Ive been researching historical Yowie reports from between 1800 and 1950 via TROVE and then comparing these reports to modern accounts. I find it interesting that the number of reports seems, at least on paper, to have increased significantly, whilst the actual locations of both era's reports seems to remain constant.
I wish to begin with a recounting of the famous story of the beheading and cannabalisation of Charles Wilson in 1932, which as the story goes was attributed to the Yahoo.
Adelaide’s Mail on 27 February 1932 carried the following sensational headline: Armed Men Hunt Strange Monster. Shaggy Beast Like Huge Gorilla Prowls Mountains: People Terrified. Attacks Three.
The report began: “Armed bushmen are hunting for a mysterious beast, shaggy and powerful, that has attacked three men in the mountainous region between Blight and Yackandandah. The people are terrified.
“Its footprints have been found, but opinions vary as to the identity of the animal. Some say it is 7 feet high and is hairy-headed, and looks like a clumsy deer, and that it has razor-like claws and four white tusks. Those who have seen the beast were too terrified to know exactly what they saw. They say variously that it is an old-man kangaroo, grizzly bear, and a mad gorilla. It is the pivot of a dozen different theories, but the countryside is unanimous that the strange animal lurks in the shadows and leaps on passing horsemen.”
The article continued with a narrow escape from a night-time attack by the hairy beast.
“A farmer, on a recent moonlight night, was riding home about 10 o’clock. Just as he bent over the saddle on the horse, there was a grunt and a scuffle, and a heavy, lumbering figure leapt at the head of his horse. The animal bolted with the farmer holding on for his life. Later an inspection disclosed footmarks like those of a grizzly bear. A few nights later the farmer heard the strange visitor lumbering and grunting around his hut. Outside the horses whinnied in terror. Three of the most daring men in the district went out to hunt through the mountain wilderness for the prowling terror. With guns ready they spent the night out in the open, but found no trace.”
“Later they were passing through the eerie shadows on the Running Creek road, talking of their exploit, a shade sceptical, when, in the twinkling of an eye, the thing that they had been seeking was on them.”
“The horses were scared, and rearing, broke the shafts of the buckboard, on which the men were riding. The three men were thrown to the roadway. Grabbing their guns they fired, but in their confusion the mystery animal scuttled back into the bush, apparently unharmed. When daylight came, the men found the prints of the animal, but could not guess what it was.
Soon after this encounter, a young drover was lucky to escape with his life.
“On Thursday William Nuttall, a 21 year-old drover, with some women and men friends, was riding home to Myrtleford. The moon was shining. Young Nuttall got off his horse to tighten the girth, and the others went on slowly. Those ahead heard him shout, ‘Ride like mad! Some strange beast is attacking me’. The mysterious animal had hidden in the shadows and made a sweep at him with its paw. It ripped Nuttall’s shirt to ribbons, but missed his body. Nuttall’s horse took fright and bolted, but he stuck to the saddle.
“When Nuttall looked round he saw a large hairy creature. A sudden swerve by the horse unseated him, and he dashed for the wire fence which divided him from the railway line. He raced for life along the rails with the animal close on his heels.
“About 20 or 30 yards ahead he saw his horse standing on the roadway, shivering with fright. Nuttall leapt the fence with a bound and, regaining the saddle, urged the horse on.”
While some speculated that perhaps an old, half-blind kangaroo was responsible for the attack, Nuttall did not accept that theory. He was convinced that he had been attacked by an animal resembling a gorilla.While Nuttall was lucky to escape with his life, years earlier, another man was not so lucky.
A deadly attack by a Yowie?
Just a year after the four stockmen were stalked throughout the night by what appears to be a stone-throwing Yowie, a shale miner, Charles Wilson, from Glen Davis near Newnes in New South Wales, went missing. He was apparently found dead several days later, the condition of his body suggested he’d been the victim of cannibalism. Following numerous sightings over the years, and an account of the abduction of a child, locals were convinced that the “giant hairy man” was responsible for poor Wilson’s gruesome death.
SOURCE:
https://weirdaustralia.com/2012/07/20/w ... es-attack/
MY RESEARCHED ACCOUNTS FROM TROVE.
The report is cited as being one of the only recorded attacks on humans by the Yowie.
It was my belief that there could be, far more killings reported in the media of the time that could possibly be attributed to the Hairy man.
Ironically enough the reports that I managed to find tended to mirror modern unsolved deaths in the Australian bush, quite a few of the cases involved decapitation and mutilation of the corpse.
In every case (be that historical or modern account) the circumstances are strange in the extreme. The body is found in an isolated area or there is an illogical or strange circumstance surrounding the finding of the corpse.
And whilst these could all be cases of murder by sociopath humans, there is enough to suggest something else was involved in these deaths.
STRANGE MURDERS IN EARLY AUSTRALIA
Nepean Times Thu 1 Feb 1951
Decapitated Body Found
In St. Marys general cemetery, in a small clearing in scrub near the
northern boundary fence, Ian James Stewart, a lad of 11 years,
of East Bankstown, found the dead body of a man, at about
2.20 p.m. on Monday last.The police were notified, and Detective Killen
and Constables Gimbert and Field went to the scene and found
a badly decomposed body, from which the head was separated, lying
about eight feet away. 'Nearby was a bottle of Tintara wine and a box of matches.
Dr. Barrow, Government medical officer, was notified and viewed the body, expressing
the opinion that death had taken place about six
weeks before. The body was conveyed to Nepean District Hospital morgue.
Subsequent inquiries revealed that the deceased was John George
Johnson, about 60 years of age, who lately resided at Flat 65B, Department
of Works and Housing Hostel, St.Marys. Identification was made by Christopher
James Ross, of the same address, who had lived with deceased for about 18 months.
Johnson, it appears, was addicted to wine and spirit drinking and had periodic drinking bouts.
He was last seen by Mr. Ross on a Sunday after noon early in December, when he left
the home without indicating his destination. He was then under the influence of liquor.
It is stated that Johnson has no relatives in Australia. He was a native of England.
