Drain dies in bath

1907 – There is a sad irony in a man named Drain breaking his neck in a swimming bath.

Thirty- year-old Charles Drain was visiting Central Queensland’s Gladstone from the nearby copper mining region of Nanandu, now known as Many Peaks. The copper from the mine was used as a flux in the Mount Morgan gold mine smelters 200 kilometres away.

Drain was employed by the Mount Morgan Mining Company as a shift supervisor.

He and another man, Mr Crow,  were in town to seek an improved sanitary service at their rapidly growing township. They had made their presentation to the Calliope Shire Council the day before, after the 100-kilometre trip.

One newspaper article reported that no-one saw the incident, which happened at the Auckland Creek seawater baths, described as “of an open character, with staging raised about 3ft above the water running round the interior.

“Drain, after undressing, went to the shallow end where the depth is not more than about two feet, and dived into the water.

“….it is believed that in his plunge the young fellow’s head, came into violent contact with the bottom of the baths, the impact dislocating his neck.

“When the attendant entered the baths he found the body of the unfortunate man floating in the water.

Another article, presumably more informed, said Drain was at the baths with a friend. When his friend had said he was getting out, Drain said “one more dive.’’

As the friend headed for the change rooms Drain went out on a plank and dove off.

“He took a header and struck shallow water, rolling over without a word or a groan”.

The capricornian.

Another lad in the water gave the alarm and Drain quickly had medical assistance, but his spine was fractured and he died within the hour.

Crow informed the Mount Morgan company of the incident and they arranged for his body to be taken to Nanandu for burial, the newspaper reported. However, he was buried in the Gladstone cemetery on the Sunday afternoon.

Crow also arranged for a “special messenger” to proceed from Miriam Vale to inform the company’s manager there “so that he might break the sad intelligence to the widow, who, with four children, is thus bereft of her bread-winner.’’

Sources: The Bundaberg Mail and Burnett Advertiser Monday 9 December 1907, p2: Wednesday 11 December 1907, p2;

 The Capricornian, Saturday 14 December 1907, p36