 60 feet or 70 feet high. It was indeed a little geological feast to my eyes to see those granite rocks. At the west there is another broken chain of granite which the two outcrops make into two water sheds and it is between these two outcrops, the soak that supplies the Darlot diggings with water, which is sold at 6d per gallon. I noticed two holes, the first is 10 feet or 12 feet deep and about 5x2 feet. It has about two feet of water. The other is about the same depth and dimension. It has about a foot of water. I went down in this one and had a drink. Nice, sweet water. The ground between rocks is formed of soil and clay and the surface of the ground between the lake is diggings, strewn with quartz and ironstone.

Deaths At Lake Darlot

The sanitary condition at the Lake Darlot diggings before my arrival and even so when I left was in a most deplorable state. It is to be imagined and not described. It was through this state of affairs and coupled with hardship and lack of proper and sufficient nourishment among many of the diggers that sickness and Typhoid Fever made its appearance on the field. Two deaths occurred on July 27th (Messrs Bishop and Elver) and I attended both fimerals the next day. The following are those who died up to August 4th 1895.

James Hilder Died at head of Horsemen Gully May 2, 1895 aged about 28 years (died of fever). Buried to the lower end, same gully. Charles Medlicott read the fimeral service. A rude fence was erected around the grave consisting of four forks and four rails (of wood).

Samuel Carson Died May 14, 1895 aged about 45 years and buried about 28 yards east of the Cue Road and about 130 yards west of Hilder's grave. Fenced also with four wooden forks and nails. Cause of his death unknown.

P.S. There are four natural holes near this grave, 3 at the west, one at the east.

W. Barker Died May 29, 1895 aged about 25 years. Buried 13 yards from Hilder's grave. Cause of death unknown. The grave is likewise marked with four forks and four rails in line with Hilder's grave.

H. Williams Died May 31, 1895. No age stated. Cause of death unknown. Buried 9 yards from Barker (in line).

Charles Beallie [Probably "Beattie"] Died June 4, 1895 aged 39 years. Cause of death unknown. Buried 8 yards from Williams. Grave in line. The grave is marked with four forks and four rails. The mound is two feet high lined around with diorite rocks and ironstone nodules on top of the mound.

The last four graves are almost in line and situated on flat ground with a few scrubs about them and distance half a mile or so from the Coolgardie Road and a mile or so from my tent.

Funeral Of George Bishop

George Bishop who had been working near me in Swamper Gully with another man named Frank Fagan. He died yesterday July 27, 1895 aged 36 years of inflammation of the bowels. He was a native of South Australia. He travelled with a camel team from Coolgardie to the Lake Darlot Rush in company with Louis Ruiden and Tom Hester, and he found a 25 ounce nugget of gold in Horsemen Gully. He went to the Mount Black Rush and suffered great hardship. I had no occasion to talk to him, only I said good morning to him a couple of times while I was working near him. Yesterday he asked his mate Frank Fagan to lift him up off his bough bed on the ground. He looked out from the door of his tent for a minute or two then he said "Lay me down Frank", ere he touched the bed and said "Well boys, goodbye all" and he expired at about 3.00pm. He caught a bad cold while on the wild goose chase to the Mount Black Rush, which he could never shake off. For two days before he died, he passed nothing through so Tom Hester made a laxative drink for him consisting of whisky, butter and a teaspoon pepper. Next day he said to Hester, "My word Tom, you are a rough doctor". He intended to give him another dose but he was too late and death gave the poor fellow a better one. He was buried next day, Sunday July 28, 1895. Tom Hester and Jerry Donovan made the coffin out of meat and jam boxes, nailed on three Mulga saplings as a main support to the bottom. As both men had a very meagre idea of making it, after they finished it, they discovered that the coffin was too large and almost big enough for two bodies so they pulled it to pieces and made it smaller.

The funeral started from Swamper Gully at 3.15pm in the following order:- at the head marched an elderly digger holding aloft a long handled shovel resting on his left shoulder. Behind came the handcart with the coffin drawn by six men: John Kirwan, better known as "Liverpool Jack" being the leader in the shafts, with a rope across his chest and a man at each side with a rope and a man at each side of the cart, another behind pushing. At the rear followed a large number of diggers between 70 to 80 of them. Among which being a man wheeling a bicycle. The funeral made indeed an impressive scene. It reached the burial place at 3.35pm and at 3.37pm the remains were lowered down in its grave of cement formation and about ten yards west of Carson's grave. Owing to the deceased being a Protestant and a reformed ritual not been procurable on the field a Roman Catholic digger made available the breviary of his church and a young man read an extract from the litany of the dead and a short prayer. He concluded the service by saying twice Amen, Amen. It was then 3.40pm and here the elderly man started to fill in the grave. The crowd began to leave.

Funeral Of Robert Elver

Robert Elver a native of Queensland, he went to the Mount Black Rush. He caught a cold and has been ailing for a good few weeks. The cold developed into fever and he got bound up for about a week and finally died last night at 11.00pm July 27, 1895 aged 31 years in a tent about 200 yards below my camp. He has a brother and a friend here to mourn him. He was buried today Sunday July 28, 1895. They were too long making the coffin of meat boxes. At 4.55pm the brother and friend placed the body in the coffin and another chap nailed the lid. I helped to put the coffin on the dray on which a chestnut horse was harnessed. The funeral started at 5.00pm. I arrived at the burial ground at 5.13pm before they lowered the coffin in the grave. Deceased's friend read from Paul's first Epistle to the Corinthians the whole of Chapter 15. He finished reading at 5.20pm and they lowered down the coffin. Besides the mourners we were 13 of us around the grave. We lingered for a while till they filled it and at 5.35pm it was all over. I was one of the last to leave the scene. The sun had already sunk beyond the westering rim. A cloud in the west had by now changed from red to black. The shade of night was now taking the place of the twilight. I chanced to look back from a fair distance through an opening of the Mulga and saw that the two mourners were still standing by themselves, by the silent grave.

Elver was buried in a white cement grave about 3 yards from Carson and about 12 yards (north) of Bishop. The mound is about two feet high, all of broken cement.

The Mount Black Rush

It was on June 13, 1895 whilst on my way to the Lake Darlot Diggings that I first heard about a new rush that had taken place to a locality called Mount Black and all who went there were diggers from the Lake Darlot diggings. By meeting a bank of diggers at the Granite Creek Soak about a 190 miles from Coolgardie. They were coming back from the Lake Darlot rush and some of them had been on the way to Mount Black but they soon suspected that the new find was a mere phantom and they had turned back because no one had the slightest idea of the actual locality of the new find. Whether it was near the Mount itself or whether it was far beyond it. Neither any one had the slightest idea whether any prospectors were getting gold there at all.

After I landed at the Lake Darlot Diggings on June 24, 1895 I gained much first hand information about that most disastrous Mount Black Rush both from those who actually went to the rush and from those who stayed behind. I only made a few notes at the time and left the great bulk of the story in abeyance with the intention of writing it down very soon. Which I never did. However from those few notes and from all what I can remember I am enabled to embody in this brief sketch of that memorable and futile gold rush.

It originated thus:- About the third week in May a rumour sprung up on the Lake Darlot diggings that a new find had been located some distance from this mining centre but no one could guess the distance and its whereabouts. It finally culminated on or about the beginning of June 1895 when a party of horsemen came in for provisions and they refused to give any information whence they came and whether they were going naturally. They were suspected that these were the party getting gold somewhere. It so happened that a young digger accosted one of the horsemen and asked him straight "Where is the rush?" "At Mount Black" was his prompt reply. "Whereabouts is that?" "About a 140 miles east from here." "Are they getting much gold?" "Yes, nuggets as big as my fist."

This misleading and jocular information pumped into the head of the young man brought a train of mischief. He really believed that he had obtained the secret of a new find. He hurriedly formed a small party of his closest friends and dashed eastward that very afternoon. How many were in the party and how they were equipped and how a far they travelled that afternoon till the shades of nights impeded their progress, I have no idea. I am writing this mainly gold rush episode 46 years (less about 25 days) since it happened and I have forgotten a lot of what I was told. The news of the departure of the first party spread about the Darlot diggings like a wild fire and it was welcomed among those who were getting very little gold and many getting next to nothing and even many of those who were getting a few dwts a day they thought could get far more gold at the Mount Black so they threw up their claims and off they went and above all it was a heaven sent news to the storekeepers. More so to Charles Medlicott who took the advantage of the men going to the rush and charged high prices for their goods. During the remaining hours of daylight of that day and even after sunset a great number of men struck camp and rushed eastward hoping to overtake the first party, if per chance they camped for the night, their blazing fire would guide them and follow their tracks next day but many went astray. The final stampede took place early next day. The very last to go was a party with camels. They left one June 12th.

It was computed that over a 1000 men went to the Mount Black Rush (all from the Darlot Field) across a trackless country with no one to guide them. Some had horses, others had camels. These were in minority. A fair number went with wheelbarrows, some with two and three men, others pushed it alone, some had handbarrows, all laden to the full with provisions, tools and waterbags, but the majority who could not spare the time to make a wheelbarrow went on carrying on their back an enormous load of provisions, tools and waterbags. Some carried two waterbags, one in each hand. This proved very inconvenient indeed to have the two hands so engaged. But this great majority so poorly equipped they expected travelling storekeepers. Camels and horse teams would be on their heels without delay but none attempted to follow them and nor any relief party went out after them. Of  course the very first party to reach what they thought was Mount Black as indicated by the distance of 140 miles from the Darlot diggings were those on horses and camels' backs. They scoured the countiy around for many miles and they failed to find the slightest indicator of men and horse tracks of recent time and no sign of any one who had been prospecting there recently. Moreover they found the country of non-auriferous nature and they assured themselves the more by camping on the top of the Mount at night and scanned the country for many miles around. They failed to descry the slightest sign of any fire and nor any shout from a human voice. They were now disillusioned that the report about gold being found in that locality was purely a hoax. The upas fruit of a sportive mind.

Most of those provided with horses and camels had no inducement to return to Darlot. They made their way towards Cue, others towards Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie. When the great crowd of those with barrows and on foot arrived, they found out that there was no such thing as a new rush. They were sadly disappointed. They had suffered great hardship going out to the rush and to retrace their steps to Lake Darlot, the ordeal was tenfold greater. The sufferings of those befooted diggers can be favourably compared to those gone through by Edward John Eyre trudging wearily along the great Australian Bight in 1841 and of many other Australian explorers.

Among those with whom I had a conversation when they returned was one who went by the nickname of "Ballarat". He was one of those who pushed a wheelbarrow from Darlot to Mount Black and back. He described the country traversed by himself as sandhills, spinifex and scrubs.

I will now transcribe a few of the notes f wrote down at that time:-

June 25th A rumour of a new gold find spread here about the beginning of this month. In consequence it made a great stir and over 1000 men left for Mount Black, 140 miles east from here. Hundreds of them have wandered in the bush for the last three weeks. They could not find it. It is now said that the new gold find is not at the Mount Black but somewhere else. Some of the diggers returned the day before yesterday. A young man returned yesterday. He lost all what he had, tucker and swag. About 60 men returned this afternoon greatly disappointed. The camel teams or rather the party that went out on the 12th of this month, they could not find the Mount Black Rush so they are going down to Coolgardie.

June 26th Some diggers came in today from the Mount Black Rush. Some them very destituted they got lost in the bush with not a bit of tucker. Also a man nicknamed Ballarat pushing a wheelbarrow. He arrived here and said Mount Black was nothing but sandhills, spinifex and scrubs.

June 27th A few more diggers arrived today from Mount Black.

June 29th A big batch of diggers and a camel team came in today from Mt. Black.

July 1st Some more diggers arrived today from Mount Black.

July 3rd Some diggers arrived today from Mount Black.

July 5th Some more men arrived today from Mt. Black greatly destituted.

July 17th I heard today that another chap arrived last night from the Mount Black Rush and that there are some more to come yet.

Woodarra Townsite

The Lake Darlot diggings were declared a townsite on January 14, 1898 and the official name given was Woodarra. Situated on Lat. 27.S.56 - Long. 121.E.18. It lies approximately 300 miles north of Coolgardie, about 300 miles east of Cue and 50 miles east of Lawlers. Two hotels were built, the first about 1897 and two principal stores. About three miles from the townsite the Government erected a public battery of ten stamps. Five years or so after the rush (of the year 1895) it had a population of about 116.

The Mystery Of The Grave Of Henry Petersen

(Written in 1941 by James Balzano, from his 1896-97 diary notes)

After having done a fair amount of unprofitable toil and tramping for several hundreds of miles on the Eastern Goldfields over 400 of which I pushed a wobbling wheelbarrow from Lake Darlot to the White Feather, not as the crow flies but perforce deviously through necessity. I felt fairly languid and a notion got into my head that a sniff of "sea breeze" would fix me up. Not being blessed with much "boodle" to carry me a little beyond Mount Elisa I decided to foot the distance of about 246 miles to Esperance via Norseman and Dundas. This mileage it was so reckoned in the early days of the Goldfields. Accordingly I started from Coolgardie all alone with a 50 lb Waltzing Matilda on my back. I found the track between Coolgardie and Norseman very dreary. (Not so after that.) Met not a soul all the way except at Widgemooltha, also spelled in early days Woodgiemooltha and Wagiemola. When about midway between Widgiemooltha and Norseman my attention was attracted to a strip of white tin nailed on a gum tree at the west side of the track inscribed thereon in black letter thus:-"In Memory Of Henry Petersen, born in 1849, died from thirst November 23,1894"

On looking about I noticed what appeared to be a faint foot pad leading east of the track in the thick scrubs and presently I came to a very crude grave indeed. Withered bushes on top of it. What appeared at first to have been covered with earth was now exposed. The earth had sunk underneath it. Some kind of animal had been digging a hole at the south side and this had exposed a bit of the bones. The grave was very shallow indeed. It appeared to me that it had not been dug out for more than a foot or at the most 18 inches deep.

Probably owing to my health being a little below its normal state just then as I was getting a bit of a gruelling. My feet were blistered and wrapped with bag. The boots hung on my shoulders. My water bag was empty and feeling a little thirsty somewhat, I can confess that the spot appeared to me awfully funereal and I felt that I was getting a bit superstitious as if my senses had been doped lately with spungeonised sermons. I only gazed upon the solemn scene for a couple of minutes and made a hasty retreat. But after having partaken of some copious feed of watercress and a sniff of sea breeze at Esperance, on the return journey on the 5th November 1896 I revisited the grave. Strange to say on this occasion I felt quite at home. If it had been evening I would even have camped close to it that night but it was at 9.15am.

I jotted down the situation of the grave which is briefly as follows:- The grave lies a mile or so north of the 25 Mile Rocks, about 31 yards east of the Coolgardie-Norseman track and about 22 yards west of the telegraph line (opposite the 79 Miles Peg from Coolgardie). The gum tree with the tin nailed on it stands about 5 yards west of the track. The above is the approximate measurement, I had neither tape nor foot rule to measure it to the inch. Petersen died under some Ti trees. On the grave there are still (Nov.5.1896) some of his belongings consisting of an enamelled pudding dish, size about 10 inch x 7 inch, a quart-pot, a pannikin and a piece of soap, apparently Sunlight soap, all cracked now.

I could not understand at time why the unfortunate man had left the track and gone 31 yards to die in the thick scrubs. This trifling mystery was solved for me in 1897 when I met Mr Bamlett at the Lake Lefroy Rush (also called the Red Hill Rush). I had several conversations with him. The first took place on March 26, 1897 lasting 15 minutes and briefly his account is as follows:- That in 1894-5 he was running the mail from Coolgardie to Norseman and Dundas. On November 23, 1894 he met Petersen lying on the ground under a clump of Ti trees quite close to the track. He was then weak and delirious for want of a drink of water. He told the man to get up and push on another mile further, that he would find a little water in the rock holes at the 25 Mile Rocks but he did not move on any further.

Next day on his return trip on "bicycle" he found him dead. He searched his pockets and found only a penny. Petersen told Bamlett that he had been very unlucky at Coolgardie. He failed to get any gold so he was making for Esperance. From there he hoped to get a passage on one of the boats to South Australia. As for the burial of the poor man it was as crude as could be. It took place some days after Bamlett reported it at Coolgardie, Police Constable Hennesey, S. Abdul (Afghan) and a blackfellow. They went on camels to bury him owing to the hot weather. They met with an unbearable sight, decomposition had set in. The mouth, the eyes, the ears and the hair of his head were full of maggots. The stink was very offensive indeed. With lavish promises of good things such as tobacco the blackfellow was induced to dig with a spade a very shallow hole, no more than 18 inches deep at the most. The corpse was pushed into it with the spade then a thin layer of brushwood, on top of this a poor layer of very friable soil. During this solemn operation Abdul stood by very much aloof and Hennesey is said to have held his handkerchief to his nose and got ready the few brushwood branches. As for the reason why the grave is so far away from the track, Bamlett told me that the original track (a mere bicycle track) ran very close to the foot of the grave and the feet of the dead man began to protrude through the poorly covered remains. As he was the principal one who had to pass and repass on his bicycle the sight became unbearable to him so he cut a new track about 31 yards west of the grave and nailed on the Gum tree the inscription already mentioned above.

The record in the Coolgardie Police Station as given to me by Police Constable Young is as follows:- Man found dead, Norseman Road about 90 miles from Coolgardie. Name supposed to be Harry Petersen. Description about 45 years, 5 feet 6 inches, fair hair, whiskers and complexion. Buried by P.C. Hennesey and S. Abdul. The above was found 5.12.94 that is December 5, 1894. This date differs very much from the one put up by Bamlett on the Gum tree and it appears to me to suggest that they buried the man on December 5th, that is to say 13 days after his death.

The Bicycle Mail

Bamlett favoured me with a concise account of his experience of running the unofficial mail and messages to Dundas via Norseman. He charged a shilling each letter to post them at Coolgardie and so much per ounce on parcels. On one occasion he was chased by a pack of dingoes somewhere near the 40 Mile Rocks. He gave me his full name, date of his birth and the name of his native town in England and special long trips he made on the bicycle taking messages on the Eastern Goldfields besides Norseman and Dundas. Unfortunately I lost those papers and I only have before me his card which he gave to me at the Lake Lefroy Rush (Red Hill Rush) 1897.

Bamlett's Card

J.H.C. Bamlett - Pioneer Cycle Express

Mining notices put up on claims. Wages paid. Claims pegged and taken up at Warden's office and all mining business transacted. Special messages conveyed to all parts of the Fields. Messages may be left at Blackwell's Tobacconist Shop, comer Hunt and Bayley Streets, Coolgardie.

[Editors' Note. We have gathered other bicyle mail particulars and included in Appendix IV]

A Bush Funeral (Kambalda's First Registered Death)

(Written in 1941 by James Balzano, from his 1896-99 diary notes)

The first death registered at Red Hill Diggings [Editors' Note: Lake Lefroy, then later named Kambalda] occurred at 1.20am on June 2, 1897. The name of the deceased was William Wenzel, a German aged 65 years who had a wife and family in South Australia. He had been a news vendor in Coolgardie and he was known there as German Bill and lately he had been keeping the Pioneer Store at the bottom end of the Widgiemooltha Gully (wherein the Wilson family were living). During the whole ten weeks of his residence on the Field he had been suffering from inflammation of the lungs. For the last five weeks he was tenderly cared for in his own tent by Mrs Sarah Jane Wilson, a trained nurse and a motherly woman.

He was buried next day June 3rd on a spot marked out for a cemetery 3 miles or so from the Widgiemooltha Gully and a mile or so about west of the new township site. The site of the grave had been pleasantly situated amidst a Sylvan scene, still in its pristine state. At the head of the grave a pleasing young tree grew (name forgotten). The remains were conveyed to their last resting place in the deceased's own horse and cart. (The horse was called Darkie and was eight years old.) The country between the Widgiemooltha Gully and the grave being dense scrub, a rough track had to be cut before the burial took place.

The fimeral started at 2.00pm in the following order: At head, horse and cart with coffin. At the left hand side of the driver sat a fairly drunk man who had to be assisted to get on the cart. Behind followed 17 men on foot, among them myself. At the rear followed two horsemen, a policeman and the well-known Martin Walsh (of the fresh water fame). During our progress we came where a Gum tree had one of its branches stretched across the track. The driver dodged it by bending low his head. It was not noticed by the chap sitting

V° /    „    *7/

Saturday, June 12f

Death at Eed HilL

♦-

Mr James Balzano, writing from the Lake ' Lefroy diggings, states that the first death registered at Red Hill occurred on the afternoon of June 2. The name of the de-- ceased was William Wenzel, a German, J-geg    wb*    heaves *

and several children in South Australia. He was well known in Coolgardie as “ German Bill,” a news vendor. For the past ten weeks he has been keeping a little store at Red Hill, and during the whole of that period he was suffering from inflammation of the lungs. For five weeks he was tenderly cared for by Mrs Wilson, a trained nurse living in the settlement, and when his death became known the residents rolled up next day to attend the funeral. The remains were carted to a spot three miles away from the township, a track having to be cut througTTYhe bush.—iff the absence of a clergyman, Mr F. C. Compton read the Church of England burial service, among those around the grave being three ladies. A neat fence will mark this first grave at the new rush.

at his side whose head was drooping. It caught him fair on the face and he was knocked down flat on the coffin, at the same time raising his legs high. If the driver had not caught him in time he might surely have somersaulted over the tail board. Trying to rise, he rolled between the coffin and the side board of the cart. H. Hoskins (the driver) stopped Darkie, while another man helped the fellow regain his seat. This incident caused us for the moment to forget the solemness of the hour and many of us like idiots burst out in a rather loud laughter. At first sight this might appear rude on our part but on reflection it may be conceded that we were only burying a German Bill in the dense scrub of Western Australia and as the laughter had been forced upon us by a ludicrous incident we meant no disrespect to the dead but rather the sound of our laughter in some very small measure symbolised the dead march in Saul, as intoned in cathedrals and chapels over those fortunate dead. Wenzel's death, and drinking caused that chap's outward expression to appear so seriously comical.

We arrived at the grave at 2.45pm. There was already waiting 19 persons. They had walked across the bush from the township site. Among them were three ladies namely:- Mrs Dallamore, the Misses Maggie and Sarah Lyons (sisters) thus made the assemblage around the grave 40 persons in all. In the absence of a clergyman Mr F.C. Compton read the Church of England service and it was all over by 3.00pm.

As this was a pure bush funeral, I thought to make a complete record of it, for those who like past events, so I took the trouble to get the names of all those who stood around the grave that afternoon. It took me a few days before I got all. I regret that I lost that paper afterwards and only six names are left already mentioned in the foregoing, seven with Mrs Wilson, the latter did not go to the funeral.

Death Of Martin Walsh

I think the foremost persons among those seven which I have mentioned in connection with Wenzel's funeral are Mrs Sarah Jane Wilson and Martin Walsh. They were both known to me and both left their footprints in the history of Coolgardie. Walsh for striking fresh water and Mrs Wilson for having been burnt to death in the same town and also their names are linked in some measure with the story of Red Hill Rush. One as a nurse the other as mine manager.I first met Walsh in four consecutive meetings namely January 5,6,7 and 8, 1897. Each time we sat on the balcony of Kennedy's Hotel and whilst we sipped our drinks there he related to me a fair lengthy sketch of his life which I wrote down almost verbatim. Alas I have lost that document and I only remember that he said he was bom in the West of Ireland and that he came to Australia at the age of 26 years and he had been well-sinking in South Australia.

About the end of March 1897 he was appointed Mine Manager over some leases at Red Hill. One of them was called the "Boomer" the other called the "Butterfly". I am not quite certain whether the latter lease was included. I am certain a gentleman named St. John Wynne had an option on the "Boomer". Whilst holding that position I met him on several occasions. On one particular occasion I was at the election of the second Red Hill Progress Committee which took place on May 29, 1897 in front of McPhee's Store. Walsh was one of the candidates and polled 128 votes.

As for the account of his death I took it from the Kalgoorlie Western Argus of January 7, 1908. It was first published in an African paper. A copy of which was sent to Kalgoorlie by Mrs Martin, she also wrote thus:

Central Hotel Blantyre British Central Africa

November 1907

To the Editor of the "Kalgoorlie Miner"

I am sending you a copy of the local paper with the account of the death of Martin Walsh. As he was so well-known on the Fields perhaps you would like to insert in the "Miner" for the benefit of his friends. You no doubt will not know who I am but perhaps there are a few who will remember me as one of the early pioneers of Kalgoorlie and as the address does show I have not yet finished wandering. This is a fine country. Plenty of fruit and vegetables, can grow anything. The industries are coffee, tobacco and cotton. All native labour.

As it was through Martin Walsh that my husband and I came here. I felt it my duty to let his friends know.

Yours truly Beatrice Martin

Martin Walsh died at Blantyre in the British Central Africa Protectorate on November 12, 1907. The Central African Times of November 16th wrote:-There passed away suddenly last week (November 12, 1907) Mr Martin Walsh, prospector and manager of the operations for oil and coal which are proceeding at Muanza. The deceased had been at Muanza and became ill. Mr Martin his assistant decided to bring him to Blantyre. This he did, travelling night and day and the Blantyre Hospital was reached early on Tuesday morning. The unfortunate man did not last long however and all the medical skill did not avail to save his life. He died a few hours after his arrival in Blantyre, suffering from a kidney complaint. The shock was sudden and many who knew the late Mr Walsh were amazed and grieved to learn of his demise. He was buried in the Blantyre Mission Cemetery on Tuesday evening of last

week and was followed to the grave by many friends. The deceased came to this country about four or five years ago.

He was first on a prospecting tour on behalf of a syndicate and he then returned to the country on his own account. Having discovered traces of oil and coal he pegged out a claim and then succeeded in obtaining a concession from the government and afterwards proceeded home to float a company, taking with him samples from his concession. He again returned to this country and brought with him boring plant and machinery to the value of about £1,000. Mr Martin then joined him and erected the plant. In another fortnight the operations would commence, but Martin Walsh did not survive to see this. Martin as he was usually known was a rough diamond. He was an Irishman who had earlier immigrated to Australia. In that country he worked hard and success met him, for he is well known throughout the Western part of Australia for the good work he has done. He was most fortunate in finding water at Coolgardie when everyone believed there was not the least chance of this and when he succeeded in striking the hidden water he had solved the great difficulty experienced by the gold miners there. His fame spread abroad and he was in demand in various parts of Australia where he did excellent work. He was a democrat to the backbone and worked well on behalf of the working man but he had no use for la2y people or people who were but half hearted.

