Story 1. Edward William McCane
The first of these stories tells of the heartbreak and loss experienced by my maternal great grandparents Owen McCane (Muckian) and Margaret McCane nee Farrell, my maternal grandmother Sarah O'Donnell nee McCane, and my grand aunts and uncles - Susan Bidgood nee McCane, Thomas Owen, John Michael and James Patrick McCane - in the year 1905.
At that time my great grandfather Owen McCane, an immigrant from Ireland, and my great grandmother Margaret Farrell, an immigrant from England were living in Charters Towers. They had begun their married life there in 1892 when Owen was aged 32 and Margaret was 26. By 1905 they had a family of two girls, Susan aged 12, Sarah aged 10; and four boys, Edward William aged 8, Thomas Owen (known as Tom) aged 6, John Michael aged 4, and James Patrick (known as Jim) aged 1.
Both the 1903 and 1905 census records Owen and Margaret living at the "Pumping Station". The Burdekin River Pumping Station was located on the peninsula at the
junction of the Burdekin River and Sheepstation Creek. It supplied much-needed water to the gold mining town of Charters Towers, which was about 13 kilometres away.
By 1905, a small settlement had grown up around the pumping station, with a collection of other buildings at the site. Close to the pumping station, there was an engineer's residence, some worker's cottages and a small school, all located on the north bank of the creek. The school had opened up in 1897 to accommodate the children of the pumping station employees, as well as the children of pastoralists who lived and worked nearby. Owen and his family were probably living in one of the worker's cottages, but it would have been rather a tight fit for a family of eight.
On the 5th of February 1905, tragedy struck. Edward William, Owen's first-born son, passed away at the age of 8. The details of the tragedy were reported in several newspapers of the time.
Transcript of the article:
"A sad drowning accident occurred at the Burdekin yesterday, the victim being a lad named Edward McCane aged eight years.
The boy, with a younger brother went fishing, and fell off a log into the water. His little brother ran to give the alarm, but first went to the pumping station engine-house, which was untenanted. He then ran home and told his father, who is one of the foremen at the station.
The father rushed down to the spot, and others came to his assistance, but it was 45 minutes before the body was recovered under the bank in 8ft. of water. All efforts to restore life were futile."
The picture I have is firstly of Edward's little brother, searching wildly for his father immediately after the incident. That little boy was Thomas Owen McCane, known as Tom. He was only 6 years old when his older brother fell into the river. I just can't imagine what effect the ordeal would have had on him ... at the time, and forever afterwards.
He had run to the engine-house of the pumping station first. I imagine he thought his father would have been working there, but this wasn't the case. That meant little Tom had to then spend more time running in his search for help. It must have been absolutely terrifying for such a young person.
The next picture I have is that of Owen during this ordeal. I can see a frantic father diving into the river, searching desperately for his son under the water. I wonder if it was Owen who found Edward? Was he the one who spent 45 minutes trying to find the body of his oldest son? I wonder if it was Owen who tried in vain to revive Edward?
I would think that my great
grandfather Owen and great grandmother Margaret suffered immensely for a long
time in their own way after the tragic accident. Both would have carried on though, as they had
five other children to take care of, and thankfully a large close-knit group of
family members on my great grandmother's side who would have supported them
through the weeks and months that followed.
Story 2. Hannah Susan Exton
In an eerie parallel, the next story is also of a family relative, on the paternal side of the family tree, who drowned when aged 8.
My 3rd great uncle Thomas Exton (youngest son of my 3x great grandparents James Exton and Susannah Lancaster) and his wife, Eliza Silke Exton nee Hughes, had a family of six children by mid 1885 - Thomas Henry, Sarah Anne, Marietta, William James, Hannah Susan and George Walter. They were living quite comfortably in Lismore, New South Wales, on the family property in the lower section of Molesworth Street that backed onto a tributary of the Richmond River.
On December 21st, around noon, Hannah Susan aged 8, was playing near the river and had jumped into a boat that she thought was tethered to the shore. Unfortunately, it was not.
A transcript of the newspaper article tells of the inquest that was held the next day in the family home of Hannah's parents, Thomas and Eliza, whilst Hannah's body was laying in the next room. It paints a picture of the unfolding events that had occurred the afternoon before.
Hannah Susan died just 4 days before Christmas that year, and her funeral was held on the day before Christmas Eve. It would have been a very sombre festive season for the entire family.
Story 3. Sarah Emily Exton
There is yet another member of the Exton family who tragically drowned. Hannah's father, Thomas Exton had an older sister named Sarah Emily.
