Frank Olerhead arrived in the Wilcannia district of New South Wales in 1881 when
about 26 years of age. As will be seen form the newspaper snippets
and articles that follow, the surrounding area, including Broken
Hill and White Cliffs, was truly “Outback” Australia.
It should be
remembered when reading that Frank had worked on some of the most
important sheep and cattle stations in the area and hauled with
horse and cart at the opal centre of White Cliffs. He was a
Australian Workers Union (AWU) member, which after the defeat of the
Wool shearers strike in the early 1890's was a force in founding the
Australian Labour Party that Frank staunchly supported.
Frank, as caretaker of
Dolo Tank, certainly would have seen the “good and the bad” pass
by his front door.
***
 |
| Dolo Tank was situated on the old Wilcannia - Broken Hill road |
TELEGRAMS...OF A POLICE CONSTABLE
Source: Newcastle
Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW) 18 Sep 1888 page5
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139044016.
Senior-constable
Pigott, of Ivan hoe, near Wilcannia, has committed suicide by
shooting.
***
SHOOTING AFFRAY NEAR WILCANNIA.
Source: The
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA) 14 Feb 1891 page 5.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26772016
[By Telegraph.] Sydney,
February 13.
A serious shooting
affray occurred at the Ten-mile Point Hotel, near Wilcannia,
yesterday. A man named Flanagan, a notorious character, created a
disturbance and is believed to have attempted violence to the
proprietress (Mrs. Bell) who summoned another man named Clarke to her
assistance. A severe struggle ensued, when on Clarke being
overmatched Mrs. Bell got a revolver and fired two shots at Flanagan,
one of the bullets lodging in the thigh and the other in the groin.
The wounded man was brought into the hospital. The wounds though are
not considered dangerous. No action has yet been taken with regard to
Mrs. Bell.
***
STRANGE SHOOTING
FATALITY.
WILCANNIA, TOMMY.
"STRANGE
SHOOTING FATALITY."
Source:The Sydney
Morning Herald (NSW) 1 Nov 1893 page 5.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13907323
A strange shooting
fatality is reported from laren station. It appears that a German
named Felix Krause was out riding, when his horse threw him, breaking
his leg. Krause crawled into a hut and lied on a bunk helpless. The
other occupants of the hut were absent mustering. On returning to the
hut some days afterwards they found the body of Krause in an advanced
stage of decomposition, with a gunshot wound in the head. A letter
written by the deceased to his mate was found in the hut, stating
that the mare broke his leg, and he dragged himself into the hut, and
could not obtain water; and sooner than perish from thirst, he would
shoot himself. He asked his mate not to be cross for using his gun.
On the back of the envelope the deceased wrote in pencil, "Poor
little puppies, I can't let them live, and they will have to perish
with me." Mr. Quin, J.P., of Tarella, held a magisterial
inquiry, and found that the deceased died from a gunshot wound,
self-inflicted while in an unsound state of mind.
***
The Wilcannia
Tragedy.
SHOOTING A STREET
MUSICIAN.
M'GRATH PRONOUNCED
INSANE.
Source: Evening News
(Sydney, NSW) 24 Apr 1894 page 4.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article114082143
Broken, Hilll, Tuesday.— Before
Sir. Justice Foster at the Circuit Court, yesterday, Myles McGarth,
aged 25, -was tried on a charge of murdering Charles Fellowes at
Wilcannia, on December 9, 1893. Fellowes, who was 60 years of age,
and who was a wandering musician, stopped to play the violin in front
of the hotel kept by accused's father. McGrath, who had been ill for
some time, got up from his bed, snatched up a gun, and, taking sight
at Fellowes through an open door, shot him in the stomach, the
wounded man shortly afterwards dying. Several witnesses testified to
the eccentric conduct of accused some time previous to the murder.
Medical evidence was favourable to the plea of insanity. A verdict
was returned by the jury that McGrath killed Fellowes while of
unsound mind. The accused was sentenced to be detained is Broken Hill
Gaol during the Governor's pleasure.
***
"THE GRASSMERE
SHOOTING AFFRAY."
Source: Wagga Wagga
Express (NSW) 30 Aug 1894 page 2.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article145209128
Wilcannia, Tuesday,
Two men William McLean
and John Murphy, who were wounded in the shooting affray with the
police at Grassmare Station on Sunday night, were charged at the gaol
hospital yesterday before the police magistrate with unlawfully and
tumultuously assembling and creating a riot at Grassmare on the 26th
inst. Formal evidence of arrest was taken, and the accused remanded
for eight days for the production of further evidence, ? John Jones.
Thos. Virgin, Hector Osborne, Hugh Graham, Albert Kerr and Alfred
Montgomery were similarly charged at the lock-up and remanded for
tight days.
***
SHOOTING
FREE LABOURERS' HORSES.
Source:South
Australian Register (Adelaide, SA) 2 Nov 1894 page 5.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article53662334.
Wilcannia, November 1.