I omit the rest of this article as too long to copy.

From Sydney Truth Of February 18, 1911 A namesake of Martin Walsh published a long article in the Sydney Truth of February 18, 1911 from which I make an extract

To the Editor Sydney Truth

Sir, as an old Coolgardieite I have been much interested in your series of articles re the Bullfinch boom, especially the article of last Sunday's edition headed "Doolette the Debtor" more so I am one of his creditors. All your readers know that you like to give both sides of all questions especially in dealing with persons of passing notoriety such as Dorrie Doolette now is. The writer of the last article was fairly posted re the doings of Dorrie from 1893 to the present but missed the mark in a few instances. He says that Doolette made some money or in mining parlance "made a rise" in company with Charlie Northmore by discovering Niagara in 1895. He does not say how Doolette lived from then until he went insolvent in "97". I can throw some little light on this phase of the question.

Northmore and Doolette made very little money out of Niagara. How they made the money in "95" was by getting the Rev. Mr Jeffries an Adelaide Clergyman to join them in financing Martin Walsh to sink for water in Coolgardie when it was.4^.. a gallon (the price missing here). By the way, what a shrewd man the Rev. Mr Jeffries was to put his money into water. Most Sydney-side clerics put their gilt into beer, as brewery share lists will show. However Doolette, Northmore and Jeffries backed Martin Walsh to the extent of £500. Walsh struck water at 210 feet, and money rolled in as water flowed out. To my knowledge the profits from this well, were anything between £200 and £250 per week. They sank another well on the same line, a few hundred feet away and struck fresh water. The profits from this were also enormous. This money-making went on from early 95 until March 1896 when there was a great downpour of rain in Coolgardie and the bottom fell out of the water racket, as far as huge profits were concerned the price fell from 35 shillings to 5 shillings per hundred gallons.

Good old Jeffries and his pals looked round for another money source. Their move this time was of a much bigger order as they tried to float the "Coolgardie Fresh Water Supply Company" for £40,000 in £1 shares on the usual terms and would have succeeded only that Martin Walsh on his way to Adelaide to float the company was arrested for debt at Albany in company with De Rose the Kalgoorlie Millionaire. The arrest of Martin Walsh upset the whole scheme. There are thousands of your readers throughout the Commonwealth who knew and will remember Martin Walsh; and as nothing but good should be said of the dead (he having died in West Africa a few years ago), I will say this about him. He was a big voiced, a big hearted blustering Irishman whose education like my own, had been sadly neglected. He had some experience as a well sinker in the back parts of South Australia and considered and called himself a water expert, whatever that means. He also understood the science and business of [claim] jumping (friendly and otherwise) in which there was a ton of money made in Coolgardie in those days. He was one of the men who helped to boom Coolgardie and those men had front and hide thick enough to plate a battleship. He even induced the Westralian Government of that day to grant him a couple of blocks of land in recognition of his efforts in finding water for the people of Coolgardie, which they paid through the nose for at the rate of 4d a gallon. Martin had the limelight and a tenner a week while Doolette, Northmore and Jeffries kept in the background and must have had £300 weekly between them. Dorham Longford Doolette^ was at

16 [Pearce pegged a block on the Golden Mile for D. Doolette, and paid 6 month's lease rent on it. Later, J.J. McGeorge plainted the ground for non-payment of lease rent. The lease then became the fabulous "Golden Horseshoe".]

BULLFINCH BOOSTERS AND BANKRUPU

-: 6: t—

A FEW SJOELIGHfS ON DORRIE BOOLETTE’S DOINCS.

To the Editor. Sydney “Truth.” Sir,—As an old Coolgardieite, J have beeu much interested in your series of articles re the Bullfinch boom, especially the article few 'ot Sunday’s edition, headed -about him. ,w> Debtor.” more so ibie-heartqj, blusu* ^itors. whose education, like in,. *■ vou had been sadly neglected. He hau some experience as a wcll-sinker in the back parts of South Australia. and considered, and called himself, a water expert, whatever that might mean; and he also understood the science and business of jumping (friendly and otherwise), in which there was a rton of money made in Coolgardie in those days. He was' one of the men who helped to boom Cool-i gardie. and those men had front !*nd hide thick enough to plate a battleship. Jffe even induced the Westralian Government of that day to grant him a couple of blocks of land, in recognition of his efforts in finding water -for the people of Coolgardie. which they paid through the nose for at the rate of 4d. a gallon. Martin had the limelight and a tenner a week, while Doolette, Xorthmore, 'and Jeff, kept in the background, and must have had _£300 weekly ■ between them.

Dorham Longford Doolette was at this time. and. as a matter of fact, at all times, the two ends' and centre of a good fellow. He made plenty of money out of water, and spent it likewise. If a couple of miners wanted £20 to .keep them in tucker while they put down a shaft. Dorrie was the man to put the acid oil: if a pal wanted £10 to send to his wife in Melbourne or Sydney, Dorrie was the -man to nip: if a temporary stiff wanted the price of a week's tucker, Dorrie was the man to lug.

Doolette was white, anyway, and went broke as a consequence.

As Oscar Wilde says, in De Pre-fundis, “that between the famous and the infamous there is but a step”; in those days in Coolgardie, between the prosperous mining magnate and the Insolvency Court there was but a newspaper paragraph.

All people who understand min ing know that no one can tell wh? is 5ft. below the surface. Whj the Great Boulder itself and score of other mines, which ar payable to-day, were floated a duffers; while the Lendonderr* the Wealth of Nations, Queen Sheba. Queen of -the Earth. G eu⁰* Gordon, Gordon’s North a months, 1 LF,xtended. and the back by the Karoo*?v s shows ask you, in your usual gent/'⁴ to put me on the right track to get this money, which is in the' hands of the Official ReceivesJ without having it further deplete by legal sharks.

With apologies for digression and thanking you in anticipation —Yours, etc..    j

MAURICE WALSH.

this time, and as a matter of fact, at all times, the two ends and centre of a good fellow. He made plenty of money out of water and spent it likewise. If a couple of miners wanted £20 to keep them in tucker while they put down a shaft Dorrie was the man to put the acid on. If a pal wanted £10 to send to his wife in Melbourne or Sydney, Dorrie was the man to nip. If a temporary stiff wanted the price of a week's tucker Dorrie was the man to lug. Doolette was white, anyway, and went broke as a consequence. As Oscar Wilde says in De Profundis, "that between the famous and the infamous there is but a step". In those days, in Coolgardie, between the prosperous mining Magnate and the insolvency Court there was but a newspaper paragraph,..................

The Rev. Jeffries I know little about as he parson-like kept in the background. But judging by the amount of boodle he got out of Walsh's wells, he should be able to pull out of the tub-thumping biz... Doolette became indebted to me in this way. I was also engaged in the water business in Coolgardie at that time and leased Walsh's No. 3 well, machinery and plant thereon from Doolette who was at that time ('97) sole owner of it. After I had entered into a number of contracts to supply a lot of people with water the Warden's bailiff came in and seized and sold for debt, the machinery and plant on the well. My business was ruined and I sued Doolette for £300 or £400. I forget the exact amount now. We settled in a friendly manner for £100, out of court. Next day Doolette filed his schedule and I, like a lot of others was left lamenting. How the amount has been reduced to £35 I do not know as all the papers in connection with the matter were in the hands of my solicitor Tom Tobin who was well known in Coolgardie at the time. Shortly after I, with many others, left Coolgardie broke, and have been getting a precarious living as a laborer on wharves and other places since. When the Bullfinch boom broke out and I saw that "Doolette was in it again" I went West in October last (that is 1910) and saw Doolette at Bullfinch and the Cross but could not get a word with him as he was at all times surrounded by a horde of heelers and hangers-on and a cohort of cadgers with whom my common manliness would not let me mix. I heard from a friend that he was getting fifty begging letters per day. Thinking that he had got his ticket I never approached him as I thought it might savour of blackmail. After such a time had elapsed, after battling there for three months I had to work my passage back by the Karoola and would ask you in your usual generosity to put me on the right track to get this money which is in the hands of the Oficial Receiver without having it further depleted by legal sharks. With apologies for digressions and thanking you in anticipation.

Yours

Maurice Walsh

Death Of Sarah Jane Wilson

Mr and Mrs Joseph Wilson had two sons; Janies and Arthur, and two married daughters; Mrs Amelia Blenkinsop and Mrs Danks. They also had five grandchildren. The Danks had two daughters; Ada bom July 27, 1888 and Annis bom November 3, 1893. The Blenkinsop's had a son and two daughters; Joseph Stanley bom November 17, 1889, Sarah bom April 15, 1888 and Elizabeth bom June 8, 1893. All of them were bom at Stockton (Newcastle), New South Wales. The whole family came from Widgiemooltha to the Red Hill Rush (Lake Lefroy) in the beginning of 1897. There they engaged in storekeeping and condensing water on the lake. They had also an alluvial claim in one of the richest gullies on the Red Hill Field which they named Widgiemooltha Gully. At the bottom end of which they had a store and there the German named Wenzel died.

I met Mr Joseph Wilson for the last time on August 10, 1898 in front of the White Feather Hotel, Kanowna.

And for the last time met Mrs Wilson at the Coolgardie Railway Station on June 14, 1899. She told me that she was going to England. That an uncle of hers had died and left her £11,000 and she was going to claim it. She was very buoyant and brimful of expectation. She had a bottle with her and was offering a nip to some of the male gents on the platform. Mrs Blinkinsop and a lot of friends were at the station to see her off. The train started at 4.10pm. I travelled in the same train as I was going as far as the coast for a spell.

Mrs Sarah Jane Wilson was bom at Silkstone, Yorkshire, England on February 28, 1848 and was burned to death on March 27, 1908 at 7.30pm in a house in Renou Street North, near the Lion Brewery, Coolgardie.

The Inquest The inquest was held on Tuesday April 7, 1908 before the acting comoner A.P. Wymond J.P. and a jury composed of G.N. Clarke, W.R. Steele and James Adams and the evidence elicit is this:-

Dr. R.M. Mitchell said "I examined human remains at the morgue on Saturday March 28. The body was charred beyond recognition and the limbs burned off. The skull was destroyed almost completely. The remains were evidently those of a woman".

Constable Home said "About 7.15pm on Friday March 27 I noticed smoke near the Lion Brewery and flames broke out in a few seconds. I broke a street alarm and went to the fire and asked the bystanders if anyone was in the house but was told that Nurse Wilson who lived there was away nursing somebody. When I reached the place the fire had a full hold of the front rooms. It was spreading to the back rooms. It was impossible to enter and both doors were locked. The remains were found in the front room and were taken by me to the morgue. I made inquiries but got no information as to the cause of the fire".

C.H. Crannage said "I am the superintendent of the Fire Brigade. The remains were found by me and Hall and given to the police whom removed them to the morgue to Sergeant Baker. The few articles of jewellery and a bank book marked "Sarah Jane Wilson" much charred were found that night in the debris."

To the jury, "I had about 930 feet of hose available but it was not possible owing to the rugged nature of the ground to connect from the nearest fire plug which was distant about 1100 feet or 1200 feet. Had a fire plug been handy I could not have saved the deceased who I should think would be dead before the bell rung".

G.H. Kingsbury said "I knew the deceased and I was at her house by appointment to appraise her furniture at 6.00pm on March 27. She had gone to bed but answered my knock and when she opened the door she had a lighted candle in her hand. She took me into a room on the south side of the building and she went back to her own room. I examined the furniture by candle light. Mrs Wilson returned saying she felt better but had not been well. I left the house about 6.20pm."

To the sergeant, "I saw no lamps burning."

To the jury, "Mrs Wilson was not very well and it distressed her to walk. I knew she had been unwell for some time and was going away for an operation shortly."

Constable Young gave formal evidence.

Albert Boundy, a lad of 14 years said "He and another boy saw the fire first. We ran across the street and I heard screams from the front room. I put a stone through the window and tried to get in but it was too late. I got some things out the back and about ten minutes later fireman Liddell came and commenced to break down the back room with an axe. There was only another boy with me when I got there."

To the jury, "When Liddell came I went away and forgot to tell him that I had heard screams from the house. I said so when I came back from a message."

Joseph Blenkinsop (son-in-law of the deceased) said "I last saw her on March 23. She was in a feeble condition but she could walk, but with pain".

Isabella Carr, married woman said "By request of the deceased I went to her house on the Friday at 2.30pm. Nobody else was there. The deceased complained of not being well."

The jury found that Sarah Jane Wilson came to her death by being destroyed by fire at her residence, Renou Street, Coolgardie on March 27 and that there was no evidence to show how the fire originated.

The funeral of Mrs Wilson took place on Sunday afternoon March 29 and was largely attended by relatives and friends of the deceased.

Mrs Wilson was an amiable woman and very ladylike. She deserved a better fate indeed.

.

Ready

John Joseph Ready (Another legendary figure) by George Compton

John Joseph Ready who was buried in the Kalgoorlie Cemetery in grave number 7653 on 5 September 1933, was a very early, very active, and somewhat enigmatic pioneer of the Eastern Goldfields.

Although Jack Ready's name occurs frequently in the historical accounts of many discoveries, his presence was usually auxiliary to the actual discoveries. Essentially Ready was a "specker" or "louser"... one who picked up pieces of gold exposed at the surface... rather than a dryblower or reefer. Since he seldom, if ever, held title to tenements, his presence on any field rarely entered the official records. Lacking the framework of official record, his history is peculiarly difficult to substantiate; any understanding of his personality derives from second-hand accounts; what we do know of him is intriguing, but lacking verification, borders on the legendary.

Douglas Cable ^ has suggested that Ready came into the area via employment on the Fraser's Range pastoral property, and not by travelling east from the Swan River settlement. This notion is supported to a degree by the inscription on an early map of the Kurnalpi field of a "Track to Fraser's Range" rather more prominently than the track to Kanowna-Coolgardie.

Ready may have used the station as a supply-base from an undefined early date. On one... loquacious... occasion he commented that he'd been in the country for years: before Bayley and Ford: before MacPherson even. Although MacPherson is known to have prospected the White Hope area... MacPherson's Gully, just south of the White Hope Mine... in 1888, there is some evidence that he was prospecting the west shore of Lake Lefroy from 1883 onwards. Depending on Ready's actual knowledge of MacPherson, he may have claimed being present from before 1888, or prior to 1883... when he would have been 19 years of age.

All the accounts of Ready's activities imply that he was not only well equipped with horses and vehicles, but possessed "time to spare"... quite unusual among those others searching the district... and what might be termed an attitude of disinterested interest in the events occurring about him. I think it is reasonable to believe that at an early date Ready had been sufficiently successful at "specking" to have acquired such chattels as he needed and to have been freed of the demands of time. Perhaps under his own humble terms Jack Ready lived in an unlikely Utopia.

Chronologically, Jack Ready's first appearance was at Koorkadine Soak a few days after the discovery of alluvial gold at Southern Cross. Subsequently

17 Personal comment.

Ready and Bill McIntosh pioneered the Parker's Range District, but the story of events at Koorkadine Soak indicates that Ready had been present in the eastern country for some time previously. Although the substance of the story has been repeated by other people and in other circumstances, such repetition seems to validate the substance; various people who were present at Koorkadine later believed reference had been made to gold at Kumalpi five years before it was authentically discovered.

A crowd was gathered around a communal camp fire at Koorkadine and approached by a number of local aborigines which included a young woman recently stolen from the Eastern People by her man. None of the local aborigines could handle English, and needed to rely for communication on the young woman. (No one seems to have wondered how a woman from the Eastern People had acquired her capability!!) After sundry conversation with the woman on the subject of "golden gibbers", Yes she knew where that feller sit down. Yes long way away. On being asked "How big that feller gibber?" she indicated an eight-inch frying pan lying near the fire, alia same that feller. After some bursts of incredulous laughter, Jack Ready, who was mending a harness back from the fire, commented "And some of it was almost that big". That was in 1888.

Ready next appears in Bayley's account of the discovery of Coolgardie where he was regarded as something of a nuisance who may have upset Ford and Bayley's quiet assessment procedures. Some time later after Bayley had gone back to Southern Cross for stores, he was followed by Talbot, Fosser, and Baker (with one horse). The young trio eventually arrived at the Gnarlbine Soaks, where Ready was camped. He informed them that Bayley had turned off Hunt's Track some fifteen miles back... camp here tonight and I'll take you back tomorrow. This was 1892.

In June of 1893, when Hannan, Flanagan and Shea... with one horse (Shea's)... left Coolgardie and headed for the mythical Mt Yuille Rush, Ready had already sent a wagon load of water forward to aid the crowd of travellers, and had parked it in a gully in what was later the Kalgoorlie ridge. Hannan's party, and others camped nearby... Ready's Dry Camp... and during the period they camped there Hannan and his mates discovered the first gold of the Kalgoorlie Field, and Mt. Yuille's alleged gold was forgotten.

The next reference to Ready is in McAuliffe's account of the discovery of Kanowna. It appears that two separate parties had made discoveries... on the east side of Red Hill, and on the (later) North White Feather, quite adjacent...; the two parties lunched together and decided to amalgamate their interests. But while they were discussing which ground required to be pegged, Ready arrived in a dray containing a water tank. Again sundry "protective" conversation by the prospectors, and advice from Ready that water was hard to find thereabouts, but if they backtracked his dray ruts they'd find a good soak... good water, never known it to go dry... and if you're after gold, tiy the next gully around that ridge... the blackfellers showed it to me years ago. October 1893.

As related by Balzano, Ready was discovered at Kurnalpi in November 1893 by a rush headed by Slater. When discovered Ready was harrowing rich alluvial ground with a contraption made of mulga branches tied together with trace chains, followed by a crowd of natives quite happy to pick up the golden gibbers and trade them with Ready for canned beef, flour, sugar, tea and baccy. Some time later Ready commented that besides the 1300 ounces acquired on that trip, he'd done rather better the first time.

The overall impression of Jack Ready is that he was a competent traveller, well-provided with equipment, and possessed of a long-standing general familiarity with the country. His success with "specking" appears to have freed him from immediate... or even long-term... financial worries, and freed him from the otherwise general fervour to acquire "ground". His situation appears to have permitted him to take a relaxed view of the invasion of the Eastern Goldfields, and so he always appeared to have the time available to help when necessary.

It is hazardous in the historical sense to accept second-hand accounts of episodes... especially when those accounts are based on unsupported verbal autobiography. With Ready we have a tantalising image of a quiet man who may have been one of West Australia's earliest successful gold seekers. But lacking the hard evidence of official record, or even an established tradition of a verbal time and date schedule, he is shrouded in mystery. He seems to have stated he was on the Eastern Goldfields prior to 1888; he may have been there prior to 1883. We don't know what brought him to the country: whether he came deliberately seeking gold, or whether he merely stumbled across gold while engaged in other pursuits. Unless, in the future, a series of snippets of new information about Ready validates or destroys the shadowy evidence of his early presence, John Joseph Ready must remain something of a legendary character.

for gold.

, He set himself up, more or less, at Gnarlbine Rock Holes, and from there sent water tanks regularly into Coolgar-<116, He turned much water into gold.

PERSONALITIES OF THE OLD GOLDFIELDS

DAILY DIARY ENTRIES Kanowna September 24,1915

"Arrived at Main Reef 6.30pm, hot wash and walk at 6.55pm, went to George Robinson's and arrived at 7.00pm. George opened the door and lead me to the front room. Presently Mrs Murie Maud Robinson came out of the bedroom and we shook hands. She was that angel of mercy who nursed me in the hospital when I got burned at Siberia. I presented to her all the everlasting flowers and she presently brought out her baby boy Hamilton (he will be seven weeks old tomorrow). Afterwards in the midst of chatting I had two glasses of lemon squash and biscuits. At 9.15pm we had refreshments, two cups of coffee and four sandwiches. At 10.00pm I bid Mr and Mrs, good-moonlight-night, just as the moon rose over Mr Robinson's house on the old Main Reef, like a firery ball rising above the tree tops".

JB

Kanowna (Hospital) June 23,1916

"I started to work at 8.00am and continued til 12.00pm. After crib [lunch] I went down the ladder again and afterwards just as I had finished, a fall of earth came down from hanging. I caught part of it on my head and it knocked me over and I fell face forward on the footwall. I received a nasty cut below the right eye and another one above it cut the eyebrow in two halves, but fortunately it never injured the eye in anyway at all. I also received two cuts on the left jaw and scratches on the nose and on the right temple. The accident happened at 1.50pm. The blow stiffened my right arm completely and it became useless, with terrible pains. I called to see Mr Geo Robinson and tied a rag and walked to hospital. The matron was Mrs Margaret Theresa Beattie. She made me go then to Kalgoorlie."

JB

The Burgon Family

(Another Mystery) by Ron Manners

General Enquiry. I have in my possession the original handwritten manuscript detailing the Burgon family.

The writings are by James Balzano (prospector and historian of Kanowna, West Australia). They have been painstakingly compiled from Balzano's lengthy discussions with Alfred Burgon, whose remains were buried at the Kalgoorlie Cemetery on June 15, 1934.

These brief notes are being circulated to several people with an interest in Australian history, in case they can link me with anyone who is related to the Burgon family, or who is interested in relating this story to the U.K. or other Australian aspects of the Burgon involvement.

Brief Background. The story is basically of Alfred Burgon's travels to the mining fields of Australia (and New Zealand).

Alfred was the son of Dr Joseph Burgon (1825-1868) and the grandson of John Towery Burgon (descended from the French Huguenots, whose family landed in England approx. 1685).

J.T. Burgon practised as a gunsmith (manufacturing flint-locks for guns) in Bucklesbury Street, Cheapside in London (Bucklesbury Street was changed in 1873 to Victoria Street, in the area from Mansion House to Cannon Street). When percussion caps were invented, Burgon's business making flintlocks for guns was ruined and he moved from Cheapside to Hackney (8 children, 5 boys and 3 girls). His new business in Hackney flourished, and at the division of his estate after his death, his grandson Alfred in Australia received 30 pounds (£30) as his share of the estate.

Alfred's father Dr Joseph Burgon was a cousin of John William Burgon, who was the Dean of Chichester (southern England) in 1876.

Dean Burgon was also the author of The Life and Times of Sir Thomas Gresham (the son of Sir Richard Gresham (1519-1579), a merchant and Lord Mayor of London. Sir Richard served under three British Sovereigns as Royal Agent - to raise funds for national purposes. He built the Royal Exchange which was opened in 1570 by Queen Elizabeth).

Dr Burgon and family emigrated to Sydney in June 1851. On the voyage (pre Suez Canal) he worked as ship's doctor on the "Poitiers" and one day, in very heavy weather, he was attending to a woman who had just given birth to a stillborn boy with a deformed head. Dr Burgon had learned much of man's structure at the university college by dissecting parts of Jeremie Bentham (1748-1832), he therefore reserved the head for himself, and consigned the remains to the waves. He wrapped the head in a cloth and placed it in his cabin. Some time later his wife, out of curiosity unwrapped it, and became somewhat distressed. (All this before refrigeration too!).

Dr Burgon's first residence in Sydney was at Black's building in Elizabeth Street, he then shifted to a cottage at the comer of Castlereagh and Hunter Streets.

Dr Joseph Burgon left 8 children to moum his early demise. Five boys and three girls. We will merely note the names and years of their

birth.

1.

Joseph Richard - Bom (in England) 1847

2.

Philip - Bom August 5, 1850 at Dalston, England

3.

Alfred - Bom in Sydney October 19, 1854

4.

Charles Edward - Bom in Sydney 1860

5.

John Frederick - Bom in Sydney 1862

6.

Jane Caroline - Born in Sydney 1852

7.

Emely Amelia - Bom in Sydney 1856

8.

Helen Louyet - Bom in Sydney 1858

Dr Burgon's wife Jane Burgon died in August 1878 and is buried in Highgate Cemetery London. - From James Balzano's notes.

Other Items From The Story;

• Dispersal of Dr Burgon's family.

•    Alfred Burgon's life stoiy.

• Dick Rickerdy (The crippled aborigine).

•    The flying pieman (Castlereagh Street Sydney).

•    Alfred Burgon in England, his school days    in    England, first employment,

then his second with the Royal Exchange, ignominiously sacked, his return to Australia.

• Misspent time in Sydney, employment with Montefiore.

• Burgon in Molong, Lucknow, Gamboola Station, Belerigra Station, Devil's Pool. Burgon as a cook.

• Mt. Browne Goldfields (Grey Range, NW comer of NSW). Burgon as gold digger.

•    Burgon on the Pilbara diggings (W.A.).

•    Roebourne and Nickol-Croydon Fields.

• To Coolgardie in 1892 and on to the Kalgoorlie Rush 1893.

• Holiday in Perth 1893 and in Melbourne 1894.

•    2nd and 3rd time in Kalgoorlie.

•    To Gippsland and return to W.A. 1896. A night spent in the lock-up.

•    In Kanowna 1898 (camped close to the Golden Cement).

• The Woodline Rush.

Epilogue. It is not known if Alfred Burgon had any relatives but he entrusted James Balzano to write this manuscript from Burgon's notes just prior to Burgon's death.

It is known that he corresponded regularly with a Mrs Doris Salmon of Perth, Mrs Jessie Maynard of Edjudina, Mr Bruce of Bumbil N.S.W., and a Mr Clegg of Claremont W.A.

Conjecture. Not knowing of any Burgon relatives or family, there exists a possibility that Alfred Burgon was the very last scion of the original Burgon family which fled to England from France through religious persecution.

He appears to have been led to Kanowna by two strange acts of fate; firstly a chance meeting with "Maori Bill" in Melbourne, and then later Magistrate Septimus Roe's advice that he return to the Goldfields.

Who designated him to write down a detailed account of himself, assisted in later years by James Balzano? Meanwhile here I am in Kalgoorlie in 1993 wondering what to do with this detailed and precious document.

Ron Manners

Refer also to Geological Maps on Pages 104 & 108

Kanowna, The Deep Leads 1897-1899

By George Compton (Originally written 1977, but now with a 1992 update.)

Following the discovery in early October 1893 of the White Feather Reefs at Kanowna, entrepreneurs and prospectors attracted by the discovery, rapidly defined a very big working area of gold mineralisation.