There are no suspicious circum stances about the case. One presumption is that
the decapitation was due to dogs, which were prowling around there.
Weekly Times Melbourne, Vic. Sat 23 Jan 1892
A Decapitated Body Found in the Bush.
The Chief Commissioner of Police on Saturday received a report from
Senior constable Crowle, of Maryeville, giving
lome particulars of the discovery of the body, and offering a suggestions
to the identity of the accused.From this discovery it appears that on the
8th lost a man named Patrick Mannix, who was camped in the district,
went into Marys-Ville and saw Senior-constable Crowle, who is stationed there.
He reported that he had discovered the body of a man in the bush at
Donovan's Creek, about three miles from the Wood's Point road.
This is an extremely out-of-the-way densely wooded wild piece of
country at the foot of the Main Dividing' Range.
It is almost inaccessible, even on foot, while a horse could not penetrate
the wilderness of undergrowth.
Very seldom does anyone go there the country is only explored by an
occasional prospector, and to all purposes the locality is still an unexploredI wild.
Constable Crowle lost no time in setting out, and returning with Mannix the same
day he reached the latter 's camp, where he remained until the following morning.
Crown and those at the camp then constituted a search party, and under the
direction of Mannix they made a start for the place where the body had been found.
Extreme difficulty was experienced in reaching the place, and the party had to cut
their way through the scrub.
On reaching the scene of the discovery a sickening sight was witnessed, and it was
that an apparent death had occurred a considerable time previously.
The body was in an advanced stage of death 50 reposition, and the head was lying some
little distance from the body, but how it was levered could not be explained
by the con stable. There was no money found near the body ,nor in the pockets of
the deceased's clothing, but the constable picked up a pair of silver rimmed
spectacles, a chisel -pointed pick,and several small articles.
The pick would point to the conclusion that the deceased had been prospecting in
the ranges, and was cither murdered or died from exposure.
There were no indications of the man having carried a swag, and no property was
Discovered beyond the few articles found near the body.
Nor were there any indications that the man had been provided with food.
Near the body was a copy of a Melbourne newspaper of February, 1891.
The constable thinks that possibly the body is that of a man named Charles Bishop,
who has been misting from Smythesdale for some months.
Bishop was a small storekeeper, and when he left home he had
a sum of money, amounting to about £30, in his possession.
The further information received by the police relative to the finding of
the decomposed body of a man in the scrub near Marys ville is to the
effect that foul play is not suspected also that an inquest has been held,
at which no suspicious circumstances were made known.
The identity of the deceased is not known, and it is reported that
Mr. C. Bishop returned to his home at Smythesdale
some time ago.
Kalgoorlie Miner WA Tue 7 Aug 1928
DECAPITATED BODY FOUND.
Cairns Aug: 6.
Carpenters, engaged in constructing a house on the farm of James
Ginn at Boonyee, near Matridge , were on the. way to work today when
they noticed an unpleasant smell. After searching two hours they discovered
the decomposed body of a man in thick scrub about 150 yards from where some
scrub fellers had a camp.
The head was severed from the body and battered beyond recognition.
A quantity of blood stained clothes was found in the camp.
The body, which was not identified has been buried. It is stated that two men who were
engaged by Ginn scrub felling had not seen him for about five weeks.
One was named Walters and the other Kelly. One recently arrived from England.
The men had been missing for about three weeks when the matter was reported
to the police, who, however, were unable to trace the men.
The police believe the body to be that of one of the missing men.
Evening News Sydney Tue 5 Mar 1895
A Coonamble Mystery:
DECAPITATED BODY FOUND.
DEATH FROM EXPOSURE.
Coonamble, March 5
News was received in town on Monday that the
remains of a man had been found near Coonamble, about twenty
miles from here with indications that he had been murdered.
It was stated to the police that the head was off, and that the body
had been otherwise mutilated. The police were further in
formed that the trunk was wrapped in a blanket, and was lying some
distance away from where the head was found. Yesterday the coroner,
with a local doctor and two mounted police, rode to the scene of
the discovery. They found that the remains were those of an aged
man, who had been dead for some time. The doctor was of opinion that
death had been caused by exposure. There is no truth in the
assertion that the man had been murdered.
Daily Examiner Grafton NSW Tue 4 Jul 1933
DECAPITATED CHILD'S BODY FOUND ON
MEREWEATHER BEACH NEWCASTLE
After digging at various points on Merewether beach today the police
discovered the decapitated body of an infant.The child's head was found
by a boy on Friday who later told the police that he buried the body,
but could not remember the location. While the police were digging this
afternoon a dog strayed on the scene and began pawing at the sand.
The police dug into the sand and the body was revealed.
Cairns Post Qld 1909 Thu 10 Feb 1938
DECAPITATED BODY.FOUND NEAR. GLENORIE.
NOT YET IDENTIFIED.
The body of a man with the head, arm and a leg messing, was found
in a gorge about half a mile off the Old Northern road, Glenorie, late this
afternoon. The police have not yet been able to determine whether he met
his death by foul means, or accidental. The man had been dead two or three
months. Nothing was found to indicate, the man's identity.
The West Australian Fri 21 Feb 1913
A GRUESQME TRAGEDY A WOMAN FOULLY MURDERED.
DECAPITATED BODY FOUND IDENTITY NOT ESTABLISHED.
A gruesome find was reported today. A resident of Everton, while walking near the
Falls, discovered the nude and mutilated body of a woman.
The head and one arm are missing, while the remaining hand is minus two fingers.
Everton is about 10 miles from Beechworth, and the Falls are on Maloney's Creek.
The police were informed of the discovery and the body was taken to the morgue at
the Wangaratta Hospital. Nothing was found on the woman to show her identity.
Decomposition had reached an advanced stage.
Dr. C. H. Mollison, the Government Pathologist, has been requested to examine
the body. Detective Sullivant, of Benalla, assisted by the Wangaratta police,
is making inquiries.
