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The Burley lone grave
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The Southern Argus of Thursday 2 May 1878, published this tragic accident in its General News.
William Burley, a miller of Meadows and storekeeper of Jupiter Creek, born 7 April 1841, and Catherine Ryan, born in Adelaide on 17 June 1846, were married at St James Church, Macclesfield, on 14 November 1867. Their first child, Margaret Agatha was born on 16 September 1868, at Meadows. This was followed by a second daughter, Alice on 2 November 1869, also at Meadows, and a third daughter, Catherine in 1871. Two years later Catherine gave birth at Milang to twin boys, John and William on 17 March 1873. Two more boys were born after the twins, Henry on 19 February 1875 at Milang and Robert on 8 April 1877, also at Milang. It was Robert who escaped the drowning a year later. William Burley became the publican of the Bridge Hotel in January 1878 and moved his family from Milang to Langhorne Creek. After the accident 'a Coroner's Inquest was held by W. Colman, Esq., J.P., at the Langhorne's Bridge Hotel to inquire into the deaths of three girls, daughters of Host Burley, of the Langhorne's Creek Hotel, who had been found drowned the previous evening. The Jury consisted of the following gentlemen, viz. Messrs. Edward Powell, Edward Wenzel, John Laurey, G. R. Cleggett, Richard Tregilgas, Robert Lewis, Joseph Capner, George Montgomery, John Wylie, James Dalton, John Drysdell, and Aaron Burgess, of whom Mr. Robert Lewis was chosen Foreman. The Jury having been sworn proceeded to view the bodies, which were placed on a bed in the same state as they had been got out of the water on the previous evening. The girls were named Margaret, Alice, and Kate, and were of the respective ages of nine, eight, and seven years, dressed as they went out to play. The Jury then proceeded to the creek where the bodies had been recovered. The spot was about three or four hundred yards away from the house, and the recent rains having swollen the creek, there was a depth of twelve to sixteen or eighteen feet in and around an old waterhole in the bed of the creek. From appearances we imagine the children must have been playing at the edge of the water, and have either slipped or dragged each other in, probably one may have slipped in, and the other been dragged in, attempting to save the others; but this will never be known till the secrets of the dead are revealed. The event is rendered the more mournful from the fact that Mr. William Burley, the father of the deceased, is at present in the Adelaide Hospital, having gone there a few days ago to have an operation performed on one of his eyes, to which an accident had occurred on last election day.
He was carrying up ginger ale from the cellar when a bottle exploded, and a piece of glass got into the eye, from which almost unsufferable agony had ever since been endured. On Saturday an operation was performed, and it was not deemed advisable to acquaint him of his sad bereavement at the time. The Jury having returned to the hotel the following evidence was then taken, Corporal Dann, of Milang, having got together all he could touching the matter. Kate White deposed that she had seen the bodies of Mr. Wm. Burley's three daughters lying dead in another room. Was nurse-girl for Mrs. Burley. Saw the children last alive about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. They were in the habit of going into the paddock to play. They were not then in witness's charge. When they went out, they took the baby, who was a little boy, 12 months old last Friday. When next she saw them the three girls were dead, that was about 6 o'clock in the evening.
