Douglas William ‘Dug’ GRAY, age 40yrs, Buried 12th June 1910, Anglican Section Kalgoorlie Cemetery Grave 3540. Registration 89/1910 East Coolgardie (Kalgoorlie).
Douglas William GRAY and friends outside their prospecting camp 1898-99,in a tent covered in brush and canvas. Taken by Rembrant Studio : Photo donated by daughter Jessie Gray.
Douglas was the son of Douglas Gray and Emma Harriet PYKE. He was born in Marybrough Victoria in 1871 and was married to Mary Elizabeth GILHOLM in Boulder WA in 1900. They had two children, Douglas William Robert GRAY b Perth WA 1901, Elizabeth Jessie Leah GRAY b Coolgardie WA 1903
A home in Trafalgar – Douglas William GRAY and his wife, May Elizabeth nee Gilholm, standing holding small child- Photo : Jessie Gray (daughter)
Kalgoorlie Miner Saturday 18 June 1910, page 3
THE HANNAN’S CONSOLS FATALITY
DOUGLAS GRAY’S DEATH
THE INQUEST
The inquest into the cause of the death of Douglas William Gray at the Hannans Consols lease on June 10, took place yesterday morning before Mr. P Whelan, J.P deputy coroner, and a jury consisting of Messrs. Geo. Nimmo (foreman), Edward McMorrow, and William Williams. Corporal Slattery represented the police ; Mr. M. B. Scott, the widow and family and Mr. E. T. Randall, the Hannans Consols.
Douglas William GRAY Kalgoorlie Cemetery 1910.
William Downey, horse driver at the Hannans Consols, deposed that about 11 a.m. he was driving the whip horse on Friday, June 10. He was ready to pull up when he noticed that the rope was broken and not getting an answer he went down and found Douglas Gray and Andrew Campbell completely smothered. He went up for assistance. Campbell was got up, and about an hour and a half later Gray was secured. Campbell was conscious when brought to the surface. The fall occurred about 15 ft. up the side of the shaft. The men were Tributers. Campbell was not attended to at the scene but taken to the hospital at once.
The Sun : Funeral Notice : Sunday 12 June 1910
Constable Leahy gave evidence that in consequence of a report at the police station on June 10 he went to the Hannans Consols lease. Dr. Anderson came from below and said that life was extinct, and that the deceased’s neck was broken. About 10 minutes later the body was brought to the surface, and taken to the morgue by witness. On the same date witness identified the body in the presence of the coroner and jury, as that of Douglas William Gray.
Andrew Campbell, miner, said that he was a Tributer on the Hannans Consols lease on the 10th inst and he was working with Douglas Gray in the shaft. He remembered being pinned to the wall but could not say how long for.
He did not know where the deceased was then. They had not started to work. He could not move. He heard men coming down the ladders. He had no idea what caused the fall, or where it came from. He remembered being taken out of the shaft and to the hospital. He had been working for five weeks. The ground did not seem to be treacherous. He knew, that some shots had been put in. Before going beneath the wall he satisfied himself that it was safe.
Kalgoorlie Miner Saturday 18 June 1910, page 3
John Shepherd, manager of the Hannans Consols Syndicate, stated that about 11.30 a.m. he heard of the accident while underground at his own lease. With his underground manager, he went to the lease, there was a relief party of 10 or 12 men. About 12 o’clock Campbell was rescued. About three-quarters of an hour later, Gray’s body was recovered. Gray’s syndicate consisted of five men. The tribute was not registered.
The jury returned a verdict that ; the deceased was accidentally killed by a fall of earth at the Hannans Consols mine on June 10, no blame being attachable to anyone. The jury added, We wish it to be! placed on record that the men of the rescue party deserve the thanks of the community.
Douglas William GRAY – 2020 Photo by Danelle Warnock
The Sun, 12th June 1910 -Douglas GRAY was one of the most popular men all over the fields, and the expressions of sorrow and sympathy with the deceased’s widow and two children, illustrate the great esteem in which he was held. He was the I.P.M. of the Boulder City Lodge, No. 35, W.A. Constitution of Freemasons. He was also an enthusiastic Caledonian and a member of the W.G.F.M.U. At one time the deceased kept the Horseshoe Inn, Boulder and until recently held a commission as a Justice of the Peace, resigning only six months ago.
The Inscription on Douglas W Gray’s Grave – photo Danelle Warnock
His connections with sport extended back to his boyhood, and any sport which he was connected with was the better off for his association with it. He was looked up to, and respected by all sportsmen on the fields, and his untimely demise is deeply regretted. From his early boyhood the deceased had been a fair pedestrian, and he in excelled at games of cricket and football. He was easily the best footrace starter in the West. He was a native of Victoria, his earlier years being spent in Maryborough, where many of his relatives now reside, and where he recently spent a holiday
The Eastern Goldfields Miners Memorial at the WA Museum-Kalgoorlie Boulder. www.wavmm.com
Note: It is odd that his estate, some £205 was left to a Walter Keeping and not his wife.
Moya Sharp
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