The search for the missing arm and head has so far failed to disclose their where
abouts. It is considered unlikely that the woman was a resident of the district, as no
body has been reported missing.
Wagga Wagga Advertiser NSW Tue 18 Feb 1908
MUTILATED BODY FOUND.
The body of a man. believed to be that of Harry Vane, who disappeared
from Tingara tin field ten days ago, was found in the bush a few miles from the
township. It was in an advanced state of decomposition, and the medical
examination showed that the neck, one shoulder blade, one left arm, and
both hips had been broken. How the man came by his injuries is a mystery.
Mirror Perth, WA Sat 18 Oct 1941
MUTILATED BODY IN BUSH
Four miles from Pickering Brook, in the heart ot the thick bush, the
white glare of truck head-lights suddenly lit up the mutilated remains of a
man's body.The body was partially clad, and had evidently been there for some
time It was virtually a skeleton. Some distance from the torso was found
the remains of a leg. The other leg Is missing. Wild dogs, it is thought, are
responsible for the disappearance of the limb. The limb found has been mauled
and dragged about; and as wild dogs abound in the districts, it is considered
not unlikely that they were responsible. Gruesome discovery was made by
City Council employee William Overstone, of Marian-street, Leederville.
In the truck with him was another employee of the Council.
The only clothing on the upper portion of the body was the remain
of a shirt and a coat .There were virtually no means of identification,
but it is thought that the deceased may be Ki Sooey ,a 71-year old market
gardener, who disappeared in April last.
On April 2 last, it was stated by the police that Ki Sooey left the
Market garden where he worked with a countryman, Chuck Sing,
and said he was going to visit another Chinaman. He was last seen in the
vicinity of Pickering Brook a few days later.
When he was reported missing, a search was organised, led by mounted
police and black trackers, but no trace of the missing man was found.
It has been stated that Ki Sooey was wandering at the time and
appeared to be partially demented.
Det sgt Pilmer and Det Thompson are inquiring and the
Coroner has been informed.
Daily Telegraph Launceston, Tas Fri 1 Mar 1912
A BUSH TRAGEDY: WOMEN'S BODY MUTILATED
The body of Mrs Wilson, wife of W. Wibion a mail contractor was
found in a paddock at Evans Plains early this morning .
The body was terribly mutilated, and had been apparently eaten by dogs.
It is not yet known how the deceased met her death.
She must have been alive yesterday morning.
Singleton Argus NSW : Tue 27 Feb 1906
PERISHED IN THE BUSH.
Body Mutilated by Wild Animals
George Henry Crawford has perished from thirst in the Black Range district
of West Australia/making the second case that has occurred there within
the last month. Crawford, after delivering some sheep started with a
horse and sulky on the return journey to the Black Bangs.
A few miles out he overtook some men who gave him
some; whisky. It is supposed he fell asleep, and later wandered off the track.
The deed body, mutilated by wild animal was subsequently found by a search
party 15 miles from the track. Crawford, who was 50 years old, and unmarried
was from Moonta,South Australia.
Singleton Argus NSW Sat 15 Jun 1907
MYSTERY OF THE BUSH.
Mutilated Remains Found in a Tree in Bingora
A farmer on a Bingora estate, while clearing away a hollow tree which
had fallen discovered the remains under a quantity of clay in the
trunk. The remains consisted of bones from the arms and legs of which
had been broken suggesting that the body had been mutilated, and then
passed into the tree trunk through a hole about 3ft above the ground,
and then clay had afterwards been placed through the hole on the remains
in order to prevent putrefaction attracting attention.
Apparently they had been in the tree for many years, and would, have remained
undiscovered but that the wind on Monday night blew the tree down.
The police are investigating the matter.
The Argus Melbourne, Vic. Fri 8 May 1908
CHILD MURDER.MUTILATED BODY FOUND.
ANOTHER BALLARAT MYSTERY.
What is un doubtedly a case of child murder came under the notice
of Senior-constable Magor,the officer in charge of the Victoria-street
station, this evening. He is now engaged in an endeavour to identify the
body of the child. This, however, must be no easy matter, for the body
when found was nude. The body was discovered by Edward Hall,
aged 15, who was walking across Black Hill. It was lying in the open country,
not far from some stunted bushes, but in no way protected by them.
The corpse was in a decomposing condition indicating that
death must have taken place some days ago.
Hall gave information to Senior-constable Magor, who at once proceeded
to the spot and made a thorough search of the locality.
The infant was apparently not more than a fortnight old at the time of its
death.The right leg was missing altogether, and the left leg was missing from the knee
downwards. There was a wound in the throat and neck, which indicated that the
baby had been murdered. There was no string or anything about the throat to
suggest strangulation. Not even a piece of paper had been wrapped about the
corpse to conceal it from the view of anybody who might pass that way, but
although the country there is fairly open the spot where the child was found lying is
some what secluded. Not far distant, how ever is a house, and Senior-constable Magor
inquired there as to whether any strangers had been seen in the vicinity, but with a
negative result. Senior-constable Magor remove the body to the morgue, and
subsequently reported the matter to the coroner,Mr. H. M. Murphy, P.M. who
has directed that a post-mortem examination be made.
At the northerly continuation of Black Hill is Vale-park, where Madge Graham's
body was found last January. In the case of the baby, however, there is not a vestige
of clothing or other material by which the identification of the murdered child may be
made. The mysteries of the murder of Richard Heaney and Lizzie O'Reilly in
Ballarat North also remain unsolved.
The Tamworth Daily Observer NSW : Thu 6 Mar 1913
MURDERED IN THE BUSH.YOUNG GIRL THE VICTIM.
HEAD BATTERED IN AND BODY MUTILATED SHOCKING CRIME.
The body of a girl, Identified as Ebtlier Porter, aged 14, who resided at Bankstown,
was found in a bush this morning near Punchbowl Hallway Station.