During the immediately ensuing years, while the reefs were being flamboyantly financed and modestly developed, considerable amounts of gold were won by diyblowing the shallow alluvials, gouging the calcrete (cement) carapace, and dollying the numerous exposed rich leaders.

Cement working became vety popular following the discovery, in June 1894, of a run of rich alluvial below the capping of the Golden Cement. Although he was not the discoverer, James Newman was the first to obtain substantial rewards, obtaining some 3000 ounces from one small claim. On an adjoining claim, Weir, Sutherland, and MacArthur shared another 2000 ounces, while among the horde of other workers on the ground, at least one man secured 1000 ounces before the alluvialists were harried from the ground by McManus, who secured a leasehold tenure by a forfeiture plaint in August 1894.

The circumstances under which McManus obtained his lease aroused considerable resentment among the alluvialists, since Warden Jephson, during his hearing of the case, received a telegram from the Mines Department in Perth indicating that the officially preferred finding favoured McManus. Jephson, feeling his honour and impartiality were impugned, resigned his office. [See P. 177 - 181], Whatever the strict legality attending the situation, the granting of a lease over actively employed alluvialists was counter productive.... active development of an ill-defined resource came to an abrupt halt, and McManus' title to the reef he considered to be the source of the gold brought no reward... . The source apparently lay outside his tenement.

Towards the middle of 1897 the Kanowna field was not prospering... development of the reefs was lagging for want of capital, employment was difficult to obtain, and the apparent resources of easily won detrital gold had been depleted. But in September, Sim and Gresson announced the discovery of a new and unexpected run of alluvial beneath the capping in the Fitzroy area; a discovery which ushered in a new and vigorous era of exploitation during the following two years, when some 200,000 ounces were won from "Deep Leads".

Although the exploitation of this resource appears to follow logically and easily from the discovery, research into the situation reveals a series of conditioning factors where alternative actions or decisions could well have limited the scope of the discovery before its importance had been established. And just as chance decisions permitted development of the discovery, so too did chance decisions appear to limit the benefits ultimately derived.

Before the discovery of the Fitzroy Lead, the area had been dryblown by earlier workers, and extensively gouged by 'Cementers¹. The ground had been held as G.M.L.430X by J. Whittaker from December 6 in 1895, but was lost by forfeiture to a plaint by G.C, Ross on June 24 1896. It was reapplied for as G.M.L. 637X by H Shand on July 21,1896, and again lost to a forfeiture plaint by G. Sim on October 21 that same year. Apparently quite deliberately, pegging of the ground was delayed until December 17, 1896, when an application was lodged for G.M.L. 784X by G.Sim, A.Gresson, and H.Watt. The scheme of aquisition is credited to George Sim, who was locally regarded as a "fly fellow", well versed in mining lores and mining law.

Perhaps Sim realised that the battery at the White Feather Reward mine would soon be so short of ore as to be able to accept custom parcels; although the Fitzroy Cement was of too low a grade to reward dollying, it would yield an handsome profit through a battery; and, judging by his later comments in the Warden's Court, there is some implication that at an early date he knew, or suspected that the produce of his lease would be of alluvial origin.

It seems probable that Harry Watt made some sort of discovery on the ground prior to October 1896, but by the time the lead discovery was announced, he had been dead for some months.

When the discovery was announced, the Fitzroy area to the north of Kanowna townsite was extensively held under lease; some leases were actively manned,some were under exemption, and some were so meagrely attended as to be susceptible to forfeiture. Covering the apparent course of the lead were G.M.L.345X (Prince Oska Extd) and G.M.L. 353X (Lady Alice), both of which were under exemption. To the south, in part, was G.M.L.1220X (Golconda), and to the north two manned leases, G.M.L.64X (Prince Oska) and 217X (Federation).

At that time alluvialists were entitled to work KNOWN alluvial on manned leases, but not permitted to search for it. But they were permitted to SEARCH for alluvial on leases under exemption. Under the Mining Act, alluvial was defined as ' that loose earth, sand, gravel...'. It did not really cover that material of an alluvial nature that had become re-cemented, or wash that lay below a cover of barren material.

At that time the State Administration was beset with the competing demands for secure title by capitalists (whose investments alone could supply the sinews required to convert mining discovery into a mining industry), and by those alluvialists (who lacking capital, employment, or equipment), laid a traditional claim on the easily won detrital resources. In the administration of such contests, the Government lacked officers who could distinguish between courses of action on the ground of effectiveness rather than on legalities. And at Kanowna the situation was certainly exacerbated by memories of ministerial involvement in the affair of the Golden Cement. It must be noted that at Kanowna, Warden Troy enforced an undocumented degree of accommodation between contestants, while in Kalgoorlie in the following year, strict adherence by all parties on the legalities brought the district close to revolution.

In the Warden's Court Sim defended his application for a leasehold tenure by citing the lack of interest displayed in the ground during the period prior to his pegging, and insisted that since the material mined required blasting and battery treatment, it was not legally alluvial. The Warden agreed with him on both counts. Numerous 'letters to the editor' argued the pros and cons of both 'legal' and 'moral' title.

The material discovered was described as a ferruginous gravel lying in a gutter five feet wide and lying at a depth of four feet, winding tortuously across the lease. Initially the material was worked by stripping off the surface cover of soil and cement in an open cut, but later it was found easier to tunnel under the capping in search of the channel or gutter. Although Sim's and Gresson's first crushing of 93 tonnes for 604 ounces created a sensation, little immediate attention was directed at exploiting any larger resource. It required the second discovery by a 'Syndicate of Six' (Doyle, Maiden, Long, McManus, Morris, and Currie) to set off the boom.

The syndicate secured the maximum ground available under 'claim'... six men holding collectively six claims each measuring 75 feet square, in the gully adjacent to Sim's lease, on ground held as a lease but under an exemption due to expire in fourteen days. Local opinion was that the syndicate took an unwarrantable risk; the location of the gutter was poorly known, its gold content was a matter of conjecture,and if the wash was strongly cemented the lease holder could cry "LODE" and their work would be wasted. However before fourteen days had elapsed they had sunk sixteen feet, found wash,and were ostentatiously panning gold.

A critical character in this venture appears to have been a "Mr Graham" who in conversation in the back bar of the hotel apprised the syndicate members of the legal niceties, and in fact sketched out in advance much of the future course of the alluvial boom.... in much the same way that the niceties of the nickel boom were discussed in the back bar of Kalgoorlie's Palace Hotel in the years 1969-72.

Until the middle of October, however, few parties followed the example of the Syndicate of Six, preferring to go further down the gully to the ground west of the Lady Alice. But by the end of that month, Graham and

MacDonald,Lynch, O'Connor, and others had pegged ground right across the leases.

Kelly and Party took less risk with their tenement by pegging outside the western boundary of the Prince Oska Extd lease, but ran a greater risk of being 'off lead'. They must have been gifted with second sight, for their "Klondyke" claim was the daddy of them all, yielding 12,000 ounces from six-mens'-ground.

By the end of October, Joe Welch had sunk 50 feet and found 80 ounces 'on bottom', while Dave Lynch next door had sunk a similar distance to win 84 ounces. They spread their good news far and wide. But the "boys on the Arctic Circle" had bottomed at 40 feet and kept very mum about their results.

Early in November, Pat Morris sued for the forfeiture of the Prince Oska Extd lease but lost his case, when Warden Troy enforced some degree of accommodation: the shareholders of that company retained their lease, and the alluvialists were free to work their claims free of harrasment by the company.

By the end of November claims extended in every conceivable direction, down the Fitzroy gulley and into the shallow north-trending valley, down the valley to the railway station, and a mile northward as far as the Maggie Moore lease, with most of the claims following existing low ground, and bordered by pre-existing leases.

On November 30th Tullock and Party announced the results of the first crushing of the many to follow... 75 tonnes for 375 ounces.

Early in that month Donovan and O'Neill had pioneered the South or Cemetery Lead by sinking between the cemetery and the railway station, to a depth of 35 feet to find 18 inches of wash which gave them 20 ounces per day. For a while this southern trend was known as "Death Valley" with the claims named morbidly on variations on that theme . Expectations of great wealth led to demands that the unoccupied portion of the cemetery reserve be made available for mining. After much official reluctance, the ground was declared 'open' at 2.30 pm on December 3,1987. ft was later conceded that the actual results fell far short of expectations, with legend asserting that the best ground was held by those who had "long-term residential title". In the rush to secure ground some three hundred claimants pegged ground over an area sufficient for 65 claims. Warden Troy's efforts to sort out the confusion led to a precedental definition of what constituted a ' substantial post'. The Act required that each comer of a tenement be marked by a 'substantial post'. Troy strode among the forest of pegs, pulling out those that were short and those that were thin, until he'd reduced the problem to manageable proportions. Henceforth it was understood that a 'substantial post' ought be four feet high and four inches in diameter.

Some of those who believed they had pegged legitimately if judged on other grounds were definitely not amused when the names of the lucky claimants were announced on January 13,1898. Again numerous letters-to-the-editor. Development of the claims down the lead from Sim's lease showed that some 200 yards from his boundary the gradient of the gutter steepened, and was accompanied by a change in the character of the wash. Instead of being narrow, the wash was wide; instead of being an ironstone gravel, it was a fine quartz grit cemented together with white clay. While the gritty fragments in each type required battery treatment, it was found that large quantities of gold could be obtained by puddling, dishing, or cradling.

The only official records of the gold produced from the alluvial is contained in the quarterly reports of the Department of Mines, totally absent from those reports is any indication of the names of the parties, or the numbers of the claims yielding gold. However, the newspapers periodically published details of those productions they could procure. They are quite incomplete, but do serve as a species of sample, roughly indicating sites, tonnages and produced ounces.

Department Of Mines Last Quarter, 1897 approx. 10,000 oz First Quarter, 1898 approx. 20,000 oz Second Quarter, 1898 approx. 33,000 oz Third Quarter, 1898 approx. 43,000 oz Fourth Quarter, 1898 approx. 28,000 oz First Quarter, 1899 approx. 20,000 oz Second Quarter, 1899 approx. 16,000 oz Third Quarter, 1899 approx. 12,000 oz Fourth Quarter, 1899 approx. 8,000 oz The Newspapers Reported that;

Jackson & Pty secured    90 tonnes for 497 oz

Hogg & Pty    75 tonnes for 325 oz

McDonald & Pty    112 tonnes for 448 oz

Lockton & Pty    300 tonnes for 525 oz

Sheehan & Pty    53 tonnes for 533 oz

Hogg & Pty    200 tonnes for 461 oz

Walker & Pty    by the dish 800 oz

Kelly & Pty    by cradling 2,500 oz

O'Connor & Pty    by the dish 909 oz

100 for 219 oz

Marchett & Pty    192 for 743 oz

Riely & Sheehan    100 for 251 oz

etc. and etc. and etc. but scarcely ad nauseam.

In early March, the discovery of the QED Lead running northward from the old Waldron's Find was announced with the lead under development for half a mile, and wash being obtained that went two ounces to the dish. In June the White Star Lead, running southward from the Maggie Moore to join the North Lead, was stated to consist of wash cemented by silica, and with gold in pot holes in the bottom.

From the beginning of June 1898, the numbers of productions reported in the newspapers decreased, while the number of descriptions of individual claims and their prospects increased. One tantalising aspect is that there was a general dearth of description concerning claims that produced notable gold, while there were few coherent production records of the claims so minutely described.

From the begining of April 1898, numerous reports were published of the discovery of "lode" below or adjacent to the Kanowna Deep Leads concerning claims along the North Lead. Descriptions of "large body of ironstone lode"..." blocks of auriferous ironstone cemented with clay" ..." estimated at 7 oz/ton"... "Ironstone averaging 27 dwts"..." Good ironstone averaging 7 dwts" would normally have been expected to spark activity aimed at developing these alleged resources. But circumstances were scarcely normal. The discoverers possessed tiny claims, the developing shafts were soon in very wet ground, and their mining prospects were hemmed by water below and 'made ground' above.

Since the Geological Survey were later to dismiss the "lodes" as mere zones of impregnation of bedrock by gold of alluvial origin, the reports must be considered suspect. There is some implication that the cries of "LODE" were raised in an endeavour to secure larger tenements from which to mine alluvial, rather than as sites for bedrock development. The later productions secured from the North Lead ground ... after September, 1899 when the first small leases were granted... totalled some 30,000 tons of 6 dwt material obtained from lead remnants and 'lode'.But except for the persistent efforts of the Champion Lode Shaft Coy, little effort was devoted to bedrock development because of of heavy water inflows.

At this date, assessment of the economics of the Kanowna Deep Lead ventures are difficult, but it appears amply certain that the only really profitable claims were those situated on the Fitzroy and Cemetery Leads, on the southern portions of the QED Leads, and on that portion of North Lead extending for eight hundred feet north of The Junction.

It seems probable that of the 150,000 ounces won prior to March 1899, some 120,000 ounces were shared by about 1,000 men working this defined ground. The effect of this level of success on the 1,000 individuals, and on the town may be likened to the effect of 1,000 people simultaneously each winning $30,000 in lotteries.lt was socially, industrially, and politically unsettling.

Extraction of this limited success from the mass of Deep Lead Production suggests that although extensive lengths of alluvial channel were discovered on the northern and western extensions of the North Lead, QED Leads, Moonlight Lead and Golden Valley Lead, with few exceptions the claims were of very limited profitability. Those venturers who found gold operated sweat mines or mud mines rather than gold mines. If we can accept that there were some 3000 prospectors on the leads for the two years from September 1897 to September 1899, each one averaged 30 ounces a year.... which allowing for the various expenses was less than "wages".

A rather pathetic footnote, illustrating the misery associated with failure attending the majority of prospectors provided by a newspaper in 1901. .. "The body of a man Edmunds who died of a long-standing bladder complaint at the age of 75. He was prominent during the late alluvial boom, sinking twelve deep shafts, all of which duffered".

Reconsideration of the whole fabric of the story of the Kanowna Deep Leads, after the lapse of so many years, highlights two situations.

1. Discovery and exploitation was no simple logical affair of cause and effect. Orthodox histories fail to appreciate the subtleties of Sim and Watt required for the discovery to be possible, the foresight of Graham, the sturdy courage of the Syndicate-of- Six needed to demonstrate the opportunities, and the wise government of his ward by Warden Troy.

2. The failure of the Kanowna community to realise and usefully exploit the true significance of the discovery. To a very great extent the alluvial miners were the victims of their own traditions and morality; they were "little" men with restricted capacities, restricted aspirations, and with restricted foresight. They were individuals in a situation which demanded co-operation.

The problems of low-grade wash, the stubborn clay matrix, and the heavy water flow demanded capital investments based on extensive secure title; the alluvialists resisted extensive tenements until the inflow of capital had dried up in the wake of the Whitaker-Wright scandal. But beyond the problem of operating and maximising the return from the discovered lead system, was the general and complete failure to realise that such a system depends on two basic factors... an alluvial channel where the gold is concentrated, and a substantial source of gold.

The administrative failure to document the productions and the production sites, obscured the fact that a gold focus of some substance existed within 1000 feet of the Fitzroy Junction; a fact which rendered elucidation of the 'reports of lode' a task of consuming importance; a task that was never attempted.

Update. The following is a complete revision of the final portion of my original 1977 article, occasioned by the mining of deep lead remnants over the past two years by the Geopeko-Delta Joint Venture, and by the discovery of the Kanowna Belle orebody within the last twelve months. To my mind at least,the recent work has confirmed the logic of my "Blue Sky" Projection of 1977.

Today we can appreciate the larger scene depicted by the overall Kanowna mining operation. The Deep Lead productions probably exceed

250.000 ounces; the early unrecorded winning of gold from shallow alluvials, cements, and exposed leaders probably exceeds 150,000 oz, total

400.000 ounces. The hardrock operations yielded close to 400,000 ounces from 800,000 tonnes of mined ore.The 50/50 proportion of alluvial to hardrock gold approximates that secured in California, New Zealand and Victoria, and is markedly at variance to the overall ratio secured in Western Australia where the records suggest that 900,000 ounces of alluvial gold were secured from a total production of close to 80 Million.

If the 50/50 proportion also applies in Western Australia, understanding the situations in which alluvial may be found, and the modes of alluvial concentration, and the modes by which discovery may be made, and an administrative system which permits 'discovery' to be made and that discovery developed, we have the prospect of discovering and mining a fiirther 70-80 Million ounces of alluvial in W.A.

If, conversely, the 1:70 ratio is generally applicable in Western Australia, the host rocks of Kanowna might be expected to yield 70 times the alluvial production i.e. 28 Million Ounces.

Now, in the light of the Kanowna Belle discovery, presumably by the application of high technology, and most probably outside the drainage pattern previously exploited, and thus more likely to be additional to the above Blue Sky Projection than merely the first item of its realisation, I am anxiously awaiting the discoveries of the next ten years. Perhaps that period will result in fiirther discoveries at Kanowna... a whole Carillon of Belles. .. and discoveries associated with the alluvial trains emanating from the Great Fingal, Hill 50, Sons of Gwalia, and of course, Kalgoorlie, where the administrative actions of the Ivanhoe Venture¹⁸ episode in 1898-99 severely limited the development of the obscured potential deep lead alluvial resources detrital from the bed rock 40 Million Ounce focus. Perhaps another 40 Million Ounces never discovered?

George Compton 1992

-t U I-

Jlalgoerli* Jffmtr.

ECBUBUD DAU.T.

MOKDAT, MARCH 14. 18M.

THE LAW OF BOUXCE!

Tu opiaioa aaesu daily to be gaioiaf groaod Itet tte while artioa of tte aatkxitan in reUtioa to tte Alla rial qoMtioa, bom tte day that Ur Wit-trooom cat dowa to acb n a ate cUaar 103 cw* of hie own head, tea been literal. It noold indeed appear that mo after that now historic bad Friday the Lae of Boa are hu, even in a non jiroooenced Banner than before, beta •oWtitated for Matati Lae. Oat is reminded thereby of the good old tinea when the Kagbsh tad Scottish bordere a aatd periodically to ride aonxs t^« boaodaiy to “lift" their neighbors' cattle. Tlw profit of the goldfielda. however, having been accn*tomed all their lives t s coostitational government and to reapret the lavs of •* mine and thine,*’ here refaaed to mceejA this •tar of affaire, which, 'though perhaps no* new to Western Australia, it altogether strange is them. There tee be-n some sort of an opinion expreaaed lately that the Government tea tower, when Parliament L not sitting. t» frame n'W laws and regnte tio®« to mert any crisis or unexpected torn of affairs. This, however, is not the case in the direction some few aeeai imagine. The Mining Act, nnfor tnoaidy. tes given the Cabinet power, whether Parliament be sitting or out, to frame Regnlatioos in accordance with tbe Act. The words used (danse 99) are *• for the purpose of giving eff-ct t# this Act and for the management of toldSdds generally." We aay "aafor-Unately ^ bernaae, thongh such a law is good in itaelf. and baa always worfcad wdl in other eonntriea, it tea proved a dangerone power ia the hands of persona aat having too high a re-pert for state-torylaw. The power gma is not legally so great as it might at first sight appear, bat it tea been employe! in this instawe for the purpose of trying to evade aad ret add* the plain m-eaing of ' tiie Act itself. Bot rlease 99 give* no power whatever t“ frsm* iCcgulationa for any other por-por- than “ r«* g.rc effect to tbe Act." When therefore tin* Minut.*r of iline* invent'd his clan*e 103. which aimd at mincing the deptli the holder *»f a mining ti wement war allowed to aiak, he tr.d t»» get round and upset the %ery Art itself, which he had no antbority to do. and therefore the uew claax*. great strain as it might bare been on his in-UlU-l I, iI'mmI -~*J    TV..

¹⁸ The Ivanhoe Dispute

The situation which led to the "Alluvial Disputes" was a contest between those who held leasehold ground tenure and required secure tenure in order to secure capital, and those who_needed freedom to work their discoveries of detrital gold in order to exist.

The fundamental argument was between those who believed a tenure gave them title to not only discovered resources, but also to those discoveries yet to be made; and those who believed the critical right of exploitation belonged to the discoverer.

The strict legal position is that the tenure holder dominates the situation; he may well make unexpected discoveries. Yet "mining wisdom": suggests that adverse title situations place constraints on acts of discovery, especially when the initial discovery is of a minor nature.

At Kanowna, the Warden enforced an accommodation between the alluvialists and the leaseholders, and the initial discovery was enlarged into one of considerable substance.

At Kalgoorlie, the Warden permitted all those involved to adopt legalistic stances, Wittenoom the Minister introduced a spurious regulation and, discovery was constrained before any degree of importance was established.

The same basic argument persists today with gold detecting on legal tenure very common, and all kinds of spurious discovery sites are nominated.

G. Spencer Compton with tree & sign 1960 284

Still in There with a Chance

(Billy Brown's Tree at Kanowna) by Jack W. Allen (Circa 1960)

& J. Terry Allen (Circa 1987)

William (Billy) James Brown was bom in Omam, a small seaport on the east coast of South Island, New Zealand. In spite of a puritanical upbringing as a youngster, he was destined to lead quite an adventurous life. Whilst still a very small school boy, he stole away from his lessons one day to play truant in the countryside near his school. As he crawled along a ditch in search of an imaginary enemy he discovered a box full of jewellery hidden under some leaves and litter. Billy being a very generous little chap, did not waste any time in bestowing upon his school friends pieces of the treasure he had found. To his dismay the grown-ups soon intervened, and the police came along to collect the find. The box of riches Billy had found was the haul of a big robbery. A reward had been offered for its recovery, and when the sergeant of police visited Billy’s father to advise him that young Billy was entitled to a reward of £500, Mr Brown refused to accept it, saying it was '"blood money".

An old friend of the Brown family was captain of a trading vessel, and while still in his teens young Billy was taken on a voyage, and had a very interesting time visiting many South American ports.

Mr Brown had Billy apprenticed to the printing trade and, though Billy became an excellent compositor with good prospects in his home town, he could not resist the urge to travel. He made his way to England and stayed there for a year. Returning home to New Zealand for a brief visit, he next set off to Australia. From there he continued his travels until he found himself in Sarawak in N.W. Borneo. He and a companion stayed there for six months, compiling a history of the life of the White Rajah.

Still seeking fresh scenes, Billy joined a party of Prospectors and set forth for New Guinea. Their goal was Edie Creek where sensational gold discoveries had been made. They endured many hardships battling up the Fly River and through the jungle country, and when they finally got through the rain forests where the trees were covered with a tangle of vines and creepers, and decayed vegetation was often knee deep; and also through the silent and grotesque moss forests of the Owen Stanley mountains, the gold seekers were in very bad shape.

Billy withstood the ravages of malaria and the enervating climate for some time as he searched for the precious metal, but at last he again set off on his wanderings. By this time he had become a confirmed prospector, and such he remained for the rest of his life. He tried out his luck for a time in the Gulf country of North Queensland, and then he joined in the rush of Eastern Staters to the newly found goldfields of Western Australia.

He witnessed the beginning of Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie and took part in many rushes to new finds. He was one of the party credited with the discovery of Mulgabbie, a rich little field several miles north-east of Kalgoorlie. However, he did at last settle down in Kanowna, where he and his mate pegged out a claim which proved to be very good. They named it the "Wonder" and worked it for some years; it yielded about 1700 ozs of gold. The mate eventually moved on to take up land in the farming country and Billy was left alone to continue prospecting and fossicking around the old diggings. He was quite happy and contented with his environment - he had a little shack built of mud bricks and nearby he contrived to make a little dam to collect rain-water; and the store where he purchased his requirements was only a mile distant. The following is a typical list of his weekly stores order: 1^ worth of potatoes and onions, 2^ worth of fresh meat, 1 tin of meat, 1 tin of tobacco, a few pounds of flour and 1 lb. of candles. Occasionally he would buy a tin of milk and a packet of tea. He had grown accustomed to his spartan diet throughout his years of prospecting and had no inclination to change it to a more varied one.

One day, fairly close to his camp, Billy noticed a tiny seedling struggling for survival in the dry and dusty ground. He carefully watered and tended it for a long time, until it grew into a tall and vigorous sapling. As time passed by Billy became very fond of his tree and looked upon it as an old friend, indeed it proved to be a friend in need on many occasions during later years.

Whilst working underground, Billy had the misfortune one morning to be trapped in a fall of earth. He was badly injured and had to remain in hospital for a long time before he could return to his camp. The accident left him with a crippled leg and impaired vision. Like so many of the old-timers, however, he was tough and hardy, and accepted his afflictions uncomplainingly, and carried on with his prospecting.

Meanwhile his tree continued to grow and its branches, towering above the surrounding scrub and stunted timber, made a fine landmark for him when returning homeward. The tree, in fact, became part of Billy's everyday life. As his sight continued to fail, he depended more and more on his old friend to lead him to his camp To Billy the spreading, swaying branches seemed like kindly hands beckoning him.

The passage of time resulted in the population of Kanowna dwindling more and more, but frequently the remaining residents would organise a social evening to which all the old-timers would be invited. After one such evening, Billy stayed overnight in town with some friends. In the morning he was seated on a box in the backyard having his silvery locks trimmed when the lady of the house, who was preparing breakfast, called out to ask how many eggs he would like with his bacon. Billy replied that one would be ample.

"You know", Billy said to his friend who was doing the hair cutting, "my mates and I struck a lean time out at Kumalpi in the early days. Were off gold, and tucker was very light; just a bit of damper and tinned dog. At nighttime as we sat around the camp fire we would talk for hours about the good things we would have when we struck colour.

At last fortune smiled on us and we struck it - we got some big slugs -plenty of 'em too. So we sent the dray to Kalgoorlie and had a lot of stores brought out to us. With the stores we had two sides of bacon, a case of strawberry jam, and a barrel of eggs, but after a week we were chasing around the diggings trying to exchange a tin of strawberry for a tin of plum or apple jam, and from that time to this I have never been really fond of eggs!"

In spite of his infirmities and advancing years, Billy remained cheerful and contented. He was always willing and ready to help anyone less fortunate than himself.

One morning he put on his best clothes, packed a little case with a few belongings. Closed the door of his camp, looked with affection at his tree, and set off to pay a long promised visit to a friend in Perth. He made the journey to the city quite well, but after a little while there be became very weak and ill. He tried hard several times to return to his camp and beloved tree faraway on the fields. His spirit was strong, but his poor old body was too frail. He was well past the allotted span of three score years and ten when he died peacefully in his bed in the month of October 1942.