The bodies of four
horses belonging to two free labourers who were shearing at Momba
have been found in a paddock close to where the depredations were
committed recently. From appearances it is believed that the horses
were shot.
***
NEW SOUTH WALES.
THE SHEARERS' STRIKE.
THE SHOOTING AFFRAY AT WILCANNIA. FURTHER PARTICULARS.
THE WOUNDED MEN WILL
RECOVER. INSTRUCTIONS TO THE POLICE TO 'FIRE LOW!'
Source:The Inquirer
and Commercial News (Perth, WA) 31 Aug 1894 page 6.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article
66249885
Sydney, August 29.
Later intelligence from
Wilcannia states that the wounded Unionists are progressing
favorably, the opinion of the doctor being that both will recover.
Several other unionists have been arrested, and charged with rioting.
The cases were remanded until Sept. 4. The Unionists are much quieter
this morning. The Mayor has wired to the Premier to send 100 troopers
specially for the protection of the river trade. Further particulars
concerning the burning of the steamer Rodney show that 150 men, many
of them being well armed, overpowered the crew, ill-treated the
captain, and then seized the free shearers, throwing their swags into
the water. The ship was then looted and fired, after a quantity of
kerosene had been distributed over the vessel. The Captain says be
had great difficulty in escaping. The leaders of the movement
despatched congratulatory telegrams to the Unionists at Melbourne,
Adelaide and Brisbane... The Premier has issued instructions that in
the event of further disturbances the police are to fire low, as
firing over the heads of the rioters only encourages the more daring
spirits to commit fresh depredations.
***
RABBITS IN THE RIVER
DISTRICT.
Source:South
Australian Register (Adelaide, SA ) 12 Oct 1895 page5.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article53674661
Wilcannia. October 11
Notwithstanding the
continued drought the rabbits between Wilcannia and Broken Hill are
increasing with alarming rapidity. At Dolo Tank, thirty-two miles
from here, the rodents congregate in thousands every night and drink
the trough, which contains 3000 gallons of water, perfectly dry.
***
"Sensational
Shooting Case."
Source:Launceston
Examiner (Tas) 19 Aug 1896 page 6.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91154921
Sensational Shooting
Case. SYDNEY, Tuesday. A sensational shooting case occurred at
Wilcannia a few nights ago, but the news was suppressed till to-day,
when the police arrested an elderly man named John Hill, charged with
shooting at Charles S. Joberg, a Swede, who was acting as under
wardsman at the hospital. A revolver bullet struck Joberg on the top
of the head, and a second shot missed fire. The injuries were slight.
***
AN UNSOLVED PROBLEM
Source: Chronicle
(Adelaide, SA ), 1902, January 25 p. 29.
Nothing fresh has
transpired in regard to the robbery of the White Cliffs mail bag, and
the affair remains as much a mystery as ever. Mounted-Constables
Pressick and Langley, who were sent out to make a search of the
country between Topar and Dolo Tank, have not yet been heard from. A
good deal of sympathy is expressed for Constable Riley who escorted
the coach
It is agreed that a
portion of the track between Dolo Tank and Topar is unusually well
adapted for a robbery. After Dolo is passed the country is hilly, and
is covered with thick scrub, through which a narrow track is cut for
the greater part of the distance. On Monday night progress was
unusually slow and difficult, as the coach-driver had a bad team.
***
EXECUTION "NEW
SOUTH WALES."
Source:The Mercury
(Hobart, Tasmania) 12 Jun 1907 page 3
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article9925009
Peter Sadeok, for the
murder of May Cooney, at White Cliffs, was executed at Broken Hill
gaol to-day. The body, after the drop, first hung quietly, and then
twitched a 'couple of seconds, and all was over. Ono of the newly
imported, English ropes was used. Sadoek was attended during his last
moments by Valait. Shah, a countryman of his own, to whom he said ho
was very glad he was going to die. He believed ho was going to
heaven, and as he must die first or last, why not now. Ho thanked the
gaol officials for what they had done. His last words word "Good-
bye," addressed to Valait Shah.
***
SHEEP DIE AT DOLO
TANK AFTER EATING POISON WEED
Barrier Miner (Broken
Hill, NSW) 23 Feb 1925 page2
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article45902810
On Friday night last 80 sheep died at
Dolo Tank, on the Wilcannia road. It is considered that they ate
poison weed which has come up with the new herbage after the recent
rains.
***
Advocating communism
"Latest Telegrams."
Clarence and Richmond Examiner (Grafton, NSW : 1889 - 1915) 9
Sep 1902: 5. Web. 22 Apr 2014
<http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article61381722>.
A man was proceeded against at White Cliffs for
advocating communism during famine times. He was bound over to keep
the peace.
***
***
CLEANING DOLO TANK
Source:Barrier Miner
(Broken Hill),1926, January 30. p. 5.
Men are at present
engaged In the 1 removal of silt from the Dolo tank, which is
about 90 miles out on the Wilcannia-road. It is estimated that there
are 7000 yards of material to be taken out, and with six men working
two scoops. It is expected that it will the end of March before
the work is completed.
***
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