A Haunting at Crafers: Wonnaminta

A Haunting at Crafers: Wonnaminta 

  Built by Arthur Hardy after being forced to sell his home, Mount Lofty House, this dwelling close to the Adelaide Hills town of Crafers has been lived in by many of Adelaide's wealthiest families.

  Known as “Number Seven” by the Hardy family when they lived in the house, the name Wonnaminta, which is the combination of two Aboriginal words, "Wonna" meaning “boomerang”, and Minta meaning “water”, was given to the house by the Kennedy family.
 The Kennedys were a wealthy pastoral family who also had a station with the same name in outback NSW.

The Kennedys, Robert and Mary, first moved from Collingwood, Goulbourn to a Station near Tibooburra in far North-West New South Wales, where they took over Wonnaminta Station from squatters.
 The Kennedys raised livestock on their station and prospered from good farming techniques, which allowed them to invest in property. 

(above) Monumental Headstone (1895).
 (Image courtesy of Prue Grieve)

The name Kennedy became synonymous with hospitality in the region. Mary Kennedy tended to anyone injured in the region, acting as a nurse. She also organised race meetings and field days for the local community.  Mary was also held in high regard by the local aboriginals, with whom she offered free education.

The heat of the outback became overwhelming for Mary, and the family bought a house in Mount Lofty, near Adelaide, South Australia in the hope she could find some relief from her exhaustion there.
 The Kennedys renamed the house “Wonnaminta”, the same as the station, and resided in Adelaide at their summer house while their outback station was overseen by an employee.
Although Mary loved the NSW Station, she also loved the Crafer's house just as much. Unfortunately for the Kennedys,  things took a bad turn when in 1894 a plague of rabbits descended upon the station, destroying much of the feed for the livestock.  Large debts soon followed as they tried to pay for food for the animals. The debts became too much for the family, and eventually, they were forced to sell both the station in NSW and the house in Crafers.

In 1895, after living in exile in Melbourne, Robert died and Mary was left a widow with very little money. Mary died on the 12^th of December 1915 at The Terrace in Armadale, NSW.

It is alleged that Mary's presence has been both seen and felt at both the NSW Station and the house at Crafers.
 Her spirit is alleged to have been seen in both the Wonnaminta Station and house, straightening quilts, smoothing pillows and sitting patiently alongside the sick as they lay in bed.
 At her Adelaide residence, she has also been seen sitting on the veranda in a rocking chair looking over the gardens.
She is sometimes seen wearing a black frock with a tight waistband, and shiny beads, at other times a grey gown, but she always has her hair parted and drawn back.

The Australian Women's Weekly (1933 - 1982) Wednesday 14 August 1974 page 36



© 2014 Allen Tiller
www.eidolonparanormal.com.au

Woodhouse Activity Centre

Woodhouse Activity Centre

Located in the Adelaide Hills, Woodhouse Activity Centre has been owned by the Scouting Association since the 1950s and used for all kinds of scouting, and public activities, including weddings.
The house is situated on a 54-acre estate located in the Piccadilly Valley, it once covered 1000 acres of the rolling Adelaide Hills. Mount Lofty Golf Course and Arbury Park, nearby, were once part of the illustrious estate.

The house was described rather well in an advertisement in the South Australian Register in October 1888 (Thursday, October 1888 page 8) which stated that the house comprises a dining room, drawing room, library, morning room, seven bedrooms, a servants bedroom, schoolroom, kitchen, scullery, storerooms, pantry, large cellars and larder and out rooms consisting of laundries, bathrooms, and W.C. - the entire house is built of white freestone.

  The house that is referred to now as “Old House” and has long been rumoured to be a haunted location. The house and estate were first established around 1848, which makes the house one of the oldest surviving opulent homes outside of the Adelaide City boundary.
The house has seen some very important Adelaide people in residence and saw some controversy in its surrounding estate back in the late 1800s. The controversy involved land and mining dealings by the owner, a former Advocate General and acting Governor in South Australia, Mr George Milner Stephens.

