Outback Graves Markers

Henry AH HANG (more)

Cause of Death: Perished from Thirst

During November of 1900, Henry, who had been engaged as a boundary rider on Cordillo Downs Station, suddenly and mysteriously disappeared. Ah Hang had been camped about 20 miles from the head station at Cordillo Downs and had with him two saddle horses. He was in the habit of obtaining rations from the station once every month, but when he did not appear in the usual way, the alarm was raised and a search was made for him. Mr. W. Coles and a black tracker discovered the dead body of the horse which Ah Hang generally rode. The animal had a broken hind leg. The saddle belonging to it was discovered two miles away in some scrub. The paddock and adjacent country were searched by police and 'black trackers,' but no clue to the whereabouts of the man's body could be found. The weather at the time was hot, and the conclusion arrived at was that he had perished of thirst. Since then, the matter had been almost entirely forgotten until the beginning of August 1905, when an Aboriginal who had been mustering sheep discovered the body of a man and reported to the manager of the station, Mr. Murray. Two black trackers were found who identified him by his clothes. A knife in the trousers pocket bears the initials A. H. on the handle, and M.C. McKeane was confident from this and other evidence, that the remains were those of the ill-fated Chinaman. He is of opinion that Ah Hang was riding when the horse fell and broke its leg. The deceased, no doubt injured by his fall, struggled in the direction of his camp with the saddle and bridle, but succumbed along the way. The horse, the saddle, and human remains were all in a direct line for the camp — the horse at a distance of six miles, the saddle two miles nearer, and the body only one mile from the rude scrub shelter. In October 1896, Henry was charged by Inspector Gary, of the State Children's Department, with having failed to comply with an order made in 1892 for the support of his five children. The bench considered the case to be one of deliberate neglect and sentenced the defendant to two months imprisonment with hard labour. The deceased had relatives at Point Macleay in 1900.

Henry was buried on Cordillo Downs Station.

Emil Robert AHLMANN (more)

Cause of Death: Fell Down a Well

The deceased fell down a well near Cordillo Downs Station. Death was instantaneous. He was 5 feet 10 inches high and of medium build. There was a Julius Emil AHLMANN who had arrived in South Australia in 1877 from Germany - but it is not known of any connection between the two gentlemen.

Frank BRANDT (more)

Cause of Death:

To date, nothing of his life has come to light. It appears he was not born in South Australia, although a newspaper article in 1916 reports of three brothers who applied for exemption or temporary exemption from service. Those brothers were Arthur, William and Francis, all of whom were born in Victoria to Mary Gorman and Edwin Brandt. The date of birth for Francis Carl is in keeping with his age at death being 33, however, there is no currently known link between Francis Carl and the deceased as possibly being the same person.

Frank is buried near the homestead at Cordillo Downs Station.

Thomas Leslie FORD (more)

Cause of Death:

Thomas Leslie had at least three younger siblings born in South Australia. They were Alice Mary born 23 January 1895, Clide (sic) Thornton, 29 March 1900 and Eva May born 13 August 1903. His grave is known to be 1 km NNW of the homestead through the rear station gate.

Thomas Leslie Ford was buried at Cordillo Downs Station.

Jack HISGROVE (more)

Cause of Death: Perished

The deceased's body was discovered in a creek bed on the Cordillo - Cadelgo track (Police Mortuary Returns:4th March 1897 Page 464 b). He had died some time during November 1896. The creek was dry and it is assumed the man died of thirst. He was buried on site in a creek bed on the Cordillo – Cadelgo track. The body was thought to be that of Jack Hisgrove. Hisgrove had been working at Haddon and Bunbury during shearing time. He was supposed to have come from Wentworth, where his family was reported to have been living at the time of his death.

Jack Hisgrove was buried at Cordillo Downs Station.

Samuel SMITH (more)

Cause of Death: Died of Thirst

Samuel Smith was found dead on Cordillo Downs Run. He had been in the employ of a man named Lee, a teamster, and had left his employment on January 22, remaining on Cordillo Downs Station until January 26, when he left, stating that he was going to walk to Innamincka, 100 miles away. It was mid-summer. He was not heard of again. When found, Samuel was lying on the side of the bed of a waterhole. He had apparently laid down to sleep, having a piece of blanket across his shoulders. The body was dressed in a pair of coloured moleskin trousers, a cotton singlet and a pair of socks. His boots and empty waterbag were hanging about 3 yards from the body under a tree. A watch and pocket-book were also found near the body. A bundle of clothes were in the bed of the creek. It was concluded that Smith had died from either sunstroke or want of water. His mother was apparently living at Port Augusta at the time.