The reason witness was not with the children was that she was working in the house, at the request of Mrs. Burley. After they went out to play, Kate brought home a sunbonnet and two aprons; that was about half-past 3. Did not know why she brought them home. She put them in a bedroom without saying anything to anybody. They were dry. She told me the others were playing in the paddock, and she was going back to them. The children often went out by themselves to play. They did not usually play by the creek. Witness had been cautioned not to go to the creek, and the children also knew they were not to go there. Edward Sedunary, of Langhorne's Creek, deposed that on the previous evening he saw Alice Burley taken out of the water. Two of witness's boys had been a message, and heard a child crying on the banks of the creek. They went off the road to the creek, and saw a baby crying, and no one with it. They told him this when he got back about 4 o'clock, so he went immediately, took up the child, there being no one else about. Recognized the child as belonging to Mrs. Burley, took it home to Mrs. Burley, thinking it had strayed away by itself, not knowing that it could not walk. Mrs. Burley, the nurse-girl, and self immediately went to the creek to look for the other children, but could see nothing of them. Went home and got a long stick to feel the water, and Mr. Lewis and his men came over to help. After dragging the creek for some time, the body of Alice was recovered. There were not the slightest signs of life present. Telegraphed to the police; that would be about half-past 5. Joseph Chandler, of Langhorne's Creek, stated that he helped to rake the creek with others, and saw the three taken out of the water. The first one was taken out at three minutes past five, and the others within ten minutes after. They were quite dead when taken out. James Hogan took out the first, and John Wheedon the other two. Robert Sedunary, aged 10, son of Mr. Edward Sedunary, deposed that on the previous afternoon as he was going home from Mr. Potts's he heard a baby crying, and he ran to see what was the matter. Saw Mrs. Burley's baby lying on the opposite bank of the creek crying. Could not cross the creek, so he ran home and told his father at once. Went back with his father, and his father took up the baby and carried it to Mrs. Burley's. James Hogan, of Langhorne's Creek, deposed that on the previous afternoon he heard about 4 o'clock that Mrs. Burley had lost some of her children. Went to the creek and found several men dragging it. Assisted them, and at about 5 o'clock p.m. witness recovered one of the bodies. Saw the two other bodies taken out about half-an-hour after. The bodies lying in another room are the same. There was about eight feet of water where the bodies were found. Saw no traces of children's footsteps about the banks. Went into the water up to the chest, and got the child out by means of an iron hook he was using. John Wheedon, of Langhorne's Creek, deposed that he was searching the creek the previous day with others and saw the three bodies taken out. Those in the other room were the same. It was about an hour after they heard of the children being missed before they were found. Went into the water about four feet deep, and groped with a hook, and found the other two bodies. They were about three or four yards from the spot where the first one was found, and were about a foot or so from each other. There was not much current in the creek. The hooks were made expressly in Mr. Lewis's smithy. Corporal Dann gave evidence as to getting Jury together, and control of bodies, &c. The Foreman having briefly summed up the evidence. The Jury retired, and after a few moments, consultation returned a verdict to the following effect: 'The Jury, after hearing the evidence referring to the deaths of Margaret, Alice, and Kate Burley, are of opinion that it was simply accidental, through them playing on the banks of the creek, and that no blame can be attached to anyone.' Great sympathy was felt for the family, 'who are much esteemed in the neighbourhood. Immediately the children were missed the neighbours were exceedingly prompt in offering all the assistance in their power. Particular credit is due to the young men, Hogan, Wheedon, and White, who waded in the water, nearly up to their necks for an hour searching for the bodies. It must have been horrendous to lose all three daughters and would have affected Catherine very much'. Several papers reported the findings, some added additional information such as that the deceased children often took the baby out without Kate being with them. The older children had been cautioned not to take the younger children to the creek to play, and they knew it. Edward Sedunary said that on the day in question his two boys had been on a visit to a friend's house, and on their return, they told him that a baby was lying on the bank of the creek, crying. He went to the place and carried the child home, thinking it had strayed away, not knowing that it could not walk. Hearing that the other children were absent, witness went with Mrs. Burley to look for them, but was unsuccessful in finding them. Then felt the water with a long pole, but was relieved by Mr. Lewis and his men, who brought some grappling irons. John Wheedon, blacksmith, said he assisted in getting the other two bodies out of the water. They must have been in the water fully an hour. The bodies were three or four yards apart. There was not much current at the time. Joseph Chandler stated that he was present when the bodies were found. Robert Sedunary, son of Edward Sedunary, said on the previous afternoon he heard a baby crying on the opposite side of the creek to that which he was on. Six months later, after things were back to normal, William Burley, publican, of Langhorne's Creek Bridge Hotel, was charged, on the information of Corporal Dann, with supplying drink to natives on 5 November. Mr. J. H. Gordon for the defendant stated that in this case it appeared a native woman named Emily, and two other natives, got a bottle of rum from defendant on the understanding it was to be paid for after their leeches were sold. It didn't make any difference as the Bench inflicted a fine of five pounds and costs, a total of six pounds and five shillings.