  Stephens came to Adelaide in 1838, aged 25, and took up the positions of Advocate General and Crown Solicitor. Later, he also was acting Governor in the interim of Governor Hindmarsh returning to England and Governor Gawler's arrival in Adelaide.
Stephens suffered damage to his reputation after a messy legal case over land dealings in the Adelaide Hills, he never really regained his former confidence, nor the trust of Adelaide's elite.

  Another famous owner of the house and estate was Sir Richard Hanson. Hanson was the fourth Premier of South Australia and also served in the Supreme Court of South Australia as Chief Judge.
  Hanson was also a member of the Freemasons and founded the South Australian “Lodge of Friendship” of which he later became it's Master.
  Hanson also passed an act legalising marriage with a deceased wife’s sister, the first act of its kind in the English Empire, it was however refused by the royal family and not passed into law.

Sir Hanson is responsible for many additions to the estate buildings and for extensively renovating the site. Sir Richard Hanson died of a heart attack in the garden of the estate, not far from “Old House” on the 4th of March 1876 (as reported in the South Australian Register on March 6th of that year.)

 One of the legends surrounding the house is that if you count the outside windows of the building, there appear to more windows visible than from inside, this led to a rumour that there was a secret room somewhere in the house, this, of course, led to more rumours and urban legends about a “ghost room” in the house that only appears at certain times.

There are also countless stories of child apparitions, often heard crying, this could be due to the location being a scout owned function location for over 50 years, as we all know, young children camping like a good ghost story, or perhaps this is residual energy from frightened children, but as of yet, I have not come across any records of children dying at the location that could account for such sightings.

One other story that is seen on the internet involves a murder-suicide related apparition sighted in an upstairs bedroom and a story written in the houses guest book that relates the murder-suicide. This, of course, cannot be verified as ever happening at the Woodhouse estate as no newspapers have anything similar linked to the place or anywhere nearby, it remains, at this stage, another of the locations urban legends, perhaps told at scout campfires over a hot chocolate and marshmallows.

© 2014 Allen Tiller

www.eidolonparanormal.com.au

Ellen Ida Benham

Ellen Ida Benham

  On March 12th 1871, just outside Kapunda, in the town of Allen's Creek, was born Ellen Ida Benham.
  The third of eleven children born to Aimie and William Huggins Benham (Solicitor).
Ellens father, William was a solicitor and could afford a better than average education for his children.
  Ellen was sent to Kapunda Model School for her education, and later to The Adelaide Advanced School For Girls, where she was under the tutelage of the headmistress, Rees George.
Ellen then went on to study at The University of Adelaide in 1889 and graduated with a B.Sc in 1892. She returned to Kapunda to teach, as headmistress for the Anglican Christ Church Parish for two years, before traveling to Europe in 1895 to continue her studies.
On her return, Ellen taught science at the Dryburgh House School from 1896 until 1900, then at Tormore House School in North Adelaide.

In 1901 Ellen was approached by the University of Adelaide Professor, Ralph Tate, to take over his botany lectures as he was unwell, later the same year he died. Ellen held the position of lecturer at the University from 1902 until 1911. She also, at times, held the roles of “Head Of Department”, “Sole Lecturer” and “Keeper Of the Herbarium”
Ellen visited England in 1908 to attend Oxford and complete a Diploma of Education, returning the following year to Adelaide to continue at the University.



In 1906, The South Australian government appointed her to reorganise the botany curriculum and to classify a major collection of flora of fauna presented to the Herbarium

In 1912 Ellen bought Walford School in Malvern, a turned it into one of the most successful schools in the state, the school thrived under her leadership and became the Walford Church Of England Girls Grammar School.
Her aim was to educate girls to “become a useful and effective woman in whatever position she may have to fill”. Ellen achieved this by offering a well-balanced education that included hockey, tennis and cricket matches for the girls a prefect system, and the willingness to communicate with the parents of children into how to effectively teach each child using “the right adjustment of work to the physical and mental powers of the children”.
Ellen also gave the school it's motto “Virtute et Veritate.” - “With Truth And Courage”



Ellens Achievements were vast indeed., helping to found “The Women's Student Club”, “The Women's Graduate Club”, Being the first recognised female Academic in South Australia and earning a Bachelor of Science degree.
She has been honoured by Adelaide University by the naming of the “Benham Building” which houses the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, and with the Benham Lecture Theatre.
Also being honoured at the Walford Church of England Girls' Grammar School with the “Benham Wing”

Benham Building, University of Adelaide

Miss Ellen Benham died on April 27th 1917 of a hepatic abscess (an abdominal infection caused by appendicitis) in Adelaide and was interred in Christ Church Cemetery Kapunda.

