Outback Graves Markers

George ANDERSON (more)

Cause of Death: Enteric fever, haemorrhage

The deceased had been suffering for 55 days before he finally succumbed to his illness.

Kathleen Marjorie BEART (more)

Cause of Death: Excessive heat, convulsions

According to the Death Certificate, the convulsions, brought on by excessive heat, lasted just 5 minutes before this little girl lost her fight for life.

The child's father, Mr. Ernest James Beart, owner of Bamboo Springs Station, near Nullagine, died at the station. The late Mr. Beart came to this State in 1894 and went to Menzies, where he built a pipeline about seven miles long to serve the mines. A few years later he worked as an engineer for Smith and Timms in building the railway from Kalgoorlie to Menzies. After that he entered business as a forwarding agent and timber merchant and in 1906 acquired Bamboo Springs.

For many years he divided his time between his station and his home in Claremont.  Ernest was in Port Hedland hospital in 1938 and, knowing he was dying, he requested that he be allowed to die on a property that he owned.  So his family chartered a plane and he died several days later at Bamboo Springs.

His wife (formerly of Menzies) died in 1929 but he left two daughters, one of whom was Mrs. 0. A. Beattie, the wife of the Commonwealth Architect at Canberra, and the other was Mrs. M. J. Quin, whose husband became the manager of her late father's station. 

Kathleen Marjorie's siblings were Kathleen Mary (later Mrs 0scar Alexander Beattie, the wife of the Commonwealth Architect at Canberra), who was born  23 November 1899 at Kalgoorlie, and Dorothy Kingsbury (later Mrs. M. J. Quin, whose husband became the manager of her late father's station), who was born 12 March 1906 at Claremont (Birth Registration 1600101/1906, Claremont).   An unnamed brother to little Kathleen was born in 1904 at Claremont (Birth Registration 1158/1904) but lived just 12 hours (Death Registration 449/1904).

 

William Dalrymple BEATTIE (more)

Cause of Death: Enteric fever, haemorrage

The deceased's father, Robert Beattie, was born about 1845 at Stranraer, Wigtownshire, Scotland.  His wife was also born about 1845.  William was the third child in their family of two daughters and five sons.  They were: Alexander Kennedy Cowan born 1866 in Carlton, Victoria, died 19 July 1867; Jemima Ellen born 1869 in Melbourne;  William; Edith Eleanor born 1873 in South Yarra; Walter Russell born 1876 in Melbourne; Robert Bruce born 1879 in Melbourne; Harold Whyte born 1883 in Melbourne.  

Ellen (FENTON) BELL (more)

Cause of Death: Enteric Fever

Sadly, Ellen BELL died in Menzies General Hospital just over a week after the death of her daughter, Lavinia, who died on 21 March 1898.  Lavinia also died of enteric fever.  At the same time, two of Ellen's sons, brothers to Lavinia, were also laid up in hospital but both boys pulled through.  William lived until 1919 when he died of pneumonia and his brother, Robert John, died in Victoria Park, Perth, in 1949.

The account for treatment to Mrs Bell and family at the Menzies Hospital was reduced from £4 per week to £2 10s per week.
Ellen Bell had spent 20 years in Queensland before arriving in Western Australia.

Ellen's husband, Robert James BELL, was born 7 December 1851 in  Kincardineshire, Scotland.  Following the death of his wife, he married Isabella SEDDON in Coolgardie on 25 August 1900 and a further three children were born to the marriage.  They were Richard Lionel born 1901; Alexander James born 1903 and Lavinia Emma born 1905.  He died in Perth on 7 August 1927, aged 75 years.

Ellen is buried in the Roman Catholic portion of the Menzies Cemetery.

James BELL (more)

Cause of Death: Enteric Fever, Heart Failure

James Bell left his estate to J. T. Bell, his brother.  The estate was sworn at £370.

Lavinia BELL (more)

Cause of Death: Typhoid Fever

This young lady is buried in the Roman Catholic portion of the Menzies Cemetery.

Her mother, Ellen FENTON, married Robert James BELL on 10 June 1880 in Thornborough, Queensland (Marriage Registration 1880/C/831).  Robert James BELL was born 7 December 1851 in  Kincardineshire, Scotland.  Their other children were: William born 1 November 1881; Robert born 2 July 1887, died 8 July 1887; and Robert James born 25 June 1892.