Meanwhile, William had plans to improve his business and was looking far and wide for another hotel. It may also have been to get away from the place of their children's drowning. He spotted the old John Bull Hotel in Currie Street and on 28 February 1880 announced that it had been partially rebuilt, thoroughly renovated, newly furnished, and was now open for business. He would welcome all his old friends, customers and the general public, and guarantee them comfort and good cheer. The licence for the Bridge Hotel at Langhorne's Creek was transferred to Janet Allen, while the licence for the John Bull was transferred from J Chambers to William Burley. During this hectic time of changing hotels, travelling between Langhorne Creek and Adelaide, Catherine gave birth to son number five on 15 July 1880 in AdeLaide. He was named Frederick. This should have been a happy occasion for the whole family. Sadly though, five months later Frederick died on 14 December 1880 in Adelaide. They had two more children after Frederick. Catherine Ella on 4 December 1882 and Walter who was born and died on 25 January 1882. She had now given birth to ten children of whom five had died. Almost a year later, the papers were once again describing the terrible sufferings of the Burley family. On 18 January 1883, the Adelaide newspapers reported that, 'A sad accident happened in Currie Street early this morning to Mrs. Burley, wife of the landlord of the John Bull Hotel. The lady, aged 36 years, who retired some time previous, was found at 1 o'clock lying on the pavement in front of the hotel, having fallen from a window in the second story, a distance of about 20 feet. Dr Gosse was quickly in attendance, but life was extinct before his arrival. The deceased's husband was unaware of what had occurred until the body was found by a young man named Bickers, who roused the house. The deceased leaves a large family of young children and an infant only a few weeks old. An inquest was held at the John Bull Hotel, Currie Street, on Thursday, January 18, by Mr. J. P. Stow, on the body of Catherine Burley, wife of William Burley, of the John Bull Hotel, who was found lying on the footpath in front of her house dead on Wednesday at about midnight'. Mr Lovely was foreman of the jury. Deceased, who was 36 years of age, was the mother of five children, the youngest of whom (Catherine) was seven weeks old. She was last seen alive by her husband between a quarter to and a quarter past 12 o'clock on Wednesday night, and she was then asleep in bed. Another paper wrote; William Burley, husband of the deceased, said that when he last saw her alive she was suckling her infant, at about a quarter-past 12. Her husband went to bed then in the same room, but not in the same bed. The deceased had not been well for some time, and was suffering lately from neuralgia and a gathering in the ear. About four years ago three of deceased children were drowned, and since that time she had suffered from nervousness and was easily excited. About half-past 12 o'clock a man named Edwin Charles Record was passing the John Bull Hotel, when he saw the deceased lying on her back on the footpath with her head towards the wall. The ostler of the hotel came up and saw Record standing by the woman. At that time, she was moaning, but died shortly afterwards. The husband of the deceased was called up, and Dr. Gosse, who had been sent for, arrived and pronounced life to be extinct. The bed in which deceased was sleeping faced the window, through which it was supposed deceased fell. The husband stated that his wife was rather despondent the day previous to her death, and she had also received some bad news about a friend dying which affected her spirits. He did not think his wife intentionally threw herself out of the window, but she often sat at the window with the baby. Dr. Gosse stated that he was sent for, but when he arrived Mrs. Burley was dead. He examined the body but found no marks of violence on it, but the toes of each foot had wounds on them. There was also a wound on the back of the head which communicated with the bone. The skull was fractured, which caused death. Deceased was a highly nervous woman, and always took a very gloomy view of things.
He knew her well, and there had never been anything in her manner to make him think she would lay violent hands upon herself. She might have been leaning out of the window to get fresh air, and just overbalanced herself and fell on her head. The jury returned the following verdict: 'We are of opinion that the deceased came to her death by accidentally falling out of the window'. Catherine was buried on 19 January at the Catholic section of the West Terrace Cemetery. Her three daughters had been buried at the Catholic Cemetery of Mount Barker. They are still there but the headstone was transferred, after all headstones of expired leases were cleaned up, to the place where they died at Langhorne Creek. William died at the age of 50 in Adelaide on 21 December 1891. His daughter Catherine died in 1898, only 15 years old. Henry who had married Florence Thomas of Kadina at St Patrick Church on 24 August 1899 died at the Eureka Hotel in Red Hill on 17 August 1904, aged 29. THe last three brothers lived much longer. William died at Milang in 1934, John in Western Australia in 1940 and Robert, who had served during WWI in Egypt, died in 1943. The headstone at Mt Barker before being cleaned and moved to Langhorne Creek in 2017. *** If you would like to find out more,
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