When ‘Old Dick McCANSH’, a sixty five year old miner, died of fever on 7 Jan 1893 his mates decided to give the ‘old battler’ a decent burial and a rude coffin was fashioned from some old meat cases.
As the only vehicle available was a store keepers dray it was decided to skirt the alluvial grounds and go around Fly Flat (Coolgardie)
On arrival at the burial ground, the party on foot sat down to await the funeral cortege, but when it failed to arrive after some hours, they set of to investigate.
Enquiries at the various stores revealed that the driver, after several whiskeys, had left, and on arrival at the hastily dug grave it was found that the dray was empty. I reply to questions regarding ‘Old Dick’ they were told, ‘He’s Alright!! The tail board was loose, so we must have dumped him”.
Despite searching the surrounding country side the coffin was never found so they filled in the grave and on the side of a meat case they wrote ‘Sacred to the Memory of Dick McCansh Died 7 Jan 1893 Requisite where ever he is”
Moya Sharp
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