Thanks to Spencer Compton of the Eastern Goldfields Historical Society and other Goldfields friends, an impressive ceremony was held in 1960 near Billy's old camp site, as a commemorative plaque was erected close to Billy's tree.

Little remains now of the old camp, but the tree is sturdy and strong and will be seen for many long years to come, a living monument to the memory of Billy Brown - "A Friend to So many".

An Afternote by Jack Allen's Son Terry in 1987

In the mid thirties Jack Allen was working on the Golden Crown, a kilometre or so out of Kanowna. He was content; along with his brothers, who at this time were prospecting out Edjudina way, he had found good gold by mining some of the pillars in the underlay leading to the main shaft. Plans were well advanced to move into a house in Isabella Street and have his wife and young family with him once again. He was surprised when he saw a lady from the little township of Kanowna hurrying towards him.

A police message had just come through on the wireless to the effect that he was wanted in Perth urgently; one of his children was critically ill.

Hasty preparations were made and, while waiting for transport to Kalgoorlie, Jack visited his nearest neighbour, Billy Brown, in order to put him in the picture; prospecting can be a hazardous occupation and those in the field, particularly the old-timers, usually kept an unobtrusive eye on one another.

Billy didn't say much when he heard the news, but he was obviously concerned. Suddenly he jumped up and disappeared into the second room of his little mud brick camp. He was back soon with an old and well handled tobacco tin. It was opened and Bill began to peel off some of the notes from the small roll it contained. After a little while he replaced all the money, closed the lid and held out the tin.

"Here Jack," he urged. "Take the bloody lot; I don't need it".

The generous, spontaneous offer was tactfully but firmly refused, and it was many years later that the writer, who had been the cause of so much worry and expense and who had survived the dreaded battle with diphtheria, was quietly told this little story. By this time it had occurred to me that this mild little misshapen man seemed to be singled out as someone special, but with the insensitivity which can afflict the young I was not always similarly impressed. Most of the old prospectors who were content to spend their few remaining and declining years in and around Kanowna during the late thirties were treated with respect and even deference, but at last I understood why my parents, particularly had a special regard for Billy Brown.

Whenever possible my father, who with his brothers also held the Lady Robinson (Robbie) lease for some years, would as he made his way to and from work, visit Billy. In the morning there would be a brief resume of the news of the world - Billy's sight was so bad by this time that he was not able to read, and his hearing was so impaired that, even if he had a wireless, he would not have been able to follow it. On occasions, on the way home my father and uncles would patiently pan off samples that Bill had dollied and prepared in readiness. The old fellow was firmly convinced that there was still plenty of gold to be won, and as a result the ground around his camp was pock-marked with shafts and criss-crossed with narrow little costeans and drives. If yet another blank was drawn there were no recriminations or complaints, but rather a cheerful and philosophical acceptance of the outcome.

One morning my father was unable to visit Billy and impart the dreadful tidings that Paris had fallen to the Germans and I was given the job. I did the best I could, but Billy could not, or would not, understand. During the day I had to admit to my father that I had not got the news through, so he made a special call on Bill late the same afternoon, and the dreadful communique was soon delivered and understood. Both men and seen much of the world and survived a great deal. They knew that :-

"Kings and kingdoms pass away,

Empires have their little day".

Shortly afterwards my father rejoined the army and spent fifteen months in New Guinea.

Now in June 1987, even though one has to look hard to find any traces of Billy's old camp, the tree that he nurtured and protected, towers quite majestically above the old workings. The plaque erected by G. Spencer Compton and the Kalgoorlie Historical Society in 1960, although a little weather beaten, is still there too.

Close by on Delta Gold's latest Ballarat-Last Chance development, millions of cubic metres of overburden are being quickly and expertly excavated and mounded high around yet another huge open pit. A wide new road which sweeps away to the west will help to make it possible to cart hundreds of thousands of tonnes of ore to the modern gold treatment plant at Paddington, some thirty kilometres distant. Man's ingenuity and industry seem to know no bounds.

But indications are that more and more people are becoming increasingly concerned at the often avoidable destruction of a unique but fragile environment.

It is hoped that Billy Brown's "living monument" will be spared long enough to witness not only the centenary of the discovery of gold in Kanowna on 12th October 1993 but also, and much more importantly, Mother Nature receiving a great deal more help and encouragement to restore and regenerate than she has in the past.

Martin's Battery (Part II)¹⁹

Part Of The History Of Kanowna

Typed from James Balzano's Manuscript

Site. First Known As Bohan's Battery. Bohan's Battery Offered For Sale. Acquired By Martin. The Dividing Tailings Wheel. Gold Return For The Year 1906. Biographical Items. Browne. Connell. Stuart

Its site was situated roughly 200 yards from the Golden Cement on a strip of ground running north and south by the Main Reef Lease numbered 12X. At the southern end it adjoined two early leases called the "Stillwater", nine acres numbered 1108X, and the "Hesperides" extended six acres numbered 201X. The north-west end trending towards the town. Originally it being a three-head battery erected by a party of men namely:- David Lemon, James Bohan and Albert James Connell who held interest in the several deep leads claims to crush their own ores, also to crush parcels for the public. The Main Reef Mine supplied them with saltwater. This plant became known as Bohan's Battery. We do not know when they started operation and the following items from the Kalgoorlie Miner and Western Argus will give us an idea.

The first of which is dated July 17, 1899 and it read thus:

The Three Head Battery which has been running near the Main Reef is being sold to Langenback, to be erected at Six Mile and Bohan and party, the sellers, have already purchased a complete five-head battery.

October 27, 1899 Bohan and party who recently sold their three-head battery to a syndicate to treat the alluvial at Six Mile have finished erecting the five-head battery. The plant just erected is much heavier than the old plant. The stamps having a falling weight of ten hundredweight. It is erected immediately north of the Main Reef Mine whence the water supply is obtained. The owners are interested in several claims on the various leads to treat their own dirt instead of sending it to any of the local batteries.

Martins Battery (Part I) - Refer PI 84

291

November 16, 1899 Bohan Battery has been running on their own wash dirt. Is now continually on public crushings. Thirty tonnes from the White Star lead averaged thirteen pennyweights.

Bohan's Battery Offered For Sale April 14, 1901 The plant together with the tailings was offered for sale yesterday by public auction owing to the dissolution of partnership. The reserve however was not reached. The property will probably change hands next week.

June 30, 1901 After a somewhat lengthened period of inactivity a start has again been made to run Bohan's Battery on public crushing.

July 15,1901 The public crusher locally known as Bohan's Battery but which will hitherto be run as Connell and Lemon's Batteiy.

March 13, 1902. Lemon and Connell's Battery was sold yesterday at a satisfactory figure and a third interest. The mill for some years has been running on public parcels of ore."

Acquired By Martin 1902 Bohan's Battery (to use the original name) was run for a brief time by Lemon and Connell then a party of three men (John Louis Martin, John Stuart and John Johnson) purchased it for £234 Lemon and Connell retained a third interest between them. A little later Johnson sold his share to Martin for the same sum of £78 which he had put in when they bought the battery and not much later Stuart also sold out his share to Martin with the same sum he had put in. Lemon and Connell also sold out their interest to Martin and henceforth the plant became known as Martin's Battery. It was purely run as a public battery but when Martin acquired the tribute over the Golden Cement he increased the plant from five-head to ten-head battery, five of which he made available to the public and the other five he reserved for his own ore. When the payable ore in the Golden Cement became unprofitable he obtained a tribute in the Main Reef and Lily Mines. [Editor's Note: His tribute on Lily Australis appears to have ceased in 1915 when labor "evaporated" after Gallipoli.] When these mines in town became unprofitable to him he acquired an interest in the Red Hill Mine which in turn supplied ore to his batteiy.

Subsidised By The Government In the year 1905 we find that Martin's Batteiy was subsidised by the Government to the extent of one shilling per ton and the said ton should hold about 32 cubic feet of ore. There being no weighbridge in those days - dray loads were in use then. Of the very many parcels of ore treated at this battery by different parties; the Kanowna Red Hill company supplied the largest amount of ore which we shall record when we come to relate the story of that famous hill, suffice to notice here the said mine was the very last to supply ore to this battery. After a parcel of 300 tons had gone through (which yielded 103 ounces, three weights and 12 grains of gold, valued at £372), both the mine and battery closed down for good, on April 30, 1927. After all the residues having been treated by the owner the plant was dismantled and taken away. At the period we are writing the king posts and the dilapidated "sand wheel" are still standing. If per chance this inorganic object could be endowed with the faculty for speaking for an hour or two or at least for one quarter of an hour as it was granted to the Frederick Ruysch's Mummies (as related by Count Giacomo Leopardi) and unfold to a shorthand scribe the hidden part of the story of this battery, and favour the writer to peruse, it might add more to this chapter. The records of this battery, (in whatever manner were kept) were all destroyed by one of the owner's sons after the battery was closed down. Thus an extra chapter went up in smoke.

In lieu of which we quote the following from the Kalgoorlie Miner and Western Argus.

The Dividing Tailings Sand Wheel - April 19,1906

The dividing tailings sand wheel by which sands from parcels are treated by each five-head mills are placed on separated heaps. Will thus be much more satisfactory than existed previously. The ten-head is running continually on local parcels. Over 800 tons are treated monthly. Mister Middleton is the head charge of the cyanide."

Return For The Year 1906 The Western Argus of January 1st, 1907 states thus:-

During the past year (1906) Martin's Public Battery which is the chief subsidised in the district, ran almost continually. Being a splendidly equipped plant and having the whole of the custom from those owning properties both on the Red Hill and vicinity of the battery, the charge sometimes being reduced owing to the fact that the Mines Department allowed a subsidy of one shilling per ton. This was purely to the advantage of the prospectors in this case and all the public batteries in the Kanowna district....

The following are the monthly returns for the battery under notice for the current year 1906.

January 738 tons for 187 ounces, 15 pennyweights.

February 816 tons for 740 ounces.

March 809 tons for 798 ounces, 13 pennyweights.

April 821 tons for 452 ounces, 19 pennyweights.

May 830 tons for 1,108 ounces, seven pennyweights.

June 817 tons for 847 ounces, 19 pennyweights.

July 890 tons for 1,257 ounces, three pennyweights.

August 921 tons for 440 ounces, 15 pennyweights.

September 996 tons for 788 ounces, 10 pennyweights.

October 811 tons for 1,214 ounces, 11 pennyweights.

November 801 tons for 213 ounces, five pennyweights.

December 578 tons for 1,555 ounces, 19 pennyweights.

Total 9,042 tons for 9,434 ounces, eight pennyweights.

Biographical Items

Frank Fordham Browne was one of the Engine Drivers at Martin's Battery. He met with a mishap of having his hand injured and through that his employment at the battery ended. He was compensated with the small sum of £18 . On top of this fell the misfortune of having his domestic peace disturbed through his stepdaughter Hermione Synisea Smith, having indiscreetly contracted friendship with some unscrupulous fellows and to what happened she fastened the blame on the battery owner. Browne sued this man for £1,000 damage. The case was tried in Kalgoorlie before Justice Burnside and Jury. For Plaintiff appeared Keenan, for the Defence Villeneuve Smith. The Jury awarded £200 damage. The Defendant appealed. The case was tried on a second time (on 10-12 October, 1906) before Justice Parker and Jury. This time the defendant won the case. Quite a number of witnesses were called for the defence but a particular one who would have had a difficulty of extricating himself, levanted from the district before the first hearing took place. Even a gum tree was mentioned several times in this case. During the ordeal of cross examination by the Counsel for the defence Browne exclaimed, "Look at my hand, £18 , ruined for life, £18 ". To this poor injured man got a reply from Villeneuve Smith, "If you had chosen the employer's compensation act, probably you would have got more".

John Maynard According to Burgon, Maynard was the first Engine Driver at the Bohan Battery. He had a family of seven children namely:- Klytie, Audrey, Doris, Darcy, Sydney, Effie and Jack. When he left his family he is supposed to have gone to the sugar plantation in Queensland and later on is supposed to have died in Sydney. We know nothing further about this man, save that his daughter Doris married a Mister Arthur Salmon of Perth. At the time we are writing there is a William Maynard living at Edjudina. We cannot say whether he is a son of the said John or a relation.

Albert James Connell This man as we have already seen, was one of the party who erected Bohan's Battery. Three years or so after having sold his interest in the battery to Martin, with William Kingston stuck up the Devon Consols Battery situated a little distance about north east of Mount Charlotte Reservoir near Kalgoorlie. The account is too long to quote. Briefly is as follows;

On the night of March 31, 1905 at two o'clock in the morning with a revolver and actual violence they rounded up the two men employed at the battery at time named John Berkery and Sydney Johnston (or Johnson). They then stole 13 battery plates with 500 pounds worth of gold on them. About an hour and a half after the robbery Berkery managed to release himself and reported the robbery to his employer Henry Oades who lived about 150 yards from the battery. Oades notified the police between the hoursof four and five in the morning. Detective Sergeant John Joseph Walsh and Tommy the native tracker were on the scene. About 40 to 60 yards away from the battery they found one of the plates as well as the wheel track of horse and cart. They followed the wheel to the Broad Arrow Road and along it for some miles, and then into the bush till they came on the plates. There were two large wood fires smouldering on which the plates had been scaled. Following the wheel track they found near the Menzies Railway line (on the eastern side) Kingston's horse and cart, the wheels tied up. On following the footprints presently they saw two men in the distance coming towards them and towards where the horse and cart was discovered, ere they saw Walsh and the tracker. They turned away it being Connell and Kingston. Walsh called upon them to wait. They did. Then all went towards Lamington Heights where they resided. They were arrested and charged with robbery of Oades' Battery. The first trial was heard in Kalgoorlie, on June 23, 1905 before Justice McMillan and Jury. Francis Hilton (Foreman), John Johs, William Gare, Charles James Gunter, Joseph Freeman, Henry Grose, Charles Graham, Charles Gregory, Walter Herdsman, Charles Gunn, Barker acted as a prosecutor for the crown and Mayhall for the defence. The Judge's summing up lasted an hour. The Jury retired at seven o'clock in the evening and returned at midnight. The Foreman announced that they had failed to agree. They were discharged and the accused remanded in custody. The second trial took place in Perth on September 15, 1905. We here briefly quote the Chief Justice's summing up to the Jury. He said:- "Whoever the thieves were they had taken great trouble in hiding their tracks... from a woodstump were not so fresh as those followed taking away the battery plates. It had been shown that this cart was Kingston's. Kingston gave an explanation of that night and gives no explanation how the cart got there. Unless they (the Jury) accept the Counsel's explanation that the cart had been stolen and a mop was found at Connell's house as used at the battery. The Jury retired at three o'clock in the afternoon. They failed to agree. At five-thirty they were sent back and the court adjourned till nine o'clock. Again the Jury failed to agree and were discharged. Barker intimated that the Crown would take no further proceeding and the prisoners were accordingly discharged.

John Stuart As already noted, was one of the party that bought out Bohan's Battery. He was an honest Scotchman and bootmaker by trade. After following mining for many years he returned to his trade and whilst repairing a pair of boots fell ill and died in the Kalgoorlie Government Hospital on the 20th June 1925 (aged seventy five years) and was buried next day (June 21st) in the Presbyterian section of the Kalgoorlie Cemetery. The chief mourners being his wife and a married daughter (Mrs Mabel McGregor). As Stuart had played the Scotch bagpipes since he were a lad, a young man was engaged to play the pipes at his funeral, of course in full Scotch costume. The funeral started at half past four o'clock, from the corner of Maritana and Egan Streets, and headed by the piper till it crossed the main street, and again when it reached the gate of the cemetery at four and forty. He played "Land of Leal" and ere the coffin was lowered down into the grave at four and fifty. He played "LOCHABER NO MORE".

The last photo taken of James Balzano at the age of 88, a few months before his death in 1948

GEORGE COMPTON has worked around the Eastern Gold-fields as a geologist for the past 40 years, and was involved in a geological assessment of the Kanowna area in the 1970s.

George’s then optimistic comments about Kanowna have since been more than vindicated by the subsequent discovery of the two million ounce Kanowna Belle orebody.

His grandfather, E.A.F. Compton, was the first mining registrar at Southern Cross in the late 1880s

George Compton served in the RAAF during the Second World War before returning to his profession as a geologist.

At his seventy-first birthday dinner held earlier this month, George endured comments from his friends who related some of his past peccadilloes and important milestones in George’s career.

Before making a seven-and-a-half minute response (a record in brevity for George),

Goldfields Mining Journal

August 3, 1992

his liet motif for the night had only been the occasional brief “Shit, Eh?” as his friends relived his past achievements.

George Compton, who is an articulate and valued contributor to GMJ, has made an outstanding contribution to both the mining industry and the community in the Eastern Goldfields.

Conclusion

Although this is as far as James Balzano takes the Kanowna story, it is picked up again in Kalgoorlie - the Golden Years by Charles & Nancy Manners where details of the various "reunions" 1938 (40th), 1958 (60th) and 1967/68 (Commemorative plaque unveiling) are given.

During James Balzano's long life, he developed many warm and lasting friendships and sadly those first-person friends are now reducing in numbers.

We hope that by presenting him to the reader in this form, we will produce a new generation of friends for old James Balzano, who started as Kanowna's Barrowman and ultimately became the scholar and historian for Old Kanowna and the early Goldfields surrounding Kalgoorlie.

Life is like a relay race, when we think of our respective fathers Spencer Compton and Charles Manners influencing James Balzano to complete his story. We have now simply made the record permanent, by building a bridge between the past and the future.

Fortunately with the recent "rediscovery" of Kanowna there will be a need for someone else to write the history of the "new Kanowna".

Acknowledgments

The many long hours of typing from James Balzano's fading hand notes were patiently performed by Fiona Turnbull and Alannah Evans, mostly during the quiet evening hours.

The proofreading was contributed by Jenny Manners, who resisted the almost overwhelming desire to tighten up his grammatical structure.

Final structural suggestions and proofing by Bob Halligan helped us meet our publishing deadline.

On behalf of old James Balzano, we thank you for your part in bringing his story to life.

George Compton & Ron Manners

My Birthday

Excerpt from James Balzano's diary, Red Hill (Kambalda) August 9, 1897,

Another year has been added to my life. I shall curse the name of that beastly soul who brought me into this world. My life has been an interrupted stream of failure and sorrows. I am exhausted with this nomad life.

Up 7.00am, very cold morning and seems chilly day. Broke camp 7.55am worked from 8.10am to 3.30pm and sat down in my hole in Tiger Bay 5 foot x 3 foot, very hard. Am down only 4 foot, felt tired but worked 3.30pm to 5.00pm and knocked off. Went to the camp then over to the gully where I got a loan of wheelbarrow from Martin Walsh and carried. After I took the wheelbarrow back at 6.50pm, then eagerly reading the Courier and returned at 9.30pm in the moonlight where I enjoyed bread, one apple, jam and tea boiled beef (cold) four onions and more tea.

I saw that John Strathearn and Stephen Games went away today somewhere.

Two sketches by Balzano

Balzano References

(.Italics = Material Used In This Book)

Battye Library

ACCN#892A MN#51

- Items

#1 1889    -New Zealand

#2 1889-1890    - New Zealand

#3 1890-1891    -New Zealand

#4 1913-1919    - Europe and Russia (1913-1915)

-Perth (1915)

- Kanowna (1915-1919)

-NSW (1919) E.G. Hist. Soc.

Page No. (Handwritten Notes)

I-VIII

Kanowna's Topography-Geology-Flora-Main Reef Line McAuliffe's White Feather Reward

- Discovery and Opening

1

IX-X

The Golden Eagle Mine

45

XI

The Story of Sailor's Gully

53

XII

The Story of the Old White Feather Township

65

XIII-XVI

The Golden Cement Story

74

XVII

The Burgon Family

107

XVIII

Dr. Burgon's Family

110

XIX

Mrs Burgon & Children

114

XX

Dispersal of Dr. Burgon's Family

117

XXI

Alfred Burgon's Life Stoiy

143

XXII

Alfred Burgon In England

123

XXIII

Burgon Misspent His Time In Sydney

128

XXIV

Burgon In Orange And Molong

132

XXV

Burgon Finds Other Employment

136

XXVI

Burgon At Mt. Brown

143

XXVII

Burgon At Pilbara

148

XXVIII

Burgon At Coolgardie-Kalgoorlie Rushes

157

XXIX

Burgon's 2nd/3rd Time In Kalgoorlie

162

XXX

Burgon In Kanowna

166

XXXI

Alfred Burgon's Twilight

172

XXXII

Biographical Sketches

186

Photos    -    See    Index    of    Illustrations

From Compton/Manners Archives:-

The History Of Kanowna Chapter

Martin's Tribute On The Golden Eagle Lease 10X

The Underlay Shaft On Lease 10X. Martin's Prospecting Shaft On Lease 10X. No. 1 Shaft And Winze. Martin's Prospecting Shaft On The Golden Cement. Martin On Lease 12X. Martin's Crushings From No. 66 to 94.

The Underlay Shaft Kanowna 1st July 1906 Monthly letter No. 1

Messrs Bewick Moreing and Company

Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

The following is our report for the month ending 30th June 1906.

Tribute - Lease 10X

Martin underlay shaft at north end of lease, 137 feet to a total of 45 feet. The reef in the face is 24 inches wide and consists of buck quartz. The reef in the back is also white and hungry looking. 40 feet level - a small block 20 feet in length is being stoped. The reef averages 18 inches wide and is apparently very low grade. A crushing from the above is now going through the tributor's battery.

July 26, 1906 70 feet level (underlay shaft). A winze 20 feet north has been sunk to a depth of 40 feet. The reef having dipped to the north has cut out in the bottom.

2nd August The winze 20 feet north of the shaft has holed through to the 137 feet level.

16th August 140 feet level (underlay shaft). The north drive has been extended 8 feet to a total of 57 feet from the underlay shaft. Reef in the face 36 inches. No improvement in value. After the foregoing we do not find any further record about this underlay shaft.

The Prospecting Shaft (No. 1 1904-1909) 1st November 1906 At this date we find Martin sinking an underlay shaft from the surface which was called afterwards No. 4 shaft. The record about it begin thus:-

Lease 10X - a prospecting shaft has been started and sunk twenty three feet (23 feet) about 330 feet south of No. 3 underlay shaft. Reef at 20 feet, 12 inches wide. Worth by pan seventeen shillings per ton.

8th November The shaft 330 feet south of No. 3 underlay has been sunk 29 feet for the week to a total of 52 feet. Reef average four (4) inches. By pan value 17 shillings per ton.

15th November The shaft 330 feet south of No. 3 underlay has been deepened

21 feet to a total depth of 73 feet. Reef nine (9) inches. By pan value 12 shillings per ton.

22 November The shaft 330 feet south of No. 3 underlay shaft has been sunk to a total depth of ninety four (94) feet. Value average 16 shillings and 9 pence per ton over a width of three inches reef. The reef has pinched to one inch in the bottom. No value.

29th November Lease 10X the 330 feet south of No. 3 underlay shaft has been sunk a fiirther six (6) feet to a total depth of hundred (100) feet. Reef one inch. No value. This shaft has been skidded. A ladderway has been put in.

6th December Lease 10X shaft 330 feet south of No. 3 shaft at 100 feet level - a north drive has been started and driven 15 feet. No reef. A south drive has started and driven 13 feet. At five (5) feet reef is 12 inches wide. Worth 4 shillings per ton. The reef has not yet been broken down for the remaining 8 feet.

14th December Lease 10X shaft 330 ft south of No. 3 shaft 100 feet level the north drive has been extended 18 feet to a total distance of 33 feet. No reef. The south drive has been driven a further 15 feet to a total of 28 feet. At 10 feet the reef is 6 inches wide. Panning value four (4) shillings per ton.

20th December Lease 10X shaft 330 feet south of No. 3 shaft - in future will be called No. 4 shaft. 100ft level. The north drive has been advanced 18 feet to a total of 51 feet. The reef made at 40 feet but has not yet been broken down. The south drive has been driven 15 feet to a total of 43 feet. The reef at 40 feet by pan 2 shillings per ton. No reef in the face.

3rd January 1907 Lease 10X No. 4 shaft (1904-1909) 100 feet level - the north has been advanced 3 feet to a total 54 feet. The reef has not yet been broken down. Owing to bad ground this drive has been timbered for twenty (20) feet.

19th January Lease 10X No. 4 shaft 100 feet level - the north drive has been driven 8 feet to a total distance of 62 feet. At 50 feet the reef is 18 inches wide. Worth traces only. Further 15 feet in this drive has been timbered making 30 feet (30) in all.

17th January Lease 10X No. 4 shaft 100 feet level - the north drive has been extended 9 feet to a total distance of 17 feet. The reef 15 inches wide. Value traces. Reef averages 24 inches in width. No value.

31 January Lease 10X No. 4 shaft (formerly prospecting shaft) 100 feet level. The north drive has been extended 5 feet total 76 feet. Reef 24 inches. No value.

No. 1. Shaft And Winze 11th April 1907 Lease 10X No. 1 shaft 140 feet level - a winze 30 feet north has been started and sunk 8 feet. Reef average 14 inches in width. Worth by pan six (6) weights.

18th April Lease 10X No. 1 shaft (underlay) 140 feet level - winze 30 feet north sunk three (3) feet to a depth of 11 feet. Reef averages 10 inches. Worth by pan 7 pennyweights.

25th April Lease 10X No. 1 shaft 140 feet - winze 30 feet north sunk to a total of 15 feet. Reef averages 3 inches. Worth by pan four (4) pennyweights.

2nd May Lease 10X No. 1 shaft 140 feet level - winze 30 feet north drive has been started and sunk to 15 feet. Average width of reef 9 inches. Average value by pan 6 weights. Owing to the reef pinching in the bottom sinking has been discontinued.

(We think that the foregoing No. 1 shaft 140 feet level deep with the winze 15 feet deep used to be the third from the prospecting shaft afterwards called No. 4 shaft. As all the lease pegs have long since disappeared off the ground it is useless for us to try to indicate the northern boundary of lease 10X.

Martin also sunk a prospecting shaft at the northern end of the cement (Lease 83X) and south end of Lease 10X and roughly situated a score of feet at north side of the Kurnalpi Road, just at the head of the motor car track that lead up Lease 10X to Sailor's Gully, the Reward and the north White Feather)

We have before us a written account of this shaft and it is as follows:-

Martin's Prospecting Shaft On The Cement (No. 2.) 1st August 1907 Lease 83X - a prospecting shaft 990 feet north of south east corner peg, started and sunk 18 feet. Width of reef six (6) inches. Worth by pan 10 pennyweights.