There was every sign that she had been brutally attacked and murdered,
The head was battered in, and she was In a frightful condiiton. She had been missing from
home since Monday morning. It is presumed she went to Punchbowl to meet, some
person. The victim was seen near the railway station with a hamper after the 9 o'clock
train arrived from Bankstown. The police think she was taken into the bush and murdered
within an hour or two of her arrival at Punchbowl.
Later It transpires that Esther Porter visited her mother In the hospital on Sunday nnd
stayed at Erskineville with her sister on Sunday night before going to work.
Her father gave her a small sum of money to pay a few accounts.
She arrived at Bankstown at 8 o'clock on Monday morning, and there was no one in
her company when she started for home. As she did not put in an appearance her
brother Harry reported the matter to the police. He was subsequently riding along
the Punchbowl road when the horse shied. He dismounted and went into the bush
and found his sister's dead body jammed in an old stump covered over with dead bushes.
The Bendigo Independent Vic. Wed 1 Oct 1913
BUSH MURDER.BOY'S HEADLESS BODY.
FOUND IN THE SCRUB.APPARENTLY WORK OF MANIAC.
ECHUCA: Tuesday .
A shocking discovery was made a few miles out of Echuca this
morning.Yesterday a lad named John Adam Anderson, aged 15, son of Mr. James
muiurson, of Wharparilla, who resided with his uncle, John Anderson, at
Wharparilla, went out rabbiting at about 12 o'clock. He took with him
an axe, and was accompanied by two dogs. That was the last his uncle
saw of him alive. As young Anderson did not return to tea his uncle
became anxious, and as the night wore on without the lad putting in an appearance,
the uncle's' anxiety increased. He decided to make a search for his nephew, and about
midnight his attention was attracted by hearing the barking and whining of dogs in the
distance. He proceeded towards the vicinity and prosecuted his search, and at last
came up with the dogs about a mile from Iris farm,
He was horrified to find them standing over the headless body of the
missing lad in a clump of bushes on the farm of Mr. W. G. Freeman, a
neighbor. It was then about 1 a.m and the scene is about 14 miles out
of Echuca. The faithful dogs had apparently remained beside the body
during the night. A glance showed the uncle that his nephew's head had been
completely severed from the body. The blood-stained axe was lying nearby.
Hie immediately reported his terrible discovery to the Echuca police.
Sergeant Corby, Mounted-Constable Burgoyne and Plain-Clothes
Constable Withers, of Bendigo, who was in Echuca, went out and after
making a search found the lad's head hidden in the scrub about 75
yards away from the body. It was frightfully mutilated, and the crime had
evidently been committed with the lad's own axe, which was
lying near the body. Young Anderson had apparently been rabbiting close to
the spot, according to the discoveries made. Rigid investigations were
proposed at the earliest possible moment.
Superintendent Dungev and Detective Commons arrived by the afternoon train
and at once went to the scene of the tragedy.
The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser
NSW : Tue 10 Dec 1895
DIED IN THE BUSH
The Dubbo police on Monday received information to the effect that
Donald Makinon a Port Norlandra, grazier, had been found dead in the bush.
A police constable was at once sent out to make enquiries, and he returned
to Dubbo on Monday afternoon. He ascertained that Donald Mackinnon
went out on horseback, as was his custom, to look after the cattle.
He was not in the habit of returning until the following Monday morning,
so that his absence was not noticed. However, as he did not return on Monday
it was thought that something must have happened to him, and
a look out was kept for him. It was seen that the horse he had been riding
was wandering riderless and a search was started for Mr. Mackinnon.
When a dead body was found in a horribly mutilated condition in the bush it was
covered with ants, and the flesh had been torn and eaten from the bones.
The body was in such a condition that it was not possible to remove it that night.
From all appearances Mackinnon had been thrown from his horse.
His neck was broken and his hand still clutched the switch with which he had
been bitting the horse. The pipe be had been smoking was lying a
short distance from the body.
Northern Territory Times and Gazette Fri 3 Apr 1908
BUSH HOMOCIDE
A telegram has been delivered to the police from the postmaster
at Poji-éU'a- Creek to the effect that the well-known
drover Mr.Walter Rose, reports having found recently on the
Murrangi track stock route connecting Newcastle Waters with the Victoria
River district, the remains of a dead body, believed to be that of a drover
Named Hussey, or " young Ozzy," who was rather noted for his remarkably small
hands and feet, in which particulars the remains found correspond.
The unfortunate man had evidently been dead for some time, and the
corpse had been shockingly pulled about and mutilated by wild dogs.
The only articles found near the remains were a leather belt and a pair
of boots. The body appeared to have been too mutilated for identification
beyond the small details mentioned. Drover Hussey is described by M.C. Rowe, recently
stationed at Anthony's Lagoon, as a man about 33 years of age, and about
5ft 6in high, and spare, Hussey passed Anthony's Lagoon in March last
year with a mob of cattle and was very well known on Brunette and Creswell
Downs stations, where he had formerly been employed.
Hussey was at one time a jockey.
In a later instance M.-C. Rowe (who is now stationed at the Katherine) would
appear to have been largely instrumental in averting what would probably have
culminated' in another bush tragedy. A man man named William Byrne was found by
him lying alongside the track leading to Victoria River district, and about 36 miles
from Willeroo Station The poor fellow was fever stricken, delirious, and starving,
and had been lying where found, without shelter, for several hours, in pouring rain.
His camp equipage was scattered all over the place. After considerable difficulty the
sick man was conveyed across flooded country to Mr. T. H. Pearce's Willeroo Station,
where, at latest accounts, he was being very kindly attended to and was
recovering his strength.
Since the above was a type a later communication has been received from Powell's
Creek giving a few further details respect of the Murrangi track tragedy. From this
it would appear that, the name of the deceased man who is supposed to be identical
with the mutilated remain, found' by Mr.Rose, is not Hussey, as stated above, but
Ernest Ezzy. Still the man known by some as Hussey is believed to be identical with
Ezzy now referred to, the confusion probably arising from the phonetic relationship
of the two names. ' Ezzy might easily become Hussey in the mouth of an aboriginal
or in the careless phraseology of the average bushman, and vice versa.