Please note, this post was originally made on a short-lived blog I wrote about Kapunda, due to the amount of time spent researching the paranormal, the Kapunda blog suffered a severe lack of posts - rather than lose the blog into the depths of Internet obscurity, I am reposting some of the research back onto this blog as much of it contains, History, Mystery and the Paranormal.

© 2012 Allen Tiller

www.eidolonparanormal.com.au

Lost Hotels - The Golden Rule

Tuesday the 9th of March 1909 was a very sad day for Adelaide's connoisseur of beer and other alcohol consumptions, with 37 Hotels across Adelaide and the broader suburbs to be closed by the Licensing Bench.
On the Bench that made such decisions (some decisions were made with very good reason) were Messrs. J Gorden, S.M. W Gilbert, W. Burford, W. Kither, T.H. Booker and W.D. Ponder M.P.
Of 413 applications for renewal of a license, in the Port Adelaide, East Torrens and Sturt districts were refused. Of these 31 were for new applications for old Hotels, and these were granted. Fifteen “Club”s obtained new licensing, and 27 renewals or new licenses for Wine were refused, plus 10 applications for renewals of Storekeeping wine licenses were refused.



The Hotels Affected were:



I. Paris Portland (T. Adams).
2. Sussex, Port Adelaide (G. Bishop).  
3. Blythwood, Mitcham (Ellen Black-ham).
4. Kensington, Kensington (Albert E.Bleechmore).
5. Australia's Pride, Port Adelaide (T. J.  Blencowe)
6. Jervois, Port Adelaide (HonoraBrady)
7.Burnside, Burnside (Annie E. Canny).
8. Unley Inn, Unley (J. C. L. Chapple).  
9. Forest Inn, Black Forest (B. J.  Conry).
10. Mafeking Hero, Hindley-street (P. M.Daly).
11. World's End, Magill (J. Dick).
12. Morphett Arms, Morphettville (J.Foody).
13. Mountain Hut, Glen Osmond (W. Forrest).
14. Berkshire, Glenelg (Emily M. Frearson).
15. Golden Rule, Pirie-street (Elizabeth  B. Frith).
16. Rising Sun. Kensington (W. J.George).
17. Vine Inn, Glen Osmond (A. M. Gibbons) .
18. Lass o' Gowrie, Port Adelaide (H.Goddard).
19. Lady MacDonnell, South-road (E.Grindell).
20. Scotch Thistle, Portland (J. Hutchison).
21. Prince's, Port Adelaide (R. Jonas).
22. Ship Inn, Port Adelaide (J. L.Joyce).
23. Royal Oak, Paddington (JamesJulian).
24. Thornton, Glanville (F. J. Martien-son).
25. Kentish Arms. Kent Town (Florence Millar).
26. Mitcham, Mitcham (R. J. Miller).
27. Duke of Wellington, Port Adelaide(Christina Parker).
28. Vintage Shades, Norwood (Alice Ryan).
29. Family Hotel, Norwood (Matilda Stephenson).
30. Brighton Inn (H. Harris).
31. British Standard, Alberton (E. J. Symonds).
32. Terminus, Glenelg (Ellen Thompson).33. Paradise-bridge, Paradise (Anna Waite).
34. Hawkestone Arms, Mitcham (J. M. Wave).
35. Kew, Kew (J. H. West).
36. Brunswick Pier, Port Adelaide (Johanna Winslet).
37. Dock, Port Adelaide (A. Kluck).