15th August Lease 83X - prospecting shaft sunk to 40 feet. Width of reef 6 inches. Worth by pan 8 pennyweights.

22 August Lease 83X - no work has been done in this shaft for the week.

29th August Lease 83X - prospecting shaft sunk to further 12 feet, total 52 feet. Width of reef three (3) inches. Worth by pan 18 weights.

2nd September Lease 83X - shaft 990 feet north of south east corner peg sunk to a total of 52 feet. Average width of reef 5 inches. Value by pan 12 pennyweights.

5th September Lease 83X - prospecting shaft sunk 8 feet total 60 feet. Width of reef three (3) inches. Worth by pan 16 weights. As the reef being very small in the bottom the men came up the shaft 30 feet and started a drive.

12th September Lease 83X - prospecting shaft at depth of 30 feet. A drive was started north and driven 12 feet. Average width 6 inches. Value by pan 14 pennyweights.

19th September Lease 83X - prospecting shaft north drive extended 10 feet. Total 22 feet. Width of reef 10 inches. Value by pan 14 pennyweights also written 16 pennyweights.

26th September Lease 83X - prospecting shaft north drive extended 4 feet. Total 26 feet. At this point they holed in the old workings. They are now stoping on ore 10 inches wide. Worth by pan 14 weights. We find no further about this prospecting shaft but we find that Martin had also acquired a tribute on Lease 12X (Main Reef Mine) and it is recorded thus:-

Martin's On Lease 12X (1904-1909) 24th October 1907 Lease 12X - 392 feet level main north this tributor (Martin) has started and extended this drive 10 feet. Width of reef 16 inches. Worth by pan 5 pennyweights.

31 October Lease 12X - 397 feet level main north drive east reef extended 8 feet, total 556 feet. Width of reef 24 inches. Value by pan 6 weights. This is repeated a second time with same date thus:-

This tributor (Martin) has started to put on this drive and extended some 18 feet to a total of 556 feet from the main east cross cut (x cut). Average width of reef 20 inches. Average value by pan 5.5 pennyweights.

7th November Lease 12X - 397 feet level main north drive east reef extended 9 feet, total 565 feet. Width of reef 12 inches. Value by pan 4 pennyweights.

14 November Lease 12X - 397 feet level main north drive east reef extended 10 feet, total 575 feet. Width of reef 24 inches. Value by pan 5 pennyweights.

21 November Lease 12X - 397 feet level main north drive east reef extended 12 feet to total 587 feet. From main east x cut (cross cut) width of reef 18 inches. Value by pan 5 pennyweights.

28th November Lease 12X - 397 feet level main north drive extended to a total 595 feet from main east x-cut. Width of reef 16.5 inches. Value by pan 5 pennyweights.

5th December 1907 Lease 12X - 397 feet level main north drive east reef. No driving has been done for the week. The men are now stoping on a reef averaging 30 inches. Worth by pan six (6) pennyweights.

(Thus far we have transcribed Martin's development work on his three different tributes namely on Lease 10X (Golden Eagle), Lease 83X (Golden Cement) and on Lease 12X (Main Reef Mine). We will now likewise transcribe the remaining of his 28 crushings as we find same written down from 1st July 1906.

Martin's Crushings From No. 66 to No. 94 1st July 1906 Crushing No. 66 of 28 tons yielded 5 ounces bullion. Valued £17.10.0. Royalty seventeen shilling and six pence (17/6). This crushing was taken from the Reward (Lease 72X) Mullock dump. After Martin, Waltham crushed 25 tons from same dump. Yielded 3 ounces 5 pennyweights. It did not pay the battery and no royalty was collected.)

26th July Crushing No. 67 of 79 tons from the workings off underlay shaft at the north end of Lease 10X. Yielded 30 ounces 10 pennyweights. Bank advanced £105 and the royalty collected £5.5.0.

23 August Crushing No. 68 of 250 tons yielded 60 ounces 10 pennyweights 5 grains. Bank advanced £310. . Royalty collected at 5% £10.10.0. This crushing was made up of 100 tons quartz from Lease 10X and 1IX and a 150 cement of Lease 83X.

4th October Crushing No. 69 of 162 tons yielded 33 ounces 13 pennyweights. Bank advanced £115. Royalty at 5% £5.15.0. This crushing was made up of 102 tons of quartz from the workings of lease 10X and 60 tons of alluvial from lease 83X namely the Golden Cement.

18th October Crushing No. 70 of 376 tons yielded 48 ounces 13 pennyweights. Bank advanced £168. Royalty £8.8.0. The Mint returns of both crushings are not yet to hand. This crushing was taken from leases 10X and 83 X.

28th November Crushing No. 71 (from lease 10X) of 170 tons yielded 34 ounces 5 pennyweights. Bank advanced £103. Royally at 5% £5.2.0.

31st January 1907 Crushing No. 72 from leases 10X and 83X of 195 tons yielded 59 ounces 16 pennyweights 12 grains. Bank advanced £210. Royalty £10.10.0.

7th March Crushing No. 73 (from lease 10X) of 80 tons yielded 21 ounces 5 pennyweights 6 grains which realised £74.2.0. Royalty at 5% £3.14.3.

21 March Crushing No. 74 (from Lease 83X cement) of 160 tons of cement yielded 26 ounces 6 pennyweights 6 grains. Bank advanced £91. Royalty at 5% £4.10.0.

30th May Crushing No. 75 (from lease 10X-13X) of 170 tons yielded 49 ounces 6 pennyweights. Bank advanced £171. Royalty at 5% £8.11.0

(Near this stage we find that Martin had treated 794 tons stone from the Main Reef Mullock Dump which had yielded 51 ounces 8 pennyweights 13 grams of gold and the bank advanced him £125 and no royalty was due to the company and as it is also numbered crushing 75, although dated July 11, 1907, we see fit to place it here.)

13th June Lease 10X and 13X crushing No. 76 of 120 tons yielded 24 ounces 7 pennyweights. Bank advanced £84. Royalty £4.4.0 another crushing also numbered 76 of 529 tons yielded 75 ounces. Bank advanced £200. No royalty was due on this crushing probably it was taken from the Mullock Dump and dated 2nd September.

1st October Crushing No. 78 of 233 tons yielded 50 ounces 19 pennyweights 6 grains. Bank advanced also £150. Royalty also at 5% £7.10.0. No lease indicated on this crushing. Same date.

1st October Crushing No. 79 of 250 tons yielded 19 ounces 11 pennyweights 6 grains. Bank advanced £60. Royalty at 5% £3. No lease indicated.

31 October Crushing No. 80 and 81 of 683 tons yielded 84 ounces 14 pennyweights 2 grains. Bank advanced £274. Royalty at 5% £13.14.0. No lease indicated.

7th November Lease 12X crushing No. 82 of 223 yielded 25 ounces 14 pennyweights. Bank advanced £84.14.0. Royalty at 5% £4.7.0.

14th November Lease 83X crushing No. 83 of 80 tons yielded 28 ounces 8 pennyweights. Bank advanced £90. Royalty at 5% £4.10.0.

14th November Lease 12X crushing No. 84 of 370 tons yielded 30 ounces 1 pennyweight. Bank advanced £105. Royalty £5.5.

28th November Lease 12X crushing No. 85 of 225 tons yielded 40 ounces 12 pennyweights 12 grains. Bank advanced £140. Royalty at 5% £7.

12th December Crushing No. 86 and 87 of a total 407 tons yielded 49 ounces 4 pennyweights 12 grains. Bank advanced £160. Royalty at 5% £8.8.0. No lease indicated.

2nd January 1908 Crushing No. 86, 87 and 88 of 632 tons yielded 107 ounces 16 pennyweights 12 grains. Bank advanced £371. Royalty at 5% £18.11.0. No lease indicated.

4th June Crushing No. 89 of 50 tons yielded 21 ounces 6 pennyweights. Bank advanced £75. Royalty at 5% £3.13.0. No lease indicated.

1st October 1908 Crushing No. 90 and 91 of a total 220 tons yielded 50 ounces 1 pennyweight 18 grains. Bank advanced £160. Royalty at 5% £8.No lease indicated.

2nd January 1909 Crushing No. 92 of 100 tons yielded 21 ounces 5 pennyweights. Bank advanced £66. Royalty at 5% £3.6.0. No lease indicated.

11th February 1909 Lease 83X, crushing No. 93 of 260 tons from the old cement lead (Golden Cement) yielded 28 ounces 8 pennyweights. Bank advanced £76. Royalty at 5% £3.16.0.

19th August 1909 Lease 83X, crushing No. 94 of 220 tons yielded 19 ounces 12 pennyweights. Bank advanced £67. Royalty at 2.5% £1.13.6. This crushing was taken from the Golden Cement.

Accidents At Main Reef

Preface - Accidents as known to the author from 1898 to 1909 - In all thirty two.

Preface - This chapter is set aside solely to the chronicling of the accidents which occurred at the Main Reef during its working periods, but before proceeding with our main theme we will insert in this preface a few items relative to the said subject and which are as follows:-

Kanowna 15th February 1905

Bewick Moreing and Company Kalgoorlie

Sirs

Accident Insurance

We have to acknowledge receipt of your letter 14 instant according to instruction contained therein. We beg to enclose cheque for £385, re Joseph Mitchell.

Yours faithfully Julian Boyd Aarons

Kanowna August 17,1905

New Policy

Bewick Moreing and Company Kalgoorlie

We acknowledge receipt of your letters of the 7th and 11th instant, relative to the change of insurance companies. The former letter instructed us to report the occurrence of any accident to the agent at Perth viz:-

J.F. Connigrave Commercial Chambers St. George Terrace Perth

Whilst the latter instructs that all cases should be reported promptly to the representative, Eagle Chambers, Hay Street, Perth, we shall be glad to know if the latter address is the correct one?

Yours faithfully J. Boyd Aarons

Kanowna January 18th 1907

Messrs Clarke and Party

Dear Sirs

Accident Insurance

Your attention is drawn to Clause 10 in your tribute agreement in confirmation of the information conveyed to you by Mr Waite on the 16th instant.

Arrangements can no longer be made through the mine office. You are no longer protected against accident. You may however obtain information as to the addresses of accident insurance companies from this office.

Yours faithfully For Bewick Moreing and Company J. Boyd Aarons

A facsimile copy of this letter was served to the (also) following tributors:- Marvel and Party, Kenville and Party, Hartley and Party, Cousens and Party, Langford and Party, Fullerton and Party, and others

Kanowna 6th March 1907

Messrs Clark and Party

Dear Sirs

Accident Insurance

Your attention is drawn to Clause 10 in your tribute agreement. You are herewith informed that arrangements have now been made that you can now insure as previously. A charge of one shilling and three pence (1/3) per week per man will be made from this date.

For Bewick Moreing and Company General Managers C.M. Waite Superintendent

The other tributors were also informed with a similar note as Clarke and

Party.

The Accidents

We left in abeyance the tragic happenings at the Main Reef as they had happened at intervals of several years and they would be scattered throughout the foregoing pages and disjointed whereas in this chapter they shall form a consecutive narrative.

We have no complete list of all the accidents. The first actual one recorded by the officials of the mine dated May 1905 and numbered as "accident 38".

And as to those from 1 to 37 (which occurred previous to the 38), we are mostly indebted to the files of the Kalgoorlie Miner and Western Argus.

The very first case which has come down under our notice is dated October 1898.

George Schevan

October 26,1898 Early this morning George Schevan working in the stope, he fired two shots and the lamps (probably candles) held by the miners were extinguished just then. Schevan cried out "Liberate me". Was found with a mass of earth and stone upon him fully 50 feet from where shots fired. Extricated and taken to the hospital. Doctors Laurie and Ewing found both legs were fractured. He died next evening aged 35 years. Buried in the Church of England section of cemetery. Rev. R.H. Moore officiated at the grave. The funeral was largely attended. Schevan was a married man. His wife and family reside in Victoria.

John Keating

December 9, 1898 Early this morning while John Keating was being lowered to work in the cage the brake gear went wrong and the cage dropped 40 feet with great rapidity. Keating sustained a compound fracture of the left leg and died next day. Buried on December 11th in absence of priest. Mr D.P. Casey read the service at the grave.

December 15, 1898 Inquest on the body of John Keating who met his death while working in the White Feather Main Reef was resumed this morning before the coroner Mr Patrick Troy and jury consisting of Messrs Waite (foreman), Baragwanath and Carroll.

Mr Hale appeared for Keating's relatives and Mr Hackett for the engine driver Ernest Pentzin, Mr Keenan for the Main Reef Company.

E.J. Kerrick deposed: He remembered the 9th December. He was working at the 200 feet level and about 600 feet distant from the shaft. Knew Keating who was his mate. Went on to work with him at midnight. Deceased left the drive to go to the surface for some picks. I was called afterwards by a miner named Brooks who said there has been an accident. Went immediately to the bottom of the shaft and found Keating on the plat. There he was stretched on a board on his back. Deceased said; "Oh Teddy, Teddy what's matter? I am broke up." I saw his legs were broken and I and other miners who were present agreed that he should be brought to the surface at once.

Brooks went up the ladderway and another cage in about a quarter of an hour. In it were Messrs Mangles (or Mangels) the foreman and also the Miner Brooks. Deceased was then placed in the cage and brought to the surface and taken to the hospital but I never seen him since either dead or alive. I know nothing about machinery. Deceased was quite sober at time of accident. To the Coroner his habits were moderate. Deceased lived formerly at Bungarie Victoria where his family were. He was about 25 years of age. To the Jury: When deceased said he was broke up I replied I hope that it is not so bad as that. The cage usually kept at the bottom of the shaft especially during the night shift.

Janies Brooks stated: He was on the same shift working in the main shaft about 25 feet below 200 feet level. A little before two o'clock on the morning of the 9th instant deceased screamed out after the cage had fallen heavily on the plat. I climbed up to the plat and found deceased in the cage in a doubled up posture. I asked him if he was hurt but deceased said nothing. Then I went for deceased's mate (and his own mate). On my return I went up the ladderway to the surface and reported the accident to Mr Mangels (the foreman). To the Coroner: The cage used on the mine was an ordinary one and not a safety cage. To the Jury: The cage it fell. To Keenan: The rope did not break on the occasion of the accident.

Robert Brenton deposed: He was one of Brook's mates on the mine. Heard the cage drop heavily on the plat, and was called afterwards to see deceased... He was raised to the surface and taken to the hospital. 40 of 50 minutes after the accident... John Reem also working with Brooks.

William Wilcot deposed: I remember the night of 8th instant and the following morning about 2 o'clock heard a signal. The driver went immediately to the engine and put his hand to the lever bar and pulled the clutch gear. The driver then took the brake off the drum and started the engine and an unusual noise took place a few seconds after. I believe the driver turned the steam off but I would not swear to the fact. The driver afterwards left the engine and walked a couple of steps. I went to the engine and seeing a drum revolving immediately I put the brake down and saw that the clutch was out of gear. Pentzin the driver came to me and asked what was wrong. I told him the rope had run down and Pentzin then said we had better pull it up. I said we better wait till the manager arrives. The north cage was hauled to the surface and the foreman and Brooks descended to the shaft in that cage deceased was brought up..

Ernest Pentzin deposed: That recollected 8th instant and that was employed at Main Reef as engine driver. Went on duty at midnight., had about 3 years practising as engine driver. Had not obtained engine driver certificate. Worked on the Empress of Coolgardie Mine for some time and about 18 months at Robinson Mine in the capacity of engine driver. About 2 o'clock when the signal "haul up: a man on" was given. On hearing the signal I put the drum in gear by pulling the rod affixed to the lever of the clutch. To the best of my belief the clutch was put "home" as I pulled the rod so hard that it would move no further. I felt quite satisfied that clutch was "home". While working by means of the rod a driver would be about 10 feet or 11 feet from the clutch. The clutch cannot be seen from this point having pulled the rod I took the brake off the drum and started to heave up. The machine started all right but when the drum had revolved four or five times the engine commenced to work very rapidly and the drum began to revolve the opposite way. At the same time I could hear the clutch striking the drum and sparks were emitted. I shut off the steam as quickly as possible and I stooped down to put the brake on. While in the act of doing this a piece of the lagging of the drum flew out and I jumped back. Wilcox almost immediately went to the brake and put it on. I said to Wilcox (the amalgamator) whatever made that (meaning the clutch) slip out. Wilcox said I don't know: but don't touch it until I fetch Mr Mangels. Wilcox for the working manager. I looked down the shaft two or three times but could not see or hear anything. Shortly a man came from below and said what is wrong with the engine? A man has been smashed up. I told the man (Brooks) that Wilcox had already gone for Mangels. I did not interfere in anyway with the machinery during Wilcox's absence and could not account for the clutch been in gear when Mangels arrived.

I consider I had possessed sufficient knowledge of machinery to perform the duty of an engine driver and I attribute the accident to the fact that the clutch had got out of gear. I had previous experience with similar engine to that at the Main Reef. In some mines precautionary methods were adopted with regard to the lever. At the Robinson mine a wooden wedge was placed behind the lever to avoid going back. Not such wedge was used at the Main Reef.

I first went to work at the mine in question on the Monday prior to the accident. I did not consider it unsafe to work the engine on this mine without using a wedge as it had been working so long without mishap. I cannot say positively but I consider the cage was up 30 feet or 40 feet when the accident occurred. I consider the brake on the drum was sufficiently strong and in order. There has no indicator on the engine but marks were on the rope to show the various levels. To Mr Hale: I worked an engine at the Golden Crown with an indicator and at the Robinson and Empress of Coolgardie. At the Main Reef there were no indicators. I had been driving off and on for three years. I was a blacksmith before I went up for examination for engine driver three years ago but failed to pass. I went to the Empress of Coolgardie and Robinson. I was not asked if I were a Certified. I account for the accident simply because there was no appliance to keep the lever in position. I did not consider there was any negligence on my part.

I pulled the rod as hard as I could to put the clutch in gear. There was no such rod at the Robinson. A wooden wedge was used instead. To Mr Hackett: No complaints have ever been made against me as an engine driver. No accident during term of 18 months at the Robinson Mine. I did all in my power to stop the accident.

When I left the brake the drum was only revolving slowly and when Wilcox ran over to the engine the accident had already taken place.

When I failed to pass the engine driver examination I was told to go and work as assistant driver until I came up again and pass. The marks on the rope were bits of strings and these were apt to become loose. To Mr Keenan: I remember the inspector of the mines visiting the scene of the accident. I told him I was not certificated when asked by that official to make a statement.

I never told Harper I had a "ticket" but I told Bray the manager of the Golden Crown that I had one and Bray may have told Harper. I was positive I never adjusted the clutch during Wilcox's absence. The indicators were preferable to and safer than one of these pieces of string slip on the night of the accident. There was no provision for the insertion of wedges by a manufacturer... To Inspector Jenkyn: When I saw you on the morning of the accident I told him I could not get the brake on in time.

To the jury: I was certain the cage had got to the bottom before I applied the brake. When I went to work at the Main Reef I thought the rod was an improvement or at any rate was a great convenience had been there no rod affixed to adjust the clutch. Would have seen whether it was in gear or otherwise. There was no provision made on the engine for the insertion of a rod. I was afraid of being killed by the broken pieces of wood which were flying and that was the reason for leaving the brake, the cage had in my opinion got to the bottom of the shaft before I had time to apply the brake.

Doctor H. Laurie deposed that at 20 minutes to 4 o'clock on the morning of the 9th instant a man was brought on a stretcher to the Government Hospital which was temporary under me. On examination I found the man suffering from shock and collapse. While the left leg had received a compound fracture near the ankle. I bounded up the leg and stopped the profuse bleeding but owing to the condition of the patient decided to hold over the setting of injured limb until somewhat had recovered from the shock.

Doctor Ewing arrived some hours after and agreed with my treatment. Later on Doctor O'Meekan appeared at the wish of the patient's relative. Everything possible was done to save his life but he gradually sank and expired at about half past 11 o'clock the same evening. I examined him externally and found numerous bruises and abrasions: was not given permission to make an internal post-mortem examination... I considered the cause of his death was shock, collapse and loss of blood which might have been occasioned by the accident. To the coroner: When a serious accident occurs to a man the patient should not be removed but medical aid should be summoned at once... To Keenan: Doctor O'Meehan was sent for by an employee named Lomasney and not by the company.

George Jenkyn Inspector of the mines for North East Coolgardie and Broad Arrow Goldfields gave evidence (is too long to copy). The jury desired to view the scene of the accident, to this was acceded. The coroner and inspector accompanied them at 4.30pm. They returned to the courthouse and they suggested that an expert be selected by the Warden of Kalgoorlie as the Warden (Troy) assembled to this inquest was adjourned to the 24th instant.

Kanowna December 26 and 27, 1898 (Monday and Tuesday) F.J. Lander

inspector of Mines of East Coolgardie deposed of having examined the machinery at the Main Reef and found them perfect. (Too long to copy.)

Mr Hale (For Keating's relatives) addressed the jury: At considerable length and contended to the clutch hard rod should have been provided with a gauge. No doubt according to evidence the accident was the engine driver's fault and that as he had no certificate he maintained the company was distinctly liable.

Mr Keenan (For the company) addressed the jury: He thought the affair was one of those accidents upon which the blame could be attributed to anyone. The coroner: I quite agree with the company's counsel in addressing the jury and they retired and re-appeared brought in a verdict of not guilty of negligence against the engine driver Pentzin. The coroner said: I concur with the verdict.

Kanowna Thursday December 29, 1898 Before the resident magistrate (Patrick Troy) and Messrs Gray and Tonniges, the manager of the Main Reef was proceeded against by inspector Jenkyn for a breach of Section 35 of Mine Regulation Act for allowing that driver Pentzin was uncertificated and a fine of twenty shillings was imposed.

Charles Osmetti

July 24, 1899 About 8 o'clock this morning it appears the bearers set under the cage when stationary at the surface, had by some means been removed and when four miners named Charles Osmetti, John Taylor, D. Edgar and J. Sardino got in to the cage it descended rapidly. The engine driver immediately applied the brake but the impetus was so great that the cage reached the 200 feet level before stopping it. It is said Osmetti got his leg broken and they raised the man (also the other three) to the surface and they were taken to the hospital. They are progressing favourably.

August 29, 1899 Charles Osmetti died in the hospital last evening and was buried today in the Roman Catholic section of the cemetery. Father Brereton officiated. We have not another word of information about this miner's accident but over 22 years afterwards another Charles Osmetti was accidently killed on the Golden Horseshoe Mine. We let the Kalgoorlie Miner of December 1941 speak for itself:

In loving memory of our dear father Charles who was accidentally killed on the Golden Horseshoe Mine 6th December 1921. What pain he bore we cannot tell: We never saw him die. We only know he passed away and never said goodbye. Inserted by his loving sons.

John Taylor

Perth Monday April 16,1900 In No. 2 Court before Justice Hensman and jury proceeded against the Main Reef Company claiming £1,000 for injury alleged to have sustained while in the employ of the company on July 24, 1899.

Messrs R.J. Robertson and Villeneuve Smith appear for Plaintiff Messrs

F.W. Moonhead F. Martin for defendant company. The whistle blew, the cage was lifted and the barrier was drawn away and the men entered. As soon as they did the cage began to descend and ran down to the 200 feet level where the men were thrown to some considerable distance. One was killed on the spot and Taylor received damage to his ankle joints and suffered other injuries. Caused him to remain in the hospital for five (5) months.

Had received £25.1.0 from the accident but he had lost £139.10.0 in wages since the accident.

Doctor Saw (a duly qualified medical practitioner) He testified he had made two examinations of the plaintiff on Monday and again last Saturday. There was a thickness of both ankles: marked out the right one. The arches of both feet were weakened, consequently there was the condition known as flat foot. The movement of both feet was fairly good. That was passed movement not walking. The muscles of both legs were wasted. The calf measurement being only 11 'A inches. There was tenderness or movement around the ankles and puffiness of the tendons there. There was also a widening of the arch between these two ankle bones to the extent of half inch. The plaintiff had received a Potts fracture and sprain he did think the muscle of the legs would be restored. He would be incapable of doing hard work, and would find difficulty of doing hard work.

George William Rose Brooks of Kanowna. Miner deposed: That he was working on the same shift as plaintiff on the day that the accident happened. About 8.00am he heard a whistle and walked towards the shaft. He saw the men getting into shaft. As they did so, he heard a fire signal from the other shaft. At the same time the cage passed out of sight he had no idea that anything was wrong as everything had happened as usual. Miners and mode of brace man signals to the engine driver was by his hand holding up one or more fingers to indicate which level the cage was to go "to". Witness had known Taylor since 1893. Previous to the accident he appeared in good health and he was a first class miner.

David Edgar Miner said: He was one of the men who went into the cage just before the accident. Witness corroborated the evidence of the previous witness.

Charles James Saggett Examined by Mr Smith he said: Was employed as engine driver on the defendant mine on July 24, 1899. Went to work there about the 12th of the previous December where an accident had just occurred in connection with the south drum (Mr Moorhead objected). At that time there were no notches in the lever for that drum. There was a rod there to keep the clutches in (too long to copy). The witness (Saggett) made two suggestions for the control of the drum but it was not accepted and the machine remained in its original state till the day of the accident. After the accident the inspector Jenkyn, in witness presence, directed the manager to have the north drum secure.

On the day of the accident he got a fire signal at this time both drums were out gear. Went back to his engine he raised the cage at the 300 feet levels. About three feet each time to indicated to men that he was ready to raise them. He then waited for the signal. One knock, while waiting he opened the front and drain cocks of the Cylinder and had to stoop to do the latter. When he raised himself he noticed the north drum in motion he ran round and jumped on the north drum. Putting the brake down as hard as he could. There were no indicators on the engine to show where the cage was. Could not tell positively the string on the cage rope. The cage had gone within 50 feet of the bottom when he applied the brake and it stopped at 200 feet.

The north brake was not so strong as the south brake. On the day of the accident could not see the whole of the shaft when you had your foot on a brake. The men would be justified in concluding he was ready and in entering the cage he had not however got the north drum in gear. Had he been ready he would have got the drum into gear lifted the cage from the bearer and whistled to the braceman. Before attending to the firing men in the other shaft. He attended to the runway. Witness had to attend to three steam condensers going. Witness was present at the inquest a month after the accident. One of the men who were killed. After the inquest left the mine . He did not see the signal No. 1 and No. 2 before the fingers were used.

