The 1888 Tragedy at Semaphore.

 

In 1888, the newspapers of the day were scathing of 20-year-old Susan Schmidt, who on February 8th, had ridden on the footboard of a train carriage travelling to Semaphore. As the train crossed the points, it shook, dislodging Susan and throwing her under the train where she was crushed to death.^[1]

It came to light that Susan and a friend, Emma Fitts, had left Susan's parents’ house in the evening, and walked to Port Adelaide. They saw a friend off at Alberton station, then walked back to Exeter station, when the Semaphore bound train arrived. Rather than walk, they hopped onto the steps of the train from the opposite side of the platform. William Uden, travelling in the train, told the girls they had better get off the train, but they ignored him. As the train entered Semaphore station and crossed the points, it made a slight jump, dislodging Susan, who was flung under the train.

Porter, Charles White, who was on his way to the points, saw the train give a little jump and heard someone yell out from under the train. He was first to see Susan on the rails and went immediately for a doctor. When the train stopped at Semaphore, the guard William Swann, saw the danger lights lit up at the points by White and could see Susan lying around 100 yards from the train.

There was little compassion in South Australia’s media of the day. The South Australian Register wrote, ‘Susan Schmidt was run over and killed by the Semaphore train on February 8, owing to her recklessness in unlawfully riding on the footboard of the carriage.’^[2]

The Evening Journal stated, ‘A Sad Death from Recklessness – It must be a painful reflection for the parents of the poor girl, Susan Schmidt, who was run over and killed by the Semaphore train…’[3]

The Port Augusta Dispatch wrote, ‘Susan Schmidt tried to ride on the step of a Semaphore railway carriage last Wednesday. Verdict – nobody but herself to blame.’^[4]

Susan's body was transported to the Port Hospital where Dr Toil examined her, before placing her dead body in the morgue.^[5] Susan's lower body had been ‘completely crushed.’^[6]

An inquest into the death occurred at the Port Admiral Hotel on February 9, 1888, overseen by Coroner T. Ward. J.P.  Susan’s father Bennett Schmidt gave evidence at the inquest, stating,

She was 20 years of age last September. Last saw her alive about half-past 7 on Wednesday evening in company, with., two friends. They left his place and went in the direction of the Semaphore-road. Was awakened about a quarter past 10 by Mr. Warn, who told him of the accident. Directly saw it was his daughter that had been run over. She asked him to lift her up, and repeated the question in the train. She never told him how the accident occurred. Never knew deceased to be reckless.^[7]

 

The jury returned a verdict that ‘the deceased met her death by being run over by the Semaphore train, the accident is caused by her attempting to ride on the step of the carriage and added a rider that no blame was attached to anybody. ^[8]

 

Researched and written by Allen Tiller  © 2024

[1] 'Latest News.', Evening Journal, (9 February 1888), p. 2. (SECOND EDITION).
[2] 'ABSTRACT OF NEWS.', South Australian Register, (13 February 1888), p. 7.
[3] 'S.A. SWIMMING CLUB.', Evening Journal, (10 February 1888), p. 3. (SECOND EDITION).
[4] 'Grape Shot.', The Port Augusta Dispatch, Newcastle and Flinders Chronicle, (14 February 1888), p. 2.
[5] 'Latest News.', Evening Journal, (9 February 1888), p. 2. (SECOND EDITION).
[6] Ibid.
[7] 'CORONERS' INQUESTS.', South Australian Register, (10 February 1888), p. 7.
[8] Ibid.

The Phantom Accident of Lochiel

The Phantom Accident of Lochiel

Last week we took a brief look at the Haunted Ambulance and ghost nurse of Lochiel,< Read it here>  a town located 125kms north of Adelaide, on Highway 1, in the Mid-North region of South Australia. This week we are going to look at another very well-known haunting in the area.

  For many years people have been seeing a car on the side of the road near Lochiel, the car looks as though it has been in a very nasty accident, possibly hitting a tree. Passers-by will look in horror at the car, pull over to help, only to find the vehicle disappear from sight as they approach it.

 This particular accident apparition has been reported for more than 3 decades, and only ever happens during severe weather conditions. Not much has changed about the story over the years, except for one small detail of the stories passed to me, the phantom car has kept up to date with current models – so is this, in fact, an urban legend?