  The Golden Rule Hotel license was opposed by the police. The main call for the public-house to be taken away was from William Edward Conroy, a wood merchant who ran a business directly opposite the Golden Rule hotel in Pirie Street.
  Mr Conroy stated publicly: “The Golden Rule Hotel, which was absolutely unnecessary to the public. I have patronised all the hotels in the vicinity. I have not inspected the interiors of the other houses, and have not been in the Golden Rule twice in nine years. It was the worst conducted house in the street. I have seen six or seven licensees in the house, and they came and went like chaff before the wind.”

The building previously the Golden Rule Hotel, 29 August 1941, east corner of Pirie Street and Moger Lane. . The Hotel lost its licence in 1909 and some time after that was taken over by the Government garage next door, which occupied the entire site up until 1967, when it moved to new premises in Gilles St, Adelaide.

Richard Hanley, of Pirie Street, was quoted as saying: “I live opposite the Golden Rule, which is the scene of frequent rows. There were only four hotels in Pirie Street from King William Street to Hindmarsh-square. A highly respectable class of people live in the vicinity of the Golden Rule, and I am one of them!”
Inspector Davey, who was for closing the Hotel stated that the building was old and small. It was not needed for the accommodation of the public. He had received complaints about the hotel. In December he asked Mrs Frith to make improvements, which had since been carried out. He did not know what they had cost.

The Landlady, Mrs Elizabeth Frith had recently lost her husband, and was currently running the pub with her married sister. A the time of the closing, she had held the license for two years straight, counterpointing the earlier testimony of Mr Conroy. The Widow Firth stated to the board that she had recently spent considerable money on repairs to the building, that there had been no fights in her pub since her ownership and that the hotel was making a considerable profit through patronage and accommodation.
Patrons had even begun a petition to keep the Hotel open, but the Overseeing Bench declined to allow the petition to be used as evidence and turned it away.
The Hotel was let to Mrs Frith by the S.A. Brewing Company for 30/ per week.




So it was that Adelaide lost another of its drinking holes, and a little piece of history, that now, hopefully, will be forgotten...

© 2014 Allen Tiller

www.eidolonparanormal.com.au

What made the news 100 years ago today? Sunday Trading.

What made the news 100 years ago today?

First up a story about Sunday Trading, something we take for granted nowadays, was still unheard of back then.

The Register (Adelaide, SA  1901 - 1929), Wednesday 25 February 1914, page 11

Sunday Trading

In the Adelaide Police Court on Tuesday, before Mr. T. Gepp, S.M., five shopkeepers were each fined - £2 0/6 for having kept their shops open for trade on. Sunday, February 16.-' The articles chiefly sold were lollies and cigarettes. Their names were M. Brackenridge, Flinders 'street;

M. L. Sams, -King William Street;

.M; Head, King William Street;

Robert Terry, King William Street:

and John Hancock, Pulteney street.

Mr W..H, Wadey appeared to prosecute.

The next newspaper story is an odd one for any times, past or present!

The Register (Adelaide, SA  1901 - 1929)
 Wednesday 25 February 1914, page 11 

UNUSUAL APPLICATION.

It is not often that a wife applies for the reduction of an order made against her husband for the maintenance of herself and children. Such a case, however, was heard in the Adelaide Police Court on Tuesday when Annie Bellman asked that an order for 30/, payable by Albert Henry Bellman.- should be reduced to 15/. 

Mr .C. Muirhead, who appeared for the applicant, said he did not suppose the defendant would object to the reduction. Defendant (emphatically) "-70b, no!" 

Mr. Muirhead: "But the wife wants some of the arrears",

Annie Bellman, the applicant, said she now had three children to keep instead of six, and in consequence did not require so much support from her husband.
 Defendant “I want my 'wife to keep away from me at my work. I would take other steps' if I could.” Mr. Muirhead “You ought not to say that. The woman is 'treating you most generously.”

The Bench (which consisted of Messrs.T. Gepp, S.M., H. Buttery, and A. D. Bennett) reduced the order as requested, with costs against the defendant.