Sarah was the second eldest daughter of my 3x great grandparents James Exton and Susannah Lancaster (Sarah was in fact the first biological daughter of James, as Susannah's first daughter was James's step-daughter).
Sarah Emily Exton was born in Lincolnshire, England, and had emigrated to Australia with her family when she was aged 8. She had married the convict James Hugh McGuiness when she was 23. They had settled into their married life in the Richmond River district and went on to have a family of eight children.
Between the ages of 23 and 40 Sarah gave birth to Charles John Hugh, Mary Jane, Lucy Emily, Hugh, Amelia, Elizabeth Ann, Emma and James McGuiness. Sadly, her daughter Elizabeth Ann died when she was 1, and her last-born died on the day he was born. Sarah's husband James McGuiness died in 1882 when Sarah was only 47 years old.
Then, less than nine years later, in December of 1891, Sarah was found drowned. There were no beaches where Sarah was living, but her home town of Lismore sat on the Richmond River. Was that where she met her tragic end? The answer is no.
The coroner's report that was published in the May-June 1892 pages of the Government Gazette shows that she had been found near Lismore, but does not mention the Richmond River. (Her age was incorrect - she would have been 56 in December of 1891)
Her death certificate states that she had died at Blakebrook, near Lismore, but once again doesn't mention the big river nearby. So where did Sarah actually drown?
This present day map shows there are many little creeks around the Blakebrook area that feed into the Richmond River, so perhaps she died whilst swimming in or crossing one of those creeks.
Unsubstantiated oral family history tells the story that Sarah actually drowned at Hanging Rock Falls, which would have been a very long journey from Blakebrook back in 1891.
The exact details of her drowning death have eluded me up to this point, but it does seem like quite a dreadful way for a woman in her mid-50s to end her days.
Story 4. Percival William Legge
Sticking with the Exton family ... my 3x great grandparents James Exton and Susannah Lancaster had a daughter named Harriet Lancaster-Exton.
Yes, I mentioned her in the last story. She was my 3x great grandmother Susannah's first child, born out of wedlock, and became James's step-daughter.
After emigrating with the family to Australia, Harriet was to marry twice. Her first marriage was to convict John Michael Jones, when she was just 14 years old. Harriet and John went on to have 10 children, one of whom was named Oliver Jones.
It seems that Percy and a couple of mates, including a young man named Felsch - who may have been the same deck hand who had survived the sinking of the Ballina - had spent a lazy Sunday at Evans Head.
At around 2.00 p.m. Percy and James Felsch decided to go in for a dip just as the tide was turning. Percy was pulled into a dangerous undertow, and despite the best efforts of James Felsch, was taken out to sea. It seems Percy could not swim at all, so had little chance of escaping the pull of the tide.
The crowd on the beach apparently gave no heed to Percy's cries, thinking he was just having a bit of fun! But eventually the man on beach patrol was called upon to head out into the breakers to find Percy, and with the assistance of another man bought Percy's body back to shore. Apparently attempts at resuscitation were kept up for over two hours, but to no avail.
Lizzie, his widow (my paternal 2nd cousin twice removed), was left with three young children and a baby on the way. She gave birth to a baby girl the following month, in January 1920.
I'm joining Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2020 project / challenge.
This time I'm catching up with the prompt for Week 14 of 2020 - ''Water".
You can join by blogging or posting on social media with the tag #52Ancestors.
At that time my great grandfather Owen McCane, an immigrant from Ireland, and my great grandmother Margaret Farrell, an immigrant from England were living in Charters Towers. They had begun their married life there in 1892 when Owen was aged 32 and Margaret was 26. By 1905 they had a family of two girls, Susan aged 12, Sarah aged 10; and four boys, Edward William aged 8, Thomas Owen (known as Tom) aged 6, John Michael aged 4, and James Patrick (known as Jim) aged 1.
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| Burdekin Pumping Station indicated with the blue tag |
By 1905, a small settlement had grown up around the pumping station, with a collection of other buildings at the site. Close to the pumping station, there was an engineer's residence, some worker's cottages and a small school, all located on the north bank of the creek. The school had opened up in 1897 to accommodate the children of the pumping station employees, as well as the children of pastoralists who lived and worked nearby. Owen and his family were probably living in one of the worker's cottages, but it would have been rather a tight fit for a family of eight.
On the 5th of February 1905, tragedy struck. Edward William, Owen's first-born son, passed away at the age of 8. The details of the tragedy were reported in several newspapers of the time.
