Burned in effigy - the McCann Hoax - Outback Family History

Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 – 1950), Monday 1 July 1895, page 5

COOLGARDIE NEWS. :

THE ALLEGED FIND AT LAKE COWAN.
RETURN OF MR McCANN AS DELEGATE.
FRUITLESS SEARCH FOR THE FIND.

EXCITED MEETING IN BAYLEY-STREET.
CHARGE AGAINST THE PRESS.
THE COURIER OFFICE STONED.

MR McCANN SMUGGLED AWAY.,
NOW UNDER POLICE PROTECTION.
FURTHER TROUBLE EXPECTED

COOLGARDIE, July 1 1895

Mr, McCann and the four delegates who were appointed to accompany him, returned last evening after a fruitless search for the alleged new find at Lake Cowan. As soon as it became known, a crowd of over 1,000, people consisting for the most part of townspeople, who were attracted out of curiosity assembled in Bayley street opposite the office of Mr. Marshall, tho Secretary of the Diggers’ Association.

Crowd outside the Courier Offices : 7 Jul 1895

There was considerable delay and uncertainty in the proceedings. Some of the men showed impatience and demanded that Mr. McCann should be brought out. In the meantime, Mr, Marshall had taken Mr. McCann by the back way to the police station and left him there and returned, when the delegates gave a report of the expedition. There was very little excitement until Mr. Konnick mounted the box and said Mr. McCann was not so much to blame as the Press for creating a rush. The crowd then drifted towards the Courier office, adjoining the post office, and some stones were thrown. The windows of the newspaper office were broken. Warden Finnerty arrived and addressed the men. He pointed out the foolishness of creating a riot and of stone throwing. The crowd then gradually dispersed, and all ended at about half-past 9 o’clock. It is said that 250 men are coming in to-day. There is likely to be more trouble tonight.

Burning an Effigy of McCann which is mounted on a camel. 8 Jul 1895

Residents of Coolgardie will still retain a vivid recollection of the rumpus created by McCann’s rush. Hundreds of men left Coolgardie with mining tools and provisions purchased locally at ”rush” prices, and as they were unable to locate the place it was designated a “storekeepers’ rush.” The men were greatly annoyed at the unsuccessful
and dreary trampings and vowed all sorts of vengeance on the supposed instigator McCann.  On the road back from Lake Cowan to Coolgardie they constructed an effigy of McCann and clothed it in raiment’s of all nations, mounted it on a camel, and the worn-out expedition marched up Bayley street with their newly purchased tools still unpacked.
The “Golden Age” newspaper office was then situated where Baird’s Company now stands, and as that paper had the credit of first publishing the news about “thousands of ounces” etc., the windows of the building were promptly smashed by the infuriated prospectors. It looked as if the office would be wrecked, but wiser counsels prevailed and after the effigy of McCann had been burnt just opposite the post-office, the crowd dispersed, although
many of the diggers who thought that they had been hoaxed scoured the town in search of McCann, who had promised to lead a party of men to his new find. Mr. John Marshall (now of Kalgoorlie) played a somewhat prominent part in securing McCann and guarding him from injury at the hands of the men.

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Moya Sharp

Owner at Outback Family History

My name is Moya Sharp, I live in Kalgoorlie Western Australia and have worked most of my adult life in the history/museum industry. I have been passionate about history for as long as I can remember and in particular the history of my adopted home the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Through my website I am committed to providing as many records and photographs free to any one who is interested in the family and local history of the region.

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