Sadly, Ellen BELL, listed as being a native of Watsonville, Queensland, but who was actually born in 1857 in Cork, Ireland, died in Menzies General Hospital just over a week after the death of her daughter, on 29 March 1898.  She also died of enteric fever.  At the same time, two of her sons, brothers to Lavinia, were also laid up in hospital.

Following the death of his wife, Lavinia's father, Robert James BELL, married Isabella SEDDON in Coolgardie on 25 August 1900 and a further three children were born to the marriage.  They were Richard Lionel born 1901; Alexander James born 1903 and Lavinia Emma born 1905.  He died in Perth on 7 August 1927, aged 75 years.

Phillip BILL (more)

Cause of Death: Haemorrhage after a fall

Monday 24 July 1905 was the tenth anniversary of the first Warden's Court held at Menzies.  Looking back on the events of that day, Warden F Grill had arrived a few days earlier and taken possession of a small wood and iron building at the south end of Shenton Street.  The courthouse consisted of one room unlined and without a floor and was furnished with a table and a couple of chairs.

During the sitting of the court, one of the numerous onlookers, unable to gain admittance, discovered in an adjacent tent, the body of a man.  His cries drew the attention of others and in a few moments, the courthouse was empty and the crowd had gathered round the tent.  It appeared that the deceased, Phil Bill by name,  had fallen a few nights previously on a stump and received internal injuries, although at the time it was not thought that he was seriously hurt.  His mate had left him that morning to go to work, on his assurance that he was feeling quite well.

A coffin was hastily made from such timber as was readily available, consisting principally of old cases and the Warden read the burial service over his body in a grave in the bush to the north of the town.

Apparently the young man had tripped upon one stump and fell onto another, rupturing his intestines, from the effects of which he died. 

It was believed the young man was a foreigner, hailing from Gippsland, and who had an uncle in Ballarat, Victoria.

Florence BINGHAM (more)

Cause of Death: Heart Disease syncope

Florence died very suddenly of a heart condition.  Miss Bingham was found dead in her camp near the Golden Rhine. Dr. Duncan was called in and attributed her death to syncope.  The deceased had been on the fields some time, both in Menzies and at Coolgardie. She was highly esteemed. Recently she had been suffering greatly from neuralgia and rheumatism.

Miss Bingham had been ailing for some time past, distressing attacks of neuralgia causing her great pain and suffering.  On Sunday, she was so distressed that she went to the hospital and remained there all day with Matron Sly.  There was a slight improvement the next morning and her lady friends were hoping that the attack had abated.   Late in the afternoon, she complained to Mr Durbridge of feeling very fatigued and he, noticing her low condition, induced her to go to see Mrs Webb, who administered a stimulant.  This revived her somewhat and she went home. 

Miss Penny, who has been most kind and attentive to the deceased all through her illness, thought that after she had finished and posted her letters for the eastern colonies, she would call in and see her friend before going home for the night.  Miss Penny was a little surprised, on reaching her friend's camp, to find the door open and the place in darkness.  So she called out, but got no response.  Looking in through the open door, Miss Penny then saw the deceased lying on the floor.  Thinking that she must have fainted, Miss Penny ran in and lighted a candle.  The moment the light came, she realised what had happened because she saw that Miss Bingham was lying on the floor with her hat on, evidently as she had fallen as she reached home after walking back from town.

Miss Penny swiftly passed her hands over the limbs of her dead friend and, finding them cold and stiffening, hurried down to Dr Le Messurier, who she knew was at work in his office, and detailed to him what had happened.  Doctor Le Messurier then communicated with Dr Duncan and Sergeant Mitchell.

Dr Duncan, after making a cursory examination of the body, said that he thought death must have been due to syncope or heart failure.  Dr Cave was the deceased's medical attendant, who was due back in Menzies that day and would provide a Death Certificate.

The deceased arrived on the goldfield about 18 months before and, after spending three months in Coolgardie, she arrived in Menzies and carried on her duties with the typewriter ever since.  She was wonderfully cheerful and courageous and very well informed on the current topics of the day.  It was understood that she had married sisters in Sydney, Goulburn and England and is supposed to have been a distant relative to C.Y. O'Connor, the Engineer-In-Chief at the time.

After the administration of probates and letters, the sum of £200 was left to William Lambden Owen from the estate of Miss Florence Bingham.