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| Drowning Accident - Northern Miner (Charters Towers), Monday 6 February 1905, page 4 |
Transcript of the article:
"A sad drowning accident occurred at the Burdekin yesterday, the victim being a lad named Edward McCane aged eight years.
The boy, with a younger brother went fishing, and fell off a log into the water. His little brother ran to give the alarm, but first went to the pumping station engine-house, which was untenanted. He then ran home and told his father, who is one of the foremen at the station.
The father rushed down to the spot, and others came to his assistance, but it was 45 minutes before the body was recovered under the bank in 8ft. of water. All efforts to restore life were futile."
The picture I have is firstly of Edward's little brother, searching wildly for his father immediately after the incident. That little boy was Thomas Owen McCane, known as Tom. He was only 6 years old when his older brother fell into the river. I just can't imagine what effect the ordeal would have had on him ... at the time, and forever afterwards.
He had run to the engine-house of the pumping station first. I imagine he thought his father would have been working there, but this wasn't the case. That meant little Tom had to then spend more time running in his search for help. It must have been absolutely terrifying for such a young person.
The next picture I have is that of Owen during this ordeal. I can see a frantic father diving into the river, searching desperately for his son under the water. I wonder if it was Owen who found Edward? Was he the one who spent 45 minutes trying to find the body of his oldest son? I wonder if it was Owen who tried in vain to revive Edward?
Story 2. Hannah Susan Exton
In an eerie parallel, the next story is also of a family relative, on the paternal side of the family tree, who drowned when aged 8.
On December 21st, around noon, Hannah Susan aged 8, was playing near the river and had jumped into a boat that she thought was tethered to the shore. Unfortunately, it was not.
 |
| Northern Star Dec 24 1885 |
A transcript of the newspaper article tells of the inquest that was held the next day in the family home of Hannah's parents, Thomas and Eliza, whilst Hannah's body was laying in the next room. It paints a picture of the unfolding events that had occurred the afternoon before.
"Fatal Accident:
An inquest was held before the District Coroner
(Mr. L. Bernstein) and a jury of twelve, at the dwelling house of Mr. T. Exton,
on Tuesday the 22nd instant, on the body of: Hannah Susan Exton, who
was drowned in the river on the previous day, when the following evidence was
given-
Henry Sharpe deposed: I am Sergeant of Police stationed at Lismore,
from information I received about noon on Monday, the 21st instant,
I proceeded to the river bank at Lismore, near Mr. T. Exton’s residence; I found
a number of people there engaged in diving and dragging the river. I commenced to drag the river myself, and
about 4 p.m. I succeeded to bring the body of the deceased, Hannah Susan Exton,
to the surface of the water; I carefully
examined the body, but could find no marks of violence; I viewed the body now laying in the next room
and recognise it as that I brought to the surface.
By a juryman:
ODO drag is kept in the Police Office in fair order, no other in town as
far as I am aware of.
Thomas Exton, deposed: I am the father of the deceased, Hannah Susan
Exton; I was in Holesworth Street,
Lismore, on the 21st instant, and from information received I proceeded
to my wharf at the river bank paddock;
after diving there a few minutes a number of people came who assisted in
diving and dragging until about 4 p.m., when I saw the body of my child, Hannah
Susan Exton, brought to the surface; life was extinct, she having been under
water from about noon; I don’t know how
she got into the water, there did not appear any marks on the body, and I
believe the death was purely accidental; the deceased was eight years of age;
she was not in the habit of going to the river by herself, but usually in the
company with her older sisters.
Katie Meares, deposed: I am seven years old; I saw Hannah Exton
getting into the boat yesterday; she thought the boat was fast, but it was not,
and it got away from the bank; she called out to me to get hold of the boat,
but I said I could not, then she jumped out and was drowned; I ran to Mrs Exton
and told her Hannah fell into the river.
The jury returned a verdict that the deceased,
Hannah Susan Exton, was in the Richmond River at Lismore, on the 21st
instant, accidentally drowned."
Story 3. Sarah Emily Exton
 |
| Sarah Jane McGuiness nee Exton |
Sarah was the second eldest daughter of my 3x great grandparents James Exton and Susannah Lancaster (Sarah was in fact the first biological daughter of James, as Susannah's first daughter was James's step-daughter).
Sarah Emily Exton was born in Lincolnshire, England, and had emigrated to Australia with her family when she was aged 8. She had married the convict James Hugh McGuiness when she was 23. They had settled into their married life in the Richmond River district and went on to have a family of eight children.
