1886 – “No-one was better known or more respected in Gladstone than James Hawthorne”, a newspaper declared when he suddenly met his end.
While death notices described the 42-year-old as a saddler, a James Hawthorne was mayor of the town some years earlier and it can be assumed it was the same person.
James was returning on horseback from Calliope, about 20 kilometres away.
“His body was found lying in a waterhole, face downwards, about seven o’clock on the morning of the 7th instant, near the Ten Mile Creek (now known as Clyde Creek), ” announced a local newspaper.
The creek was the first coach stop out of Gladstone towards Calliope, meaning James was close to home.
“It would appear that his horse had fallen over an embankment, and injured its rider, who was also thrown into the hole and remained in an insensible condition.
“This at least is the surmise, as there were not more than 6 in. or 8 in. of water where he was discovered.
The media was lavish in its praise of the man.
“For more than a quarter of a century he figured prominently as a good colonist, a zealous worker for the interests of this town, a good husband and father, and a generous-hearted man.”
The funeral on Tuesday was attended by almost every townsman.
If James worked as a saddler, one could assume he knew his way around horses and that it was indeed a tragic accident that took his life, leaving his wife Ellen a widow and at least eight children fatherless.
Another man in the Gladstone cemetery who was killed by a fall from his steed, and perhaps could be forgiven for not being horse-savvy, was mariner George Thomson, who died back in 1877. His broken gravestone lies on the ground..
Sources: Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, Thursday 17 June 1886, p3
Morning Bulletin, Saturday 19 June 1886, p4, Saturday 26 June 1886, p6
Way to go Australia 