22/08/2016 By Moya Sharp 2 Comments
The Southern Cross Times 9th May 1914 – THE MINERS DREAM
The old identities expressed deep andsincere regret yesterday when wordcame into town that old TommyKinghad been killed at Parker’s Range, forTommy was one of the pioneers of 1887and 1888. For over 28 years the deceasedmaintained that he had a rich gold find divulged to him in a dream. Hisdream was so vivid that he returned here again and again with the object oflocating the dream find. Some yearsago, Mick Hoffman got some good prospects near the place that old Tom hadbeen dreaming about, and together theyapplied for a gold mining lease. Itwas rather appropriate that they called it ‘The Miners Dream’.
Unfortunately after some work hadbeen done, the values cut out and again the scenes of old Tommy’s dream wasabandoned, and he went back on wagesagain and worked until the dreamhaunted him once more. As soon a funds permitted he got old Tommy Smart—another old 1888. man to join him, and whenboth were old and feeble fortune smiledon them and the spot that had disturbed their pioneer’s sleep was hit upon. The‘Miner’s Dream lease was again applied for and the two old ’88 battlersmade enough money to give them thatjoyful feeling of independence thatgladdens the hearts of the members ofthe ‘old brigade’. All was going smoothly and well with the dreamer and his mate until Thursday last, when wordcame to town that the workings of theMiner’s Dream had collapsed and thatpoor old Tommy King ‘the dreamer’ had been suffocated……….
Yesterday a jury viewed his remains, and today an inquest will be held, but old Tom, his good and bad qualities, will be buried for ever and the dreamthat came true will no longer trouble him. Had all been divulged in thatfatal dream, how. different things mighthave been. May Tom’s soul know more rest than his fragile body knewis our fervent wish.
Tommy King, Southern Cross Pioneer Cemetery. Buried at Marvel Loch but memorial plaque moved to the Pioneer cemetery SC
Southern Cross Times 23rd May 1914
Tommy King’s Funeral. – At the funeral of old Tommy King the road to the cemetery was in suchstate the cortege lost itself, and had tocut across the bush to make their destination.
One wouldimagine, with rates received from this part, it would not be too much to ask the Roads Board to place a finger post behind the MountainQueen directing the way to God’s acre. If they are unable to make a decentroad for us to travel when we are paying the last tribute to our dear partedones, the least we can ask is that directions be posted to avoid theunpleasantcontretemps of lastSaturday.Again we have to chronicle the passingaway of one more of the “old brigade.”thatoldbrigadetowhomWestralia owes so much, the pioneers of the miningindustry.It seems almost a paradoxthat those hardy veterans who blazedthetrack,alongwhichprogressandprosperity followed, should almostinvariablyin the gloaming of their day,meet with the frowns instead ofthesmiles of fortune.Even the town with all to thank them for, look askanceon the old warriors.God’s peaceto you, the track blazers.
Though the town in its pride may despise you,
Tho’ its people your ways may condemn.
Your country who judges will prize you.
Tis’ to you she has looked, not tothem,
For where progress encounters resistance.
Her far away outposts you keep.
Knowing nought of the joys of existence,
Whilst sowing that others may reap.
Who among the prospectors of theSouth Yilgarn but did not know TommyKing, the battler of the battlers, eccentric,for who has had the hardshipof prospecting with the environs and the ever dreary expectancy of the bushlandbut becomes eccentric. But with a man of sterling integrity, always rememberinga kindness, never forgettinga friend, never forgetting his manhoodand with that sturdy independence incidentalto the members of the trackblazers. Never looking for wages aslong as he had enough to satisfy hisevery-day wants, always looking forthat chimerical fortune, which alas! soseldom comes, satisfied he was doing hisbest. God rest his soul.He had carried the pioneer’s burdennorth, south and the east and the westunknown to his spirit that rewardlifebrings with its Yuletide of rest, strugglingever that theme coming after whoknew not the cares he had known in
idleness, joy, song and laughter, shouldreap of the seed he had sown.
NOTE: Tommy’s full name was – Thomas Christopher Nunn KING
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Moya Sharp
Owner at Outback Family History
My name is Moya Sharp, I live in Kalgoorlie Western Australia and have worked most of my adult life in the history/museum industry. I have been passionate about history for as long as I can remember and in particular the history of my adopted home the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Through my website I am committed to providing as many records and photographs free to any one who is interested in the family and local history of the region.
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Filed Under: People, Tagged With: Australian History, Goldfields History, Southern Cross, Tommy King, Western Australia
