Four Deaths In Five Days
pp. 65-66 · Read in the full issue
Well-known Morobe Mining Men
From Our Own Correspondent.
WAU, Dec. 22.
DEATH has been busy in the Morobe District, New Guinea, and reaped a harvest of four well-known mining men, who all died within a few days of each other.
Mr. Russell Valentine Wilde, who had been prospecting in the Territory for many years, contracted blackwater fever on the Watut and died in Wau on December 12, despite valiant efforts by Dr. Giblin and Dr. McKenna and volunteers who offered themselves for blood transfusions. Known everywhere in Morobe as “Russ”, he ar rived in New Guinea in 1929, and for a time was with the Administration. He served in the Great War as a sergeant in the Australian Bth Battalion and was awarded the Military Medal. His funeral was attended by the largest assembly of mourners yet seen in Wau.
On December 14, Mr. Wilfred Schultz, a member of the staff of New Guinea in the Australian 18th Battalion and was buried the same day. He was a Yorkshire man, and his twin brother is also em ployed by N.G.G., Ltd.
The following day, Mr. William (“Far mer”) Brown, who had been in New
Guinea for over 12 years, died in Wau hospital. In the early days of the Morobe goldfield, he was associated with the “Big Six”, and regularly made the overland journey from Salamaua to Edie Creek with their carriers. Recently he was working with Mr. Fred Smith, mining on the Bulolo, after having spent several years on the Watut. Mr. Brown was 51 years of age.
Mr. Frank L. Lovegreen, of Bulolo Gold Dredging, Ltd., met a tragic death on December 16, while waiting in a truck
at Bulwa. A huge tree suddenly crashed down without warning and fell on top of him. A companion who was sitting be side Mr. Lovegreen was not touched.
Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Johns arrived in Sydney from Salamaua, New Guinea, by the December “Bulolo”. They will spend three months’ furlough in Sydney be fore returning to the Morobe goldfield, where Mr. Johns is employed by B.G.D.
Ltd.
Mrs. F. Leetch, of Milne Bay, arrived in Sydney from Papua by the last “Macdhui”, accompanied by her two children, Eric and Geoffrey. They will spend six months in Australia.
Mr. and Mrs. L. I. Howell, Seventh Day Adventist Missionaries, who have just completed eight years’ service at Vailala, Papua, arrived in Australia by the “Macdhui” early in January, with their two small children, Barrie and Glen. After a short holiday at Wahroon ga, N.S.W., they will leave for New Zea land.