 The stretch of road, Highway 1, approaching Lochiel from Adelaide is notorious for fatal car and truck accidents, and tragically, many people have lost their lives there. In theory, this could be a probable cause for a haunting, as events surrounding deaths of a tragic nature and the emotions surrounding the event could be considered as an explanation for a possible ghostly car sighting – but with that little detail of the car make and model updating as time goes on, it hints that the story is untrue. 

There is always the possibility that there is some truth in the story, and rather than fade from memory, the urban legend has grown thanks to the internet, and internet jokers keeping the story alive. Perhaps this is the case, or perhaps there is an intelligence to the haunting?
 Another theory is that the phantom car could be the image of the latest victims of that stretch of road.
 Have you experienced the phantom car accident near Lochiel? We'd love to hear from you id you have. 
Contact us at eidolon@live.com.au

 May all the people who have met tragedy on Highway 1 Rest In Peace

© 2015 Allen Tiller

The Fiery Furnace of Melvilles

The Fiery Furnace of Melville's

A loud bang filled the night air, followed by piercing screams, and onto the street a man and a woman ran, covered in flames, flailing wildly, trying to extinguish the fire, and free themselves from the pain of being burned alive. The flames overpowered them, exhausting them of breath, the will to fight, and their very lives.

Sounds like something from a horror novel right?

This is, in fact, the very scene that shook King William Street on March 1920 out the front of the “Collins & Greens” restaurant, just next to the Crown and Sceptre Hotel.

It was an evening just like any other in what was known locally as “Melville's Fish Shop” and the owners and staff were in the back Kitchen cleaning poultry for the evening dinners and tomorrows meals.

Mr Leslie Collins was dressing fowls in the kitchen with his brother Norman. The brothers worked well together, Leslie plucked the feathers, and Norman singed off the stubs.

Also inside the shop was Mr Green (co-owner), Normans Wife and 3-year-old boy Norman Junior, Miss Robinson (waitress) and young Miss Joyce Beckett who had come into the city to see her Aunt Martha.

At 5:45pm, Norman was doing his “burning off”, which required him to use a pan full of methylated spirits. Holding the bird carcass above the flame, thinking the flame had died off, he poured more methylated spirits into the pan, which exploded in a massive ball of fire. The explosion was so great that it knocked the soot in the chimney of the adjoining “Messengers Ham Shop” into the pots and pans on their stove.

Confused by the explosion and the now roaring fire, which had set alight their clothing, the occupants tried to escape the now burning kitchen, only five of them made it outside. Leslie Collins and little Norman Collins were either trapped or overcome by the smoke and flames and perished in the fire.

 Norman Snr. and Martha Collins ran through the dining room out onto the street, where a crowd who had heard the explosion and ensuing screams, had begun to gather.
 As soon as the crowd saw the burning people they tried their best to put out their burning clothing, whilst others rushed to the rear of the shop to see if they could help.

Matters became more dire for the Collins and Green family when it was discovered the Police Ambulance was stationed out on Port Road, and nowhere near the city. Miss Robinson’s clothing was alight, and she had slipped into unconsciousness, Norman was seriously burnt on his back and his hands and Mr Green and Joyce Beckett seemed to escape fairly unharmed, and indeed, Ms Beckett was well enough that she did not need to be transported to the hospital

Ms Robinson died at the hospital around midnight that night, and Mrs Martha Collins a few hours later. Norman Collins Snr. lasted a few more days, but he too eventually succumbed to his injuries and passed away.

Norman Collins, whilst in hospital, informed a local constable that the entire situation was his fault, he had poured the methylated spirits, thinking there was no flame, and it had caught fire and exploded – he was heard running from the burning shop at the time screaming “I did it!, I did it! - I was the cause of it!” - It is thought, the weight of the situation played a part in his death.

The explosion and fire had been so intense that it took mere minutes for it to destroy the entire buildings kitchen, and partially damage the dining room, before the fire brigade managed to control it – from the road people reported being able to see two bodies lying in the kitchen...

Many of the fireman were distraught at the sight of the bodies in the kitchen and for the young 6 month old baby of Norman and Mrs Collins, who was now orphaned and without his brother....

Next week we visit King William Street again for a story from the neighbouring shop mentioned in this story “Messengers Ham Shop”....

© 2013 Allen Tiller

www.eidolonparanormal.com.au