Between the ages of 23 and 40 Sarah gave birth to Charles John Hugh, Mary Jane, Lucy Emily, Hugh, Amelia, Elizabeth Ann, Emma and James McGuiness. Sadly, her daughter Elizabeth Ann died when she was 1, and her last-born died on the day he was born. Sarah's husband James McGuiness died in 1882 when Sarah was only 47 years old.
Then, less than nine years later, in December of 1891, Sarah was found drowned. There were no beaches where Sarah was living, but her home town of Lismore sat on the Richmond River. Was that where she met her tragic end? The answer is no.
The coroner's report that was published in the May-June 1892 pages of the Government Gazette shows that she had been found near Lismore, but does not mention the Richmond River. (Her age was incorrect - she would have been 56 in December of 1891)
Her death certificate states that she had died at Blakebrook, near Lismore, but once again doesn't mention the big river nearby. So where did Sarah actually drown?
This present day map shows there are many little creeks around the Blakebrook area that feed into the Richmond River, so perhaps she died whilst swimming in or crossing one of those creeks.
Unsubstantiated oral family history tells the story that Sarah actually drowned at Hanging Rock Falls, which would have been a very long journey from Blakebrook back in 1891.
The exact details of her drowning death have eluded me up to this point, but it does seem like quite a dreadful way for a woman in her mid-50s to end her days.
Story 4. Percival William Legge
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| Harriett Jones nee Lancaster-Exton |
Yes, I mentioned her in the last story. She was my 3x great grandmother Susannah's first child, born out of wedlock, and became James's step-daughter.
After emigrating with the family to Australia, Harriet was to marry twice. Her first marriage was to convict John Michael Jones, when she was just 14 years old. Harriet and John went on to have 10 children, one of whom was named Oliver Jones.
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| Oliver Jones (grandson of James Exton & Susannah Lancaster), with his wife Elizabeth Yabsley |
Oliver married a lady named Elizabeth Yabsley, and they went on to have 10 children as well! Their second-youngest child was Elizabeth Irene Jones, fondly known as Lizzie (my 3x great grandparents' great grandchild).
Lizzie would also marry twice, like her grandmother Harriett. Her first marriage was to a man named Percival William Legge, known as Percy. He was an immigrant, an engineer, coming out from England in 1909 to begin a new life in Australia.
They married when Lizzie was 22 years old, in 1912, and went on to have three children over the following seven years. Sadly their marriage ended within seven years, with the death of Percival.
Some of the known facts of Elizabeth Irene's and Percival William's story are these:
Percy and Lizzie began their married life working in dairies in Cawongla (very close to Hanging Rock Falls), north-west of Lismore. It appears that, at that time, Percy's engineering background did not afford him a job in that field.
By 1918 however, Percy was working for the river steamer company, Davis Bros. & Burgess Ltd, and was living in Coraki with his wife Lizzie and family. Whilst he enlisted in September of 1918, he did not see any action.
An interesting event that occurred in late 1918 however, seems to have been an ominous sign for Percy's future. He was the engine driver on a steamship name 'Ballina' which had docked overnight in the town of Ballina.
According to this Northern Star article:
"Being holiday time, accommodation was most difficult, and it is averred impossible to secure at the popular seaside resort, and some people, it appears, went on board without authority to sleep.
The drowned men were, it is said, of these. There were also on the vessel the engineer (Percy Legge), his wife and three children, and a deck hand named Felsh.
About 3.30 a.m. the catastrophe occurred, and in what manner it came about is a mystery. The Ballina arrived at the owner's wharf at 11.30 o'clock in the morning and remained there all day, being viewed by a great number of people on holiday. At 10.30 or 11 o'clock at night the boat appeared to be all right - there was nothing whatever to cause the slightest apprehension. But there, to all human intent and purposes, safely moored to the jetty by the broad expanse of the Richmond River - something - the unexplained, so far undiscovered something - went amiss, and in the early cheerless, moonlight hours peaceful sleepers were rudely awakened to find a water grave threatening them, and alas for two the darkness of the waters to encompass them forever."
So it seems Percy (employed as the engine driver of the steamship) had taken his wife and family on the trip so they could enjoy a little Christmas holiday by the beach. They, the deck hand, along with the two men who drowned, slept on the ship overnight, on Boxing Day night. Whatever happened in the early hours of December 27th has remained a total mystery, but it resulted in the sinking of the steamship Ballina.