The later details given are to the effect that Ernest Ezzy was last seen
live at Eva Downs Station on February 3, when he was making
across country to the Victoria River district. It was his stated intention on
passing Eva Downs to calf at Newcastle Waters Station.
He appears, however, never to have put in an appearance at this station.
On leaving Eva downs the deceased had three horses in his possession and
pack and riding saddles. There was no sign of the horses or other gear named
near the remains found nothing but the belt and pair of boots
above referred to. Thirst could scarcely have been the cause of death in the middle
of the wet season and just what has led up to the sad tragedy appears to be one of
those bush mysteries of which there is so long a record in all parts of Australia, and
many of which have never been satisfactorily explained.
Australian Town and Country Journal Sydney
Sat 19 Feb 1870
PERISHED IN THE BUSH
What painful thoughts, and perhaps what sad reminiscences, may the ,
above four simple words conjure up in the minds of all who, from
experience, are able to ,comprehend the full scope of their terrible ,
import ! Bleached skeletons are on the arid plains , human remains scattered
by wild dogs in the dense scrubs and brushes; sometimes ,the decayed or
decaying bodies of unfortunate creatures found in hollow logs or trees,
where ,they may have crept for shelter from bitter cold or torrents of rain
All these shocking ,revelations, which are made from time to time, are the sequels
to sufferings which imagination cannot be too wild to depicture.
For all men who have had much bush experience have been able, only too
faithfully, to realise some of their horrible details. The wild despair of the person
who finds himself hopelessly lost, and hurries hither and thither,
turning upon his own tracks unconsciously, until reason fails and strength
also, and he sinks to rise no more, the burning agony of the parched traveller
exposed to the scorching sun, and hoping against hope as, with swollen
tongue and scorched lips, he searches in vain for one drop of water to save
or to delay the ,death that stares him in the face the help-
less wandering of children, gnawed by hunger, terrified, weeping, and
crying hopelessly for ,help until they succumb to death, and perish ¡
in each others arms, as some of them have been found, or yield up
their lives alone in the wilderness ,all these are lamentable pictures
of realities and it might be supposed that the thought of them would
stimulate every human being in the community, not to speak
of them whose especial duty it is, to hasten to the rescue of those who
are known or believed ,to be in such deadly peril. Unfortunately it is not so
and there can be no question that, independently of those whose melancholy
fate ,is revealed by the ghastly remains which may be discovered, many are
reported as "missing," and some are never missed at all, who ,perish in the
bush, but might have been saved by timely exertion on the part of those
who had power to help.
An item of information in some of the Queensland papers, now about a month old is
calculated to raise a thrill of pity for a little bush wanderer on one hand, and on the other
a burning feeling of indignation against the police authorities of this colony on the
Queensland Border. Although the report in question was published at the time,
we purposely abstained from prominent notice and comment, until ample opportunity
should have been afforded to those who were accused of the most stolid apathy or
the most ,revolting inhumanity, to set themselves right if they could.
Sufficient time having now elapsed for that purpose, without any further public
notice of the matter, we thus place the case before our readers and trust ,
that it may come under the notice of the Government.
It appears that on the day after last Christmas day a little girl
strayed from the residence of her friends, at Acacia Creek, in the Warwick district of
Queensland, and, as she did not return, and time wore on, great alarm was caused for
the safety of the child. In fact those who have even an approximate knowledge of the
country where she strayed will perceive that ,the chances were twenty to one that
she would never be found alive. From the dense scrubs that cover that portion of the
range dividing the eastern and western waters, the valleys on the western side open out into
plains so that, of the numerous persons who set out in search of the child, some would have
been almost sure to have found her if she had strayed away in the open country.
As they did not, it became nearly a certainty that she must have entered the scrub but
it need excite no surprise if the searching parties pursued their investigations day ' after day
in vain, in such a broken, precipitous, and brushy country.
Some of the most remarkable peaks in the coast country between this colony and
Queensland are situated in this locality but of course any person once bewildered in the
scrub can see nothing of these nothing, indeed, but the same mass of tangled brush all
around,excepting where some deep and wide gully opens, but is so choked up with a
network of vegetation that even a hardy bushman could scarcely make his way down it, much
less a child or where a sudden slight opening in the foliage overhead affords a glimpse of
some lofty peak or mountain, like a largo dark cloud above. Into this difficult labyrinth the
poor, lost child must have strayed, and knowing well that the utmost efforts would be
necessary to find her, the sympathising people at Acacia Creek lost no time in
communicating with the New South "Wales police station at Tenterfield, stating
what had happened, and soliciting assistance in the search for the child.
To the eternal disgrace of those concerned and supposing the statement of the
Warwick paper to be truthful, no assistance was sent, now as any reply whatever
Vouch saved the telegram. The Tenterfied police station was the nearest, and no
doubt the people who sent the distressing information there were under the
impression that the mere existence of artificial boundary lines between the colony
would not be sufficient to deprive the little wanderer of the aid of which she stood so
much in need. But no help came from that quarter, and no sign was made. Such is this
report that has been published, and the Iocal paper says " We do not know what the
arrangements of the New South Wales police are but if our information be correct, we
think that some sympathy and assistance might have been given on so distressing an
occasion." In the meantime the lost child wandered on through the dense and gloomy
scrubs night after night and day after day she continued her devious course and how her
feeble strength sustained her must be maraculous to all but that Power which can
succour the weakest in the greatest of perils. She found plenty of water, but nothing to
eat excepting a few berries. After five days of this, she got out of the denser scrub,
and wandered about the mountains, still without anything to sustain her but water.
Her head and face, being bare, were scorched with the sun, and her feet and ankle’s
were cut and sore from contact with the scrubs and rocks .