Some people don't like to vote,. Others like to tamper with votes....some things always stay the same...

The Mercury (Hobart, Tas.  1860 - 1954), Wednesday 25 February 1914, page 5

BREACH OF ELECTORAL ACT.

AN OFFENDER FINED.

ADELAIDE, February 25

At the Adelaide; Police Court this morning a man named P. Wadey was charged with haying, on October 17, signed his Milieus a witness to an electoral paper which had been filled up without first been signed by the elector. He was fined altogether £2.

Until next week...

© 2014 Allen Tiller

www.eidolonparanormal.com.au

Kapunda's Railways - Part 2 “The Line Opens”

Kapunda's Railways: Part 2 “The Line Opens” 

Before we go much further with the history of the Kapunda Railway, we need to first look at its roots.

The Kapunda line opened officially on Monday the 13th of August 1860, it was opened by the then Governor of South Australia, Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell.

Workers building the line North of Kapunda

There was great fanfare at the grand opening ceremony of the Kapunda Line, with a celebratory train to ride the entire length of the line.
 The train left Adelaide station at 10:30am under instruction from the "Manager of Railways", C.S. Hare.

One engine was used as far as Gawler, The No.9, the largest engine in the fleet at the time
 The train numbered 13 carriages, which were full of guests.
Guests included, His Excellency, The Governor and his wife and entourage, Ministers of both houses of Parliament, The Mayor, and Members of the town corporation and many notable members of the Adelaide citizenry.

Every station on the line from Adelaide to Kapunda was adorned with evergreen shrubbery and flags, and well-wishers and onlookers. The opening of the Kapunda line was an event celebrated across the State.

Governor of South Australia,
 Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell. 

The train reached Salisbury at 11am, and Gawler at 11:26 am. In Gawler, more passengers boarded and a second engine was attached to the train. The train then travelled to Freeling, arriving at 12:23pm, where it stopped for a brief time and the passengers were allowed to refresh themselves very briefly

The train left Freeling at 12:35pm and stopped at 12:50pm at the bridge over the light river at the request of His Excellency, The Governor, to inspect the bridge, which was considered a masterpiece of engineering at the time.

The Light railway bridge was built using stone cut from along the railway lines route. The timbers of the structure were supported by transverse latticed beams, with a laminated arch either side. The “points of juncture” on the bridge were plated with heavy steel to withstand the weight of the heaviest trains in the South Australian Railways at the time.

This particular journey was a testing of the Light Bridge, with the two heaviest engines in the State fleet being positioned on it at once, the builders must have had great faith in their structure considering the importance of the passengers upon the train!

The train reached Kapunda Station at 1:17pm too much fanfare. The train was greeted by The Reverend Oldham, Captain Warburton, The Angaston Rifles, Captain Connor, Captain Brown and the Kapunda Rifle Corps.

The Kapunda Rifle Corps. presented themselves 50 strong, and accompanied by their band presented a guard of honour to the dignitaries and officials.

Under the guidance of the Station Master, and Master of the Goods Shed, Mr Baggett, The Governor was given a tour of the Kapunda Railway Station complex, before a brief speech was made by The Reverend Oldham.

Reverend Oldham presented the following speech:

"To His Excellency Sir Richard G. MacDonnell,
K.C.B., Governor-in-Chief of Her Majesty's Province of South Australia, May it please your Excellency, We the inhabitants of Kapunda and the surrounding districts, most cordially welcome your Excellency and Lady MacDonnell amongst us upon this most auspicious and interesting occasion, and would desire to 'record through you as Her Majesty's representative in this colony, the expression of our unabated loyalty and arm attachment to Her person and Crown.

 It is now nearly four years since this neighbourhood as honoured by a former visit from your Excellency and Lady MacDonnell ; since that time three commodious places of worship have been erected in the township,also, a Court-House and Police-Station, a Telegraph and Post-0ffice, and a large number of stores and other buildings, and rapid communication with the capital and other parts of the colony, and also with the adjacent colonies has been established by means of the electric telegraph ; and we feel happy in being now enabled to congratulate your Excellency on the most successful completion of the important undertaking, in reference to which, in great measure, your Excellency's former visit was paid; and also, in feeling assured of the happiness it will afford you in seeing at least in some degree the fulfilment of your Excellency's then expressed anticipation as to the increasing importance of this district.