 

William BIRKS (more)

Cause of Death: Enteric Fever and Pneumonia

Mr. W. Birks, a pioneer of the local field, succumbed on Monday evening at the private hospital to typhoid fever. The deceased had contracted the disease at Coolgardie and arrived in Menzies on 17th March. Then very weak, he immediately took to his bed and never rallied.  He had been on the fields for 24 years.
Birk was on his way to Mount Malcolm to manage the Iease which he had recently sold to a syndicate.
The deceased gentleman arrived from England in the early days of the gold discoveries, and reached Coolgardie towards the close of 1892. He met with a fair amount of success, his best hit being the "Birks Find" mine, beyond Mt. Alice, which property he had just succeeded in selling for the London market prior to his sudden death and untimely end. When the Pioneers of '92 organised their numbers, in order to take a prominent part in the proceedings connected with the recent Railway Opening Demonstration, Mr. Birks was one of the foremost movers, and but a week after his cheery, genial face had been seen at the meetings of Pioneers' Association, the news of his death, resulting from typhoid fever, came to hand from Menzies. As a long and well-known resident Mr. Birks had many friends but no enemies. 

Nils BJORKMAN (more)

Cause of Death: Typhoid

Also known as Miles Bjorkman.

By 1892, at the age of 31, Nils Bjorkman had done well for himself. He had asked the local council to build a sewer as he was about to build a terrace of houses in Paddington, NSW. The next year he was described as a 'gentleman' when he was appointed sole executer for his deceased uncle, Magnus Bronner. On 27th June, 1896, the Consul for Sweden and Norway requested information about the death of Nils Bjorkman from the WA government. In March 1899, the auctioneers had received instructions from the Consul for Sweden and Norway to auction the property of Nils Bjorkman, consisting of 7 houses in Paddington and a block of land. There were no beneficiaries named.

Lionel (LIONEL BRADLEY PILKINGTON) BRADLEY (more)

Cause of Death: Enteric Fever

Known as Lionel Bradley, the deceased's birth name was Lionel Bradley PILKINGTON.
Major Lionel Bradley was formerly drill instructor of the Ballarat Mounted Infantry, Victoria, and was very much respected as being an officer of integrity and uprightness.  In his younger days, Bradley had served in the Imperial service in the Dragoon Guards.  His death was widely mourned.
Constable Bradley was a man in the prime of manhood. It was surmised that he caught the fever prior to starting six weeks ago on important police duty to Mt. Margaret.  He refused to give in, although his illness was noticed at an early stage of the journey; and when he returned twelve days later, his exhaustion was so complete that he could scarcely dismount from his camel.  His temperature was taken at the time, and it registered 105.
Since then, Mr. Bradley has been carefully tended by a trained nurse, assisted by Mrs Tate, under the direction of Dr. Moore, and later on, of Dr. Corlis, but the disease had gained too strong a hold, and hope being abandoned days before, his death on Monday night was not unexpected.
Mr. Bradley came of a good family in Wales (later found to have been Ireland) and having, as a young man, inherited a competency, he saw a good deal of the world prior to joining an English cavalry regiment. After some vicissitudes, he arrived in Australia and joined the Victorian Permanent Artillery, finally settling down as instructor to the Ballarat Mounted Rifles. He was the possessor of several gold medals for swordsmanship and other military exercises, and also a gold shield and chain, presented as a mark of esteem by the Ballarat volunteers.
His wife and one child, a daughter, still resided in Ballarat.
Details concerning Constable Bradley, who died from fever in Menzies, reveal a most romantic story. His real name was Lionel Bradley Pilkington, and he was the possible heir to an English baronetcy. It was stated that 20 years before his death, he came into a large fortune and eloped with the wife of an English aristocrat. He squandered his fortune in America and finally landed in Australia in impoverished circumstances. His lineage was proved by a copy of Burke's Peerage, which is in the possession of another constable who had received letters from Pilkington and knew his real name.  Burke's Peerage corroborates his real lineage.

John BREW (more)

Cause of Death: Enteric Fever

The deceased's siblings were: George born 1868 (Birth Registration 7789/1868, Buninyong); Mary born 1869 (Birth Registration 7258/1869, Buninyong); Margaret Ann born 1871 (Birth Registration 7639/1871, Buninyong); Eliza born 1872 (Birth Registration 21873/1872, Buninyong).  Their parents were married in Victoria in 1867 (Marriage Registration 1532/1867).

This young man was yet another victim of the typhoid epidemic which swept through the district.  In March 1896, the local council was doing all they could to keep the town clean, burning brush fences and clearing out scrub which surrounded the town, sweeping the streets regularly etc.  But without sufficient funds to create a closed pan system for sewerage, they expected this would continue for some time.  Evidence shows it was still rampant in 1899.

