It appears that on November 20, Cleary, a stockman, rode into Turkey Creek in company with a mailman and cook from Ord River Station. Cleary had been employed at Ord River Station for 18 months and on finishing, set out for Wyndham to take the boat for Darwin. On November 24, he left Turkey Creek with the intention of catching up with the mailman, who had departed just ahead of him, but a teamster arriving at Turkey Creek from Wyndham some days later stated that he had met the mailman, but not Cleary. It was thought that Cleary had gone astray, but as he was an experienced Nor'Wester, no fear was then held for his safety. However, as he failed to put in an appearance at Wyndham by the beginning of December, a search was instituted, and eventually Constable Patsy Durack of Argyle Station and trackers came across the missing man's pack at Big Lagoon Yard, with a note pencilled on a piece of paper. This note, fixed to the stone wall of the dip, bore the following message: "I intend to do myself in. Bushed; no tucker for 10 days, lost horses and not able to go after them- W Cleary 29.11.26." Investigation was made, and in a nearby ash-heap was found what appeared to be charred bones. An examination of the kit showed that the razor was missing, which gives rise to the supposition that Cleary, in his extremity, set alight to one end of the wood stack and then took his life at the other, his remains being consumed by the blaze. Further investigation of the surrounding country was made, but there was no other trace of Cleary. He is believed to have been a native of New South Wales.