Dolly Pot Memories — A Young Man at the Roaring Gimblet

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The ‘Dolly Pot’ column was started in the Western Mail newspaper between 1936 and 1942 and was initiated by Cyril Longmore and later taken over by Malcolm Uren. The column started out to collect the reminiscences of the pioneer prospectors and was remarkably successful. Dolly Pot remains the most significant source of information on the Westralian goldfields pioneers. It is the voice of the men who made the country in their own words. They wrote of sadness, of gladness, of humour, and hardship in a way that only experience can.

Western Mail Perth 9 September 1937, page 13

OVER THE PLATES
The Roaring Gimblet

Dear “Non-com.”- Just a chapter or two out of my own life story on the goldfields in 1894, when everything was new! – by Su Hug Bardoc

In June or July 1894, my mate, Cumrae-Stewart, myself, and two others went from Coolgardie to what today is known as Goongarrie, but then, as the 90-Mile, or the Roaring Gimblet, to man some leases for a Groper syndicate, Alex, Forrest, Neil McNeil, and Marmion were members of it. We went by spring cart, pulled by a couple of horses. When we arrived at the 90, we found it a busy little centre, with various business places, trading being carried on in big tents or hessian shacks. They included a chemist, baker, butcher, chaff merchant, and several stores, not forgetting the usual hop-beer bar and a tinsmith.

One of the stores was a branch of a Coolgardie firm, Askin and Nicholson. Nicholson had two brothers, Bob and Hope, who in later years were mine managers on the Golden Mile. The manager for this firm in the 90 was Harry Gregory, who later became Mayor of Menzies and the first M.L.A. for the district. Harry had to put up some big election fights to hold the seat but always won by a nose. Once he was counted out, but won on an appeal. For close to ten years, he was Minister for Mines. He is still doing his bit as one of our representatives in Canberra.

Askin & Nicholson was the local Post Office and general store in the Old Goongarrie townsite in 1895 - Coolgardie Pioneer 5 Feb 1896

Askin & Nicholson was the local Post Office and general store in the Old Goongarrie townsite in 1895 – Coolgardie Pioneer 5 Feb 1896

I was but a mere youth in the 1890s. One day I was standing outside Harry’s store looking at a bag of sprouting onions. He must have been eyeing me off, for he came forward and said, “Eat plenty of onion sprouts, and you will never get the fever, lad.” At no time did I fancy onion sprouts, and I did not take his advice, and so far I have dodged eating them, and dodged the fever, too. It’s a long time since I was offered the above advice, but every time I see sprouting onions, I somehow associate Harry with them. Unusually, there was no hotel there in those days. Later, two sprung up, the first licensee being Arthur Williams, the first man to be married in Coolgardie. He ran the hotel with his wife, Clara nee Saunders.

Tinnion & Myhill - 90 Mile Store

Tinnion & Myhill – 90 Mile Store

Our little party soon got to work on the leases. They were close to a big, dry salt lake, which is not far from the townsite and close to a big blow, still called Mullagong Blow. The syndicate did not keep us employed for many months, and we never saw a colour of gold on the job.

Explosions Rock Boulder — The Night Fourteen Men Died

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BOULDER BOMBINGS –  GHASTLY TRAGEDY
TERRIBLE SCENES OF SLAUGHTER
FOURTEEN MEN MURDERED
by Peter Skehan
These are among the headlines that greeted the public after what could be described as this State’s largest multiple murder. The surprising thing about these horrific murders is the fact that they have receded into history without our current generation being aware of this devastating event.
Two explosions occurred at the delicensed Launceston Hotel, Boulder, which was in use as a boarding house at the time. The kitchen in the centre of the image was the kitchen and the roof has been blown off.

Two explosions occurred at the delicensed Launceston Hotel, Boulder, which was in use as a boarding house at the time. The kitchen was in the centre of this image; the roof has been blown completely off.

I worked with some of the officers who played significant roles on that tragic night, and never once was the event mentioned, nor do I recall any publicity or discussion about these bombings. It was only in 2003, during discussions with retired Superintendent Graham Lee (who died in 2003), that I became aware of this and other events, in the early part of his police career. He had been stationed at Kalgoorlie at the time.

EXPLOSIONS ROCK BOULDER

The events unfolded on the 1st of February 1942. That evening, 30 men were playing dice in the dining room at 16 Milton Street, Boulder, a boarding house run by the Kunjunzich family. Just after midnight (2nd.February),  without warning, an explosive charge contained in a metal container was detonated in the room. Constable Mick Leeder, on duty at the Boulder Police Station, heard the loud explosion and ran into the street looking for its source. He had not gone far when he heard two further explosions, which he later found to have been detonated at the Launceston Hostel, some distance away. Constable Leeder was joined by Constable Waghorn, who was just coming on duty.
When they arrived at the site of the first explosion, they were confronted by a scene of total devastation. By shining their torches into the darkness, they were able to see the magnitude of the disaster. The roof of the premises had been completely blown off, and most of the walls demolished. There were dead and injured entangled in the wreckage, with dreadful cries coming from the wounded and dying. A doctor living nearby, Dr Hogan, was roused and, with Dr Shanahan, who arrived shortly afterwards, attended to those still alive. Sergeant Carmody, Constables Reilly, Gregory and Gaull were later involved in evacuating the injured and dead from the scene.

Fourteen men died as a result of the bombing, seven instantly, and a further seven within hours of the explosion. Many of the survivors lost limbs in the initial explosion, others suffered fractures, and some suffered the trauma of later amputations. Spinal injuries caused ongoing problems, and burns and severe lacerations added to the victims’ distress. The investigation was conducted by Detective Sergeant Lewis and Detective Jones, with Constable Joe Rosich coming from Northam to assist with interpreting.
Inquiries established that, after the initial explosion, the offender had gone to the Launceston Hostel and detonated a further two charges, injuring another four persons, one of them for the second time. Kristo Kosich, 42 years, who lived at the Launceston Hostel, had been on the Milton Street premises and received leg injuries. He had staggered out in a disoriented state and made his way to the kitchen of the Launceston Hostel. Shortly afterwards, he was confronted by the offender, who tossed a further explosive charge into the premises.

Kosich received additional serious injuries. A further charge was detonated in the yard of the Hostel.

Another single minor explosion was heard about an hour later, but its cause and location were not ascertained that night. Meanwhile, police and doctors were occupied in searching the devastated area and transporting the injured to hospital. The remains of the dead were removed on corrugated iron sheets blown from the premises. A truck that was used to convey the dead broke down en route to the mortuary, and blood from the victims was seen running onto the roadway as frantic efforts were made to restart the makeshift hearse.

Niagara’s Rise – by Nick Roberts

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By Nick Roberts, 20 Jan 1919 – Time Gents Australian Pub Project Niagara Hotels – Niagara WA The township of Niagara was said to be unique in having four hotels, one on each corner of the crossroads, in the centre of the township (However, later the Boulder Block was to have the same distinction). Niagara […]

From a Ballan Forge to a Kalgoorlie Grave

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I was recently contacted by my friend and grave photographer extraordinaire, Danielle Warnock, about a query she had received from Duncan Fraser about the grave of Simon Rose Fraser, his great-uncle, buried in the Kalgoorlie Cemetery. He asked if she could take some photos of the grave for him and his family. Duncan said: My […]