Yet the poor little thing was quite sensible when, EIGHTEEN DAYS from the time when
she had been lost, she was found by a little boy, near an old head station on Koreelal
Creek. This country has long been taken up and there are out stations scattered about
which would account for the boy falling in with the wanderer, who had, no doubt, struck
upon a sheep or a cattle track alive and uninjured, the child was returned to her joyful
and grateful parents and we venture to say that there are very few, in town
or country, who will not sympathise with them
The number of travellers who have, at various times, come to their death in the
scrubs and mountains, and on the desert plains, of this country, will never be
known, even approximately. Only last week a dead body, frightfully mutilated
by dogs,was found on a run near Muswellbrook but it would be impossible
to quote the numerous instances of the kind that are on record, while
hundreds have occurred in the cases of unfortunates whose end was never known.
It is sad indeed to think of their fate but there is something even more touching
in these narratives of children lost in the bush. Some of these instances have been
very remarkable,and some most distressing in their results but we cannot remember
any case so extraordinary as the present, in which the child must have actually crossed
the range for Koreelah Creek is a tributary of the Clarence, and therefore an eastern
water and yet was found alive after wandering without substantial nourishment for
very little short of three weeks. How the officer in charge of the Tenterfield police
must have felt when he heard of this, and how nearly this poor little life had been
sacrificed to his want of humanity, we shall not venture to imagine.
In this, however, wc are taking it for granted that the application for help was really made
and disregarded. It would be far more agreeable to find that the matter is capable
of satisfactory explanation. This, however, is exceedingly difficult, in the face of the letter of
Mr. J. R. Ardill, bearing on the subject in question, and published in another part of this
paper. The writer speaks of several instances of dead bodies being found on the
Paroo and its vicinity, death having in most cases, no doubt, been caused by thirst and
he mentions one case of the body of a man who, in his opinion, had been robbed and
murdered, but concerning whose fate he in vain endeavoured to secure the inquiries of the
police, who, on the contrary, appear to have entirely misrepresented the case to their
superiors at head quarters. Further misconduct, in the apparent misappropriation of
some of the property found on the deceased, is mentioned by our correspondent,
who is a licensed surveyor, and well capable of making himself
acquainted with all the particulars of which he writes.
A gentleman of his own profession ,a Mr. Richards, has also been lost on the
Paroo, and never since heard of, for, says Mr.Ardill, " there was no inquiry made no more
than if a man was never missed nor is it known what became of the missing gentleman's
property. Surely the hardships and perils of the bush are severe enough without all this culpable,
this cruel neglect on the part of the police and it appears to us to be impossible that the
cases thus prominently brought under the notice of the authorities can be passed over
without the most severe and rigid investigation, and the adoption of
better measures for the future.
Leader Melbourne, Vic. Sat 21 Jun 1884
SHOCKING DEATH IN THE BUSH.
Further particulars have been received at Alexandra respecting the horrible
death in the home of a man named Crinion, whose, body was recently, found at
Donovan's Creek, above Marysville in a dreadfully mutilated condition,
having been torn to pieces by the wild dogs and native cats.
On receipt of the news respecting the finding-of the body, Constable
'Woods, of Marysville, immediately left, accompanied by five volunteers
and upon! Arriving at the spot a horrible spectacle met their gaze,
the body being halved, and in an advanced state of decomposition and minus the
head and legs. A Diligent search was made by the constable to find the head
and legs, but with out avail. The mutilated trunk of the unfortunate man was
put into an old sluice box and buried on the spot. The small gunyah in
which the deceased lived was only six by four feet, and upon the constable
crawling into the place, the only, utensil found was a billy can,
which contained some water, and which had evidently been placed upon
the fire to boil. The only article of consumption found was a bag containing
about four pounds of flour.
The deceased, who was 63 years of age,was a native of Dublin. He lived a solitary
life, and avoided all association. It is thought that he died from starvation.
Glen Innes Examiner and General Advertiser NSW Tue 2 May 1899
A STONEHENGE MYSTERY
The remains of a man found in the bush.
A report readied town on Sunday that the remains of a man had been discovered
in a mutilated condition on the lonely piece of road that leads
across the plains of Stonehenge. From the particulars to hand, it appears
on Sunday morning young .William Rumiug was riding across the plain
between Surrey ville (his father's residence) and Stonehenge station,
accompanied by his dogs. As he was cantering along the side of the gully after a
hare which was accidentally disturbed, he discovered what be at once
saw to be the body of a deadman. Leaving the discovery undisturbed
and running at once for the police, who, on arrival examined the body and
found the face eaten away,apparently by vermin, beyond recognition.
A little of the beard on one side of the face was turning grey, and this
with the exception of the old oil skin coat, is the only trace by which the police
may be enabled to obtain an identification of the unfortunate man.
The body was that of an apparently strongly built person, about 5ft 6in in
height, and well dressed.
An inquiry was held in the Court House yesterday afternoon before
Mr. Coroner Laivson.
Constable Dower gave evidence as to the discovery of the body, and stated
the man looked about 50years of age and between 5ft 7in and 8in in height.
Dr. Wrigley gave evidence as to examining the body. He stated he saw no marks of
violence on it. On the trousers and coat were blood stains. From the advanced state
of decomposition of the body it was impossible to state positively the cause of death
but, from what he had seen and heard, death was possibly due to vomiting of blood,
and consequently syncope. John Milner stated that on April 15th a man
came to his hotel and asked him so take him in, saying he would give witness
security for his board till he wired to his brother for money.
" He borrowed £1 from witness to wire to his brother. Witness thought it
was to Muscwellbrook. Witness saw him pay 6s to the telegraph messenger.
He said his name was Hall, and he was interested in several stations.
He stayed a week and left on Saturday morning early, without breakfast.
The man was addicted to drinking. Witness did not think he
had any money when he left, but he had two cases of which was
left at the hotel and contained, amongst other things, a silver watch.
On the dials were the letters ",W. H." Witness stated that he had
viewed the body at the mt Pleasant Hotel, and he believed that the
deceased was the man Hall who left on April 25.
The deceased seemed depressed when he received no answer to
his telegram. On the Monday after sending the
wire he told witness he might not get a reply as his brother might have gone
to the Newcastle races.
