The Probable Fate of James Thomas Whyte

TALE OF THE WILDS
THE PROSPECTOR THAT NEVER RETURNED.
Probable Fate of James Thomas Whyte

The result of a par in our last week’s mining budget has been the cause of considerable inquiry as to the fate of a prospector named James Thomas Whyte, who left Laverton on November 21, 1914. and has not been seen or heard of since. It appears that the missing man’s mother, who resides at 306 Newcastle Street, Perth, has had the police on the trail for several months past, but there has been no result to their inquiries. When our par appeared last week, Mr. A. M. McIntyre. of Southern Cross, identified the missing man Whyte by an inquiry instituted by his mother.

Mrs. Whyte had written Mr. McIntyre on the matter, and this is how the Southern Cross “Times” sizes up the situation — “Shortly after the McIntyre Prospecting Party left here, a Mrs Whyte wrote to Mr McIntyre asking if her son, Jim Whyte was with the party. McIntyre wrote saying that there was no one of that name and she inserted a notice in the ‘missing friends’ column of October 23. Little notice was paid to the inquiry until yesterday when Mr. McIntyre noticed the following par whilst reading ‘Truth’ –

That the way of the prospector is hard is thus recounted by the Laverton Mercury.

Sometime in November last year, a young man named James Whyte left Laverton with the alleged intention of searching for gold. He travelled via boot and took two days feed with him. He has never returned to Laverton and as far as is known he has never been reported from any other place. A married sister with whom, it is said, he communicated regularly, has long since been making inquiries concerning his whereabouts. Several months ago it was reported that tracks, evidently those of the missing one, had been seen in the spinifex about 100 miles east of Laverton. Recently an aboriginal man reported that he had discovered a human skeleton in the direction indicated, and there is little doubt that it represents all that remains of the unfortunate and indiscreet Jimmy White, who was fairly well-known in the district.

Truth Perth 8 January 1916, page 5

He has a brother, Mr. Win White, who is pursuing agriculture at Brookton in this State. The latter at one time was a resident of Laverton and a member of the syndicate which purchased the Augusta G.M., when it passed out of the hands of the original company some few years ago. The Laverton police are going out to make investigations as soon as camels, which are necessary for a trip of that kind, are available. It now looks as though the unfortunate young fellow has met his death in searching for that which would have comforted his old mother. Mrs. Whyte wrote from 306 Newcastle Street, Perth, so we make a special plea to anyone who may know the whereabouts of Jim to write or wire to his anxious mother.

Mrs. Whyte handed to our representative a number of letters written by residents about Laverton detailing the results of their inquiries on her behalf. Still, unfortunately, none of them could throw any further light on the disappearance of the prospector. All they could say was that he left Laverton on the date given above, and had never been heard of since. Mrs. Whyte supplied us with a photo, of her son, which is reproduced above. It would appear as though the economy has actuated the Police Department in its inertia in this matter, Mrs. Whyte having been told that it would cost £100 to hire the camels necessary and otherwise pursue the search for this lost prospector in ‘No Man’s Land’. Like all good mothers, Mrs. Whyte will not believe that the skeleton found 100 miles east of Laverton among the sand and spinifex is all that remains of her son on this earth but prefers to think he is alive somewhere and will eventually turn up. May her pious wish be gratified, though the odds may be a million to one against.

Moora Herald and Midland Districts Advocate 18 January 1916, page 3

James’s remains were recovered and his death was registered over a year later as follows:
James Thomas WHYTE – Died about December 1914 – Found at a hill 125 miles east of Laverton – Age unknown – Cause: Starvation and exposure – Verdict of the Acting Coroner, Hamlet Johnson, at an inquest held at Laverton on 5 Jan 1916 – No parent’s details are given – Registered by a friend G Smart – Buried in the Anglican section of Laverton Cemetery – had been in WA about 10yrs. Reg 2/1916 Mt Margaret.

It is strange that his mother was not involved in registering James’ death as no family details were given or even added to the record at a later date. Perhaps she would not believe these were the remains of her son despite the evidence of the possessions found. Or maybe she never was informed.

The Unlucky Digger – SLWA