Thankfully, Percy, his wife and three children; along with the deck hand named Felsh, managed to escape and make it safely to shore. At the time Lizzie and Percy's children were aged just 4, 2 and 1 year old. It would have been a very scary experience for everyone.
Lizzie and Percy returned to their usual day-to-day lives and were probably thankful each and every day that the whole family had survived. They were no doubt looking forward to a bright future together. Sadly, that changed in the blink of an eye almost a year later.
Lizzie would also marry twice, like her grandmother Harriett. Her first marriage was to a man named Percival William Legge, known as Percy. He was an immigrant, an engineer, coming out from England in 1909 to begin a new life in Australia.
They married when Lizzie was 22 years old, in 1912, and went on to have three children over the following seven years. Sadly their marriage ended within seven years, with the death of Percival.
Some of the known facts of Elizabeth Irene's and Percival William's story are these:
Percy and Lizzie began their married life working in dairies in Cawongla (very close to Hanging Rock Falls), north-west of Lismore. It appears that, at that time, Percy's engineering background did not afford him a job in that field.
By 1918 however, Percy was working for the river steamer company, Davis Bros. & Burgess Ltd, and was living in Coraki with his wife Lizzie and family. Whilst he enlisted in September of 1918, he did not see any action.
An interesting event that occurred in late 1918 however, seems to have been an ominous sign for Percy's future. He was the engine driver on a steamship name 'Ballina' which had docked overnight in the town of Ballina.
According to this Northern Star article:
 |
| Northern Star Sat 28 Dec 1918 |
"Being holiday time, accommodation was most difficult, and it is averred impossible to secure at the popular seaside resort, and some people, it appears, went on board without authority to sleep.
The drowned men were, it is said, of these. There were also on the vessel the engineer (Percy Legge), his wife and three children, and a deck hand named Felsh.
About 3.30 a.m. the catastrophe occurred, and in what manner it came about is a mystery. The Ballina arrived at the owner's wharf at 11.30 o'clock in the morning and remained there all day, being viewed by a great number of people on holiday. At 10.30 or 11 o'clock at night the boat appeared to be all right - there was nothing whatever to cause the slightest apprehension. But there, to all human intent and purposes, safely moored to the jetty by the broad expanse of the Richmond River - something - the unexplained, so far undiscovered something - went amiss, and in the early cheerless, moonlight hours peaceful sleepers were rudely awakened to find a water grave threatening them, and alas for two the darkness of the waters to encompass them forever."
So it seems Percy (employed as the engine driver of the steamship) had taken his wife and family on the trip so they could enjoy a little Christmas holiday by the beach. They, the deck hand, along with the two men who drowned, slept on the ship overnight, on Boxing Day night. Whatever happened in the early hours of December 27th has remained a total mystery, but it resulted in the sinking of the steamship Ballina.
Thankfully, Percy, his wife and three children; along with the deck hand named Felsh, managed to escape and make it safely to shore. At the time Lizzie and Percy's children were aged just 4, 2 and 1 year old. It would have been a very scary experience for everyone.
Lizzie and Percy returned to their usual day-to-day lives and were probably thankful each and every day that the whole family had survived. They were no doubt looking forward to a bright future together. Sadly, that changed in the blink of an eye almost a year later.
It seems that Percy and a couple of mates, including a young man named Felsch - who may have been the same deck hand who had survived the sinking of the Ballina - had spent a lazy Sunday at Evans Head.
At around 2.00 p.m. Percy and James Felsch decided to go in for a dip just as the tide was turning. Percy was pulled into a dangerous undertow, and despite the best efforts of James Felsch, was taken out to sea. It seems Percy could not swim at all, so had little chance of escaping the pull of the tide.
The crowd on the beach apparently gave no heed to Percy's cries, thinking he was just having a bit of fun! But eventually the man on beach patrol was called upon to head out into the breakers to find Percy, and with the assistance of another man bought Percy's body back to shore. Apparently attempts at resuscitation were kept up for over two hours, but to no avail.
Lizzie, his widow (my paternal 2nd cousin twice removed), was left with three young children and a baby on the way. She gave birth to a baby girl the following month, in January 1920.
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| Map showing Ballina (where the entire family almost drowned in Dec of 1918) and Evans Head (where Percy did drown in Dec of 1919). The town of Coraki is also indicated with a cross - that's where the family was living at the time of Percy's death. |
I'm joining Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2020 project / challenge.
This time I'm catching up with the prompt for Week 14 of 2020 - ''Water".
Check out Amy's FB pages: Generations Cafe or Amy Johnson Crow
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