The Coroner found that the deceased had died from syncope caused
by excessive hemorrhage.
The Age Melbourne, Vic. Tue 13 Sep 1932
LOST IN MOUNTAINS SEARCH PARTY FINDS BODY.
The body of Alius Anna. Gullett, 40 years, sister of the Minister of Customs,
was found by a search party in the bush nerar Locton Lodge
She had been slain accidently while walking through the bush.
she was overcome by illness and collapsed. The body was lying a little
distance from one of the main roads, but in dense bush.
Miss Gullett left the Lodge late on
Saturday afternoon to go for a Walk, and she was not seen alive again.
Search parties of police and holiday makers were out all day yesterday and
the greater part of to-day, and a wide area of rugged country was covered.
The body was found in a peculiar manner. A press photographer was about to
snap three of the searchers as they were moving across a swamp not five
hundred yards from Looten Lodge, when one of the three, Victor Adams; glanced over
his shoulder and saw the body lying on sonic reed.
The others turned simultaneously, and saw it also.
It was lying in a most natural position, with an umbrella grasped in one hand.
Evidently some animals had approached the body and the face had been
Slightly mutilated by these. It is thought by both the dead women's
relatives and those who found her that she wandered off the road
in the dense fog which has overhung the district for several days and
then became entangled in the reeds of the swamp. Probably she suffered a
heart attack there and collapsed and died.
The dense fog made it almost impossible to see more than a few yards
ahead, and the searchers experienced most trying conditions.
At times they were waist deep in swamps, with dozens of leeches clinging
to Their limbs.During the search two expert mountain climbing experts,
Joseph Knight and Noel Town, climbed several precipitous cliffs,
a slip over any of which would have meant' certain death.
Among those who took part were the Lieutenant-Governor,
Sir William Cullen, and Air. Peter Board, ex-Director of Education.
The happening recalls the Strange disappearance of A David Joel and his wife
in the Wentworth Falls district in May,1918.
A wealthy man, Joel and his wife, who was very delicate, went to Wentworth Falls
for a holiday. They left the train, and in misty rain commenced to walk back
towards Lawson, but off the main road. This was the last seen of Joel.
Mrs Joel, who tore the clothes from her body in her hysterical ravings,
was found starving a few miles from where she had been last seen.
When rescued she' slipped into unconsciousness and died "shortly afterwards
in Penrith Hospital. No trace was ever found of Joel he may have been robbed and
buried, or he may have become lost in his desperate search to retrace his steps.
Headless body in Lake Illawarra
In 1950, 2 small planes collided in Shellharbour. In mid November, a headless body washed ashore near the entrance of Lake Illawarra. It was soon discovered that the body belonged to one of the pilots, identified by a small scar on his abdomen.
By day, Lake Illawarra is a stunning sight. The blue water is home to beautiful ducks and swans, the islands in the distance. But once the sun goes down, the lake is a very different place indeed. On the Berkeley side, it is difficult to shake the feeling that you are being watched. The wind whispers and sighs around you, and even though you know you are near a main road, it almost feels like you are in the middle of nowhere. I have heard many stories of people feeling cold hands stroke their face, or of catching sight of someone walking towards them from the corner of their eye, only to turn and discover that they are alone.
Could it be the ghost of the unfortunate pilot? Or does the lake hide many other secrets?
One secret I have heard rumours of, is a demonic face hidden in the rocks. I have seen a picture (and it is honestly frightening) and I hope to get a copy of the picture to share with you. The story that accompanies the picture is a woman who was enjoying a walk when she felt she was being watched. She turned full circle, and saw no one. On a whim, she picked up her camera and fired it at the rocks, before turning and fleeing home. When she arrived home, she was horrified by what she had captured on her camera..
MODERN AND RECENT REPORTS
11 june 2014 South coast: Body found decapitated
Members of the South Coast Bushwalking Club made a grisly discovery during an afternoon walk in the Royal National Park on Sunday.Club member and Wollongong resident Philip Allen was one of eight bushwalkers who had veered "off the beaten track" and discovered a tent with a badly decomposed body inside."We were hiking from Waterfall to Engadine via Audley and had lost the track and had been bush bashing for a number of hours when around 3pm we came across a secluded weather-beaten tent on a ledge and noticed a leg bone sticking out," Mr Allen, 67, said."We peeped in the tent and could see that the body was headless - maybe animals had got to it - and that it had obviously been there for some time as it was quite badly decomposed.
"As you get older you can handle these sorts of things a bit better, but we didn't stick around too long after that."
The group immediately contacted Engadine police on a mobile phone to notify them of the discovery and gave them the co-ordinates of their position.It was very much off the beaten track and very rough country," Mr Allen said."We met the three police officers at a track junction and led them to the difficult-to-find location and waited until specialist police joined them."We then made our way to Engadine station, tying ribbons to trees at the request of the police so they could find their way back." Mr Allen said. "We were happy that we were able to help."A NSW Police media spokeswoman confirmed that a badly decomposed body had been found at a campsite on the Bottle Forest Loop fire trail near Kangaroo Creek in the national park.The spokeswoman said a crime scene had been set up, although police did not believe there were any suspicious circumstance
BRIGID KING DEC 30 2013
A SEVERELY decomposed body found in Doonside bushland belongs to missing woman Brigid King.
The 45-year-old woman, who had been missing for almost three weeks, was last seen at her Doonside home on the morning of Tuesday March 21.
Police said a boy aged 10 or 11 discovered the body while riding his bicycle through Western Sydney Parklands near the corner of Richmond and Knox roads on Sunday April 9 at 4.40pm.
He alerted one of the adults he was with and they raised the alarm with police.
Police said they informed Ms King’s parents and defacto partner about her death yesterday after post mortem results confirmed the body belonged to her.
Blacktown Detective-Inspector Paul Ticker said it would take between six and eight weeks until toxicology results were returned to ascertain the cause of death but it was not being treated as suspicious.
“The only thing suspicious is the delay in reporting it (her missing),’’ Det-Insp Tickner said.
