Person Page - 1783

From the "South Australian Weekly Chronicle", 18th November 1882     On Wednesday afternoon, November 13, an inquest was held at Mr. Murdoch Morrison's farm, Flagstaff, near Aberdeen, by Mr. John D. Cave and a jury, on the bodies of Jane Morrison, aged 34, and Donald Morrison, aged nine years, mother and son, who were drowned on the previous day by falling into a dam near the house. Mr. Alex. Forsyth. was foreman of the jury.
      Alexander Cobb, farm laborer, said he worked for Mr. M. Morrison. Knew deceased. Mrs. Morrison was the wife and Donald Morrison the child of his master. Went to his dinner yesterday about 12.30. and they both had dinner with him. Just before sundown, Christina and John, younger children of Mr. Morrison, came to him in the field. Mr. Morrison was with him. They said their mother and Donald were in the tank near the house. The tank is about 10 feet deep, steep at the sides, and about 121 feet in diameter. Witness and Mr. Morrison went down to the tank and saw the boy's hat floating on the water, and took it out. Went to the house to see if there was any one at home. Found nobody there, so thought the bodies must be in the tank. Got a wire with a hook at the end and tiled to pull them out. The wire was not long enough, so got a rope as well. Donald McLean then came down with the horses. Witness did not see the bodies taken out, as Mr. Morrison sent hint away to call his brother, who lived on the adjoining farm. When he returned Mrs. Morrison had been pulled out, but the boy was still in. Witness then started for ths Burra to inform the police.
     Donald McLean, farm laborer, deposed to assisting with a rope and piece of wire to get the bodies out. Did not succeed the first time, but got the body of Mrs. Morrison out on the second triaL She was dead. The bodies must have been in the water fully an hour before they were taken out. The boy was a quarter of an hour or so longer in the water than the mother.
     Murdoch Morrison, farmer, said the deceased were his wife and son. When he left home yesterday about 1.30 p.m., his wife was at the house and spoke of going to the Burra. She left home about 3 o'clock. He did not see her return. About 6 o'clock his three younger children came to the field and said their mother and brother were in the waterhole. Started Cobb off at once, and went himself as fast as he could. Got a rope otf the well and tied it to a post, put a plank across the dam, and with the help of McLean got his wife's body out first, and afterwards the body of the boy. His wife's body was three parts cold. He felt sure she was quite dead. Believed the accident occurred in this way. His wife had purchased a water bag and she sent the boy to the tank to fill it. He must have fallen in. The mother then sent the younger children for him, and one of them returned saying he had fallen in the water, and his hat was floating. The mother then, without thinking, went into the dam to save her boy, and got drowned herself. The water-bag had not been found.
     Norman Morrison, farmer, deposed to being called by Cobb. He jumped on a horse and went to the scene of the disaster at once. When he got there the body of his sister-in-law was taken out and was lying on the bank of the dam. The boy was still in the water. Witness took his body out. Gerald Ferguson, mounted trooper, stationed at Redruth, said he measured the dam, and found from eight to nine feet of water in it.
     The jury returned a verdict of 'accidental death by drowning.³'