Biography

He was known to have been "a delicate chap" with a hacking cough, which, “on this occasion, broke his heart and he dropped dead”. Williams death took place one night around the camp fire, while Tom the Liar, Micky MacIntyre and several other romancers were relating their experiences. The mates covered his body with blankets and prepared to inter the deceased. Work was suspended on the adjacent claims while the committee appointed to build the coffin, hunted around for candle boxes, gin cases and carpenters tools. When the casket was completed it had some unusual inscriptions: “This side Up” and “Keep Away from Boilers”! The next problem was to procure some religious work to read at the burial service. Gold was easier to find! After an extensive search, an old Whittaker’s Almanac was found. Some thought it would be satisfactory but, after careful consideration, it was rejected as the camp scholar claimed it had no reference to funerals. Eventually the necessary book was found at Reid’s camp and poor Williams was eventually buried.