“There was nothing to suggest she met with foul play but at this stage we have a number of inquiries to follow up. We have to dot the ‘I’s and cross the ‘T’s.’’
The body was so badly decomposed police initially thought the human remains belonged to a man.
Dental records were needed to identify Ms King’s body.
Police held “serious concerns” for Ms King’s safety after she went missing because her disappearance was out of character.
KAREN RISTEVSKI FEB 1ST 2017
The body of missing Victorian mum Karen Ristevski has been found in rugged bushland almost eight months after she vanished following an argument with her husband.
The decomposing body was found by a bushwalker on Monday near a dirt road at Mount Macedon Regional Park and sent for forensic testing to determine identity.
Investigators received the results and informed Mrs Ristevski's family at their Avondale Heights home on Tuesday afternoon.
Several groups of visitors arrived at the family home on Tuesday evening, while a woman left flowers outside the front gate.
"Police can confirm the human remains found at Mount Macedon yesterday are that of missing Avondale Heights woman Karen Ristevski," police said in a brief statement.
"Missing Persons Squad detectives are appealing for anyone that may have been walking along the dirt track off Loch Road or anyone that may have seen any vehicles to contact them."
Mrs Ristevski, 47, hadn't been seen since June 29, 2016 when she apparently left home after an argument with her husband Borce Ristevski.
Mr Ristevski told the Herald Sun in August his wife had vanished after an argument over a few hundred dollars. He stressed his wife had not "done a runner" over their finances.
Mr Ristevski also dismissed claims by his estranged son Anthony Rickard, a confessed ice user, that he had overheard Mrs Ristevski talking about leaving Borce when their daughter Sarah turned 21.
Mrs Ristevski hadn't used her bank accounts or phone since she disappeared.
Police conducted a number of intense searches, with a cadaver dog brought in from NSW, rivers searched, dams drained and farmland scoured metre by metre.
The dense bush where her remains were found on Monday has also been scoured by police and the SES.
A team of more than 20 SES volunteers carried out a line search on Tuesday.
SES North West regional manager Mal Ross said his units weren't expected to return on Wednesday.
"That's it now. We've covered the area that police were initially looking at so at this stage we've finished," he told AAP.
The crime scene was cleared and the site, around 60km north of Melbourne, reopened to the public on Tuesday afternoon.
The grim find has shocked locals, with the body discovered close to numerous houses and a golf course.
Local cafe and post office owner Brad Eshuys said many people use the park.
"It's unsettling it was so close to a residential area in an area that is well used by the locals," he told AAP.
"I think bushwalkers would go through there, maybe mountain bikers, but not many vehicles. It's not a road to anywhere."
He said many still remember the body of murdered Melbourne woman Jill Meagher turning up not far from Mt Macedon, in Gisborne South, in 2012.
Locals have laid a bouquet of flowers at the base of a tree near the crime scene.
The body of missing Victorian mum Karen Ristevski has been found in rugged bushland almost eight months after she vanished following an argument with her husband.
The decomposing body was found by a bushwalker on Monday near a dirt road at Mount Macedon Regional Park and sent for forensic testing to determine identity.
Investigators received the results and informed Mrs Ristevski's family at their Avondale Heights home on Tuesday afternoon.
Several groups of visitors arrived at the family home on Tuesday evening, while a woman left flowers outside the front gate.
"Police can confirm the human remains found at Mount Macedon yesterday are that of missing Avondale Heights woman Karen Ristevski," police said in a brief statement.
"Missing Persons Squad detectives are appealing for anyone that may have been walking along the dirt track off Loch Road or anyone that may have seen any vehicles to contact them."
Mrs Ristevski, 47, hadn't been seen since June 29, 2016 when she apparently left home after an argument with her husband Borce Ristevski.
Mr Ristevski told the Herald Sun in August his wife had vanished after an argument over a few hundred dollars. He stressed his wife had not "done a runner" over their finances.
Mr Ristevski also dismissed claims by his estranged son Anthony Rickard, a confessed ice user, that he had overheard Mrs Ristevski talking about leaving Borce when their daughter Sarah turned 21.
Mrs Ristevski hadn't used her bank accounts or phone since she disappeared.
Police conducted a number of intense searches, with a cadaver dog brought in from NSW, rivers searched, dams drained and farmland scoured metre by metre.
The dense bush where her remains were found on Monday has also been scoured by police and the SES.
A team of more than 20 SES volunteers carried out a line search on Tuesday.
SES North West regional manager Mal Ross said his units weren't expected to return on Wednesday.
"That's it now. We've covered the area that police were initially looking at so at this stage we've finished," he told AAP.
The crime scene was cleared and the site, around 60km north of Melbourne, reopened to the public on Tuesday afternoon.
The grim find has shocked locals, with the body discovered close to numerous houses and a golf course.
Local cafe and post office owner Brad Eshuys said many people use the park.
"It's unsettling it was so close to a residential area in an area that is well used by the locals," he told AAP.
"I think bushwalkers would go through there, maybe mountain bikers, but not many vehicles. It's not a road to anywhere."
He said many still remember the body of murdered Melbourne woman Jill Meagher turning up not far from Mt Macedon, in Gisborne South, in 2012.
Locals have laid a bouquet of flowers at the base of a tree near the crime scene.
HEADLESS BODY YET TO BE IDENTIFIED
Posted 3 Apr 2005, 6:14am
Police have yet to identify the decapitated body of a man found in bushland north of Brisbane.
Detectives have spoken to a number of people in relation to the discovery.
A murder investigation is continuing after a man's torso was found in a paddock at Dayboro on Friday afternoon.
Police say the body was found in a shallow grave by two local farmers.
Senior Sergeant Joe Zitney from Petrie police says there could be a link to an incident earlier in the week at Sandgate on Brisbane's northern bayside.
"Police are appealing to the public for any information about a disturbance occurring in the vicinity of rainbow St at Sandgate," Sgt Zitney said.
A post-mortem examination will take place tomorrow to determine the cause of death.