"We hope and believe that the opening of the Railway to Kapunda, which calls us together this day will prove
but the commencement of many happy and prosperous years from the greatly increased facilities it will afford both for travelling and for the safe and rapid transport of goods, and we earnestly desire that your Excellency
may yet be spared long amongst us to see the fulfilment of these desires for the welfare of the colony which have 'ever characterised your administration.
 We again bid you a cordial and hearty welcome by Railway to Kapunda.

Signed on behalf of, and at the unanimous request, of the inhabitants of Kapunda and the surrounding districts, in public meeting assembled.

"W. OLDHAM, J.P., Chairman."

Governor MacDonnell replied with a considerably lengthy speech congratulating the townsfolk on the construction and opening of the line, and then proceeded to the crane at the goods-shed and lifted the first bale of wool and first bag of copper to a roaring cheer from the crowd.

The Governor was then transported into the town via horse buggy to the Sir John Franklin hotel where festivities went well into the night.

Kapunda now had an official link for transportation of goods and passengers via train into the city of Adelaide and to the wharves, a valuable connection that would open the grain belt, and copper mines to further export across the country and state and bring wealth back into the community.

Kapunda would eventually become the States largest wheat receiving station, an extension was later built to Burra, veering off at Roseworthy, whilst the Kapunda line was extended to Morgan to try and capture some of the trade from the paddle steamer transportation system.

The Kapunda line was a focal point of the town for many years, opening up industry and commercial prospects for the people of Kapunda and surrounding districts, and allowed local people to travel far and wide around the State and Country, something people would have previously found much harder to do with the standard transport of the day, horse and cart, bicycle or walking.

The last passenger train to Robertstown passed through Kapunda on May 20th 1989, but the Kapunda line still saw notable traffic up until 1996 when it was sold Genesseesee Wyoming Australia under a 50 year (+15 extension option) contract.

Since then the line has fallen into a state of disrepair and only see's line traffic when a light-weight engine, or nowadays an adapted 4 wheel drive, comes down the line once every few months to the Viterra silos as part of the contract to have line traffic, or lose the line back to the State Government,

As the region north of Gawler grows it becomes obvious that passenger train service to at least Roseworthy and Freeling may be needed sometime in the future, it would not be too hard to conceive of Kapunda once again having a train return to the town, however, would a new train station have to be built as the old one now houses a “Bed and Breakfast”? - only time will tell

People gather to watch the last train to Robertstown as it enters Kapunda

Please note, this post was originally made on a short-lived blog I wrote about Kapunda, due to the amount of time spent researching the paranormal, the Kapunda blog suffered a severe lack of posts - rather than lose the blog into the depths of Internet obscurity, I am reposting some of the research back onto this blog as much of it contains, History, Mystery and the Paranormal.

© 2013 Allen Tiller

www.eidolonparanormal.com.au

Kapunda's Railway - Part 1 "Washed Away At Fords"

Kapunda's Railway 

Part 1

"Washed Away At Ford's"

by

Allen Tiller

Kapunda Railway Station circa 1900

Some things get forgotten with the passing of time and the introduction of new technologies. It has been a long time since Kapunda last saw a train stop at its station, and many more years have passed since a steam train has entered this town!

Photo by Allen Tiller

The once-bustling train station is now a Bed and Breakfast, and the old Goods Shed is a crumbling piece of Kapunda's heritage going to waste. The Old Railway Hotel is now a private home, the old water filler a long-forgotten rusty relic, and the train line through the town, a piece of unused land that could be better suited to something more modern like a bike track, but I digress, this blog isn't about the now, it is about the history that surrounds one of the most important train lines and destinations in South Australia's railways history - The Kapunda Railway. 