William T. Clarke Engineer examined by Mr Smith deposed: That the machinery was bad and the brakes and signals insufficient and the engine driver had too much to do. The explanation of the clutches creeping in was very reasonable.

Thomas Newton said: That he was an engine driver and on July 24th last year he was in the employ of defendant company. He was relieved at 8.00am by Charles Saggett. He left the winding engine moving steadily with north drum out of gear. The brakes were in good order. Had not used the north drum during his shift. The machinery was in good order... The knocker fair. The signal from below could be heard if the knocking was strong.

George Jenkyn Inspector of Mines examined by Doctor Martin said: He had thirty (30) years experience of mining and engineering. Visited the defendant mine the cage which was a patent safety used in the north shaft of the 200 feet level. Examined and found it in good condition. The bearers at surface were also sound. The machinery in good condition. The brakes were in good working order. A good class and adequate machinery used. The driver could see the south shaft altogether. He could have seen the north without altering his position. Never knew creeping by the brakes. Do not take place in the kind of clutches used. He did not think it could take place.

Thomas Owen deposed: That he was braceman on the day of the accident. He saw the engine driver Saggett standing near the engine. Immediately after he saw Saggett, the cage was raised. The view from the shaft to the engine room was not clear. It was partly obstructed by the corner of the iron building. When the men who met with the accident had got into the cage he put up the barrier and he was about to signal to the engine driver to lower to the 200 feet level, which saw the cage being lowered at the usual rate from where I removed the barrier. There was not a clear view to the engine room. I had to move forward to see the engine driver.

Alexander Roberts Shift boss on the Main Reef said: That Mr Mangels the submanager. After the accident he dismissed me gave as his reason that I had stated at inquest that I could not see the engine driver from the shaft and that there was no indicator at the brace. This witness' evidence is not available in full and those few lines appears to us not the beginning of his evidence.

John Mangels Foreman at the Main Reef Company in reply to Mr Moorhead said: That he had driven this machinery for six months. It was a good machinery. There was no defect on the gear. The evidence is too long to copy.

Nat White Harper deposed that he was the manager of the defendant company and he had 15 years experience of mining machinery.

We knew John Taylor in later years only by sight and never asked him what compensation he got out of the accident. His brother (William Creswell) told us about £250. As for Sardino we have not a word of information how he fared in that mishap.

Swalling

July 27,1900 Swalling the fireman hurt his eye - J. Mangels.

Richard Grenfell

July 29, 1901 A rather painfiil accident befell a miner to date named Richard Grenfell employed on the Main Reef underground. While breaking down ore struck himself the point of the pick in his right eye. He was taken to the hospital.

Andrew Hansen

March 12, 1902 This afternoon Andrew Hansen employed at the Main Reef as engine driver. While attending to a feed tank attached to the plant he fell into it and the result was that he was practically parboiled.

The affair was not noticed by any other of the surface hands and nothing was known of the matter until Hansen after getting out of the half filled tank was seen near the connecting pipe by William McCaw. The fireman of the mill McCaw immediately rushed to Hansen, took his clothes off and wrapped the body round with a sheet and after anointing him with kerosene was removed to hospital as soon as possible.

Where the nursing staff in the temporary absence of Doctor Teaque dressed the wounds. When Doctor Teaque arrived he gave no hope as Hansen was practically parboiled. He gradually sank and shortly before 6 this evening died. The deceased's wife arrived at the hospital as soon as the news reached her but unfortunately Hansen died several minutes before her arrival.

Kanowna March 13, 1902 An inquest on the body of Andrew Hansen an engine driver at Main Reef who was scalded to death yesterday was commenced this morning in the courthouse before Patrick Troy (coroner) and a jury consisting of Messrs McCorkill, Kingsbury and J. Lemon. After viewing the remains at the hospital mortuary the inquest was adjourned until next Tuesday morning.

March 17, 1902 McCaw stated: The feed tank was a 400 gallons tank with a top open. Deceased came to work at 8.00am. It was not deceased's duty as engine driver to look after the pipe running into the feed tank. Two of the surface men Klussmann and Nelson were supposed to make duly alteration of effect any repairs in this respect.. Shortly after 12 o'clock I had occasion to go into the engine room. Saw deceased sitting on the side of the feed tank and could not tell by his expression that something was wrong with him. I approached deceased and noticed the clothes were wet. From this condition I concluded he must have fallen into the tank and in assisting deceased from the top of the tank I felt that his clothes were saturated with warm water. Assisted deceased to remove his clothes as he was unmistakenly scalded. I went for help. Was compelled to act as engine driver in place of deceased. Neither deceased nor I spoke as the clothes being removed. The pipe produced was lying at bottom of the tank and may have been broken.. To the coroner: Deceased was assaulted some months ago by a workman and was brought to court. That man was not in the vicinity of the mine on the 12th instant. To Inspector Jenkyn: Deceased evidently stood on a step about a foot from the ground when he was altering the pipe. From deceased's feet up to the top of the tank the distance would be about two feet eight inches. To the jury: Considered it necessary that the feed tank should be open on top in order that lagging might be placed from time to time to catch any oil which might come through various pipes. Another reason was if the tank top was kept closed the water would turn too hot to recover it to the boilers.

Helen Ruth Hansen deposed that she was the widow of deceased, who was born in Germany. Deceased had no trouble whatever in his mind.

Doctor Gilbert M. Teaque medical superintendent of the White Feather Hospital deposed: That he attended deceased in the afternoon of the 12th instant. Hansen was very badly burned and died about 5 o'clock pm from heart failure consequent upon a shock on his system had received. He was conscious while in the hospital. To the jury: Saw no mark of any pipe in his hands or arms. His left arm was scalded chiefly from elbow to the shoulder.

Henry Klussmann A carpenter employed at the mine stated that a few minutes before noon on the 12th instant deceased called his attention to the draw pipes from the air compressor. Deceased said that if the compressor were to be started some water would be wasted. Hansen said he thought he had better bend the pipe downward in order to save the water. Deceased asked witness if there were any bends into the shop when witness was called just after 12 o'clock. Deceased had his clothes off and a sheet was wrapped round him. It was not part of deceased's work to attend to these pipes. The pipe produced was found at the bottom of the tank and had broken off at the coupling just above the side of the tank. Witness and Jack Nelson always attended to any work which was required to be done about the engine house and piping. Deceased spoke to witness and said while trying to bend the pipe it broke and fell into the tank. I wish I had left it alone.

Thomas Joice employed at Main Reef as fireman stated: That immediately before the accident happened deceased passed witness and said "Tom how's things?" Witness replied "All right Andy." He heard the 12 o'clock whistle blowing but could not say who blew it. McCaw rushed to witness and said for god's sake Tom come to Andy he is been scalded. He asked deceased how the accident happened. He said the pipe was leaking. I went to screw it but it broke and toppled into the tank.

Archie Graham He stated on the 12th instant, was acting manager of the White Feather Main Reef. Deceased had been employed on and off for fully four years and he was a very steady man. Saw Hansen about ten minutes before the accident. It was no part of the engine driver to duly attend to the drain pipes of the feed tank. While assisting deceased to the hospital he said that the pipe broke while trying to bend it down.

Inspector Jenkyn Stated that a person could fall by accident into the tank as from a surface.

The Court Summing up briefly mentioned the evidence... which appears to him that the deceased met his death while attempting to bend one of the drain pipes downwards.

The Jury After retired for five minutes returned with the following verdict. We find that deceased Andrew Henry Hansen met his death accidentally by falling into the feed tank on the White Feather Main Reef on the 12th instant and we further find that no blame is attachable to anyone. The coroner: Gentlemen I entirely concur with your verdict.

John Davies

August 23, 1902 John Davies met with injuries at 8.00pm. Tonight broke his leg through hanging irons of ladder into the pass between 3 and 4 levels breaking. Had used same ladder I'A hours previously all safe then - Archie Graham.

We do not know the exact amount of compensation Davies received for the injury. It was said £300 or £400. Soon after the case was settled he started a battery on the east side of Isabella Street.

Fraser

December 30,1903 A miner named Fraser met with a slight accident. He was engaged putting in timbers when a lump of rock came away on him and cut him in several places - Archie Graham.

The Ladders Accident

August 10, 1904 I regret to report that an accident occurred to seven miners between the 600 feet and 700 feet levels on the underlay shaft (east only) through hanging irons on the ladders straightening but nothing fatal - Archie Graham.

The complete account of the ladder accident is not available to our disposal. The files of the Kalgoorlie Miner, Western Argus and the Perth press is not within our reach.

Kanowna August 11,1904 The ladder accident at the Main Reef. There were seven men on it at the time it collapsed between the 600 feet and 700 feet levels on the underlay shaft east reef. Were installed only a few days ago to obviate the necessity of the men proceeding to their work by a cage which is not provided with grippers.

Evidently the two ladder hooks at the top were strong enough to hold 14 men. Inspector Jenkyn found the hooks almost straight this morning. Five of the men are in hospital.

Kanowna October 19, 1904 H. Hussey sued the Main Reef Company through the ladder accident on August 10th last for £99 compensation. He stayed five days in the hospital. E.P. Dowley, Resident Magistrate awarded him £67.15.0. He had a wife and one child.

Kanowna Wednesday December 7, 1904 Before Mr Dowley Resident Magistrate Inspector Jenkyn proceeded against the Main Reef Company that on August 10th was following mining. He inspected the winze (East Reef) between the 600 feet and 700 feet levels., at a point 614 feet north of the Main shaft.. He considered the accident was caused through the hangers of the ladders giving away. There were no spikes nor staples put in... There were eight or nine ladders in the winze. The top one was secured by hangers and the bottom one was resting on the plat at the 700 feet. The strain would be too great unless only a few men were on the ladders. He was informed that 14 men were on the ladders at the time of the accident. When he interviewed the underground manager the latter stated that he meant to put the staples in but he thought the hangers might be sufficiently strong. To Mr Randall (for the company): Six men would be quite enough on the ladders.

George Laughlin One of the injured men thought the fall of the ladders gave evidence to the effect that when he was about 30 feet up he felt the ladders falling and with others fell almost to the plat, at the 700 feet level. There were no others falling as far as he knew except a hanger at the top. To Mr Randall: There was a suit for a £1,000 damage sustained by him in the accident but that has nothing to do with present action. For the defence Messrs Graham and Aarons the principals employed on the mine gave brief evidence... The bench stated that although a fine of £50 could be inflicted a leniency would be given. The Resident Magistrate imposed a penalty of £5 with costs.

Perth April 19, 1905 The ladder accident continued before Commissioner Roe and special jury at Kalgoorlie.

On December 16, 1904 George Laughlin was awarded £323 for loss of a finger damage and Lunt £299. Defendant company did not claim liability to pay damage but applied for a new trial or alternately for a reduction of damage on the grounds that the judgement was against the weight of the evidence that the damages were excessive. That the special damage should not have been allowed against the company and the evidence regarding the injuries wrongfully admitted. Messrs W.V. Smith and Sawell appeared for appellant company and Mr N.K. Ewing and J.H. Worke for respondent.

The court reduced the judgement of the law court, awarded Lunt £254.19.0 and Laughlin £303. The court alternately gave to respondents the choice of either accepting these amends as final or retrial of the case. Mr Ewing applied for an adjournment for the purpose of consulting his clients.. The court agreed and allowed the respondents a fortnight to come to a decision.

We have no further information before us of the final settlement of the ladders accident.

Death Of George Laughlin Kanowna April 20, 1905 (From the Kalgoorlie Miner). The death of George Laughlin (known as Bruce) which occurred in the Kanowna White Feather Hospital on Thursday at 5.00pm is announced with regret. On Thursday it was announced that he had been awarded £303 by the fully court in Perth in connection with an accident at Main Reef "Ladders Accident". He was highly respected by all who knew him. He leaves a mother and several brothers to mourn their loss, friends and relatives were present at the funeral on Saturday April 22nd.

Death Of Charles Laughlin

A Charles Laughlin died of phthisis (aged 34 years) in the White Feather Hospital on the 4th of August 1902. Late of Roe, Victoria. He was not connected with any accident at the Main Reef and the reason why is recorded here is we think (not quite certain) that he was a brother of George Laughlin. Moreover he and the author were fellow employees underground on the Robinson Mine in 1901 and we found him a good man.

Charles Adolph

Kanowna November 19, 1904 I regret to report that this morning at 8.00am that a miner named Charles Adolph met his death by stepping down the winze from the 800 feet level - Archie Graham.

He fell 80 feet - the author was standing at the mouth of the main shaft awaiting his turn to go down the mine when the accident signal was given from the 600 feet level and about 10 minutes after the body of Adolph was landed on the surface and on the ambulance stretcher and carried to the White Feather

Hospital mortuary, by the following Archie Graham, James Ramsay, Harry Klussmann, Harry Williams and Balzano. Other men accompanied us, names unknown. At the south east comer of the hospital fence we met Doctor Joice who asked "Is the man dead?" Graham replied "Yes."

The funeral took place next day at 4.00pm. Fully 200 men followed his remains. There were seven vehicles. The chief mourner being deceased's brother Hugo Adolph. He was buried in Wesleyan section of the new cemetery. The Reverend Langton officiated at the grave. Adolph was 41 years of age, single at time of his death. He had £300 in the Savings Bank.

Kanowna February 15, 1905 (Adolph accident). Before E.P. Dowley Inspector Jenkyn issued the Main Reef Company for having left porthole at the 800 feet level (on the underlay shaft East Reef) partly open and caused the accident to Adolph. Mr Randall defended the company that the accident was caused by deceased's carelessness for seeing the porthole. The charge was dismissed with £3.10.0 costs.

Ernest Armstrong

This is the first official accident available to us with any details and is recorded as accident No. 38 which is as follows.

Kanowna 19th May 1905

The Warden North East Coolgardie Goldfields Kanowna

Dear Sir

We beg to report that a trucker named Ernest Armstrong fell down a shoot between the 500 feet and 600 feet levels while coming away from work this afternoon. He was taken to the hospital but we do not anticipate any serious results.

Yours faithfully J. Boyd Aarons

A facsimile report was also given to the Inspector of Mines.

Kanowna May 30,1905

Messrs Bewick Moreing and Company

Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

Accident No. 38 Armstrong

Enclosed pleased find this man's statement which has just been obtained. Age: 27. Dependant: Mother. Will not sign agreement to accept compensation under the Workman's Compensation Act. The reason given being that he is not prepared to state his intention we may state that he is progressing favourably although still unable to move his back.

Yours faithfully J. Boyd Aarons

Kanowna May 31,1905

The Under Secretary For Mines Perth

Western Australia

Dear Sir

Accident Armstrong 19/5/05

We would be obliged if you will kindly forward the Inspector of Mines' report on the above accident which occurred on our mine.

Yours faithfully J. Boyd Aarons

Kanowna 3rd June 1905

Under Secretary For Mines Perth

Dear Sir

We have to acknowledge receipt of yours of the 1st instant, enclosing Inspector Jenkyn's report on the accident to Armstrong. For which we thank you. Herewith we beg to enclose stamps to the value of one shilling being for four (4) folios at three pence.

Yours faithfully J. Boyd Aarons

Kanowna 5th June 1905

Messrs Bewick Moreing and Company

Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

Accident No. 38

Please (enclosed) find Inspector Jenkyn's report on the above. Armstrong in his statement says that he thinks that a portion of the ledge broke away and that he does not remember falling. It is our opinion it was likely that this man had tripped and fell. The ledge was not broken away. On the Inspector saying that he did not consider the place safe we informed that we had only wanted to work there for a few shifts to augment our supply mullock; and that to render the place absolutely safe the men doing this could have had to run the same risk as the man who fell. The Inspector accepted this view. Armstrong is still in much the same condition but the Doctor states that he is only suffering from bruises.

Yours faithfully J. Boyd Aarons Superintendent

Kanowna 13th June 1905

Messrs Bewick Moreing and Company

Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

Accident No. 38

In reply to your letter of the 9th instant we offered the man Armstrong his first week's compensation money on the 9th instant, but he declined to accept same stating that "he did not want any money at present". He would not state a reason for refusing but we gather from his attitude that he intends to make a case if possible. He is still in the hospital.

Yours faithfully J. Boyd Aarons

Kanowna August 10th 1905

Messrs Bewick Moreing and Company

Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

Accident No. 38 Armstrong

In answer to our enquires re this man Doctor Joice stated that he is still suffering from considerable pain in the back and has partial paralysis of the left arm and leg, also some trouble with the ear, and that there is no possibility of his being able to leave the hospital for some time to come.

Messrs Stawell and Cowle's chief clerk was in Kanowna some time ago making enquires re this accident and we informed him then that Doctor Joice had advised us to settle with Armstrong without delay as the case appeared complicated.

We have not seen Armstrong since the expiry of the third week when he refused to accept the week's compensation.

Yours faithfully William Pollard

Kanowna 11th October 1905

Messrs Bewick Moreing and Company

Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

Accident No. 38 Armstrong

We are in receipt of your letter of the 9th instant and have today seen Armstrong. We made him the offer of £300 but it is evident that he has made up his mind for a much larger sum as he said that nothing in the vicinity of £300 would be acceptable. We could not wheedle out of him what amount would be accepted. At the same time if the company made him another and larger offer he would consider it, and if the sum was not suitable then let the jury decide.

He does not agree to wait but states that it is his intention to do so even now in order to learn whether his injury is to be permanent or not. He instructed his solicitor to give notice of action having been advised that it was necessary to do so within six months of the accident.

Yours faithfully William Pollard Superintendent

Kanowna 20th October 1905

Messrs Bewick Moreing and Company

Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

Accident No. 38 Armstrong

We have again seen this man and regret that it would seem to be hopeless to effect a settlement with him. He point blank refused to even consider £300 and when pressed for some figure in order that we might have some idea of what he expected he stated that he would not consider any amount below £1,000 as there was a possibility of his being a cripple for life.

Yours faithfully William Pollard

(Coded response then received from Bewick Moreing.)

Bewick

Kalgoorlie

URGENT

Reply acinous twenty eight Armstrong Danglers from videlicet uglify treegoose to Vandyke uglify treehair also usualness to vastate uglify treejobber Scoterduck loathness HJM first madroma subjoinder sprinkled second madroma subalpine spinstry total suemanshal Stupecus sprucefir

Nicolson

Messrs Bewick Moreing and Company

Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

Accident Number 38 Armstrong

We beg to acknowledge receipt of your urgent wire of even date relative to the period of employment and the amount paid Armstrong to which we replied as per copy of the wire herewith. We understand that during the period April 1904 to February 1905 most of Armstrong's time was spent in the hospital with some internal trouble.

Yours faithfully C. Hope Nicolson

R. Timmell

Kanowna 21st August 1906

Fairfax Connigrave Agent For Royal Exchange Assurance Eagle Chambers Hay Street Perth

Dear Sir

Accident No. 2

We forward herewith notification of an accident to a blacksmith named R. Timmell in this company's employ. We do not anticipate that the accident will prove serious and expect the injured man back to work in two or three days.

J. Boyd Aarons

Superintendent

Kanowna 21st August 1906

The Inspector Of Mines Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

We have to report a slight accident to R. Timmell, a blacksmith employed by the above company (Main Reef). The above named was holding a drift by which a key was being driven into a cogwheel of the pumping engine; when the hammer being used by the fitter slipped and fell on his (Timmell's) arm causing a bruised forearm.

Yours faithfully

J. Boyd Aarons

The Inspector Of Mines Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

We have to report that R. Timmell; who was injured on the above company's mine (Main Reef) on the 20th ultimo; returned to work on the 3rd instant.

Yours faithfully J. Boyd Aarons

Kanowna 10th September 1906

Fairfax Connigrave Agent For Royal Exchange Assurance

Perth

Dear Sir

We beg to inform you that R. Timmell after working two shifts informed on the 5th instant, that his injured arm prevent him from continuing his work. We interviewed him on the 6th instant and he said that he would return to work today, but he has not put in an appearance. Timmell has now been away for 15 workings days and the injury appears to us to be a slight one for such an absence. We think it will be advisable to have the injured examined by a Doctor.

Yours faithfully J. Boyd Aarons

Kanowna 18th September 1906

Fairfax Connigrave Agent For Royal Exchange Assurance

Perth

Dear Sir

Accident No. 2

R. Timmell has notified us of his intention to call for compensation for two weeks and a half on Saturday 22nd instant. On that date (22nd) Timmell will have been away from work for 27 working days equal to four weeks and one quarter weeks. We will be glad of your remittance for the amount namely £5 being £2 per week for two weeks and a half to the 22nd instant.

Timmell informed us that he is being attended by Doctor Joice of Kanowna and he states that the Doctor has informed him that the bone in his arm is injured and that he will not be able to return to work for at least another fortnight.

Yours faithfully J. Boyd Aarons

Fairfax Connigrave Representative Royal Exchange Assurance (of London)

Perth

Western Australia

Dear Sir

Re R. Timmell

We are in receipt of yours of 18th and 20th instant and in reply beg to inform you that having interviewed Doctor Joice we do not think that Timmell is malingering. Doctor Joice states that the bone in the forearm is bruised and that Timmell may be incapacitated for another month or more. Timmell called today and was asked if he would accept payment for four and a half weeks in full payment (full settlement). Timmell declined this offer and stated that he would only accept £20 in full settlement. We have paid Timmell four pounds (£4) being compensation for two weeks at £2 per week. We enclose duplicate vouchers for this amount, and would be glad of your remittance. We also enclose Timmell’s offer to accept a further payment of £16 in full settlement of his claim.

Yours faithfully J. Boyd Aarons

Kanowna 12th October 1906

J. Fairfax Connigrave Agent For Royal Exchange Assurance

Perth

Dear Sir

Re R. Timmell

We would be glad of your remittance for £16 being total amount paid in compensation to the above named. Duplicate vouchers for £4 and for £12 were mailed to you on 22nd, ultimo and 3rd instant respectively.

Yours faithfully J. Boyd Aarons

Kanowna 12th October 1906

Messrs Bewick Moreing and Company

Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

Accident No. 2 R. Timmell

Herewith we beg to hand you copy of further correspondence in reference to the above.

Yours faithfully J. Boyd Aarons

The Inspector Of Mines Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

Thomas Eliott

We have to report to you that a tributor named Thomas Eliott while working on Lease 12X (Main Reef) met with a slight accident at 3.30pm on 6th instant. Eliott was taking a sample from the stope above the 298 feet level when he slipped and fell a distance of about 12 feet striking his head on the rilling. We do not regard the accident as a serious one: and the man will probably be incapacitated for about one week.

Yours faithfully J. Boyd Aarons

Kanowna 7th November 1906

Fairfax Connigrave Royal Exchange Assurance Perth

Dear Sir

Accident No. 3 Thomas Eliott (tributor)

Herewith we beg to hand you notification of the above accident, further particulars as to the injured's age; and as to whether he is prepared to accept compensation under the Workers Compensation Act will be sent you later.

Yours faithfully J. Boyd Aarons

Kanowna 13th November 1906

The Inspector Of Mines Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

In reference to our letter of 7th instant will you please note that Thomas Eliott returned to work on the 13th instant.

Yours faithfully J. Boyd Aarons

The Inspector Of Mines Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

Arthur Venville

We beg to notify you that a tributor named Arthur Venville met with a slight accident on the 14th instant while trucking on the surface. Venville jammed his thumb between two trucks; and has lost his thumb nail. He states that he will return to work in two or three days.

Yours faithfully J. Boyd Aarons

Kanowna 21st December 1906

The Inspector Of Mines Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

Please note that the tributor Arthur Venville who was injured on the 14th instant, returned to work on the 19th instant.

Yours faithfully J. Boyd Aarons

Arthur Venville Second Accident Kanowna 25th July 1907

The Inspector Of Mines Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

We have to report to you that a tributor named Arthur Venville while working on Gold Mine Lease No. 12X met with a slight accident at 3.30pm on the 24th instant. Venville was lifting a piece of stone when it broke causing him to fall and cut his arm on a sharp edge of the stone. We do not regard the accident as a serious one and he will probably return to work in about one week.

Yours faithfully George Gunton

Kanowna 26th July 1907

The Manager

Colonial Mutual Insurance Company Limited

Perth

Western Australia

Dear Sir

Accident No. 2 Arthur Venville

Herewith we beg to hand you notification of above accident.

Yours faithfully George Gunton

Kanowna 3rd August 1907

Messrs Bewick Moreing and Company

Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

Accident No. 2 Arthur Venville

Enclosed please find notification of return to work of above and copies of letters to the Inspector of Mines and insurance company.

Yours faithfully George Gunton

Thomas Hayward Kanowna 18th January 1907

Inspector of Mines

Dear Sir

We have to inform you that Thomas Hayward a tributor working on the above company's mine sustained slight injuries to his head yesterday morning through the fall of a cap. We do not consider the accident serious and the man probably will not be away from work for more than one week.

Yours faithfully J. Boyd Aarons

Messrs Bewick Moreing and Company

Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

Accident Insurance

We enclose copy of notice to the Inspector of Mines of an accident to Thomas Hayward a tributor working with Marvell and party. Previously to this accident and in accordance with your instructions contained in your letter of 14th instant, information was conveyed to this party and to the other parties that they were no longer protected against accident.

Yours faithfully J. Boyd Aarons

Kanowna 24th January 1907

Messrs Bewick Moreing and Company

Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

Accident Insurance Thomas Hayward

Who was injured on the 17th instant has returned to work; and the Inspector of Mines was informed of this personally on his visited to the mine yesterday. As requested in yours of 22nd, we now enclose copy of letter sent to the tributors. The tributors have not yet made arrangement for insurance against accident.

Yours faithfully J. Boyd Aarons

In preface to this chapter we have noted the new accident policy re the tributors. We deem proper to repeat it again at this stage.

Tributors Accident Insurance

Kanowna 6th March 1907

Messrs Clarke and Party

Dear Sir

Accident Insurance

Your attention is drawn to Clause 10 in your Tribute Agreement. You are herewith informed that arrangements have now been made that you can now insure as previously. A charge of one shilling and three pence per week per man will be made from this date.

For Bewick Moreing and Company

Genera] Managers C.M. Waite Superintendent

The other tributors were also informed with a similar note as Clarke and

party.

