Like every other gold rush in history, the outbreak of yellow-gold fever in Western Australia attracted many of the best, and a number of the worst, humans from far and wide. But it was not until the terrible hardships of the pioneers were known to have been overcome and only pluck, good health, and self-denial, were needed to reach the promised land, that a general rush of adventurers, square and crooked, rich and poor, from all parts of the civilised world, set in, with Coolgardie in the East and Murchison in the mid-west of W.A. as their objective — as Fate might lead them.

And so with this later invasion came the ghoul of the type of Deeming and Butler, single-handed workers or ‘hatters’ and the garroting, sand-bagging fiends who operated in packs. Many narratives of the depredations of desperadoes on the various fields have been published from time to time, but it is questionable if a more intimate tale of some of the most dreadful crimes of the blood-red days, between 95 and 97, has ever been told as that which is to follow.

June of 1896 found Coolgardie in the centre of the West Australian field. It was the hopping off base for the newcomer, and the spelling place of the man in from richer and further back camps. Kalgoorlie was fast gaining on its older rival for fame and popularity, but Hannan’s, as it was originally, was yet behind in the race, for Coolgardie held in its grip all the attractions in the way of hotel accommodation, gambling facilities, feminine companionship, and places of amusement.

Therefore, it was to Coolgardie that the gnats, hornets, and blow-flies swarmed, attendant on the human vultures that provide ghastly feast drawn from the ranks of the unwary digger, or any other subject likely to have gold or money in his possession. Coolgardie’s worst recorded week ended with the ‘bottling’ of poor “Paddy Roachock’ in the open yard of the Denver City Hotel, Bayley Street, on the Sunday night following the first Coolgardie Cup meeting in August 1896. ‘Paddy’ was a remarkable athlete. In Adelaide, he was the finest footballer, wrestler, club swinger and all-rounder ever seen up to that time. “Coolgardie called, and Paddy answered”. Arriving, he did not search for a claim. He secured a large room and started a gymnasium, teaching wrestling, boxing, and kindred exercises. The first difficulties had been overcome, and Paddy was on the high road to big money when the races came along.