I am going to start this series with the story of an accident out near Fords, a long-forgotten story, but an important part of the history of this town. Also, I see this as a way to honour the Men and Women who spent their working lives, and some, their deaths, building this great town through their hard work on our railways.
In 1913 on Thursday the 13^th of February, after a huge storm blew through the Light region, a goods train coming from Gawler to Kapunda came off the tracks near Fords. (just south of Kapunda)

The storm had brought with it a downpour that had washed away the lines near the 42J miles marker.

The accident had been witnessed by Mr Clancy and Mr Moore of Fords. The two men were out testing the line after the torrential downpour and had reached the eastern side of where the water had been pouring over the line.
The two men, standing on the line, were pitched into knee-deep water when the railway line gave way under the pressure of the torrent. As the two men recovered their footings and scrambled back onto the tracks, the goods train rounded the corner on the other side of the broken line from where the men were standing, and before either could raise a warning signal, the train plummeted of the line into the nearby creek, landing on its side.
Clancy and Moore watched as the driver Mr W. Critchley and the Fireman Mr A.H. Whaites climbed out of the engine and onto the side of the tipped over train.
 As the two men made their way over the locomotive, the water gushed and sent Mr Critchley into the seething torrent, where he was washed away with the current.

A message was telegraphed to the Kapunda Station and a party, including Dr Glynn, Station Master Mr A.S. Leach and Inspectors Gordon and Johnson was dispatched to head out to the train wreck.
The site was inspected by the light of the setting moon, but the reality of the disaster could not be fully comprehended until the light of the next day.
The engine was laying on its side in the now naturally flowing creek bed, awash with slime and mud, behind it lay carriages piled up on top of each other, all fully loaded with cargo, axles twisted and the wheels at right angles.
One wagon measuring at 22 feet long was standing straight in the air, supported by another 16-foot long carriage laying in a similar position, both being supported by the wagon with the trains water tanks. Only the last 5 wagons and the guard's carriage remained intact upon the line.

 What caused such a massive pileup? The spot where this accident happened was not considered at the time to be one of danger. The sudden and extremely hard downpour of rain overfilled the small creek culvert on which the train tracks lay.
 The culvert could not take the extreme amounts of water being forced into it and caused a backwash of water to be accumulated, the water level rose until it washed over the lines.
 The track was built on a bank that sat between 6 feet and 8 feet high, with the culvert running underneath, with the water pressure cascading across the line, much of the supporting ballast had been washed away. And as the train hit the weakened structure, it gave away, plunging the train into the cold currents of the creek.

 The guard who was in the last carriage of the train suffered no injuries and began walking back to Freeling to alert them of the accident before the passenger train made its way down the line, this was unneeded though as the storm had caused problems with lines in Smithfield and Gawler as well causing the passenger train to be delayed significantly

Fireman Whaites was interviewed by officials and his story is as follows;
“ The train left Freeling soon after 6 o'clock, not far from the station we ran through a body of water safely, when we soon passed the second body of water, we kept a lookout, but did not think it necessary to stop altogether.
Suddenly we felt the engine going and with only the width of the embankment we knew there was little hope, and in seconds we were in the water.
When she rested on her side I climbed out, and my mate followed me. The water was to my waste and when I got my footing I looked around for the driver to see if he was right.
As he got out he seemed to sink on his knees, and before it was possible to do anything the water carried him away.
One good Samaritan gave me a pair of dungarees and another coat, and I feel pretty right now, although it was a bad experience”

As for the driver, Mr Critchley, a search was carried out to find him, his water bag and toolbox were found a quarter of a mile down the creek. Mr Critchley's body was found about seven miles further down the stream, hanging to a tree in the middle of the creek, his body was badly bruised and it was most probable that he died of what we now call hypothermia.  

to be continued...

Please note, this post was originally made on a short-lived blog I wrote about Kapunda, due to the amount of time spent researching the paranormal, the Kapunda blog suffered a severe lack of posts - rather than lose the blog into the depths of Internet obscurity, I am reposting some of the research back onto this blog as much of it contains, History, Mystery and the Paranormal.

© 2013 Allen Tiller

www.eidolonparanormal.com.au