Edward Watson

Kanowna 13th April 1907

The Inspector of Mines Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

We beg to report to you that a tributor named Edward Watson while working on Gold Mining Lease No. 9X met with a slight accident at 10.00am on the 11th instant. Watson was drilling a hole when a piece of steel flew off the drill and struck him on the left eye. We do not regard the accident as a serious one, and the man will probably return to work in about one week.

Yours faithfully C.M. Waite

Kanowna 13th April 1907

Messrs Bewick Moreing and Company

Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

Herewith we beg to hand copies of notification (of accident to Edward Watson) to the Inspector of Mines: and Colonial Mutual Insurance Company Limited.

Yours faithfully C.M. Waite

Kanowna 23rd April 1907

Messrs Bewick Moreing and Company

Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

Accident No. 1 Edward Watson

Enclosed please find notification of return to work of the above; and copies of letters to Inspector of Mines and insurance company.

Yours faithfully C.M. Waite

The Inspector of Mines Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

George Dean

We have to report to you that a tributor named George Dean while working on Gold Mining Lease No. 12X met with a slight accident on the 6th instant. Dean was working in a stope when he struck his elbow on a sharp stone causing a slight cut. Dean continued to work until Saturday afternoon the 10th instant. He will probably return to work in about three weeks.

Yours faithfully George Gunton

Kanowna 19th August 1907

The Manager

Colonial Mutual Insurance Company Limited

Dear Sir

Accident to George Dean

Herewith we beg to hand you notification of the above accident; the accident was so slight that Dean continued to work for four days. He has had his injured arm operated on since then and will probably return to work in about three weeks.

Yours faithfully George Gunton

Kanowna 24th September 1907

Messrs Bewick Moreing and Company

Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

Accident No. 3 George Dean

Enclosed please find notification of return to work of above: and copies of letters to Inspector of Mines and insurance company.

Yours faithfully George Gunton

Inspector of Mines Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

We have to report that George Dean who was injured on the above company's mine on 6th August '07 returned to work on the 23rd instant

George Gunton

Kanowna 2nd October 1907

The Manager

Colonial Mutual Insurance Company Limited

Dear Sir

We have acknowledge receipt of your letter of September 27th enclosing cheque for £8.6.8. The same has been handed to George Dean. We enclose you herewith vouchers for same, in duplicate.

Yours faithfully George Gunton

Clarence Mallon Kanowna 22nd October 1907

The Inspector of Mines Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

We have to report to you that a tributor named Clarence Mallon while working on the Gold Mining Lease No. 12X met with a slight accident on the 18th instant. Mallon was working on the battery and was dropping a stamp when the cam struck him on the back of his right hand causing a cut. The man will probably be at work again in a few days.

George Gunton

Kanowna 22nd October 1907

Messrs Bewick Moreing and Company

Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

Accident No. 4 Clarence Mallon

Herewith enclosed please find copies of notification correspondence sent to Inspector of Mines and the Colonial Mutual Insurance Company Limited.

Yours faithfully George Gunton

Kanowna 2nd November 1907

The Inspector of Machinery Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

Re Accident to Clarence Mallon

Referring to your letter of the 30th ultimo we beg to state that Kanowna will find Mallon has not yet returned to work. A brother of Mallon's is working here. I would arrange that the injured man meet you if you let me know when you would like to see him.

Yours faithfully George Gunton

Kanowna 22nd November 1907

The Inspector of Machinery Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

We have to inform you that Clarence Mallon who was injured on the company's mine on the 18th October returned to work yesterday the 21st instant.

Yours faithfully George Gunton

Kanowna 22nd November 1907

Messrs Bewick Moreing and Company

Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

Accident No. 4 Clarence Mallon

Herewith enclosed find notification of return to work of Clarence Mallon, also copies of notification sent to the Inspector of Machinery and the Colonial Mutual Insurance Company Limited.

George Gunton

Kanowna November 27,1907

The Manager

Colonial Mutual Insurance Company Limited

Perth

Western Australia

Dear Sir

Re Clarence Mallon

Yours of the 25th instant to hand. We beg to state that Mallon's weekly earnings are about £2. He being a tributor it is difficult to arrive at the correct amount. We intended paying at the rate of £2 per week thinking this correct but find that the amount due to him is £2.13.4 being £1 per week for 2 2/3 weeks. Please accept our apology for the mistake.

George Gunton

John Jones

Kanowna 28th October 1907

The Inspector of Mines Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

We have to report to you that a tributor named John Jones while working on Gold Mining Lease No. 12X met with a slight accident on Thursday 24th instant. Jones was working in the No. 4 level North Stope when a piece of stone fell from the hangingwall and struck him, causing bruises on his back and face. Jones will probably return to work in about a fortnight.

Yours faithfully George Gunton

Kanowna 28th October 1907

Messrs Bewick Moreing and Company

Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

Accident No. 5 John Jones

Herewith enclosed please find copies of notification correspondence sent to the Inspector of Mines and the Colonial Mutual Insurance Company Limited.

Yours faithfully George Gunton

Kanowna 19th November 1907

The Inspector of Mines Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

We have to report to you that John Jones who was injured on the above company's mine on the 24th of October '07 returned to work on the 18th instant.

Yours faithfully George Gunton

Kanowna 19th November 1907

Messrs Bewick Moreing and Company

Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

Accident No. 5 John Jones

Enclosed please find notification of return to work of above; also copies of notification sent to the Inspector of Mines and to the Colonial Mutual Insurance Company.

Yours faithfully George Gunton

William Broderick Kanowna 11th December 1908

The Inspector of Mines Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

We have to report to you that tributor named William Broderick while working on Gold Mining Lease 15X met with a slight accident. Broderick was working ore when a piece of mullock fell from the hangingwall striking him on the left foot. Broderick is able to walk and will probably be back at work inside of a fortnight.

George Gunton

Kanowna 11th December 1908

Messrs Bewick Moreing and Company

Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

Accident William Broderick

Herewith please find copies of notification correspondence sent to the Inspector of Mines and the Colonial Mutual Insurance Company Limited.

Yours faithfully George Gunton

Kanowna 16th December 1908

The Inspector of Mines Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

We have to inform you that William Broderick who was injured on the above company's mine on the 8th instant returned to work today.

Yours faithfully George Gunton

Messrs Bewick Moreing and Company

Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

Herewith please find notification of return to work of William Broderick. Also copies of same as sent to the Inspector of Mines and the Colonial Mutual Insurance Company Limited.

Yours faithfully George Gunton

J.S. Clarke

Kanowna January 15,1909

The Inspector of Mines Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

We have to report to you that a tributor named J.S. Clarke (Christian names not given) while working on the above company's mine on the 12th instant met with an accident. Clarke and his mates were getting timbers up a pass. His mates were hauling and Clarke was following the timbers up when a log became detached which struck him causing him to fall to the bottom of the pass. Clarke is suffering from a cut on the left eye and bruises on the body. He will probably be at work inside a fortnight.

Yours faithfully George Gunton

Kanowna January 15,1909

Messrs Bewick Moreing and Company

Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

Herewith please find copies in duplicate of notification correspondence (of accident No. 7 J.S. Clarke) sent to the Inspector of Mines and the Colonial Mutual Insurance Company Limited.

Yours faithfully George Gunton

Kanowna 2nd March 1909

Messrs Bewick Moreing and Company

Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

Accident No. 7 J.S. Clarke

We enclose you herewith notification of return to work of the above tributor also sent to the Inspector of Mines and the Colonial Mutual Insurance Company Limited.

Yours faithfully George Gunton

Kanowna March 30,1909

The Manager

Colonial Mutual Insurance Company Limited

Perth

Dear Sir

We have to acknowledge receipt of yours of the 26th instant enclosing cheque for £8.3.4 in settlement of the above claim. Herewith please find voucher in duplicate.

Yours faithfully George Gunton

George Walker

George Walker who lost his life through falling down into the second open cut, just a little south of the sand dump, was not employed at the Main Reef Mine. He resided in a house situated roughly about 50 yards south of the open cut and 20 yards or so west of the cap of the Main Reef line.

The reason why this accident finds its place here is owing to the fact that it happened on the company's ground (Lease 13X) and that Walker's widow did sue the Main Reef Company for compensation. The account of the accident as it appeared in the Kalgoorlie Miner and Western Argus is as follows

Kanowna March 24, 1909 The unfortunate man George Walker who fell down an open cut and a pass on the Main Reef lease on Saturday night last, died in the hospital on Tuesday evening about 7.00pm. Walker fell a distance of 100 feet. Doctors Holland and O'Meara found his neck was dislocated and it was this injury which caused his death. He leaves a widow and four children.

Kanowna March 29, 1909 An inquest was held today. Relative to the death of George Walker, Mr McCabe, Justice of Peace Acting Coroner was on the bench and jury were Messrs Chegwidden (Foreman), McLeod and McBride.

Doctor Holland said: That on Sunday March 21 he was called by the manager Mr Gunton to an open cut on the Main Reef. He saw the deceased George Walker brought from underground to the surface. He had collapsed from injuries and through lying on cold shaft all night. He had a fractured and dislocation of the neck. He died on March 23 rd.

David Hensley said: That on March 21st he volunteered to go down the open cut and found Walker huddled up at the bottom of the pass. Deceased said "Get me out of this pass." Witness asked him how he got there?, but received no answer. Then called for a rope to be let down and with assistance of two others brought deceased up to the surface.

James Goum said: That on Sunday morning Walker's two children came to his place and told him their father had not been home all night and asked him to see if I could find him. He went to the Police Station and with Constable Switsur examined all the open shafts between the town and the Main Reef. Eventually they found deceased's hat in the open cut where he was discovered later. He considered the place was dangerous. The pass at the bottom of the open cut was large enough for two men to fall through. Walker had not lived long in that locality and he could easily get off the track on a dark night.

Constable Switsur gave similar evidence. He stated the distance he fell was 110 feet. He had been working on the Lily Mine up to the time of his death.

William Adolphus Whyatt gave evidence. The jury found that deceased met his death by falling down an open cut on the Main Reef Leases (No. 13X) and added a rider that the open cut should be properly fenced and all the pass covered over.

Perth December 23, 1909 The Chief Justice and Mr Justice Rooth heard an argument on Thursday in appeal from a judgement of Mr Justice Burnside in an action brought by Mrs Alice Maud Walker against the White Feather Main Reef (1906) Limited, for damage in respect of the death of George William Walker. The plaintiff sued as the widow of a deceased and administratix of his estate and she declared that her husband's death occurred through the negligence of the defendant company on the night of March last. She said the deceased who resided near the southern boundary of Bissenberger Lease at Kanowna while returning lost the track and straying on the said Lease and fell into an open cut or excavation which defendant company had left unfenced and unprotected. Her husband succumbed a few days afterwards to the injuries he had sustained.

The defendant company pleaded that deceased had been guilty of contributory negligence by leaving the public road and entering upon the Lease when it was dangerous to do so owing to the absence of light - alternatively they said the plaintiff entered upon the Lease without authority or licence.

Mr Justice Burnside before whom the case was tried at Kalgoorlie on September 21, 1909 entered judgement for the defendant company with costs and the appellant (plaintiff) applied to have this judgement rescinded and judgement ordered for plaintiff for £400 and costs.

Mr Richard Haynes, King's Counsel appeared for appellant and Mr Norbert Keenan for the respondent company. The acting Chief Justice in delivering judgement quoted regulation 202 of the mining act 1904... Then dismissed the appeal with costs. Mr Justice Rooth concurred and the appeal was dismissed with costs. The Chief Justice said the negligence relied upon by plaintiff under the mining regulation 202 of 1904. Could not find any power under the act to make such and in his opinion the regulation was ultra vires.

On the night of the accident Walker had been drinking at Wyatt's Federal Hotel at the comer of Larkin and Golconda Streets and he left for home at fairly late hours.

Duncan Munro

Kanowna 16th August 1909

The Inspector of Mines Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

We have to confirm our telephone message of Friday the 13th instant re the accidental death of a miner named Duncan Munro. Particulars of which are as follows:-

Munro and mates Richard Haydon and Thomas G. Watts were repairing the company's main shaft, Munro and Haydon were working on a bailing tank a few feet below the No. 197 feet level in the North compartment. Haydon had sawn the north skid through, in order to take out a damaged portion. Munro had his hands on this portion which the men intended to knock from its fastenings, and while Haydon was in the act of stooping for a hammer, Munro fell through into the south hauling compartment and down a distance of about 90 feet. Striking a tank which was swinging in the shaft about 4 feet above the 299 feet level plat sheets.

Munro appeared to be dead when Watts (who was standing on this plat) reached him. The accident occurred about 3.35pm.

Yours faithfully George Gunton

Funeral of Duncan Munro

Kanowna 16th August 1909 The funeral of Duncan Munro took place on Sunday afternoon. Was much respected this was evidenced by the large number of people who attended the funeral including the members of workers union and the Caledonian Society.

His remains were interred in the Presbyterian portion of the cemetery. Reverend J. Hopkins conducted an impressive ceremony.

George Valentine Moore

Kanowna 18th October 1909

The Inspector of Mines Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

We have to report that a tributor named George Valentine Moore while working on the above company's mine on the 15th instant met with an accident to his hand. Moore was shovelling near a pass on the 197 feet level when a piece of quartz came down the pass and struck him on the right hand severing the tendon of his thumb.

Moore will probably be off work about three weeks.

Yours faithfully George Gunton

Kanowna 18th October 1909

Messrs Bewick Moreing and Company

Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

Accident No. 8 George V. Moore

Therewith please find copies in duplicate of notification correspondence as sent to the Inspector of Mines and the Colonial Mutual Insurance Company Limited.

Yours faithfully George Gunton

Kanowna 21st December 1909

The Inspector of Mines Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

We have to report that George V. Moore who was injured in the above company's mine on the 15th of October '09 returned to work yesterday 20/12/09.

Yours faithfully George Gunton

Messrs Bewick Moreing and Company

Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

Accident No. 8 George V. Moore

We enclose herewith the copies of notification of return to work of the above named tributor as sent to the Inspector of Mines and the Colonial Mutual Insurance Company Limited.

Yours faithfully George Gunton

George Valentine Moore's Second Accident

Kanowna April 7, 1937 (From the Kalgoorlie Miner)

Accident at Kanowna George Moore (55) married was injured yesterday while on the Main Reef mine (while working) an old mine in the Kanowna district, he was brought to Kalgoorlie by the ambulance and admitted to the Kalgoorlie District Hospital suffering from a possible fracture of the pelvis and shock.

His condition is not serious. It is believed that he was caught by a fall of earth. This second accident to Moore took place in a drive (probable north) in a 60 feet deep shaft. This shaft is situated about 46 feet north of the Main shaft and about 24 feet west the change house.

Moore was discharged from the Government hospital on June 25, 1937. He never returned to Kanowna. Went to Perth.

William Dawe Kanowna 16th November 1909

The Inspector of Mines Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

We have to report that a tributor named William Dawe while working on the above company's mine on the 13 th instant met with an accident. Dawe and mate were stoping between the 397 feet and the 506 feet levels. They had charged two holes and Dawe after lighting the fuses retired to what he considered a safe place.

Then a piece of quartz from the first shot, struck him on the back of his left leg causing a cut and a slight injury to an artery. Dawe will probably be off work about one month.

Yours faithfully George Gunton

The Inspector of Mines Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

I have to report that William Dawe who was injured in the above company's mine on the 13th of November '09 returned to work on Monday the 6th instant.

Yours faithfully George Gunton

Kanowna 13th December 1909

Messrs Bewick Moreing and Company

Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

Accident No. 9 William Dawe

We enclose herewith copies of notification of return to work of the above named tributor as sent to the Inspector of Mines and the Colonial Mutual Insurance Company.

Yours faithfully George Gunton

Henry Blades Kanowna 20th September 1910

The Inspector of Mines Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

We have to report that a tributor named Henry Blades while working on the above company's mine on the 19th instant met with an accident to his head. Blades and mate, Alf Kempton, were stoping between the 299 feet and the 197 feet levels, having partly covered the pass they fired a hole just above it. After the smoke had cleared Kempton was clearing off the top of the pass and Blades was standing in the manway when a piece of quartz falling through an opening in the pass near him struck him on the head, causing a fractured skull.

Yours faithfully George Gunton

Messrs Bewick Moreing and Company

Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

Accident No. 10 Henry Blades

We enclose herewith copies of notification of return to work of the above named tributor, as sent to the Inspector of Mines and the Colonial Mutual Insurance Company Limited.

Yours faithfully George Gunton

Kanowna 7th October 1910

Inspector of Mines Kalgoorlie

Dear Sir

We have to report that the tributor Henry Blades, who was injured on the 19/9/10 returned to work on Monday 3rd instant.

Yours faithfully George Gunton

Post Script Henry Blades was the last to have met with an accident on the Main Reef while the mine was held by a company. As for Moore and mate they were on their own in 1937 and now writing at night time, under dim light we skipped unnoticed the names of two miners who met with an accident. In chronological order one should have been recorded in August the in October both in the year 1905 hence their place here.

F. Goldsworthy

Kanowna 17th August 1905

The Warden Kanowna

Dear Sir

Accident

We beg to inform that a miner named F. Goldsworthy whilst at work in the 696 feet stopes on the 28th July cut his finger on a piece of quartz He returned to work on the 12th August.

Yours faithfully William Pollard

The Inspector of Mines, Bewick Moreing and Company were also informed with a similar note.

Messrs Bewick Moreing and Company

Kalgoorlie

J. Murphy

Dear Sir

Accident

We have to report an accident which happened today on this company's Lease No. 15X whereby a miner (one of the party of tributors) named J. Murphy has been injured by fall of earth.

We understand that two of his ribs have been broken. We have reported the occurrence to the Warden and Inspector of Mines, but not the Insurance Company under the tribute agreement this company is not liable.

Yours faithfully William Pollard

Both the Warden and the Inspector of mines were notified of Murphy's accident.

Kanowna 19th October 1905

J. Fairfax Connigrave Esq.

Eagle Chambers Hay Street Perth

Dear Sir

We forward you herewith notification of an accident which to a miner named J. Murphy one of a party of tributors working on this company's Lease No. 15X.

The tributors have signed an agreement accepting liability in case of an accident occurring. The agreement further stipulated that the tributors are not in the employ of the company in any way. In view of which we do not consider that this accident comes under our liability. At the same time we sent you this notification of the occurrence.

Our London office gives your address as St. Georges Terrace, Perth whilst your printed forms show it as Eagle Chambers Hay Street Perth.

Yours faithfully William Pollard

Dear Sir

As requested in your letter of 20th instant we enclose extract from the agreement with the tributors. The agreement between the White Feather Main Reefs Limited and J. Murphy and party dated the 15th day of September 1905 is as follows:-

Clause 10:- the term of this agreement shall be for six months from the date thereof subject however to termination as provided in Clause 11 and the company specially stipulates that the tributors shall not sublet or allow any other party than their own to work on the said Lease. If the tributor at any time fails to observe each and every provided condition of this agreement the company may determine same by notice in writing to the tributor.

It is expressly stipulated that the company shall not be held responsible for any accidents that may occur on the property during the working of this tribute, and further it is expressly stated that the tributors are not in the employ of the company in any way and that the tributors take lull risk and responsibility for accidents working the said property under the tribute which is authorised by the Employer Liability Act, the Workmen Compensation Act and at common law.

(signed) the White Feather Main Reefs Ltd

L. McKinnon

Kanown?'» Lonely Crave.

J)EAR ‘Non-Com"—In reference to the enclosed Inquiry, Tim Creed. who died from thirst In *94, was buried (as far as I remember), about half a mile In a south-westerly direction from Tom Doyle's principal working on Red Hill (Tom’s own claim) In Kanowna. I have no knowledge of who was hurled In the grave mentioned by Mr. Balzano, but pars the letter on to you In the hope you may obtain the Information Inquired for from one of your readers.

JOHN MEIKHEJOHN.i Nedlanda.

The letter    Meikjfjohn Is as fol-

<^"7 / J i' OJan. 4, 1938.

Dear Sir,—I noticed In the Dolly Pot (30/12/37), an article by you entitled “Mockery of Pate." giving an account of the finding of the dead body of Tim Creed a few miles out of the White Feather In the early part of 1894.

There to a grave two miles and a half Trom, Kahowna on -the Six Mlle-roadTH was fenced In with pickets In the year 1906 by a man named Braidw'ood Evans, one time Mayor of Kanowna. I am wondering If that is the grave In which Tim Creed was burled. If not, will you kindly Inform me who Is burled there—his name, age, the date he died, and any other details that you might know about him.

Prom the time I first saw that grave (In July 1901) up to date I have asked a lot of the old hands and not one can tell me anything about him, only that the man died from thirst. -

J. BALZANO^y.O.. Kanowna.

J. t Balzano. Kanowna.-^.elter forwarded to "Hammer and Gad" and I hope touch has been established.

W. O. Rundell. Mosman Park.—Many thanks for Informative lt«m, which I shall try to get In this issue.

“RasUis." Cast Chapman,- Many thanks. W1U try to get is later.

INDEX

This index consists mainly of persons' names, as place names are listed in the Contents Pages.

Please note that the there is great inconsistency with early name spelling so names varied for the same person i.e. MacKenzie/McKenzie, Ready/Reidy.

A

Aarons, Julian Boyd, 130 Abdul, S., 251 Adams, James, 261 Adolph, Charles, 330 Adolph, Hugo, 196 Alderdice, Mrs, 85 Alford, 178 Allen, John (Jack), 197 Allen, J. Terry, 12, 285 Allen, Tom, 169 Allen, Sailor Jack", 154 Anderson, 100,

Anderson, Mrs, 115 Anderson, Arthur, 146 Anderson, Rowland, 24 Anketell, 201

Annert, Louis Herman, 238 Anstey, 76 Aplin, 167

Armstrong, Ernest, 331 Asher, William, 12, 153 B

Backhouse, 115, 116 Bahan, Ethel, 103 Baker, 95 Baker, Samuel, 60 Baker, Sergeant, 262 Baldwin, 115 Balzano Square, 2 Bamlett, J.H.C, 253

Baragwanath, 317

Barber, Frank, 131, 133

Barber, Dr. George Walter, 85

Bardoc, 23,59, 61

Barker, W, 243

Barlow Brothers, 82

Bart, 90

Bartle, Felix, 164

Bartlett, A.H., 85

Bass, Mrs J, 208

Batho, William Henry, 116, 164

Battye, Dr J.S. (James Sykes), 1

Bawden Range, 27

Bayley, Arthur, 76

Beallie, (Beattie), Charles. 243

Beardow, 110

Becham, Mrs, 86

Bedford, Admiral Sir Frederick,

213

Beechworth, 54

Begg, Henry, 177

Beggs, Harry, 168

Bell, 88

Bell, James, 24

Bennett, Larry 42

Benny the Jew, 24, 197

Bentley, Tom ,25, 31

Berkery, John , 295

Berthold, F.335

Bewick Moreing and Company

128, 229

Binduli, 76 Bishop, George, 244 Bissenberger, Captain Frank , 165, 205

Bissenberger, Louise Marie, 209 Black, Montgomery, 175 Blackwell, 253 Blades, Henry, 354 Blair, 78

Blatchford, T. 109, 131, 139 Bleavine, Harry, 80 Bleby, Canon E.H., 209 Blenkinsop, Joseph, 62 Blenkinsop, Mrs Amelia, 261 Bohan, James, 291 Bohan's Battery, 291 Bolger, George, 85 Bonndy, Albert, 262 Bonner, Bob, 240, 242 Bower, 199

Brandt, Benjamin, 177, 196 Bray, George, 167 Breen, Michael (Mick), 111, 143, 157

Brenton, Robert, 318 Brewer, 90 Bricky Soak, 31 Bridge, Peter, 1 Brimage, E. E., 102, 224, Brisbane, E.E., 219 Brocksopp, W.E.J., 75 Broderick, William, 347 Brodie, Dave, 157 Brookman, George, 75,

Brookman, W.G., 72, 75, 85 Brooks, George William Rose,

323

Brooks, James, 317, 318 Brown, 106 Brown, C, 57 Brown, Dr, 235 Brown, Dan, 39

Brown, George, 197

Brown, William (Billy) 197, 284

Browne, 129

Browne, Frank Fordham, 294

Buckley, 44, 177

Budds,177

Bugleon, 92

Bull,95

Bulong, 23

Bummer Creek, 29

Bunbidge, 61

Burgess, Tom 95,

Burglar's Gully, 39 Burgon, Alfred, 155, 159, 271 Burgon, Dr Joseph, 271 Burke, Michael, 48 Burmeister, 90 Bums, Robert,56 Burnside, Gordon, 214 Burnside, Justice, 350 Burrup, 201 Butt, 128 Byers; 177 Byron, Lord,24 C

Cable, Douglas, 265 Cable, Jim 39, 239 Cable, Martin, 99 Camford, Mick, 39 Campbell, 90

Campbell, Maria, 144, 146 Campbell, Olive, 144 Campbell, William, 144, 146 Campion, Sir William. 78 Capel, Jack, 40 Carlyle, 57

Carmichael, Thomas Malcolm (Tom), 24, 88 Carr, Isabella. 262 Carroll, 317 Carry, B.J., 88, 90 Carson, Samuel, 243, 244

Casey, D.P., 317 Cassidy, 77 Cave. 129 Chaplin, 198 Chapman, Mrs, 169 Chegwidden, 349 Cherry, Patrick, 94 Chipper, 67 Chisholm, George, 147 Church, 102 Clarke, Angus, 198 Clarke, Evan, 161 Clarke, Florrie, 161 Clarke, G.N, 261 Clarke, J.S., 348 Clarke, William T., 324 Clarke and Party, 316 Coath, 78

Cohen, John, 119, 121 Colguhoun, 177 Collins, George, 240, 241 Colreavy, Jack, 84 Compton, MrF.C.,255 Compton, George, 2, 298 Compton, G. Spencer, 1, 227 Connell, 61

Connell, Albert James, 291, 295 Cook, James, 61, 149, 152 Cosens, 148 Cottingham, Bill, 66 Cottman and Co., 240 Coulter, William Charles, 161 Cousens and Party, 316 Cox, 92,

Cox, George, 84 Cozens, William (Bill), 190 Cozens-Handy, 130 Cracknell, Reverend A.S., 215 Craig, 63 Craig, Robert, 26 Crannage, C.H., 262 Cray, 121