William BROWN (more)

Cause of Death: Endocarditis

This young man suffered from a life-threatening inflammation of the inner lining of the heart's chambers and valves for 6 days before he died.  He was brought to the hospital from Mulline in a dying state. Brown was the first discoverer of fresh water from Mulline.  It was wrongly reported that he died of fever.

Robert BULLEN (more)

Cause of Death: Cancer debility

Known as Bob.

Robert Bullen died at 10 o'clock on Wednesday night. The deceased was an engineer and had been employed at Bummer's Creek by the Australian United Gold-mining Company. He was admitted to the hospital on the 17th of July, suffering from a very malignant cancer. Mr Bullen came from Gympie, in Queensland, where his wife and one grown-up daughter were residing.

Bob Mullen for many years resided at Gympie in Queensland, where, upon receiving news of the death of Mr Bullen, The Gympie Times and Mary River Mining Gazette newspaper correspondent wrote: "For many years, "Bob" Bullen was a familiar figure both in his business as a builder and contractor, and as a heavy speculator, while his famous lawsuit with the now defunct South New Zealand Company, in which he was successful, brought him both fame and gold.  He left the field about twelve months ago, but Mrs. Bullen still resides on Gympie."

In April 1882, in the Supreme Court of Queensland, the highly publicised case of Bullen v. the South New Zealand Gold-mining Company action was brought by Robert Bullen against the above company for the recovery of 1800 shares, which he previously held in the company, and which he alleged had been wrongfully declared forfeited, and for £2000 damages for their wrongful forfeiture.  Interestingly, the case was heard before His Honour Sir Charles Lilley, Chief Justice. The Attorney-General, with Mr. Noel instructed by Mr. Power, of Gympie (by his agent, Mr. Chambers), appeared for the plaintiff, Mr Bullen.

The Attorney-General, in opening the case, said that the plaintiff had been for a long time a resident of Gympie and had been interested in the mine of the company, who were now the defendants in the case, for eleven years. He was a proprietor before the formation of the company, and when the mine was handed over to the company formed to work it, he was allotted 1800 shares. In 1879, the plaintiff was not very well off; got in arrears with his calls, and in August of that year owed the company about £28. The company compromised with him, and accepted three promissory-notes, which were met at maturity.  Not one of these calls was made and a meeting of Directors decided to forfeit the plaintiff's shares. 
At a meeting of the company, held on the 8th November, to consider what was to be done with the shares that had been forfeited by the plaintiff and others, Bullen attended, and stated that he had come to make the company an honourable offer. This offer was refused, and the meeting determined to allot the forfeited shares to the remaining members of the company. 
The Attorney-General briefly replied to the opening arguments of his learned counsel on the other side, contending that there never had been a forfeiture, and that the plaintiff was entitled to get back his shares on payment of whatever amount was due on them.
The hearing of this case was concluded on 18 April 1882, when judgment was reserved.  On Tuesday, 9 May, His Honour delivered judgment.  This lengthy judgment concluded: "There will be a declaration, if he elects to redeem, that the forfeiture was waived, that the sale was void, that the plaintiff is entitled to redeem, that the shares be transferred to him, that an account of profits be taken since June, 1880, and that the defendants pay them to the plaintiff, the defendant company being allowed to set off the calls due from plaintiff ... If he elect to take the damages, judgment for plaintiff for £315. The plaintiff will have his costs."

John Adamason CASE (more)

Cause of Death: Malarial Fever, Insolatis from extreme heat

Known as Jack.

The deceased was the fourth of seven children born to Elizabeth and Richard Case who were married on 17 May 1867 in Sydney, New South Wales.  Richard was an able-bodies seaman, born 29 January 1843 in Kelling, Norfolk, England.  His wife was born 17 July 1850 in Govan, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Their family were: Jane Elizabeth born 11 June 1868 in Sydney, died 11 November 1870; Sarah Ann Adamson born 10 April 1870 in Sydney; Ann Adamson Janes born 29 February 1872 in Sydney; John; Richard Nathaniel Cameron born 3 August 1877 in Sydney; William James born 1880, died January 1881; Emily Mary Mary born 18 September 1884 in Waverley, New South Wales.

Elizabeth died 29 January 1909 at Bronte, New South Wales.  Richard died 11 April 1916 in Waverley.