Cray, Frederick, 183 Creswell, William, 325 Cridland, Frank, 94 Cross, 60, 63 Cunningham, 78 Curran, 177

Cussworth, Mr & Mrs, 215 Cutbush, Charlie. 86 Cutmore, 76 D

Dalgliesse, 54 Dallamore, Mrs, 255 Daniels, John, 185 Danks, Mrs, 261 Darlot, 23 Davies, 178 Davies, John, 328 Dawe, William,353 De Cean, 121

De Rose, Charles, 75, 198,258 Dean, George, 343 Deason, John, 95, 162 Debetay, Armand, 39, 41 Delta Gold., 2

Denman, Reuben, 129, 148, 211 Dick, John, 75 Dillon, Jack, 42 Diorite King, 28 Docwra, William, 93 Donovan, Jerry, 244 Doolette, "Dorrie" Dorham Longford, 258,259 Doolette, George P., 75 Douglas, Archibald, 195 Dowley, E.P., 127, 329, 331, Downe, 99 Doyle, Tom, 15, 165 Doyle's Well, 26 Drake, Jack, 100 Drysdale, 177 Dudley, Mrs, May, 62 Dudley, L.J.. 59

Dugan, F, 77 Duncan, 39 Dunn. 188 Dwar (or Dewar), 62 Dwyer, F., 87 Dwyer, Jack, 207 Dwyer, John, 116, 167, 168 Dyson, 84 E

Ebsary, Samuel, 157 Ebsary, W. M., 31 Edgar, David, 321, 323 Edwards, Nat, 240 Eldershaw, Reverend, 238 Eliott, Thomas, 144, 338 Elver, Robert, 245 Ennis, Bill, 159 Evans, Alannah, 299 Evans, Arthur, 95 Evans, Robert, 95 Evans. 52. 66. 130 Ewing, N.K, 330 Eyre, Edward John, 248 F

Fagan, Frank, 244 Farley, William, 41 Faulkner, 185 Ferguson, 61

Fielding, Warden Percy, 114, 196 Fimister, J.W., 85 Finnerty, Warden, 50 Fisher, 177

Fitzgerald, Michael, 50 Fitzpatrick, Tom 12 Flanagan, Thomas, 76, 266 Flavelle, A & E, 65 Fletcher, 54 Flower, 40

Forbes, Archibald Colin, 211, 213 Ford, William, 76 Ford, 177

Forrest, Alexander, 36

Forrest, Sir John 36, 146, 226 227 Fouracre, Jack, 39 France, 178 Fraser, 328 Freeman, Joseph, 295 French, Miss 215 Frenchy Soak, 30 Frost, (Bill) Billy, 84, 240 Fullerton and Party, 316 Fumiss, Peter, 65 G

Gahn, 167 Galthrop, H, 97 Games, Stephen, 300 Gare, William, 295 Geary, Warden J.E., 219 Geogham, L., 85, 198 Geopeko-Delta Joint Venture, 2, 281

George, Teddy, 131 Gibbs, R.R.. 224 Gilbert, Michael, 50 Ginbey, Mr & Mrs, 215 Giraurd, Louis, 129 Glazier, 64 Gleeson, 121 Goczel, Samuel, 106 Goddard, P.W.. 100 Goldsworthy, F., 355 Goodhill, 144 Gough, 99

Gourley, Edward Joseph, 217, 218 Goum, James, 350 Graham, Archie, 210, 213 Graham, Charles, 295 Graham, Sophia (nee Hendriks), 213

Grant, Alex, 64 Grant, Charlie, 62 Gray, George, 115, 116 Gray, Mrs George, 116 Gray, Henry, 116

Gregory, Charles, 295,

Gregory, Francis, 200 Greig, 124 Gresson, 183 Gresson, A., 276 Grose, Henry, 295 Gunn, Bill, 95 Gunn, Charles, 295 Gunton, George, 132 Gunton. 189 H

Hack, 63 Hackett, 317 Hadge, F.D., 75 Haik, Wilton, 40 Hale, 317, 321 Hall. 76. 93

Halligan Robert (Bob) , 299 Hamilton, 199 Hamilton, Dr J.A.G., 75 Hancock, 177 Hancock, George, 200 Hannan, Paddy, 75-80, 142 Hansen, Andrew Henry, 326 328 Hansen, Charlie, 60, 66 Hansen, Helen Ruth, 327 Hare, 120, 198 Hare, Mort. 70 Harford, Mr & Mrs, 215 Hargreaves, 76

Harper, "Nat" Nathanael Whitel4,

185, 210, 325

Harper, Mrs, 115

Harris, Mrs, 115

Hart, 177

Hartley and Party316 Harvey, 120, 198 Harvey, John., 116 Hasselt, Jack, 64 Hatcher, 76 Hawks Nest, 33

Hayden, Sailor Charles, 156, 158

Haydon, Richard, 351 Haynes, Richard, 351 Hayward, Thomas, 340 Head, Daniel, 69 Henckley, Bill, 66 Henderson, James, 217 Hennesey, Constable, 251 Henning, 178 Hensley, David, 349 Hensman, Justice, 323 Heppingstone, David, 111 Herdsman, Walter, 295 Hester, Tom, 244 Hilder, James, 111, 243 Hills, 144 Hilton, 121 Hilton, Francis, 295 Hickey Mrs, 115 Hoaley, 233 Hocking, Captain, 147 Hocking, Sidney Edwin, 116 Hogan, Michael, 104 Holden, James, 159 Holland, Dr, 349 Holroyd, Arthur, 75 Hoover, Herbert, 229 Hoover, Lou Henry, 229 Horn, William (Bill), 147 Home, Constable, 261 Homig, 203

Horsefield and Brackleman Company, 150 Hortop Bob, 31, 158 Hoskins, H., 253 Howie, Mrs, 27 Hudson, Miss M., 215 Hunt, 266 Hunt, James, 240 Hunt Brothers, 238 Hussey, H., 329 I

Irvine, Arthur, 131

J

James, 41

Jamrack, Captain, 153

Jansen, Charlie, 65

Jay, 89, 93

Jeffers Brothers, 107

Jeffries, Rev., 257

Jenkyn, Inspector George, 321

Jenner, Bill, 239

Jephson, Maynard Hugh (Warden) 198

Johnson, 177 Johnson, Charlie, 94 Johnson, John, 295 Johnston, Sydney, 295 Johs, John. 205 Joice, Thomas, 327 Jones, 68

Jones, Alice Hannah, 2, 199 Jones, Bobbie, 196 Jones, Jack, 188 Jones, John, 346 Jones, Mrs, 115 Joseph, Solomon, 197 Jutson, 109, 139 K

Kalgoorlie, 23 Kaneen, 121 Kanowna, 23 Kanowna Belle, 282 Keating, John, 317 Keefe, 77 Keenan, 26, 317 Keenan, Samuel, 24 Kelly, 90

Kelly, Miss Bell, 93 Kennedy, James, 36 Kenville and Party, 316 Kerrick, E.J., 317 Kerry, 224 Kestan, 177 Kiene, Mrs, 164

Kilkenny Soak, 30 Kimberley, W.B., 79 Kingsbury, 326 Kingsbury, G.H, 262.

Kingston, William, 295 Kirwan, John, 244 Kite, 177 Kitto, Joseph, X Klussmann, Henry, 326 Knabe, 205

Knable, Norman E, 209.

Knight, 168, 198 Knight, Mrs Amy, 148 Knight, W.H., 85 Kumalpi, 23 Kyle, A & J, 98 L

Laidlaw, 63

Lake Carey, 33

Lambie, 183

Lancaster, 128

Lander, F.J., 321

Lane, William, 164

Lang, Mr & Mrs James, 215

Langenbach, (Harry), 235, 291

Langford and Party, 316

Langton, Rev., 331

Lardner, Martin, 93

Lardner & Co., 93

Larkin, Jack, 70

Larkin, Pierce, 111, 143

Larkin, Thomas. Ill

Laughlin, Charles, 330

Laughlin, George (Bmce), 329,

330

La van, 144 Lavis, 93

Lawrence, George, 159, 197 Lawrence, William Frederick, 198 Leake, George, 90 Lee, J.P..85 Leminston, Mrs, 115

Lemon, David, 131, 291 Lemon, J.. 326 Lennell, William, 12, 198 Leslie, Barnard, 60, 63 Leslie, Ben, 78 Lewis, William (Bill), 193 Liddell, 262 Lindsay, 177 Lockhart, 76, 239 Long , Father (Sacred Nugget), 14 Lorden, Stephen, 159 Lover, Samuel,. 43 Lowes, William, 177 Lunt, 330 Lynch, Dave, 278 Lynch, James, 78 Lynch, Miss Mary, 78 Lyons, John, 76, 77 Lyons, Maggie, 255 Lyons, Sarah, 255 Lyons, W.J., 25 M

MacArthur, Peter, 193 Mack, Phil, 144 MacPherson, 67, 265 Mahor, John, 88 Malcolm, 29 Mallon, Clarence, 344 Mangels, 317 Mangels, John, 325 Manners, Charles, 1, XI, 307 Manners, Frances, 1 Manners, Jenny, 299 Manners, Nancy, XI, 307 Manning, John, 131 Manning, William, 131 Maori Bill (Weir), 175, 193 Marshall, John, 52, 119 Martells, 129 Martin, Dr, 85 Martin, (Brothers), 61 Martin, Beatrice, 256

Martin, James, 114 Martin, John Louis, 130, 84, 291 Martin's Battery, 184, 291 Marvel and Party, 316 Maryanski, Modest, 75 Matchett, David 196 Matherson, 63, 198 Matthews, P., 70 Mavor, Jamie, 94 Mawson, 70 Maxwell, Robert, 76 Mayhall, 295 Maynard, Mrs Jessie, 273 Maynard, John. 204 Maynard, William, 295 McAuliffe, Jeremiah (Jerry), 15, 51, 76, 105, 111, 141, 157 McBride, 349 McBride, J.M., 75 McCabe, Mayor, 227 McCartney, 90

McCaw, William, 122, 123, 326 McCorkill, 326 McDonald, 61 McDonald, Alfred, 58 McDonald, William, 164 McEwan, Alan., 1 McEwin, R., 75,

McGrath, Paddy, 77, 157 McGregor, David, 51, 142 McGregor, Mabel, 296 Mclnnes, Annie, 164, 167 McIntosh, Bill, 100, 266 McIntosh, John, 177 McIntyre, 88 McIntyre, Angus, 100 McKay, 34, 115 McKenzie, R.D., 85 McKinley, 59 McKinnon, L., 357 McLeary, 198 McLeod, 93, 198, 349

McManus, 177 McManus, Dennis, 169 McMillan, Justice, 295 McRae, John, 202 McRae, Roderick, 202 McTamaray, Jack, 24 Meares, 201 Medlicott, Charles, 246 Meecham, Mrs, 199 Meiklejohn, John, 66,165, 365 Menz, Charlie, 94 Menzies, Robert, 179 Middleton, 293 Miller, Jack, 157 Minter, W.M., 155 Mitchell, J, 224 Mitchell, Joseph, 315 Mitchell, Dr R.M., 261 Mogford, 64 Mohar, John, 89, 142 Molly, 68 Moncrieff, 67 Montgomery, A, 106 Moore, 177 Moore, Dr B., 227 Moore, G., 219 Moore, George Valentine, 352 Moorhead, 324,

"Monkey" 111, 157

Moran, Charles John, 62, 146

Moreing, C.A., 229

Morey, Reverend Bernard, 218

Morigan, 63

Moss, Father, 144

Mt Catherine, 49

Mt Margaret 33

Mt Reward, 34

Mueller, Bruno, 213

Mueller, Janet, 213

Mulcahy, 111

Mulgabgie, 23

Mullaly and Medlicott, 240

Mullard, Isaac, 64 Mulligan, 183 Munro, Duncan, 351 Murphy, Bernard, 121 Murphy, J., 356 Murray, 177 Murray, Charles, 183 Naumann, A.A., 67 Nelson, Jack, 326 New Australia, 164 Newman, James, 176 Newton, Thomas, 324 Nicholls, 129 Nicholls, Mrs, 215 Nicolson, Hope, 189 Northmore, Charlie, 257 Norton, Alexander, 141 Norton, John, 164

o

O'Brian, Jack, 60 O'Brien, Jack, 65 O'Connell, Sergeant, 202 O'Connor, Thomas (Tassy) 111, 143

O'Dea, 144

O'Driscoll, 51

O'Hara, Pat, 58

O'Meara, 58

O'Meara, Dr, 349

O'Shea, Daniel (Dan) 77, 266

O'Shea, Tim, 77

Oades, Henry, 295

Oakley, 183

Oates, Richard, 162

Oats, Captain, 73, 116, 198

Oats, Richard, 95, 162

Oldun, 177

Oliver, 242

Osmetti, Charles, 321

Ovens, 54

Owen, Thomas, 325

P

Page, Mrs, 89 Page, Harry, 84 Paine, Thomas, 24 Paisley, 89 Paisley, James, 164 Palhill, 68 Palmer, 139

Palmer, Joseph, 131, 197 Parker, Justice, 294 Parker and Parker, 122 Parkes, 196, 239 Parsons, 198 Parsons, Henry, 148 Partridge, 148 Paul, Captain J.J., 34, 43 Paul, Mrs, 34 Pavency, James, 156 Peake, 76

Peake, Constable, 146 Pearce, John, 197 Pearce, Samuel W., 72, 75 Pearce, William, 180 Pearman, Alfred, 54 Peko Gold, 2 Pendennie, 23, 24 Pengelley, 205 Pentzin, Ernest, 317, 318 Perry, Sidney, 50 Perry, William, 50 Pessie, Alf, 40 Petersen, Henry, 249 Pettigrew, Robert, 198 Phillips, Thomas, 155 Pickering, Jack, 239 Pierre, Tommy, 36 Pigler, Charles, 50 Pilcher, 178

Pitman, Alexander Henry, 161 Pollard, William, 128, 215, 333 Pond, Mrs, 62 Pope, 242 Pritchard, 128

Proctor, 41, 43, 99 Pryke, Dan, 157 Pyke's Gully, 45, 46 Pym, Robert, 61, 63, 64 Quinn, Jim, 157 R

Radcliff, 178

Ralph, Jack 155

Ramsay, James, 331

Ramsden, 89

Randall, 329

Rathray, 40

Rayfield, John, 121

Ready, John Joseph (Jack), 76, 93,

265

Red Flag, 23, 35 Reem, John, 318 Rees, 227 Reid, C.H., 88 Reid, J.S., 207

Reid, Jim, 92, 155, 156, 157, 241 Reilly, George, 24, 25 ReisonCharles (Charlie), 58 Renfrey, Frank, 154 Renfrey, Len, 154 Renfrey, Richard, 154 Reuben, 62 Riordan, Richard, 176 Robb, 98

Roberts, Alexander, 216, 325 Roberts, E.J., 85 Roberts, Lottie, 215 Roberts, William Aloysius, 215 Robin, 28

Roe, Augustus Sandford Keats,

199

Roe, Captain John Septimus, 200

Rogers, 239

Rooth, Justice, 350

Ross, G.C., 39

Routledge, 177

Roxburgh, Archibald, 52

Ruiden, Louis, 244 Russell, Alf, 62 Ryan, Billy, 35, 43 Ryan, Parry, 47 Ryan, William, 35 Ryder, Bernard, 146 Ryder, Elizabeth, 146 S

Saggett, Charles James, 323 Salmon, Arthur, 295 Salmon, Mrs Doris, 273, 295 Samuels, Jack, 157 Sardino, J., 321

Saunders, Henry John,, 113, 119, 121

Sawell, 330

Schevan, George, 317

Schmidt, Harry, 216

Scholl, 201

Seller, 158

Shakespeare, 24

Shand, H, 276

Sheahan, 177

Siberia, 61

Sim, George, 276

Simmons, John (Happy Jack) 95,

98,

Simon, Dr, 58 Sims, George, 183 Sinclair, Mrs, 115 Slater, Alec, 45, 94, 144 Slater, M., 32 Slattery 32, 76 Slee, George, 213 Sliwers, 177

Slug Gully (also Burglars Gully), 39

Smith, 68, 90, 196

Smith, Billy, 84

Smith, Captain, 115

Smith, Dave, 169

Smith, Hermione Synisea, 294

Smith, John Urwin, 12, 198 Smith, Philosopher, 76 Smith, Villivenuve, 294 Smith, W.V., 330 Smith and Co., 62 Spence, 178 Spillane, James, 185 Splinn, 177 Stanton, 28 Steele, W.R, 261.

Steines, 177 Steinholt, 177 Stepney, Sir Arthur C., 227 Stevens, 196 Stewart, 177 Stone, Harry, 157 Stone and Son, 200 Stoneham, Allan, 128 Strother, William, 146 Stuart, John292, 296 Stubbs, Evelyn M. , 8 Style, Ernest, 153 Sullivan, 178 Sullivan, Jerry, 131 Sutherland, George, 193 Swalling, 325 Swanson, Robert, 149, 152 Sweeny, James, 36 Switsur, Constable, 350 T

Taylor, 99

Taylor, John, 321, 323 Taylor, Mulga George, 168 Taylor, Reginald, 152 Taylor & Downey, 99 Teaque, Dr Gilbert M., 326, 327 Templeton, Colin, 75 Terrell, 130 Thishler, Mrs, 168 Thomas, 70, 177 Thomas, Robert James, 146 Thompson, 49, 50, 198

Tibbitt, Reverend, 197 Timmell, R., 325 Tims, 168

Tonniges, Robert, 196 Tratteen, 177 Treffine, Phillip John, 161 Tregurtha, James ,157 Trevenna, 242 Trickett, William, 129 Trothiez, Edward, 50 Troy, Patrick, 121, 277, 317 Truman, Leslie, 238 Tucker, 67 Turnbull, Fiona, 299 Turner, 211 Tyler, Wat, 181 Tyson, Jimmy, 168 U

Umphray, Hugh G., 51 Underwood, 177 V

Vallance, 130 Varden, Mrs, 1115 Varden (or Vardan), 116 Venville, Arthur, 339 Verling, Monsignor, 144 Vetter, 89, 90 W

Waddock, H., 85 Waite, 189, 317 Waite, George, 121 Waldock, 90 Walker, 90

Walker, Alice Maud, 350 Walker, George William, 349 Walker, John, 89 Walsh, John Joseph, 161, 295 Walsh, Martin, 253, 255 Waltham, 130, 148 Walworth, William, 181 Wanliss, George, 131 Ward, S.E., 77, 85

Warr, John, 178 Warrington, Justice, 129 Waters, 177 Watson, 148 Watson, Edward, 342 Watson, Robert, 177 Watt, Harry, 276 Watt, William (Bill), 155 Watts, Thomas G.. 351 Way, Miss, 86 Webb,39

Webster, Paul, 60, 65 Weir, (Maori Bill), 175, 193 Welch, Joe, 278,

Wells,76

Wenzel, William, 253 Werry, Mrs, 194 Weston, Fred, 52 Wheelbarrow Specificatons, 103 Whitaker-Wright, 281 White, John, 75 White Feather Fairy, 167 Whittaker, J., 276 Whyatt, William Adolphus, 350 Wigg, E.N., 75 Wilcot, William, 318 Wilkinson, W.B., 75 Williams, 144 Williams, H., 243 Williams, Harry, 331 Williams, Jack, 190 Williams, William H., 190 Willmott, Joseph, 197 Willmott, 141, 148, 216 Wills, 147 Willson Creek, 26 Wilson, Clarence, 238 Wilson, John, 85, 116, 180 Wilson, Joseph, 261 Wilson, Ned, 241 Wilson, Sarah Jane, 2, 3, 255, Wilson, W.R., 36, 37

Windich, Tommy,36, 37 Windmill, 66 Winter, 95

Winterbottom, William, 95 Winzar, A.W.,219 Withers, George, 158 Withnell, James Aubrey, 201 Withnell, John, 199 Withnell, Robert, 200 Wittenoom, 180 Woods, R., 32 Woodward, Harry P., 71,172 Worke, J.H., 330 Wright, Lawrie, 69 Wright, Heather, 69 Y

Yarrity, 67

Young, Constable, 262 Youngman, 240 Yuras, Tassy, 54

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a/ &oiJfie/cl& Sioneer-

"What was life like on the Goldfields in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century? For Croesus Mining chief Ron Manners, the answers lie in his grandfather's memoirs written on the back of stockbrokers' pads. William George Manners moved from Ballarat to Broken Hill to Kanowna and finally to Kalgoorlie where he became instrumental in designing many early mining plants, such as the King Battery, Sons of Gwalia, North End (Hannan's North) and the Golden Horseshoe.

After four years and dozens of drafts the book is at the printers ready for release for Kalgoorlie's Centenary."

"Kalgoorlie Miner" February 19 '92

"New book will lift lid on old Goldfields secrets."

"The West" March 17 '92

"Very few mining men of that era wrote down their own life history. W.G. Manners' story is interesting partly because he was a typical engineer, with as many ups as downs. His chapters catch something of the hardship and the excitement of early Broken Hill and the roaring days of Kanowna and Kalgoorlie. It's good that his story, after two thirds of a century, is at last in print."

Professor Geoffrey Blainey March 9 '92

"Concise records of the past have produced some invaluable histories. Historians and all Australians should thank W.G. Manners for putting together his valuable recollections and to his grandson Ron Manners for painstakingly collating them into book form. To me this book is as valuable as Carnegie's "Spinifex and Sand."

Ross Louthean, Managing Editor R.I.U. - "Gold Gazette" 7 May '92

Unlike many of the early pioneers of those turbulent times, “W.G.M.” was asked to write it ail down.

The result is a “personal visit” to the humble beginnings of mining in Australia, and a “tour” through the emergence of important mining centres at Ballarat, Broken Hill, Kanowna and Kalgoorlie.

Originally intended for family circulation, now, almost 70 years later, it warrants a far wider reading.

• Actually being with Father Long at Kanowna, “W.G.M.” has now solved the mystery surrounding the often-told story of Father Long’s “Sacred Nugget”.

• He keenly observes the formative stages of the Labor Party and explains its rapid rise to power “at least 20 years earlier than would have been the case by natural evolution”.

• We discover that, a century later, the rules of investing have not changed; as shown in Chapter 19, Share Sharks And How They Do It.

• He writes of Kalgoorlie’s already colorful image being enhanced when 600 fully armed men marched on the mines at 3 o’clock in the morning during the 1918 riots.

• Perhaps Lizzie’s descendants will appreciate the poem “W.G.M.” dedicated to her while they travelled together on the S.S. “Barcoo”, to Western Australia in 1895.

This is not a history book, it is the story of one man’s batdes, successes and failures, told exactly as it happened, and as such becomes essential reading for everyone interested in Australia - in how our people and country have developed.

H

_c^rr__ Available from your favorite book store or direct from:

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¹

²

See also the story of Billy Brown's Tree.on P.292.

12

³

("Non Com" was the pen-name of Captain Cyril Longmore, tire Editor of the Western Mail during the 1930/40's. James Balzano wrote this material, from June 25, 1940 to September 23, 1943, from his original diary notes. His intention was to submit it for publication, but this was never done ]

⁴

Black-tracker Tommy Windich - see facing page.

⁵

[Suggest this to be Lake Raeside.]

⁶

Possibly a Gossan Outcrop, or outcrop of carbonaceous shale - might be regarded as "Black Slag".

⁷

Billi Billi is a place name and is not associated with Bill, Billy (William) nor with Billy Can (Quart pot).

However the Billi Billi Rush was also known as "The Tinkers Rush" because of numbers of portable condensers and parts thereof carried.

⁸

   261b    =    approx.    372    oz    Troy

⁹

   221b    =    approx.    315 oz Troy

¹⁰

[The "Cement" deposits, and probably much of the "Deep Lead" Gold, appear to have been emplaced as a "Secondary Mineralisation Effect" associated with the Tertiary Lateritisation Episode. The degree of "Enrichment" in some areas and zones is complemented by other areas and zones of "Depletion".]

¹¹

[Refer "Alfred Burgon - Another Mystery" P. 271 ]

199

¹²

track I saw a ghastly sight. A dead object, which I instinctively divined was a man, lay L near the road, in a little clump of jam-wood.

On inspection I identified the body as that of a man who I had met' on ‘my previous trip-.the week before. I met him on that occasion 20 miles uearer to Coolganlic. He was travelling to Dundas. ami had three-quarters of a pint of water left, anil some 60 miles to go for water. 1 cautioned him then, telling him he would be certain to perish if he went on. and advise I him to turn back ro Mount Morgan. The poor fellow only walked some twenty miles further,'and then, I imagine, overcome bv the heat and privation, he lay down exhausted. I found the ground much tom up routid about him. showing that his death strdgg es must have been severe. There hare I wen several narrow escapes from death by tliirst lately on this track, aud I hope the sod end of this poor man will prove i a warning to others. A little description of |l the dead may perhaps lead to his identification. He was apparently about +5 years of aget&ft. 6 in. in height., fair hair anil complexion. and was full 1 warded, he wore white moleskin rrowsers. light tweed coat aud vest, and spoke with a foreign accent.

¹³

p.m., returning 8 a.m. following day Letters delivered at Hannan's and the Bonlde • at reasonable rates.

SPECIAL CYCLISTS.

Messrs. Bamlett and Jerger, having a thorough knowledge of the fields, are prepared to convey Special Messages to any locality.

All kinds of Confidential Business Transacted. Secrecy and Reliability Guaranteed. Oppicr :

H. M. JERGER.

Goldsmith's Hall, Bayfij'v-street,

And

Cooloahdib Miner Office.

veyance service in Western Australia that the government postal service did not provide.

He employed teams of cyclists to carry mail for the gold miners in Coolgardie and the surrounding townships and districts.

In 1894, he issued two values of stamps, 1/- and 2/6 pence. These two values sufficed for the mail carried over shorter routes. The stamps showed a bicycle.

Healy’s service expanded, though. At least one route ended at a place that was nearly 280 miles distant from Coolgardie.

Also, because of the weight of some dispatches — one of the heaviest on record weighed 80 pounds — an alternative to cyclists had to be found.

The region was arid, and camel teams owned mainly by Afghans operated in the district. Healy employed some camel teams for the longer routes.

Stamps of different denominations were needed to pay the higher charges Healy lev

¹⁴

allow it. Salomon made a statement to witness that day just as he (witness) wgj I going to Broad Arrow. Soon after hi* he wrote a letter to hcrwith regard to